Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1960, the Ohio State men’s basketball team beat California 75-55 to win the program’s only national championship. Middletown native Jerry Lucas led the team with 16 points.

It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, which means it’s time for Ohio’s annual statewide tornado drill. If you’re used to sirens going off at noon, don’t be alarmed by today’s earlier test. Learn more in Top Stories.

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, be sure to check out today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals, to take advantage of special deals with Prime you may not be aware of.

Tornado Drill Highlights Severe Weather Week

A statewide tornado drill will take place this morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

While Ohioans may be used to occasional tornado siren tests at noon, today’s test will happen at 9:50 a.m.

This year’s severe weather awareness campaign comes after the Buckeye State experienced a record number of tornadoes last year.

The campaign includes social media posts on Facebook and X about lightning, flooding, and emergency communication. AES Ohio suggests items for a storm kit here.

Cicadas to Return to Southern Ohio

Incessant buzzing will return to parts of southern Ohio this summer, as the 17-year Brood XIV cicadas are set to hatch across parts of 13 states in May or June.

The cicadas will emerge in counties along and north of the Ohio River in the south-central portion of the state. You can see a map of the affected areas here.

While cicadas are considered a nuisance, they do not pose a threat to people or animals.

After this year, the next group of cicadas to emerge in Ohio will be Brood V, hatching in the eastern part of the state in 2033.

OSU Research Grant Canceled

The National Institutes of Health canceled an Ohio State researcher’s $699,000 grant for a study on the risk of cannabis addiction for gay and transgender women. NIH’s action was supported by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Other grants canceled at unspecified colleges include studies of pregnancy prevention for transgender boys and sexual health among Latinx youth. See the list here.

OSU researcher Christina Dyar received the cannabis study grant in 2024. Earlier this year, NIH awarded Dyar a $3.6 million grant to study the effect of microaggressions on bisexual and pansexual youth.

10 Amazon Prime Perks You Need to Be Using

Once upon a time, we had to make lists and physically go to stores when we needed things. Sometimes we’d have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed.

Then, one day, Amazon came out of the heavens. For many of us, free shipping and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to pay $14.99 per month for Prime.

But if those reasons haven’t been enough to entice you to join Prime, maybe some of these lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up. Here are 10 of those perks.

➤ Cleveland: The Port of Cleveland approved nearly $94 million in funding for a renovation of West Side Market and a Superior Arts District housing and retail project. (More)

➤ Grandview Heights: The city council approved an agenda that puts the cost of sidewalk replacement on individual property owners. (More)

➤ Lucas County: The sheriff’s office and its deputies’ union agreed to a new contract that includes raising starting pay to $24 per hour. (More)

➤ Youngstown: Lynn Park will close until June as a new playground is installed, part of a plan to improve 11 parks citywide. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: Christ Hospital settled a wrongful death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. The lawsuit alleged doctors failed to properly diagnose and treat a 55-year-old man’s heart infection in 2020. (More)

➤ Dayton: A woman pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of $1.5 million after allegedly using stolen identities to open and operate two fake counseling agencies. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Browns’ draft watch party for season ticket holders will feature a performance from the iconic rock band Journey. (More)

➤ The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly restarted contract talks with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. (More)

➤ Ohio State men’s hockey coach Steve Rohlik was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. The Buckeyes rank No. 9 nationally and will play for a conference title on Saturday. (More)

Want the latest on college sports in the NIL era? Sign up for NIL Wire.

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➤ Downtown businesses in Columbus reported an increase in customers after Gov. Mike DeWine’s return to work order for state employees went into effect. (More)

➤ Veo and the City of Toledo announced the return of electric rental scooters, which rent for $1.35 per ride for a standing model and $1.40 per ride for a seated model. (See Photo)

➤ K9 Resorts plans to open a 10,000-square-foot luxury pet hotel in Hilliard this fall. (See Photos)

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Are you taking advantage of your Amazon Prime perks?

Free music/podcasts, access to lightning deals, and Whole Foods discounts are just a few of the many lesser-known perks that Amazon Prime has to offer. Make sure you’re not missing out, and get the most out of your Prime membership with help from our deal-finding experts.

Whether you’re already a Prime member or considering signing up, here are 10 Prime member benefits you should be using!

➤ The marching band at Ohio State University will perform in next year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. (Details)

➤ Westlake’s Hayden Grove was eliminated from NBC’s “The Voice” during the battle rounds that pit teammates against one another. (More)

➤ A bald eagle was released back into the wild after spending a month in rehabilitation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. (See Video Report)

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