Two Killed in Toledo Plant Explosions

Two Brent Industries workers were killed when explosions tore through the industrial recycling plant on South Avenue in south Toledo early Tuesday.

The blasts hit shortly before 5 a.m. during a shift change, with 12 workers inside. Most got out with minor injuries.

Firefighters searching the rubble found a woman’s body hours later, then the man’s. Family members identified the woman as Mary Allen; the Lucas County coroner will release both names.

Crews fought the fire into the afternoon around tanks of mineral spirits, with part of the collapsed roof still hanging against a wall. “They’ve got hazardous materials in there, so we’re dealing with chemicals and runoff and tanks that exploded,” Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said.

OSHA is investigating and no cause has been determined. 

DeWine Launches Nine-City Economic Tour

Gov. Mike DeWine opened a nine-city tour in Cleveland Monday, marking Ohio’s No. 1 finish in CNBC’s Top States for Business ranking.

“We have more jobs filled in the state of Ohio today than we’ve ever had in our entire history,” DeWine said. He and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel carried the message to Youngstown later Monday.

The candidates running to succeed him disagree about what comes next. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy wants to phase out the state income tax, while DeWine, who has urged the next governor to leave income taxes alone, said Monday that no CEO has ever told him Ohio’s rate is too high.

Democrat Amy Acton points to Ohio’s 42nd-place US News ranking for quality of life and would attach conditions to state support for business. Libertarian Don Kissick’s campaign argues development money should go to locally owned businesses rather than incentives for large corporations.

Complaint Seeks Disbarment in Pension Scandal

Campaign for Accountability filed a bar complaint Monday against Seth Metcalf, asking the Ohio Supreme Court to weigh disbarring the former state deputy treasurer.

Metcalf runs QED Technologies, the startup investment firm at the center of the State Teachers Retirement System’s more than $100 billion fund. A judge in February removed board chair Rudy Fichtenbaum and permanently barred former member Wade Steen, finding they acted as agents for QED as it sought $65 billion to manage.

The complaint says trial texts showed Metcalf drafted memos, letters, and talking points that Steen and Fichtenbaum presented as their own, conduct it argues violated rules against dishonesty.

Metcalf’s attorney, Lisa Zaring, said he “denies engaging in any unethical conduct” and expects the confidential review to clear him. He was never criminally or civilly charged; disciplinary counsel has 90 days to decide whether to pursue a formal complaint.

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➤ Statewide: The Ohio School Safety Center is lending schools mobile camera trailers for football games and other large campus events, with eight units available statewide by request. Fairborn City Schools plans to use one this season. (See Details)

➤ Sandusky: A guest was hurt Aug. 13 while riding Siren’s Curse at Cedar Point and taken to a hospital. Spokesman Tony Clark said the tilt coaster functioned as designed and reopened the same day after routine safety checks. (More)

➤ Beachwood: Mayor Justin Berns released a statement and timeline telling residents he has had no involvement in a possible sale of the former DoubleTree by Hilton site on Park East Drive to his brother, developer Jonathan Berns. (See Details)

➤ Columbus: Two women were wounded Monday night when gunmen fired toward officers talking with residents on Gibbard Avenue in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood, Columbus police said. One officer fired his gun, and no suspects have been identified. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: The Phoenix, the historic event hall at 812 Race St. downtown, will reopen in spring 2027 after the Scottish Rite Masons bought it for $2.2 million. It has been closed since 2023 and already has three weddings booked. (See Details)

➤ Youngstown: City Council cleared a long list of spending at a special meeting Monday, including authorizing bids on the $1.46 million Colby Avenue water transmission line, a project the water commissioner expects to finish within 90 days. (More)

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➤ Cincinnati and Cleveland ranked fourth and 10th out of 30 NFL markets in a new Nielsen fan passion index. Nielsen credited both cities’ high rankings to strong local radio and TV viewership relative to their market size. (More)

➤ Five Ohio State players landed on CBS Sports’ top 150 college football players list, the most of any program. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith topped the rankings at No. 1 for the second straight year. (More)

➤ The Columbus Crew loaned midfielder Hugo Picard to French first-division club Troyes, with a purchase option included. The 23-year-old had six goals and two assists in 33 appearances for Columbus. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis

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➤ Tipp City Council approved a purchase option Monday giving Meijer exclusive rights to 17 acres near County Road 25A and Ohio 571 for a grocery and general merchandise store. The city has lacked a grocery store since 2019, and Meijer can still walk away during due diligence. (See Details)

➤ Warrensville Heights stands to lose about $1.3 million a year in income-tax revenue now that Sherwin-Williams has moved its technical center staff to Brecksville, roughly 6% of the city’s 2024 municipal income-tax collections. (See Details)

➤ Rum Runners Cafe, a 1920s-themed restaurant in Kettering, will close Saturday after two years, co-owner Jamie Campbell announced. (More)

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➤ Akron Art Museum reopens its 1899 building, Akron’s original post office, on Sept. 23 after a $12.5 million renovation that added 2,152 square feet of gallery space and a classroom. It’s the biggest change to the downtown campus since 2007. (See Details)

➤ A senior dog named Isabella spent nearly seven hours in water at the bottom of a 60-foot ravine near Ohio 45 in Lisbon before Columbiana County humane officers hauled her out with two ladders, 60 feet of rope, and two hours of work. (See Rescue)

➤ The Jonas Brothers added a Columbus stop to The Burning Up Tour All Over Again, playing Nationwide Arena at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 with Magnus Ferrell and Deleasa. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday. (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:

➤ Your childhood kitchen held these five staples that America has abandoned, and experts now say one is healthier than butter. (See Foods)

➤ Fraternity pledges were allegedly forced to cut and bag cocaine for a sprawling drug ring at Penn State. (Hear Details)

➤ Reports of worsening conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are raising serious questions about life on the warship. (Listen Now)

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