PUCO Proposes FirstEnergy Penalty

Ohio utility regulators are proposing a $3,049,750 penalty against FirstEnergy’s Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. after an investigation found probable violations tied to repeated Lakewood-area power outages during extreme summer heat.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) said outages from late June through mid-July were caused largely by equipment and line failures rather than severe weather.

Investigators also cited aging infrastructure and found transformers at two substations being cooled with lawn-style sprinklers, a practice PUCO staff called unusual. The utility told regulators it considers the practice an industry standard during extreme heat.

PUCO proposed six corrective actions, including equipment reviews, underground-cable inspections, replacement plans, and better customer communication.

Free Speech Ratings Target Ohio Schools

Fourteen Ohio colleges and universities received “yellow light” ratings in a new review of campus speech policies by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

FIRE reviewed 493 public and private colleges nationwide and found 69.4% of schools earned yellow ratings, while 13.2% received a “red light” rating. You can read the report here.

Ohio’s yellow-rated schools are Bowling Green State, Case Western Reserve, Kent State, Kenyon College, Miami University, Oberlin College, Ohio University, Ohio State, Shawnee State, Akron, Cincinnati, Toledo, Wright State, and Youngstown State.

No Ohio school received a red rating. Cleveland State University was the state’s only “green light” school, a designation FIRE gives institutions whose written policies don’t “seriously threaten student expression.”

Sales Tax Holiday Underway

Ohio’s three-day sales tax holiday continues through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, exempting qualifying clothing, school supplies, and instructional materials from state and local sales taxes.

This year’s holiday is narrower than 2025, when lawmakers authorized a two-week expanded exemption covering most items priced at $500 or less. That temporary expansion expired, returning Ohio to its traditional limits: clothing priced at $75 or less per item, and school supplies and instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item.

Computers, general electronics, food purchased in restaurants, and most other purchases aren’t covered this year.

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➤ Rocky River: Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted called on U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Rocky River, to resign and end his reelection campaign amid a House ethics investigation. (More)

➤ Perrysburg: Northbound Interstate 475 will close from 8 p.m. tonight through 6 a.m. Monday for pavement repairs, affecting three ramps. Additional northbound weekend closures are scheduled for Aug. 21 and 28. (See Closures)

➤ Ashville: The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the village fiscal officer to certify a referendum petition challenging an EdgeConneX data center agreement. (More)

➤ Columbus: COTA approved Line 99, a new route planned for 2028 that will connect John Glenn Columbus International Airport with downtown and The Ohio State University. The service is expected to run hourly when it launches. (More)

➤ Yellow Springs: The school district postponed the first day of school until Aug. 31 to allow more time for construction, with grades 1-12 and some kindergarten students returning that day. (More)

➤ Circleville: OhioHealth is investing $10.2 million over two years to expand cancer services at Berger Hospital, including private infusion spaces, added pharmacy capacity, enhanced diagnostic imaging, and a second CT scanner. (See Details)

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➤ Ohio State women’s hockey coach Nadine Muzerall will lead Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 team at the 2027 world championship, adding an international assignment after guiding the Buckeyes to seven Frozen Four appearances and two national titles. (More)

➤ Oberlin High School canceled its 2026 football season after no more than eight players reported for mandatory camp. (More)

➤ The Ohio Polo Club will host a public clinic Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon at its Springfield facility after joining the U.S. Polo Association last month. The clinic is open to beginners. (More)

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

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➤ A New York Yankees fan is suing for $10 million after Cleveland Guardians infielder José Ramírez lost his bat during a swing and it struck her behind home plate. She alleges that inadequate protective netting led to a traumatic brain injury. (See Details)

➤ Newly released video from the Ohio Department of Transportation shows a driver on Interstate 670 near Columbus jumping onto the median seconds before a sedan slammed into his disabled SUV. (Watch Video)

➤ Fairfield County’s auditor is warning residents about fraudulent videos promoting a nonexistent federal property tax relief form, urging homeowners to rely on official sources for legitimate programs. (See Details)

➤ Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce joined Cedar Point and Kings Island to promote 2027 season passes, recalling family trips to both Ohio amusement parks while growing up. (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, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Scammers can now clone your loved one’s voice, but this simple defense makes them harmless. (Hear More)

➤ Meta was ordered to pay a $567 million penalty over findings that it fueled a youth mental health crisis. (Listen Now)

➤ Louisiana health officials are warning residents after a deadly spike in flesh-eating bacteria infections tied to seawater exposure. (Podcast Available)

What was your favorite part of back-to-school shopping?

1. New clothes
   
2. New shoes
   
3. School supplies
   
4. Picking a backpack
   
5. Other (let us know!)
6. Disliked all of it

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you consider buying a 3D-printed home?

1. Probably not: 26%
2. Maybe: 23%
3. Never: 18%
4. Definitely: 17%
5. If it were cheaper: 16%

What modern device traces its design back to Thomas Edison’s electric pen?

Show me the answer