ODOT Proposes First NEOH SmartLane

The Ohio Department of Transportation has proposed creating Northeast Ohio’s first SmartLane on Interstate 90, stretching from East 55th Street to the Interstate 77 interchange. Construction is slated for 2029.

SmartLanes use overhead digital signage and traffic cameras to temporarily convert the left shoulder into a travel lane, aiming to ease congestion during peak times.

Ohio debuted its first SmartLane in 2019 on eastbound Interstate 670 in Columbus, between Interstate 71 and Interstate 270.

The initial SmartLane project lasted 18 months and cost $60 million.

Sandusky Hosts ‘Tommy Boy’ Festival

To mark the 30th anniversary of the 1995 comedy Tommy Boy, the city of Sandusky—where the film was shot and set—is hosting a festival honoring the film starring Chris Farley and David Spade. The festival runs today through Saturday.

Special guests include actress Julie Warner, who played Michelle Brock, Kevin Farley, and director Peter Segal, who will appear with the restored 1967 Plymouth Belvedere that appeared in the film.

Festival highlights include Tommy Boy screenings, live music and comedy shows, a car show, a lookalike contest, a themed bar crawl, and more. Full event details are available on the official festival website here.

Tornado-Damaged Shrine to Be Rebuilt

Russells Point’s annual Feast of the Assumption Mass, a tradition since the 1960s, will move to St. Mary of the Woods on Aug. 14 after a tornado destroyed the shrine last year.

An EF-3 tornado struck the Indian Lake community on March 14, 2024, killing three people and leaving homes and businesses still recovering more than a year later. Rebuilding plans for the shrine included a design contest, with groundbreaking slated for October and a formal dedication set for Aug. 15, 2026.

This year’s Mass will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 14. The Feast of the Assumption, observed Aug. 15, is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church. 

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➤ Statewide: An Ohio lawmaker has proposed legislation that would allow schools to grant students up to three excused mental health absences per year. (More)

➤ East Palestine: Norfolk Southern says it has nearly finished its cleanup and restoration efforts at the site of the February 2024 train derailment and chemical spill. (More)

➤ Centerville: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will close its Centerville location on Friday for several months to address moisture issues within the building. (More)

➤ Gahanna: Two employees, including the Assistant Director, at Kiwi’s Clubhouse resigned after a gun was found in a diaper bag last month. Authorities weren’t called, and parents weren’t immediately notified. (More)

➤ Kent: A road project near Kent State University will add two roundabouts over three years, with construction set to begin in the coming weeks. (More)

➤ Columbus: Emergency crews rescued a woman experiencing an anxiety attack while crossing a narrow, moving pedestrian bridge during an outdoor program at Quarry Field Metro Park North. (See Photos)

➤ Three-time Cincinnati Open champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from this year’s tournament, citing a non-medical reason. (More)

➤ Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders is expected to start at quarterback Friday against the Carolina Panthers, with fellow quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillion Gabriel all sitting out the preseason opener. (More)

➤ Ohio State national champion and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard will miss the rest of the preseason after fracturing his throwing hand during training camp this week. Surgery is not expected. (More)

➤ Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, legendary former Ohio State football coach, toured the newly upgraded Wilson Football Factory, which opened last summer in Ada. (Watch Video Report)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Cincinnati Open

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➤ Six Flags, the parent company of Cedar Point, said CEO Richard Zimmerman will step down by year’s end and remain until the board appoints a successor. (More)

➤ Rising Star Coffee Roasters in Lakewood has closed indefinitely after two employees were fired and three others were suspended for staging a sit-in to protest early weekend closing hours and to support unionization efforts. (More)

➤ Cava, a popular Mediterranean restaurant chain based in Washington, D.C., plans to open a second Ohio location in Hilliard. Its first Ohio store, planned for Polaris, has not yet opened. (More)

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➤ NFL tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift are reportedly house-hunting in Cleveland’s Eastside suburbs, touring at least two luxury homes currently on the market. (More)

➤ Motorized wheelchairs were seen traveling on Interstate 670 in Columbus last month. When questioned by authorities, the riders pointed and said they were “going that way.” (See Photo)

➤ Kelley Mack, a Cincinnati native best known for her role in The Walking Dead, has died after battling a brain tumor. She was 33. (More)

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Should students be allowed to have mental health days off from school?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you prefer waffles or pancakes?

1. Waffles: 36%
2. Pancakes: 35%
3. Neither: 29%

What is Ohio’s largest inland lake?

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