Report. Reflect. Respond.
Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Welcome to Monday’s edition of The Pennant. To listen to this newsletter, click the “Listen Online” link in the top right corner of this email.
On this day in 1985, amid the savings and loan crisis, Gov. Richard Celeste authorized Ohio's state-chartered S&Ls to reopen for limited withdrawals as seven institutions secured full federal deposit insurance.
Google is building a new data center in Lima. Find out the details in the Top of the Fold.
Check out our Education section to learn about a school testing a system where students attend class for only two hours a day.
Top of The Fold
Google Commits $500 Million to Lima Data Center, Delivering Major Economic Win for Northwest Ohio
Google has selected Allen County as the site of its newest data center, bringing a $500 million investment that includes a $50 million infrastructure boost for local water, wastewater, and roadway improvements.
The project also guarantees $250,000 in annual school funding over 15 years, marking one of the largest private-sector commitments in the region's history.
Ohio Logistics Company Ordered to Pay $22.5 Million After Denying Pregnant Employee's Remote Work Request
Total Quality Logistics was found liable and ordered to pay $22.5 million after denying a high-risk pregnant employee's request to work from home following cervical surgery, forcing her to return to the office.
Chelsea Walsh gave birth to her daughter, Magnolia, two days later, who died in her arms within hours of delivery on the same day the company reversed its remote work decision.
Dayton Poised to Keep NCAA First Four Through 2028 and Beyond
Dayton officials and volunteers say the city's strong attendance, packed arena, and dedicated volunteer workforce position it well to retain the NCAA First Four beyond its current contract, delivering a significant economic boost to local hotels and restaurants.
Page One
Statewide - Drag Queens testified last week against the Ohio House Bill 249, a bill that would prohibit public drag shows. Among those on the stand was Nina West, a nationally-known drag queen who has authored several children's books, hosted reading hours, and created children’s albums. (More)
Also, Statewide - In an effort to combat drug trafficking and addiction, Governor Mike DeWine announced plans to allocate $5 million in additional law enforcement funding. (More)
Statehouse - The House Health Committee approved a 24-hour abortion waiting period bill 9-3 along party lines, requiring physicians to meet with patients before performing a procedure. Opponents shouted "shame" as the hearing ended. (More)
Columbus - More than a month into the partial government shutdown, TSA agents at Columbus's John Glenn International Airport have continued reporting to work without pay, prompting airport officials and the community to publicly recognize their dedication amid minimal travel disruptions. (More)
Toledo - A coalition of six nonprofit and county organizations announced a $1 million pilot program to pool data and resources aimed at accelerating revitalization efforts in Toledo's historic Old South End neighborhood. (More)
Cincinnati - Cincinnati City Council approved a resolution supporting an $8 million music venue at the former Coney Island site by a razor-thin 5-4 vote, following nearly an hour of contentious debate that left several council members with unanswered questions. (More)
Warren - A 45-Year-Old Man was taken into custody after allegedly attacking hospital police using an IV pole as a baseball bat. (More)
Education Section
The Alpha School Bets on AI and a 2-Hour School Day — But Questions Remain
By Morgan B
A fast-growing private school network is challenging one of education's most basic assumptions: that learning requires a full school day of teacher-led instruction.
Alpha School is a private K–12 network founded by MacKenzie Price that uses her 2 Hour Learning model, in which students spend no more than two hours on core academics and the rest of the day developing life skills. AI generates personalized learning plans for each student, who works through subject matter in focused 25-minute sessions. Traditional teachers are replaced by "guides" who focus on motivation and mentorship rather than content delivery.
The school is expanding this year into New York City, Santa Barbara, Raleigh, and Charlotte, among other cities. Tuition ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 per student annually.
Supporters point to strong internal test score data, while skeptics raise concerns about the model's lack of independent verification. Most of Alpha's applications to open publicly funded charter schools have been denied by state boards.
Read more about The Alpha School here.
Editorial Section
They Want Another Levy, but the Levy is Dry
By The Pennant Editorial Staff
Ohio taxpayers are being asked to pay more for schools that, by their own numbers, aren't spending wisely. Before any community opens its checkbook, it deserves an honest look at the books.
Opposing a levy isn't opposing good schools. It's opposing broken systems that reward waste. Education Week reports the ratio of administrative staff to students grew 64% between 2000 and 2022. The San Antonio Express-News puts the cost of culture-war legal fights at an estimated $3.2 billion in a single school year. An EdWeek survey found one in four districts admits spending money on compliance paperwork instead of classrooms. That's not a funding problem. That's a management problem.
More spending doesn't mean better schools. Read the full editorial here.
The Back Page
Previous Poll Results
Should Lex Wexner be removed from OSU's Medical Center board?
- Yes - 50%
- No - 25%
- Unsure - 25%
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