Ohio
Police responded to a report of a ‘domestic dispute’ at Ohio governor candidate’s home in 2019
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In August 2019, police in Bexley, Ohio, responded to a report of a “domestic dispute” at the home of Dr. Amy Acton.
Acton — then the director of the state’s Department of Health, now a Democratic candidate for governor — pulled a mirror off the wall, “shattering the glass” when she “became upset” because she felt her husband “was antagonizing her,” according to a police report. She told officers she had been drinking, had taken an unknown amount of prescription drugs and was about to drive away in her car before her husband, who also told police he had been drinking, talked her out of it, the report stated.
A medic dispatched to check on Acton recommended that she go to the hospital, but Acton “refused,” according to the police report. Police determined that there was no evidence of physical violence between Acton and her husband, only a “verbal argument over her extended work hours.”
Months later, Acton would become one of Ohio’s most visible leaders as the state battled Covid, advising and appearing almost daily alongside Gov. Mike DeWine as they issued stay-at-home orders and shared the latest case numbers. Acton’s time in the spotlight brought her doting admirers, as well as vicious critics. And as the lone Democrat serving in a Republican governor’s Cabinet, she quickly became a prospect for elected office herself after resigning her post in June 2020.
Acton, 60, is likely to face Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who has been endorsed by DeWine and President Donald Trump, in the general election.
Her campaign on Friday disputed and sought to clarify several elements of the police report. Acton and her husband had returned home from dinner, where she had one drink, according to the campaign’s written response for this article. During a “verbal disagreement regarding her long work hours,” Acton “bumped into a wall hanging which fell,” the campaign said. She then went to bed and was asleep when police arrived, according to the campaign.
Officers were dispatched to the home at 9:45 p.m., according to the police report, which does not indicate how they were alerted to the incident.
Acton’s campaign said that she was not “intoxicated” at any point during the evening and that the prescription medications referenced in the police report were ones that she had taken regularly for years.
The campaign also disputed that there was any reason for Acton to go to a hospital, asserting that any “harm, injury, or impairment” would have been noted in the police report.
Police officials in Bexley, a Columbus suburb, did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
“Amy Acton worked around the clock on behalf of Ohioans while serving as Health Director,” Acton spokesperson Addie Bullock said in an emailed statement that also criticized Ramaswamy and his policy proposals “as Ohioans continue to reject him and his cost-raising scams.”
The 2019 incident at Acton’s home has, until now, not been reported publicly. It also was not something widely known, if it was known at all, inside the DeWine administration. The governor, according to his spokesperson, was not happy to learn of the matter for the first time from NBC News.
“Prior to your inquiry, Governor DeWine was unaware of both the 2019 incident and associated police report involving Dr. Acton,” the spokesperson, Dan Tierney, wrote in an emailed response to questions. “The Governor holds his staff to the highest standards of conduct. Given that the allegations in the report are deeply troubling, Governor DeWine would have expected Dr. Acton to have at that time promptly disclosed this to him, and he is very disappointed that it did not occur.”
DeWine has in the past been largely praiseful of Acton. His backing of Ramaswamy, 40, came relatively late and reluctantly, after the governor unsuccessfully tried to draft Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a former Ohio State football coach, into the primary.
Ohio has trended more decisively Republican, having elected only one Democratic governor in the last 36 years. Reliable, independent polling has been scarce, but several surveys have shown a close race, raising Democrats’ hopes for an upset.
Acton’s performance as health director has stood out as a major storyline in the race. Fox News recently retracted an article by its OutKick sports affiliate that accused Acton of hectoring social media users for ignoring social distancing guidelines. The tweets had come not from Acton, but from an account spoofing her.
The episode was an example of how Acton’s candidacy has reignited debate over the pandemic shutdowns that she advised DeWine to implement. She became a target for right-wing activists and protesters, some of whom reportedly wielded guns and signs scrawled with antisemitic messages outside the Statehouse in Columbus and outside her home. Acton, who is Jewish, downplayed that scrutiny as a factor in her resignation in June 2020, saying at the time that her decision would afford her more time to spend with her family.
DeWine, riffing on the “not all heroes wear capes” cliché, described Acton as a “hero” who wears a “white coat” when announcing her departure. Acton stayed with the administration for several more weeks, serving as a health adviser before officially leaving in August 2020.
Later in 2020, after Acton gave an interview to The New Yorker, the magazine reported that she had begun to “worry that she might be forced to sign health orders that violated her Hippocratic oath to do no harm.”
As a first-time candidate for elected office, Acton has leaned less on the high-profile role she had as DeWine’s top health adviser and more on her personal narrative. She emphasizes how she grew up poor in Youngstown, a difficult childhood marked at times by hunger and homelessness.
After receiving her medical license in 1994, Acton practiced as a pediatrician and later earned a master’s degree in public health at Ohio State University. She was the final Cabinet director DeWine named in 2019. Those close to DeWine at the time emphasized how he had been deliberate in identifying a qualified health care professional for the job rather than rewarding a career bureaucrat or political loyalist.
It was a move that initially seemed to pay off in the early days of Covid. DeWine’s daily televised briefings, often with Acton at his side, became appointment viewing in Ohio. Acton herself became a household name, so beloved that one company printed T-shirts in her honor.
While the Republican base vilified DeWine and Acton for their initially aggressive pandemic management, both remained popular in broader circles. Democrats tried to recruit Acton to run for an open Senate seat in 2022 — an option she strongly considered but decided against. That same year, DeWine cruised to re-election, helped by Democrats and independents who appreciated his handling of Covid.
Republicans fighting to hold onto the governor’s mansion after the term-limited DeWine leaves office have branded Acton as a quitter.
“What did Amy Acton do when the legislature began pushing back? Amy Acton quit,” state Senate President Rob McColley told an audience in January after being introduced as Ramaswamy’s running mate for lieutenant governor. “Ohio needs a businessman, not a bureaucrat. Ohio needs a creator, not a quitter. Ohio needs a visionary, not a victim. Ohio needs somebody who’s going to focus on affordability, not somebody who’s going to put in lockdown policies that are going to raise our prices.”
Though DeWine has endorsed Ramaswamy, he also has attempted to inoculate Acton from pandemic-related criticism.
“The decisions that were made during COVID, they were my decisions, so no one should blame someone else if they don’t like it,” DeWine told Columbus’ NBC affiliate in December. “The buck stops with me.”
The U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 was a monumental, year-long celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Coming in the aftermath of the turbulent 1960s, the political disillusionment of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, and the capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese and the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the Bicentennial served as a crucial moment of national healing.
The festivities culminated on the Fourth of July 1976, with spectacular events staged across the country. The most enduring legacy of the celebration in Columbus is Bicentennial Park, located in the Downtown riverfront area along the Scioto River.
Dedicated on July 4, 1976, this 4.7-acre green space was built to permanently commemorate the nation’s 200th birthday. The park’s initial centerpiece was a massive fountain system featuring four circular pools that could shoot water 60 feet into the air.
From May 22 to June 2, 1975, Columbus served as the 11th official stop for the American Freedom Train. This massive, steam-powered rolling museum carried more than 500 priceless historical artifacts – including copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution – across all 48 contiguous states.
The train was displayed at the Defense Construction Supply Center [DCSC] in Whitehall and drew massive crowds of local families. Columbus held a special distinction during the tour: it was one of only three cities nationwide where the “Splendid Spirit” car was included with the train.
Warren Motts, the founding director of Motts Military Museum in Groveport, traveled with the train for its entire 25,000-mile journey, capturing the official photos that documented this historic event.
Beyond these massive metropolitan events, the true spirit of the Bicentennial thrived at the grassroots level. The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA) encouraged local communities to form their own committees, leading to thousands of unique municipal projects.
Towns across the nation hosted local parades, commissioned historical murals, dedicated new parks, and sealed time capsules intended for the tricentennial in 2076.
It also triggered a resurgence of interest in local history and genealogy, as everyday citizens sought to trace their own roots back to the nation’s founding eras.
The civic energy and patriotism generated by the 1976 celebrations also helped pave the way for other major local traditions. Just a few years later, in 1981, Columbus launched its annual Red, White & Boom! celebration, which grew into the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the Midwest—a tradition deeply rooted in the community pride revived during the Bicentennial era.
Get involved in America 250 at your library this year! Visit columbulibrary.org for a full list of America 250 events.
Angela O’Neal is Local History & Genealogy Manager with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
NORTHEAST OHIO (WOIO) – Thousands are without power Friday after severe weather sweeps across Northeast Ohio counties, creating weather-related damage.
FirstEnergy reports more than 71,000 in Northeast Ohio are without power Friday night.
More than 22,000 are without power in Cuyahoga County.
The utility company reports that more than 700 are without power in Erie County.
Lake County reports over 1,000 outages, and Portage has over 4,000 outages.
Trumbull County is experiencing over 1,000, and Ashtabula reports over 3,000.
Lorain County is experiencing more than 3,000 reported outages, and Geauga County has more than 7,000.
Medina County reported more than 1,000.
Chardon fire crews field wave of storm calls
The Chardon Fire Department shared the calls it responded to concerning storm damage Friday evening.
Fire crews said they responded to a tree in a house at 127 Burlington Oval.
The department said a tree fell on a gas line, causing a gas leak at 408 Charleston Avenue.
Wires were reported down on South Claridon Road, closing State Route 44 near South Street.
Wires were reported down on a house near Irma and South Hambden.
Fire crews said a tree was reported down on a home at 306 North Hambden.
The department also said alarms went off at UH Geauga Hospital.
Downed wires also closed Auburn and Twing roads.
The department said power was out on the south side of Chardon City.
Another tree was reported to have fallen into a house at 109 Burlington Oval, but no injuries were reported.
Fire crews said an incident involving a tree in a house and electric lines was reported at 11396 Aquilla Road, but no injuries were reported.
Fallen tree takes out power line in Independence
The city of Independence said a downed tree took out a live power line on lower Stone Road.
The city asked the public to avoid the area because of the danger posed by live wires.
The city said FirstEnergy had been notified and both police and firefighters were on scene.
Downed wires prompt closures across Hambden
The Hambden Fire Department said Friday night it was dealing with multiple storm-related incidents.
Crews said Claridon Troy Road was closed between Route 608 and Chardon Windsor Road because of downed poles and wires.
Kenny Drive was closed south of Leaders Mobile Home Park because of downed wires across the road, according to fire crews.
Multiple wires were reported down on Route 6 near Cutts and Grant Street along the north side of the road.
The department said the public should use caution in areas with downed wires and poles and should not attempt to move any of the wires.
Anyone with an electrical emergency or who encounters downed wires is asked to call 9-1-1.
Hambden Fire said people should not call 9-1-1 to report an outage.
The department said FirstEnergy is aware of these issues and is working to fix them.
Check FirstEnergy’s, AEP’s, and Cleveland Public Power’s websites for the latest outage numbers.
These outages come after severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for multiple Northeast Ohio counties this evening and were extended until 10:45 p.m.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Friday, July 3
Downtown Columbus: Billed as the Midwest’s largest fireworks show, Red, White & BOOM! takes place along the Scioto Mile. The fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m. More information can be found on the event’s website.
Bexley: Festivities at Capital University begin at 6:00 p.m., with a fireworks display starting at 10:00 p.m.
Buckeye Lake: The Buckeye Lake Area Star Spangled Tradition (BLASST) fireworks display will take place at approximately 10:00 p.m. The primary viewing area is at Fairfield Beach, Lake Shore Drive NE, Thornville.
Canal Winchester: First Friday at Loose Rail Brewing will feature a fireworks show at approximately 9:00 p.m. The brewery will also show Red, White & BOOM! on big screens.
Gahanna: Activities start at 5:00 p.m. at the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course and the fireworks show is at 10:00 p.m.
Newark: Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark campus will host festivities with live music and food trucks at the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheatre, culminating with a fireworks display at dusk (approximately 10:00 p.m.).
Pickerington: The city’s fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m.
Reynoldsburg: Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. at Civic Park, with fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
Chillicothe: Fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:45 PM from the Yoctangee Park Annex.
Circleville: AMVETS Post 2256 will host food trucks, live music, and a fireworks display after dark.
Clintonville: Whetstone Park of Roses hosts a live music event followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
Delaware: Fireworks will launch from the city’s Cherry Street property at 10:00 p.m.
Dublin: Independence Day Celebration activities wrap up with fireworks at 9:50 p.m. at Dublin Coffman High School.
Grove City: Fireworks will launch from Murfin Fields at 9:45 p.m.
Hilliard: Freedom Fest takes place at Roger Reynolds Municipal Park with fireworks starting around 9:45 p.m.
Lancaster: A full day of celebrations culminates with fireworks at dusk at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
Marysville: Fireworks at approximately 9:00 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds.
New Albany: The July 4th Festival ends with fireworks at 10:00 p.m. at New Albany High School.
Upper Arlington: The annual Party in the Park begins at 5:00 p.m. at Northam Park, followed by fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Westerville: Evening festivities and food trucks can be found at the Westerville Sports Complex until the fireworks show begins at 10:00 p.m.
Worthington: The city’s celebration concludes with fireworks launched from Thomas Worthington High School at 10:00 p.m.
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