(ONN) – Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Ohio will lose one of its 16 congressional districts next year.

A state’s population determines how many U.S. House seats it receives in Congress and Ohio was outpaced by other states in population growth over the past 10 years, leading to the lost seat.

Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, New York and California will all lose one seat each, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oregon and North Carolina will each gain one seat, while Texas will gain two.

Ohio’s congressional districts will be redrawn this year according to a voter-passed constitutional amendment aimed at reducing the impact of gerrymandering on the redrawing process.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a man was struck by a car after getting out of the vehicle he was in on U.S. 224.

It happened Tuesday night around 9:30 on U.S. 224 near Township Road 243, just east of Findlay.

The Highway Patrol says Brian E. Hutchison, 34, of Bowling Green, was a passenger in a minivan that had stopped in the roadway.

Hutchison exited the vehicle and was hit by a car that was traveling east on U.S. 224.

Hutchison was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for incapacitating injuries, according to the Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol says alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident for Hutchison.

The crash remains under investigation.

(ONN) – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is putting out a scam warning for anyone filing an unemployment claim.

ODJFS says fake websites are being used to mirror the agency’s official website to try to steal your personal info.

ODJFS says to ignore all unsolicited text messages.

Don’t click on any links in emails, or texts, that look strange and log in each week to look over your personal information.

The agency will not contact you to ask for your username or password.

The Findlay Fire Department helped out some boaters that got stuck on Findlay Reservoir 2 due to strong winds.

Firefighters responded to the reservoir at around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon and found two men in a boat that had been getting pushed up against the rocks from the wind.

One man had stepped out of the boat to try and hold it off the rocks.

Firefighters lowered one of their boats into the reservoir at the boat ramp and two firefighters headed across to the other side.

After a few minutes the fire department boat could be seen towing the other boat back to the boat ramp area.

The fire department says they handle incidents like this every year and people need to be aware of how strong the wind can get at the reservoirs.

“A lot of times the trolling motors and smaller motors are not strong enough to fight their way back against the wind,” Assistant Chief Brian Sanders told WFIN at the scene.

A sign at Reservoir 2 says outboards and up to 10 hp engines only.

The sign says only electric motors are permitted at Reservoir 1.

You can read over the rules for the reservoirs by clicking here. 

(ONN) – State health officials are working out a system that will allow people to change the gender listed on their birth certificates.

A federal court filing cited by the “Cincinnati Enquirer” shows that Ohio is not going to appeal a ruling that the state can not prevent people from requesting the changes.

The court ruling issued last December came in response to a lawsuit brought by four transgender people.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio found that the state’s rule that prohibited making a change to a person’s gender on their birth certificate was unconstitutional.

The court rejected the health department’s argument that it was trying to prevent fraud and maintain an “historically accurate” record.

Governor DeWine announced on Tuesday that any fully vaccinated Ohioan will no longer have to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19.

“The power of the vaccine allows us to do this,” the governor said.

DeWine says, by changing the health order, students 16 and 17 years old who are vaccinated will be able to participate in sports and other activities even when they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

He said the change will also apply to all adults, except those who are in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other congregate care settings outlined in the order.

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities should continue to quarantine following CDC guidance, the governor said.

This is National Work Zone Awareness Week and the Ohio Department of Transportation is urging drivers to be careful around those orange barrels or there could be deadly consequences.

Linda Cook lost her husband in a work zone crash in 2017 and is now a road worker safety advocate.

Linda’s husband was working on Interstate 70 in Columbus when he was struck and killed by an impaired driver.

Last year, there were more than 4,500 work zone crashes in Ohio.

ODOT says, so far this year, already more than 60 of their work crews have been struck by a driver not paying attention.

ODOT says it’s very important for drivers to obey the speed limit, pay attention, move over and slow down.

ODOT’s Matt Bruning is asking drivers to pay better attention when driving, especially in work zones, and to obey the state’s move over law.

Wednesday is “wear orange” day and people are encouraged to wear orange to promote work zone safety.

A Findlay man was taken into custody in connection with a stabbing that left two people injured.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says it happened at 11:04 a.m. Monday at an address on Oakwood Drive, west of Interstate 75 and just outside the city limits.

A caller had reported that two people had been stabbed.

The sheriff’s office says, through its investigation, it learned that Marissa M. Sanchez, 27 and Federico M Palacios, 23, both of Findlay, were stabbed at the residence.

Both were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital and treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.

The sheriff’s office says Austin H. Palacios, 24, of Findlay, was taken into custody for felonious assault.

The case remains under investigation.

The City of Findlay took to its social media to answer some common questions as people begin or continue their spring cleaning.

The city listed the following as the most common questions they get.

High grass – Grass height may not exceed 6 inches in height.
Junk Vehicles – Vehicles must be fully operable and have current registration
Garage Sales – Each resident may have up to two a year per code
Swimming Pools – Anything over 14 feet in diameter or length must be permitted and location verified prior to construction
Fences, Decks, and Sheds – A permit must be obtained and location must be verified prior to constructing

People who need to file a complaint can do so by clicking here.

People with questions about zoning should call 419-424-7108.

(story and picture courtesy of Findlay City Schools)

Miss Emma Miller’s 8th grade class at Donnell Middle School is currently reading Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe.

This historical fiction book is about the tragedy of Emmett Till.

Before they read the chapters pertaining to the trial, students completed a mock trial.

The People v Jack Beanstalk “trial” walked students through the process of a court case, the different people involved and their roles.

Judge Joel was a fair and patient judge.

Bailiff Easton walked witnesses to the stand and escorted the jury to deliberations.

Our witness Georgina Giant (played by Aiden) had some compelling facts against Jack Beanstalk.

The defense attorneys (left) and the prosecuting attorneys (right) both provided great evidence in support of their argument.

The jury ultimately found Jack to be guilty on two counts of stealing from the Giant.

By the end of the mock trial, students could explain how a trial worked and were ready to apply what they learned into Mississippi Trial, 1955.