(ONN) – For the second day in a row, Ohio on Wednesday set a record for the highest-ever number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day since the pandemic began.

On Wednesday, that number was 12,864.

The director of the Ohio Department of Health called the numbers “troubling.”

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says the majority of those getting COVID currently are unvaccinated and filling up hospitals.

As of Thursday there were 800 people across the state on ventilators and 1,200 people in intensive care units.

Locally, the Marion Township Trustees will be holding another drive-thru COVID-19 testing kit giveaway at the township house located at 16003 State Route 568, a little east of Findlay.

The free kits will be available on Thursday, December 23rd from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. or until supplies run out.

Hancock Public Health is urging people to continue taking COVID precautions over the holidays and to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.

(ONN) – Governor DeWine signed nine new bills into law following a whirlwind session by Republican lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse.

The new bills include Ohio’s first sports betting bill and Esther’s Law, a law that will allow families to put cameras in nursing home rooms of loved ones.

The governor also signing the controversial ‘born alive’ abortion bill.

It puts criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care when a baby is born alive following an abortion attempt.

The Republican governor signed the measure over objections of abortion rights groups.

They contend it could lead to two clinics in southwest Ohio shutting down.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding people to drive sober over the holidays and that troopers will be focusing on removing impaired drivers from the roads.

During last year’s holiday reporting period, 12 people were killed in 10 crashes.

Four of the crashes involved an impaired driver.

Of the 10 fatalities in which safety belts were available, nine crash victims were unbelted.

“As usual, we expect traffic to pick up as holiday celebrations begin, and being responsible when traveling to and from holiday gatherings is key to everyone’s safety,” said Governor DeWine.

“Please don’t forget to wear your seatbelt, and if you plan on drinking, please designate a driver.”

During last year’s holiday reporting period, the Highway Patrol made 145 arrests for OVI.

“Designating a sober driver is the smartest decision motorists can make,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro.

“Ensuring everyone’s safety while traveling on Ohio’s roadways is our priority.”

Traffic fatalities are up across Ohio in 2021, with 1,327 deaths as of Thursday, which is 116 more than at the same time in 2020.

(ONN) – Governor Mike DeWine has signed into law a controversial anti-abortion bill known as the ‘born alive’ bill.

Governor DeWine says it was his duty as governor to sign the bill into law.

“I’m pro-life. I think one of the essential functions of government is to protect the most vulnerable members of society. The unborn certainly come into that category,” the governor said.

The law imposes criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care if a baby is alive following an abortion attempt.

Opponents say the provisions in the law could lead to two clinics in southwest Ohio shutting down.

Governor Mike DeWine has announced that grant funding has been awarded to support child advocacy centers and trauma recovery centers whose finances have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payments totaling more than $800,000 were awarded to 17 centers to help with revenue losses and other pandemic-related costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021.

“The services these centers provide are essential for helping young victims of crime process trauma and navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system,” said Governor DeWine.

“The coronavirus relief funding we’re awarding will replace revenue lost due to the pandemic in an effort to help these agencies continue providing their critical services.”

He said this opportunity is funded through the CARES Act, and funds are being administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the Ohio Office of Budget and Management.

Entities receiving funds include the Center for Safe and Healthy Children in Findlay which will be receiving $28,358.60.

Other entities receiving funds include:

A Caring Place, Wintersville, $36,099.62

May Dugan Center, Cleveland, $23,580.72

Hope’s Place, Lawrence County, $21,804.51

The Nord Center, Lorain, $91,092.19

Children’s Center of Medina County, Medina, $29,758.10

Michael’s House, Fairborn, $64,240.19

Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, $108,994.00

Children’s Advocacy Center of Guernsey Co., Claysville, $19,244.00

Care House, Dayton, $102,027.82

Tuscarawas County Child Advocacy Center, New Philadelphia, $4,846.41

Harcum House, Lancaster, $21,896.99

Harmony House, St. Clairsville, $61,911.14

Family & Child Abuse Prevention Center, Toledo, $137,700.91

Canopy Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, $32,519.00

Athens Co. Child Advocacy Center, Athens, $427.90

Child Advocacy Center of Warren County, Lebanon, $56,943.93

(ONN) – The general who leads the Ohio National Guard says just over half of Army National Guard members in the state are fully vaccinated.

Major General John Harris Junior says the low vaccination rate degrades the guard’s ability to respond with maximum capability.

The U.S. Military has set a June 30th deadline for all Army National Guard members to be fully vaccinated.

General Harris says he has set a March 31st deadline for Ohio.

Governor Mike DeWine recently issued a call-up of 1,050 Ohio National Guard members to help hospitals deal with surging COVID-19 cases in the state.

The Marion Township Trustees will be holding another drive-thru COVID-19 testing kit giveaway at the township house located at 16003 State Route 568, a little east of Findlay.

The free kits will be available on Thursday, December 23rd from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. or until supplies run out.

The Ohio Department of Health has provided Hancock Public Health an additional supply of kits in an effort to encourage people to get tested for COVID before attending Christmas gatherings.

Last week the trustees had two test kit giveaways scheduled but had to cancel the second one as all the kits were given away during the first giveaway.

The Marion Township House is located at 16003 State Route 568.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is also still giving out free COVID testing kits.

As holiday travel ramps up Ohio officials are reminding drivers to obey the state’s move over law.

Triple A Ohio, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol met to bring attention to the state’s move over and slow down law, helping drivers become more aware of roadside responders and keeping them safe this season.

“When you come across those flashing lights at the roadside you need to move over or slow down,” said Triple A’s Jim Garrity.

“It’s not just a slogan, it could be the matter of somebody’s life or death.”

Triple A Ohio predicts more than 4 million people across the Buckeye State will travel this week into next, driving 50 miles or more.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says 150 of their roadside crews have been hit in 2021.

ODOT said 46 snow plows were struck last winter and already four have been hit this winter.

(ONN) – A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Ohio is now headed to the state legislature for consideration after receiving more than 206,000 voter signatures.

Once the signatures are verified, lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse have four months to either pass the bill, pass an amended version or not pass it at all.

The proposal would allow Ohio adults over the age of 21 to buy and have two and a half ounces of cannabis or 15 grams of concentrates.

In 2015, voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment for Ohio that would have paved the way for recreational marijuana.

The City Mission of Findlay is handing out Christmas Food Boxes, turkeys and stockings for the kids this week.

The Christmas Food Boxes are free to anyone and were given away on Tuesday from 4 to 6 and will be again on Thursday at the same time.

In addition to the food boxes families can also get a turkey and kids can also get a stocking full of goodies.

The City Mission’s Miriam Ibarra says it took an army of people to make this happen and she can’t thank their supporting churches, volunteers and donors enough.

“This is all from churches and families coming together here in Hancock County that said ‘we know there’s a need out there and we’re willing to help you guys out so whatever you need’ so we just thought this would be the best way to bless our community.”