Dead Fish Numbers Hit 20,000

Up to 20,000 fish died along an 11-mile stretch of the Maumee River after fertilizer-tainted floodwater overwhelmed containment dams near Napoleon over the weekend.

The die-off traces back to a July 3 spill of liquid fertilizer into Huston Creek in Henry County. Heavy weekend rain breached three earthen dams built to hold the contamination, sending ammonia-laden runoff into the river, Acting Napoleon City Manager Chad Lulfs said. 

“The ammonia reacting in the water essentially uses up all the dissolved oxygen in the water, so the fish are essentially suffocating,” Lulfs said. Fish ranged from 3-inch sunfish to 40-inch carp, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Testing found ammonia levels well below thresholds harmful to humans, and city officials say Napoleon’s drinking water remains safe. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has cited two neighboring businesses and says cleanup and monitoring will continue.

Lettuce Blamed for Parasite Surge

Michigan health officials have determined that lettuce or salad greens are most likely to blame for the parasitic outbreak that has sickened 397 people in Ohio and thousands nationwide.

Ohio has the nation’s second-highest case count, only behind Michigan.

Most cases have been concentrated in Lucas and Wood counties.

“It’s humiliating. I’m just going to level with you,” one Northeast Ohio woman said, describing weeks of symptoms after eating lettuce, tomatoes and cilantro.

At Cleveland’s West Side Market, vendors are stepping up washing routines as the outbreak spreads nationally.

Marietta Residents Fear Brine Waste

Radioactive brine waste leaking from a Washington County injection well has residents fearing it could reach Marietta’s drinking water, with cleanup potentially costing tens or hundreds of millions.

Pressure readings in three wells near the Redbird #4 well have climbed sharply since 2023—in one case over 1,800%—a sign of underground brine migration, researchers say. Geologist David Jeffery worries the same process could push waste toward the city’s aquifers.

“We have a serious environmental problem here, and it’s clear that it’s expanding,” Jeffery said. Well owner Bob Wilson said the brine has ruined dozens of his gas wells.

A 2020 ODNR probe found brine had migrated into 28 wells up to five miles away, though the agency said then it was unlikely to reach drinking water. Marietta officials, who’ve asked for a moratorium near the city’s aquifer, say they’ve gotten no response.

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➤ Columbus: Nine suspected members of a human trafficking ring operating in west Columbus were charged with multiple felonies Monday. (See Details)

➤ Franklin County: The dog shelter became overcrowded after more than 200 dogs arrived over the Fourth of July weekend, prompting the shelter to offer $18 adoptions to ease capacity. (See Details)

➤ Ottawa County: Oak Harbor is preparing to replace its wastewater treatment plant, moving forward on a major infrastructure project. (Read Story)

➤ Cincinnati: The public school district approved its 2027 budget with cuts, including 111 eliminated positions, while delaying a vote on a levy option. (See Details)

➤ Youngstown: Mayor Derrick McDowell is asking the city council for $350,000 to keep the struggling Cornersburg Sparkle market open. (See Details)

➤ Toledo: A year after Ohio cut $25 million from public library funding statewide, Toledo Lucas County Public Library is asking voters to help close the gap with a new levy on November’s ballot. (More)

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➤ Cleveland’s incoming WNBA franchise named KeyBank its first founding partner, with 9,000 season tickets already sold ahead of its inaugural season. (More)

➤ Middletown native Kyle Schwarber was bested by Jordan Walker in the dramatic final round of the Home Run Derby Monday evening. (More)

➤ Four-star offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr., an in-state recruiting target, committed to Alabama over the Buckeyes. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ A $155 million expansion by a global electrical manufacturer is bringing more than 60 new jobs to the Miami Valley region near Dayton. (See Details)

➤ Akron City Council voted to object to the Highland Tavern’s liquor license renewal, citing 40 police calls over two years. The owner disputes the claims. (More)

➤ Rally House’s Lane Avenue store, a stop for Ohio State game day shoppers near Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, could be demolished and rebuilt under plans filed with the city of Columbus. (More)

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➤ An Amur leopard cub was born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, marking the first leopard birth in its history. (See Video)

➤ The 180th Trumbull County Fair runs through Sunday with a milkshake bar, new acts like Steamers Thrill Show, and a bicentennial-themed historical village; tickets start at $5 online. (See Details)

➤ An 1880 one-room schoolhouse in Lake Fork now operates as a bed-and-breakfast, giving guests a taste of 19th-century Ohio. (See Video)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Hearing specialists say once hearing fades, it’s gone for good, making a few simple habits the only way to protect it. (See Habits)

➤ Newly released records show a former special counsel’s team accessed texts from dozens of lawmakers in both parties, drawing constitutional accusations. (Hear Episode)

➤ A state just cleared the way for seniors in assisted living to raise a glass together, no liquor license required. (Listen Now)

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