Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, the nation's first Medal of Honor was presented to Private Jacob Parrott of Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry for his role in destroying bridges and capturing a train 200 miles behind Confederate lines.

The Grove City High School band performed a tribute to service members and veterans while aboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. You can watch the performance in today's Around Ohio section.

We're sponsored today by the nonprofit World Concern, offering an opportunity to help people in need in the Congo.

Train Derailment Trial Begins Next Week

A federal trial will begin next week in Youngstown to address the $600 million settlement for the 2023 East Palestine train derailment.

The jury will hear arguments on whether Norfolk Southern Railway should be solely responsible for paying the settlement.

Norfolk Southern contends two other companies share partial responsibility: GATX Corporation, which leased railcars to Norfolk Southern, and OxyVinyls LP, which produced the chemicals carried by the train.

Norfolk Southern alleges that GATX failed to properly inspect and maintain a railcar and that OxyVinyls provided an inaccurate Safety Data Sheet for its vinyl chloride.

Suspended Teacher Followed Student Home

A Perrysburg intermediate school teacher was placed on administrative leave after following a school bus to a student's home, telling police he wanted to check if the student finished their homework.

The unidentified teacher said he was confirming the student's completion of an assignment because the class would receive a pizza party if all students finished their assignments, police said.

The student's family reported the teacher to school administrators, describing the teacher's behavior as unusual since the school uses an online portal for email and assignments.

"We encourage all students and families to speak up whenever they have concerns about staff conduct so we can address them right away," Perrysburg Superintendent Tom Hosler said in a statement.

Airbnbs Open Near Shawshank Set

Fans of The Shawshank Redemption can now stay overnight when visiting the Ohio State Reformatory, which served as the movie's prison set.

Two mid-19th-century houses adjacent to the reformatory are now available to guests through Airbnb. The homes were once residences for reformatory guards and their families.

Reservations at Retro House and Hatlan House include discounted tours of the reformatory. Both properties were recently renovated and decorated in a 1940s style.

Hatlan House features themed bedrooms, such as Andy's Cell and Warden Norton's Office.

Flying together with our sponsor

Crisis in DRC

A decades-long conflict in eastern Congo has gone from a simmer to a boil in recent months.

Last week, Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 ignored calls for a ceasefire, seizing a strategic town in Congo—one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the world. M23 is one of nearly 100 armed groups that have been vying for control of the mineral-rich area, and the resulting conflict has caught civilians (including many Christians) in the middle, creating one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises.

Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Council launched an investigation into allegations of atrocities, such as mass killings of civilians, by multiple groups.

An estimated 7 million people have been displaced, and more than 25 million people—approximately one in four Congolese—face acute food insecurity.

➤ State: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno and 15 of 23 Republican state senators have endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor. (More)

➤ Johnstown: The 1,700-student Johnstown-Monroe School District expects its enrollment to triple due to Intel's planned Licking County plant. (More)

➤ Grove City: The Grove City High School Band performed aboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor on Sunday, honoring veterans and current service members. (See Video)

➤ Trumbull and Mahoning counties: Victims targeted by fraudulent PayPal email scams have lost thousands of dollars. One perpetrator falsely claimed to be a CIA agent. (More)

➤ Allen County: Wapak Road, between State Road and Billymack Road, is closed through Friday for bridge work. (More)

➤ Clearcreek Township: Escaped cows found on Vicki Lane near Pekin Road were returned to their owner Monday morning. (See Photo)

➤ The Ohio State football team will visit the White House next month to celebrate its national championship, meeting President Trump and Vice President Vance, an OSU graduate. (More)

➤ The Columbus Blue Jackets activated defenseman Erik Gudbranson and forward Sean Monahan off injured reserve. (More)

➤ The U.S. women's national soccer team will return to Cincinnati's TQL Stadium this summer for two matches against the Republic of Ireland. (More)

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➤ 5,000 packages of cheese have been recalled from Aldi stores in four states, including Ohio, due to the presence of "stainless steel fragments." (More)

➤ Skyline Chili's nachos returned on Monday, and customers can now add jalapenos to them or their 3, 4, and 5-Ways. (Details)

➤ Investigators ruled that a December fire that severely damaged BYRIGHT Car Dealership in Cleveland was arson. The building is scheduled for demolition today. (More)

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Flying together with our sponsor

Join us in partnering with World Concern to help the most vulnerable in the Congo and in countries around the world where World Concern serves by providing life-sustaining nutrition, clean water, medication, and more with the love of Jesus. Every $27 provides someone with these emergency essentials.

➤ The Russia community greeted its high school boys' basketball team with fireworks and fire trucks upon the team's return from winning the school's first state title. (See Video)

➤ Ohio State's BuckeyeMail for Life program will be discontinued next month, resulting in alumni losing access to their student email accounts. (Details)

➤ The U.S. Air Force Museum is hosting a special exhibit exploring connections between space and deep-sea exploration, on display until the end of April. (More)

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