Ohio

Hellbenders are real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on a sold-out ODNR T-shirt

Published

1 year ago

September 2, 2024

Hellbenders are real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on a sold-out ODNR T-shirt

Found lurking in Ohio’s rivers and streams, this salamander can grow to nearly two feet long. But despite its name and size, this endangered species is harmless.

Yes, hellbenders are real. And now the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has immortalized them on a T-shirt.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources uses hellbenders on 75th anniversary T-shirts in homage to Hell is Real sign

In an homage to the infamous Hell is Real sign on Interstate 71 between Cincinnati and Columbus, ODNR is using the slogan “Hellbenders are Real” (complete with an H that’s a different color from the rest of the letters, just like the sign) on one of its five 75th anniversary T-shirts. Other T-shirts read “Take a Hike,” “Let it Grow,” “Wild for Wildflowers” and “Ohio’s for the Birds.”

Sadly, the hellbenders T-shirt is currently out of stock. ODNR spokesperson Karina Cheung says they’ve sold out twice so far, first at the Ohio State Fair in late July and early August, and then shortly after they went live for online sales last week. However, ODNR has put in another order.

All about the hellbender salamander, an endangered species

The largest amphibian in Ohio, the eastern hellbender can grow to a length of 27 inches, according to ODNR, but they are usually 11.5 to 20 inches in length. They have functional lungs, along with a single gill slit on each side of the neck.

Found mostly in southern and eastern Ohio, hellbenders prefer large, swift streams where they hide under rocks during the day. They feed on crayfish, snails, minnows, insects and worms. Because hellbenders need clean, oxygen-rich water, they can be a good indicator of water quality and overall health of the stream, according to the Ohio State University Extension.

They breed in late August or September, according to ODNR. The female lays up to 500 eggs in a nest under a large rock dug by the male. Sometimes, several females use the same nest. That nest is then guarded by the male until the young hellbenders hatch in two to three months. They keep their gills until they’re about a year and a half old.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium helping to repopulate the hellbender

Sept. 20, 2023, was a red-letter day for Greg Lipps, amphibian and reptile conservation coordinator for The Ohio State University. That was the day he and his team discovered a hellbender raised at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and released in 2016, guarding a nest of eggs, Lipps wrote for the zoo.

“This was, of course, exactly what we had always hoped to see: an animal born and raised at a zoo, released back into the wild, going on to reproduce and help reverse the decline of this iconic species,” Lipps writes.

The hellbender in question, a male, was found two weeks earlier — on Sept. 6 — having taken up residence in a “hellbender hut,” an artificial concrete habitat in streams used by hellbenders to nest. The male was collected as an egg in 2013, raised at the zoo and released into the wild as a 3-year-old, Lipps wrote.

More on the hellbender: Zoos, other officials work to keep hellbender salamander happy and healthy in Ohio

“This is the first evidence of a released hellbender reproducing in the wild,” John Navarro, program administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Aquatic Stewardship program, told Farm and Dairy.

Hellbender eggs, collected each year, are sent to the Columbus and Toledo zoos as well as the animal husbandry program at the Penta Career Center in Perrysburg, Ohio, where they are raised until age three, Farm and Dairy reports.

More than 1,900 hellbenders raised at these facilities have been released into Ohio waterways in the past 10 years, Navarro said.

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How to Watch the Rutgers vs. Ohio State Game Live Online Without Cable for Free

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

How to Watch the Rutgers vs. Ohio State Game Live Online Without Cable for Free

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Rutgers vs. Ohio State has college fans on the edge of their seats. The game is set to kick off at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, which is Ohio State’s last home game of the season.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off an open weekend and a 35-20 victory over Maryland, although it’s important to keep in mind that Ohio State has been undefeated against Rutgers in prior matchups. Ohio State is also coming into this matchup following a win against UCLA 48-10. This marks the two teams 11th matchup.

Ohio State has a few powerhouse players on their side including safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Carnell Tate and linebacker Arvell Reese, while overall, their defense seems to be the team’s strongest suit. Rutgers’ key player this season is quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis who leads the teams “red-hot” offense which is a stand-out. With that in mind, it should be interesting to see how Ohio State’ s iron-clad defensive line deals with Rutgers’ sneaky, but strong offensive line.

At a Glance: How to Watch Rutgers vs. Ohio State Online

Want to see the game live? See where to buy tickets here.

Looking to watch Rutgers face off against Ohio Sate? Keep reading. Below, we’ve put together a quick guide on some of our favorite ways to watch the game, and a ton of other sports, online including ways to watch games for free.

How to Watch Rutgers vs. Ohio State Online

editor’s pick

DIRECTV

➤ $39.99/month (best plan)
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels

DirecTV is one of our favorite live TV streamer for sports, offering FOX, along with other major sports channels in a few of its plans. The most affordable package with FOX is the MyNews plan, which will run you $39.99 a month. All DirecTV packages start with a five-day free trial.

Here Is How To Watch Rutgers' Matchup Against Ohio State Online Free

FUBO

➤ $54.99/month
➤ Up to $30 off first month
➤ Up to 300+ channels

Another one of the best live TV streaming services for sports is Fubo. This one carries FOX in all of its plans, which start at $54.99 a month, letting you tune into the Rutgers vs. Ohio State games without hassel. However, new subscribers can get a five-day free trial and up to $30 off their first month.

Sling
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➤ $45.99/month
➤ Short-term passes available
➤ Up to 50+ channels

Sling is another service that carries FOX in a few of its plans, giving you access to watch the game with the click of a button. The channel is included in Sling’s Blue and Orange + Blue plans. These start at $45.99 a month.

Here Is How To Watch Rutgers' Matchup Against Ohio State Online Free

Hulu + Live TV
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➤ $89.99/month
➤ Three-day free trial
➤ 95+ channels

Football fanatics can also watch the Rutgers vs. Ohio State game this Saturday on Hulu + Live TV. This is one of the more expensive options on our list, with plans starting at $89.99 a month, but you get 95+ channels, Hulu’s on-demand content, Disney+, and ESPN Unlimited included. The trial period for Hulu + Live TV is three days, plenty of time to watch the game.

Rutgers vs. Ohio State Odds

Ohio State is a significant favorite over Rutgers, with betting lines showing the Buckeyes as a 30.5 to 31.5-point favorite against the spread.

If you want to put money on the Rutgers vs. Ohio State game, check out BETMGM. Rolling Stone readers can get $1,500 paid back in Bonus Bets if they don’t win with code RS1500.

Here Is How To Watch Rutgers' Matchup Against Ohio State Online Free

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Romanian man in U.S. illegally installed card-skimming devices in 3 states, feds say

Published

20 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Romanian man in U.S. illegally installed card-skimming devices in 3 states, feds say

A Romanian man conspired with others to install card-skimming devices on ATMs in multiple states.
Danut Urseiu, 32, pleaded guilty in May in federal court in Cincinnati to a bank fraud conspiracy charge. He was sentenced Nov. 18. to one year in prison.
Federal prosecutors in Michigan say Urseiu and his foreign national co-conspirators stole information from thousands of people in multiple states.
Urseiu’s conviction in the Cincinnati-area case is his third since 2024.

A Romanian man who according to court documents conspired with others to install card-skimming devices on ATMs in multiple states has been sentenced to one year in prison and is expected to be deported after his release.

Danut Urseiu, 32, pleaded guilty in May in federal court in Cincinnati to a bank fraud conspiracy charge. The sentence was handed down Nov. 18.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Cincinnati-area charges against Danut Urseiu relate to a two-week spree in early 2023, when card-reading devices were installed on nine ATMs in Cincinnati, Green Township and Liberty Township.

But federal prosecutors in Michigan say Urseiu and his foreign national co-conspirators stole information from thousands of people in multiple states.

The crime spree resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

According to court documents, a card-skimmer at an ATM can collect account numbers and personal identification numbers when a person uses their card. A concealed camera above the keypad captures the PIN, to correlate the card data with the PIN.

The information is then re-encoded on the magnetic strip of other cards, including gift cards, the documents say. Those fraudulent cards can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs or make purchases.

When Urseiu was arrested in Royal Oak, Michigan last year, police found 62 gift cards in his pockets and another 192 gift cards in the vehicle he was driving, documents say.

Man in U.S. illegally

Urseiu entered the U.S. illegally in January 2023, according to court documents. In February 2023, he was seen on surveillance video in Liberty Township installing card-skimming and video devices on at least one ATM.

In total, an unnamed financial institution reported more than 3,900 compromised credit card or debit card numbers at 23 ATMs, according to court documents.

In March of 2023, Urseiu and several co-conspirators were arrested in Monroe County, New York for allegedly installing skimmers on ATMs in that area.

Urseiu was then arrested by immigration authorities, and an immigration judge ordered him deported to Romania, court documents say. He was deported in May 2023, but approximately three months later returned to the U.S. illegally.

His conviction in the Cincinnati-area case is his third since 2024. According to court documents, Urseiu was convicted in Michigan of identity theft and related state charges in May 2024. He was sentenced to 122 days. After being released, he was charged in federal court in Detroit with unlawfully re-entering the U.S. He pleaded guilty to that charge and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

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Top Southwest Ohio junior boys basketball players heading into the 2025-2026 season

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Top Southwest Ohio junior boys basketball players heading into the 2025-2026 season

It’s almost hoops time in Ohio as the season is just around the corner. Four Southwest Ohio boys teams reached the Final Four of the state tournament across seven divisions last season, and with tons of talent spread across Cincinnati we could be in for a repeat in 2025-2026.

The Enquirer has already broken down the top 25 Southwest Ohio seniors to watch, and so it’s time to turn our attention to the juniors. Though it can be difficult to earn playing time as an underclassman, these players made the cut last year and had a huge impact on their teams.

Continuing The Enquirer’s previews and breakdowns of the year to come, here are the top 10 Southwest Ohio juniors to watch, listed alphabetically, for the 2025-2026 season. Watch for a separate story for Northern Kentucky and Indiana juniors.

Eli Beck, Madeira

A star on the baseball diamond as well, Beck was already the Mustangs’ leading scorer as a sophomore with 12 points per game. His ability to get to the rim for quality shots helped him shoot over 63% from the floor last year. He shoots well from three at over 38%, but he only took 44 threes last year. Beck was selected second-team all-conference in the Cincinnati Hills league in 2024-2025, and should continue to improve this season.

Bryce Curry, Lakota West

One of two sophomores who helped lead Lakota West to the state Final Four last season, Curry uses his length and athleticism to impact the game. At 6-foot-4, his ability to finish above the rim led him to average 11.9 points per game on 52% shooting, also grabbing 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals a game. Curry was named to the all-conference first team in the Greater Miami Conference and an All-Ohio honorable mention. With fellow junior Josh Tyson also returning for the Firebirds, Lakota West will be a threat to make a deep tournament run once again.

Keion Griffin, Taft

Griffin earned first-team All-Ohio honors last season in Division IV after leading the Senators in scoring with 17.9 points per game. His outside shooting and defense make him dangerous as he shot above 35% from deep and averaged 2.2 steals and two blocks a game. Taft returns all five of its leading scorers from last year, with Griffin looking to put up monster numbers yet again.

Jayceon Kibler, Wilmington

Although he missed the back half of last season, Kibler finished as the leading per-game scorer in the Southern Buckeye Academic and Athletic Conference with 19 points per game on 36% three-point shooting. As a freshman Kibler was already a first-team all-conference pick for the American Division in the SBAAC, and as long as he stays healthy he’ll be in the conversation for player of the year in his junior season.

Isaiah Mack-Russell, Winton Woods

Mack-Russell is a high-impact transfer for a Winton Woods team that already brought back a lot of talent from last year’s 23-2 season. The 109th overall player in the 2027 class, according to 247 Sports, he averaged 18.8 points per game at Toledo Central Catholic last year. He has several Division I offers, including Ohio State, Cincinnati and Dayton. Mack-Russell looks poised to be a major weapon in another deep Winton Woods run.

Braylon Settelmayer, Goshen

Settelmayer won Player of the Year in the SBAAC’s American Division last year, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and two steals per game. He was also an OHSAA Division III all-state honorable mention as he led Goshen to win the American Division with a 9-1 conference record. With the team returning its top three scorers and Settelmayer there to run the offense, expect another strong season from Goshen.

Monsanna Torbert, Taft

The star quarterback for the Senators was also the second-leading scorer on the hardwood last season with 14.7 points per game. Torbert’s 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals a game were also good for second best on the team as he earned first-team all-conference honors in the Cincinnati Metro Conference’s Red Division and was named a Division IV All-Ohio honorable mention.

Josh Tyson, Lakota West

Tyson led the Firebirds’ offense last year en route to a state Final Four appearance, netting himself second-team All-Ohio honors. With 15.5 points per game on lights-out 60% shooting, including 42% from three, Tyson’s offensive firepower also granted him a spot as an all-conference first-teamer. As the team’s leader in assists as well, Tyson is more than capable of burning opponents if they try to force the ball out of his hands.

Chris Washington, Purcell Marian

In his sophomore campaign, Washington torched opposing defenses on his way to 22.1 points per game. Adding 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and two steals, he earned his place on the Miami Valley Conference’s all-league first team. In his final regular-season game last season, Washington scored 38 points on 13-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. If he picks up where he left off, he’ll be at the top of the list for MVC Player of the Year.

Grant Waters, McNicholas

An All-Ohio special mention and first-team all-conference selection out of the Greater Catholic League-Coed, Water used deadeye shooting to lead the league in scoring. Splashing in 90 threes on nearly 41.9% shooting, he averaged 18.2 points per game as a sophomore. With just one other GCL-Coed first-teamer returning for the 2025-2026 season, Waters is primed to make another run at athlete of the year.

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