Ohio
Ohio State to keep summer COVID-19 protocols in place for fall semester

There can be no modifications from the college’s summer time COVID-19 pointers for the autumn semester as of now, college spokesperson Chris Booker mentioned in an e mail. Credit score: Mackenzie Shanklin | Lantern File Photograph
The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for college kids, workers and school will proceed into the autumn, and masking can be non-obligatory on all tutorial campuses — together with in school rooms, Booker mentioned. Ohio State retains its mask-optional coverage as Columbus Public Well being issued an indoor masks advisory based mostly on excessive ranges of transmission and different public universities debate stricter COVID-19 protocols.
“The protection and well-being of Ohio State’s college students, school and workers is the college’s high precedence,” Booker mentioned. “As we have now all through the pandemic, we proceed to seek the advice of recurrently with public well being professionals, and can modify our protocols as wanted going ahead.”
Ohio State has a vaccination fee of 93.1 p.c full and partial vaccination fee as of Could 3, in accordance with the college’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Columbus Public Well being issued its masks advisory Aug. 5 after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention rated Franklin County as a high-risk group based mostly on its optimistic circumstances and variety of accessible hospital beds. The press launch said the Franklin County positivity fee doubled previously month, presently at 2.8 p.c. Solely about half of residents are vaccinated, in accordance with the discharge.
Franklin County Public Well being additionally issued a masking advisory in July based mostly on this CDC knowledge.
Masking just isn’t required in Columbus, however beneficial, in accordance with a July 22 tweet by Columbus Well being.
Different universities all through Ohio have modified their COVID-19 protocols as the varsity yr approaches. Kent State and Ohio College are each reinstating their indoor masks insurance policies based mostly on the rising COVID-19 ranges of their county.
The College of Cincinnati requires masks in all Faculty of Drugs buildings, and Bowling Inexperienced State College presently doesn’t require masks on its campus.
Based on the Protected and Wholesome Buckeyes web site, the college will nonetheless not require asymptomatic testing, however members of the Ohio State group who’ve been uncovered or examined optimistic might must retest. Testing on the Biomedical Analysis Tower will proceed, and college students can get at-home check kits from the Ohio Union and Younkin Success Heart.
Masking is required within the college’s medical testing facilities, like Wexner Medical Heart, and childcare facilities.
People who check optimistic for COVID-19 should comply with CDC pointers, together with sporting a masks for no less than 10 days, in accordance with the web site.

Ohio
Venezuelan man arrested after posing as teen to enroll in Ohio high school

A 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela was arrested in Perrysburg, Ohio, after he allegedly enrolled in a public high school using fraudulent documents.
Court records show that 24-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra has been charged with forgery, and he is being held on $50,000 bond. The Perrysburg Police Department said it was contacted by the Perrysburg Local Schools on Monday about possible fraudulent activity involving one of its students.
After a preliminary investigation, a fraud case was established and handed over to the department’s detectives for further investigation.
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE DRUGGED CHILD ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER
Anthony Labrador Sierra, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, is accused of using forged documents to enroll in a high school in Ohio as a 16-year-old, who would now be 17 years old. (Wood County Jail)
Detectives worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and it was discovered that Labrador was a 24-year-old from Venezuela.
Investigators also learned Labrador Sierra used fraudulent documents to enroll in Perrysburg Schools and was posing as a 16-year-old student.
Perrysburg School officials said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that Labrador Sierra had been enrolled at Perrysburg High School under the name and age of a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor on Jan. 11, 2024, in accordance with federal and state requirements for enrolling students experiencing homelessness or without a legal guardian.
GUATEMALAN NATIONAL INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SMUGGLING TEEN GIRL INTO THE US

Perrysburg police arrested 24-year-old Anthony Labrador Sierra for allegedly forging documents to attend high school in Ohio. (iStock)
Between Jan. 11, 2024 and May 14, 2025, the school said Labrador Sierra obtained documentation and support, further complicating the situation. For instance, he obtained a state-issued driver’s license, social security number and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) from U.S. Immigrations.
The school also said Labrador completed an application for a visa with help from Advocating Opportunities, which provides free legal assistance.
The Wood County Juvenile Court granted guardianship of Labrador Sierra to a Perrysburg family.
2 AMERICAN WOMEN ARRESTED AT BORDER FOR SMUGGLING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS: CBP

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detain an immigrant. (Getty Images)
School officials said the guardians contacted the school on May 14 to report they had received information indicating Labrador Sierra was not a minor, but instead a 24-year-old man.
Labrador Sierra reportedly denied the allegation when district administrators met with him on May 15.
“Given the seriousness of the claim, Perrysburg Schools immediately directed the guardians to keep Labrador off school property while the matter was investigated further,” the school said. “This case involves highly unusual and deceptive circumstances that impacted many local, state and federal agencies.”
TRANS MIGRANT FINDING SANCTUARY IN NYC ACCUSED OF RAPING 14-YEAR-OLD
“The school district has reviewed its actions regarding enrollment and is confident proper legal channels were followed to provide support for an individual presenting themselves as an unaccompanied minor as spelled out in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act,” the district added. “We appreciate our close partnership with the Perrysburg Police Division and the swift action taken.”
The school also updated the statement, saying Labrador Sierra had been a member of the junior varsity soccer and swim teams, adding the situation has been reported to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Labrador Sierra was ultimately taken into custody during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 on Tuesday afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News they have located Labrador Sierra’s information under a different spelling of his name. They added that Labrador Sierra is a visa overstay who first came to the U.S. in 2019. DHS also confirmed Labrador has received TPS.
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Labrador is being held in the Wood County Jail on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 29.
Ohio
Ohio State football fans want night games over noon kickoffs; Caitlin Clark speaks out
Here we (probably) go again. You may recall that in 2024 Ohio State played six consecutive football games that kicked off at noon. You may also recall the resulting kerfuffle among fans who complained that noon starts mainly benefit only Baby Boomers – ahem – whose heads hit the pillow by 10 pm.
“Give us night games or give us death,” the youngsters demanded. Or something like that.
Well, Fox Sports heard the cries of the OSU vampires, but that doesn’t mean the network listened. No official kick time has been announced, but if Fox follows its normal modus operandi the Ohio State vs. Texas season opener in the Horseshoe will trend more toward party pooper than super duper, which is to say another Big Noon Kickoff.
Mike Mulvihill, who oversees research analytics and strategic planning for Fox, said last year, “There’s a belief that prime time is somehow inherently better (than noon), but that’s not really matched up by the analysis.
“It’s our job to put the schools that we’re partners with in front of as many people as possible. If we can provide our schools as much exposure as possible, that should not just benefit Fox, but that should benefit those programs. What we’ve found over the last six years is that it’s very clear that putting our best game on at noon is what delivers the biggest audiences for these games.”
In other words, ratings overrule stadium atmosphere.
To be fair, I’ve covered noon games where the vibe is electric, and covered night games that were snoozers. People tend to forget that a full day of alcohol consumption often results in a zombie crowd effect. But overall, with the exception of the Michigan game, night games top nooners as exciting spectacles.
Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win
But before grabbing torches and pitchforks to hunt down Fox executives, remember the Big Ten, which partners with the network, is no innocent bystander. The conference knew how Fox operated when it signed up to receive $7 billion over seven years.
Adding spice to this made-for-TV drama is the grandstanding move of Ohio Rep. Tex Fischer, who last week introduced a bill requiring Ohio State football games against top-10 opponents to start at 3:30 p.m. or later. The bill, which exempts the Ohio State-Michigan game, proposes a $10 million fine for broadcasters violating the start time rule.
Personally, I think 3:30 p.m. is the kickoff sweet spot time for fans. Enough time to tailgate. Not too late to doze off during the fourth quarter. Regardless of start time, OSU-Texas should be a ratings bonanza and in-person humdinger.
Kudos to Indiana Fever players for speaking out
They could have shrugged or remained silent, but Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates chose to wag a finger at some of their own fans who allegedly taunted Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during a game May 17.
“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark said, adding she appreciated that the WNBA was investigating the matter.
Social media posts during the Fever-Sky game claimed hateful remarks or noises were made toward Reese after a third-quarter incident in which Clark fouled Reese to prevent a layup. Reese confronted Clark, but was restrained by Indiana’s Aliyah Boston.
Any time players from the home team speak out against their own fans it adds power to the message that unruly fans need to pipe down and stop with the personal attacks.
Listening in
“I would like to sincerely apologize for my behavior yesterday on Hole 16. As professionals, we are expected to remain professional even when frustrated and I unfortunately let my emotions get the best of me. My actions were uncalled for and completely inappropriate, making it clear that I have things I need to work on.” – PGA Tour player Wyndham Clark, posting Monday on X after flinging his driver following a poor tee shot May 18 during the PGA Championship. The tossed club came within a few feet of striking a tournament volunteer standing behind the tee box.
Off-topic
Recently visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and while the gigantic home (178,926 square feet) is indeed impressive, the most incredible sight was the view out the back window of the distant mountains and valleys, proving once again that natural beauty beats man-made every time.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at@rollerCD. Read his columns from the Buckeyes’ national championship season in “Scarlet Reign,” a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Dispatch. Details at OhioState.Champs.com
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
Ohio
See How Many Former Ohio State Football Stars Cracked NFL’s Top-25 Under 25

If you were wondering, the answer is one. One former Ohio State Buckeyes star cracked Pro Football Focus’ top-25 under 25 rankings, and that player is Houston Texans’ standout quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Despite having a down season last year, partially due to things not in his control, Stroud is expected to bounce back, and he has the talent around him to do so, especially after the Texans used two of their top three selections to take wide receivers.
That said, there certainly could be some frustration here. The Buckeyes have numerous stars that have either broken onto the scene or are getting ready to that certainly could’ve been on this list. The list really focuses on players who are already developed stars, not those who are primed to make the jump.
For Buckeyes fans, think of a player like Marvin Harrison Jr., who could have cracked this list but didn’t have a sensational rookie season. Now, the real snub is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the 23-year-old receiver who is about to be the top weapon for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. JSN ended last season with 1,130 receiving yards, and he should easily build on that this upcoming season.
As for Stroud, he helped captain the Texans to the playoffs last season and even took down the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs. Nonetheless, he only came in at No. 12, the second quarterback on the list, only behind Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels.
Here’s an excerpt of what PFF said on Stroud.
“Due to that solid play, and the nature of the position, Stroud ranks behind only Jayden Daniels on this list in average PFF WAR generated over the past three seasons, and it’s worth noting that he did so on a larger sample size. Stroud will turn just 24 years old during the 2025 season, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Year 3 is his best season yet,” Jonathan Marci wrote.
The Buckeyes should be able to add more to the list next season as Emeka Egbuka is primed for a strong rookie season in Tampa Bay, and JSN is also a breakout candidate, potentially showing as one of the best receivers in the league. Expect Stroud to continue to outperform expectations on him as well with revamped offense in Houston.
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