Faurecia to Close Franklin Plant

Auto supplier Faurecia plans to close its Franklin plant and lay off all 180 of its employees starting in January, according to a notice filed with the state.

Faurecia Clean Mobility, which makes emissions control technology on Commerce Center Drive, will begin layoffs in five phases from Jan. 8 through about April 30.

Parent company Forvia, one of the world’s largest auto suppliers, filed the required state notice but gave no reason for the closure. In 2024, the company also shuttered a plant in Troy.

The Franklin plant previously drew federal scrutiny after a 26-year-old worker was killed there in October 2023. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration called the death preventable.

Ohio State, Microsoft Plan ‘Smart Hospital’

Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and Microsoft announced a five-year partnership to bring artificial intelligence and cloud technology into patient care, research, and education.

The reported $250 million effort targets administrative tasks, which Wexner CEO Dr. John Warner said eat up as much as half the day for some nurses. It could also tailor rooms to patients, such as dimming the lights for migraine sufferers.

Early work at two Wexner facilities has improved temperature control from 88% to 98%, and Ohio State aims to shift 70% to 80% of its computing to Microsoft’s cloud to guard against outages.

Warner said Ohio State hopes to share what it builds with smaller, rural communities, while Microsoft’s Dianne Kennedy stressed that “AI is not the care provider.”

Hogwarts, Star Wars Head to Blossom

The Cleveland Orchestra will perform some of John Williams’ iconic scores live next summer as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Star Wars: A New Hope are screened at Blossom Music Center.

Former associate conductor Brett Mitchell will lead the Harry Potter shows July 31 and Aug. 1, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra associate conductor Jacob Joyce will lead Star Wars Sept. 3-5, during the film’s 50th anniversary year.

Tickets went on sale this week at clevelandorchestra.com, and the rest of the 2027 summer season will be announced at a later date.

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➤ Franklin County: Mifflin Township trustees voted to disband the township’s police department after 56% of voters rejected a levy that would have increased property taxes. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will handle emergencies. (More)

➤ Central Ohio: The region could grow from about 2.5 million residents to as many as 3.1 million by 2055, regional planners project, after international migration accounted for 96% of its net migration since 2020. (More)

➤ Athens: Health officials launched an investigation into four confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and urged residents to wash their hands and stay home until 48 hours after their last bout of vomiting or diarrhea. (More)

➤ LaGrange: Residents packed a special council meeting Tuesday over water bills running hundreds of dollars higher than normal after new meters revealed the old ones had undercounted usage. (More)

➤ Piketon: A record 1,500-plus students from 34 schools gathered at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a Cold War-era uranium enrichment site, for a federal STEM career day featuring a robotic arm and a fire simulator demonstration. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Browns will start Deshaun Watson Sunday against his former team, the Houston Texans, a week after backup Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints. (More)

➤ Two former Buckeyes earned NFL weekly honors: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud for throwing five touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Giants rookie Arvell Reese for recording three sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. (More)

➤ The Cincinnati Bengals backed out of a trade for Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to protect a 2027 compensatory draft pick. (More)

➤ The Columbus Blue Jackets opened a free pop-up in the Short North, where fans can make it snow indoors, sign a giant ice sculpture, and design custom team gear through Dec. 30. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NHL | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Data centers contributed more than $9 billion to Ohio’s economy last year and supported 69,600 jobs, according to a report from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. (More)

➤ Buc-ee’s trademark lawsuit against Beavercreek’s locally owned Beaver’s Mini Mart could be thrown out after a federal judge gave the Texas chain until Nov. 17 to explain why it hasn’t served the store within the 90-day deadline. (More)

➤ OhioHealth plans to invest $700 million in New Albany Methodist Hospital, a 160-bed facility on the former Big Lots headquarters site that’s set to open in late 2030 with about 1,700 employees. (More)

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Whistleblowing Doctor Links Common Health Issues to Widespread “Grocery Scam”

One of America’s top doctors is hoping you’ll read this before you set foot in another grocery store.

➤ Volunteer drivers in rural Noble County have spent about a decade taking aging veterans to doctor appointments, and one even waited through 87-year-old Vietnam veteran Rex Theobald’s heart surgery to update his wife. (More)

➤ A long-delayed hotel in Columbus’ Harrison West, featured on Magnolia Network’s A Home Away, added new co-owners and is expected to open as The Harrison Hotel in early 2027. (More)

➤ A Dayton server performed the Heimlich maneuver on a choking little boy at George’s Family Restaurant last weekend after his mother screamed for help. (More)

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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. 

➤ Those old family rules about swimming, sugar, and knuckle cracking are finally getting scientific verdicts. (See List)

➤ In his only interview before a new memoir, former President Joe Biden is downplaying the debate that ended his 2024 campaign. (Listen Now)

➤ Migraines hold a hidden connection to women’s health, and a leading neurologist is breaking down why women suffer from them more than men. (Hear Details)

Which John Williams movie score is your favorite?

1. Star Wars
   
2. Harry Potter
   
3. Jaws
   
4. Indiana Jones
   
5. Jurassic Park
   
6. Home Alone
   
7. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Did someone in your family serve in the military?

1. Multiple family members: 37%
2. A parent: 26%
3. I did: 13%
4. Extended family: 11%
5. Spouse or child: 10%
6. None that I know of: 3%

What Ohio airport was the first in the U.S. to be served by a commercial airline?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)