Part of Woodruff Avenue will be closed for road restoration, city officials announced.

Eastbound Woodruff will be closed to through traffic between Franklin Avenue and 14th Street. That block is home to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

The closure is scheduled to begin Monday and to last for two days.

While this year’s stage of Secor Road reconstruction between Laskey and Alexis roads does not involve the Laskey intersection, northbound Secor approaching Laskey narrows to one lane for both straight traffic and right turns, plus a left-turn lane.

While drivers seeking to turn right onto eastbound Laskey might question why the closed lane can’t stay open for their use, Tori Lane, a spokesman for the Toledo Department of Transportation, said safety considerations dictate otherwise.

“The northbound lane is restricted to guide traffic to the lane reduction in the construction zone,” Ms. Lane said. “These zones and tapers are determined by the speed limit. There is not enough space to adhere to these standards and incorporate a right turn only lane at Secor and Laskey.”

Unsaid in that statement was why a taper even needs to be provided.

Any traffic turning right from the right lane would not need room to merge into the left lane to continue north. But work-zone designers need to account for people who would ignore the Right Turn Only signs and attempt an abrupt merge in or just past the intersection.

****

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s ongoing campaign to eliminate intersections on U.S. 24 between Napoleon and Defiance continues with closings Monday at two Henry County locations.

The westbound U.S. 24 intersection with County Road 16 and the eastbound intersection with County Road P both will close permanently.

ODOT suggested using County Road 17 as an alternative for either road or Woodlawn Avenue instead of Road P.

Once the new interchange nearby at County Road 17D opens later this year, Road 17 also will be closed at U.S. 24.

****

Work on overhead power lines will close part of State Rt. 582 in Sandusky County on Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting.

Route 582 will be closed each day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. between State Rt. 105 and Sandusky County Road 16. A posted detour will use Route 105 and U.S. 23.

****

• Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90): Lane closings approaching and across the Maumee River in both directions during a redecking project. All traffic is using what is normally the bridge’s eastbound half while work occurs on the westbound side.

• I-75 (Mich.): Traffic reduced to two lanes each way between South Otter Creek and Dunbar roads in Monroe County while the northbound lanes are rebuilt. The South Otter Creek entrance to northbound I-75 and both northbound ramps at LaPlaisance Road are closed until mid-November. Use South Otter Creek and M-125 to reach downtown Monroe from Toledo.

• I-75 (Ohio), State Rt. 795: The Route 795 bridge over I-75 is closed for deck replacement. All ramps remain open and through traffic is detoured via I-75 to the Fremont Pike (U.S. 20/23) or Buck Road interchanges. Intermittent lane closings may occur on I-75.

• I-75 (Ohio): One of three lanes closed in each direction at Hancock County Road 99, north of Findlay, for bridge painting. A second lane may be closed nightly between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The painting should be finished by mid-June.

• U.S. 20 (Louisiana Avenue): Closed between the CSX railroad crossing and Front Street in Perrysburg. Nearby parallel streets are available for cars and light trucks. Indiana Avenue and State Rt. 25 is the posted detour for larger vehicles, and Truck U.S. 20 is preferable for through traffic.

• U.S. 20/23: Lane closings start Monday on U.S. 20 between State Rt. 105 in Woodville and the State Rt. 420 junction near Lemoyne. This also affects several miles of U.S. 23 in the west end of the work area.

• U.S. 23, State Rt. 51: The Monroe Street (State Rt. 51) bridge over U.S. 23 in Sylvania is closed for reconstruction. Interchange ramps are open, and posted detours use U.S. 23 to either the Sterns interchange in Michigan or the Dorr interchange in Toledo/Springfield Township. Sylvania Avenue is the closest local alternative. Short-term lane closings are possible on U.S. 23.

• State Rt. 2: Lane closings in both directions across the Portage River, just west of Port Clinton, for bridge deck repair until mid-April.

• Secor Road: Lane closings between Laskey and Alexis for the second half of roadway reconstruction. Use Talmadge or Tremainsville/Douglas instead.

• Front Street: Lane closings may continue early in the week just north of Main Street for a crosswalk project.

• East Broadway Street: Southbound lane closed between Woodville and Oakdale for repaving. Use Oak Street instead. Traffic on Oakdale may be delayed during work in the intersection.

• Broadway Street: Lanes narrowed at the Toledo Zoo for a crosswalk project through the week. The zoo’s Broadway entrance is closed.

• Summit Street (Mich.): The I-75 Exit 2 Connector is one lane each way for bridge replacement and resurfacing.

• Summit Street (Ohio): The southbound lanes are closed south of New York Avenue for reconstruction through July. New York is closed at Summit. Use I-75 or Manhattan Boulevard to I-280 to reach downtown Toledo from the far North End and Point Place. Other side streets are also closed.

• U.S. 6/24: Lane closings in both directions near the Henry/Defiance county line for interchange construction at Henry County Road 17D. Eastbound lane closings between the U.S. 6 junctions on either side of Napoleon to prepare for reconstruction. Variable lane closings east of Napoleon for pavement repair.

• U.S. 24: Right lane closed in either direction near Defiance until mid-July for slope repair. The westbound work will be at Krouse Road, while the eastbound work will be at Baltimore Street.

They started their jobs together, taught the same grades in the same building, and are now retiring.

Sheri Lindsey and Alysia Cloum are hanging up their lesson plans for the final time after teaching for 35 years at Greenwood Elementary School in the Washington Local school district.

They each started teaching fourth grade for one year then transferred to second grade, where they have been for the past 34 years.

“It probably doesn’t happen too much,” Mrs. Lindsey said of the parallel path and timing of their shared careers.

“We finish each other’s sentences,” Ms. Cloum said. “Some days we come to school dressed in the same colors, and other days we have the same pants on because we shop at the same stores.”

It all started in the summer of 1991, when both were hired to teach fourth grade.

The following year, there were two openings for second grade.

“Thirty-four years later, here we sit, retiring together,” Mrs. Lindsey, 57, said.

Even more impressive: They are good friends.

“We both get along very well,” Mrs. Lindsey said.

“We still like each other,” Ms. Cloum, 59, laughed.

The teachers have observed some changes in students and teaching programs over the years.

“Attendance is an issue,” Ms. Cloum said. “It’s something we struggle with that I don’t remember struggling with years ago.”

Mrs. Lindsey has noticed a little more disrespect toward teachers today.

“There’s always kids who try to push the envelope,” Mrs. Lindsey said. “We have to work harder at that than we used to.”

Education programs have also changed. 

“For a while, we didn’t have a phonics program,” Ms. Cloum said. “Now, we practice Orton-Gillingham, a phonics-based program that has been more successful.”

Both women acknowledge the shift toward technology-driven learning, which has profoundly changed the teaching landscape.

“Technology has come so far. It’s nice to expose students to the positives of technology,” Mrs. Lindsey said.

There are downsides, too.

“Kids are so video game, phone oriented,” Mrs. Lindsey said. “They are more distracted. Their attention spans are shorter from the immediate gratification that comes with that. So it’s more work. That’s a big difference.”

Ms. Cloum agreed.

“When they come to school, we have to find a way to keep them focused more than what we had to do years ago. It’s more challenging to get them to sit and learn,” she said.

Teaching, they said, is still a largely rewarding experience.

For example, Ms. Cloum said there were two children in the second grade in August who could not read.

“I saw them 120 days later, and now they’re reading and excited about it,” she said. 

“I love when they feel good about themselves and they give you a great big hug,” Mrs. Lindsey added. “It’s inspiring when they come back years later and tell you what you did for them.”

There are former students who have fond memories of the two teachers.

Lisa Derian Kerste, who was in Ms. Cloum’s fourth-grade class in 1991, remembers a “class store,” where students could shop every month after earning money for doing their homework and good behavior.

“She made learning fun and celebrated with her students when we reached achievements,” Ms. Kerste said. 

Brittany Coulter, who repeated second grade after she moved to Greenwood Elementary in 1999, said Mrs. Lindsey had made a huge impact on her.

“To this day, I will never forget her patience with not only me, but other students,” Ms. Coulter said. “She was always so welcoming, and you could tell she loved her job.”

Ms. Cloum was also “super helpful,” she added.

“I remember her standing by her classroom door every morning greeting us with hugs and high fives. That is a core memory for me,” Ms. Coulter said.

“Greenwood is definitely losing two amazing teachers,” she said.

Patronela Burr looked down over the basketball courts in the University of Toledo Recreation Center on Saturday with a huge smile on her face.

Her husband, Jeffrey Burr, ran with intensity, attempting to hit a pickleball with his paddle next to his partner during the inaugural Toledo Pickleball Classic and Expo.

“You’re probably going to see his team winning,” she said. “He’s pretty good.”

The daylong event was hosted by Juice House, a student and community organization at the university. Jay Liaw, president of Juice House, said the group aims to host an “healthy social ecology” through events and other activities.

In addition to a tournament, the event also featured an outdoor carnival, bouncy houses, obstacle courses, outdoor yoga, and raffle prizes up to $5,000.

“Our goal is to bring the community to campus and give back to the campus that’s given us so much,” Mr. Liaw said. “We’ve got a lot of great people coming in … over 120 teams from three different brackets.”

Those categories were corporate, high school, and student organizations.

ProMedica, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, Domino’s, Cenovus Energy, and Pro Tapes competed in the corporate bracket. Mr. Burr represented ProMedica.

St. John’s Jesuit High School, Sylvania Southview High School, Maumee Valley Country Day School, and Anthony Wayne High School were in the high school bracket.

UT’s Vietnamese Student Association, Engineers for the Environment, and Club Table Tennis were in the student organization bracket.

Caroline Guy, marketing and communications manager for Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, sat next to Bonnie Berland, development director for the nonprofit, as both cheered on their co-workers.

Morgan Feyedelem, grant manager for Habitat, and Reilley Schafer, its special events coordinator, were on the court in tie-dyed shirts, working for a win.

“Come on, girls,” Ms. Berland shouted to her co-workers.

“Events like this are just great at bringing together, especially for the corporate section, different organizations that we work closely with but also organizations that we might not get together with,” Ms. Guy said. “To come together, we’re just in a big show of community, is just such a fun event.”

They didn’t get a win, but the group still had a good time.

“We had a lot of spirit; we had good sportsmanship,” Ms. Feyedelem said.

Clay Hurt, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, represented the Biomedical Engineering Society in the student organization bracket.

He said they came to play pickleball and join the community while doing so.

“We got swept,” he said. 

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz was a featured speaker at noon.

“We have a great community of students and community members alike,” Mr. Liaw said. “We always come together to play pickleball.

“Our mission is to bring community on campus,” he continued. “What better way to use pickleball than as a tool for that?”

The Maumee River Fest in downtown Maumee took place on April 11.

Click the image above to view the full gallery.

Local Republicans are facing off in primary races in hopes of becoming the party’s nominee that succeeds a two-term Republican and a two-term Democrat in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Ohio House District 43

Two Republicans are facing off in a primary for Ohio’s House District 43, which is represented by state Rep. Michele Grim (D., Toledo).

Ms. Grim is seeking re-election and is the only Democrat running for the seat, giving her room to focus on the November general election. West Toledo resident Zach Hall is the only Libertarian candidate running for the seat.

But two Republicans are hoping to be the party’s nominee that could unseat Ms. Grim in the statehouse.

David Karmol, 72, is an Ottawa Hills resident and no stranger to the statehouse. He previously served as a state representative from 1979 to 1982.

After losing a state Senate race in 1982, Mr. Karmol worked in Washington with the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

He moved back to the Toledo area in 2013 and practiced law until 2017.

Mr. Karmol has also served on the Lucas County Board of Elections, the Toledo Lucas County Board of Health, the Glass City Dog Park board, and the Toledo Club board.

As an active member of the Republican Party, Mr. Karmol said he felt motivated to run for state House again to bring back what he calls “common sense.”

“I want to go down there and sort of restore the old-fashioned notion of working across the aisle to get things down for the people you represent,” he said.

Some of the main focuses of his campaign include cracking down on scams that target Ohio residents, ensuring schools are adequately funded, and providing property tax relief to homeowners — though he said he doesn’t think abolishing the property tax is the right solution.

Mr. Karmol is facing off against Kristi Kille, a Republican from West Toledo.

Ms. Kille, 56, previously served on the Lucas County Republican Party’s central committee and ran in 2025 as a write-in candidate for Toledo City Council. She works as a full-time independent caregiver.

Although she came up short in her bid for city council, she decided to run for state House to “do what’s right for Ohioans.”

Her campaign is focused on supporting pro-life legislation, fixing problems with the state’s unemployment office, and championing legislation that would support legal immigration.

“[Abortion] should have never been enshrined into the [state] Constitution,” Ms. Kille said. “It’s very unconstitutional because it goes against the right to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The unborn definitely have a right to life.”

Ohio’s 43rd District covers parts of West, South, and North Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and parts of Washington and Sylvania townships in Lucas County.

Ohio House District 44

Two Republicans are hoping to keep Ohio’s House District 44 red as successor to state Rep. Josh Williams (R., Sylvania Township).

Mr. Williams is not seeking re-election, instead choosing to run in a crowded Republican primary for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.

The Republican nominee will face off against Whitehouse lawyer David Fournier, the only Democrat running for the seat.

Former Waterville City Councilman John Rozic is hoping his previous legislative experience will convince voters he has what it takes to compete in Columbus.

Mr. Rozic, 74, was a member of the Anthony Wayne Board of Education from 2000 to 2008 and then went on to serve on Waterville City Council from 2014 to 2026, where he was term-limited. Outside of his public service, he is an attorney.

Mr. Rozic, a Waterville resident, said his campaign is focused on making sure there are regulations around the construction of data centers in Ohio communities, reforming the property tax as opposed to completely abolishing it, and working with the Ohio Department of Transportation on the widening of I-475 and the U.S. 23 corridor from Toledo to Columbus.

“For me, the basic issues [on data centers] are where do you put them? I don’t think we’re going to eliminate data centers,” Mr. Rozic said. “We also have to keep up with the rest of the world … and if it takes data centers to compete, then we have to be prepared to recognize that we will probably need data centers in some form.”

He continued saying the thought of putting a data center next to a residential development was “totally unacceptable.”

Mr. Rozic is competing against Northwood Mayor Edward Schimmel for Mr. Williams’ seat.

Mr. Schimmel, 48, also has extensive experience in local government, serving in his 11th year as mayor. Prior to being mayor, Mr. Schimmel was on Northwood City Council for eight years. Outside of being a public servant, he is also an attorney.

When he learned that Mr. Williams was not running for re-election, Mr. Schimmel said he felt he could build upon some of the work Mr. Williams has already started.

“Definitely one would be further tax reform,” Mr. Schimmel said. “There’s some pretty good things that were passed last year, but I think there’s some more work to do on the income tax side of things, lowering that further, and the real estate tax side of things.”

Mr. Schimmel said he was particularly interested in bringing down taxes for senior citizens and agreed that the property tax should not be abolished, saying it will put a greater burden on lower income people who will be paying more in sales tax.

Mr. Schimmel is endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party. Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R., Lima) and the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee asked the Ohio GOP to endorse Mr. Schimmel in February.

Mr. Rozic said he feels he was not fairly considered for the endorsement but does not hold it against Mr. Schimmel.

“My view of endorsements is it’s inappropriate in the primary election,” Mr. Rozic said. “I think the primary is the time for the voters to decide on their own who they would want as their candidate in the general election.”

Ohio’s House District 44 includes parts of Sylvania, Whitehouse, Rossford, Genoa, Northwood, and other unincorporated communities.

Early in-person voting is already under way for the primary election. To find your early vote location and view your sample ballot, visit ohiosos.gov/elections. Election Day is May 5.

Candidates at a glance

Ohio House District 43

David Karmol

Age: 72

Residence: Ottawa Hills

Party: Republican

Previous office: Ohio State House of Representatives (1979-1982)

Website: karmolforohio.com

Kristi Kille

Age: 56

Residence: West Toledo

Party: Republican

Website: facebook.com/KristiKille

Ohio House District 44

John Rozic

Age: 74

Residence: Waterville

Party: Republican

Previous office: Anthony Wayne Board of Education (2000-2008); Waterville City Council (2014-2026)

Website: johnrozic.com

Edward Schimmel

Age: 48

Residence: Northwood

Party: Republican

Previous office: Northwood City Council (2007-2015); Northwood Mayor (2016-present)

Website: edschimmelforohio.com

Families got to experience some of the adventurous activities often outdoors at their local library during the Metroparks Toledo Takeover at the Main Library in Toledo on Saturday.

Click through the images above to view the full gallery.

Folk singer and songwriter Sam Robbins will be featured in the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Live at the Library free music series from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. Robbins is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and a past contestant on NBC’s The Voice.

The concert takes place at the Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., in downtown Toledo.

“Live at the Library continues to create meaningful cultural experiences for our community by bringing exceptional musicians to Toledo and welcoming audiences into an intimate and engaging performance setting,” said Jason Kucsma, executive director of the library. “These concerts highlight the power of music to inspire curiosity, spark conversation, and connect people through shared artistic experiences.”

Mr. Robbins performs more than 200 shows a year and has earned acclaim at major folk festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Connecticut.

COLUMBUS — Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates is pushing back on Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s characterization of the state’s unofficial moratorium on capital punishment. 

In the latest edition of his office’s Capital Crimes Report, Mr. Yost criticized Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly for failing to ensure that executions are carried out. 

“During my years as attorney general, not a single sentence has been carried out — a mockery of the justice system and of the dead and their families,” Mr. Yost said. “For the worst-of-the-worst killers, Ohio is wandering in a wilderness of lawlessness and desert of justice.”

Mrs. Bates took issue with that description of Ohio’s criminal justice system.

“It is not a ‘wilderness of lawlessness’ or a ‘desert of justice’ because the people are in prison, and they are going to stay there for a very long time — most of them for life without parole,” Mrs. Bates said.

Mr. DeWine has not allowed an execution to be carried out during his tenure in office, which coincides with Mr. Yost’s time as attorney general. In February, 2019, Mr. DeWine said executions would not continue after a federal magistrate judge compared Ohio’s three-drug lethal injection process to a method of torture. The governor has also cited problems with obtaining the drugs necessary to carry out the death penalty. 

While there was speculation that Mr. DeWine would make an announcement clarifying his views on the death penalty during his State of the State address, the governor didn’t mention the topic at all. DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor did not have a comment on Mr. Yost’s report or on the state of the death penalty generally at this time. 

Mrs. Bates said Mr. DeWine has the credentials to make informed decisions about the death penalty, noting that he served as attorney general for eight years before his two terms as governor. She also pointed to his experience as a prosecutor in Greene County early in his career.

“He certainly knows about prosecuting bad guys, right? And he has put this moratorium on the death penalty because we can’t do it,” she said. “If we don’t have the means and the methods to do it, we shouldn’t be doing it.” 

Victims’ families suffer

Mrs. Bates said an offender receiving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole not only protects the public but also reduces the number of times victims’ family members are forced to relive the crime.

She pointed to the case of Jamie Madrigal, who had his death sentence for killing 18-year-old Misty Fisher overturned by a federal court but ended up receiving a prison sentence that ensured he would die in prison after entering a plea agreement.

“When it came back, he agreed to plead to another murder at the former Pacific CrabHouse, where he killed a person there. He got two death sentences, and we took the death penalty off the table,” Mrs. Bates said. “And nobody from her family or his family ever had to come back to court ever again.”

She compared that to the case of William Montgomery, who was convicted of murdering Debra Ogle in South Toledo. 

“Every couple of years, Jane Ogle, the mother ... had to come back to court when he had another hearing, and another hearing, and an appeal, and another appeal, and another appeal,” Mrs. Bates said.

Former Gov. John Kasich commuted Montgomery’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2018. 

“He had been in jail for 33 years ... and there’s Jane Ogle with a picture of her dead daughter in the clemency hearing on the very anniversary of the death of this girl,” Mrs. Bates said. 

“It was so tragic to me, and I just remember thinking to myself, ‘Why are we doing this to these victims?’” she continued. “Is it really good for these families to continually have to come back and pick at the scab of their lost loved one?” 

Kei’mani Latigue case

While she has issues with the death penalty, Mrs. Bates is currently overseeing Toledo’s first capital case in more than a decade.

In April, 2025, a Lucas County grand jury handed up a 15-count indictment of Darnell Jones that includes four alternative counts of aggravated murder that have death-penalty specifications attached for the death of Kei’mani Latigue.

Mrs. Bates said she would not comment on the Kei’mani Latigue case at this time, citing the need to ensure a fair trial occurs. 

State Rep. Josh Williams (R., Sylvania Township), who has introduced “Kei’mani’s Law” as House Bill 707, said he’s hopeful that Ohio will once again carry out executions so her family can see justice occur.

Kei’mani Latigue was a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a burned-out house in East Toledo. The girl’s father has been charged with raping and killing his daughter before leaving her in the abandoned structure.

“This is one of the most egregious cases that I’ve ever witnessed in my community since I became an elected official,” Mr. Williams said. 

“I pray to God that at some point we find the wherewithal in the state of Ohio to renew our death penalty,” he continued. “This is one of those cases where if a conviction is actually acquired, I would like to see him put to death.”

Death row

Ohio has the nation’s fifth-largest death row population, with 113 inmates facing active death sentences, according to the Capital Crimes Report.

Since 1981, 23 death sentences have been issued in Lucas County. There are seven individuals from Lucas County currently on death row. 

A total of of 30 death row inmates had scheduled execution dates at the end of 2025, including three from Lucas County — Archie Dixon (June 16, 2027), Timothy Hoffner (July 14, 2027), and Douglas Coley (Aug. 15, 2028). 

There is one active death sentence from Wood County, and one from Fulton County.

James Worley is the inmate from Fulton County, who was sentenced to death after he kidnapped and murdered 20-year-old Sierah Joughin while she was out riding her bicycle. 

Prosecutors’ group weighs in

Lou Tobin, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said his organization is in agreement with Mr. Yost on the state of the death penalty.

“We need to find a way forward on the death penalty,” Mr. Tobin said. “All the undue delay over the last eight years is bad for the victims of these crimes, bad for our justice system, and bad for the communities where these crimes occurred.”

Mr. Tobin said more than a dozen states and the federal government have carried out more than 100 executions since Ohio last executed a person in 2018.

“Most of those have been by lethal injection,” he said. “Other states are finding the drugs. I think really what we have in Ohio is a lack of political will to enforce the law.”

Asked to comment on Mrs. Bates’ experience that victims’ families often suffer more as a result of a capital case as opposed to a case where the offender is sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole, Mr. Tobin said that’s an important factor to consider.

“Prosecutors have to be sensitive to what the victims’ families want in these cases because it can be a lengthy process,” he said. 

Nitrogen gas executions

Both Mr. Yost and Mr. Tobin said they would like to see the Ohio General Assembly pass legislation allowing the state to execute inmates using nitrogen gas.

House Bill 36, which would authorize the execution method of nitrogen hypoxia, has received two hearings in the House Judiciary Committee. 

“Those on death row have had more than their fair share of due process — and second and third helpings of overdue process,” Mr. Yost said. “It is past time that we do right by the victims and punish the monsters who killed them.”

Mr. Tobin said his organization would like to see such a bill pass, but he doesn’t believe it’s possible until Mr. DeWine is out of office.

“My sense, at this point, is that we’re going to have to wait for a new administration for any movement from the legislature,” he said. 

COLUMBUS — Many Ohioans will soon experience the benefits of the property tax reform measures passed by the Ohio General Assembly near the end of 2025, according to the sponsor of all four pieces of legislation. 

“Four out of five Ohioans will see a cut this year in their second-half bills,” state Rep. David Thomas (R., Jefferson) said Thursday during an Ohio Chamber of Commerce event at Franklin University.

The reduction, he said, is the result of unvoted millage for schools being capped to inflation.

“It will vary depending on how much your value went up, what your value looks like,” Mr. Thomas said, noting Ohioans are expected to save about $750 million this year.

Mr. Thomas was joined on the property tax panel by state Rep. Dan Troy (D., Willowick) and tax expert Tom Zaino.

Mr. Zaino, who served as Ohio tax commissioner under former Gov. Bob Taft, said the property tax reform bills passed by the legislature — House Bills 129, 186, 309, and 335 — are “historic changes” that will be discussed decades from now. He thanked Mr. Thomas and Mr. Troy for being “intellectually honest” during the process, saying he was impressed with the final results even though most of the benefits won’t be immediately realized. 

However, Mr. Zaino acknowledged that many Ohioans are still angry about property taxes, and he worries about the potential passage of a proposed constitutional amendment abolishing property taxes.

While he disagrees with the proposal, Mr. Thomas praised the property tax abolishment campaign for causing state lawmakers to pass legislation addressing the issue. Without that outside pressure, he said, there’s no chance any of those reforms would have passed.

Mr. Thomas also urged state leaders to take the abolishment movement seriously, noting that even if they fail to make the ballot in November, they can continue collecting signatures and place it on the ballot in 2027. 

“There is enough anger out here that these folks don’t really care where the money comes from for their fire department or their ambulance,” he said. “They don’t care if townships go away. They simply want the system gone, and they don’t really have a plan for afterward.” 

Abolishment consequences

Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R., Napoleon), the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has said eliminating property taxes would cause local governments to lose about $24 billion in revenue annually.

Mr. Zaino said he believes the property tax abolishment measure has a good chance of making the ballot and passing in November.

“That would be terrible,” he said, noting the state of Ohio would have to increase every other tax by about 71 percent to make up for the lost revenue.

Mr. Zaino said the state could also choose to focus on increasing the sales and use tax, which currently brings in the most revenue to the state.

“That means the statewide rate would be 16.5 percent,” he said. The current Ohio sales and use tax rate is 5.75 percent.

“What if you live in Hamilton County, Lucas County, or Jefferson County — anywhere along the border?” Mr. Zaino said. “You’re not going to pay a 16.5 percent sales tax when you can drive a couple miles down the road and pay 6 percent in Michigan.”

Mr. Zaino said that would cause retailers in border counties to go out of business and would likely lead to more Ohio residents leaving the state to live in Michigan or other border states.

Mr. Troy said he hopes the effort fails but believes state lawmakers should start preparing for the potential passage of the amendment.

“I’m just afraid that if something like this passes, a lot of my colleagues will say, ‘Too bad, I guess everything’s out of business,’” he said. 

Ax Ohio Tax leaders weigh in

Mr. Zaino and Ax Ohio Tax statewide leader Leonard Gilbert spoke during a Delaware County Republican Party event Wednesday night. Mr. Zaino said Mr. Gilbert gave an impassioned speech.

“These people suck it up. They like this stuff,” Mr. Zaino said. 

“It’s about ... the government can take my home, and if I don’t own my home, I don’t own anything,” he continued. “Of course, the fact that if you don’t pay your income taxes, you could lose your freedom, because you could be put in jail. Nobody kind of thinks about that, so should we get rid of income tax?”

Mr. Gilbert said he enjoyed the Delaware County event with Mr. Zaino but dismissed the notion that all $24 billion would have to be replaced with other taxes.

“If I get rid of the property tax system, that’s already a savings because we’re spending millions of dollars just to have an outside company come in and appraise the value of my home, and that’s gone,” he said, noting that local governments could also work to consolidate services. 

Gov. Mike DeWine has said eliminating the property tax could cause sales taxes to spike as high as 20 percent, but Mr. Gilbert doesn’t believe that would actually happen.

“Can you imagine doing a 20 percent sales tax? It would be the highest in the nation,” he said. “Do you think that’s actually going to happen? No way. They’d destroy this state. So that’s nothing but a scare tactic.” 

Barbara Bristley, northwest Ohio regional captain for Ax Ohio Tax, also accused critics of fearmongering by predicting a 20 percent sales tax.

“I mean, I understand when people say to us things like, ‘We don’t want to lose essential services,’” Ms. Bristley said. “Guess what? Those of us who are doing this, we don’t want to lose essential services either. We want to keep fire and EMS, but we need a more fair system. We shouldn’t be at risk of losing our homes.”

Both Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Bristley said the signature-gathering campaign is going well, and they’re hopeful Ohio voters will be able to vote on it this November. In order to make the ballot, supporters need to collect 413,487 valid signatures from 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. 

The project to demolish the Roche de Boeuf Bridge in Waterville has officially been put out for bids by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Save the Bridge Association confirmed. 

The organization said that after weeks of asking for a meeting with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine about the issue, it was granted a meeting Wednesday night via Microsoft Teams with Michael Murray, a representative of the governor. The virtual meeting was held on the eve of bids opening on Thursday morning. 

Representatives of Save the Bridge repeated points made at a public special meeting of Waterville City Council on Monday. This included a proposal from northeast Ohio-based bridge engineer Bill Vermes that a pedestrian bridge be essentially laid over the 118-year-old structure’s historic arches. 

“Waterville Mayor [Tim] Pedro urged the governor to grant us another year to save the bridge, citing 70-plus years of inaction and ‘what’s another year’ if it helps preserve an iconic Waterville landmark,” Save the Bridge said in a statement. “STBA President Barb Bruno reiterated this request, but said even a 90-day pause on demolition would give Save The Bridge the time it needs to prove bridge strength with minimal additional testing, and pitch the preservation plan to the community and potential new administrators.” 

Options are still being explored to stave off demolition, the advocacy group said.

With bids open, actual demolition could begin as soon as this summer.   

Valya Wright didn’t have a job or a place to stay when she came to Toledo in January at six months pregnant.

Having driven from Huntington Beach, Calif., to be able to show the baby boy to his locally incarcerated father, she stayed at a homeless shelter for women for a couple of months until she had a lucky break.

“Andy [Howard] really wanted to hear my story and to know the reason why I was out here,” she said. “We were up here for an art class, and he pulled me aside, and I kind of told him my situation.

“And he stepped in right away and was like, ‘Here's my number, this is what I do,’” said Ms. Wright, whose due date is April 23. “He has helped make it all happen. I now work at a Goodwill store and rent an apartment.”

She spoke Friday on the sidelines of a grand opening of a nonprofit that uses artwork to help people without a place to stay share their stories so they could be better helped. At least 100 people attended the event at the Cherry Street Mission Life Revitalization Center near downtown.

Mr. Howard, a local entrepreneur, started the nonprofit in August, having partnered with Cherry Street Mission since 2022 as he continued his effort that began in 2019.

Street Art Missions has grown into a structured program combining creativity and housing advocacy from “simple acts” of assistance with housing, organizers said.

The Street Art Missions’ nonprofit status makes it easier for people to donate to and volunteer for the organization, Mr. Howard said.

He was helping those without a place to stay gather documentation, complete housing applications, secure transportation, and furnish apartments when he saw an opportunity “to build relationships through art” after learning that one of those he was trying to help loved to paint.

“I realized art could be a bridge,” Mr. Howard said. “A way to connect, restore dignity, and create something meaningful — while still helping people navigate the path to housing.”

Then, in 2022, he established a partnership with Cherry Street Mission, which operates area homeless shelters. 

“I approached them and I asked them if they'd be willing to give me an art room where I could do art with people and build relationships, because art is an activity where you sit and talk,” he said.

“During that time, I documented everything, and I created an entire training manual and a process for people to be able to help folks that are in this situation,” Mr. Howard continued. “And now, people come in here every Friday.”

As he talked, he gestured toward the Art Room, which is about 400 square feet and holds tables and art supplies.

Later that year, Street Art Missions started weekly events at the Life Revitalization Center, providing art supplies and mentorship to those it helps get back to independent living.

In August, the organizations partnered for a permanent space and an additional agreement to collaborate on a housing navigation training program.

The nonprofit also partners with the Toledo Museum of Art, which now operates the Art Room every second Friday of the month. The museum has also installed an interactive mural in the room.

Event highlights Friday included sales of Street Art Missions T-shirts featuring artwork created by program participants, interactive art projects, live demonstrations by the museum’s mobile glassblowing studio.

Alissa Cox, a TMA outreach assistant who helped run the event, said she thinks using art as a way to help people get back on their feet “is a very valuable thing.”

“I think art connects people to a sense of their own humanity and value,” she said. “And reminds us that, whatever we’ve gone through, there’s a way to get back into feeling like people again.”

Mr. Howard said he has helped 53 people to get housing since he started partnering with Cherry Street Mission.

James Bedford, 63, another program beneficiary, said Mr. Howard came up with a great program.

“It’s No. 1,” he said. “I was staying at Cherry Street Mission trying to recover from drugs and alcohol when he saw me sketching something and invited me into his program. Now, I rent an apartment and have a job that pays for it.”

An automotive manufacturer, which is expected to open in 2027 and initially employ 600, is coming to Rossford.

Mayor Neil MacKinnon III said the facility on Glenwood Road, east of Penta Career Center, will be 600,000 square feet, with room to grow another 250,000 square feet.

The project was developed in partnership with his administrative team, the Wood County Port Authority, and JobsOhio, along with Scannell Properties, Mayor MacKinnon said.

“[Scannell] already has two existing facilities on the site and now will be building a facility for a large, international auto parts manufacturer,” he said.

The name of the manufacturer is expected to be made public this month, Mayor MacKinnon said. It is not yet known how much tax revenue could be generated for the city and school districts, including Rossford and Penta, he said.

“They want to be up and running in 2027,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “They’re going to supply the ‘big three’ [automakers] and a couple other foreign auto manufacturers.”

Initially, the manufacturer will employ 600, with full capacity at 300 people per three shifts expected in the future, he said.

“And that doesn’t include construction jobs, which will be a lot,” Mayor MacKinnon said.

Location is what sold the manufacturer on Rossford, he said.

“Being at I-75 and 80/90, and being close to the Port of Toledo, and also being close to rail and intermodals, allows them to get their parts to their customers, and their material to their facility,” Mayor MacKinnon said.

He said the project is a win for all of northwest Ohio.

“What’s really exciting about this is the jobs and opportunities that it’s going to give the entire region. Not only is this great for the city of Rossford, but the Rossford school district and the entire region,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “And these are well-paying and high-tech jobs.

“And the really exciting thing is we’re going to start manufacturing things again in northwest Ohio,” he added.

Wade Gottschalk, executive director of Wood County's economic development office, said he had no comment.

Rossford’s economic development director could not immediately be reached for comment.

The mayor’s administration is pulling an item from Toledo City Council’s agenda that would have allowed the city to contract with Priority Waste LLC as its next trash provider.

In an email sent to council members Thursday night, Deputy Mayor Abby Arnold asked council to remove an ordinance from Tuesday’s agenda that would have allowed the city to enter into a five-year agreement with Michigan-based Priority Waste LLC for refuse and recycling services.

“This will allow us the opportunity to engage in further discussions with Council members and evaluate next steps moving forward,” the email says.

The email continues to state that the administration will return to council regarding the refuse and recycle contract in early May.

It is unclear from Ms. Arnold’s email whether the city is considering a contract with the current service provider, Republic Services.

A city spokesman said the pause was needed to give the administration more time to talk with Toledo City Council.

Priority Waste did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesman for Republic Services declined to comment.

The ordinance that was pulled from the agenda included a five-year renewal option with Priority Waste and would cost the city $13.56 million annually.

But labor unions, residents, and employees have asked the city to continue the contract with Republic Services. City officials and members of council have argued that the company has not lived up to its expectations.

Other members have expressed satisfaction with improvements that Republic Services has made. In January, the company moved to weekly bulk pickup for customers, collecting up to five items each week that weigh no more than 40 pounds each.

The decision to contract with Priority Waste came at a higher cost. When the city initially requested proposals from providers, Priority Waste submitted the lowest annual bid at $935,300 per month. Republic Services submitted the second-lowest bid at $1,006,740 per month.

The city allowed the companies to submit modified proposals after expressing its desire that the company selected use union labor.

Only Republic Services and Priority Waste submitted modified proposals. Republic Services, which already has employees represented by Teamsters Local 20, decreased its monthly total to $977,600. Priority Waste increased its monthly total to $1,123,300.

Mark Schmiehausen, president of Teamsters Local 20, said he has had multiple conversations with Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz regarding the proposed contract with Priority Waste, saying he was pleased that the city decided to take a step back.

“It’s unfortunate that we had to go through this based off the cost increase for Priority’s bid versus Republic’s and the negative effect it would have had on roughly 54 of our members,” Mr. Schmiehausen said. “But nevertheless, we were able to come together and have some good conversations on moving forward with the relationship between the city and Republic.”

Mr. Schmiehausen said one of the things the parties discussed was the creation of an ad hoc committee made up of representatives from the city, Republic, block watch leaders, and Local 20 to mitigate issues as they arise.

Republic Services currently disposes of the city’s refuse and recycling through a contract with the Lucas County Solid Waste Management District. That contract ends Aug. 31.

Mr. Schmiehausen added that since the city will be able to contract directly with whichever company it chooses, it should make communication easier, rather than going through the county.

Council President Vanice Williams said council will send the legislation back to the mayor’s administration at Tuesday’s meeting and will continue to have conversations regarding the refuse and recycling contract.

“We want to make sure we’re listening to our constituents and doing what they feel needs to be done, but we also have to hold our solid waste accountable for some actions,” she said.

Ms. Williams, who represents District 4, has been a vocal critic of Republic Services, citing multiple examples from her constituents where trash pickup was overlooked and not collected.

“Equity is what I need,” Ms. Williams said. “If they’re picking up trash one way in one neighborhood, and it’s good for that neighborhood, then they need to make it good for all of our neighborhoods.”

Ms. Williams emphasized that the administration rescinding the ordinance regarding the refuse contract does not mean the city is choosing Republic Services.

No matter which company the city ultimately contracts with, customers could see higher rates. The city initially proposed an increase from $6.50 a month to $10.50 a month for homestead-exempt properties. For properties that are not homestead-exempt, the rates could increase from $11.50 a month to $18.50 a month.

BOWLING GREEN — An Ohio Investigative Unit agent from Wood County pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing files of child pornography, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Brian Sargent, 49, of Bowling Green, pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children for nearly seven years.

While the agency was trying to identify people sharing child sexual abuse materials as part of an investigation in July, Mr. Sargent was labeled as a suspect. Nearly 700 CSAM files were found on his laptop after a search warrant was issued in August.

His cell phone contained similar content, the agency said. It was determined that Mr. Sargent had been receiving and distributing the explicit material from November, 2018, to August, 2025.

He faces five to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced July 22, officials said.

MONROE — An independent investigation of Monroe schools regarding a transgender student using a female locker room has found that the district did not violate Title IX.

Andrew Shaw, the district’s superintendent, said families were notified Thursday night that the investigation has concluded and the final report was shared with the district and the attorneys representing the parties involved. Mr. Shaw said the district is unable to share the full report due to ongoing legal processes. O'Reilly Rancilio P.C., a law firm based in Sterling Heights, Mich., conducted the investigation.

In December, Sean Lechner, a Monroe High School parent, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education and Michigan Department of Education after learning that a transgender student used the female locker room and competed on a girls team during the volleyball season.

The student played for Ann Arbor Skyline High School’s volleyball team, but the Monroe High Trojans played Ann Arbor Skyline on Sept. 9 at Monroe and again on Oct. 25 at Skyline. Mr. Lechner’s daughter played volleyball for Monroe.

When Skyline was at Monroe, the teams shared a locker room.

Mr. Lechner’s complaint alleges that federal Title IX requirements were not upheld. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities, including athletics, that receive federal financial assistance.

As a result of the complaint, the school district launched a third-party investigation.

In the letter sent to families, Mr. Shaw said the investigation specifically concluded that claims against the district were “unsubstantiated regarding equal access to teams, the provision of a safe environment, and the protection of student privacy and bodily integrity.”

“It is important to note that while the investigator concluded there were no substantiated violations of Title IX, this determination in no way diminishes the concerns raised by members of our community throughout this process,” Mr. Shaw’s letter says. “We recognize that this investigation brought to light important questions regarding our administrative and operational procedures, and communication protocols.”

The letter continues to state that as a proactive remedial measure, the district is no longer allowing shared locker rooms with opposing teams.

The independent investigation was limited to the district’s actions, so no determination was made on whether the Michigan High School Athletic Association complied with Title IX obligations.

It is unclear if the U.S. Department of Education is investigating the matter further. The district said it could not comment on the status or outcomes of federal investigations.

Mr. Lechner declined to comment, deferring to his lawyers. His lawyers did not respond to request for comment.

During the course of the investigation, Chet Hesson, the athletic director for Monroe schools, was placed on paid administrative leave following comments he made about the transgender athlete.

In an interview clip posted by the LGBTQ-focused media outlet Uncloseted Media in December, Mr. Hesson expressed dissatisfaction with the community conversation surrounding the volleyball player.

“For this alleged student at Skyline ... my heart goes to them, whether they’re trans or not,” Mr. Hesson said. “Just having that much negative eyeball on you and rhetoric is like incredible. The amount of pressure that you feel as a 16 or 17 or 18-year-old, to have to deal with that. ... I would not wish that on anybody.”

It is unclear if Mr. Hesson has been reinstated as a result of the concluded investigation. Mr. Shaw said additional legal processes related to the athletic director position are taking place, and the district was unable to share any updates or decisions related to district personnel.

FREMONT — Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums will host a lantern walk through Spiegel Grove in honor of Paul Revere Saturday.

The poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, will be recited during the walk to celebrate Revere warning American colonists the British were coming on April 18, 1775, the museum said.

There will be two walks at 7:30 and 7:45 p.m. The poem will be read in sections at three different stops, featuring two lanterns being lit at 8:45 p.m. in the cupola of the Rutherford B. Hayes Home.

Admission is $5 per person. Tickets are available at showclix.com.

BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University will host its annual Take Back the Night event Sunday, featuring speakers and a demonstration.

The event serves as an empowering and supportive space for those who have suffered partner violence in the form of sexual abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, gender harassment, and relationship violence, organizers said. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the Pallister Conference Room at Jerome Library, 1001 E. Wooster St.

A welcome program is set for 6:15 p.m. and will feature Rosa Beltre, president and CEO of Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence; university advocate Sandra Earle; and Sheena Barnes, director of People and Culture at Equality Ohio and founder of Just ACTS.

A march against sexual and domestic violence will follow at 7:15 p.m. throughout the campus and along East Wooster Street. A performance by Ten40, an a cappella group at BGSU, will conclude the program at 9:30 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students at BGSU in collaboration with The Cocoon, a domestic and sexual violence shelter and advocacy agency in Wood County.

It’s open to those both on and off campus.

Apply for Arts Commission project grants through April 26.

The commission offers support to artists at different stages of their careers, helping them pursue new projects, develop their creative practice, and contribute to the region’s cultural landscape.

In 2025, the program received 49 eligible applications in its pilot year, and awarded $14,500 to five local artists. The commission expects to increase funding this year.

Eligible categories for funding include materials and supplies, equipment, and project support. Applicants across all mediums may request up to $3,000.

Individual artists and members of artist collectives with a residence or studio within 30 miles of downtown Toledo are eligible.

Grant guidelines and the application can be found at theartscommission.org.

MONROE — Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough is asking high school seniors in his jurisdiction who decide to participate in the “senior assassin” game to do so carefully.

A continuing tradition in the area, the game involves students stalking and shooting each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing, according to the sheriff.

Because the game involves a certain degree of hiding and seeking in an effort to surprise other players, local law enforcement agencies inevitably get calls reporting suspicious people who turn out to be students playing the game.

While the sheriff does not condone the game, he does ask participants to keep a number of safety precautions in mind:

● Do not trespass on other people’s property.

● Use water pistols that are brightly colored and clearly toys.

● Hiding in dark places and carrying anything that can be mistaken as a firearm is a recipe for disaster.

● The same goes for wearing masks or camouflage.

● If you see the police, do not run or hide. Players should explain to the officers what they are doing and cooperate.

The sheriff encourages residents who sees something or someone suspicious to call 911 and not to confront the individual themselves.