Report. Reflect. Respond.
Friday, September 4th, 2026
Welcome to Friday’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 1972, swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics, a record Michael Phelps broke in 2008 with eight.
A Note to Our Readers
The Pennant will not publish on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We'll return with our regular coverage on Tuesday, September 8. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the holiday.
With Labor Day travel ramping up, officials urge caution on the roads while Ohioans flock to ox roasts, air shows, and festivals statewide — both top of the fold today.
And Ohio State opens its season Saturday against Ball State with tributes to the 2002 title team, and the Peach Section remembers Jerry Lewis's Labor Day telethons.
Top of The Fold
Turnpike, State Patrol Urge Caution for Labor Day Travel
OHIO — With Labor Day weekend underway, Ohio Turnpike and State Highway Patrol officials are urging drivers to slow down, buckle up, and avoid distractions.
Construction will be limited from today through Tuesday to ease congestion, and a safety event with a rollover simulator runs today at the Erie Islands Service Plaza.
From Ox Roasts to Air Shows, Ohio's Labor Day Festival Weekend Is in Full Swing
OHIO — Ohioans have no shortage of ways to close out summer this weekend.
The Cleveland National Air Show returns with the Blue Angels, while Columbus hosts its 53rd annual Greek Festival.
West Jefferson's ox roast tradition, now more than 70 years old, runs Sept. 5-7, alongside the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival and the Milan Melon Festival.
Cincinnati caps the weekend with Riverfest fireworks Sunday over the Ohio River.
Statewide Heat Wave Forces Dozens of School Closures Ahead of Holiday
OHIO — A stubborn late-summer heat wave closed more than 60 schools statewide this week, with heat index values nearing 102 degrees in some areas.
Many affected buildings lack air conditioning.
A heat advisory remains in effect through today, though forecasters expect conditions to ease heading into the Labor Day weekend.
Page One
National
WASHINGTON — China supplies a major share of the components powering America's AI data center boom, including transformers, batteries, and optical technology. President Trump declared a national emergency regarding foreign-made equipment amid efforts to reduce dependence.
WASHINGTON — The House rejected a GOP constitutional amendment Wednesday to permanently limit the Supreme Court to nine justices, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed, 212-206, amid a broader fight over court-packing.
NEW YORK — Gloria Steinem, the feminist icon and Ms. Magazine co-founder who became one of the most visible voices of the U.S. women's movement, died at her New York City home, according to her foundation. She was 92.
Statewide
CINCINNATI — William D. DeFoor, 26, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to vandalizing Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home in January and causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
COLUMBUS — Vivek Ramaswamy accepted debate invites from CNN and WLWT, but Amy Acton's campaign refused, calling him a "scam artist." It would be Ohio's first debate-less governor's race since 2014, when John Kasich declined to face Ed FitzGerald.
CINCINNATI — Walnut Hills High School again ranked Ohio's top public high school by U.S. News & World Report, also climbing to No. 76 nationally, posting a 95% graduation rate and strong AP participation.
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Supreme Court denied Mackenzie Shirilla's latest request to reconsider its previous refusal to hear her appeal against her murder conviction. Shirilla was convicted of murdering her boyfriend and his friend in a car crash back in 2022.
BRATENAHL — Newlyweds Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have purchased a lakefront home just east of downtown Cleveland.
Sports
Buckeyes' Season Opener Doubles as Tribute to 2002 National Champions
COLUMBUS — Ohio State opens its season Saturday against Ball State at 12:30 p.m. with a day full of tradition. Maurice Clarett will ring the Victory Bell, while his 2002 championship coach, Jim Tressel, is inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor — becoming just the third coach so honored.
In an unusual twist, Senior Day is also moving to the opener this year, shifted from its longtime spot before the Michigan finale to reduce distractions during rivalry week. Our friends at Buckeye Huddle will carry pre- and post-game coverage on their YouTube channel.
Remember When Labor Day Meant Staying Up With Jerry?
By The Peach Section Gang
Labor Day used to mean staying up too late, watching a man in a rumpled tuxedo beg America to call in and pledge money for kids he called his own. The MDA kids were his kids. He was their guy.
Younger readers — and we mean anyone under 40 — probably don't know who Jerry Lewis was, so you'll need to search YouTube to understand this feature.
Lewis started as a nightclub act in 1946 with a guy named Dean Martin. Dino was the pride of Steubenville, the small steel town in the eastern part of the state that also produced Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder. Together, Martin and Lewis became the biggest comedy act in the country, making 16 semi-funny movies.
Then, like most things in the entertainment world where money and egos can rage, it all blew up.
The partnership ended in 1956. Martin, tired of playing second fiddle, went solo. Most people predicted he'd flop. Instead, he became a part of the legendary Rat Pack (see the original Ocean's Eleven — the one made before Brad Pitt and the entire Peach Section gang were born), and in 1964, he knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts with "Everybody Loves Somebody" — the song later etched on his gravestone.
Lewis had already moved on. He and Martin mentioned the Muscular Dystrophy Association on their NBC show in 1951, and hosted an MDA telethon together in 1956, right before they split. Lewis kept going alone. By 1966, he was hosting a real Labor Day telethon on a single New York station. It raised just over $1 million.
The Back Page
Will you be traveling for Labor Day weekend?
Previous Poll Results
Do you believe Trader Joe's is guilty of infringing on Smucker's Uncrustables' trademark?
- Yes - 38%
- No - 62%
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