Wednesday, October 14th, 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 day in 2003, Cubs fan Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball during the NLCS. Chicago collapsed, and he became the city’s scapegoat. In 2017, the Cubs gave him a World Series ring.

In Top of the Fold, President Trump pledges help for Youngstown’s struggling steam-heat utility, and the state school board weighs who can lead Ohio schools without traditional credentials.

And Anthropic warns AI could soon copy itself across home devices, while a Grove City attorney argues in a guest column that Issue 28 reaches far beyond data centers.

YOUNGSTOWN — President Donald Trump rallied Monday at the Covelli Centre for Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. 

He pledged federal help for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems, the struggling downtown steam-heat utility he said “is in danger of shutting down.” 

It was his second Ohio stop this month, after Vandalia, and Vice President JD Vance visited Lima in between. 

No more Ohio visits are scheduled yet. Democrats Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton have campaigned without national surrogates so far. 

Election Day is Nov. 3. You can find more coverage here.

COLUMBUS — The State Board of Education was set to consider changes Tuesday to the alternative licenses that let people lead Ohio schools without traditional credentials, according to The Hannah Report. 

The proposals clarify which schools can hire alternative principals, superintendents and administrative specialists, and what the hiring districts must do. 

The board also disclosed pay adjustments for state Superintendent Philip Wagner and Chief Legal Counsel Jason Wagner, tied to the state’s union contract. 

Details on Tuesday’s meeting can be found here.

COLUMBUS — Ohio cities are writing their own e-bike rules as police warn of reckless riding and kids on electric dirt bikes that can hit 40 mph. 

Mentor now requires helmets for all riders, Independence banned Class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks, and Perrysburg requires registration. 

Worthington votes Nov. 2 on banning riders under 14, and Dayton-area cities are debating sidewalk rules. 

A proposed state bill would set statewide limits.

SAN FRANCISCO — Small AI models are “months away” from being able to copy themselves across internet-connected home devices, AI company Anthropic warned Monday.

In a blog post, the company said such a model could take over gadgets like smart ovens and TV streaming boxes, using their computing power to run and spread without relying on data centers. That would make it “challenging to shut down” because there’s “no centralized point to shut off,” Anthropic said.

The company said no “fully rogue replicator” exists yet. The warning adds to growing concerns about AI safety.

Consider this my closing argument to the citizens of Grove City. The case is Issue 28, the Community Consent Amendment, and I make it with respect for the seriousness of this vote and for my neighbors who support it.

The goal behind Issue 28 is to keep data centers out of Grove City. Many residents don’t want them, and I respect that. I wouldn’t want one in my backyard either.

But keeping data centers out and passing this amendment are not the same thing. We have to be honest about what Issue 28 actually does. It would require a public vote on any development of 50 acres or more, any project designed to draw more than 20 megawatts of power, or any project using more than 500,000 gallons of water a day.

Those thresholds extend well past data centers. As written, the amendment affects our hospital, schools, churches, and parks. Over time, I believe it would shrink our commercial tax base, make Grove City less attractive to new businesses, and cost the city revenue. Surrounded by Columbus, we could be left with the traffic and none of the investment.

I also have concerns about how the amendment was developed. Its supporters have not said who drafted it, and a change this significant deserves thorough local legal review before it becomes part of our charter.

When the consequences land on Grove City residents, it won’t be enough to say, “That wasn’t the intent.” Intent doesn’t control the outcome. The charter text does. A charter amendment isn’t a statement of values. It’s a binding rule that will shape what gets built in Grove City, and how those decisions are made, for years to come.

I ask every voter to oppose Issue 28. If you oppose data centers, oppose them in a way that doesn’t cause lasting harm to our city. We can stop a data center without taking everything else down with it.

Jeffrey E. Buskirk is a Grove City attorney and resident.

The opinions expressed in this guest column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pennant or its editorial board.

Letters should be no more than 250 words, and guest columns no more than 350. Include your full name, city, and a phone number for verification. Phone numbers won’t be published. Submissions should address issues, not individuals, and personal attacks won’t be published. We accept one submission per author every 30 days. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity, and style. Send them to [email protected].

Previous question
- Yes, Ohioans deserve to hear the two take stances on important topics - 70%
- No, a debate wouldn't really change anything - 10%
- Unsure - 20%

The Pennant welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns from readers. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity, and AP style. The Pennant reserves the right to verify all information contained in submissions before publication.

Please send all submissions to [email protected]