CINCINNATI — A federal court trial over allegations of epic public corruption has been interrupted at least until Monday after a juror was diagnosed with COVID on Wednesday.
“The Court was advised this afternoon that a juror has tested positive for COVID-19,” U.S. District Judge Timothy Black wrote in an order Wednesday evening. “In an effort to ensure everyone’s safety, jury trial will not convene for the duration of the week. The recess is CONTINUED until Monday, 1/30/2023 at 9:30 a.m.”
In the trial, former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges are accused of racketeering.
Householder is accused of masterminding a scheme in which $61 million — mostly from Akron-based FirstEnergy — was used to help elect Republican lawmakers who would make Householder speaker in 2019. In exchange, prosecutors say, Householder shepherded through a $1.3 billion utility bailout package and then protected it from a ballot initiative intended to repeal the measure.
Borges is accused of acting corruptly in the successful effort to block the repeal.
The great majority of the ratepayer money was intended to prop up two failing nuclear plants in Northern Ohio owned by FirstEnergy subsidiary FirstEnergy Services. Some went to “recession proof” coal-fired plants owned by the subsidiary that FirstEnergy management regarded as unsellable.
Even though the law was billed as a “clean air” measure, the rest of the package went to subsidize coal plants owned by utilities other than FirstEnergy — including a plant that’s not even in Ohio. Of the three tranches of subsidies, that is the only one that’s still in effect after FirstEnergy entered into a deferred-prosecution agreement.
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Christopher L Atkinson
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Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland, Ohio non-profit “Ben Morrison Fund” and Tori Morrison have announced the date of the 2023 2nd Annual Ben’s Birthday Bash will be February 19th, 2023.
The Ben Morrison Fund was recently honored by the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance as their “Hometown Hero”.
The event will take place at the Fowling Warehouse and will feature tournament-style fowling, BBQ provided by JD’s Meat Shack, and the auctioning of the fan-favorite “Liquor Trove.”
All proceeds will go directly to helping young people struggling with mental health crises, normalizing conversations about mental health, and building hope. Every year the Ben Morrison Fund gives scholarships to graduating Loveland seniors and works to erase the stigma of mental health struggles in honor and in the memory of their son Ben.
“We are so grateful for the support we receive to strengthen our efforts to help erase the stigma of mental health struggles and to help those struggling to move forward,” says Tori Morrison, President of the Ben Morrison Fund and Ben’s mom. “This event is particularly special to me as it celebrates Ben’s life as well as his lasting legacy of helping others. It’s a lot of fun, we hope you will come join us!”
Ben’s Birthday Bash will take place February 19th from noon until 3 PM at the Fowling Warehouse in Cincinnati. $20 Tickets can be purchased in advance at benmorrisonfund.org or at the door. Participation in the tournament is $5. Lunch will be provided.
“We are so grateful for our sponsors, volunteers, and our incredible community for their continuous support as we work to make a lasting difference in helping young people continue their story,” said Stacey Lund, Vice President of the Ben Morrison Fund.
To learn more about the Ben Morrison Fund or to donate, visit benmorrisonfund.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Loveland, Ohio – Below is a video of the Loveland City School District’s “Town Hall” meeting held on Monday, January 23. The Board held the meeting as part of their public relations efforts ahead of a possible vote to place an operating levy on the ballot.
The board will meet on January 31 to consider whether to pass a resolution to place a levy on the May ballot and determine what millage rate it would have. They are considering three options: 4.2 mills, 4.9 mills, and 6.5 mills.
The Board also held a “Town Hall” on January 5 to hear from residents and voters.
Traffic on a highway. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
Improving air quality in the state would lead to better health for Ohioans, and could be done through policy changes, according to a policy think tank.
In a recent examination of the connections between air pollution and health, the Health Policy Institute focused on maternal and infant health, lung and heart conditions and cognitive conditions, all of which could see better outcomes with increased monitoring and control of air pollutants.
“Exposure to air pollution can also increase the severity, lethality and prevalence of COVID-19 due to its negative impact on cardiopulmonary diseases and immune responses,” the HPIO said in a policy brief on the issue.
Sources of air pollution range from power plants to vehicle exhaust, and even natural sources like dust.
Improvements have been made through the federal Clean Air Act in 1970, which sought to regulate emissions through EPA oversight, and through implementation of plans in each individual state.
“The EPA can also take civil or criminal action against an entity that has violated environmental law, such as not installing a required air pollution control device,” the HPIO stated.
But Ohio “ranks poorly on outdoor air quality” according to the institute’s research, and performs worse than most other states.
Graph provided by the Health Policy Institute.
More than 32% of Ohioans commute more than 30 minutes to work alone, verses 4.1% who walk, cycle or use public transportation, according to a 2021 Health Value Dashboard cited in the policy brief.
But more than the choice of commute, some Ohioans are unwittingly in danger of air pollution effects based solely on where they live and the zoning policies in those communities. Even “redlining,” the use of discriminatory practice of denying mortgages and other financial services based on race or ethnicity, can cause minorities to end up in more polluted areas.
“Historically, zoning policies and redlining placed industrial plants and highways closer to predominantly Black neighborhoods and prohibited Black people from living in areas that did not have these sources of pollution near them,” the HPIO stated.
According to research from the National Equity Atlas, Black Ohioans face a risk of air pollution 1.5 times higher than white residents of the state.
Part of the problem in Ohio was the passage of the scandal-ridden House Bill 6, a bailout of energy companies that led to, among other things, a bribery investigation and, beginning this month, the criminal trial of former House Speaker Larry Householder.
Parts of the legislation were repealed in March 2021 related to the bailout, but measures that severely cut energy-efficiency programs and standards for renewable energy stayed in place.
“By reducing the renewable energy benchmark, Ohioans are more likely to continue to use fossil fuel-based energy and be more at risk of air pollution exposure,” the HPIO policy brief stated.
Ohio’s legislature also passed Senate Bill 52 in 2021, which hampers the development of energy sources such as wind farms and solar facilities and allows local governments to turn down wind and solar proposals.
Local governments have done their part to reduce air pollution, however, with the Central Ohio Transportation Authority planning a fleet transition to non-diesel by 2025 after receiving federal funding for the effort.
After a settlement between Volkswagen and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over an emissions scandal, Ohio is set to receive $75 million over 10 years to be used to fund emission-reduction projects.
“The latest round of grants, awarded in November 2021, were estimated to remove 33 tons of nitrogen oxides and 16 tons of other air pollutants annually,” the HPIO stated.
Moving forward, the policy institute said more legislation could set targets for “renewable energy procurement” and use air quality monitors to capture data on exposure. Increased funding for public transportation and an “environmental legislature review process” were also recommended by the HPIO.
CORRECTION: The game against Kings Thursday, January 26 is at Kings High School.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Women (10-3, 14-4) climbed into second place in the ECC after their Senior Night victory over Anderson Monday, 47-34.
Behind the Tigers is Kings (10-3, 13-5). The Tigers beat Kings 46-45 in overtime on December 12 and the rivalry rekindles this Thursday when the Knights come to Loveland for a showdown at 7:30 PM. (CORRECTION: The game against Kings Thursday, January 26 is at Kings High School.)
Loveland is on a 7-game win streak. They beat Lebanon on the road 38-33 last Thursday and defeated Indian Hills in the Braves’ gym 46-30 last Wednesday.
Katy Wilber
Loveland’s Freshman Katy Wilber drained five threes in the first half at Indian Hill and finished with two more in the second to lead all scorers with 21. Olivia Raby scored 11.
Josie Early led all scorers in her Senior Night performance with 15, she pulled down 6 rebounds and collected 5 steals.
The Tigers have a non-conference home game at 2 PM this Saturday against Springboro and travel to West Clermont on Monday, January 30. Undefeated West Clermont (13-19, 19-0) stands in the Tiger’s way of winning the conference. The Wolves are rated the #4 team in Ohio. The Tigers came within 6 of beating West Clermont on December 15. It was one of West Clermont’s closest games.
An infusion of federal funds is coming to Ohio, targeted at improving kindergarten readiness.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is set to receive a total of $48 million over three years as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Preschool Development Grant, according to an announcement from Gov. Mike DeWine’s office.
ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder said plans for the grant are “expansive,” and will include “culturally appropriate trauma training, credentialing and parent supports,” along with “creating long-term and sustainable local, state and federal funding for early childhood education programs.”
Through a partnership with the state departments of education, health, mental health and addiction, Medicaid and developmental disabilities, the grant will also be used to expand child care for special needs, homeless and English language learners.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland High School Orchestras will have the opportunity on Monday, February 6, to perform alongside Grammy-nominated violinist Jeremy Kittel. Kittel will run workshops with the student-musicians at Loveland High School, then will perform alongside his band Kittel and Co., at 7 PM at the school.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Middle/Intermediate School Parent Teacher Student Association (MINT PTSA) is hosting a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Q & A Session.
Dr. Emily Harris from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s division of Child Psychiatry will equip parents with information about childhood depression and anxiety. She will also be available to answer questions.
Loveland, Ohio – On Friday, January 20 at approximately 3 AM, a 2011 Brown/Gold Dodge Ram 2500 with “Longhorn Trim” was stolen from Queen City Motors at 421 Loveland Madeira Road. A white van may have been involved in the theft.
If you have any information please call police at 513-583-3000 or contact Detective Jesse Moore 513-774-3009 jmoore@lovelandoh.gov
![[VIDEO] Loveland City School District Town Hall](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/school-listen-to-voters.jpg)
![[Photo Albums] Tiger basketball claims 2nd in ECC after easy win over Anderson](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/k-wilber-score.png)
