(ONN) – Cleveland’s city council is invoking a law passed in 1996 to keep the Cleveland Browns from moving out of the downtown area.

As the Browns possibly look toward building a new stadium in Brook Park, city council is making moves that could make that a bit more difficult.

It has approved an ordinance that directs the city to enforce what’s called the Art Modell law and that would make it so the Browns would have to stay in Cleveland proper unless the team owners get permission to leave or give the city or a group of residents the chance to buy the team.

The “Modell Law” was derisively named after former Browns owner Art Modell months after he moved the team to Baltimore.

(ONN) – A bill at the Ohio Statehouse would introduce tougher penalties for repeat gun offenders.

Two Republican representatives are introducing a bill that would increase penalties for repeat gun offenders and add additional time to sentences involving violent crimes.

Previous attempts at passing stiffer gun penalties have failed including one by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine following the Dayton shooting five years ago.

The difference this time is the support of attorney general Dave Yost who issued a statement saying the bill could succeed where others have failed.

The Buckeye Firearms Association also supports the measure, citing the crime-focused nature of the bill’s language.

A supercell thunderstorm prompted some tornado warnings for northern Putnam County and northern Hancock County as it rumbled through the area on Tuesday night.

Our severe weather partner WTOL-11 is reporting that a funnel was seen in Continental, in Putnam County, and then there was a confirmed tornado near Leipsic.

It was initially unclear if the tornado caused any damage.

One of the tornado warnings initially included Findlay and the outdoor warning sirens could be heard going off in town. 

The cell that prompted the tornado warnings continued to move east/northeast, and the National Weather Service let the warning expire at 9:15 Tuesday night.

Most of the state was under a Tornado Watch on Tuesday night as strong storms made their way across the state.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System has named Mike Leifheit, a pharmacy clinical coordinator at Blanchard Valley Hospital, as its 2023 Associate of the Year.

Recently, a surprise banquet luncheon was held for Leifheit in celebration of this honor, where he was joined by his family, friends, BVHS leadership and Rewards & Recognition Committee members. 

“This is a great honor,” Leifheit said. “To receive this award out of all the other great associates here at BVHS, I am beyond honored and so appreciative to be recognized in this way by the organization.”

Leifheit has worked at BVHS for 18 years.

“I’ve seen this organization grow in many different directions and I’m really proud to be a part of that – I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.

In his position, Leifheit plays an integral role in the review and approval of medications provided to patients at the Blanchard Valley Hospital campus. He assists with educating providers and nursing staff about the medications that are being used for patients, as well as patient education (on medications) as needed. Leifheit also helps coordinate the pharmacy residency program that provides learning and real-world work experiences to new pharmacists. Additionally, he plays a major role in the education of pharmacy students from two local colleges of pharmacy.

What Leifheit enjoys most about his job and BVHS is the closeness he has with his fellow associates and contributing to the care of others.

“I love working with the people at BVHS and it truly feels like a team and family,” he said.

Leifheit is also active in the community and serves as a board member for several different institutions in the area, including a local school board, church, children’s museum, and a university’s college of pharmacy. Leifheit also helps coach his boys’ soccer and basketball teams and has served as an Honor Flight guardian.

The Associate of the Year is selected from among the 12 Associates of the Month throughout the calendar year. Leifheit was named the BVHS Associate of the Month in May 2023.

Associates of the Month are nominated by their peers, managers, and others throughout the health system. The Rewards & Recognition Committee reviews applications each month and selects an associate to honor.

Criteria include having traits that exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the organization, such as contributing to the “Caring for a lifetime” mission of BVHS. Those nominating associates for this honor are asked to describe how that associate has gone above and beyond their normal job duties.

(From First Response Mental Health)

Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is increasing mental health support for their Members through a new proactive wellness platform.

Recognizing the importance of fostering a culture of support and open dialogue around mental health, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office made the decision to seek a proactive wellness solution for their members.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office launched with PeerConnect on May 1, 2024.

First responder behavioral health issues have become a commonly discussed subject, in recent years, as efforts are made to address concerns felt by first responders in discussing mental health issues.

A survey conducted by the University of Phoenix suggested that many first responders do not feel that work is a safe place to discuss mental health, however, the survey also found that first responders may be more open to getting help if those around them are willing to discuss mental health.

The PeerConnect system represents a step forward in the way that organizations are able to respond and support their employees through well-needed conversations when they need it most.

PeerConnect provides first responders with private, anonymous support when they need it with 24/7 coverage, all from their mobile phones.

Any member utilizing the system can create their own trusted peer support team made up of peers who are trained to offer support.

PeerConnect users can request contact at any time and will be connected with one of their preferred peer support team members.

This selection can make all the difference in the comfort level of a first responder seeking help.

“This proactive platform will ensure that no member of the Sheriff’s Office is left to fall through the cracks and works to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health and normalize mental health conversations.

Talking about the challenges we face is not something to be ashamed of, but rather a proactive measure to better health for all our members,” said Detective Robin M. May, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

“Trust and stigma is often an issue with any Mental health situation. Our unique process allows users to create their own personal support team with the choice of who they feel comfortable connecting with well before any trauma occurs. The goal is to ensure that no member has to face difficult times alone,” said Kevin Kuchta, CEO First Response Mental Health.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch that includes Findlay and Hancock County.

The Tornado Watch goes until 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Forecasters say storms that develop Tuesday night could include damaging wind gusts, large hail, heavy rainfall, and some tornadoes.

You can get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here.

(From the University of Findlay)

University of Findlay is now home to approximately 100,000 bees and a new bee club called The Hive. Two UF students, D’alan Seyer and Jillella Weingart, founded the club and donated half of their own personal bee collection to the University.

The pair shared a natural interest in agriculture and the production of products and through a bee class found a passion for bees. “We went to a small class in Celina to learn about beekeeping and we fell in love with it,” said Seyer. “I’m excited to be able to share it with others and I hope The Hive lasts for a long time on campus,” added Weingart.

The Hive was approved as a new club on campus, with Seyer and Weingart serving as the club president and vice president respectively. The first informational meeting was held to gauge interest on campus and the attendance was unexpected. “We were all really surprised with the amount of interest,” said Lauren Sandhu, M.S., instructor of teaching in Biology and faculty adviser to The Hive. “After ensuring that it was ok to have bee boxes on campus, we held the meeting and nearly 40 students expressed interest in joining The Hive.”

To start, two hives (50,000 bees per hive) were placed on campus to help with pollination. With the help and support of Ben Taylor, assistant vice president of facilities services, one of the boxes was placed near the Hoop House, where students work to plant and grow various types of plants and produce throughout the year. The second box was placed near the greenhouse. Seyer and Weingart said they would love to see the number of hives grow from two to six (300,000 bees) but want to do so in a controlled and planned manner.

With bees now on campus, the goal is to get students involved. “It’s a really unique, hands-on opportunity. The educational aspect of this is limitless,” said Sandhu. “We can talk about native plants, native bees, honeybees, honey products, attracting pollinators, and bee research.” Sandhu said some students have already expressed interest in doing research on the honeybees and the parasite varroa mites, which has been linked to dwindling honeybee numbers.

The Hive is a student organization, has no membership fees or dues, and does not require equipment. “You don’t have to be a beekeeper to be part of The Hive. You can come to learn about bees and ecology, join us on nature hikes, and learn more about production,” said Seyer. The group has attracted the attention of other area bee clubs not associated with the University of Findlay, relationships Seyer and Weingart hope to expand upon to create learning opportunities for community members.

When asked about an end goal with the bees on campus, Seyer and Weingart say they would like to continue to work with the University of Findlay and the city to become a “bee affiliate” campus and city. To reach that goal, the University and city would need to increase the abundance of native plants, provide pollinator-friendly habitats, and provide educational outreach to the local community.

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) announced Charlotte Smith, a sophomore at Eastwood High School, as the winner of Ohio’s Fifth District 2024 Congressional Art Competition.

Smith’s winning artwork, entitled Sacagawea and her Babe, will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. Three honorable mention winners will have their artwork displayed in one of Latta’s congressional offices for the year.

127 high school students from 31 high schools participated in this year’s competition. Latta hosted a reception at Bowling Green State University on Saturday, May 4^th, to honor all participants and to showcase each individual work of art.

 The top prize winners were selected by Matthew Kyba, Curator School of Art Bowling Green State University, Matthew Bowlus, Curatorial Assistant Bowling Green State University, and Precious Gyekye, Curatorial Assistant Bowling Green State University.

“Each year, I’m amazed by the creativity and talent of high school students from Ohio’s Fifth District who participate in the Congressional Art Competition,” Latta said. 

“This year, we had a record 127 students from 31 schools participate, and I want to thank each and every one of them for showcasing their hard work and talent. Congratulations to Charlotte for taking home this year’s top-prize. Her piece, Sacagawea and her Babe, will be a wonderful addition to hang in the U.S. Capitol Building complex!”

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Hancock County has been allocated federal funds through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board program (EFSP) to supplement emergency food and shelter programs.

The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide.

The local board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The local board, made up of representative nonprofits, will determine how the funds awarded to Hancock County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private, voluntary nonprofits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

To apply for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds, public or private voluntary agencies must contact Kaleb Brown (impact@uwhancock.org) at United Way of Hancock County, 318 W. Main Cross St., Findlay, Ohio, or call 419-423-1432.

The deadline to apply for funding is May 13, 2024.

The Findlay Police Department says one person was injured in a two-vehicle crash.

The crash happened on East Sandusky Street in front of the fairgrounds at around noon on Monday.

Police say Kendyl Bame, 24, of Findlay, was driving a Jeep Wrangler westbound and failed to stop in time and rear-ended an SUV that was stopped due to traffic.

The driver of the SUV, Susan Bunn, 62, of Fostoria, was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for a possible head and neck injury.

Police say Bame was issued a citation.