Ohio

Ohio bill seeks to punish educators 'pandering obscenity'

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2024

Ohio bill seeks to punish educators 'pandering obscenity'

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A push at the Ohio Statehouse could limit the types of material both teachers and librarians present to students in schools.

A new proposal would make it a felony if educators and librarians pander “obscene” material. State Rep. Adam Mathews, R-District 56, wants Ohio to place limits on the type of material that teachers and librarians can make available to younger students.

What You Need To Know

House Bill 556 aims to prevent obscene materials from being pandered to younger students

The bill was recently introduced at the Ohio Statehouse and still needs to go through the committee process

This proposal is getting some pushback from educators and librarians

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine commented on the proposal, and he believes these types of decisions should rest with parents

“This is really for our K-12 educational environments, so that parents, teachers and students have that type of relationship where you know that your kid’s getting a great education, where they go to school,” Mathews said.

House bill 556 would make it a felony for teachers or librarians to pander obscenity. A first offense could be punished with up to one year in prison, and those convicted could also face a fine. Mathews said the bill’s intent is to protect children and help parents build trusting relationships with their schools. While the bill does not specifically define obscenity, Mathews said it would align with the definition found in Ohio’s Revised Code.

The code lists several characteristics that make something obscene. It includes things that depict sexual activity, when the only purpose of the content is sexual in nature. Mathews said librarians and teachers would not violate the law if they were using the material for certain reasons.

“We have a very measured approach of making sure that our health teachers, biology teachers, physicians or sociologists are allowed to teach as they’re needed to as well as putting clear exceptions for bona fide reasons,” Mathews said.

“I think it’s a swipe at the First Amendment,” said Scott DiMauro, the President of the Ohio Education Association. “It will open up educators to new levels of potential criminal liability and do so in a way that I think also could be seen as unconstitutional.”

Columbus City Schools Librarian Courtney Johnson said sometimes she provides materials to students who identify as LGBTQIA. She believes the term “obscenity” is too broad. She said as a librarian she cares deeply about the students and wants to help them learn. She also wants to help them become very open-minded. She mentioned that, as a librarian, they already use the Miller Test to ensure no material they give students is considered obscene.

“We have students who need to see themselves in those books,” Johnson said. “So, I worry that teachers and librarians would really start self-censoring in an effort to avoid a felony because it’s clearly undefined.”

“It’s a bill that’s looking for a problem that doesn’t exist,” said Melissa Cropper, the president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. “And, it’s really frustrating to us that the legislature (needs) someone to introduce a bill about pandering obscenities to children, which again, is a problem that doesn’t exist, when there are so many other problems that do need to be addressed in education.”

Mathews is the only sponsor of the proposal at this point. It is still unclear whether it could get enough to support to pass through the Ohio House and Senate. At this time, it still needs to head through committee and hear proponent and opponent testimony.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine commented on the proposal, and he believes these types of decisions should rest with parents.

“The burden of proof is on someone to show us why you need legislation in this area,” DeWine said.

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Ohio

Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for March 16, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Press Room

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 16, 2026, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

07-10-20-47-52, Powerball: 20, 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: 7-0-4

Evening: 3-0-4

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: 6-9-6-5

Evening: 4-3-7-7

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: 6-2-1-2-6

Evening: 2-2-3-7-8

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.

12-15-22-38-39

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Classic Lotto

Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

15-18-32-36-42-45, Kicker: 2-1-4-7-1-5

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.

02-16-30-41-49, Bonus: 04

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.

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Ohio

Thad Matta saved Ohio State star’s career after a DUI arrest

Published

15 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Press Room

Thad Matta saved Ohio State star’s career after a DUI arrest

Former Ohio State men’s basketball player J.J. Sullinger paid tribute to former Buckeyes coach Thad Matta’s retirement by revealing that Matta once saved his career.

On March 16, Sullinger took to social media and said that former Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger wanted him removed from the team before the 2004-05 season.

“When Coach [Thad] Matta was hired … Andy Geiger told him to get rid of me if he ever wanted to be successful… (Said I was a cancer),” Sullinger wrote in an X post.

Sullinger wrote that on Sept. 4, 2004, he was pulled over for suspected driving under the influence. According to Sullinger, he was brought to jail and called Matta around 2:30 a.m. to let him know about the situation. It was the same day that Matta was to be introduced as the new Ohio State coach during the home-opening football game.

“I just knew my career at OSU was over. … We set a meeting for early that next week, Sullinger wrote on the X thread.

Sullinger said he learned about Geiger’s comments “and a bunch of other things” at the meeting with Matta. Instead of removing Sullinger from the team, Matta had three requirements for Sullinger: complete a drug/alcohol abuse program regardless of how he felt; write a handwritten apology to everyone affiliated with the program (including former players); and run five miles a day, five days a week without missing other workouts.

“Needless to say, I completed all 3 things. … Wrote over 350 hand-written apologies, and was in the best shape of my life for my Junior Season,” Sullinger wrote. “Coach [Matta] could have easily gave up on me, but he didn’t and is a big reason I’m where I’m at today!!”

“This and this alone is why I’ll always ride for him. He took a chance on me when literally everyone else was telling him not to … Lol!! I’ll say it worked out well for the both of us!!”” Sullinger continued.”

Sullinger ended up playing his junior and senior years with the Buckeyes under Matta. He averaged 10.1 points and seven rebounds per game in the 2005-06 season, when Matta led Ohio State to a Big Ten regular-season title and the program’s first March Madness bid in four years. The Buckeyes earned a No. 2 seed and made it to the second round before losing to No. 7 Georgetown.

“Proud of my guy and I really hope he enjoys retirement!!” Sullinger wrote in the thread.” He earned that [expletive]!!! I love you, Coach!! “Never get tired of preparing to win!!!”

Matta coached the Buckeyes for 13 seasons and is the winningest coach in program history. Despite retiring from coaching as Butler’s coach, he will remain with the school as special assistant to the president and athletic director.

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Ohio State women’s basketball vs Howard prediction: Our pick for 2026 NCAA bracket first round

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State women’s basketball vs Howard prediction: Our pick for 2026 NCAA bracket first round

Ohio State women’s basketball will begin its 2026 NCAA Tournament campaign at the Schottenstein Center against Howard on March 21, marking the fourth consecutive year the Buckeyes earned hosting rights for the opening two rounds.

Despite taking a dip to end the regular season, losing three of their final five games, the Buckeyes’ solid outing at the Big Ten Tournament secured them the No. 3 seed in the Fort Worth 1 region. Ohio State defeated Indiana and Minnesota before falling to the No. 2 team in the nation, UCLA, 72-62 in the semifinals.

The Buckeyes are entering the NCAA Tournament with their focus set on getting out of Columbus for the first time since 2023, as they’ve been eliminated in the second round the past two years.

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But the first step to the Sweet 16 for Ohio State is its matchup against the No. 14 seed Bison, who punched their ticket to the tournament by winning the Mid-Eastern Conference championship.

Here are four predictions for this first-round matchup between Ohio State and Howard:

Ohio State will thrive capitalizing on turnovers

Ohio State finished top-20 nationally in opponent turnovers, forcing 21.4 per game, and recorded an average of 24.4 points off those turnovers. Howard recorded 15 turnovers per game throughout the season, which is a higher average than seven of the opponents the Buckeyes faced this conference play season.

If the Buckeyes can find defensive momentum and force turnovers via their press, the offense should be able to find easy baskets to build an advantage over the Bison.

Jaloni Cambridge needs to bounce back from outing vs UCLA

Ohio State point guard Jaloni Cambridge, who led the Big Ten in scoring with 23.4 points per game, had her worst shooting performance of the season in the semifinals against UCLA.

Going 4 for 14 from the field (28.6%), Cambridge finished with 12 points and missed five shots during the Buckeyes’ attempt to come back in the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes will need Cambridge to get closer to her average of 49% shooting against Howard, especially with the Bison holding opponents to just 59.9 points per game.

Ohio State, Howard enter matchup evenly matched on the boards

While the Buckeyes’ game on the boards has struggled throughout the season, grabbing just 36.8 per game, Howard is just a slightly better rebounding team on paper, averaging 37.9.

However, Ohio State has seen an uptick in its rebounding game due to the performance of Elsa Lemmila. The 6-foot-6 center averaged 10 rebounds per game in the Big Ten Tournament, and helped the Buckeyes match UCLA on the boards, 34-34.

Lemmila should be able to put together another solid outing while going up against Howard’s 6-foot-2 forward Zennia Thomas, who leads the Bison in rebounds with eight per game.

Ohio State vs Howard prediction: March Madness first round

The Buckeyes are going into the NCAA Tournament with momentum, even with the loss to UCLA, as their 10-point loss margin was the smallest of any team that faced the Bruins in the conference tournament.

While Howard has just seven losses this season, one of those is to Purdue, 92-62. The Buckeyes easily handled Purdue 83-56 behind a combined 30 points from Cambridge and guard Chance Gray.

If Cambridge and Gray have their usual offensive performances, and Ohio State plays Howard closely on the boards, the Buckeyes should be able to advance to the second round for a fifth-straight year.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

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