Thursday, August 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1831, future First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes was born in Chillicothe. As the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, she served as First Lady from 1877 to 1881 and was the first presidential wife to graduate from college.

Looking for Labor Day plans? Check out seven festivals around the state this weekend in Top Stories.

Later this afternoon, keep an eye on your inbox for a special story from our founder. It’s about his dad, Grandpa Jim, and the life-changing difference a simple pair of hearing aids made. We can’t wait to share this heartfelt message with you.

Learn about these 11 weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know about, courtesy of today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Kroger to Cut Nearly 1,000 Jobs

Kroger, based in Cincinnati, will lay off nearly 1,000 corporate employees nationwide, including about 200 positions in the Queen City.

The reductions do not affect workers in Kroger’s supermarkets, manufacturing plants, or distribution centers.

These cuts follow 200 layoffs in March within Cincinnati’s data analytics unit and a June announcement that 60 stores nationwide will close in the next 18 months.

Interim CEO Ron Sargent, said the moves will “simplify the organization” and allow the company to lower grocery prices and add hours for store employees.

Buckeyes Look to Defend National Title

Ohio State opens its title defense Saturday against Texas, launching a season in which the Buckeyes are seeking back-to-back national championships after capturing the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff title last year.

Redshirt freshman Julian Sayin will start at quarterback, joined by star receiver Jeremiah Smith. Offensive captains are wideout Brandon Inniss and tackle Austin Siereveld. Brian Hartline takes over as offensive coordinator.

Captains Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles headline the defense, with Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. expected to shine at cornerback. Super Bowl-winning coach Matt Patricia will be the Buckeyes’ new defensive coordinator.

Ohio State has never repeated as national champions. Its last title defense, in 2015, ended short of the playoffs with a 12-1 final record. See the projected depth chart here.

Ohio Labor Day Festival Lineup

As Ohioans look ahead to Labor Day weekend, towns across the state will host festivals featuring food, music, and culture—ranging from Jimmy Buffett tributes to cotton candy.

Cleveland’s Oktoberfest kicks off Friday and runs through Monday, showcasing beer, food, German culture, and even costumed wiener dog races at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

In Waynesville, the Ohio Renaissance Festival opens Saturday for its 2025 season—continuing through Oct. 26—with jousting, costumed performers, themed games, and turkey legs.

Also on the calendar: the Columbus Greek Festival; Port Clinton’s Perch, Peach, Pierogi, & Polka Festival; Fairport Harbor’s Harboritaville; Fairborn’s Cotton Candy Festival; and West Jefferson’s Ox Roast featuring 5,000 pounds of round roast.

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Do you shop at Costco?

Discover insider ways to keep more money in your pocket with these smart tips from today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Stretch your dollar every visit! Look for asterisks on price tags—those deals won’t return. Shop Costco.com for online-only savings, and let the Costco Savings Booklet automatically apply discounts at checkout.

Plus, decode price endings: .79, .49, and .89 mean manufacturer savings, while .88 or .00 signal deep markdowns or clearance.

Shop smarter, spend less, and make Costco work harder for your budget.

➤ Statewide: A bipartisan group of state lawmakers introduced a bill to criminalize hate crimes, increasing penalties for assaults or threats based on race, sex, or political affiliation. (More)

➤ Dublin: Officials have begun redrawing high school boundaries to address uneven enrollment growth, following similar adjustments last year to its elementary and middle schools. (More)

➤ Columbus: The Ohio State University directed residence halls to stick with Buckeyes-themed decorations, citing compliance with a state law restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion programming at public universities. (More)

➤ McConnelsville: Gov. Mike DeWine and community leaders announced the beginning of projects to revitalize the downtown streetscape, improve riverfront access, and renovate the Twin City Opera House. (More)

➤ Dayton: The city broke ground on a yearlong renovation of Kettering Field, adding upgraded athletic fields, pickleball and tennis courts, improved lighting, restrooms, and other amenities. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: Sid Taylor was named the executive director of the American Red Cross’ Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, where he will oversee disaster relief and community preparedness efforts. (More)

➤ Cincinnati, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami, and Ohio open their college football seasons tonight, facing Nebraska, Wyoming, Lafayette, Wisconsin, and Rutgers, respectively. (Scoreboard)

➤ Major League Baseball released the 2026 schedule. The Cincinnati Reds open at home versus the Boston Red Sox, while the Cleveland Guardians visit the Mariners in Seattle. (More)

➤ Dillon Gabriel was named the Cleveland Browns’ No. 2 quarterback behind starter Joe Flacco and ahead of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open

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➤ Delta Air Lines will launch daily nonstop service between John Glenn International in Columbus and Austin-Bergstrom in June 2026 through Delta Connection partner SkyWest, citing Columbus as a growing Midwest tech hub. (More)

➤ Westerville-based Vertiv acquired Belgium’s Waylay NV, a generative AI software company, to bolster monitoring technologies for its power and cooling systems. (More)

➤ Another Nine, a 24/7 self-service golf simulator concept, will open a Montgomery Quarter location by December, offering on-demand tee times. (More)

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Love shopping at Costco?

You know the thrill of saving—but you could be keeping even more money in your wallet. From hidden price-tag codes to secret markdowns and online-only deals, these simple hacks show you how to cut costs on every trip—no coupons required.

➤ The Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band will perform in the 2027 Rose Parade, joining high school, military, and international bands on the 5.5-mile route in Pasadena, California. (More)

➤ The Ohio Supreme Court unveiled a women in law exhibit at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, honoring legal trailblazers and inspiring young Ohioans to consider careers in the legal field. (More)

➤ Historic hand-drawn plat maps from the 1880s were discovered in the attic of the Toledo Police Safety Building, shedding light on Toledo’s early city landscape. (More)

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