Ohio News Network Daily

Ohio health officials sound the alarm as COVID-19 hospitalizations skyrocket, especially among unvaccinated children and pregnant women; Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says he will sign a mask mandate for all public spaces in Ohio's largest city; coronavirus-related deaths have surpassed 21,000 in Ohio since the pandemic began.

Four dead in Avon Lake, west of Cleveland, on Tuesday in an apparent homicide case; children's hospitals urging parents to get eligible kids vaccinated against the coronavirus as pediatric case skyrocket; Ohio firefighters continue to assist in battling forest fires out west.

Rural counties around Ohio seeing largest spikes in COVID-19 cases; doctors in Ohio are waiting with bated breath to see impact of Labor Day travel on coronavirus cases; remains of Navy corpsman killed in Kabul bombing, last month, are returning to his family in Ohio.

School-aged children now account for more than one-fifth of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, nationwide; school districts around Ohio taking steps to spread the stem of the coronavirus, while teachers' union asks for statewide mask mandate in schools; Ohio State Buckeyes come back from shaky first half to beat Minnesota on the road, 45-to-31.

State health chief warns that 1-in-8 hospitalizations, 1-in-5 ICU admissions in Ohio now linked to COVID-19; state education department running pilot program in southwest Ohio to keep children exposed to COVID-19 in the classroom; U.S. senator from Ohio says there are lessons to be learned from end of War in Afghanistan, mourns the loss of life.

Ohioans with AEP, Red Cross travel to Louisiana to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida; Gov. Mike Dewine among those calling for an investigation into Bishop Sycamore high school after troubling info raised about school's legitimacy, possible fraud; redistricting panel misses Sept. 1 deadline to present new congressional district map.

Two Ohio natives recount facing off against Hurricane Ida in their new homes in Louisiana; Ohio Task Force One among groups aiding in recovery effort; Ohio announces new resources for veterans as 20-year war in Afghanistan comes to a close with an apparent defeat for the U.S.; schools around Ohio see hundreds of students out with coronavirus.

Ohio Task Force One, Red Cross volunteers to Louisiana to help locals recover from landfall of Hurricane Ida; doctors say more children are being treated in ICU's for COVID-19 infections; family of north-central Ohio serviceman killed in Kabul bombing holds prayer vigil to honor his memory.

U.S. Navy medic from Ohio named as one of those killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul's airport; flags fly at half staff and Ohio's governor, senators react to the bombing; MetroHealth System in Cleveland says it will mandate coronavirus vaccinations for all staff; Ohio National Guard regiment from Zanesville deploys to Washington D.C. on yearlong assignment.

Some hospitals in Ohio pausing elective procedures to free up hospital staff and capacity to cope with surge in COVID-19 cases; pediatrician in suburban Toledo warns that many children are coming in with coronavirus infections; OSU president takes to national television to discuss campus vaccine mandate.

Ohio State mandates COVID-19 vaccination for all students, staff and faculty, joining growing list of Ohio colleges and universities to do so; students at Columbus-area high school stage walk-out to protest mask mandate; lawmakers say debate, voting on bill that would prohibit vaccine mandates by private employers is on-hold.

Ohio lawmakers unexpectedly return from summer recess to discuss bill that would prohibit businesses and schools from requiring their employees be vaccinated; demonstrators on both sides of vaccine mandate debate protest outside of the Ohio Statehouse; Nationwide Children's Hospital says respiratory illness cases of all kinds surging amongst their young patients as school resumes.

FDA gives full approval to Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, leading to new calls by Ohio health officials for everyone to get vaccinated; Ohio colleges and universities return to class this week - most with new COVID-19 safety measures; crime rising in all of Ohio's major cities.

Health departments and hospitals urging caution as school resumes, saying that skyrocketing COVID-19 cases among the unvaccinated could soon overwhelm health systems and lead to limits on outpatient services; Village of Gambier bypasses Ohio Legislature's efforts to keep health officials from issuing mask mandates by passing one of their own; Columbus' Wonderbus Music Festival says attendees must...

Ohio Department of Health announces plans to distribute coronavirus booster shots beginning in late September; Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley criticizes Gov. Mike Dewine for his inaction to stem the spread of COVID-19 in school children; Ohio's nursing home association says Biden Administration vaccination mandate for nursing home workers will devastate the industry in the state.

Gov. Mike Dewine urges parents and school officials to take precautions to keep children safe amidst skyrocketing COVID-19 cases among young Ohioans; teachers in state's largest school district ask officials to take additional precautions as Columbus prepares to return to classrooms; elections bill proposed by Republican lawmaker would stifle early voting, prevent most Ohioans from voting absentee...

Ohio military historian criticizes American military and Afghan defense forces, alike, for takeover by Taliban as U.S. soldiers pull out; refugee group in Cleveland prepares for potential influx of families fleeing Afghanistan; nearly every Ohio county is now once again listed as having high levels of transmission of the coronavirus.

Woman injured by piece of roller coaster while waiting in line at Cedar Point on Sunday; proposed bill in Ohio would eliminate necessity of concealed carry license, remove duty to inform officers of concealed weapon on person; 9-year-old girl drowns in pond in southeast Columbus neighborhood.

Ohio immunologist says he's alarmed by the number of young, unvaccinated Ohioans suffering the effects of COVID-19; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says his office has frozen the assets of former PUCO chair Sam Randazzo in connection with state's largest-ever bribery scandal; census data shows Columbus is the fastest-growing city in the Mid-West, bucking slow growth in the rest of Ohio.

Newly-named Ohio Department of Health director urges unvaccinated Ohioans to get the shot as cases among that group skyrocket; leaked memo from OhioHealth in central Ohio shows hospital systems are preparing for facilities to be filled with COVID-19 patients; Academy of Pediatrics urges FDA to authorize vaccine for children younger than 12.

Gov. Mike Dewine names Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff as new director of the Ohio Department of Health, marking a promotion for the soon-to-be-former Chief Medical Officer; hospitals around Ohio again sounding the alarm as COVID-19 hospitalizations threaten to tax medical infrastructure; federal infrastructure bill negotiated by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman passes in Senate in historic bipartisan effort.

Federal court filing shows plot uncovered last year to kidnap Michigan's governor would have also targeted Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine; doctors advise against 'cheating the system' to get booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine; Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley announces bid for governor, next year.

Health officials warn school districts to take COVID resurgence seriously as they make safety plans for upcoming school year; Ohio Attorney General rejects marijuana legalization petition on a technicality; authorities say no one was injured, no shots were fired in incident at Columbus' Easton Shopping Center, over the weekend.

Gov. Mike Dewine pulls no punches in morning press conference, urging all eligible Ohioans to get vaccinated amongst spike in new COVID-19 cases; pediatricians say that children are now one of the most vulnerable groups to the coronavirus; audit finds plethora of issues with unemployment system in Ohio.

OSU nurses' union pushes back against COVID-19 vaccine requirement, says mandate must be negotiated; U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown urges fellow Ohioans to get vaccinated to stem the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus; three more people named in state's lawsuit against FirstEnergy Corp., including former top execs.