Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has selected Lt. Governor Jon Husted to fill the U.S. Senate seat left open when Vice President-elect JD Vance resigned.

Husted will join Bernie Moreno as the other U.S. Senator from Ohio.

Moreno defeated longtime Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown in November.

Husted will serve in the U.S. Senate through 2026 and would have to run for reelection that fall if he wanted to keep the seat.

Ohio law states that the winner of the November 2026 election would serve the remainder of Vance’s term, through 2028.

Governor DeWine also will have to appoint someone to serve as Lt. Governor for the next two years.

(From Ohio State University)

Urban Meyer, the third-winningest coach in Division I history who led Ohio State to a national championship, three Big Ten Conference titles and seven wins over Michigan during a seven-year tenure as head coach, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year as a member of the 2025 class. The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced the 22-member class – 18 first-team All-America players and four standout coaches – today.

The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2025, at Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall.

Meyer coached the final game of a coaching career that places him alongside legends on Jan. 1, 2019 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. His Buckeyes defeated Pac 12 champion Washington, 28-23, to cap a 13-1 campaign.

Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes were, for seven seasons, on top of the college football world. The team won the inaugural College Football Playoff national championship in 2014 and won Big Ten Conference titles in 2014, 2017 and 2018. His teams never finished worse than first in the Big Ten’s divisional standings, and his Buckeyes were dominant in Big Ten games with a best-ever 7-0 record vs. Michigan and a 54-4 overall record in Big Ten games, including an NCAA record 30 consecutive conference victories.

His Buckeye teams were 83-9 overall, including the sixth unbeaten/untied season in school history in 2012 (12-0), a record-tying 14 wins in 2014 and the two longest win streaks in school history: 24 and 23 games.

Meyer’s 17 seasons as a head coach featured a record of 187-32 that positions him with the third-highest winning percentage in college football history at .853, trailing only Hall of Fame coaches Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy.  

Off the field, Meyer’s development of players included “Real Life Wednesdays,” a series of speakers – CEOs, money managers, pro athletes, etc. – who addressed the team in life experiences and pursuits to ensure they were prepared for life after football.

Meyer announced his retirement from coaching on Dec. 4, 2018, 18 years to the day he was named to his first head coaching position – Dec. 4, 2000 – at Bowling Green State University.

Urban Meyer Coaching Career
Meyer’s coaching career began at Bowling Green, where he orchestrated a dramatic turnaround, making the Falcons the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) team to go 3-0 against BCS opponents in a single season (2001) and posting a 17-6 record during two seasons.

He then took over at Utah, leading the Utes to a 22-2 record in two seasons, including their first undefeated season (12-0) since 1930, their first-ever BCS bowl appearance (Fiesta Bowl), and the first back-to-back Mountain West Conference (MWC) titles in league history. The Utes finished No. 21 after the 2003 season with a win in the Liberty Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl win made history as the first time a team from a non-automatically qualifying BCS conference played in a BCS bowl, earning the Utes the distinction as the inaugural “BCS Buster.” The Utes would finish at No. 4 in the final AP Poll after the 2004 season, and quarterback Alex Smith (a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee) was a Heisman finalist and eventual No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

At Florida, Meyer won two national championships (2006, 2008) and two SEC titles (2006, 2008) with an overall record of 65-15 during his six seasons in Gainesville. Meyer’s Florida tenure included a 22-game winning streak, one of four separate 20-game winning streaks he achieved across his career—the only coach in major college football history to do so. He also coached 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Tim Tebow, who won the Campbell Trophy.

Meyer’s success continued at Ohio State. When he guided the team to the national championship in 2014, he became the first modern-era coach to win a national championship in two different conferences and one of only two to do it at two different schools (fellow 2025 inductee Nick Saban being the other).

Meyer set a major college record with 165 wins in his first 15 seasons. His postseason success was equally impressive, with a 12-3 bowl record (78.5% win rate), the second-highest in FBS history.

In total, Meyer coached 44 first-team All-Americans, 77 first-team all-conference players, four NFF National Scholar-Athletes (two at Florida, two at Ohio State) and two College Football Hall of Fame inductees. He won seven conference championships overall. He was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year in 2004, and he was named the conference Coach of the Year three times (MWC in 2003, 2004 and MAC in 2001).

Beyond football, Meyer has made a lasting impact through civic service, serving on the boards of the Veterans Golfers Association, Folds of Honor, and the Tim Tebow Foundation. He and his wife established the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Meyer earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Cincinnati (1986), lettering one season (1984) with the Bearcats as a defensive back. While launching his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Buckeyes, he earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio State in 1988. Meyer’s coaching career also includes assistant positions at Illinois State, Colorado State and Notre Dame. He was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.

He is a member of the Utah Athletics Crimson Club Hall of Fame, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, and the Ashtabula County Football Hall of Fame. He currently serves as a host and analyst on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.

Ohio State Head Coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame (8)
Name – Years at Ohio State   Inducted
Urban Meyer – 2012-18        2025
Jim Tressel – 2001-10           2015
John Cooper – 1988-2000      2008
Earle Bruce – 1979-87           2002
Woody Hayes – 1951-78       1983
Francis Schmidt – 1934-40    1971

(above pic courtesy of Columbus Wired)

(ONN) – Changes could be coming to the way public schools are funded in Ohio.

House Speaker Matt Huffman says the way schools are funded is not sustainable.

Huffman says the government will never have the same amount of money as it did in the last few years.

Melissa Cropper, the president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, disagrees with Huffman. She says public dollars should go to public schools.

“We hear from the legislature all the time about how important public education is, so if public education is something we consider very important to our children then we need to fund it.”

Cropper believes the legislature should continue to use the formula they have been using for four years to continue funding public education.

The legislature will start discussions on the budget in the next few weeks.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Effective January 20, Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, will relocate its EasternWoods Women’s Health office to 1917 South Main Street in Findlay. The following providers associated with the move include Lorie Thomas-Schultz, DO, Aubrey Marcum, PA-C, Jodi Bollenbacher, PA-C, and Sarah Weihrauch, PA-C. The practice phone number will remain 419.425.8131.

“The team at Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology is committed to providing quality gynecologic and reproductive care for women throughout their lives,” said Kelly Shroll, chief operating officer of ambulatory services. “These healthcare professionals tailor personalized care to each woman’s unique needs. Existing patients can expect the same high level of care at the new location. Additionally, we welcome new patients who may not have a regular women’s healthcare provider.”

The providers at Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology have extensive experience caring for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids, prolapse, urinary incontinence, menopause symptoms, fertility, and more. They can assist with family planning and contraception questions.  For gynecological conditions requiring surgery, our physicians will talk to patients about various innovative treatment options and develop an individualized treatment plan. Many procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques, such as robotic surgery.

In addition to two Findlay locations (South Main and Wallace Streets), the Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology team sees patients in Bluffton, Carey, and Ottawa. For more information, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/women

To make an appointment with a primary or specialty care provider at any Blanchard Valley Medical Practices location, please call 419.422.APPT. New patients are welcome.

(From the Findlay Amateur Hockey Association)

We are looking for local businesses and people that have a passion for supporting our local youth athletes.

Hockey Day is the biggest fundraising event for our organization with all money raised being put towards keeping ice fees low, purchasing new gear for our rental program, and scholarships, so all kids have the ability to play regardless of financial situations.

If you would like more information or are interested in donating an auction basket or becoming a sponsor please feel free to reach out.

Sponsors can also use the link below to register, donate, and upload your logo.

Link to Register as a Sponsor:

https://www.findlayhockey.com/hockeyday

The Findlay Water Department is offering some tips on preventing your pipes from freezing during extreme cold in the winter.

Among the advice from the water department is to allow faucets to drip a bit and to keep cabinet doors open to let in some heat.

You can also add extra insulation and apply heating tape. Get more tips in the Facebook post below.

The City of Findlay is also asking people with a sidewalk in front of their house to clear it off on Friday or Saturday when the temperatures reach the mid 30s if you are able.

Once the frigid temperatures arrive on Sunday they will not be able to be cleared for the week.

Get the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road alerts by clicking here, and school closings by clicking here.

 (From Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio)

Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio (MHCO) is pleased to announce its formal affiliation with the Brethren Retirement Community (BRC) of Greenville, Ohio, effective December 31, 2024. This partnership marks a significant milestone in MHCO’s nearly 70-year mission of providing a Christ-centered community that promotes personal decision-making and purposeful living for older adults.

Since its founding in 1955, MHCO has evolved to meet the changing needs of the senior care environment. MHCO offers a wide range of services, including skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, and independent living, across three Bluffton campuses:
Mennonite Memorial Home, Maple Crest, and Willow Ridge.

Recognizing the importance of sustainability and growth, the MHCO Board of Directors has carefully considered opportunities to strengthen its mission and better serve the community. After years of thoughtful deliberation and collaboration, the Board has determined that affiliating with BRC is the best path forward.

“The five-year relationship (2019–2024) between Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio and Brethren Retirement Community has stood the test of time and unexpected changes in long-term care,” said Elizabeth Kelly, Chair of the MHCO Board of Directors. “Our Board unanimously supports the affiliation and the continuing service of both organizations. We are grateful for a common mission and goals that strengthen us and the communities we serve.”

Founded in 1902, BRC is a faith-based provider of senior housing and care located in Darke
County, Ohio. The affiliation formalizes a relationship that began in 2019 when MHCO and
BRC initiated discussions with a long-term vision of collaboration. In November 2019, BRC
began providing consultation and management services to MHCO, and the partnership has
grown steadily every year.

“For the past five years, Brethren Retirement Community and Mennonite Home Communities of
Ohio have worked closely together to further MHCO’s mission,” said John Warner, President
and CEO of BRC. “This next step in our relationship will help us build upon the foundation
which has been set in place, looking for opportunities to continue to grow and serve in Bluffton
and the surrounding communities.”

Under the terms of the affiliation, MHCO becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of BRC while
maintaining its identity and presence in Northwest Ohio. MHCO will continue to operate as a
410 W. Elm Street • Bluffton, OH 45817
Phone: 419-358-1015 • Fax: 419-358-1919 • Web: mhcoliving.org
separate legal entity, but corporate leadership roles—such as CEO and CFO—will be shared
across the two organizations. This collaboration will enable MHCO to secure better rates for
essential vendor contracts, including food, medical supplies, and insurance, ultimately benefiting
residents and care partners.

Additionally, MHCO’s name, signage, and dedication to the community will remain unchanged.
A newly formed MHCO Mission Board will ensure local support and oversight of MHCO’s
mission within the larger organization.

This affiliation positions both organizations for long-term success and ensures the continued
fulfillment of MHCO’s mission while strengthening the organization’s ability to navigate the
challenges of the senior care environment. Both organizations are excited about the opportunities
this partnership brings and remain committed to serving the residents with excellence for
generations to come.

(From Hancock Leadership)

The Hancock Leadership Class of 2025 announced their class project at the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce’s Fresh Brewed Business last Tuesday. This year’s class will beautify the area surrounding the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center on West Main Cross Street in downtown Findlay, working alongside the Hancock County Commissioners, Master Gardeners, and RCM Architects.

The announcement was made by class project manager, Wade Hiatt, towards the end of the program. He explained, “Some of the folks coming through these doors are experiencing the hardest moments of their lives and need support. With this project they’ll be able to walk out and at least stop and smell the roses.” He adds that with the generous support of donors and volunteers, this year’s leadership class will be able to transform the public space, improve sustainability, and provide a welcoming atmosphere for all.

Fundraising initiatives are now underway for the project on the Chamber’s website, complete with donor tiers. Money raised will go to support materials, plants and other project-related costs. If you would like to donate, please go to bit.ly/HLspon25

The theme of the project is “Firmly Planted: Honoring the Roots, Resilience, and Growth of Hancock County”. Amber Wolfrom, a member of HL Class of 2025 explained, “We hope to honor the organizations within the walls of the new judicial center by creating a peaceful outdoor space. Roots, resilience, and growth are all words that lend to the mission of the justice system as well as the plants.”

For more information on Hancock Leadership, a program of the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, please email HancockLeadership@HancockCountyChamber.com.

Local Red Cross Director Todd James was on with WKXA’s Rex Howard.

James, the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio in Findlay, talked about the need for volunteers, becoming a blood donor, and provided an update on the devastating fires in California.

Listen to Rex’s full interview with Todd below.