Ohio AG Wants Flock Misuse Criminalized

Attorney General Andy Wilson asked lawmakers to make misusing Flock license plate camera data a felony.

Wilson, a Republican, noted that unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway is already a fifth-degree felony that costs convicted officers their badges. He wants the same standard for Flock, plus audits and data deletion within 10 to 30 days.

Ohio FOP President Jay McDonald backs guardrails but not a ban. “What we don’t support is eliminating the ability to use these tools to solve crimes, especially violent crimes,” he said.

Columbus paused its Flock use after an audit found more than 15,000 searches possibly tied to immigration enforcement. Reynoldsburg shut its cameras off entirely after two officers resigned over misuse.

State Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, has a bill requiring warrants for outside agencies and 10-day data deletion. Residents in several cities have pushed bans, citing Fourth Amendment concerns.

Ohio Pitches Dayton for Space Academy

Ohio is bidding to put the new U.S. Space Academy at Wright State University and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

President Trump ordered the academy created Aug. 28, and NASA requested site information Sept. 10. Officials made Ohio’s case Monday at the Ohio Defense & Aerospace Forum at Wright State.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said the state would spend about $300 million on facilities, including a research hall the size of four football fields and a road of astronaut statues connecting the campus to the base.

The academy could eventually enroll about 5,000 students a year, starting much smaller. Ohio would build it, though running it requires federal authorization and funding.

Moreno said the bid isn’t guaranteed. Ohio expects competition from Alabama, Florida and Texas, states with longer track records in space.

Storms Cut Power to 17,000

Sunday night’s storms knocked out power to more than 17,000 AES Ohio customers across the Miami Valley.

Montgomery County took the worst of it, with 13,558 customers out as of 11:35 p.m. Greene County reported 2,078, and Clinton and Warren counties more than 800 each.

Flooded roads pushed Celina City Schools and Parkway Local Schools to two-hour delays Monday. Flooding also closed several streets in Xenia.

A tree fell on the roof of the Centerville Child Development Center during Sunday night’s storms, closing the center Monday.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Ohio’s chronic absenteeism rate in schools fell to 23.9% in 2025-26 from 25.1% the year before, according to new state report cards. That’s still well above the pre-pandemic mark of 16.7%, and the state’s target is 12.8%. (See Report)

➤ Hartville: Hartville adopted a drive-thru escape lane requirement Sept. 14, becoming the fifth Ohio community with one after the 2024 shooting death of Megan Keleman, 25, in a Stow Taco Bell line. Senate Bill 264 would make it statewide but remains stuck in committee. (See Details)

➤ Washington County: Chazz Bates, a rig hand burned in the Aug. 25, 2025, orphan well explosion in Wayne National Forest, sued Monroe Drilling Operations and Formation Cementing in county common pleas court. (See Details)

➤ Cleveland: Nearly 2,000 people walked Wade Oval Park on Saturday for the annual Autism Speaks Walk and 5K, raising money for research and family support. Organizer Kelli Briggs, who attends each year with her 11-year-old son Nicholas, said the day is about awareness and kindness. (Read Story)

➤ Allen County: A 74-year-old Fremont pilot walked away from a crash at Allen County Regional Airport near Lima on Sunday afternoon. Troopers said John Shaffer’s landing gear wasn’t fully locked down, and the fuselage hit the ground. (More)

➤ Columbiana County: ODOT closed ramps at the U.S. Route 30 and State Route 11 interchange near West Point on Monday, the first phase of a five-phase pavement rehabilitation. The closure should last 45 days, with detours running from State Route 11 to State Route 154. (See Map)

Enjoy reading The Ohio Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Cincinnati Reds All-Star pitcher Chase Burns was placed on the injured list with a groin strain, ending a breakout season in which he went 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 185 strikeouts. The 23-year-old signed a seven-year, $105 million extension in July. (More)

➤ Ohio lawmakers are weighing a bill that would legalize online casino games but require operators to drive customers into the state’s 11 brick-and-mortar casinos rather than offering digital bonus credits. The proposal could generate up to $400 million a year in state revenue. (More) 

➤ The Columbus Clippers topped 511,000 fans this season, finishing third in Minor League Baseball attendance despite five rainouts. Huntington Park has ranked in the top five nationally every year since it opened in 2009. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | WNBA | NHL | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ We think we’ve found one of the easiest ways to add something healthy to your daily routine. It takes seconds, tastes surprisingly good, and makes getting your greens feel much less complicated. If you’ve been looking for one small habit you can actually stick with, this is worth checking out. See the daily greens we’ve been using.

➤ Ohio is spending $18 million to grow its supply of licensed mental health and addiction providers, a shortage that can leave rural patients waiting months for care. Scholarships cover graduate tuition at the University of Cincinnati and 17 other schools for students who commit to high-need settings. (More)

➤ Polling released by advocacy groups Groundwork Ohio and First Five Years Fund found 76% of Ohio voters call childcare a crisis or major problem, with agreement across party lines. Childcare averages $13,780 a year in Ohio, and prices rose 29% nationally between 2020 and 2024. (See Details)

➤ Scrubs & Beyond is closing both Central Ohio stores, on Morse Road and in Reynoldsburg, as part of a nationwide shutdown of more than 100 locations in 30 states. Parent company Kindthread hasn’t given a closing date or a reason. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ See who’s at your door from virtually anywhere with the BellGuard Smart Doorbell. Its HD camera, infrared night vision, real-time phone alerts, and two-way audio help you keep an eye on visitors whether you’re home or away. Upgrade your front-door security and get BellGuard today.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Flooding closed the Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival early Saturday in the Hocking Hills, swamping the parking areas, artists’ marketplace, music stage, and food truck court. Mud and water got into Jack Pine’s glassblowing studio too. (See Photos)

➤ More than 70 dachshunds in hot dog costumes ran 10 heats down a 70-foot course Sunday at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, chasing the title of Cincinnati’s fastest wiener dog. SPCA Cincinnati puts on the race to promote adoptions. (See Video)

➤ A couple who got married Saturday at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo skipped the registry, asking guests to give to the nonprofit The Littlest Heroes instead. It helped their family through a childhood cancer battle years ago, and it’s where the couple met. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Take your adventures to new heights with the Skyhawk Drone. Capture impressive aerial photos and video while enjoying an easy-to-fly design built for beginners and experienced pilots alike. Whether exploring the outdoors or capturing unforgettable moments from above, Skyhawk makes flying fun. Get yours today and take to the skies.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Researchers found the timing of your retirement may matter far more than just to your savings account. (Listen Now)

➤ Insiders at major AI companies are openly mocking viral warnings that the technology could wipe out humanity. (Hear Episode)

➤ The New York Times writer behind the 1619 Project now says her decade-long public school experiment may have cheated her own daughter. (Hear Details)

Would you enter your dog(s) in a costume contest?

1. Absolutely
2. Only if there’s a trophy
3. They’d never forgive me
4. No dog

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you own any cryptocurrency?

1. No: 91%
2. Yes: 6%
3. I used to: 3%

Which 1980s sitcom starring Michael J. Fox was set in Columbus?

Show me the answer