Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Returns

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, the nation’s largest Oktoberfest celebration, begins today in downtown Cincinnati and runs through Sunday. The festival drew more than 800,000 attendees last year.

The festival will feature German music, polka dancing, local bands, and competitions including the Gemutlichkeit Games, Running of the Wieners, Stein Hoisting, a 14K and 7K run, and the “World’s Largest Chicken Dance.”

Cincinnati’s streetcar will operate with extended hours for the event: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

More details about Oktoberfest Zinzinnati are available on the festival’s website.

Stronger Political Violence Penalties Proposed

Two Republican state representatives have introduced legislation to strengthen penalties for politically motivated violence following the killings of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman.

The proposal would elevate politically motivated homicide to aggravated murder, carrying a mandatory life sentence without parole, and making the crime eligible for the death penalty.

Under the bill, other politically motivated crimes could receive an additional 10 years on top of the original sentence.

Rep. Jack Daniels said he hopes the legislation will deter political violence in Ohio and beyond.

Cleveland Library Lost $400K in Scam

The Cleveland Public Library mistakenly transferred $400,000 to a fraudulent vendor in June 2024, according to a state audit released this week.

Scammers posed as a legitimate vendor and submitted a request to change payment information. The library later recovered the full amount, mostly through insurance.

Auditors said the library lacked proper safeguards to detect fraudulent vendor submissions at the time of the incident, though it immediately implemented proper verification measures to prevent similar scams from occurring in the future.

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➤ Uniontown: Lake Local Schools coaches are no longer allowed to lead their sports teams in prayer after the Freedom From Religion Foundation intervened following a parental complaint. (More)

➤ Statewide: A study of 76 Ohio intersections found single-lane roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 69%, while multi-lane roundabouts saw a 25% decline. (More)

➤ Oregon: Police and fire crews will conduct an active attacker drill from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Bay Park Hospital. (More)

➤ Columbus: Ohio State evacuated Caldwell Lab, the Journalism building, and Bolz Hall on Tuesday after a suspicious device was reported. Authorities later determined it was part of a student project and not a threat. (More)

➤ Cleveland: Council member Joe Jones was censured after external investigations found that he allegedly bullied staff and threatened to kill one city employee. (More)

➤ Cuyahoga County: Officials released design renderings for a new $890 million Central Services Campus in Garfield Heights, which will replace the downtown corrections facility. (See Rendering)

➤ Former Ohio State baseball player and current Seattle Mariner Dominic Canzone went 5-for-5 with three home runs in Tuesday’s 12-5 win over Kansas City. (See Home Run)

➤ The Columbus Blue Jackets opened preseason minicamp on Wednesday, with their first practice scheduled today. Many players who missed significant time with injuries last season are entering this year’s camp healthy. (More)

➤ Six indoor pickleball courts have been installed in a former JoAnn Fabrics in Trumbull County, with opening day set for Oct. 1. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Costco recalled store-brand Prosecco in several states, including Ohio, after reports of bottles shattering, advising customers to safely dispose of unopened bottles. (More)

➤ Kettering Health added PayPal and Venmo as one-time payment options in MyChart, noting accounts will not link directly to the hospital system. (More)

➤ Ohio invested $1.3 million in a STEM initiative with Mantel Technologies to provide tech workshops and demonstrations at up to 10 schools. (More)

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• Quick, clear summaries of what’s happening in the world
• News that skips the partisan drama
• Biblical reminders to keep your heart steady

➤ Matcha Me, a Columbus coffee and tea shop known for viral specialty drinks, plans to open a second location at 14 E. Lincoln St. in the Short North. (More)

➤ State officials have added seven primary and four secondary sites to the Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail, including Lucy Depp Park in Powell and The Gabriel Smith Memorial Gateway to Freedom Display in Eaton. (More)

➤ The 61st annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival begins on Sunday, featuring pumpkin weigh-ins, a car show, and a vendor market throughout the week. (Details)

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Have you ever attended Oktoberfest Zinzinnati?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’d like to

Yesterday’s Results:

Will you try Skyline’s new chicken chili?

1. No Skyline near me: 26%
2. Yes: 25%
3. No: 25%
4. Probably not: 24%

One of WKRP in Cincinnati’s most famous episodes centered on which holiday?

Show me the answer