Monday, February 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, Ohio-born Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender Grant” after defeating the Confederates at Fort Donelson in Tennessee.

Happy Presidents Day! Did you know that future president William McKinley served under fellow future president Rutherford B. Hayes in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War? You can read more fascinating facts about Ohio presidents here.

🏀 Ohio remains home to the nation’s last undefeated men’s Division I college basketball team after the Miami RedHawks took down a rival on national television Friday night. See more in Sports.

Today’s sponsor, United States Tungsten Corp, is offering investors a chance to get in early on America’s largest past-producing tungsten mine as the U.S. looks to secure its supply amid rising prices and new restrictions on Chinese imports.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Fire Prompts Shelter Order

A fire at Koch Foods Plant B on Commerce Center Drive in Fairfield prompted a four-hour shelter-in-place order early Sunday morning after the facility’s roof collapsed with ammonia tanks inside the building.

Officials lifted the order—which covered a two-mile radius around the plant—at about 7:40 a.m. after detecting no ammonia in the air.

Multiple fire departments responded to the chicken processing facility, and firefighting operations continued for several hours. Two people sustained burns, and one person remained unaccounted for as of Sunday afternoon.

Five Ohio Hospitals Rank Among Nation’s Best

Five Ohio hospitals earned spots on Healthgrades’ ranking of America’s 50 Best Hospitals, which examined millions of Medicare medical claims from more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

Summa Health System in Akron made the list for the third consecutive year and received 19 additional awards for cardiac care, pulmonary care, and other categories.

Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health in Cincinnati, Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital, and Mercy Health-West Hospital in Cincinnati also made the top 50.

Several other Ohio hospitals ranked in the top 100 nationally. Healthgrades rated hospitals based on clinical outcomes for 31 condition and procedure groups, such as heart attacks. You can see the complete rankings here.

Old Artillery Shells Destroyed

Loud explosions heard by Columbus residents late Friday night were caused by the controlled disposal of military-grade ammunition.

The Columbus Division of Fire’s bomb squad coordinated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base personnel to dispose of old military artillery shells found by a new property owner at a Knox County facility.

Officials said they couldn’t warn the public in advance because of the urgency.

Several residents reported hearing the explosions, which were captured on a Ring camera. You can watch that footage here.

Flying together with our sponsor

Tungsten Price Up 200%: Invest in America’s Largest Mine Before Operations Begin

Tungsten prices surged 200% last year after China halted exports. That’s because China currently controls 84% of the global tungsten supply, and it’s one of the most important metals on earth.

Since the U.S. military relies on tungsten for everything from armor-piercing rounds to jet engines, they’re racing to find a way of sourcing tungsten without relying on China.

This is a huge opportunity for United States Tungsten. They hold the lease to the “Tungsten Queen,” once America’s largest tungsten mine. It’s a massive asset containing 1 million tons of minerals worth an estimated $450M.

And as the U.S. moves to ban mineral imports from China in 2027, it’s expected to only get more valuable.

Plus, the White House just proposed raising the military budget to $1.5T next year. A bigger budget means more spending on the hardware that requires tungsten. As new laws require that money be spent on American-mined minerals first, United States Tungsten is positioned to become a supplier for one of the world’s most reliable customers.

They’re already in talks with the U.S. Government.

You can get a piece of this 1-million-ton mine right before they start digging.

It’s the final day for up to 21% bonus shares….

Become a United States Tungsten shareholder by midnight.

➤ Statewide: The Ohio AFL-CIO, representing about 600,000 workers across the state, endorsed Democrat Dr. Amy Acton for Ohio governor. (More)

➤ Northern Ohio: Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, set a U.S. House record for the longest consecutive voting streak among sitting members, casting 2,625 straight votes. (More)

➤ Westerville: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will reportedly open a legal office in Westerville for its Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, the agency’s largest legal department. (More)

➤ Columbus: Crews contained a fire Friday morning in a storage hangar at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, where one firefighter suffered minor injuries. (More)

➤ Montgomery County: County officials plan to begin construction this spring on a new job center at a site yet to be determined, relocating adult and youth career services and other programs to temporary locations during the project. (More)

➤ Miami Valley: Dayton Children’s Hospital acquired Mercy Health’s pediatric practice in Urbana and rehabilitation services in Springfield, with the expansion expected in early March. (More)

➤ Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored the opening goal in the Americans’ 5-1 victory over Germany that secured first place in Group C. (Watch)

➤ No. 23 Miami University improved to 25-0 with a 90-74 win over rival Ohio University on Friday night, remaining the nation’s only unbeaten men’s basketball team. (More)

➤ Phil Castellini will succeed his father, Bob Castellini, as owner of the Cincinnati Reds, whose family has owned baseball’s first professional ballclub since 2006. (More)

➤ Third-period goals from Jake Karabela and Ryan Gordon lifted Ohio State’s men’s hockey team to a 3-2 upset over No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Ready for big Presidents Day savings? Snag early deals on tech, gadgets, kitchen gear, and must-have Amazon finds—plus exclusive gizmos at up to 70% off and early markdowns before the holiday rush. Shop this limited-time Presidents Day event and score huge discounts while stocks last! (SHOP NOW)

➤ New York-based investment firm 4×4 Capital acquired New Albany-based Bob Evans Restaurants from private equity firm Golden Gate Capital, which bought the Ohio restaurant chain in 2017. (More)

➤ Dublin-based Wendy’s plans to close hundreds of restaurants in the first half of 2026—between 5% and 6% of all U.S. locations—following a weaker-than-expected fourth quarter in 2025. (More)

➤ BrewDog, a Scottish craft brewer with U.S. headquarters in Canal Winchester, has hired a consulting firm to explore a possible sale after closing two Columbus taprooms last month. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ MetLife Pet Could Save You Thousands. Things are already expensive enough as it is—let alone a $10,000 veterinary bill for a single visit. MetLife Pet Insurance offers customizable plans you can tailor to your pet’s needs, with coverage available for all breeds and ages. Plus, with a 0-day waiting period for accidents and Preventive Care, protection can kick in almost right away. Get a free quote to see if MetLife is a fit for you and your pet. PROTECT YOUR PET

Flying together with our sponsor

The Only Crew with Access to a $450M ‘Gold Rush’

Decades of combined experience working with finance leaders like Goldman Sachs is a business advantage. Add that to operating America’s largest tungsten mine, and it’s a massive opportunity. Now, United States Tungsten is sharing access to 1 million untapped tons of precious metals with investors.

The amount of tungsten-bearing minerals in the “Tungsten Queen” is estimated to be worth $450 million at today’s prices. That’s because the metal is in urgent need for military tanks, aircraft, missiles, and more.

Don’t miss this chance to back the company that holds the lease.

You have just hours left to invest in United States Tungsten and get up to 21% bonus shares.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Company’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ Three generations of Central Ohio basketball referees officiated a game together for the first time, uniting grandfather, son, and grandson in a shared legacy spanning decades. (See Family)

➤A Columbus driver was rescued safely after the vehicle careened off State Route 315, north of Bethel Road, and onto the frozen Olentangy River. (See Vehicle)

➤ Snow lingering across Ohio from last month’s winter storm could spur snow mold on lawns, appearing as circular or web-like patches with pink or gray coloring. (See Mold)

Flying together with our sponsor