Ohio
Lebanon 2026 forward Anthony Thompson transferring to Northeast Ohio program
LEBANON, Ohio — Lebanon High School star basketball player Anthony Thompson will attend Western Reserve Academy, a school in Hudson, Ohio, this upcoming school year.
Thompson, a 6-foot-7 forward, is one of Ohio’s top players in the 2026 class. He has several college scholarship offers including Purdue, Stanford, Xavier, University of Cincinnati, Texas, Ohio State, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Marquette, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State and Ohio University.
Western Reserve Academy, founded in 1826, is an independent, coed boarding and day school for grades 9-12. It is not a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
“It’s a great opportunity for Anthony and his continued development toward reaching his goals,” Lebanon athletic director Keith Pantling said. “He’s on an extremely competitive path and this is the reality of being in that process. The prospect of training every day with other highly recruitable players is something he can’t pass up. We’re proud he calls Lebanon home and he enjoyed his experience coming through the ranks here.”
Thompson, a Division I honorable mention all-state selection this past season, was also on the third-team all-Southwest District squad. He was a first-team all-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selection.
Thompson averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals as a sophomore for Lebanon (13-11, 9-7 Eastern Cincinnati Conference).
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Ohio
Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second time in two years, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Steubenville Police Department have joined forces to combat human trafficking crimes.
In October, the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals for sex trafficking offenses, including men from Follansbee and St. Clairsville.
Earlier, in July 2024, 10 men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia were apprehended and charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools.
“It just goes to show that human trafficking happens everywhere,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This isn’t a big city thing, it happens in small towns, it happens out in the country. It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us.
“I am hopeful that the message is going out around Ohio and Steubenville and the Mahoning Valley — Don’t Buy Sex in Ohio!”
He also highlighted the support provided to survivors during these operations.
“We always have social service providers that partner with us that are on site. So, whether it’s something simple like a meal or a shower or something as necessary as an addiction treatment bed — we’re there to try and help provide the resource,” Yost added.
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For those affected by human trafficking, a victim services directory is available here.
Ohio
3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials
NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three kids, ages 12, 11, and 8, led Ohio police on a chase in a stolen car on Saturday, according to police.
According to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, an 11-year-old was driving a car that was stolen from Parma, WEWS reported.
Officers chased the car on Harvard Avenue west over the Denison Bridge. Shortly after the chase began, the car crashed into a house on Denison Avenue, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Newburgh Heights PD said two brothers, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, along with a 12-year-old, began running from the police.
After police caught them, the kids told officers they watched YouTube videos to learn how to steal cars, police said.
According to the department, the boys were released to their parents, and police will file charges in juvenile court.
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Ohio
Ohio State vs Miami betting odds, point spread for Cotton Bowl game
Heading to Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State enters the New Year’s Eve College Football Playoff game as a multi-score favorite to beat Miami, according to BetMGM on Dec. 22.
Ohio State is the No. 2 seed in the 2025 CFP and received a first-round bye. After beating No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Miami will face the Buckeyes for the first time since 2011. The Hurricanes are the lone ACC representative in the CFP field.
Miami intercepted Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed in the end zone with less than 30 seconds remaining to secure a first-round playoff win.
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See the betting odds for the Cotton Bowl below.
What is the point spread for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
As of Dec. 22, BetMGM’s point spread for the Cotton Bowl between the Buckeyes and Hurricanes is -10 in favor of Ohio State.
What is the moneyline for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
Ohio State has -375 odds to win against Miami in the Cotton Bowl on BetMGM.
What is over/under on total points for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
The over/under for the Cotton Bowl game is set at 42.5 points.
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