NWS Confirms Tornado, Derecho

The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday that an EF1 tornado struck south Columbus during Tuesday’s severe storms, with estimated winds of 86 to 110 mph. Franklin County received no tornado warning before the touchdown.

The broader storm system was preliminarily classified as a derecho after producing winds above 80 mph and widespread damage.

In response, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther declared an emergency to free up additional resources for cleanup and “significant infrastructure repairs.”

In southwest Ohio, Hamilton County is directing residents to storm debris drop-off sites at Oakdale Elementary School, Bzak Landscaping, and Rumpke Sanitary Landfill.

Michigan Group Praises Ohio Economy

A Michigan think tank says Ohio is outperforming Michigan economically, citing lower unemployment, higher per capita income, lower income taxes, and regulatory reforms.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy noted that Ohio’s unemployment rate stood at 3.6% in June, compared with Michigan’s 5%, while the Buckeye State’s per capita income has averaged $796.25 higher than Michigan’s since 2007.

The group’s analysis, titled “Ohio Is Eating Our Lunch”, highlighted a DeWine administration initiative launched in 2023 to eliminate nearly one-third of the Ohio Administrative Code by removing duplicative and unnecessary rules.

The praise follows CNBC’s recent ranking of Ohio as the nation’s top state for business, about which DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said, “Being named America’s Top State for Business by CNBC this year means Ohio is not just outperforming Michigan; we’re outperforming every state in the country.”

Hamilton Reaches Little League World Series

Hamilton West Side Little League is headed back to Williamsport after shutting out North Oldham, Kentucky, 6-0 in the Great Lakes Region championship on Wednesday.

Boone Treadway threw a one-hit, complete-game shutout, striking out nine on 62 pitches. Josiah Infante delivered the biggest swing with a two-run home run during Hamilton’s six-run first inning.

The victory sends West Side to its sixth Little League World Series and its first since 2021. Hamilton, a 23-time Ohio state champion, previously reached Williamsport in 1991, 1993, 2007, 2010, and 2021.

The 2026 tournament begins Aug. 19. West Side will face the Mountain Region champion on Aug. 20 at 2 p.m.

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➤ Ottawa County: State Rep. Elgin Rogers Jr., D-Toledo, was released from the Ottawa County jail after a traffic stop led to charges including improper handling of a firearm, driving too slow, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence. (More)

➤ Cleveland: Little Italy’s 127th Feast of the Assumption runs through Sunday with Italian food, live music, and religious observances, including Catholic Mass on Saturday at Holy Rosary Church. (See Schedule)

➤ Mentor: CityFest returns the next two days with concerts, food vendors, children’s activities, a color run, and a parade featuring more than 100 groups. (See Schedule)

➤ Belmont County: An endangered eastern hellbender halted an Ohio Department of Transportation retaining wall project for two days while wildlife officials captured the salamander and transferred it to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. (See Photo)

➤ Akron: Akron Public Schools will require clear bags at district events this school year, prohibit weapons and other restricted items, and subject guests to security screenings. (More)

➤ Toledo: More than $32 million in federal funding will go toward a remediation project at the Lower Maumee River between the Petroleum Marine Terminal and Ironville Marine Terminal. (More)

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➤ Joe Burrow completed 5 of 6 passes for 39 yards over two drives as the Cincinnati Bengals opened the preseason with a 16-14 win over the Detroit Lions. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Shedeur Sanders is slated to start the second preseason game. (More)

➤ Former Cincinnati Bearcats standout Jason Kelce will join the university’s 2026 James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame class, with induction set for Oct. 23 at Fifth Third Arena. (More)

➤ The Columbus Blue Jackets unveiled their 2026-27 theme nights and giveaways, including Peanuts, Marvel, military appreciation, and Star Wars events. Ticket packages go on sale today at 10 a.m. (See Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | Tennis | WNBA | Soccer

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➤ The Better Business Bureau is warning Ohio homeowners about scammers, also known as storm chasers, offering residents potentially fraudulent inspections or repairs. (See Tips)

➤ Delaware County’s Liberty Township and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium settled a lawsuit over fire and EMS funding, with the zoo agreeing to provide $725,000 through 2030. (See Details)

➤ Creekside Restaurant & Bar owner Matt Harper estimates that the Brecksville business discarded about 5,000 pounds of food worth $30,000 after a 35-hour power outage. (More)

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➤ Ohio residents who lost power are being reminded not to taste questionable refrigerated or frozen food after an outage and to follow federal time-and-temperature guidance before keeping or discarding the food. (See Guide)

➤ Starr Manufacturing is suing a Columbus woman for more than $25,000, alleging her one-star Google review contained false and defamatory statements that harmed the Trumbull County company’s reputation. (More)

➤ The F-16 Viper Demonstration Team is practicing over Akron ahead of this weekend’s Props and Pistons Festival, which will feature the U.S. Air Force team, historic aircraft, and STEM activities. (See Details)

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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:

➤ Hawaii’s Big Island is under a hurricane watch as a strengthening Pacific storm threatens heavy rain and flooding. (Hear Details)

➤ Luigi Mangione is reportedly weighing a courtroom move that could upend his murder trial in New York. (Hear Episode)

➤ Tech executives are cloning themselves with artificial intelligence, and some of the digital doubles are already going rogue. (Listen Now)

What draws you most to a local festival?

1. Food
   
2. Live music
   
3. Parades
   
4. Family activities
   
5. Local traditions
   
6. Other (let us know!)

Yesterday’s Results:

Which Ohio view would you rather wake up to?

1. Lake Erie: 25%
2. Rolling farmland: 22%
3. Appalachian hills: 21%
4. Ohio River: 12%
5. City skyline: 10%
6. Other: 10%

On this day in 1945, thousands of Ohioans celebrated what historic event?

Show me the answer