Report. Reflect. Respond.
Monday, May 11th, 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 May 11th, 1947, BFGoodrich in Akron, Ohio, announced the development of the first successful tubeless tire, a safer type of tire that became standard on most new cars by 1955.
The jury has officially ruled on Former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade’s case. Find out their decision at the top of the Fold.
Also, Streetsboro and Parma failed to pass their school levies for the third time in a row. Read why in our Education Section.
Top of The Fold
Former Deputy Found Guilty
A jury convicted former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade of reckless homicide in the 2020 shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., 23.
The jury deadlocked on a separate murder charge.
A jury convicted former Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade of reckless homicide in the 2020 shooting of Casey Goodson Jr., 23.
The jury deadlocked on a separate murder charge.
Ex-Buckeyes Join Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Ohio State
Thirty former Ohio State football players — more than a dozen of whom played in the NFL — have joined a lawsuit alleging campus doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused them during required pre-participation physicals.
The players, including Keith Ferguson, Al Washington, and Ray Ellis, are seeking damages from OSU for failing to protect students from Strauss, joining former wrestlers who have led the eight-year legal battle.
Ohio Cracks Down on EBT Fraud with New Card Protections
Out-of-state scammers have drained more than $6.3 million from Ohio EBT cardholders through nearly 56,000 suspicious transactions in just six months.
Starting May 13, the state will require cardholders to manually unlock their cards before making out-of-state purchases.
Page One
National
National - A UC Irvine study found 37% of Americans have lost at least one relationship over political differences, with breakup rates accelerating sharply since 2016. Two-thirds of Democrats say they initiated the split. (More)
New York - After New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani filmed a video outside his Manhattan penthouse promoting a tax on second homes, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin announced plans to shift operations to Miami and reconsider the company's $6 billion Park Avenue development. Griffin is not alone — Apollo Global Management and other major firms are also eyeing moves to Florida or Texas amid Mamdani's aggressive wealth tax agenda. (More)
Statewide
Statewide - Giant Eagle has recalled roasted turkey products due to possible metal fragments at locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana. (More)
Van Wert - Van Wert City Council voted today on whether to rezone land for a proposed $10 billion data center that could bring more than 1,250 jobs to the community, with the decision drawing attention statewide. (More)
Wayne County - A pickup truck struck and killed Emma Miller, 68, on Thursday while she rode her bike in Wayne County. State troopers say Miller was not wearing a helmet or reflective safety equipment and turned left without signaling as the truck attempted to pass. (More)
Columbus - A survey by Ohio's top nursing union found 69% of nurses experienced workplace violence last year. (More)
Athens County - Ohio University named John McCarthy interim executive vice president and provost after Don Leo announced he will step down on June 1. (More)
Education
Streetsboro and Parma Lose Levies for the Third Time in a Row
By Morgan B
The Pennant Education Editor
Parma and Streetsboro voters turned down their school districts' levies again on Tuesday. Each district lost for the third time in a row, and neither vote was close.
Parma's 1.75% income tax lost by nearly 20 points. The district hasn't approved new operating money since 2011. Streetsboro's 7-mill property tax also failed, and the consequences are already locked in. Middle school, freshman, and JV sports are gone for the next school year, part of a cuts package the board approved this spring.
The losses weren't isolated. Of 11 new income tax requests in Northeast Ohio, only Wickliffe's passed, by about 100 votes. Most of the 22 new property tax requests also failed. Mentor, Norton, Barberton, Painesville, and Independence all lost. Lorain narrowly passed its first new operating levy since 1992, sparing roughly 160 jobs.
Streetsboro is one of 45 Ohio districts the state flagged as financially at risk last fall. About 72% of its budget comes from local property taxes, so when costs go up, homeowners get the ask. Rod Flauhaus, who started a local PAC opposing the levy, has said the issue isn't the schools. It's piling more on households already squeezed by reappraisals and the cost of everything else. That argument is showing up across Ohio.
State funding hasn't filled the gap. The Fair School Funding Plan was set aside in the latest state budget, and Ohio's share of K-12 spending is heading toward 32 percent. Renewals, the taxes families were already paying, mostly passed on Tuesday. New asks mostly didn't.
For Streetsboro parents, fall means a shorter sports schedule. Parma is likely to try again in November.
Editorial
Celebrating a Killer Is Not Culture. It Is a Warning.
By The Pennant Editorial Staff
A musical celebrating the accused murderer Luigi Mangione is coming.
Mangione is accused of walking up behind healthcare executive Brian Thompson in the early morning hours and shooting him in the back. Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States.
He collapsed on the sidewalk outside the Midtown Hilton at 6:45 a.m. on December 4, 2024. He was there to do his job. He left behind a wife and children who will never stop paying the price for what happened on that pavement.
And now devoted admirers are making theater out of it.
Selling tickets. Writing songs. Celebrating the moment as if it were an act of courage rather than an act of murder.
This is not satire. It is actually happening.
The Back Page
Previous Poll Results
What are your thoughts on Dave Yost's Resignation?
- Sad he's leaving - 50%
- Happy he's leaving - 25%
- Indifferent - 25%
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