Ohio

Ohio will soon allow military children to open enroll in school of their choice

Published

10 months ago

January 27, 2025

Ohio will soon allow military children to open enroll in school of their choice

When Air Force Col. Cassie Barlow moved to Ohio to become the base commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, her teenage daughter enrolled in her 10th school in 16 years.

“The first thing I always thought about when we moved was: ‘Where is my daughter going to go to school?’” Barlow said.

Barlow’s daughter excelled in smaller schools but that wasn’t an option for those living on base, so Barlow enrolled her in a private school instead.

A new change in state law, which will take effect on April 9, will allow children of active-duty military parents to enroll in any public school − as long as the district has space for them.

Sen. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, championed the changes in Senate Bill 208, which passed with unanimous, bipartisan support. She said the new law is both a tool to recruit military families to Ohio and a way to express gratitude for their service.

“Education is one of the most important things that families care about because it defines the future for their children,” Roegner said. “We’re hoping that this will make it better for those people who are willing to lay their lives down for our country.”

Barlow’s daughter has already graduated high school. But she wears another hat as president of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education focused on workforce development. This bill will help recruiting military families to come and stay in Ohio.

“We are in an incredibly competitive workforce market right now. To be able to have something like this make us much more attractive to military members and to veterans,” Barlow said.

How would the change help military families?

Under current law, school districts must decide if they will allow students to enroll from other school districts under any circumstances. If districts allow open enrollment, the option can be limited to surrounding school districts. Soon, schools will make an exception for children in military families.

It’s not clear how many students might take advantage of the option. More than 7,300 students from military families were enrolled in Ohio schools during the 2022-2023 academic year, according to a legislative analysis. Many live near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just east of Dayton or the Defense Supply Center Columbus in Whitehall.

School districts that enroll military children could see a bump in state money while districts that students leave might lose some funding, according to an analysis of the bill’s financial impact.

Ohio will join 17 other states that offer open enrollment for children of military families. The change will help military families, whose children change schools up to 10 times before graduation, said Shane Preston, the Great Lakes Region liaison at the U.S. Department of Defense-State Liaison Office.

“Military families are at a disadvantage when it comes to enrollment options available to their children, due to the timing of military-directed moves,” Preston told lawmakers.

Roegner introduced the bill to help military children after passing about a dozen laws that allow nurses, physical therapists, counselors, audiologists and other professionals to use their licenses from other states in Ohio. These licensure compacts help anyone considering a move to Ohio, she said.

When deciding where to move, families consider how hard it will be for their spouses to find work and their children to find a school, Roegner said. “Hopefully, this will make it easier.”

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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Ohio

Neighbor intervenes, man taken into custody – Peak of Ohio

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

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Neighbor intervenes, man taken into custody – Peak of Ohio

A man was arrested Thursday after a domestic dispute at a home in Belle Center.

According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called around 2 p.m. after the victim ran to a neighbor’s house for safety after an argument with 35-year-old Cole Wilt.

The victim is pregnant and told deputies the pair had argued over a doctor’s appointment.

During the dispute, Wilt reportedly took her phone and car keys.

She tried to walk to the neighbor’s house, but Wilt caught up with her, grabbed her, and tried to make her go back into the house.

A neighbor stepped in and helped the victim get to safety.

The victim reported feeling hurt and uncomfortable, but had no visible injuries.

She also told deputies that Wilt has a history of drinking and has access to firearms.

Deputies contacted Wilt at the home.

He denied hurting the victim, saying he only tried to talk her back inside and that she could have left at any time.

Wilt was taken to the Logan County Jail and charged with domestic violence and unlawful restraint.

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Ohio

FOX’s Broadcast of Ohio State-Michigan the Most-Watched Game of CFB Regular Season

Published

16 hours ago

December 4, 2025

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FOX’s Broadcast of Ohio State-Michigan the Most-Watched Game of CFB Regular Season

The Ohio State-Michigan football game is the most anticipated rivalry in college sports, and it showed with the viewership on FOX during this year’s matchup.

The Buckeyes’ 27-9 win over the Wolverines was the most-watched game of the 2025 college football regular season, FOX Sports announced Thursday. Ohio State’s win drew an average of 18.4 million viewers, which also made the 2025 edition of “The Game” the second-most-watched college football game ever on FOX.

Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt delivered the call, with Jenny Taft and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sideline.

This was the eighth straight edition of “The Game” that FOX has broadcast. In terms of viewership numbers, the 2025 iteration was second to just the 2023 meeting, when both the Buckeyes and Wolverines entered the game undefeated. That year, Michigan went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

This time around, No. 1 Ohio State snapped its four-game losing streak to Michigan. The game was nip-and-tuck throughout the first half as both defenses came to play. Ultimately, the Buckeyes’ offense figured things out. Their momentum started when Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith on a fourth down for a 35-yard touchdown. Sayin finished the day with 233 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes’ defense held Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood to just 63 passing yards, while the Wolverines’ offense was unable to find the end zone.

Ohio State will now face No. 2 Indiana in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).

Like the game, FOX Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff delivered, bringing in 4.36 million viewers on FOX — the second most-watched BNK ever. The show started at 9 a.m. ET and featured monologues from Michigan supporter Dave Portnoy, a segment at the desk with FOX Sports’ Tom Brady (a Michigan alum and Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and a Rinaldi feature on Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Ohio State.

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Who do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

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Who do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?

On Wednesday, news broke that Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline would be departing for the vacant head coaching position at USF. The news is disappointing, but it was a move many Ohio State fans and staff expected to happen sooner or later. Hartline has been with the program since 2017 and is widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier recruiters. He has been nothing short of sensational for the Buckeyes, consistently landing elite prospects not only at wide receiver but across multiple positions.

It is impossible not to feel a deep sense of respect and admiration for Hartline and to wish him tremendous success at USF. Yet his departure leaves a significant question hovering over Columbus: Who steps in to fill the void at offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach?

It is still very early, but here are five candidates who could succeed Hartline as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.

Ex–Las Vegas Raiders Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly

This one almost feels too easy to connect. Kelly served as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator last season and played a central role in the Buckeyes’ national championship run. His success in Columbus drew the attention of the NFL, and he ultimately signed a three-year, eighteen-million-dollar deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the richest OC contracts in the league. Things unraveled quickly in Vegas, though, and after a 2–9 start, he was dismissed in late November.

Kelly knows the program inside and out and has a strong relationship with head coach Ryan Day. If the timing and circumstances line up, it is easy to picture him returning to Columbus.

Ohio State Co-Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach Keenan Bailey

If the Buckeyes prefer to promote from within, Keenan Bailey is an extremely logical option. He has been working closely with Hartline throughout the 2025 season and has been instrumental in shaping the offense. Bailey began as a recruiting analyst at Notre Dame in 2014 and has steadily climbed the ladder at Ohio State since arriving in 2016. Known for his work ethic and his ability to connect with players, he has been key in developing tight end production with Cade Stover in 2023 and Max Klare in 2025.

Ryan Day offered high praise for Bailey at Big Ten Media Days in 2023, noting that Bailey has earned trust throughout the building because of his energy, consistency, and genuine connection with players. Bailey would make plenty of sense as a full-time playcaller.

Ohio State Offensive Line Coach Tyler Bowen

Tyler Bowen is another strong internal candidate. He currently leads an offensive line that has been outstanding in 2025, allowing quarterback Julian Sayin to be sacked only six times during the entire regular season. Bowen also brings prior playcalling experience and a remarkably diverse résumé that includes roles at Maryland, Towson, Penn State, and Fordham, along with NFL experience as the Jaguars’ tight ends coach.

He also has a recruiting background that should not be overlooked, especially when considering Hartline’s departure. Bowen was responsible for landing players such as Theo Johnson, Brenton Strange, Olu Fashanu, and Tyler Warren at Penn State, all of whom went on to become NFL starters. That track record could be significant as Ohio State looks to maintain its recruiting edge.

UCLA Offensive Coordinator Jerry Neuheisel

Jerry Neuheisel is a compelling name who will appear in many OC discussions this offseason. After taking over playcalling duties in Week Four, he helped UCLA surge with three straight wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland, sparking real excitement around the Bruins. He was also spotted speaking with Ryan Day following UCLA’s recent loss to Ohio State in Columbus.

This would be an intriguing pairing. Neuheisel is young, creative, and full of potential, and he could thrive with the level of talent Ohio State brings in year after year.

North Texas Offensive Coordinator Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis is one of the hottest offensive names on the market this year. He orchestrated the nation’s top total offense and top scoring offense at North Texas, and with head coach Eric Morris taking over at Oklahoma State, Davis may also be ready for a new opportunity. His background is loaded with quarterback development, having worked with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, Cam Ward at both Incarnate Word and Washington State, John Mateer at WSU, and Drew Mestemaker this year at North Texas.

Davis could be a fascinating match with Ryan Day, and his arrival might push the Buckeyes’ offense to an even more explosive level.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

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