Thursday, June 18, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1812, the U.S. declared war on Great Britain. Ohio would eventually play host to one of the largest naval battles of the war, when the American Navy defeated the Royal Navy on Lake Erie on Sept. 10, 1813.

🦫 Nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition opposing the approved Buc-ee’s travel center in Mansfield. Read more in Top Stories.

🎓 Also in Top Stories, see which Ohio colleges and universities made U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Global Universities rankings.

Why are there suddenly dogs everywhere? The grocery cart, the coffee line, the seat next to you on the plane. You’ve noticed, and you’ve probably got your own disaster story of an animal run-in in public. But what most people don’t realize is how wide the gap has gotten between what the rules allow and what people actually do. Tune in to today’s Flyover Podcast as Ayla breaks down why pets are showing up everywhere, and what the law really says. Tune in here!

Later today, watch for a special message from our partner, Fisher Investments, featuring a free guide on retirement investing and the mistakes that can derail a $1 million-plus portfolio.

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Petitioners Sign to Stop Mansfield Buc-ee’s

More than 1,800 people have signed a petition opposing a planned Buc-ee’s in Mansfield, citing concerns about traffic, crime, and the environment.

The Mansfield City Council unanimously approved a development agreement earlier this month for a 74,000-square-foot store on a 37.5-acre site near Interstate 71 and State Route 39.

Farmer Nick Stadelman is among the residents raising objections. He said the 24-hour travel center could make it harder to operate farming equipment and could threaten plant growth.

Buc-ee’s offered “no comment” on the opposition. The Texas-based chain opened its first Ohio store in Huber Heights in April, making Mansfield its planned second location in the state.

Ohio E-Bike Crashes Spark Concern

Two 15-year-olds were hospitalized Tuesday after a Ford Escape struck their e-bike at a Mentor intersection, adding to a growing list of public safety concerns tied to e-bikes in Ohio.

Both teens were taken to UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The driver was not injured.

In Vermilion, police recently charged two juveniles after they allegedly fled authorities while riding e-dirt bikes recklessly through traffic earlier this month.

Police in Martins Ferry wrote an open letter earlier this month warning about mounting problems involving e-bikes and scooters, while Mentor police outlined plans to move toward formal enforcement of e-bike laws.

OSU Leads Ohio in Best Global Universities Ranking

U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Global Universities rankings placed The Ohio State University at No. 64 and the University of Cincinnati at No. 213 among 2,250 schools worldwide.

Case Western Reserve University ranked No. 189, and Ohio University ranked No. 697. Also included from Ohio were Kent State University at No. 1,015, the University of Toledo at No. 1,147, the University of Akron at No. 1,380, and Miami University at No. 1,564.

The rankings evaluated institutions across 13 measures, with the heaviest weight given to global and regional research reputation, citations, and international collaboration.

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➤ Statewide: Severe storms were forecast to move across Ohio on Wednesday night, bringing the risk of damaging winds, flooding, and tornadoes. (More)

➤ Lake Erie: The National Weather Service is warning of a high risk of rip currents today following Wednesday’s storms, urging swimmers to stay out of Lake Erie. A Beach Hazards Statement was issued for several shoreline counties. (Details)

➤ Cincinnati: Ramp closures tied to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project are scheduled to begin later this month, affecting ramps along U.S. 50, Interstate 75, and Interstate 71. (See Closures)

➤ Lucas County: Former Toledo Mayor Donna Owens is alive, according to the Lucas County Republican Party, which mistakenly sent an email to media outlets announcing her death. (More)

➤ Dublin: Dublin police have retired their robotic officer unit, “DubBot,” after less than a year patrolling a city parking garage, saying the robot didn’t meet operational needs. The robot cost $67,548, and its patrols led to no arrests, criminal cases, or tickets. (More)

➤ Ashland County: The sheriff’s office is warning that a man and woman are passing counterfeit $50 bills at Dollar General and Family Dollar stores across Ohio, while offering tips to help residents spot fake currency. (Details)

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➤ The University of Cincinnati allegedly knew about former quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s gambling addiction for two years and “didn’t do anything about it,” according to Sorsby’s agent. (More)

➤ Three photographers were injured when a sprint car crashed into the infield during an Ohio Sprint Speed Week event at Wayne County Speedway earlier this week. Two were critically injured. (More)

➤ Ohio State football will pay Ball State and Kent State a combined nearly $4 million to play nonconference games at Ohio Stadium this fall, while also giving the visiting teams 3,500 tickets. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA

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➤ Buffalo Wild Wings, the national wings chain that got its start in Columbus, will open its first Columbus-area GO location Saturday, a takeout-only store with digital ordering designed to cut wait times. (More)

➤ Allegiant Air has discontinued service between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Los Angeles, citing higher fuel costs. (More)

➤ Cincinnati Children’s Hospital announced a joint operating agreement with Parkview Health, an Indiana-based health care system, to expand pediatric care in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (More)

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➤ The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will host a free drone light show June 26, featuring 500 drones choreographed to a live soundtrack and narration celebrating aviation innovation in Ohio and the nation’s 250th anniversary. (Details)

➤ The Holland Strawberry Festival, which kicked off Wednesday and runs through Sunday, announced updated security measures after a festival shooting in Toledo, including security screening, required chaperones for minors, and a ban on some bags. (More)

➤ Grenades and mines were discovered in the home of a family’s deceased loved one, prompting a call to the Lorain County Bomb Squad, which disposed of the ordnance. (See Photos)

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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:

➤ Who decided dogs belong in the grocery aisles, and why won’t anyone say no? (Listen Now)

➤ Peter Thiel’s secretive Dialog society has been exposed in a data leak naming its powerful members and revealing details they were promised would stay private. (Hear Details)

➤ A Chicago petition to rename the street beneath Trump Tower after Barack Obama has gathered more than 22,000 signatures. (Hear Story)