Ohio
Helen Rankin, the first Black woman in the Ohio House, dies at 89
L. Helen Rankin, the first Black woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, died March 22 at age 89.
Rankin, a Democrat, served 16 years in the Ohio House, representing districts in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1994.
She was appointed to succeed her late husband, James W. Rankin, who died of pneumonia in June 1978 while in office. She completed his term, then won the seat outright in the general election later that year.
She was elected to seven terms representing the 25th Ohio House District, which included Evanston, Walnut Hills, Mount Adams and Hyde Park, then after re-districting, a term for the 30th District, covering Avondale, Bond Hill, Pleasant Ridge and Kennedy Heights.
Who was Helen Rankin
Rankin, born in Georgia on Sept. 12, 1936, moved to Cincinnati to study business administration at the University of Cincinnati. Before taking office, she worked as an intake supervisor at the Cincinnati Community Action Commission.
She was a 41-year-old mother of three when she took over her husband’s House seat. She proceeded to earn her own legacy her own way, quietly behind the scenes.
She fought to preserve Medicaid reimbursement for health clinics and worked to reform Ohio’s Title XX program to provide services for low-income, elderly and disabled persons.
Her signature achievement was introducing a bill that made insurance companies cover the costs of mammograms. She introduced the bill four times before it finally passed and was signed into law by Gov. George Voinovich in 1992.
“It was landmark legislation. She was very persistent and overcame a lot of obstacles on that,” the late Rep. William Mallory told the Cincinnati Post when Rankin retired in 1994.
“Representative Rankin didn’t just break barriers, she built pathways,” said Rep. Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, in a statement on Instagram. “Her legacy is reflected not only in the policies she passed, but in the lives she touched, the communities she strengthened, and the doors she opened for generations to come.”
Helen Rankin services April 10
After she retired, Rankin was co-chair of Shalom Habitat for Humanity Project, helping to build homes in Walnut Hills, and active with her church, New Vision United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, James W. Rankin; her second husband, William B. Merritt; and her brothers, Thermon Key and Andrew Key. She is survived by her children, Sharon Moon, James W. Rankin Jr. and Connie Ross; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held April 10 at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at noon, at New Vision United Methodist Church, 4400 Reading Road, Paddock Hills. She will be interred at Walnut Hills Cemetery.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 22, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.
17-19-21-45-48, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 3-0-7
Evening: 1-5-2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 8-8-0-9
Evening: 8-4-4-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 9-0-3-1-2
Evening: 7-9-6-0-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
10-16-19-23-35
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Classic Lotto
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
13-16-28-35-41-44, Kicker: 7-6-2-8-1-3
Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 11:15 p.m.
07-08-20-24-42, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
Meta data centers in New Albany to be among world’s largest
Meta data centers in New Albany to be among world’s largest
Ohioans won’t be voting on whether to ban data centers on the November ballot.
Conserve Ohio, the group working to block most data centers, announced that it would not submit the more than 413,000 signatures needed to make the fall ballot by the July 1 deadline.
But the data center opponents aren’t giving up on a constitutional amendment. They are now targeting the 2027 ballot.
“We want to make it clear: we will not be stopping. Construction won’t be stopping, so signature gathering and community action will not be stopping,” according to a Conserve Ohio statement.
The group’s decision comes after Ohio lawmakers failed to pass legislation to rein in data centers before a months-long break. Lawmakers disagreed on whether to reduce tax breaks for data centers or eliminate them entirely.
The debate over data centers in Ohio has created strange political bedfellows. Environmentalists and rural voters often oppose them, while business groups and labor unions are backing them.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
Richland County is great for fishing
Some of Ohio’s best fishing opportunities are in Richland County.
Anglers can find strong opportunities for bass, crappie and catfish across central Ohio lakes this summer, according to a community announcement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The agency highlighted several reservoirs and lakes where fish populations remain robust and accessible, while also noting the relatively low cost of fishing in the state and the availability of free fishing promotions.
Ohio residents can purchase a one-year fishing license for $25, while youth younger than 16 do not need a license. The state also offers designated Free Fishing Days during which residents can fish without purchasing a license, though size and daily limits still apply.
Lakes across region offer diverse fishing opportunities
Central Ohio’s waterways, including reservoirs, inland lakes and streams, support a range of species such as hybrid-striped bass, crappie, black bass and catfish, according to the announcement.
Griggs Reservoir in Franklin County stands out for hybrid-striped bass, which are known for aggressive strikes and strong fights. Anglers often find success watching for birds diving on baitfish near the surface, which can signal feeding schools below. Fish exceeding 20 inches are regularly caught at the reservoir. Effective techniques include using swimbaits, rattle traps and topwater lures. The daily catch limit for hybrid-striped bass is 30 fish, with no more than four exceeding 15 inches.
Crappie fishing remains strong at Deer Creek Lake, spanning Fayette and Pickaway counties. Fisheries surveys conducted in fall 2025 identified numerous large fish. Anglers are encouraged to target submerged brush or trees, or to troll small crankbaits to cover more water.
Buckeye Lake, which touches Fairfield, Licking and Perry counties, also offers consistent crappie fishing. The lake contains both white and black crappie, with strong habitat areas such as submerged woody cover around Cranberry Bog. Public access is available through multiple boat ramps and shoreline sites.
The daily limit at both Deer Creek and Buckeye Lake is 30 crappie with a minimum length requirement of 9 inches.
Bass and catfish destinations draw anglers
Alum Creek Lake in Delaware County continues to produce largemouth and smallmouth bass in high numbers and sizes, according to the announcement. Tournament catches with five-fish totals nearing 20 pounds have been recorded.
Largemouth bass are commonly found near weed beds in shallow water, typically between 3 and 10 feet deep. Smallmouth bass are more often located near rocky areas and offshore points. The reservoir has a daily limit of five bass with a minimum length of 12 inches.
Hoover Reservoir, located in Delaware and Franklin counties, remains a key location for catfish anglers, according to the community announcement. Blue catfish stocked in 2011 have grown significantly, with some approaching 50 pounds. Anglers targeting these fish often use cut bait, especially in the northern portion of the reservoir during warmer months. The daily limit allows one blue catfish measuring at least 35 inches, with no limit on smaller fish.
The reservoir also features multiple boat launches and restrictions on motor horsepower, capped at 10 horsepower for outboard motors.
Resources and recognition programs available
The Division of Wildlife offers tools such as lake maps, fishing tips and forecasts to assist anglers, according to the announcement. These resources can be accessed through the HuntFish OH mobile app or on the agency’s website at wildohio.gov.
The agency also promotes its Fish Ohio program, which recognizes anglers who catch trophy-sized fish across 26 species. Qualifying participants receive a commemorative pin for their first entry and can earn a Master Angler pin by catching four different qualifying species within a year.
This year’s commemorative pin features a channel catfish.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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