Lake Erie Algal Bloom Hits Peak

Western Lake Erie’s algal bloom has spread across 480 square miles, its largest footprint of the summer, according to NOAA’s latest bulletin.

That’s up from roughly 380 square miles a week earlier. The bloom stretches from Stony Point, Michigan, down past Marblehead and out toward the Lake Erie islands.

NOAA warns that toxins concentrate in the green scum that collects along shorelines and tells people to keep themselves and their pets out of it.

Separately, a Bowling Green State University researcher found bloom toxins showing up in air samples, not just in the water.

Federal forecasters had called for a moderate season, pegging this year’s bloom at 3.5 on a severity scale where anything above 5 counts as severe.

Cleveland Library Strike Averted at Deadline

Cleveland Public Library and the union representing nearly 400 workers reached a tentative contract Monday, hours before a noon strike deadline.

Members vote on the deal Aug. 26. If they turn it down, workers walk the next day.

SEIU District 1199 had pushed for a 10% across-the-board raise over a three-year contract. “Most people will say the living wage in Cuyahoga County is about $20 or $21 an hour, and they are literally paying people $17 an hour,” union representative Michael Wood told 19 News.

The library has said it wants a deal that is fair and sustainable for its long-term finances, and it had plans to keep essential branches running through a walkout. Terms stay confidential until the vote.

Troopers Are Catching Speeders from Above

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is timing speeders from an airplane over Northeast Ohio interstates, using white lines painted on the pavement as a stopwatch.

Pilot Milan Milosevic starts a watch when a car’s front bumper crosses one line and laps it at the next, then radios the speed to troopers waiting at the ramps below.

“The bread and butter of the airplane is to catch violators for speeding,” said Milosevic, a 25-year veteran of the Patrol who has flown for 15 of them.

The newest zone covers the Interstate 90 construction project in Lorain County, where crews are adding a third lane each way through 2028. Lt. Ray Santiago, commander of the patrol’s Elyria Post, said the stretch was chosen because it straightens out after a curve near state Route 254.

Elyria Post troopers have written nearly 300 speeding tickets in that work zone since April 1.

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➤ Moraine: Police are investigating an industrial accident at the Valley Asphalt plant after crews were called shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. Details haven’t been released. (More)

➤ Columbus: The city released the draft of Zone In Phase Two, a zoning rewrite covering 41% of Columbus that would change what can be built across those areas. (More)

➤ Cuyahoga County: Officials are asking every county department to cut 3.3% to 8% from its budget to close projected deficits in the general and health and human services levy funds heading into 2027. (See Details)

➤ Northeast Ohio: The area was pounded by hail over the weekend as a strong line of storms moved through, with the Chardon Fire Department reporting pea to dime size hail fell Sunday. (See Video)

➤ Wilmington: City council passed a noise ordinance 6-1 with emergency language, exempting it from voter referendum, as it redoes approvals for a proposed $4 billion Amazon Web Services data center. A federal judge ordered the do-over after residents sued, saying the city skipped required public notice. (See Details)

➤ Youngstown: Teachers reported back as East and Chaney merged into a single Youngstown High School, the first year of a consolidation the district is branding “one vision, one Youngstown.” (Read Story)

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➤ The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starting quarterback Monday, ending a summer-long battle with Shedeur Sanders. Watson has played just 19 games since Cleveland traded three first-round picks for him in 2022. (More) 

➤ Meanwhile, Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright is being waived and has agreed to play for LSU, making him the first player to leave an NFL roster to return to college. A Louisiana court ruling granted him a fifth year of eligibility. (More)

➤ 49ers owner Jed York, a Youngstown-area native, was arrested in East Palestine by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. York pleaded no contest Monday to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools after the original prostitution charge was amended. (More) 

➤ Ohio State hosted a blood drive at Ohio Stadium in partnership with Versiti Blood Center, drawing fans with stadium tours and spring game tickets. Players visited with donors and organizers stressed the ongoing need for local supply. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | U.S. Open | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Arc Solutions, a welding and robotics equipment maker, will spend more than $6 million to put up two buildings in Hicksville, adding 65 jobs and consolidating operations it previously ran in Indiana. (See Details)

➤ The owner of Cleveland Clock Repair plead guilty to theft of protected services and grand theft on Monday, the day his trial was scheduled to start. (More)

➤ Wawa opens its newest Ohio store Friday in Lebanon at 3751 State Route 63, roughly 30 miles north of Cincinnati. (More)

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➤ When firefighters heard that 1-year-old Waylon’s cancer made it unsafe for him to play at public playgrounds, they built him one at his house through the Columbus Firefighters Foundation, the charitable arm of IAFF Local 67. (See Video)

➤ A Powell house on the market for $4.45 million features a center turret modeled on Ohio State’s Wexner Center for the Arts. (See Photos)

➤ The Great Darke County Fair runs through Aug. 29, drawing roughly 250,000 people a year to nine days of harness racing, tractor pulls, and 4-H livestock shows. The fair dates to 1853. (See 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. 

➤ Passengers feared for their lives when an engine failure over the Atlantic sent their flight into chaos. (Watch Story)

➤ The Washington Post has been ordered to reinstate an opinion writer who was fired over critical Charlie Kirk posts. (Hear Episode)

➤ Google’s AI was caught giving racist safety warnings about being alone with certain nationalities. (Listen Now)

When did you last get a speeding ticket?

1. This year
2. In the past five years
3. More than five years ago
4. Never
5. Don’t remember

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s the best late-night food?

1. Something sweet: 27%
2. Pizza: 26%
3. Breakfast food: 21%
4. Other: 14%
5. Burgers: 6%
6. Tacos: 6%

What nickname do the University of Cincinnati’s athletic teams share?

Show me the answer