Grade School Letter Found in KGB Files

In November 1963, Debby Rotundo—then a fifth-grade student at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Hamilton—wrote a letter to former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev asking for peace after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Last month, the letter, part of a school assignment, was found on page 315 of a declassified KGB dossier about the JFK assassination.

Rotundo wondered whether its inclusion meant the KGB had investigated her family, saying: “I’ve reviewed this in my head over and over and I thought, ‘What in the world am I doing in there?’”

The documents were released by U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, chair of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets.

DSW Sued Over TikTok Posts

Columbus-based Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) is involved in three federal lawsuits for using popular songs in TikTok and Instagram ads.

In May, Warner Music Group alleged that DSW used more than 200 songs without proper licensing, and the label is seeking more than $30 million in damages.

Since then, DSW has sued Sony, Universal, and BMG, asking an Ohio judge to clarify what rules apply to social media marketing. Most recently, Sony filed its own suit against DSW on jurisdictional grounds.

Previously, Warner also sued Crumbl Cookies over similar copyright infringement claims tied to TikTok posts.

List: Ohio’s Best Hometowns

Ohio Magazine released its 2025-26 list of the Buckeye State’s best hometowns, recognizing Ashland, Barnesville, Green, Mount Vernon, and Yellow Springs.

Ashland was praised for its campus feel and downtown, and Mount Vernon earned similar recognition for its historic public square and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Yellow Springs has long been known as a creative hotspot, home to arts businesses, local restaurants, and comedian Dave Chappelle.

Barnesville’s architecture and pumpkin festival landed it on Ohio Magazine’s annual list, while Green was noted for its history and the MAPS Air Museum.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for 10 days in honor of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who died this week. (More)

➤ Columbus: Opening statements began in the murder trial of a Blendon Township police officer who fatally shot a woman after she struck him with her car. (More)

➤ Ashtabula: The school district sued Liberty Mutual Insurance, alleging the insurer refused to pay for repairs after a snow-induced roof collapse in December 2024. (More)

➤ Kettering: Police said the Fairmont football team’s locker room was “ransacked” during the first-round playoff game between Bellbrook and Archbishop Alter. (More)

➤ Stark County: The Carnegie Corporation of New York donated $10,000 to Stark Library’s main branch project, honoring the historic Canton Public Library in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. (See Rendering)

➤ Cleveland: State and federal authorities recovered about $100,000 after an 11-month investigation into alleged fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. (More)

➤ Kent State traveled to Muncie, Indiana, to face Ball State, while Toledo hosted Northern Illinois as a two-touchdown favorite. (See Scores)

➤ Former Bishop Fenwick kicker Derek Morris set a UMass record on Tuesday with a 55-yard field goal in a 44-10 loss to Akron. (See Kick)

➤ Rock Entertainment Sports Network will broadcast four Cleveland State men’s basketball games and two women’s games this season. (See Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | Soccer | NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Serendipity Ice Cream, co-owned by singer Selena Gomez, has launched mobile carts at Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, serving ice cream bars and pints in assorted flavors. (More)

➤ Dutch Bros, an Oregon-based coffee chain, plans to open two locations in central Ohio. Its first Ohio location opened last week in Cincinnati. (More)

➤ Five Ohio small businesses received more than $1.3 million in approved loans, including two in Hamilton County, two in Franklin County, and one in Cuyahoga County. (More)

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➤ Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has launched a naming contest for its five new multi-purpose runway snowplows. Submissions will be accepted through Nov. 16. (Details)

➤ Five Ohio holiday train rides offer festive experiences with scenic views, cheerful elves, seasonal treats, and visits from Santa, creating a magical start to the winter season. (See List)

➤ A national travel magazine named Columbus one of the nation’s most thrilling food cities, citing its vibrant mix of restaurants, bakeries, bars, and innovative chefs elevating the local dining scene. (More)

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How often do you check out books from a library?

1. Regularly
   
2. Sometimes
   
3. Rarely
   
4. Never
   

Yesterday’s Results:

Did you vote on Tuesday?

1. Yes: 29%
2. No: 25%
3. Voted early: 24%
4. Yes, but not in Ohio: 22%

When was the hottest November in Ohio history?

Show me the answer