Ohio
Today in Ohio hosts blast anti-vaccine parents as Ohio’s kindergarten immunity drops again
Ohioans should be alarmed by the state’s growing vulnerability to preventable diseases, as Ohio’s vaccination rates for kindergartners have plummeted to dangerous levels, say the hosts of the Today in Ohio podcast.
In a lively discussion Wednesday’s episode ot the news discussion podcast, hosts said anti-science idiocy has persuaded parents to eschew proven vaccine technology..
“We are down to 85.4% of kids, kindergartners up to date on their vaccines for this school year. That’s down from 86% in the previous year,” said Laura Johnston. Vaccinations for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) dropped from 89% last year to 88.3% this year” compared to “about 92.5% in 2019-2020.
These numbers fall dangerously below the threshold needed for community protection against highly contagious diseases like measles.
“You have to be at 95% vaccination for herd immunity. We’re way below that,” emphasized Lisa Garvin.
Johnston explained the severity of the threat: “Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. It’s highly transmissible, spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, up to two hours, lingers after that sick person has left a room.”
The hosts didn’t shy away from connecting the vaccination decline to political polarization. Johnston noted that Ohio’s rates being “quite a bit underneath the national average” wasn’t surprising “when you look at how Trumpy this state is and how there’s… this idea. We don’t want to look at the science. We’ve somehow made vaccines partisan.”
Chris Quinn didn’t mince words about parents who avoid vaccinating their children: “You’re a moron. You could have avoided this with a simple embrace of solid, proven science instead of following your Facebook wacko friends down rabbit holes of anti-science nonsense.”
What makes measles particularly dangerous is not just its extreme contagiousness but its impact on the immune system. Quinn explained that measles “makes your body forget all of the bacteria and viruses you’ve had. So when you get them again, your immune system no longer is ready to block it.”
The podcast discussion highlighted how ideology has trumped public health in many communities, with alternative health misinformation spreading despite warnings from medical professionals. Even Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, head of Ohio’s health department and a DeWine appointee, has been fighting an uphill battle against misinformation.
“This is a Republican standing there saying vitamin A isn’t going to work… That’s not going to keep you from getting the measles. Go get vaccinated,” Johnston said.
For the full discussion about Ohio’s declining vaccination rates and the potential public health consequences, tune in to the Today in Ohio podcast, where cleveland.com journalists dive deep into the stories that matter most to Northeast Ohioans.
Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston.
Ohio
Ohio State has added a tight end as its first 2026 transfer portal addition
COLUMBUS, Ohio –Ohio State had added the first player to its 2026 transfer portal class.
Mason Williams is a former member of the 2023 recruiting class who spent his first three seasons as an Ohio Bobcat. After redshirting his freshman season, he’s spent the last two as a vital member of the Bobcats’ offense as both a blocker and a receiver.
In 1,133 snaps, Williams caught 48 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns. As a blocker, he can be a reliable end-line tight end who can replace the loss of Will Kacmarek, who is out of eligibility. Kacmarek also came from Ohio in 2024 and spent the last two years as a major contributor, developing into one of the nation’s best blocking tight ends.
Williams will have two years of eligibility remaining in Columbus. His addition helps offset the loss of Kacmarek to graduation and Jelani Thurman to the transfer portal. He’ll join a room expected to feature Bennett Christian, Nate Roberts, Brody Lemon and Maxence LeBlanc. Nick Lautar will also join the room as an incoming freshman.
OSU is also waiting for the decision of Purdue transfer Max Klare, who has the option of declaring for the NFL Draft or returning in 2026.
Ohio
Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program, presumably, has their QB1 for the 2026 season.
Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz announced Saturday that he has committed to the Cardinals. He will join Louisville will two years of eligilbility.
Keinholz is Louisville’s second portal commitment of the cycle, joining Kentucky cornerback D.J. Waller. The duo are the first to offset 21 portal defections that UofL has seen so far. The 14-day transfer window officially opened up this past Friday, and is the only opportunity for players to enter following the removal of the spring window.
The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback was involved in a highly competitive battle for the Buckeyes’ starting gig in the preseason, before ultimately losing out to eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin. He saw action in seven games this past season, going 11-of-14 through the air for 139 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 66 yards and two scores on 11 attempts.
“Just a tremendous athlete,” OSU head coach Ryan Day said of Kienholz at Big Ten Media Days this past summer. “You pick a sport, he can do it. He’s like a four handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a major league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things.”
The Pierre, S.D. native spent three seasons in Columbus. As a true freshman in 2023, he played in three games, going 10-of-22 for 111 yards, while also rushing for two yards on six attempts. He did not log any stats during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.
Kienholz was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, ranking as No. 194 prospect in the Class of 2023. He chose Ohio State over Illinois, Kansas State, Pitt, Washington, Wisconsin and others.
He has the inside track to be Louisville’s starter next season given recent roster movement. Previously, incoming true freshman Briggs Cherry was the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster after Deuce Adams, Brady Allen and Mason Mims all hit the transfer portal.
In their third season under head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville went 9-4 overall, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play and a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three seasons under Brohm, doing so for the first time since 2012-14.
More Cardinals Stories
(Photo of Lincoln Kienholz: Adam Cairns – Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:
Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
Twitter/X – @LouisvilleOnSI
Instagram – @louisvilleonsi
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X and @mattmcgavic.bsky.social on Bluesky
Ohio
Ohio Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for Dec. 28, 2025
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 9-0-9
Evening: 2-4-1
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: 6-4-5-8
Evening: 4-6-2-6
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: 6-8-6-2-0
Evening: 2-4-5-7-9
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.
10-11-15-19-34
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lucky For Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.
12-17-25-34-42, Lucky Ball: 09
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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