Top Stories
- Dayton Public Schools Transportation: For the 2025-2026 school year, Dayton Public Schools will not provide transportation for high school students. The decision follows a new state law that prohibits students from using the downtown RTA hub for transfers, making the district's previous bus pass system unusable. Officials state that creating a yellow bus system is not feasible in the short term due to a lack of buses and drivers.
- UDRI Air Force Contract: The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) has secured a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $98.5 million. The contract focuses on advancing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies. All work will be conducted in Dayton and is set to be completed by July 2030.
- Child Marijuana Poisonings: Ohio has experienced a significant increase in accidental marijuana poisonings among young children, with cases jumping from 11 in 2015 to 582 last year. The poisonings are primarily caused by children consuming THC edibles that look like candy.
- Public Broadcasting Defunded: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is shutting down after being defunded by Congress. While local stations WYSO and ThinkTV will remain on air, they face major funding cuts. Their most critical new challenge will be the massive expense of licensing music, a cost previously covered by national CPB deals.
Business & Restaurant News
- New Openings: Gionino’s Pizzeria opened its fourth location on Wilmington Avenue, and Lucho, a mezcal and espresso bar, opened at the Dayton Arcade.
- Multiple New Restaurants: Restaurateur Sue Whitted is launching three new restaurants—Flame N’ Grill (Kettering hibachi), Thai Garden (Kettering Thai/sushi), and Thai Cottage (West Chester)—plus a "Honey Toast on Wheels" food truck.
- Ownership Changes: The owners of Bock Family Brewing in Washington Twp. are selling the business but will remain open until a buyer is found. In Huber Heights, Sweet Home Bakery is under new ownership and now offers Turkish, American, and Russian-influenced desserts.
Community & Development
- Kettering: The historic D.L. Barnes building will be saved and repurposed through a partnership between Kettering City Schools, the City of Kettering, the Schiewetz Foundation, and COhatch. It will house the school district's offices and a new COhatch shared workspace.
- Centerville: The city is planning a $5 million project to improve traffic flow on Clyo Road near the high school. Construction, which includes widening the road and adding a traffic signal, will begin in 2028.
- Beavercreek: As a condition for building a new 96-home subdivision, developer Grand Communities will fund the reconstruction of a dangerous curve on Swigart Road to improve safety.
Crime & Public Safety
- Park Arson: Fire investigators are seeking public tips after a suspected arson destroyed playground equipment at Bomberger Park in Dayton.
- Teacher Resigns: A former Oakwood Schools gym teacher resigned after being accused of shoplifting from three Lowe's stores. He was found guilty of lesser charges in one case and sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution.
