Fish Deaths Follow Fertilizer Spill

Dozens of dead fish appeared in the Maumee River near Napoleon on Saturday, one week after a liquid fertilizer spill contaminated a Henry County creek.

The fish kill stretched from the mouth of Huston Creek to the Campbell’s Soup facility, prompting city crews to launch an airboat and determine how far it had spread. The discovery followed the overnight failure of one of two dams installed to contain the contamination during heavy rainfall.

Officials learned of the contamination July 3. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued violations to two neighboring agricultural businesses—Triway Nitrogen and Farmers Elevator Associates—after determining that both had released contaminants affecting Huston Creek, a drainage ditch, and nearby storm sewers.

Saturday’s testing found ammonia and nitrate levels in the Maumee below thresholds for concern. Napoleon officials said the city’s drinking water remained safe, and they reported no immediate concern about recreational use of the river.

Ohio Leaders Mourn Sen. Graham

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Saturday at 71 after a brief and sudden illness, prompting tributes from Ohio Republicans who served alongside him.

Vice President JD Vance, who served with Graham in the Senate before taking office as vice president, recalled their political clashes, but called Graham “a one-of-a-kind figure” and added, “I couldn’t help but like him.”

Gov. Mike DeWine, who represented Ohio in the Senate when Graham took office in 2003, remembered him as an effective and dedicated senator and recalled their work on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

Ohio Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno expressed similar disbelief. Husted called the news a “profound shock,” while Moreno voiced “total shock and disbelief.”

School Shifts to Four-Day Week

Lehman Catholic High School in Sidney will adopt a four-day instructional week in August, with students attending regular classes Tuesday through Friday.

The school said the change is grounded in research, prayerful discernment, and the experience of other Catholic schools using the model. Most Mondays will be available for tutoring, community service, college visits, career exploration, job shadowing, and other responsibilities outside the classroom.

In a video announcement, Principal Brad Zimmerman said the schedule would also improve work-life balance for teachers and help prevent burnout.

Zimmerman said the shift should make the school community “healthier and vibrant” and bring its spirit “back alive.”

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➤ Statewide: House Bill 949 would require Ohio’s public colleges and universities to allow adults 18 and older to carry nonlethal self-defense weapons, including pepper spray, stun guns, and Tasers, on campus. (More)

➤ Dayton: The 174th Montgomery County Fair opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday, featuring new attractions such as laser tag and bounce houses, along with motocross, a demolition derby, and a Bulls & Barrels rodeo. (Fair Details)

➤ Northeast Ohio: A new online tool—the Cuyahoga River Conditions Tool—provides paddlers and other visitors with near-real-time reports on weather, water levels, rapids, and other river conditions. (More)

➤ Brooklyn: Two young brothers ran a lemonade stand to raise money for the families affected by last week’s Rittman shooting, which killed Police Sgt. Scott Ries and two other victims. (More)

➤ Jefferson County: Heavy rainfall Friday night washed away part of a Wells Township road, leaving crews to assess the damage and determine the repairs needed. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: The University of Cincinnati’s student chapter of Remote Area Medical held a free weekend clinic at St. Xavier High School, providing medical, dental, and vision care without insurance, identification, or income requirements. (More)

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➤ Ohio State promoted defensive back Jackson Gula from its club football program to the varsity roster as a walk-on. He recorded 29 tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions during the club team’s national championship season. (More)

➤ Nick Lodolo landed on the 15-day injured list Sunday after a blister on his left index finger forced the Cincinnati Reds starter out from Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. (More)

➤ Joe Burrow attended UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday with former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa, as well as friends from Burrow’s hometown of Athens. (See Photos)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA | NASCAR | Golf

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➤ Harvard Discovers Why Diets Fail After 50. It’s not willpower—it’s your GLP-1. This “weight loss hormone” controls appetite and fat burning but declines with age. Now a breakthrough botanical can naturally boost your body’s own GLP-1 production in seconds daily—no costly injections or dangerous side effects required. (Learn More)

➤ Ohio Silver Co., a Yellow Springs jewelry store, is closing after 54 years in business. A storewide liquidation sale offering discounts on inventory and fixtures began Saturday. (See Sale)

➤ The last Skyway drive-in closed Saturday in Fairlawn after 74 years, ending the Akron-area carhop chain’s run. The property has been sold to Dutch Bros Coffee. (More)

➤ Middletown will spend $267,560 to remove the final roughly 12,000 cubic yards of concrete aggregate from the former Paperboard factory site, clearing the dust-producing pile residents dubbed “Mount Middletown.” (See Details)

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➤ Cincinnati Burger Week returns today through Sunday, with more than 80 restaurants across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky offering specialty burgers for $8 or $9. (Details)

➤ A new travel list highlights nine Ohio lakes praised for their clear water and summer recreation, featuring spring-fed quarries and reservoirs suited for swimming, diving, and paddling. (See List)

➤ The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications through Aug. 9 for its next Natural Resources Officer recruit class. Officers provide law enforcement and emergency services in state parks, forests, nature preserves, and waterways. (Details)

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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:

➤ Think the King’s English is the “original” English? Turns out the poshest accent in Britain is one of the newest, and the oldest sounds are hiding somewhere surprising. (Hear Where)

➤ Firefighters spent decades spraying a foam that saved lives, and now more than a dozen states are racing to destroy every last drop of it. (Hear Why)

➤ You can learn to spot an AI deepfake in about an hour, and the six telltale signs aren’t what you’d expect. (Hear How)

Would you support a four-day instructional week at your local high school?

1. Yes
   
2. Maybe
   
3. No
   
4. Unsure

Yesterday’s Results:

What do you call the glowing insects that light up summer evenings?

1. Lightning bugs: 55%
2. I use both: 21%
3. Fireflies: 14%
4. Other: 10%

Which state was the second admitted to the Union from the Northwest Territory, after Ohio?

Show me the answer