Flooding Swamps Central Ohio

Central Ohio was hit by widespread flash flooding once again Thursday after heavy overnight rain prompted water rescues, road closures, and school cancellations.

Emergency crews carried out rescues in Pataskala, Columbus, Grove City, Gahanna, and other communities, while Reynoldsburg advised residents to shelter-in-place.

Columbus also activated the Franklinton floodwall and installed floodgates on Greenlawn and Harmon avenues as water levels rose.

Pickerington, Licking Heights, and Southwest Licking schools were among the districts that closed for the day, while many others delayed classes.

Amazon Drones Coming to Cleveland

Amazon plans to bring Prime Air drone delivery to Cleveland as part of a major expansion that could put the service in nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of the year.

Eligible packages can weigh up to 5 pounds and fit inside a large shoebox. Prime members get free drone delivery on orders of at least $50, while smaller Prime orders cost $2.99 and nonmembers pay $4.99.

Amazon says most drone deliveries arrive in about 60 minutes, with some reaching customers in as little as 30 minutes.

The company has already made hundreds of thousands of deliveries in 2026 and is aiming for 1 million by the end of the year.

Fairytale Mansion Goes Viral

A castle-like mansion in Burton has been turning heads online after a Zillow Gone Wild post showcasing the unique estate drew nearly 14,000 likes and more than 800 comments.

The custom European fairytale-style home sits on 7.56 wooded acres and is listed for $1.495 million. The 6,754-square-foot house has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms across three stories.

Inside are hand-carved moldings, Italian marble, custom hardwood cabinetry, a great room with a 23-foot ceiling, and a 5-by-7-foot chandelier. The master suite includes a built-in king-size bed, a fireplace, and a two-person Jacuzzi tub.

The property also includes a private in-law suite, a large unfinished basement, mature trees, and a quarter-acre pond. You can view 56 photos of the estate here.

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➤ Statewide: Ohio schools are beginning the 2026-27 school year under new attendance policies requiring schools to notify families earlier about possible chronic absenteeism. (See Details)

➤ Lakewood: FirstEnergy CEO Brian Tierney told City Councilman Tom Bullock that the city’s aging electric grid needs a total replacement. Bullock said Tierney estimated that projects could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. (More)

➤ Cleveland: Unionized Cleveland Public Library workers are expected to strike Monday unless a contract agreement is reached. The library says 25 neighborhood campuses would provide limited curbside service during a walkout. (More)

➤ Columbus: City Council President Shannon Hardin launched his 2027 mayoral campaign, challenging Mayor Andrew Ginther, who is seeking a fourth term. (More)

➤ Hamilton: About 25 protesters rallied outside City Hall against Flock license plate readers, raising privacy concerns about vehicle tracking. (More)

➤ North Royalton: The Supreme Court of Ohio upheld George Brinkman’s death sentence for the 2017 murders of Suzanne Taylor and her daughters, ruling that a three-judge panel properly considered the evidence. (More)

➤ Youngstown: The city is proposing to remove the deteriorating West Avenue bridge over the Mahoning River. The bridge was built in 1929, but has been closed to traffic since 1986. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson in a multiteam trade that sends Cavs guard Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers. (More)

➤ Hamilton West Side’s Little League World Series opener was rescheduled to this morning at 9 a.m. because of inclement weather. (See Schedule)

➤ Wayne High School five-star receiver and Ohio State commit Jamier Brown will be suspended for the first two games of the season after transferring back to Wayne from Big Walnut. (More)

➤ Evander da Silva Ferreira’s stoppage-time goal lifted FC Cincinnati to a 2-1 win over New York City FC on Wednesday. (Watch Goal)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | Tennis | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ An L3Harris Technologies subsidiary plans to add 50 jobs at its Clermont County facility as the aerospace and defense manufacturer expands production of advanced fuzing and sensors for the U.S. military. (More)

➤ Enbridge Gas customers in northeast Ohio have urged state regulators to reject a proposed average monthly increase of $7.60 for residential customers. (More)

➤ Allegiant Air will begin offering nonstop service from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Orlando International Airport starting Feb. 12, 2027. (More)

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➤ Neiko Boni, a 4-year-old Jefferson County boy who was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer two years ago, was able to visit Universal Studios in Florida as part of a MrBeast initiative to grant wishes to 100 children. (See Photos)

➤ José Suárez, a former WUPW Fox Toledo news director, was among seven people killed Wednesday in a safari helicopter crash in Kenya. (More)

➤ The Ohio State University ranked No. 2 on SIXT’s list of America’s most beautiful college campuses, trailing only the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Two fishermen were found off the coast of Mexico after a shipwreck left them clinging to a large cooler for five days. (Hear Details)

➤ Is intermittent fasting overhyped, or does it really work? (Hear Episode)

➤ In sorority basements across the country, hidden teams are digging up dirt that can tank a recruit’s chances. (Full Story)

How comfortable would you be having packages delivered to your home by drone?

1. I’d like it
   
2. I’d have to see it
   
3. Not a fan

Yesterday’s Results:

Which level of football do you enjoy watching most?

1. College: 40%
2. Not a football fan: 19%
3. All of them: 18%
4. NFL: 15%
5. High school: 8%

What major cardiac care feat was first achieved in Cleveland?

Show me the answer