A newly-formed conservative group is seeking an end to the death penalty in Ohio.

Ohio Conservatives Concerned About The Death Penalty is part of a network of similar groups nationwide.

Members question the expense of capital punishment and have concerns about executing the innocent.

The Ohio chapter released a list of Republicans opposed to the death penalty.

Members of the coalition include former Gov. Bob Taft, former attorney general Jim Petro and former U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi.

Republican house speaker Larry Householder is not a member but has recently questioned whether the state should reconsider capital punishment.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found a body after putting out a fire at a Gilboa residence.

Firefighters responded to 140 Franklin Street at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to find the structure fully engulfed.

Once they had the flames put out, firefighters found the remains of a body inside the residence.

The identification of the individual is pending.

The structure is a total loss.

The fire then spread to the neighboring residence of 138 Franklin, causing structural damage to the garage.

A family of four was evacuated and is being assisted by the Red Cross.

The fire remains under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The three candidates for Hancock County Sheriff squared off in a forum on WFIN Wednesday night.

The forum included current sheriff Michael Heldman and challengers Tim Saltzman and Verl Warnimont.

The three answered questions ranging from the county’s opioid problem to overcrowding at the jail.

The forum was held at the University of Findlay’s Alumni Memorial Union and streamed live on UFTV Productions.

Video of the forum is below.

On Wednesday, February 26th WFIN will be holding another candidate forum, with the Republican primary candidates for Hancock County Commissioner.

Ohio’s primary election this year is on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day.

The driver of a dump truck was trapped after his truck rolled on State Route 37, southeast of Findlay.

The crash happened around 4:15 Wednesday afternoon on State Route 37 near Township Road 234.

A dump truck that was carrying a load of dirt lost control and rolled, blocking the roadway.

Vanlue firefighters responded and were able to extricate the man from the cab of the truck.

The driver could be seen up and walking around.

A construction crew in Defiance pulled an interesting item out of the Maumee River.

The crew discovered a 1983 Buick Century, that was reported stolen to the Defiance Police Department on March 15th, 1993.

The license plate reads V-R-V-8-1-4 and officers are working to find the owner.

They say the owner information isn’t available because their theft reporting system has been upgraded.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Great news for drivers in Findlay and Hancock County.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says the Interstate 75 Reconstruction and Widening project through Findlay is in the homestretch and will be completed in 2020.

“We re-phased some work last year and we had this mild winter so we’ve been able to keep working all winter on some bridges and ramps and we’ve got the project on schedule at this time,” said Cheri Newton, ODOT District 1 public information officer.

She says much of the work this year will be concentrated at the U.S. 68/ State Route 15 interchange.

She says all lanes of 75 will be open in the late summer and the entire project should be completed by late fall.

The new Lima Avenue roundabouts that are part of the project opened in November. (video below)

The project is reconstructing and widening approximately five miles of Interstate 75 from just south of the Harrison Street overpass to the County Road 99 interchange north of Findlay.

The project also includes the replacement of all mainline bridges on Interstate 75, replacement of the Harrison Street overpass, the redesign and reconstruction of the interchange between U.S. 68/State Route 15 and Interstate 75, and the redesign and reconstruction of the interchange with U.S. 68/ State Route 15 at Lima Avenue.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay-Hancock County is embarking on its biggest build ever.

The house at 831 Putnam Street in Findlay is the organization’s 44th house overall, and 3rd rehab.

Construction Manager Steve Gibbs says the home was set to be demolished but they knew that with a lot of hard work they could make it into a great home for a family.

“All the mechanicals will be new, all the wiring will be new, the insulation’s new, the siding’s new, so this will, except for the basic frame of the house, be a new home.”

He says these project just couldn’t get done without so many great volunteers.

“We’re working on every level of the home, there’s a group on the first story, second story, there’s a group in the basement, there’s people outside cleaning up. We’re in all corners of the property at this point.”

He says the new homeowners are required to put in 500 hours of sweat equity with the project.

Gibbs says the home should be ready for the family of nine to enjoy in the middle of June.

Primary election season has begun in Ohio.

Today (Wednesday), Ohio voters can begin voting in the primary election.

You can vote early in person at your board of elections or you can call them, request an absentee ballot be mailed to you and fill it out and mail it back.

The Hancock County Board of Elections is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the rest of the week.

If you don’t want to vote early, you can wait until the official voting day which is March 17th.

The polls will be open that day at 6:30 a.m.

WFIN is holding two candidate forums.

Tonight (Wednesday) the forum will feature current Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman and primary challengers Tim Saltzman and Verl Warnimont.

The forum begins at 5 p.m. from the University of Findlay’s Alumni Memorial Union.

Then next Wednesday, February 26th, a forum will be held featuring the Republican primary candidates for Hancock County Commissioner.

Ohio’s primary election this year is on March 17th, which is St. Patrick’s Day.

Ohio’s Secretary of State is asking Kent State to cancel an event scheduled with actress Jane Fonda this May.

She’s been invited to speak at the 50th anniversary of the May 4th, 1970 shooting that happened on campus.

Frank LaRose says in a Facebook post that Fonda committed treason by taking her controversial trip to North Vietnam in 1972.

Kent’s hosting a weekend of events to commemorate the shooting starting on May 1st.

The University of Findlay is now offering an online program to help address the serious shortage of school psychologists in the United States.

Details are in the following news release from the university.

The University of Findlay is pleased to announce the beginning of Doctor of Education in School Psychology Program. The four-year program will be the only online Doctor of Education in School Psychology in Ohio, making it easier for individuals to pursue a career as a school psychologist while continuing to work.

“There is a significant national shortage for school psychologists,” explained Dr. Julie McIntosh, dean of the College of Education at Findlay. “The mental health of our youth is a top priority for schools but there aren’t enough individuals who have the training needed to be a school psychologist. Our new program will help fill that need, especially for the schools in our region.”

The National Association of School Psychologists recommends that there is one school psychologist for every 500-700 students. According to a study released in 2018, the current ratio of school psychologist to student is estimated to be 1 for every 1,442 students. It is predicted that there will be a national shortage on 15,000 school psychologists by the end of 2020.

Additional details about the University of Findlay’s Doctor of Education in School Psychology:

Offered entirely online with the exception of a three-day Summer Institute and final internship year
Can be completed in four years
Candidates receive on Ohio School Psychologist license
Unique program focus on research
Applications are currently being accepted for the first cohort for the program, which starts May 18, 2020.

The program will seek accreditation through the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This program was founded in 2020 and new programs can become accredited upon the graduation of their first class.