Columbus Allowed to Appeal Blocked Gun Laws

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that an appeals court must hear the city of Columbus’ appeal of a preliminary injunction blocking the city’s firearms ordinances in a case dating to 2022.

In 2022, the Columbus City Council passed legislation banning standard 30-round magazines and requiring secure gun storage in homes with children.

A Delaware County judge blocked the laws from taking effect, and the Fifth District Court of Appeals dismissed the city’s appeal.

In a 5-2 decision Wednesday, the state Supreme Court ruled that municipalities may immediately challenge trial court orders while lawsuits are pending, sending Columbus’ appeal back to the appeals court.

AG Pushes to Bring Back Death Penalty

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called for ending the state’s “unofficial moratorium” on executions in his eighth and final annual Capital Crimes Report.

Yost said that during his eight years as attorney general, no executions have been carried out, something he called a “mockery of the justice system and of the dead and their families.”

The state’s unofficial moratorium stems from difficulty obtaining lethal-injection drugs. Yost said other states, which use the same suppliers, have carried out capital sentences in the same time frame.

In Ohio, 12 people have been wrongfully convicted and later exonerated from death row, which advocacy groups say shows the death penalty system is flawed.

Spoiler: Ohio Actor Reflects on NCIS Role

The 500th episode of the CBS crime drama NCIS marked the exit of a longtime character portrayed by Cincinnati native Rocky Carroll.

In the episode, Carroll’s character, NCIS Director Leon Vance, was killed in a shooting. Carroll played the role for 18 seasons and 392 episodes.

Carroll’s acting career began at Cincinnati Public Schools’ School for Creative and Performing Arts in Over-the-Rhine, where he graduated in 1981.

Carroll said the pursuit of excellence and real talent can “transcend” many of society’s ills, adding that those values were instilled in him at SCPA.

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➤ Toledo: Courtney Hruska, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $23,000 from the congresswoman’s personal bank account, saying she believed the congresswoman was “not tech-savvy.” (More)

➤ Northern Ohio: The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down during Tuesday’s storms: an EF-1 near Hicksville and an EF-0 in Apple Creek. (More)

➤ Cleveland: Immaculate Conception Church on the city’s Near East side will close after nearly 150 years and merge with the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist parish. (See Photo)

➤ Cincinnati: St. Xavier High School purchased the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science property for expansion, with the college set to relocate to Xavier University. (More)

➤ Delphos: A $20 million state grant will fund construction of a new “future-ready” Jefferson Middle School. The existing building was built in 1904. (More)

➤ Mahoning County: A man convicted of biting two deputies asked a judge to extend his sentence from 12 months to 18, saying it wasn’t an April Fools’ joke and that he wanted more time for vocational training and counseling. (More)

➤ Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon, held each May, ranked as the nation’s second-best marathon in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, behind the Detroit Free Press Marathon. (See Ranking)

➤ Cambridge native Colt Emerson agreed to an eight-year, $95 million extension with the Seattle Mariners—the largest contract in MLB history for a player who has not yet made his major league debut. (More)

➤ St. Francis de Sales will leave the Northwest Hockey Conference after nearly five decades, citing competitive imbalance and scheduling challenges as the program seeks stronger competition following years of dominant play. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis | Golf

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➤ Panera will close its West Chester Fresh Dough Facility in May, cutting 70 jobs as part of a bakery strategy shift, with layoffs expected between May 20-22. (More)

➤ The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved AEP Ohio’s request to raise distribution rates, granting an $11 million increase—well below the $97 million the company sought. (More)

➤ Sierra Nevada Corp. opened two hangars in the Miami Valley, expanding its aerospace and defense footprint, supporting Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and advancing national security and technology innovation efforts. (More)

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➤ The Division of Parks and Watercraft launched a statewide hiking challenge to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, offering Ohioans 25- or 250-mile adventures through state parks, forests, nature preserves, and wildlife areas. (Details)

➤ Ohio will keep Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch limits unchanged through April 2027, allowing six walleye daily and variable perch limits by zone as officials cite record harvests. (See Limits)

➤ A man won a $1 million lottery scratch-off at a Grandview Heights GetGo after stopping for coffee on his way to work, turning a routine morning into a life-changing moment. (More)

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Should Ohio use the death penalty?

1. Yes
   
2. Rarely
   
3. No
   

Yesterday’s Results:

Did you watch the Artemis II space launch?

1. Yes: 55%
2. No: 45%

Which Ohio university did the fictional NCIS character Anthony DiNozzo attend?

Show me the answer