E37 - "Oscar Escapes Sesame St."

Ohio State & Regional NewsAviation: Breeze Airways is adding new nonstop flights from Cincinnati and Columbus starting this July, including routes to Portland (ME), Savannah, Tampa, and Greenville-Spartanburg.Legislation & Policy:The Ohio House passed SB 63, which bans ranked-choice voting statewide and penalizes cities that attempt to use it.HB 698 proposes defunding public universities that do not comply with new restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.A new bill seeks to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes by increasing access to life-saving equipment at sporting events.Legal & Finance: The state is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit regarding the $1.7 billion unclaimed funds pool, which plaintiffs allege is being used to fund sports arenas.Utilities & Health: Residents are facing surging winter heating bills due to rising electric prices. Separately, health experts are warning of addiction risks associated with the herbal substance Kratom.Dayton & Montgomery CountyEducation & Youth:Learn to Earn Dayton received a $1.5 million grant to streamline career pathways for K-12 and higher-ed students.Dayton Public Schools will consolidate preschools into Rosa Parks and River’s Edge next year to cut costs.The city is launching "NextGen Leaders," a six-week workforce program for teens.City Infrastructure:Dayton approved a solar project to power 14,000 homes and is purchasing a permanent home for its employee clinic on East First Street for $2.05 million.The city is granting $71,000 to repair the Claridge Center before transferring it to the Northeast Churches Emergency Center food pantry.Public Safety: Police are conducting targeted curfew sweeps through March; juveniles out between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a guardian may face citations.Labor & Corrections: 150 female inmates were moved from the Dayton Correctional Institution to other cities due to a severe 18.8% officer vacancy rate. A staff survey at Dayton Metro Library also revealed a "crisis mode" with 70% of staff distrusting administration.Business Closures: A record store in the Oregon District and "So Pizza" near the Dayton Mall are both closing permanently in March.Local Community HighlightsBeavercreek: Dillard’s opens its new 160,000-square-foot store at the Mall at Fairfield Commons on March 19. The police department is also offering free R.A.D. self-defense training for women starting in April.Englewood & Northmont: Belton Foods is moving into a new $8 million facility in the Otterbein Industrial Park. Eric Hughes has been named the new Northmont City Schools superintendent.Fairborn: Wright State is investing $6 million to update nursing labs. AFLCMC at WPAFB is holding a major hiring event for engineers and tech roles (register by March 1).Huber Heights: The city is piloting an AI-powered "smart traffic" system on Brandt Pike to reduce congestion.Kettering: The Kettering Children’s Choir is a finalist for a $10,000 grant; public voting ends February 28.Piqua: Hartzell Propeller is investing $10 million in a new "Innovation Center" to produce carbon fiber blades for electric aircraft.Xenia: Kettering Health finalized a $25 million plan that saves Greene Memorial Hospital with $15 million in upgrades and breaks ground on a new Xenia Health Center this spring.Brookville/Clay Township: Melody Pool Swim Club has closed after 60 years; the site will become an industrial facility.