Thursday, September 10th, 2026

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On this date in 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet defeated the British on Lake Erie near Put-in-Bay, securing American control of the lake during the War of 1812.

Columbus man gets 15 years as first person convicted under the Take It Down Act for AI-generated explicit images; plus, the Toledo Blade could publish its final edition this year – both stories are Top of the Fold today. 

And a state panel reviews new rules for Ohio's marijuana, hemp, and liquor laws, plus why researchers say too much scrolling could be fueling a rise in depression among young people.

COLUMBUS — James Strahler II, 37, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for cyberstalking and creating real and AI-generated sexually explicit images of at least six women and minors.

Prosecutors say he used dozens of AI platforms to harass victims and their families, threatening to release images unless demands were met. 

Officials believe he is the first person convicted under the federal Take It Down Act.

TOLEDO — Block Communications is exploring a sale of the Toledo Blade newspaper's assets, warning it could publish its final print and digital edition Dec. 31 if a buyer isn't found. 

Company president Jodi Miehls cited unsustainable financial losses. 

Founded in 1835, the Blade is Toledo's oldest continually operating business.

CHILLICOTHE — Some Chillicothe residents say nondisclosure agreements tied to a proposed data center at the former Pixelle paper mill site have raised concerns about transparency. 

A city councilman said he declined to tour the facility after being asked to sign an NDA, though about half the council said they were asked to sign one. 

The developer, Alignment Engine, said it did not require any NDAs and that the mill's owner manages site security.

COLUMBUS — A state committee met this week to look at new rules for Ohio's marijuana, hemp, and liquor laws. The meeting was held Tuesday in the Senate Finance Hearing Room.

The rules come from Senate Bill 56, written by Sen. Steve Huffman. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill last December, and it became law in March.

Ohio's Division of Cannabis Control wrote the new rules. They cover how businesses move marijuana between each other, how companies must safely make products, and what ingredients they can use. The rules also set a $100 fee to review ads and require a special THC symbol on labels.

CINCINNATI — A new University of Cincinnati study is adding to the evidence that heavy social media use can hurt mental health, especially in young people.

Researchers analyzed more than 180,000 surveys collected since 2014. They found a clear pattern: people who spend a lot of time scrolling are more likely to struggle with depression. The tipping point appears to be around two and a half hours a day, according to a report by Spectrum News. When individuals exceed that mark, more time online usually means a much higher chance of developing symptoms of depression.

"It's transformed over time to manifest addiction," said Johnny Avant, a graduate student who worked on the study with Professor Hans Breiter. He said social media has become less about real connection and more about presenting a "highlight story" that doesn't match real life.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins Children's Center say the same patterns show up in kids and teens. A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory found that frequent social media use may change parts of the brain that control impulses, emotions, and social behavior. Scrolling can also overstimulate the brain's reward system in ways similar to addiction, driven by small bursts of dopamine every time a post gets attention.

The effects can pile up. Doctors point to less time spent with friends and family in person, less physical activity, poor sleep from blue light and late-night scrolling, exposure to cyberbullying, and constant comparisons to other people's lives online.

Congress has taken notice, too. The bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act, which would ban children under 13 from having social media accounts and limit algorithm-driven content for teens under 17, advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this year and is awaiting a full Senate vote. This summer, Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), one of the bill's co-sponsors, kept pushing for the measure, saying, "There is a mental health crisis amongst young people in America."

Still, social media isn't all bad. Johns Hopkins experts say it can help young people find supportive communities, express themselves, and feel less alone — especially those who don't feel understood at home or school. Doctors recommend parents model healthy habits themselves, like setting phone-free hours, since kids tend to copy what they see rather than what they're told.

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