Local

COVID-19 contact tracing in Wood County

COVID-19 cases in Wood County are dropping, but the health department is shifting its strategy from contact tracing onto personal responsibility, according to BG Independent News. The Wood County Health Department site has created a “Self-Help” section for people to stay informed on mask mandates, vaccine boosters, tests and other information. “The pandemic is still with us. We need people to take these steps individually,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robinson said. 

Wood County Peloton Plant 

The Wood County Peloton Facility on Pemberville Road just north of the Home Depot Distribution Center was set to open in 2023 and create 2,174 jobs. After CEO and co-founder of Peloton, John Foley, stepped down from his position on Feb. 8, the company decided to back out of the building and it has been reported that Amazon or Nike might buy the plant, according to the Sentinel-Tribune. The original plant was built in Wood County because of a national search project, and the county has no hesitation that it will easily sell again.

BGSU faculty found guilty of rape charges

Former BGSU faculty member, Timothy Davis, changed his plea after being accused of rape from not guilty to an Alford plea this week, meaning he is willing to accept the ramifications of the verdict even if he doesn’t confess. According to a WTOL11 article published in Sept. 2021, after Davis’s indictment he was placed on paid leave, but has since resigned from his position at the university. The victim is less than 10 years of age and he is set for sentencing on Feb. 22, according to a news report by 13 ABC Action News. 

Weekly faculty artist series

Professor Daniel Piccolo is scheduled to perform at the BGSU weekly faculty Artist Series by the College of Musical Arts. Piccolo will present a percussion recital at the Moore Musical Arts Center on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. and the recital will also be livestreamed. This event is free and open to the public.

State

First homicide in Toledo 2022

After receiving a record 70 homicides in 2021, Toledo had its first homicide in 2022 when police found Ray Gott, 58, dead in his vehicle with at least one gunshot wound according to a WOTL 11 news report. Detectives say Gott was shot while driving and it was reported to be sometime before 11 p.m. at the intersection of North Detroit Avenue and Phillips Avenue. There are no suspects in custody at this time according to 13 ABC Action News.

Ohio Supreme Court discusses definition of rape

The Ohio Supreme Court shifted the language in sex crime laws and narrowed the definition of rape. Survivor advocates are saying that the states definition needs to change after the case of Miranda Smith, a Highland County woman who is facing a sentence of ten years to life for the sexual assault of a child. However, this ruling could switch if the charge changes due to the new shift in laws. In an Ohio Capitol Journal news report, director of the YMCA Dayton’s Center for Survivors of Sexual violence, Amy Dudley said, “If it really the wording of the law, the words need to change.”

Eighteen people rescued from Lake Erie 

Eighteen people were rescued by the Coast Guard from a drifting ice floe in Lake Erie this weekend. At about 1 p.m. on Feb. 6, a helicopter spotted several people on the ice with ATVs searching for a route back to land. No one needed medical attention although emergency medical services were ready at the scene according to an AP news article. Lt. Gen. Junior Grade Jeremiah Schiessel from Coast Guard Sector Detroit said, “Great Lakes ice is unpredictable, and conditions can change fast.”

2,070 new COVID-19 cases in Ohio this week

On Feb. 6 Ohio had experienced the smallest daily tally of new COVID-19 cases since Aug. 2021. The Ohio Department of Health is putting the state’s death toll to 34,217 while the number of patients in intensive care has dropped down to 646, which is the lowest it has been since Nov. 2021. Ohio vaccinations are up to 69.38% of Ohioans aged 12 and up according to Cleveland.com. 

National

Biden says Ukraine invasion could come any day

“These are dangerous times,” Texas Congressman and Republican leader of the foreign affairs committee Michael McCaul said, after a classified briefing that administration officials gave to members of congress, according to an AP News article. U.S. officials have confirmed that Russia has assembled nearly 70% of its military, ready to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin chooses. President Joe Biden has also ordered troops to Russia and Ukraine’s shared neighbor, Poland, to demonstrate America’s commitment to NATO’s eastern flank.

Alabama district map dispute

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a lower court’s ruling on a discriminatory map of Alabama’s U.S. Congressional districts were put on hold at the request of Alabama’s Republican Secretary of State John Merrill, and two other Republican legislators. This was considered a victory for Republicans as they prepare for the November 8 elections. On January 24 the map was ruled a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act as it “unlawfully deprived Black voters of an additional House district” according to Reuters.com. This latest House district map was adopted last November by Alabama’s legislature and is among dozens of disputes nationwide over the composition of electoral districts.

COVID-19 deaths

Although the United States has the most COVID-19 deaths compared to other nations, on a per-capita basis it is ranked 19. An ABC news article found that the U.S. has officially topped 900,000 COVID-related deaths, reporting over 415,000 new cases every day. America reached a peak when 160,000 people were hospitalized, but has now gone down to a current number of 120,000 while a nationwide number of 62 million remain unvaccinated.

Cuban migrants rescued off coast of Florida

While completing an air patrol on Feb. 3, the U.S. Coast Guard found and rescued ten Cuban migrants off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. “If the crew hadn’t found them on patrol, these people would not have survived the night,” Captain Shawn Koch, the commanding officer of Air Station Miami, said. According to the USCG Southeast Twitter page, six of the people have been repatriated to Cuba.