Honda Plans $3B Ohio Plant

Honda will spend $3 billion on a new central Ohio auto plant that’s expected to create more than 2,000 jobs.

The factory will sit between Honda’s East Liberty and Marysville plants and become the automaker’s fourth Ohio auto plant. It’s set to start building up to 240,000 vehicles a year in 2029, pending final government approvals.

Honda pointed to rising demand for hybrids. It’s also retooling a line at its Anna Engine Plant in Shelby County and expanding hybrid system output at its Ohio transmission plant by 250%.

Gov. Mike DeWine said Honda “could have chosen to build this plant anywhere in the world, but they chose Ohio.”

Data Centers Go 0 for 21

Ohio voters sided against data centers in all 21 local ballot measures on Nov. 3.

In Upper Sandusky, nearly 77% of voters approved a charter amendment banning data centers within city limits. Smartland Energy had proposed a 150-megawatt natural gas plant there to power one.

Roughly 80% of Wilmington voters rejected city leaders’ request to rezone four parcels for data centers. In Piqua, voters banned data centers 2-to-1 and recalled three commissioners, including the mayor, who approved a Meta data center last year.

Conserve Ohio, which backed several of the measures, wants lawmakers to pass a 12-month statewide moratorium before the year ends.

Smartland said it respects “the democratic process and the outcome” of the Upper Sandusky vote. The day after the election, industry group Infrastructure for America released a pledge committing its members to transparency and community investment.

OU Visits Miami for Battle of the Bricks

Ohio University will put its perfect Mid-American Conference record on the line tonight when the Bobcats travel to Oxford to face rival Miami University in the Battle of the Bricks, set to air on ESPN2.

The Bobcats arrive at Yager Stadium riding a six-game winning streak in coach John Hauser’s first full season, and they’re 5-0 in conference play for the first time since 1997. Quarterback Nick Poulos hasn’t thrown an interception this season.

Miami would clinch bowl eligibility with a win on Senior Night. After losing their top two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries, the RedHawks are expected to start Caleb Heavner for the sixth time. Six of Miami’s last seven games have come down to the final drive or play, including a 34-31 overtime loss to Buffalo last week.

The matchup will be the 103rd meeting between the schools, with Miami holding a 56-44-2 series edge. Ohio has won the last two, including a 38-3 rout in the 2024 MAC Championship Game.

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➤ Statewide: Ohio has 935 permanent housing beds for its homeless population, enough for about 8% of the 12,196 Ohioans counted as homeless in 2025, according to a National Alliance to End Homelessness report. Fewer than half of the 32,000 Ohioans who entered the homeless system in 2024 found permanent housing. (See Details)

➤ Columbus: Ohio State placed its Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter on interim suspension after a video appeared to show two men catching fire at a fraternity party Saturday. The university said the men are receiving medical care and that it has referred the case to law enforcement. (See Details)

➤ Wintersville: Village leaders cleared the last paperwork for a nearly $3 million Cadiz Road resurfacing, one of the biggest projects in Wintersville’s history. A preconstruction meeting is set for next month, and Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said work should take nine months from start to finish. (More)

➤ Cuyahoga County: The county is seeking a $7.5 million bridge loan from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council to keep its solar and microgrid projects moving while it waits on federal reimbursements. (See Details)

➤ Toledo: A 31-year-old woman died in custody at the Lucas County Corrections Center Monday morning, according to the sheriff’s office. Gabrielle Magsig was found unresponsive in her cell three days after she was booked on a drug paraphernalia charge, and her death is under investigation. (More)

➤ Youngstown: An ambulance worker is organizing a food drive for recently laid off employees of Sharon Regional Health System. (See Details)

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➤ Ohio State fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher after nine games, ending a tenure that began in January. The Buckeyes committed at least one special teams penalty in every game before Saturday’s 41-28 loss to Oregon, when they also allowed a fake punt. (More)

➤ Cleveland signed left-hander Antoine Kelly, 26, to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Kelly made his MLB debut with the Cubs in July, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and posted a 4.25 ERA at Triple-A Iowa. (More)

➤ The Columbus Warriors, a veterans’ hockey team, will skate with former Blue Jackets players against the Wright-Patt Flyers at Nationwide Arena before Thursday’s Military Appreciation Night game. Army veteran and founding member Steven Bowman said the team restores the camaraderie many veterans lose after leaving the service. (See Video)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ HSH Contractor in Niles is turning to robotics and 3D printing to offset a skilled-trades shortage, President Erik Liber said, estimating that 1 in 4 workers in his industry will retire within five years. “Instead of having 10 masons, you need three,” Liber said. (See Video)

➤ Land-Grant Brewing in Columbus bought the Nocterra brand and its Powell taproom, which closed abruptly in August, and plans to reopen the taproom in late November with a Christmas pop-up. The deal doesn’t include Nocterra’s Scioto Audubon location, and Powell will close again in January for renovations. (More)

➤ Wawa wants to demolish a Wendy’s and Tim Hortons site on Indian Ripple Road near The Greene in Beavercreek for a store with 16 fuel pumps and a “FlyThru” lane for mobile-app orders. The proposal was on the agenda for Monday’s Beavercreek City Council meeting. (See Details)

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➤ Jackson Pohl, an 11-year-old youth quarterback, went home from the Bengals’ win over the Falcons in Madrid on Sunday with a touchdown ball Tee Higgins handed him in the stands. Pohl plans to keep it in a display case in his room. (Read Story)

➤ The Dayton Dragons’ Deck the Diamond holiday light show returns to Day Air Ballpark Friday with more than 1.5 million lights and a choreographed show every 10 minutes. New this year: a Polar Barrel Express ride. (See Details)

➤ Delaware’s Parks and Recreation Department is holding its first gingerbread house contest, open to all ages with prizes in several categories. Registration closes Dec. 6, and winners will be named Dec. 12 at the Cookies and Cocoa Carnival. (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. 

➤ Could the carbs we’ve spent decades blaming for unhealthy aging actually wind your biological clock back by years? (Listen Now)

➤ Just as holiday lights start going up, more than 3.6 million ladders are being recalled after reports of falls causing skull fractures and brain injuries. (Hear Details)

➤ Ohio State has suspended a fraternity chapter after video from a weekend party appeared to show two people on fire. (Hear Story)

Have you ever owned a Honda?

1. Yes, I drive one now
2. Yes, in the past
3. No, but I’d consider one
4. No, never

Yesterday’s Results:

Which of Ohio Magazine’s best hometowns would you most like to visit?

1. Marietta: 52%
2. Loveland: 20%
3. Tiffin: 12%
4. Massillon: 9%
5. Marion: 7%

Which Ohio port city inspired the Edmund Fitzgerald’s “Express” nickname?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)