(ONN) – Ohio and six other states have filed a lawsuit to block the Biden administration’s new student loan forgiveness plan.

That plan was expected to roll out this fall.

The seven Republican-led states are claiming they have documents showing the Department of Education intends to provide some of the student debt relief as early as this week.

The lawsuit claims that would violate a statute prohibiting the education secretary from implementing a rule sooner than sixty days after its publication.

The six other states involved in the lawsuit are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and North Dakota.

Fostoria Police Detective Brooks Hall has been named 2023 Officer Of The Year at the Fostoria Police Department.

“Thank you for all of your continued hard work, dedication, and commitment to the City of Fostoria!” the police department said on Facebook

In 2023 Detective Hall handled cases involving felonious assault, arson, robbery and many others.

He also uploaded the department’s cold case murder files with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation giving those cases a better chance of finding justice someday.

“Most importantly, Detective Hall maintains an open-door policy to the other patrolmen and is a huge influence and mentor to them,” said Police Chief Gabe Wedge.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began Friday, August 30 at midnight and ended Monday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m.

During the Labor Day holiday reporting period, Ohio saw a 37.5 percent decrease in fatal crashes.

In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation; however, troopers continued to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for other violations and were found not wearing their safety belt. Throughout the reporting period, troopers issued more than 2,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.

Additionally, six of the fatal crashes were OVI-related. Troopers also made 378 arrests for impaired driving and 50 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 519 crashes and made 25,674 traffic contacts in total. Troopers also issued 930 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,829 motorists.

A statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Labor Day reporting period can be found here.

Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.

(ONN) – The Cleveland Browns have announced a new 20-year partnership with Huntington Bank that includes the naming rights for the stadium, now called “Huntington Bank Field.”

They say the naming of Huntington Bank Field makes the bank the anchor investor in the existing or new home of the Browns for the next 20 years.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslem stressed what’s most important thing is the long-term relationship they now have with Huntington Bank.

The stadium became known in 2013 as “FirstEnergy Stadium” after the browns agreed to a partnership with Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.

Controversy over FirstEnergy’s partnership with the Browns ensued as a result of the company’s involvement in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

The Browns formally announced a mutual agreement to end its stadium naming rights deal with FirstEnergy in April of 2023.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Take a break from your routine and join us at the Hancock Historical Museum for our monthly Brown Bag Lecture Series! On Thursday, September 5th at noon, we are pleased to welcome Heather Schalk, Manager of Volunteer Services at Blanchard Valley Health System, as our featured speaker.

Heather Schalk has dedicated the last 15 years of her career to non-profit volunteer engagement, including 12 years managing the volunteer program at Blanchard Valley Health System. In her role, she oversees approximately 165 volunteers and 170 Auxiliary members. Heather is a Certified Director of Volunteer Services (CDVS) and currently serves as the President of the Ohio Hospital Volunteer Management Association.

During her lecture, Heather will take us on a journey through the history of the Blanchard Valley Health System’s Auxiliary, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. This session promises to be a nostalgic walk down memory lane, highlighting key milestones and the deep-rooted history of the Auxiliary. As Heather notes, “We have such selfless, passionate members in our community; celebrating the 75th year of the Blanchard Valley Health System’s Auxiliary is truly a reflection of that philanthropic spirit.” You may even recognize some familiar faces or experience a bit of nostalgia from the past!

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held at noon on the first Thursday of each month and features a variety of topics relevant to Hancock County and Ohio. This event is free for museum members and is included with regular museum admission for non-members. No registration is necessary.

For more information, please visit Hancockhistoricalmuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

With the closure of Rite Aid stores across the state and prescriptions being transferred to other stores such as Walgreens, scammers are seeing this as an opportunity to get your personal information.

Scammers are calling individuals, claiming to be representatives with other pharmacies and are offering to help with the transition between stores.

They then ask for your personal information, such as date of birth, Social Security number, and Medicare number. They then use this information to steal your identity.

If you receive such a call, decline to answer the questions and hang up.

If you feel the call may be legitimate, you can contact the pharmacy yourself at a trusted number, or in person.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that happened south of McComb.

The crash happened Tuesday morning at the intersection of State Route 235 and County Road 96.

The sheriff’s office says Colt Eck, 30, of Findlay, was eastbound on County Road 96 in a Ford Explorer when he ran the stop sign at 235 and struck a Ford F-150 that was northbound on 235 and being operated by 45-year-old Timothy Brown, of McComb.

Both vehicles overturned and came to rest in a field. Brown was ejected from his vehicle.

The sheriff’s office said both drivers were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital and Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital and Eck suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred on State Route 15 near mile post 18 in Jackson Township. The crash occurred on September 3, 2024, at approximately 7:30 A.M.

A 2003 Ford Focus driven by 41-year-old, Mark Beeman of Galion Ohio, was traveling westbound on State Route 15 near mile post 18 in the left lane. A 2022 Freightliner driven by 35-year-old, Faysal Wais of Columbus Ohio, was traveling eastbound on State Route 15 in the right lane of travel. The 2003 Ford Focus went off the left side of the roadway, Mr. Beeman over-corrected causing his vehicle to swerve into the right lane in the westbound lane.

Mr. Beeman over-corrected to the left and caused his vehicle to go off of the left side of the roadway into the median. The Ford Focus crossed the median and traveled into the oncoming lane of travel of the Freightliner, striking it head on. The 2003 Ford Focus came to rest in the median, and the Freightliner came to rest in the right lane.

Mr. Beeman was ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries, and was transported by air-ambulance to St. Vincent Medical Center. Mr. Wais did not receive any injures from the crash. Impairment does not believe to be a factor in the crash, and Mr. Beeman was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, HANCO EMS, ODOT, BG Towing and Repair, and ED’s Towing.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Do you have your tickets for this Saturday’s Historic Barn Tour?!

The Hancock Historical Museum’s Historic Barn Tour has been recognized as one of the best preservation programs in the state.

This year, the history, music, food and fun will continue on September 7th!

Don’t miss a great day in the country, full of the sights, tastes and sounds of Hancock County’s rural heritage!

Pre-sale tickets are available at the Hancock Historical Museum or on our website until Friday, September 6th, at 4:00pm and tickets will be available the day of the event at any of the barns. Children 16 and younger are free!

For more information, visit https://www.hancockhistoricalmuseum.org/historic-barn-tour

Pictured below is the Traucht-Saum Barn, stop #3 on Saturday’s tour!

“Each barn has its own unique story,” said museum director Sarah Foltz who spoke with  WFIN’s Chris Oaks about the barn tour. 

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Norwalk Post is investigating a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred in Huron County in Greenfield Township. The crash happened at approximately 7:15 AM on September 3. 

The preliminary investigation showed that unit #1, a 2014 Dodge Avenger operated by Logan T. Lewis, age 16, of Willard, OH, was northbound on State Route 61. Unit #2, a 2012 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer, operated by Benjamin D. Mckillips, age 45 of Berlin Heights, OH, was southbound on State Route 61.

Unit #1 traveled left of the centerline and struck Unit #2 head-on. Post collision, Unit #1 came to rest off the east side of State Route 61 and Unit #2 came to rest off the west side of State Route 61. Unit #2 caught fire after the collision.

The driver of Unit #1 sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of Unit #2 sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, and was transported to Willard Hospital, where he was then transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Toledo by Life Flight.

The crash remains under investigation at this time. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Huron County Coroner’s Office, Fairfield Township Fire Department, Willard Fire and Rescue, and Wilcox Garage.