Ohio

Two rulings against open records. Is Ohio Supreme Court shifting away from transparency?

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

Two rulings against open records. Is Ohio Supreme Court shifting away from transparency?

In a matter of four months, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against releasing information in two public records cases, and it is now weighing what to do two other high-profile records fights.

In a 4-3 decision issued in January, the court held that the cost of sending troopers to protect the governor at a Super Bowl game weren’t subject to disclosure. And in a 5-2 ruling in April, the court said that the Ohio Department of Health should redact from a database the names and addresses of Ohioans who had died, even though that death certificate information is released on a one-by-one basis.

Both of those lawsuits were filed by the owners of this newspaper.

Pending before the court now are two cases about whether police officers’ names can be withheld under a new law that is supposed to protect crime victims.

Cleveland area attorney Brian Bardwell, a former journalist who operates Speech Law LLC, said the two recent rulings are evidence of a long-running hostility toward open records from the Ohio Supreme Court.

“When it comes to government accountability, civil rights, public records, the solutions for the courts is always to just close the doors tighter and tighter and keep people out. They just want people to stop filing these cases and go away,” Bardwell said. “What they really need to do is start doling out harsher and harsher punishment to mayors and public police officers and other government officers who want to operate behind closed doors.”

But Columbus attorney Fred Gittes, who has been litigating open government cases for nearly five decades, said it’s difficult to predict how the supreme court will rule on records cases and the two decisions this year don’t make a pattern.

Ohio’s ‘sunshine’ laws

Ohio has “sunshine” laws designed to hold governments accountable and help the public know what their governments are doing.

The open records law lays out what records − budgets, meeting minutes, personnel files, police reports and more − must be disclosed upon request. The open meetings act requires public bodies to hold their meetings in the open.

Both laws have exceptions. For example, public bodies can meet behind closed doors to discuss pending litigation or the purchase of property. The open records law allows withholding records related to trial preparation, juveniles, public employees’ home addresses and other matters.

Should police officers’ names be disclosed?

The Ohio Supreme Court is considering other public records cases that could have sweeping implications for open government. Two cases involve how to interpret Marsy’s Law, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that is supposed to protect and support crime victims.

Police agencies across Ohio have used Marsy’s Law as grounds for not disclosing names of officers involved in fatal shootings and use of force. In cases where officers have been assaulted or injured in those incidents, they’re categorized as crime victims.

Nadine Young asked the Ohio Supreme Court to order the Blendon Twp. Police Department to disclose the names of the two officers involved in fatally shooting her daughter, Ta’Kiya Young, in a Kroger parking lot in August 2023. The police department argued that Young assaulted officers with her car, making them the victims.

The Young family and the Ohio Crime Victims Justice Center sued over the redactions, saying Ta’Kiya Young was the crime victim, not the officers. The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the police department to identify the officers to the court but has yet to rule on the overall case.

The Columbus Dispatch filed a similar lawsuit in October 2023 against Columbus police for failing to disclose names of officers involved in fatal shootings and use of force.

Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office declined to release footage or names after four officers and a deputy were involved in a July 2023 shooting that left 45-year-old Antwan Lindsey dead.

After three young boys were shot and killed at their home in Clermont County in June 2023, the sheriff’s office cited Marsy’s Law and redacted documents containing the officers’ narratives of the incident.

Cincinnati police have been withholding the names of homicide victims and redacting their names from incident reports for months, citing Marsy’s Law.

And the Akron Beacon Journal is suing the city of Akron to force disclosure of the identities of officers involved in three separate fatal shootings. That case, filed in 2022, does not involve Marsy’s Law. It is pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Gittes said in his opinion, police shouldn’t be allowed to keep their identities secret under Marsy’s Law because officers’ accountability is crucial given their power to arrest and use deadly force.

Without transparency, there is no accountability, he said.

Bardwell isn’t hopeful that the Ohio Supreme Court will rule in favor of transparency in the Marsy’s Law cases and that will give police agencies the go-ahead to hide more records. “If you give the police an inch on secrecy, they’re going to take a mile and I’m betting that’s where we’ll end up here as well.”

Lawmakers probably won’t make changes

State lawmakers could change the state law that describes how Marsy’s Law operates, change the laws that protect health care information from disclosure or make other tweaks to increase transparency.

“I won’t be holding my breath on it,” Bardwell said.

Gittes agreed and said lawmakers are more likely to add more exemptions to the open records law.

“Over the last few decades, the Legislature has been increasingly hostile to open government, records in particular,” 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

Severe storms bring downed trees, power outages across Northeast Ohio

Published

1 hour ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Severe storms bring downed trees, power outages across Northeast Ohio

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.

SEND PHOTOS & VIDEO: Share your content with 19 News, and you may see it on TV or online.

Check back with the 19 News First Alert Weather team for the latest weather forecast.

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Ohio

Where and when to see fireworks in Central Ohio

Published

11 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

Where and when to see fireworks in Central Ohio

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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Ohio

Licking County real estate transfers for June 15-19, 2026, hit $697K

Published

22 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

Licking County real estate transfers for June 15-19, 2026, hit 7K

Real estate transfers in Licking County, Ohio, range from $55,000 to $697,500

From Staff Reports
| Newark Advocate

The following are property transfers recorded in Licking County from June 15-19, 2026.

First name indicates the seller; second name represents the buyer

Bowling Green Township

No address listed – South St.; Gohl Investments LLC; Jude Properties LLC; 6/16/2026; $55,000

Eden Township

12967 Pleasant Valley Road; Troyer, Bryan L; Phillips, Charles and Susan; 6/15/2026; $170,000

Granville

319 Summit St.; Dunham, Timothy and Jill; Lenfest, Cody and Pagett, Victoria Rose; 6/16/2026; $585,000

Harrison Township

6582 Outville Road SW; AJ Pataskala LLC; Bemiller, Paige O and Gillam, Hunter; 6/16/2026; $286,000

Johnstown

51 Kasson St.; Jones, Dana; Dyer, Steven R and Melissa C; 6/15/2026; $169,900

Madison Township

20 Fairfield Drive NE; Ullom, Gary and Barbara A; KP Homes LLC; 6/15/2026; $190,000

Newark

1781 Ashford Lane; Scott, Mark W; Bergeron, Kyle M and Jacqueline M; 6/15/2026; $697,500
1687 Emerald Court; Roelle, Courtney R (Trustee); Haren, Patrick and Kayla L; 6/15/2026; $410,000
889 Dietrich Court; Fahner, Adam and Hannah; Bales, Preston T; 6/16/2026; $315,000
67 N. 31st St.; Morgan, Randy; Piper, Marian Richele; 6/15/2026; $275,000
195 Jefferson Road; Meister, Rachel; Flippin’ Out Renovations LLC; 6/17/2026; $150,000
63 W. Harrison St.; Linn, Carolyn M; Bloise, David Jr; 6/16/2026; $65,000

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