Ohio

Some small Ohio cities are banning camping in public places. Here is why

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2024

Some small Ohio cities are banning camping in public places. Here is why

Several small cities across Ohio are considering bans on camping or sleeping in public − local ordinances that would impact homeless people who live in outdoor encampments.

The trend comes on the heels of a key decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in June that said banning camping isn’t cruel and unusual punishment.

Later this month, the Newark City Council may vote to ban camping in public parks − a proposal that has drawn support and criticism. Downtown business owners and city leaders are frustrated with the ongoing problem and low-income residents are upset with their limited options. Newark is 40 miles east of Columbus.

In September, New Philadelphia adopted a ban on camping in parks, cemeteries or city-owned properties. Campers would get notice to remove their items within 24-hours. After that, police can clear the camp and issue misdemeanor tickets. The city is about 30 miles south of Canton.

Mentor, a city along Lake Erie east of Cleveland, adopted an ordinance in August that bans using bedding, cooking food or doing other living activities on public properties. Mentor officials described it as a public safety measure.

“This is not an anti-anyone ordinance. I want to underscore that publicly. This is just to address specific behaviors where frankly they will do more harm than good and in fact, place persons in danger,” said Joseph Szeman, Mentor law director, at the council meeting.

Anti-public camping ordinances are also being discussed in Toledo, Wilmington, Marietta, Brunswick and Belpre, according to local news reports and the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio.

What is sparking this trend? In June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling upholding the constitutionality of a local law in Grants Pass, Oregon, that bans camping on public properties. The majority decision said it wasn’t within the federal court’s purview to decide how local governments address people sleeping outside.

The decision cleared the way for other cities to adopt similar bans.

In Ohio, 11,386 people are homeless, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of those people, 79% live in shelters. Nationwide, HUD reported in 2023 that 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2023 — a 12% increase, or 70,650 more people, from 2022.

Marcus Roth, spokesman for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said during the pandemic, fewer people were willing to live in shelters and moved to outdoor encampments. That made the problem more visible.

But once someone is unsheltered and living outdoors, they need more help to find housing and support services, he said.

“This criminalization path is tempting for politicians who want to make it look like they’re doing something about homelessness without actually doing something. They’re actually making the problem a lot worse,” Roth said.

Cities should avoid such knee-jerk responses and instead focus on expanding supports for unsheltered people and address the affordable housing crisis, he said.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter 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

Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 2-8-2

Evening: 4-0-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 2-8-5-5

Evening: 3-1-2-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 1-6-3-5-9

Evening: 2-4-4-4-5

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

03-14-20-28-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Classic Lotto

Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

01-28-32-36-38-45, Kicker: 2-7-1-1-7-4

Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.

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Ohio

Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN

Published

14 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN

The ex-husband of Monique Tepe has been arrested in connection with the killings of the mother and her husband Spencer Tepe, a respected dentist, in their Ohio home last week, Columbus police said Saturday.

Michael David McKee, 39, who court records identify as Monique Tepe’s ex-husband, is in custody in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to inmate records with the sheriff’s office.

McKee is scheduled to appear in court Monday, records show. He was arrested on two counts of murder in the killings on Saturday, an incident report shows, and was taken into custody “without incident” in Rockford, Illinois, police said.

Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds on December 30 in their house in Columbus. The couple’s two children, ages 4 and 1, were also inside but were not physically harmed, police said.

The arrest marks a major development in the case after the suspect in the couple’s killings remained on the loose for more than 10 days, during which police released scant details on the investigation.

Police said Saturday they will release further information “as appropriate” to avoid compromising the “active and ongoing case progress” and urged people to contact them with any information related to the tragedy.

Authorities did not find any obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

Colleagues in Spencer Tepe’s dental practice called 911 after he uncharacteristically didn’t show up to work. One of Tepe’s friends went to the couple’s house, peered inside and saw a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.

“There’s … there’s a body,” the friend told 911. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here. And he appears dead.”

Asked if Tepe had been ill, the friend responded, “No, no. I was just with him yesterday.”

The couple’s two children and dog are now in the care of relatives, the Tepes’ brother-in-law said.

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