USS Cleveland Joins the Fleet

Saturday morning, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Cleveland (LCS 31) at the Port of Cleveland. It’s the first time a warship has been commissioned in the state of Ohio.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship is the 16th and final of its class ever built, completing a program that started over two decades ago. LCS 31 is built for speed in shallow coastal waters, capable of operating where larger ships cannot.

Robyn Modly, wife of Cleveland native and former U.S. Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, gave the traditional commissioning order: “Man our ship and bring her to life!” At her command, the crew ran aboard and the commissioning pennant was raised.

Cleveland is the fourth U.S. warship to carry the city’s name. Its predecessors served in World War I, World War II, and Vietnam.

Private Schools Dodge Reading Mandate

A carve-out tucked into Ohio’s state budget exempts eight classical charter schools from Gov. Mike DeWine’s Science of Reading mandate.

The schools use classical education methods they say already incorporate systematic phonics instruction, making the state’s mandate redundant. Ohio has invested $164 million rolling out the Science of Reading requirement since it took effect.

The exemption is drawing scrutiny as lawmakers work to finalize Ohio’s two-year state budget this month, with critics suggesting the carve-out contradicts DeWine’s December warning to 10 Ohio colleges found out of alignment with the mandate. 

Buckeyes Baseball Ends 27-Year Skid

Ohio State baseball won the first two games of its three-game series against rival Michigan, giving the Buckeyes their first road Big Ten series victory in Ann Arbor since 1999.

The Buckeyes opened the series Thursday with a 13-2 run-rule victory, as first baseman Dane Harvey tied the program’s single-season home run record with his 19th of the year.

Ohio State clinched the series Friday with a 7-3 win behind six innings from Gavin Kuzniewski, then completed the sweep Saturday with an 8-1 victory sparked by Lee Ellis’ bases-clearing double in the first inning.

It was Ohio State’s first sweep of Michigan in Ann Arbor since 1994.

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➤ Columbus: New Census data ranks Columbus-area suburbs among Ohio’s fastest-growing communities, with growth migrating farther out even as some inner suburbs lose population. (More)

➤ Cleveland: Downtown streets and the lakefront closed Saturday for both the USS Cleveland commissioning ceremony and the Cleveland Marathon, drawing thousands to the waterfront. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: The city’s Planning Commission approved an updated design plan for The Banks riverfront development Friday, a step toward restarting the long-stalled joint project with Hamilton County. (More)

➤ Toledo: The city announced more than $4 million in park improvements and stream restoration projects for 2026, highlighted at the newly renovated amphitheater at Danny Thomas Park. (More)

➤ Youngstown: Youngstown State University is opening a new campus in Steubenville this fall, expanding its footprint even as state officials debate consolidating Ohio’s public universities. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Detroit tonight for Game 7, marking the second straight series for both teams to end in a winner-take-all playoff matchup. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on Prime Video. (More)

➤ Ohio State women’s tennis advanced to the NCAA tournament semifinals with a win over Pepperdine, setting up a Saturday match against Auburn for a berth in the national championship. (See Result)

➤ The LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship moves into its fourth round today at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati. (See Leaderboard)

➤ Centerburg’s Abby Herren, a Miami University signee, set Ohio’s high school softball single-season home run record by hitting her 24th of the year against Loudonville. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA Championship

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➤ Cleveland: The 17th Annual Cleveland Asian Festival opens this weekend in AsiaTown with over 130 vendors. Organizers expect 50,000 attendees to celebrate Asian cultures during America’s 250th anniversary year. (More)

➤ Dayton: Dayton Daily News readers are being asked to name a pair of bald eagle chicks that hatched near the city, a wildlife milestone generating buzz across the Miami Valley. (More)

➤ Statewide: America 250-Ohio has designated 522 counties, cities, and villages as official participants in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. (More)

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Learn how the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks became Ohio’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

video via Ohio History Connection – YouTube

How do you take your Cincinnati chili?

1. 3-Way
2. 4-Way
3. 5-Way
4. I don’t eat it

Yesterday’s Results:

Which Ohio NFL team are you rooting for this fall?

1. Cleveland Browns: 28%
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 26%
3. I prefer college football: 26%
4. Neither: 20%

The USS Cleveland commissioned this weekend is the fourth warship to bear the name. How many times has Ohio had a warship named after one of its cities?

Show me the answer