(ONN) – Ohio’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68 that would ban all gender-affirming health care for minors and bans transgender athletes from playing girls’ and women’s sports.

The house voted 65-28 to override Governor DeWine’s veto.

That’s an even wider margin than when the house voted 62-27 on the bill on December 13th.

Now, the bill goes to the Senate. The next Senate session is set for January 24.

It will take a three-fifths majority there as well to override the veto.

Republican Senator Andrew Brenner says Republicans believe they have the votes to do that.

A week after his veto, Governor DeWine issued an executive order banning gender transition surgeries.

(From BGSU AD Derek van der Merwe)

BGSU Men’s Basketball will celebrate our annual “Bill Frack Day” on Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Western Michigan. We will continue to celebrate the life and legacy of Bill Frack, because of his unique gift to the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, benefiting the Bowling Green State University men’s basketball program and community needs in Hancock County.  The gift, originally announced in 2011, had nearly doubled to about $20 million at Bill’s passing in 2014. 

This annual day of celebration brings together Bill’s friends, colleagues and Findlay connections who were so meaningful in Bill’s life, and who he brought together as a part of his love for BGSU Men’s Basketball. 

We are forever indebted to Bill as a program, and keep his memory alive, now adding an “Alumni Day” component to the celebration, bringing back many of Bill’s beloved former players back to campus for this special day. 

As a further tribute to Bill’s Findlay roots, we have created a special discounted ticket price for Findlay-area fans who wish to be a part of the celebration. That link can be accessed HERE. 

Derek was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to talk about Bill Frack’s love for and generosity towards BGSU.

(above picture courtesy of BGSU)

(From United Way of Hancock County)

Volunteers are needed to help run a free tax preparation program that is expected to make up to $2 million in impact for the community.

United Way of Hancock County is seeking volunteer tax preparers and greeters for its free income tax preparation program, called VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). This IRS program serves income-eligible individuals who live or work in Hancock County and may not otherwise be able to afford to have their taxes prepared and filed. The United Way is again collaborating with the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library and 50 North, who will host the service at their sites.

The 2024 VITA season will begin Feb. 5 and will continue into April, based on demand.

To qualify, an individual’s combined household income must be $64,000 or less. All clients must live or work in Hancock County. In addition, trained VITA volunteers will provide guidance to senior citizens who no longer need to file taxes.

The United Way is recruiting volunteers to serve as tax preparers and greeters at both the library and 50 North. Volunteers can work any number of hours they are available during whatever month or months they can. Morning and afternoon shifts are available Mondays through Fridays, plus Saturday mornings.

Tax preparers will prepare and electronically file taxes for clients. No accounting background is necessary, and volunteers can work through training online or may attend three in-person training sessions with the VITA site coordinator in January to become certified. All new volunteers will work with an experienced tax preparer until they are comfortable with the program.

Greeters are also needed to welcome clients as they arrive for appointments and check them in, and will ensure that clients have the necessary paperwork for tax preparation.

“This is a great opportunity to make a rewarding impact in the community,” said United Way of Hancock County CEO Angela DeBoskey. “We were happy to bring this free tax service back to Hancock County in 2022 and are thrilled to be able to expand our capacity again this year.”

The 2023 VITA season was limited to Hancock County residents and saw close to 1,500 state and federal tax returns filed by local volunteers. Over $1 million was returned to the local economy through state and federal tax refunds and earned income credits.

Beginning Jan. 22, community members may call the United Way office at 567-250-1955 to schedule their appointment. Callers will be asked a series of questions and will be informed of the items they must bring to their tax preparation appointment.

Contact Bridgit at accounting@uwhancock.org or call 419-423-1432 to sign up as a volunteer or for more information.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to give snowplows room to work when they’re clearing the roads of snow or treating them with salt.

ODOT said on Tuesday that two snowplows have already been struck in 2024.

“The second plow strike of ’24 happened in Paulding County early this morning when a driver attempted to pass a snowplow,” ODOT said on social media.

“More ice and snow are expected this week. Give plows plenty of room to work and yourself plenty of travel time.”

ODOT’s Matt Bruning is reminding everyone to give plows room to work.

He’s also reminding everyone to obey the state’s move over law, which requires all drivers to move over to an adjacent lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.

If moving over is not possible due to traffic or weather conditions, or because a second lane does not exist, motorists should slow down and proceed with caution.

(ONN) – The U.S. Supreme Court will not review a case about blocked railroad crossings.

Ohio and 19 other states asked the court to review the case which would have allowed local prosecutors to go after railroads who block crossings.

As of now, there are no federal statutes governing how long a train can block a crossing.

According to the Union County prosecuting attorney, blocked railroads are a major safety issue.

(From Whirlpool Corporation)

Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it has entered into agreements with One Energy to add onsite wind and solar power at its Findlay and Clyde, Ohio operations. 

The company currently has nine onsite wind turbines at four of its Ohio plants in Findlay, Marion, Greenville and Ottawa.

Combined, those turbines supply 22 percent of the electrical needs for those facilities. These two projects are among the largest behind-the-meter renewable energy projects in the U.S., and once complete will ensure the Clyde and Findlay plants receive at least 70 percent of their energy needs from onsite renewable energy.

The expansion project involves three additional turbines at the company’s Findlay operations, bringing its total number of onsite turbines to five. This will be the first introduction of onsite renewable energy for operations in Clyde, Ohio with the construction of three turbines. A ground solar array will also be installed at each location. The two projects combined will create 40.8 megawatts of renewable energy, bringing Whirlpool Corp. into the top 25 percent of companies on the Environmental Protection Agency’s national Green Power Partnership list.

“Our focus on sustainability goes back over 50 years, and these new onsite installations are a significant step toward achieving our net zero target by 2030 for our operations,” said Pam Klyn, Whirlpool Corporation’s executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability.

“Sustainability is deeply embedded in our values, and we’re very excited to be making this announcement today.”

The solar and wind projects are expected to be online and operational by early 2025. Each turbine that Whirlpool Corp. has installed to date provides scholarship money in conjunction with One Energy.

For the six new wind turbines, six additional $5,000 scholarships will be awarded per year to students in the local area pursuing a two or four year degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close the rest areas on U.S. 23 in Wyandot County and U.S. 30 in Van Wert County on Thursday, Jan. 11, for demolition and replacement.

The work is anticipated to close the rest areas for approximately one year. The locations will be entirely closed with barricades, including the parking lots. 

In Wyandot County, the northbound rest area is located near the village of Carey (mile marker 20.5), and the southbound is located near the city of Upper Sandusky (mile marker 17). The rebuild in Wyandot County will replace all existing structures and construct additional parking areas.

The Van Wert County rest areas are located on U.S. 30 near the village of Convoy (mile marker 8.5). The Van Wert project will replace all existing buildings and resurface parking areas.

The new facilities are expected to open in 2025.

The contractor for both projects is Mosser Construction, Fremont. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) is administering the construction contracts.

The new structures will be a lodge-style design with everything under one roof, including larger restrooms with adult changing tables, a lobby area with vending and regional tourism information, and an attached and covered outdoor picnic area. Included in the new design are landscape upgrades that include Ohio native plants.

ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes notes that with the closures of the rest facilities, larger numbers of commercial trucks in the area may park for extended periods along highway entrance and exit ramps. 

“We don’t anticipate any issues with the expected increase in trucks parked along ramps, but it is something to be aware of as a passing motorist,” he said.

Through the inconvenience during the closures, Hughes hopes the end result will remain the focus. “We’re excited to provide a fresh and welcoming travel experience for all motorists,” said Hughes.

The nearest open rest areas on U.S. 23 will be those just south of the city of Marion, and on U.S. 30, those to the east in Allen County, near State Route 65, north of the city of Lima.

In May, Governor Mike DeWine announced a plan to update 33 rest areas across 17 locations with all new buildings. Additional parking is also being added where possible. Ohio has 85 rest areas located along major highways, not including those maintained by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

(From Blanchard Valley Center)

Blanchard Valley Center (Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities) will host a series of networking events that will be free and open to the public in 2024.

Nadine Weininger, with Blanchard Valley Center, says the first event of the series will be held Jan. 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Blanchard Valley Center, 1700 E. Sandusky Street, Findlay. The topic will be, How did I get here and where do I go next? A panel of parents will discuss their journey of navigating life with a child who has a developmental disability.

Each event will include a 30-minute question-and-answer period, followed by an open house for networking with representatives from resource agencies.

“When we were working on our strategic plan and collecting feedback from stakeholders, we had parents, including board members, who said they wanted opportunities to network with families dealing with similar situations,” said Blanchard Valley Center Superintendent Kelli Grisham. “This gives them the chance to not only talk to other parents or caregivers, but to tap onto other resources, such as recommended doctors or facilities.”

Topics for additional networking events will include:

-Transition and Summer Work. This event will focus on young adults, ages 14-22, as they navigate life after post-secondary education.

-Special Ed 101. A parent panel will discuss their experiences working with local school districts, IEPs, and what involvement looks like.

The dates for the additional sessions are April 10 and August 14, respectively.

“We often hear that parents will receive a diagnosis for their child and don’t know where to turn,” Grisham said. “Understanding the world of developmental disabilities can sometimes be daunting. We want to invite families to these networking events to help in that process. It will give people an opportunity to communicate with a professional, and those with lived experience, in a relaxed environment.”

The City of Findlay has been preparing for the solar eclipse of April, 8th 2024 which is now less than three months away. 

Findlay is within the path of totality and will experience a total solar eclipse of an estimated 3 minutes and 44 seconds beginning at 3:10 p.m.

Service Safety Director Rob Martin says ensuring it’s a safe and enjoyable event for everyone is all about the planning and getting everyone on the same page.

However, there are still many unknowns.

“We know we’re going to have an influx of people, but how many people, we don’t know.”

Rob says from talking to other communities Findlay’s size that have experienced similar eclipses, the city’s preparing for an influx of 3 to 4 times the city’s population.

He says their preparations are focusing on getting safety services ready and the flow of traffic.

Rob’s asking people to be patient as it likely won’t be easy to get around town on the days leading up to and on the day of the eclipse.

He says schools will either not hold classes that day or will do so remotely, to prevent school buses from being on the road at around the same time the eclipse will be happening.

The Solar Eclipse Task Force, which is a collaboration of many local entities, has created a website with information about the eclipse.

The American Red Cross says the blood supply is at such critically low levels they are declaring a nationwide emergency.

The number of donors is at a 20-year low and with a loss of 300,000 donors since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officials says emptier shelves could force hospitals to make excruciating decisions.

The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the blood for the United States and says, while all types of blood donations are needed, type o and platelets are most urgently needed.

Upcoming blood drives in the area include two on Friday; at the Hancock County Red Cross at 125 Fair Street in Findlay from 9 to 3, and at Arlington High School from 8 to 12:30.

Get more information on upcoming blood drives by clicking here.