REPORT ON EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH THE LAWFUL TRANSFER OF POWER FOLLOWING THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OR THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE HELD ON JANUARY 6, 2021
In 2020, then-President Donald J. Trump ran for reelection against Joseph R. Biden, Jr. As alleged in the original and superseding indictments, substantial evidence demonstrates that Mr. Trump then engaged in an unprecedented criminal effort to overturn the legitimate results of the election in order to retain power.
When it became clear that Mr. Trump had lost the election and that lawful means of challenging the election results had failed, he resorted to a series of criminal efforts to retain power.
National Park Service considering making the The Buckeye Trail (including Loveland Bike Trail) a National Scenic Trail
David Miller is the Editor in Chief of Loveland Magazine
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland certainly, and rightfully so, brags of having the National and State Scenic Little Miami River flowing through our Historic Downtown. Recent and ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of its water quality and shores demonstrate how entirely virtuous these bragging rights are. (Planning and Zoning Commission reverses course on SPD for 12 homes on Riverside Drive)
Now comes the opportunity to have a National Scenic Trail running, walking, and jogging through our renowned, resort-like community.
A a group ride in Historic Downtown at Nisbet Park on the Loveland Bike Trail.
The National Park Service is conducting a feasability study to determine the status of the Buckeye Trail to become a National Scenic Trail. Community members and stakeholders can share their support for the Buckeye Trail through an opportunity to review the feasibility study process and share feedback regarding the study. You are invited you to review the project and provide input. Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/buckeyetrailfs for details and to share comments. The public comment period will be open until February 19th, 2025.
National Park Service Public Meetings
The National Park Service is conducting meetings around Ohio the week of January 13‐17 as part of the feasibility study to determine National Scenic Trail status for the Buckeye Trail. There is an additional virtual meeting scheduled for January 23.
Meeting Information:
In these public meetings, NPS staff will share information about the study process, including the criteria used to evaluate the trail for inclusion in the National Trails System, and answer questions.
Thursday, January 16, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. Cincinnati, Ohio – Digital Futures Building
Level 1 Conference Room, Room 140
3080 Exploration Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
Thursday, January 23, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. This will be a Virtual Meeting using Microsoft Teams.
Login information will be available in a few weeks.
The 1,454-mile Buckeye Trail, spans Ohio’s diverse landscapes, connecting 47 counties and more than 100 communities.
The study was approved with bipartisan support Congress 2022. Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility and suitability of designating the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail.
According to the Buckeye Trail Association, “National Scenic Trail designation would see the Buckeye Trail join an elite group of 11 existing trails, making the Buckeye Trail the 5th largest in the nation, the only circumferential trail, and the first trail to receive this designation since 2009. This recognition would unlock significant benefits, including increased federal support, enhanced visibility, and expanded opportunities for community and economic development across Ohio.”
The trail was built from 1959 to 1980 by the Buckeye Trail Association, a non-profit organization that still administers it. More than half of the Buckeye Trail route overlaps the North County National Scenic Trail route as it passes through Ohio.
The Little Miami State Park, (What Lovelander’s refer to as the Loveland Bike Trail) is a unique recreational asset in the state park system: a trail corridor. This scenic, riverside trail offers numerous recreational pursuits — bicycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, rollerblading, backpacking and horseback riding. The corridor also provides access to boating on the Little Miami River.
The park contains 50 miles of paved trail from Terrace Park in Hamilton County to Hedges Road in Greene County. The remainder of the trail to Springfield is also paved and operated by Greene County Parks and Trails. (For information on the trail north of Hedges Road, visit gcparkstrails.com or call 937-376-7440.)
A staging area in Corwin has parking, flush restrooms (seasonally), and picnic tables. Other facilities have been developed along the trail in Oregonia, Morrow, South Lebanon, Fosters, Loveland, Miamiville, and Milford. These trailside stops may include parking, restrooms or portable toilets, benches, picnic tables, restaurants and trail access points. These facilities are wheelchair accessible.
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About the Buckeye Trail
Since its establishment in 1959, the Buckeye Trail has grown from a 500-mile route into the nation’s largest loop trail, closing the loop in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 1980. Free and open to all, 1,454 miles of the Buckeye Trail pass through 21 designated Buckeye Trail Towns and landmarks such as Wayne National Forest, Serpent Mound, and Fort Ancient, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Buckeye Trail is within 90 minutes of every Ohioan, providing an accessible connection to Ohio’s Great Outdoors and showcasing the state’s scenic and historical diversity. buckeyetrail.org
About the Buckeye Trail Association
Established in 1959, the Buckeye Trail Association builds, maintains, preserves, and promotes Ohio’s Buckeye Trail as a sustainable resource connecting people to the state’s scenic and historical diversity. The BTA inspires conservation and outdoor recreation across the state. buckeyetrail.org
Loveland, Ohio – When Feed Spot ranked the best Ohio magazines from thousands of magazines on the web Loveland Magazine was ranked #7.
Feed Spot ranked similar websites by relevancy, authority, social media followers, and “freshness”. Media outlets include blogs, podcasts, magazines, and news websites. One of the import ranking criteria was frequency of new stories.
Not unexpectedly, Ohio Magazine was ranked #1, and Cleveland Magazine #3, however, Loveland Magazine was #7 ahead of regional publications such as: Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, Cincinnati Business Courier, Cincinnati Style Report, Cincinnati Family Magazine, and Southwest Ohio Parent.
Loveland Magazine is not affiliated with Feed Spot, did not solicit a ranking and did not compensate Feed Spot for consideration.
Loveland, Ohio – Near the end of this week’s public hearing, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Rob Weisgerber made a motion to not recommend a zoning map change to City Council. Weisgerber, Andy Bateman and Chairman Mark Redmond agreed with Weisgerber and voted “Yes” David Parker voted “No”. Commission Member Brian O’Neill did not attend the meeting.
The meeting was held to consider whether 12 homes should be built on Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District on the bank of the National and State Scenic Little Miami River.
The full-capacity, standing room only, flowing into the hallway crowd.
The P&Z recommendation will now be delivered to City Council where there will be another public hearing. Upon completion of the public hearing, City Council may approve or disapprove the recommendation of Planning and Zoning Commission by a simple majority. Council may modify the recommendation of Planning and Zoning Commission by a 3/4 majority vote.
Watch the public as they comment on the proposed Special Planning District before a vote was taken.
BACKGROUND
Public hearing set for 12 single family homes being proposed along State and National Scenic Little Miami River
Loveland, Ohio – Last Tuesday night, our enchanting romance took a significant turn at the Love-Land city hall. Despite the frigid temperatures, 65 individuals gathered to affirm something that should be held in the highest regard and too precious to be tampered with. It was what should be sacrosanct; too important or valuable to be interfered with.
A full-capacity, standing room only, flowing into the hallway crowd.
Not all came with the same sentiment, however the size of the crowd on a night when nary a person wouldn’t have preferred to be somewhere else was telling. What became apparent was that we have something flowing between and through us. How do we protect our eldest, centuries-mature loved one?
Our water has a memory, and it flows through Loveland because the spiritual H₂O means everything. Destroy its soul? Cannot.Dirty it and it’s banks we can. Diminish the life within and on its shores, we can. Our State and National Scenic, Little Miami River sends us messages to heed and pass along to generations, but we don’t always listen. Tuesday, we did. Tell your children and grandchildren.
A bridesmaid with bigamist-many suitors was honored with a renewal of noble, exalted, and sacred vows.
Some took advantage of their 65 friendly neighbors to bloviate in inflated and empty ways with their superior knowledge and self-aggrandizing wisdom. They went on and on because what they tried to convince needed too many-worded-attempts. Perhaps they were the only ones listening and they needed so many phrases to convince even themselves. The audience listened with a third ear as if they could decipher how in the end the bloviators might end up voting. One heartless resident did the same but in the end had no vote, yet surely went to sleep Tuesday night with dreams of grander of saving the day.
Planning and Zoning Commission reverses course from their December 3 decision
Near the end of this week’s public hearing to consider whether 12 homes should be built on Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District on the bank of the National and State Scenic Little Miami River, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Rob Weisgerber made a motion to not recommend the zoning map change to City Council. Weisgerber, Andy Bateman and Chairman Mark Redmond agreed with Weisgerber and voted “Yes” David Parker voted “No”. Commission Member Brian O’Neill did not attend the meeting.
The P&Z recommendation will now be delivered to City Council where there will be another public hearing. Upon completion of the public hearing, City Council may approve or disapprove the recommendation of Planning and Zoning Commission by a simple majority. Council may modify the recommendation of Planning and Zoning Commission by a 3/4 majority vote.
Video of speeches by the public and the discussion and vote of the Commission coming soon…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law that will require school districts to create a mandatory religious instruction release time policy and require educators to out a students’ sexuality to their parents.
The law will take effect 90 days after DeWine signed the bill.
State Reps. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, and Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, introduced H.B. 8. Supporters called the bill the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” while opponents called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, due to its similar language to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law that passed in 2022.
The bill requires public schools to let parents know about sexuality content materials ahead of time so they can request alternative instructions.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
It also prohibits any sexuality content from being taught to students in kindergarten through third grade. H.B. 8 defines sexuality content as “oral or written instruction, presentation, image or description of sexual concepts or gender ideology.”
This new law strengthens Ohio’s existing law around religious release time by creating a mandate. Currently, Ohio allows school district boards of education to make a policy to let students go to a course in religious instruction during the school day, but this now becomes a requirement for Ohio school boards.
“Parents, not government bureaucrats, should be making healthcare and education decisions for their kids,” Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer said in a statement. “H.B. 8 protects children by safeguarding parents’ rights to make important decisions for their children.”
The United States Supreme Court upheld religious released time laws during the 1952 Zorach v. Clauson case, which allowed a school district to have students leave school for part of the day to receive religious instruction.
Religious release time instruction must meet three criteria: the courses must take place off school property, be privately funded, and students must have parental permission.
LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based religious instruction program, already enrolls students in about 160 Ohio school districts and celebrated the governor’s signing.
“All Ohio families have the freedom to choose off-campus religious instruction during school hours for their students,” LifeWise said in a statement.
Two central Ohio school districts, Westerville and Worthington, rescinded their religious release time policy last year. Both districts formerly allowed LifeWise Academy to take public school students off-campus for Bible classes during school hours.
“We are especially grateful that any local programs that had been put on hold will be able to resume their growing programs and that communities will now have the clarity they need to provide families with the opportunity to choose Bible-based character education for their child,” LifeWise said in a statement.
Megan Henry is a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal and has spent the past five years reporting in Ohio on various topics including education, healthcare, business and crime. She previously worked at The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Former Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton announced on Tuesday that she is running for Ohio governor in 2026.
“Today, I filed papers to run for Governor because I refuse to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while self-serving politicians and special interests take our state in the wrong direction,” she said in a statement. “It’s time to give power back to the people and our communities. It’s time for a change.”
Acton is running as a Democrat while Ohio has become increasingly more Republican in recent years. Ohio Supreme Court Judge Jennifer Brunner is the only Democrat in statewide office in Ohio. Acton first hinted at a run for governor during the summer at the Democratic National Convention.
“I’m a doctor, not a politician,” Acton said in her statement. “I solve problems by bringing people together regardless of party to find solutions. So unlike most of our leaders I know the answer to moving our state forward isn’t giving politicians more power, it’s giving people more freedom.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited. On the Republican side, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost plans on running for governor. Former Republican Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is also a potential GOP contender. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has also expressed interest in running for governor, but he currently appears to be the front-runner to be appointed to fill J.D. Vance’s soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat. DeWine has yet to announce his pick, a task he must do before the Jan. 20 inauguration.
For the Democrats, there is speculation about whether Ohio Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, will also run for governor.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
DeWine appointed Acton to be ODH director in 2019 and she quickly became a household name in Ohio during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She accompanied DeWine during his daily afternoon press conferences in the spring of 2020, donning her white lab coat, and helped translate complex medical terminology into plain English.
She received a mix of praise and criticism during this time, and protesters even showed up to her Bexley house. Acton resigned as ODH Director in June 2020 — months after Ohio’s first confirmed COVID-19 case.
After her time on DeWine’s cabinet, she went back to work at the Columbus Foundation and helped found the Center for HumanKindness.
“My entire career I’ve been listening to Ohioans … and I’ve developed a deep connection with people across our state,” Acton said in her statement. “People share their struggles with me and how hard they work to keep up with the cost of groceries, childcare, healthcare, and other expenses. They feel left behind and like no one cares.”
Acton grew up in Youngstown — experiencing homelessness at one point.
“I remember what it was like to feel hungry, worry about where I would sleep, and how I would stay warm,” Acton said. “At times I felt invisible–and I know that so many Ohioans feel the same way.”
She went on to earn a medical degree from what was formerly called the Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and received a master’s degree in public health from Ohio State University.
“I believe we can build an Ohio where our people have a little breathing room–an Ohio where your zip code doesn’t determine success,” Acton said. “An Ohio that empowers local communities, not politicians. An Ohio with good-paying jobs, safe neighborhoods and thriving businesses where people can raise their families, age with dignity, and lead a happy and healthy life.”
Acton lives in Bexley with her husband Eric, who is a teacher and coach in Bexley City Schools. Together they have six children.
Megan Henry is a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal and has spent the past five years reporting in Ohio on various topics including education, healthcare, business and crime. She previously worked at The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
We just received word that this closure/detour is cancelled due to utility relocation. There will be NO CLOSURE of West Loveland Avenue Jan. 14-16.
BACKGROUND STORY
Due to weather conditions, this project is being pushed back one week. The new dates for the closure/detour are Jan. 14-16.
Loveland, Ohio – Construction on the Cherokee Drive Water Main Replacement Project in the Loveland Heights will require a road closure and detour.
West Loveland Avenue will be closed at Cherokee Drive to allow crews to connect new water main beneath the road surface. Contractors now plan the three-day road closure daily from 9 AM until 3 PM on Tuesday, January 14th until the 16th.
The original road closure dates were January 7 through 9.
Motorists will be instructed to use the following detour routes:
TO TRAVEL WESTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Wall Street to Fallis Road to Rich Road to West Loveland Avenue
TO TRAVEL EASTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Rich Road to Fallis Road to Wall Street to West Loveland Avenue
According to City Hall, “The Heights area has an aging, undersized, and brittle cast iron water main that is degrading, which makes breaks occur more frequently. In this project, the city is installing more than 2,700 feet of new water main to replace the outdated water lines. Additionally, the project involves replacing valves, modifying the storm sewer to improve drainage, and installing additional fire hydrants.”
We just received word that this closure/detour is cancelled due to utility relocation. There will be NO CLOSURE of West Loveland Avenue Jan. 14-16.
.
Due to weather conditions, this project is being pushed back one week. The new dates for the closure/detour are Jan. 14-16.
Loveland, Ohio – Construction on the Cherokee Drive Water Main Replacement Project in the Loveland Heights will require a road closure and detour.
West Loveland Avenue will be closed at Cherokee Drive to allow crews to connect new water main beneath the road surface. Contractors now plan the three-day road closure daily from 9 AM until 3 PM on Tuesday, January 14th until the 16th.
The original road closure dates were January 7 through 9.
Motorists will be instructed to use the following detour routes:
TO TRAVEL WESTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Wall Street to Fallis Road to Rich Road to West Loveland Avenue
TO TRAVEL EASTBOUND:
• West Loveland Avenue to Rich Road to Fallis Road to Wall Street to West Loveland Avenue
According to City Hall, “The Heights area has an aging, undersized, and brittle cast iron water main that is degrading, which makes breaks occur more frequently. In this project, the city is installing more than 2,700 feet of new water main to replace the outdated water lines. Additionally, the project involves replacing valves, modifying the storm sewer to improve drainage, and installing additional fire hydrants.”
According to the Buckeye Trail Association, “National Scenic Trail designation would see the Buckeye Trail join an elite group of 11 existing trails, making the Buckeye Trail the 5th largest in the nation, the only circumferential trail, and the first trail to receive this designation since 2009. This recognition would unlock significant benefits, including increased federal support, enhanced visibility, and expanded opportunities for community and economic development across Ohio.”
About the Buckeye Trail
![[VIDEO] Planning Commission discusses reversal of course on SPD for 12 homes on Riverside Drive](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pZ-vote-scaled.jpg)
Public hearing set for 12 single family homes being proposed along State and National Scenic Little Miami River
