Ohio

Ohio’s School Cell Phone Policies Taking Hold

Published

2 years ago

December 9, 2024

Press Room

Ohio’s School Cell Phone Policies Taking Hold

Cell phones have a limited future in Ohio classrooms.

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Last week, the U.S. Department of Education called on states, districts, and schools to adopt policies around the student use of call phones in school. Ohio is one state that is already well on its way.

The department’s call is one more sign of the growing consensus that smart devices and screens need to be brought under control in the nation’s schools.

Pressure to ban the devices has been building in education circles for years; most teachers can tell a story of a student checked out and unable to separate from their device. Works like Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation have fed the idea that internet connection is at least partly responsible for a growing mental health problem among children.

While students often push back against phone bans, parents can be the real challenge for a school district. For some parents, the power to stay in touch throughout the entire day can be irresistible. For families that are stretching resources (two jobs, three kids, one car), cellphones can be invaluable. And in an age with heightened fear of school shootings and other emergency situations, many parents to do not trust the schools to provide the kind of quick crisis communication that they need.

Several states have some sort of law requiring schools to deal with cell phones in school. Florida, Louisiana, California and South Carolina have outright bans for cell phones. Virginia has an executive order calling for officials to solicit public opinion as a basis for crafting policy. Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio have passed laws requiring schools to develop some sort of policy about student cell phones.

Ohio’s law requires schools to adopt a policy governing cell phone use by July of 2025. The law calls for districts to reduce cell phone-related distractions and limit use as much as possible, while still allowing devices to be used for learning or in connection with student health concerns. However, the Ohio Department of Education, “under the leadership of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted,” encourages districts and schools to adopt a policy to eliminate cell phone use during the school day.

The department conducted a survey of school districts within the state to see how they were progressing in compliance with the law. The results show the degree to which Ohio schools are on the same page when it comes to cell phone policy.

98% of possible respondents replied to the survey— 992 in all (traditional districts, community schools, independent STEM schools, and joint vocational schools).

61% of those districts have adopted formal policies. 31% are drafting a new policy or revising the old one. 5% are ready for adoption. Only 3% have not yet started working on a policy.

Two thirds of respondents implemented their policy last fall with the new school year. 17% will be implementing later this year, and 17% will be launching their policy next fall.

Schools were evenly split between two approaches to reining in cell phones- either banning them during the entire school day or limiting their use to certain windows. In some districts, policy varies by grade.

Policies to limit the appearance of cell phones in the classroom ultimately come down to one factor—whether or not building administration backs up the rules and the teachers who have to enforce them. But in a state that is often a stage for debates over many education policy issues, it’s notable that Ohio schools and leaders seem largely in agreement about responding to cell phones in schools.

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Ohio

UC Bearcats baseball playing Ohio State, Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2027

Published

9 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

UC Bearcats baseball playing Ohio State, Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2027

Another non-conference weekend has been announced for the University of Cincinnati baseball team, as it will participate in the 2027 Nashville College Baseball Series at First Horizon Park March 5-7, 2027.

The rest of the field includes Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

The UC Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes have met 99 times previously, with the last meeting coming in head coach Jordan Bischel’s first season in 2024. The Bearcats and Commodores have met 13 times, with the last meeting taking place in 2004. Next year’s game will also mark the 53rd all-time meeting between Cincinnati and Virginia Tech. The two teams met annually from 1979 to 1991 as Metro Conference foes.

Earlier in the week, it was announced that UC would face Georgia Tech, Illinois, and Tennessee at the 2027 Live Like Lou Jax College Baseball Classic in Jacksonville, Florida.

More on College Baseball Series, First Horizon Park

.The College Baseball Series is a premier collection of early-season Division I college baseball tournaments.

First Horizon Park opened in 2015 and is the home to the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The stadium is located in the Germantown neighborhood just north of downtown Nashville. Elements that make First Horizon Park one of the best venues in Minor League Baseball include a spacious 360-degree walkable concourse for an enhanced viewing experience; unique group outing spaces; an expansive suite level; LED ribbon boards; a nine-hole miniature golf course; and of course, the iconic guitar scoreboard.

UC Bearcats outfielder Derrick Pitts Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp

UC outfielder Derrick Pitts has been invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp. Pitts is one of just four Big 12 players to receive an invite and one of 53 players total invited to camp.

Should Pitts make the team, he would be the first Cincinnati player ever to represent the program on the squad.

The St. Louis native appeared in 58 games in 2026 and hit .329 with six home runs, 42 RBI, 12 doubles, and 49 runs scored while swiping 17 bases.

Pitts appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 Plays twice this season and his infectious energy captured the attention of ESPN’s broadcast crew during UC’s NCAA Tournament games in Starkville.

Shortly after the end of the season, Pitts announced his intentions to return to UC for his junior season in 2027, along with All-Americans Quinton Coats and Enzo Infelise.

USA Baseball Collegiate National Team schedule

The summer schedule will kick off with three days of exhibition doubleheaders for a combined six games between June 27-29 in Burlington and Cary, North Carolina, and Danville, Virginia. Following the three days of exhibition games, the annual Stars vs. Stripes series will begin June 30 at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The next three games will be held at the National Training Complex in Cary from July 1-3, and the series will return to Segra Stadium July 4 for the finale.

The Collegiate National Team, which will be named on July 5 following the conclusion of Training Camp, will then compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship at Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung City, Taiwan, from July 11-15.

Rack up more honors for UC Bearcats Quinton Coats, Enzo Infelise

The postseason accolades keep coming for UC as Quinton Coats and Enzo Infelise both earned more All-America accolades on Thursday, June 25.

Coats was named a Third Team All-American by D1Baseball and Infelise was placed on Baseball America’s Freshman All-America squad.

It’s yet another All-America honor for Coats, who has now received the accolade from six outlets: ABCA/Rawlings, Baseball America, College Baseball Foundation, D1Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game.

In addition, Coats was also named the NCBWA District 5 Player of the Year and earned All-Region honors from ABCA/Rawlings as well. The Olathe, Kansas native turned in one of the best offensive seasons ever by a Bearcat, setting single-season school records in home runs (28) and total bases (183) while tying the single-season RBI record (79). Coats hit .339 and slugged .738 and ended his season ranking among the Top 10 nationally in home runs, total bases, and RBI.

For Infelise, it’s his third Freshman All-America honor after also earning recognition from the NCBWA and Perfect Game. He led the Bearcats with a .374 batting average, hitting 10 home runs while adding 48 RBI, 10 doubles, and 38 runs scored. Infelise collected 85 hits in his first college season, the most among all freshmen in the country as of the end of UC’s season. That figure also ranks tied for seventh in a season in school history and is the most hits by a Bearcat since Lance Durham’s record-setting 99-hit season in 2009.

Infelise was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors last month.

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Ohio

Prevent Blindness Ohio warns of firework dangers ahead of July 4 celebrations

Published

19 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Prevent Blindness Ohio warns of firework dangers ahead of July 4 celebrations

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s almost America’s 250th birthday, and many Ohioans may already be planning their celebrations.

Many of those celebrations may include the use of fireworks. Prevent Blindness Ohio is warning about the potential dangers associated with the colorful explosives in light of its sixth annual Fireworks Safety Week, which runs from June 28 through July 4.

In a press release, the organization cites the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in noting that there were 15 fireworks-related deaths and 13,000 injuries reported in 2025.

Most of the injuries were to hands and fingers, followed by the head, face and ears, with burns being the most common of all the injuries.

“The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that in the most severe eye injury cases, firework accidents can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment — all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss,” the release reads. “Fireworks-related eye injuries can combine blunt force trauma, heat burns and chemical exposure.”

The organization said it supports a ban on fireworks for all except licensed operators during public displays.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary. We urge all Americans to celebrate safely by avoiding consumer fireworks,” said Amy Pulles, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “Accidents happen even during firework displays conducted by licensed professionals, so please use caution when attending those as well.”

For those who decide to use fireworks during their celebrations this year, the National Safety Council has the following safety tips:

“Never allow young children to handle fireworks
Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
Never light them indoors
Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
Never point or throw fireworks at another person
Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
Never ignite devices in a container
Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
Never use illegal fireworks”

Unless prohibited by local laws, Ohioans can discharge legal fireworks from 4 to 11 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5, as well as the weekends before and after.

For more information on firework rules in Ohio, click here.

Interested in finding a Fourth of July fireworks show near you? Check out our list here.

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Ohio

Property transfers in Marion County, sales range from $40K to $415K

Published

1 day ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Property transfers in Marion County, sales range from K to 5K

Public Record/USA TODAY NETWORK
| Marion Star

These real estate transactions were recorded in Marion County between June 12 and June 17.

City of Marion

336 Silver St., Marion; Jeffery A. Hallie to Cassidy Manley and Jamal Tyre Manley; $100,000.

597 E. George St., Marion; Robert E. Edens Jr. and Kristin Edens to Clifford D. Hall and Judith K. Hall; $100,000.

395 Park St., Marion; Robin Hirsch to Christian Jaimes Mejia; $165,500.

1007 Fariwood Avenue, Marion; Sherry D. Smith, Jerry L. Winget and Vickie L. Pinyerd to Tami S. McCarty; $149,900.

302 Silver St., Marion; Heaven M. Daniel to US Bank National Association; $44,100.

358 Nye St., Marion; Trever Rinehart to Daniel Murfield and Athena Murfield; $199,000.

538 Cherry St., Marion; Marry On LLC to Tylere Shuster; $150,000.

618 Irey Avenue, Marion; Keith A. Radebaugh to Brittany Marie Crampton; $125,000.

1138 Independence Avenue, Marion; Marion County General Surgery LLC to Independence Avenue Medical LLC; $215,000.

1950 Linda St., Marion; Ralph W. Smith Jr. and Betty J. Smith to Dawn Comer; $116,000.

555 Avondale Avenue, Marion; Angela R. Rivers to Prospect Endeavors LLC; $75,000.

523 Mary St., Marion; Frank Hoffman and Robin Hoffman to Crystal A. Bonsel and John H. Thacker; $175,000.

436 Thompson St., Marion; Shovel City Investment LLC to Duel Patrick Davidson; $47,500.

661 Adams St., Marion; Hideaway Properties 4 LLC to Crystal Lynn Hall; $85,200.

288 Chicago Avenue, Marion; Jeffrey L. Young and Kimberly M. Young to OpenDoor Property Trust; $179,900.

691 Bennett St., Marion; Steven Higgins, Larry Higgins Jr. and Shawn Patrick Higgins to Kyle R. White; $200,000.

Richland Township

5544 Tittlebaugh Road, Marion; John E. Morgan, Rebecca Sue Morgan, Bridget Corcoran and Patrick Corcoran to John E. Morgan and Rebecca Sue Morgan; $87,340.

Pleasant Township

2.345 acres on Gooding Road, Marion; 533 Farm Holdings LLC to Thomas Savage and Lissa Savage; $250,000.

4714 Larue Prospect Road S., Prospect; Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance to Allyson Fitch and Brandon Fitch; $260,000.

1552 Marion County Club Drive, Marion; WY Corp II to ABI Development LLC; $40,000.

Prospect Township

8323 Hughes Road, Prospect; Cole A. Hess and Cheyenne Hess to Kamryn Miah Jean Sutherland and John Daniel Yersavich; $415,000.

608 Water St., Prospect; EyE Homes Inc. to Mary Elizabeth Machingo and Jeffrey Paul Machingo; $305,000.

Tully Township

2946 Martel Road, Caledonia; Vincent L. Cleveland and Jo D. Cleveland to Carly Rene Bailey-Stultz and Dennis Stultz; $375,000.

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