Governor Mike DeWine is making good on his promise to veto a bill that would have prohibited criminal penalties for people who violate state or local health orders.

Currently, the penalty is a $750 fine and up to 90 days in jail for people who violate mask mandates and other measures.

The bill would have required a warning on the first violation and a maximum fine of $150.

DeWine has said the proposed law would prevent officials from taking a firm stand against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawmakers can still override the governor’s veto.

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1284216302169718785

It’s going to be a very hot weekend and some counties are even included in a Heat Advisory by the National Weather Service.

Putnam, Henry and Allen Counties are included in the advisory, which goes from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Heat index values as high as 100 are expected.

Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur.

People should drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun and in the air conditioning.

Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

The Findlay Police Department was able to get a suicidal person out of the attic where he was hiding and into a hospital for evaluation.

Police were dispatched to 209 East Hobart at around noon on Friday to check on the welfare of a suicidal subject.

A family member was concerned that the male had harmed himself.

Officers attempted to make contact with the subject, who was believed to be hiding in the attic, but received no response.

A police negotiator was on scene and also tried to make contact with the subject but received no response.

After about two hours of no response the attic was breached and the subject was confirmed to be in the attic.

Police say he still refused to respond to the officers’ commands.

Police deployed tear gas into the attic to coax the subject out, and he exited the attic and was secured by officers.

The subject had sustained several self-inflicted cutting wounds and was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for an evaluation.

Hancock Public Health reported on Friday that there were 112 total cases of COVID-19 in the county and one death.

28 of those cases are active.

Two days earlier, on Wednesday, there were 98 total cases and 14 active cases.

Hancock County is still listed on the lowest public health alert level for COVID-19, the yellow level.

Check out the alert level map here.

Statewide as of Friday, there were 72,280 cases of COVID-19 and 3,112 deaths.

The total cases number is an increase of 1,679 from a day earlier and a record for the number of cases reported in a 24-hour period.

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1284194399170297858

An investment program for local governments in Ohio has reached an impressive milestone.

Details are in the following news release from the treasurer’s office.

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague recently announced that the State Treasury Asset Reserve (STAR) of Ohio has reached $15 billion in assets for the first time in its history. As of yesterday, the investment pool closed at an all-time high of $15,573,352,472.04.

“STAR Ohio continues to be a sound and trusted investment option for local governments as they battle unforeseen financial challenges brought on by COVID-19,” said Treasurer Sprague. “With its high rating and decades-long track record of success, STAR Ohio plays a vital role in helping local fiscal officers manage public resources.”

STAR Ohio is an investment pool that allows government subdivisions—from municipalities to school districts—to invest in high-grade, short-term securities, while offering safety, penalty-free liquidity, and comparatively higher yields.

Nearly 1,700 entities currently participate in the program and there are almost 2,800 accounts across the state. In state fiscal year 2020, the program distributed more than $217 million in interest earnings to Ohio government subdivisions.

In the 25 years that STAR Ohio has received a rating from Standard & Poor’s, it has maintained the highest possible investment rating of AAAm. The economies of scale created by pooling funds of Ohio’s governmental subdivisions provide participants with greater earnings potential and increased efficiencies. All eligible entities, regardless of their investment size, are invited to take advantage of this exceptional investment option.

More information on the STAR Ohio program can be found online here.

The Tiffin Police Department says a car crashed into a house after someone fired shots at it.

Police responded to 42 1/2 West Perry Street on Thursday on the report that a car had crashed into a house.

Police learned that someone had shot multiple times at the vehicle.

The vehicle then left the scene.

Police say the driver was wounded and stopped in front of 300 South Monroe Street where they were treated by Tiffin Fire and Rescue.

Police say the shooting suspects fled the scene on foot and were tracked to Willow Creek Apartments where they were taken into custody.

Police say a gun was recovered from one of the suspects.

Police are still investigating and say further details will be released when they have more information.

The Findlay Police Department has canceled its National Night Out celebration at Riverside Park.

Details are in the following statement from the police department.

After careful deliberation we have decided to cancel our annual National Night Out celebration, which is typically held on the first Tuesday of August.

This event normally brings the community and first responders together to show our appreciation of the community.

However, in light of the current Covid-19 Pandemic, it would be irresponsible to move forward with this event.

Promoting Safety is our first priority and Covid-19 has affected many lives in our area and will continue to do so in the coming months.

We look forward to being able to return to our usual events and bolstering relationships with the community.

(ONN) – The board that oversees the Ohio Statehouse grounds met to discuss the removal of a Christopher Columbus statue on the grounds.

the executive director of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board says the process for taking down the Columbus statue would take years to complete.

The removal of the statue would also have to be funded by the group that wants to remove the statue.

The Christopher Columbus statue at the statehouse is the last Columbus statue standing in the city.

The statues outside city hall and on the Columbus State campus were taken down in the past few weeks following protests.

More Ohio counties have been added to the second-highest coronavirus alert level.

A total of 19 Ohio counties are now at a level 3 public health alert (red), up from 12 last Thursday.

Counties newly-added to the level 3 alert are: Lucas and Allen in northwest Ohio, Delaware, Union, Licking and Richland in central Ohio and Scioto County in southern Ohio.

Hancock County is still at the lowest level, while Putnam County is at level 2 and Wood County at level 3.

You can check out the map below or by clicking  here.

Counties at a level 3 or 4 alert level have mandatory mask-wearing in public.

Flag City BalloonFest won’t be happening this August.

The BalloonFest Committee says it has canceled this year’s event, which was scheduled for August 14-16, to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

“The BalloonFest committee waited until the last possible moment to cancel the festival,” said Heather Howard, Flag City BalloonFest President.

“After exhausting all options to host a scaled-down version of the BalloonFest or a micro event, we knew the safest and smartest option was to hold off this year to help keep everyone involved with the festival safe and healthy.”

She added that there is also no end in sight for the state’s regulations which bans mass gatherings like festivals, making it impossible to host an event such as BalloonFest at this time.

Before the pandemic struck, Flag City BalloonFest planned to host its 21st annual festival with a plethora of hot air balloons, food vendors, live music, kids’ activities, fireworks and more.

Flag City BalloonFest has grown to become the largest, free festival in Northwest Ohio with more than 20,000 people in attendance over the three days.

Howard says this has been possible with the support of dedicated community organizations, pilots, volunteers, vendors and attendees.

“We will be taking this time to regroup and plan the best Flag City BalloonFest yet in 2021,” said Howard.

“Anyone interested in being a part of future planning is welcome to contact us through our website.”

She says Flag City BalloonFest extends a special thank you to its sponsors for their full and continued support and looks forward to being back in full swing on August 13-15, 2021 at Emory Adams Park.

Below is video from last year when WFIN’s Matt Demczyk ‘enjoyed’ his first hot air balloon ride.