Report. Reflect. Respond.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2026
Welcome to Wednesday’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 date in 1947, pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine fast-moving objects near Mount Rainier in Washington state, and his description of how they skipped "like a saucer" gave the press the phrase "flying saucer."
The Ohio State House will not vote on any new bills until its post-election session in November. Read why in the Top of The Fold.
Also, more and more small Ohio colleges are facing the threat of shutting down. Find out the reason in our editorial.
Top of The Fold
Statehouse Punts Until After the Election
COLUMBUS — The Ohio House canceled its "if-needed" June 24 session, leaving neither chamber scheduled to return until the post-election lame-duck session in November.
The decision came after lawmakers failed to pass a data center regulation bill before the 2026 campaign season, with the bill stalled over how far to scale back a contested state tax break.
The Data Center Fight Goes Local in the Mahoning Valley
GIRARD — Girard has become the latest Mahoning Valley community to pursue a data center moratorium, with the city council giving second reading Monday to the measure.
The move comes as the statehouse stalemate pushes the development fight down to local councils across the region.
A Lifeline for Schwebel's Workers
CLEVELAND — Orlando Baking Company is inviting laid-off Schwebel's employees to apply at its Grand Avenue facility following the bakery's liquidation.
The 120-year-old Schwebel Baking Company announced its closure earlier this month, citing aging facilities, falling demand, and costly pension obligations.
Page One
National
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have arrested two more men, Jordan Rincker of Missouri and William Lee Falkner of Washington, in the alleged plot to attack the June 14 UFC event at the White House, bringing the total charged with conspiracy to commit murder to seven. Read how an Ohio mother's tip first unraveled the plot.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Investigators believe two ransom notes sent to the family of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, after her February disappearance — one saying she had died — likely came from her abductors and were sent from the same IP address. Read what the notes revealed.
WASHINGTON — As the Supreme Court races to clear its docket before summer recess, four cases will test how far the conservative majority will let President Trump expand his power, with the justices appearing inclined to rule against him on at least a couple. Read why even Trump's own appointees seem skeptical.
Statewide
LAKEWOOD — A man and a woman were found murdered early Sunday morning. Their killer, Stephen D. Davis, later fatally shot himself after being pursued by police.
BETHEL — Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert pleaded not guilty Monday and was given a $500,000 bond after a Clermont County grand jury indicted him on 70 counts of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Here is what the mayor now wants done with the chief.
CLEVELAND — Police are searching for a 38-year-old man who reportedly entered the Cuyahoga River voluntarily, became submerged, and never resurfaced. See the investigation here.
TOLEDO — After Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy two years ago, many buildings across northwest Ohio were left empty. Several have since found new life.
COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine has granted clemency to a man who has been on death row since 1986. It is DeWine’s first clemency grant of his career.
COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel is set to be enshrined in Ohio Stadium’s Ring of Honor at Ohio State’s season opener Sept. 5. Read about Tressel’s legacy.
Entertainment
Ohio's Zoos Are the Best Deal in Family Entertainment — If You Know the Trick
By The Pennant Staff
Taking the family out for the day in Ohio can run $150 to $400 before anyone eats lunch. The zoos are the exception, and the gap is bigger than most people expect.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium costs $24 to $29 per adult and $16 to $19 for children, with parking around $14. A family of four gets out for $80 to $100. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is similarly priced. The Cincinnati Zoo — home of Fiona the famous hippo — comes in at $22 to $25 per adult. The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium is one of the most underrated values in Northwest Ohio, with general admission starting around $23 and family memberships at $120 for Lucas County residents.
Every major Ohio zoo sells a family membership in the $120 to $170 range that pays for itself in two visits and carries reciprocal admission benefits at hundreds of zoos nationwide. Buy one in January and use it until school starts.
Tomorrow: Ohio's theme parks — where the thrills are real and so is the bill.
Editorial
Ohio's College Reckoning Reaches Columbus
By The Pennant Editorial Staff
When Ohio Dominican University missed a bond payment in March, a national problem arrived on central Ohio's doorstep. The Columbus school, which saw enrollment fall 15% from 2021 to 2025, says it isn't discussing closing and is working to cut costs. We hope it succeeds. But a missed bond payment is the kind of warning that used to belong to faraway campuses, and it doesn't anymore.
The reckoning is well underway around the state. Lourdes University near Toledo will close this year after its enrollment fell by almost half in a decade; Notre Dame College in South Euclid shut down in 2024; Ursuline College in Pepper Pike avoided that fate only by merging with Pennsylvania's Gannon University; and even Kenyon has trimmed its faculty.
No single president is to blame. The number of American 18-year-olds is set to fall 13% by 2041, the bill coming due for a baby bust that began after 2008, and the share of graduates heading straight to college has already slid from 70% to 62%. Small, tuition-dependent colleges without deep endowments feel it first. One projection puts 442 private nonprofit colleges nationwide, enrolling 670,000 students, at risk of closing or merging within 10 years.
It isn't only an Ohio story, or only a small-college one.
Click here to read the full editorial.
The Back Page
Previous Poll Results
Should Ohio build more wind and solar farms?
- Yes - 29%
- No - 14%
- Unsure - 57%
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