Ohio

Ohio Catholic bishops warn against ‘unfounded gossip’ and ‘scapegoating’ of Haitian immigrants

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2024

Ohio Catholic bishops warn against ‘unfounded gossip’ and ‘scapegoating’ of Haitian immigrants

The Catholic Conference of Ohio, which represents bishops from diocesan groups across the state, published a letter Thursday asking for the public to treat Haitian immigrants in Springfield with respect and dignity, warning against “unfounded gossip” and “scapegoating.”

“Today, our nation is divided by partisanship and ideology, which blind us to the image of God in our neighbor, especially the unborn, the poor, and the stranger, the letter reads. “These negative sentiments are only exacerbated by gossip, which can spread quickly across social media with no concern for the truth or those involved.”

Bishops from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Steubenville, Youngstown, Parma and Canton signed the letter, released in anticipation of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 29. The Catholic Conference is an umbrella organization representing “the Church’s position before the Ohio General Assembly, various state departments, bureaus, agencies and other organizations.”

Haitian immigrants living in Springfield were thrust into the national spotlight earlier in September when prominent conservative figures, including former president Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance, began spreading unfounded rumors that the immigrants were eating pets and wildlife.

Schools, businesses, and public buildings in Springfield have faced evacuations after receiving a flood of threats since the community gained the national spotlight, The Dispatch previously reported.

Against this backdrop, Ohio’s Catholic bishops asked people to recognize the immigrants’ “infinite dignity” and integrate the newcomers into Springfield’s social fabric.

“Like all people, these Haitians should be afforded the respect and dignity that are theirs by right and allowed the ability to contribute to the common good,” the religious leaders wrote.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in adulthood, said he does not regret spreading the baseless claims because they brought attention to the issue of immigration.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, USA TODAY previously reported.

The bishops, citing a passage in scripture, called for the Catholic faithful and “all people of goodwill” not to perpetuate ill will based on unfounded gossip in their Thursday letter.

“Instead, we ask for prayers and support for all the people of Springfield as they integrate their new Haitian neighbors and build a better future together,” the bishops wrote.

Catholicism is one of the more popular religions in Haiti, with an estimated 35 percent of residents identifying as Catholic, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Brian Hickey, the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, released a statement alongside the letter, praising Gov. Mike DeWine, local officials, local organizations and the state’s Catholics for providing resources to Springfield.

“We are proud of Catholics throughout Ohio who give their time, talent, and treasure for their immigrant neighbors, recognizing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ transcends countries, cultures, and languages,” Hickey said in the statement.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart

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Ohio

Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State?

Published

1 hour ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State?

After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season.

The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it’s no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone.

SEC, BIG TEN ARE DOMINATING COLLEGE FOOTBALL THANKS TO MASSIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CONFERENCES

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks.

One of the most predictive measures of a team’s strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development.

The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that’s less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks.

And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up prior to the 2025 Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)

Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley.

Here’s where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It’s no surprise then, that per Connelly’s SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BIG 12 WINNER NOT NAMED TEXAS TECH OR BYU, CONSIDER THE HOUSTON COUGARS

What about the other Big Ten schools, though?

USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that’s expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy.

Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning attends Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen.

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It won’t be easy, but don’t be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix.

Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.

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Ohio

Woman missing for more than 2 weeks found dead in Ohio

Published

12 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Woman missing for more than 2 weeks found dead in Ohio

July 8, 2026 / 7:40 PM EDT
/ CBS Pittsburgh

A Kentucky woman who had been missing for more than two weeks was found dead in her vehicle in Ohio, authorities said.

The body of Debra Wireman was found in her vehicle on July 3 in Clermont County, Ohio, the Flemingsburg Police Department in Kentucky said on Facebook on Wednesday. Investigators were called to the scene after a report identifying the vehicle as belonging to a missing person, police said. The remains were identified as Wireman’s by the Clermont County Coroner’s Office on July 7, according to law enforcement.

Debra Wireman, a Kentucky woman who had been missing for more than two weeks, was found dead in her vehicle in Ohio.

(Photo Credit: Flemingsburg Police Department)

Police in Kentucky said the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio is investigating the woman’s death. No additional information will be released by Flemingsburg police “out of respect for Debra’s family and the integrity of that investigation.”

“While this is not the outcome any of us hoped and prayed for, we are thankful that Debra has been found and that her family can now begin to receive the closure they deserve,” police added on Facebook.

Wireman, according to police, was last seen on June 17 at around 4:30 p.m. in Aberdeen, Ohio, while traveling toward Maysville, Kentucky. She was driving a white 2020 Kia Forte with front-end damage. Police said family and friends were “concerned for her welfare.”

“The overwhelming response from our community, neighboring agencies, the media, and countless individuals across the region demonstrated the very best of people coming together in the hope of bringing someone home safely,” Flemingsburg police said.

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