BOWLING GREEN — An Ohio Investigative Unit agent from Wood County pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing files of child pornography, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Brian Sargent, 49, of Bowling Green, pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children for nearly seven years.

While the agency was trying to identify people sharing child sexual abuse materials as part of an investigation in July, Mr. Sargent was labeled as a suspect. Nearly 700 CSAM files were found on his laptop after a search warrant was issued in August.

His cell phone contained similar content, the agency said. It was determined that Mr. Sargent had been receiving and distributing the explicit material from November, 2018, to August, 2025.

He faces five to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced July 22, officials said.

Ben & Jerry’s is throwing its annual Free Cone Day celebration, serving up free scoops of ice cream Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m.

The location at 3305 Central Ave. is participating.

Free Cone Day started in 1979 as a “thank you” from co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to fans for helping them survive their first Vermont winter. It has turned into a global celebration, with free scoops in more than 35 countries.

Last year, the company served more than 1 million scoops of free ice cream.

To learn more, go to benjerry.com.

Lucas County Auditor Katie Moline is encouraging residents to “take note before you vote” ahead of the primary election on May 5.

“It is important for voters to have accurate information to make informed decisions for themselves, their families, and their community,” Ms. Moline said.

She announced the release of the county’s updated levy estimator, which calculates how proposed levies will impact homeowners’ property taxes.

To use the estimator, find the specific property on the auditor’s website at lucascountyohioauditor.gov and then click on the Levy Estimator listing on the left side of the screen.

People can see the taxing authority, levy name, current taxes paid to the levy, and new taxes generated upon approval. People can also view levy details and read the ballot language for each levy on the ballot.

Levies on the ballot this May include one for Lucas County 911 and Public Safety Communication Systems and one for the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium.

Valya Wright didn’t have a job or a place to stay when she came to Toledo in January at six months pregnant.

Having driven from Huntington Beach, Calif., to be able to show the baby boy to his locally incarcerated father, she stayed at a homeless shelter for women for a couple of months until she had a lucky break.

“Andy [Howard] really wanted to hear my story and to know the reason why I was out here,” she said. “We were up here for an art class, and he pulled me aside, and I kind of told him my situation.

“And he stepped in right away and was like, ‘Here's my number, this is what I do,’” said Ms. Wright, whose due date is April 23. “He has helped make it all happen. I now work at a Goodwill store and rent an apartment.”

She spoke Friday on the sidelines of a grand opening of a nonprofit that uses artwork to help people without a place to stay share their stories so they could be better helped. At least 100 people attended the event at the Cherry Street Mission Life Revitalization Center near downtown.

Mr. Howard, a local entrepreneur, started the nonprofit in August, having partnered with Cherry Street Mission since 2022 as he continued his effort that began in 2019.

Street Art Missions has grown into a structured program combining creativity and housing advocacy from “simple acts” of assistance with housing, organizers said.

The Street Art Missions’ nonprofit status makes it easier for people to donate to and volunteer for the organization, Mr. Howard said.

He was helping those without a place to stay gather documentation, complete housing applications, secure transportation, and furnish apartments when he saw an opportunity “to build relationships through art” after learning that one of those he was trying to help loved to paint.

“I realized art could be a bridge,” Mr. Howard said. “A way to connect, restore dignity, and create something meaningful — while still helping people navigate the path to housing.”

Then, in 2022, he established a partnership with Cherry Street Mission, which operates area homeless shelters. 

“I approached them and I asked them if they'd be willing to give me an art room where I could do art with people and build relationships, because art is an activity where you sit and talk,” he said.

“During that time, I documented everything, and I created an entire training manual and a process for people to be able to help folks that are in this situation,” Mr. Howard continued. “And now, people come in here every Friday.”

As he talked, he gestured toward the Art Room, which is about 400 square feet and holds tables and art supplies.

Later that year, Street Art Missions started weekly events at the Life Revitalization Center, providing art supplies and mentorship to those it helps get back to independent living.

In August, the organizations partnered for a permanent space and an additional agreement to collaborate on a housing navigation training program.

The nonprofit also partners with the Toledo Museum of Art, which now operates the Art Room every second Friday of the month. The museum has also installed an interactive mural in the room.

Event highlights Friday included sales of Street Art Missions T-shirts featuring artwork created by program participants, interactive art projects, live demonstrations by the museum’s mobile glassblowing studio.

Alissa Cox, a TMA outreach assistant who helped run the event, said she thinks using art as a way to help people get back on their feet “is a very valuable thing.”

“I think art connects people to a sense of their own humanity and value,” she said. “And reminds us that, whatever we’ve gone through, there’s a way to get back into feeling like people again.”

Mr. Howard said he has helped 53 people to get housing since he started partnering with Cherry Street Mission.

James Bedford, 63, another program beneficiary, said Mr. Howard came up with a great program.

“It’s No. 1,” he said. “I was staying at Cherry Street Mission trying to recover from drugs and alcohol when he saw me sketching something and invited me into his program. Now, I rent an apartment and have a job that pays for it.”

An automotive manufacturer, which is expected to open in 2027 and initially employ 600, is coming to Rossford.

Mayor Neil MacKinnon III said the facility on Glenwood Road, east of Penta Career Center, will be 600,000 square feet, with room to grow another 250,000 square feet.

The project was developed in partnership with his administrative team, the Wood County Port Authority, and JobsOhio, along with Scannell Properties, Mayor MacKinnon said.

“[Scannell] already has two existing facilities on the site and now will be building a facility for a large, international auto parts manufacturer,” he said.

The name of the manufacturer is expected to be made public this month, Mayor MacKinnon said. It is not yet known how much tax revenue could be generated for the city and school districts, including Rossford and Penta, he said.

“They want to be up and running in 2027,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “They’re going to supply the ‘big three’ [automakers] and a couple other foreign auto manufacturers.”

Initially, the manufacturer will employ 600, with full capacity at 300 people per three shifts expected in the future, he said.

“And that doesn’t include construction jobs, which will be a lot,” Mayor MacKinnon said.

Location is what sold the manufacturer on Rossford, he said.

“Being at I-75 and 80/90, and being close to the Port of Toledo, and also being close to rail and intermodals, allows them to get their parts to their customers, and their material to their facility,” Mayor MacKinnon said.

He said the project is a win for all of northwest Ohio.

“What’s really exciting about this is the jobs and opportunities that it’s going to give the entire region. Not only is this great for the city of Rossford, but the Rossford school district and the entire region,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “And these are well-paying and high-tech jobs.

“And the really exciting thing is we’re going to start manufacturing things again in northwest Ohio,” he added.

Wade Gottschalk, executive director of Wood County's economic development office, said he had no comment.

Rossford’s economic development director could not immediately be reached for comment.

The mayor’s administration is pulling an item from Toledo City Council’s agenda that would have allowed the city to contract with Priority Waste LLC as its next trash provider.

In an email sent to council members Thursday night, Deputy Mayor Abby Arnold asked council to remove an ordinance from Tuesday’s agenda that would have allowed the city to enter into a five-year agreement with Michigan-based Priority Waste LLC for refuse and recycling services.

“This will allow us the opportunity to engage in further discussions with Council members and evaluate next steps moving forward,” the email says.

The email continues to state that the administration will return to council regarding the refuse and recycle contract in early May.

It is unclear from Ms. Arnold’s email whether the city is considering a contract with the current service provider, Republic Services.

A city spokesman said the pause was needed to give the administration more time to talk with Toledo City Council.

Priority Waste did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesman for Republic Services declined to comment.

The ordinance that was pulled from the agenda included a five-year renewal option with Priority Waste and would cost the city $13.56 million annually.

But labor unions, residents, and employees have asked the city to continue the contract with Republic Services. City officials and members of council have argued that the company has not lived up to its expectations.

Other members have expressed satisfaction with improvements that Republic Services has made. In January, the company moved to weekly bulk pickup for customers, collecting up to five items each week that weigh no more than 40 pounds each.

The decision to contract with Priority Waste came at a higher cost. When the city initially requested proposals from providers, Priority Waste submitted the lowest annual bid at $935,300 per month. Republic Services submitted the second-lowest bid at $1,006,740 per month.

The city allowed the companies to submit modified proposals after expressing its desire that the company selected use union labor.

Only Republic Services and Priority Waste submitted modified proposals. Republic Services, which already has employees represented by Teamsters Local 20, decreased its monthly total to $977,600. Priority Waste increased its monthly total to $1,123,300.

Mark Schmiehausen, president of Teamsters Local 20, said he has had multiple conversations with Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz regarding the proposed contract with Priority Waste, saying he was pleased that the city decided to take a step back.

“It’s unfortunate that we had to go through this based off the cost increase for Priority’s bid versus Republic’s and the negative effect it would have had on roughly 54 of our members,” Mr. Schmiehausen said. “But nevertheless, we were able to come together and have some good conversations on moving forward with the relationship between the city and Republic.”

Mr. Schmiehausen said one of the things the parties discussed was the creation of an ad hoc committee made up of representatives from the city, Republic, block watch leaders, and Local 20 to mitigate issues as they arise.

Republic Services currently disposes of the city’s refuse and recycling through a contract with the Lucas County Solid Waste Management District. That contract ends Aug. 31.

Mr. Schmiehausen added that since the city will be able to contract directly with whichever company it chooses, it should make communication easier, rather than going through the county.

Council President Vanice Williams said council will send the legislation back to the mayor’s administration at Tuesday’s meeting and will continue to have conversations regarding the refuse and recycling contract.

“We want to make sure we’re listening to our constituents and doing what they feel needs to be done, but we also have to hold our solid waste accountable for some actions,” she said.

Ms. Williams, who represents District 4, has been a vocal critic of Republic Services, citing multiple examples from her constituents where trash pickup was overlooked and not collected.

“Equity is what I need,” Ms. Williams said. “If they’re picking up trash one way in one neighborhood, and it’s good for that neighborhood, then they need to make it good for all of our neighborhoods.”

Ms. Williams emphasized that the administration rescinding the ordinance regarding the refuse contract does not mean the city is choosing Republic Services.

No matter which company the city ultimately contracts with, customers could see higher rates. The city initially proposed an increase from $6.50 a month to $10.50 a month for homestead-exempt properties. For properties that are not homestead-exempt, the rates could increase from $11.50 a month to $18.50 a month.

COLUMBUS — Many Ohioans will soon experience the benefits of the property tax reform measures passed by the Ohio General Assembly near the end of 2025, according to the sponsor of all four pieces of legislation. 

“Four out of five Ohioans will see a cut this year in their second-half bills,” state Rep. David Thomas (R., Jefferson) said Thursday during an Ohio Chamber of Commerce event at Franklin University.

The reduction, he said, is the result of unvoted millage for schools being capped to inflation.

“It will vary depending on how much your value went up, what your value looks like,” Mr. Thomas said, noting Ohioans are expected to save about $750 million this year.

Mr. Thomas was joined on the property tax panel by state Rep. Dan Troy (D., Willowick) and tax expert Tom Zaino.

Mr. Zaino, who served as Ohio tax commissioner under former Gov. Bob Taft, said the property tax reform bills passed by the legislature — House Bills 129, 186, 309, and 335 — are “historic changes” that will be discussed decades from now. He thanked Mr. Thomas and Mr. Troy for being “intellectually honest” during the process, saying he was impressed with the final results even though most of the benefits won’t be immediately realized. 

However, Mr. Zaino acknowledged that many Ohioans are still angry about property taxes, and he worries about the potential passage of a proposed constitutional amendment abolishing property taxes.

While he disagrees with the proposal, Mr. Thomas praised the property tax abolishment campaign for causing state lawmakers to pass legislation addressing the issue. Without that outside pressure, he said, there’s no chance any of those reforms would have passed.

Mr. Thomas also urged state leaders to take the abolishment movement seriously, noting that even if they fail to make the ballot in November, they can continue collecting signatures and place it on the ballot in 2027. 

“There is enough anger out here that these folks don’t really care where the money comes from for their fire department or their ambulance,” he said. “They don’t care if townships go away. They simply want the system gone, and they don’t really have a plan for afterward.” 

Abolishment consequences

Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R., Napoleon), the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has said eliminating property taxes would cause local governments to lose about $24 billion in revenue annually.

Mr. Zaino said he believes the property tax abolishment measure has a good chance of making the ballot and passing in November.

“That would be terrible,” he said, noting the state of Ohio would have to increase every other tax by about 71 percent to make up for the lost revenue.

Mr. Zaino said the state could also choose to focus on increasing the sales and use tax, which currently brings in the most revenue to the state.

“That means the statewide rate would be 16.5 percent,” he said. The current Ohio sales and use tax rate is 5.75 percent.

“What if you live in Hamilton County, Lucas County, or Jefferson County — anywhere along the border?” Mr. Zaino said. “You’re not going to pay a 16.5 percent sales tax when you can drive a couple miles down the road and pay 6 percent in Michigan.”

Mr. Zaino said that would cause retailers in border counties to go out of business and would likely lead to more Ohio residents leaving the state to live in Michigan or other border states.

Mr. Troy said he hopes the effort fails but believes state lawmakers should start preparing for the potential passage of the amendment.

“I’m just afraid that if something like this passes, a lot of my colleagues will say, ‘Too bad, I guess everything’s out of business,’” he said. 

Ax Ohio Tax leaders weigh in

Mr. Zaino and Ax Ohio Tax statewide leader Leonard Gilbert spoke during a Delaware County Republican Party event Wednesday night. Mr. Zaino said Mr. Gilbert gave an impassioned speech.

“These people suck it up. They like this stuff,” Mr. Zaino said. 

“It’s about ... the government can take my home, and if I don’t own my home, I don’t own anything,” he continued. “Of course, the fact that if you don’t pay your income taxes, you could lose your freedom, because you could be put in jail. Nobody kind of thinks about that, so should we get rid of income tax?”

Mr. Gilbert said he enjoyed the Delaware County event with Mr. Zaino but dismissed the notion that all $24 billion would have to be replaced with other taxes.

“If I get rid of the property tax system, that’s already a savings because we’re spending millions of dollars just to have an outside company come in and appraise the value of my home, and that’s gone,” he said, noting that local governments could also work to consolidate services. 

Gov. Mike DeWine has said eliminating the property tax could cause sales taxes to spike as high as 20 percent, but Mr. Gilbert doesn’t believe that would actually happen.

“Can you imagine doing a 20 percent sales tax? It would be the highest in the nation,” he said. “Do you think that’s actually going to happen? No way. They’d destroy this state. So that’s nothing but a scare tactic.” 

Barbara Bristley, northwest Ohio regional captain for Ax Ohio Tax, also accused critics of fearmongering by predicting a 20 percent sales tax.

“I mean, I understand when people say to us things like, ‘We don’t want to lose essential services,’” Ms. Bristley said. “Guess what? Those of us who are doing this, we don’t want to lose essential services either. We want to keep fire and EMS, but we need a more fair system. We shouldn’t be at risk of losing our homes.”

Both Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Bristley said the signature-gathering campaign is going well, and they’re hopeful Ohio voters will be able to vote on it this November. In order to make the ballot, supporters need to collect 413,487 valid signatures from 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. 

MONROE — An independent investigation of Monroe schools regarding a transgender student using a female locker room has found that the district did not violate Title IX.

Andrew Shaw, the district’s superintendent, said families were notified Thursday night that the investigation has concluded and the final report was shared with the district and the attorneys representing the parties involved. Mr. Shaw said the district is unable to share the full report due to ongoing legal processes. O'Reilly Rancilio P.C., a law firm based in Sterling Heights, Mich., conducted the investigation.

In December, Sean Lechner, a Monroe High School parent, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education and Michigan Department of Education after learning that a transgender student used the female locker room and competed on a girls team during the volleyball season.

The student played for Ann Arbor Skyline High School’s volleyball team, but the Monroe High Trojans played Ann Arbor Skyline on Sept. 9 at Monroe and again on Oct. 25 at Skyline. Mr. Lechner’s daughter played volleyball for Monroe.

When Skyline was at Monroe, the teams shared a locker room.

Mr. Lechner’s complaint alleges that federal Title IX requirements were not upheld. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities, including athletics, that receive federal financial assistance.

As a result of the complaint, the school district launched a third-party investigation.

In the letter sent to families, Mr. Shaw said the investigation specifically concluded that claims against the district were “unsubstantiated regarding equal access to teams, the provision of a safe environment, and the protection of student privacy and bodily integrity.”

“It is important to note that while the investigator concluded there were no substantiated violations of Title IX, this determination in no way diminishes the concerns raised by members of our community throughout this process,” Mr. Shaw’s letter says. “We recognize that this investigation brought to light important questions regarding our administrative and operational procedures, and communication protocols.”

The letter continues to state that as a proactive remedial measure, the district is no longer allowing shared locker rooms with opposing teams.

The independent investigation was limited to the district’s actions, so no determination was made on whether the Michigan High School Athletic Association complied with Title IX obligations.

It is unclear if the U.S. Department of Education is investigating the matter further. The district said it could not comment on the status or outcomes of federal investigations.

Mr. Lechner declined to comment, deferring to his lawyers. His lawyers did not respond to request for comment.

During the course of the investigation, Chet Hesson, the athletic director for Monroe schools, was placed on paid administrative leave following comments he made about the transgender athlete.

In an interview clip posted by the LGBTQ-focused media outlet Uncloseted Media in December, Mr. Hesson expressed dissatisfaction with the community conversation surrounding the volleyball player.

“For this alleged student at Skyline ... my heart goes to them, whether they’re trans or not,” Mr. Hesson said. “Just having that much negative eyeball on you and rhetoric is like incredible. The amount of pressure that you feel as a 16 or 17 or 18-year-old, to have to deal with that. ... I would not wish that on anybody.”

It is unclear if Mr. Hesson has been reinstated as a result of the concluded investigation. Mr. Shaw said additional legal processes related to the athletic director position are taking place, and the district was unable to share any updates or decisions related to district personnel.

FREMONT — Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums will host a lantern walk through Spiegel Grove in honor of Paul Revere Saturday.

The poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, will be recited during the walk to celebrate Revere warning American colonists the British were coming on April 18, 1775, the museum said.

There will be two walks at 7:30 and 7:45 p.m. The poem will be read in sections at three different stops, featuring two lanterns being lit at 8:45 p.m. in the cupola of the Rutherford B. Hayes Home.

Admission is $5 per person. Tickets are available at showclix.com.

BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University will host its annual Take Back the Night event Sunday, featuring speakers and a demonstration.

The event serves as an empowering and supportive space for those who have suffered partner violence in the form of sexual abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, gender harassment, and relationship violence, organizers said. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the Pallister Conference Room at Jerome Library, 1001 E. Wooster St.

A welcome program is set for 6:15 p.m. and will feature Rosa Beltre, president and CEO of Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence; university advocate Sandra Earle; and Sheena Barnes, director of People and Culture at Equality Ohio and founder of Just ACTS.

A march against sexual and domestic violence will follow at 7:15 p.m. throughout the campus and along East Wooster Street. A performance by Ten40, an a cappella group at BGSU, will conclude the program at 9:30 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students at BGSU in collaboration with The Cocoon, a domestic and sexual violence shelter and advocacy agency in Wood County.

It’s open to those both on and off campus.

Apply for Arts Commission project grants through April 26.

The commission offers support to artists at different stages of their careers, helping them pursue new projects, develop their creative practice, and contribute to the region’s cultural landscape.

In 2025, the program received 49 eligible applications in its pilot year, and awarded $14,500 to five local artists. The commission expects to increase funding this year.

Eligible categories for funding include materials and supplies, equipment, and project support. Applicants across all mediums may request up to $3,000.

Individual artists and members of artist collectives with a residence or studio within 30 miles of downtown Toledo are eligible.

Grant guidelines and the application can be found at theartscommission.org.

MONROE — Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough is asking high school seniors in his jurisdiction who decide to participate in the “senior assassin” game to do so carefully.

A continuing tradition in the area, the game involves students stalking and shooting each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing, according to the sheriff.

Because the game involves a certain degree of hiding and seeking in an effort to surprise other players, local law enforcement agencies inevitably get calls reporting suspicious people who turn out to be students playing the game.

While the sheriff does not condone the game, he does ask participants to keep a number of safety precautions in mind:

● Do not trespass on other people’s property.

● Use water pistols that are brightly colored and clearly toys.

● Hiding in dark places and carrying anything that can be mistaken as a firearm is a recipe for disaster.

● The same goes for wearing masks or camouflage.

● If you see the police, do not run or hide. Players should explain to the officers what they are doing and cooperate.

The sheriff encourages residents who sees something or someone suspicious to call 911 and not to confront the individual themselves. 

The project to demolish the Roche de Boeuf Bridge in Waterville has officially been put out for bids by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Save the Bridge Association confirmed. 

The organization said that after weeks of asking for a meeting with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine about the issue, it was granted a meeting Wednesday night via Microsoft Teams with Michael Murray, a representative of the governor. The virtual meeting was held on the eve of bids opening on Thursday morning. 

Representatives of Save the Bridge repeated points made at a public special meeting of Waterville City Council on Monday. This included a proposal from northeast Ohio-based bridge engineer Bill Vermes that a pedestrian bridge be essentially laid over the 118-year-old structure’s historic arches. 

“Waterville Mayor [Tim] Pedro urged the governor to grant us another year to save the bridge, citing 70-plus years of inaction and ‘what’s another year’ if it helps preserve an iconic Waterville landmark,” Save the Bridge said in a statement. “STBA President Barb Bruno reiterated this request, but said even a 90-day pause on demolition would give Save The Bridge the time it needs to prove bridge strength with minimal additional testing, and pitch the preservation plan to the community and potential new administrators.” 

Options are still being explored to stave off demolition, the advocacy group said.

With bids open, actual demolition could begin as soon as this summer.   

As investigators seek answers in the disappearance of an American woman in the Bahamas whose husband says fell overboard while riding in a dinghy, her family is sharing insight into the couple’s relationship andtrying to make sense of what happened.

“I just want to know the truth. I don’t want him to be in trouble. I just hope this was a freak accident, but I don’t want it to just be swept under the rug,” Karli Aylesworth, told CNN Thursday, referring to her stepfather Brian Hooker’s arrest in connection with the case.

Brian Hooker was taken into custody Wednesday by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, days after he told them his wife, 55-year-old Lynette Hooker, fell into the water while in rough waters.

Brian Hooker has not been charged. His attorney says he “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing.”

Brian Hooker was considered a suspect and arrested “for additional questioning based on some probable cause we have,” Royal Bahamas Police Force Assistant Commissioner Advardo Dames told Reuters. Brian Hooker’s attorney Terrel Butler said Thursday he had “so far been interviewed as a witness,” adding, “He has been cooperating with the police.”

In a statement Friday, Butler said her client “appears completely heartbroken and deeply distressed,” and the trauma of his wife’s disappearance and detention as a suspect has left him in an “extremely fragile state.”

Here’s what we’re learning about the Michigan couple as the investigation intensifies.

‘How do you just lose my mom?’

Aylesworth told CNN her stepfather first informed her of the incident in a jarring phone call hours after he reported her mother missing, and his account immediately raised questions, she said.

“He called me Sunday night around 8:00 to 8:30 and he said … like matter of fact, ‘Hey, your mom is missing. We don’t know where she is. She’s been missing since last night, but we’re gonna come up there soon to see you.”

Aylesworth said it felt like “he just dropped a bomb on me,” and then he began talking again before suddenly ending the call.

“I was just like, ‘Okay, like, what?’” she asked. “How do you just lose my mom?”

The 28-year-old said after the call, she wondered, “Why wouldn’t he drop anchor and look for her? Why did he paddle the other way?”

“If my significant other fell into the water, I’d be freaking out and going after him, I wouldn’t just ‘bye.’ I’d be out in the middle of the ocean with you, at least we’ll be, you know, alive and together.”

Aylesworth told CNN, “I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. I don’t want anything bad to happen to my mom, but I just want answers.”

Darlene Hamlett, Lynette Hooker’s mother, also said she had “many unanswered questions.”

Hamlett told the Associated Press she was “glad to hear” about the arrest but said she was seeking more information.

“Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming,” Hamlett told the AP. “It would be a miracle if (she’s rescued), but I’m still counting on one.”

Hamlet has secured an expedited passport so she can fly to the Caribbean nation soon, according to the AP.

Daughter describes a sometimes-turbulent marriage

Brian and Lynette Hooker have been married for about 25 years and are experienced sailors, their family told CNN. In recent years, the Michigan couple documented their travels on social media. They were navigating the Bahamas on their yacht, “Soulmate,” when the wife disappeared.

While they cared for one another, Aylesworth said, they had a turbulent marriage that had, at times, become violent.

The daughter said her mother previously confided that Brian Hooker had choked her.

CNN has been unable to independently confirm that incident with law enforcement. In an initial statement, Butler, Brian Hooker’s attorney, said her client denies “allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth.” Butler declined to comment further on the allegations when reached again Thursday night.

CNN has attempted to reach out to Brian Hooker’s family and friends for more information about the couple.

What the husband has said

Brian Hooker told investigators his wife fell from an 8‑foot dinghy near Elbow Cay Saturday evening as they were returning to their yacht, amid windy weather and choppy seas along the Abaco Islands, according to authorities.

“Strong currents subsequently carried her away,” and “he lost sight of her,” police said Brian Hooker told them. The dinghy lost power because Lynette had the engine safety lanyard at the time she fell into the water, the husband told authorities.

That is when Hooker said he tried to paddle to shore, according to his account shared by police.

He said he last saw his wife swimming toward shore as the dinghy drifted away from her, and he came ashore near Marsh Harbour hours later, Richard Cook, fire team lead with Hope Town Volunteer Fire & Rescue, told CNN.

Before his arrest, Brian Hooker issued a statement describing the incident as an accident.

“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy,” he wrote. “Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”

Brian Hooker gave a similar account to a friend via Facebook Messenger in the early days of the search.

In messages Daniel Danforth shared with CNN, Brian Hooker described his wife falling “off the dingy in some choppy seeds (sic) on the way back to the sailboat.”

“The wind blew me away from her and she swam towards the sailboat and we lost sight of each other pretty quickly as it was just about sundown,” Brian Hooker said in a message to Danforth on Monday.

He told Danforth he paddled for hours before reaching the shore and seeking help.

“Our family is in hell right now,” Brian Hooker wrote after his friend offered prayers, adding that he planned to continue assisting with search efforts.

His search efforts were cut short after Hooker was detained Wednesday by authorities.

During a police search of his boat, “Soulmate,” that evening,Hooker lost his balance while handcuffed and fell overboard in turbulent waters his attorney described as “choppy and dangerous sea conditions,” Butler said in a statement. He took in a lot of water before his life vest pulled him up and police rescued him. Hooker injured his knee in the fall, the attorney said.

Search turned to recovery mission

Authorities launched an extensive search after Lynette Hooker was reported missing early Sunday morning, with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Hope Town Volunteer Fire & Rescue searching marine and land areas near Elbow Cay.

The US Coast Guard also conducted an aerial search, a spokesperson said.

After days without locating her, officials confirmed Tuesday that the effort had shifted from an active rescue to a recovery mission.

The Coast Guard said Wednesday it had opened a criminal investigation into the case. That same day, the agency interviewed Aylesworth for two hours, according to her attorney. CNN has asked the Coast Guard for more information about the investigation, including what jurisdiction it is operating under in the Bahamas.

The US State Department said it is aware of reports regarding a missing American near Elbow Cay and is providing consular assistance while working with Bahamian officials.

As investigators remain tight‑lipped, Aylesworth said her family is hoping authorities will provide clarity, wherever the evidence leads.

“I just want to know what happened,” she told CNN.

Blade photographers head out every day to capture the triumphs, tragedies, and oddities of life in Lucas County and beyond.

Click the image above and the arrows on the left and right to view the full gallery.

After considerable discussion, the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission has agreed unanimously to endorse plans for a standalone community solar array in South Toledo.

The project now goes to the Toledo City Council, which is expected to cast the deciding vote May 20.

“We’re humbled and excited, and we’re reallly grateful to everybody who spoke about the positivity we’re going to bring to the community,” Joe Cordella, Historic South Initiative vice president, said in the first-floor hallway of One Government Center immediately after the vote Thursday. “We’re looking forward to the next steps.”

The initiative is working with Perrysburg-based Elevated Energy Solutions on a plan to build a solar array on 4.5 acres on a 15-acre tract of vacant, city-owned land between railroad tracks at 627 Lotus Ave.

Molly Thompson, Elevated Energy CEO, said it’s important for people to realize that less than a third of the 15-acre site will be used. She said many people have come to the erroneous conclusion that the entire site will be converted into a solar field.

“We are thrilled with how the vote turned out today,” she said.

“We are proud to be partnered with the team at Historic South Initiative. This is great project that’s going to provide 25 years of economic impact, with funds that are directly invested back into the Old South End community,” Ms. Thompson said. “We’re very excited about it.”

Likewise, Carl Wagner, the group’s board chairman, said he was “delighted” to get the plan commission’s recommendation.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the residents of the Old South End,” he said. “I’m really pleased we’re going to be able to move this along and get into the nitty-gritty of this project.”

The project drew mixed views again. It came before the plan commission March 12, and was hashed out again during a public meeting Monday at South Branch Library.

Several people said they support solar energy in general, but question the site of the project and if it will degrade the environment, their view of the Maumee River, and their access to fishing.

Supporters said it won’t.

Prior to the vote, Brandon Rehkopf, plan commission chairman, acknowledged it’s unlikely everyone will go home happy.

Some people urged the plan commission for more time.

“I think things are moving too fast and it’s another thing on the agenda that was just moved through. We need more time,” said Kathleen Bresnahan-Dewar, who lives along nearby River Road. “I just don’t think they’re listening to the voice of the people down there.”

Sue Terrill, another South Toledo resident, agreed.

“Honestly, in this situation, I don’t trust them,” she said of Historic South Initiative.

Waldo Bush, who lives along Broadway, said he’s concerned about an eagle’s nest in the area.

Another South Toledo resident, Ramon Perez, said the plan commission didn’t fully consider many of the concerns raised during the meeting.

“It’s not always about dust, traffic, vehicles and things of that nature,” Mr. Perez said. “It’s also about protecting the environment.”

Those supporting the applicants included Lucas County Commissioner Anita Lopez, who had an aide deliver a letter on her behalf, and Hank Thomas, a self-employed solar developer who tried to alleviate concerns about any environmental impact.

“It’s the right project in the right place,” Mr. Thomas told the plan commission. “This is a really excellent use of public funds and public land.’

The initiative expects to get $2 million of the total $2.5 million in costs covered by a federal grant. Remaining costs will be covered by HSI and its partners.

The project is expected to generate $100,000 a year in revenue that will be used to rehabilitate neighborhood houses. The revenue will come from the sale of energy credits.

The Greater Toledo Community Foundation will decide which projects will be funded, applicants said.

Solar arrays will be no higher than 9 feet tall, shorter than the trains that pass through the area, Ms. Thompson has said.

Toledo Public Schools chief financial officer and Treasurer Ryan Stechschulte has resigned his post effective July 1.

The board of education accepted the resignation during a special meeting Thursday.

TPS school board President Chris Varwig said the district will begin a search for Mr. Stechschulte’s replacement on Friday once the district has signed a contract with the Ohio School Boards Association for the search process.

“We consider Ryan to be a valuable part of the leadership team,” Ms. Varwig said. “He has done a great job here. Yes, the timing is the timing. He has been considering this for quite some time. We will move forward to find his replacement. This will be a new beginning along with the Transformation 2.0 Plan for the district.”

The district is developing an updated recovery plan in response to a projected $68 million in state and federal funding cuts beginning in fiscal year 2026. The plan is expected to include cuts in staffing, transportation, and sports, and the closing of schools.

Mr. Stechschulte, who has been with the district since 2015, said he had contemplated resigning for some time. He said he is looking forward to spending time with his family.

“With the transformation plan, this is just a good time to do this,” he said. “This will be a smooth transition for everybody.”

Board member Sheena Barnes thanked Mr. Stechschulte for his service to the district.

“Thank you for all of the work you have done,” Ms. Barnes said. “You are valued here, and I am sad to see you leave.”

The board approved a resolution to begin the search for a new treasurer. Ms. Varwig said the board is hoping to review applications to the Ohio School Boards Association on May 11 and hire a new treasurer by June 1.

“It is hard to believe we are at this point now,” Ms. Varwig said. “I learned a great deal from you about public school financial forecasts. You have a wealth of information, and I appreciate your collaborative spirit. We are going to miss you.”

In other board action:

Jim Gant, deputy superintendent, said the administration is hoping to get the Transformation Plan 2.0 out to the board, TPS staff, and parents just prior to the April 15 Transformation Plan Committee meeting.

TPS held six public meetings and collected more than 1,200 surveys from the public. District administrators are now in the process of formulating the recovery plan with input from the surveys.

“We want to make sure the board understands what is in the plan and the staff is made aware of the recommendations,” Mr. Gant said. “The impacted schools as well as parents and the community also need to know.”

School board member Polly Taylor-Gerken asked if everything would be public prior to the 6 p.m. meeting on April 15.

“We would like the staff and the schools to be aware of the recommendations prior to the meeting,” Mr. Gant said.

Ms. Varwig, co-chairman of the oversight committee, said the meeting and presentation of the plan is open to the public.

The board approved Ms. Taylor-Gerken to take the place of Bob Vasquez, who chairs the oversight committee but is unable to attend the meeting.

A final vote on the recovery plan is expected at the board’s regular meeting April 28.

 

COLUMBUS — An Ohio legislative package making online sportsbooks illegal again wouldn’t affect internet prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, according to supporters and critics of the proposal.

States Reps. Gary Click (R., Vickery), Riordan McClain (R., Nevada), and Jonathan Newman (R., Troy) held a statehouse press conference on Wednesday to announce the forthcoming “Save Ohio Sports Act,” which they said would protect consumers and the integrity of sporting events by not only prohibiting online betting, but also completely banning wagers on college sports. 

Additionally, the bill would prohibit in-game betting, proposition bets, and parlay bets. The bill would also ban the use of credit cards to place bets, restrict promotions, and limit sports betting advertisements in venues and during live broadcasts. Other restrictions include capping individual wagers at $100 and limiting bettors to eight wagers in a 24-hour period.

However, the legislation would not address online prediction markets that offer sports event contracts, which industry experts and some courts have recognized as sports gambling, Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer said.

“That is all the same from CCV’s perspective, and that’s something we’re interested in, but this bill is specifically for sports betting companies,” Mr. Baer said.

Dan Dodd, a sports betting lobbyist, said the legislative proposal would likely have the effect of converting online sportsbooks to prediction market companies, which are less regulated than sportsbooks under Ohio’s current system.

“They’re just going to offer their product, and they’re not going to pay any taxes ... there’s no set-aside for responsible gaming funding,” Mr. Dodd said. 

“They can accept credit cards if they want,” he continued. “Ohioans will essentially have the same options they had before, just with the state seeing no benefit to it.”

John Pappas, state advocacy director for the iDevelopment and Economic Association, said 18-year-olds can use prediction markets, while Ohio law requires sports bettors to be at least 21.

“I think there would be a lot of unintended consequences if this is what the state of Ohio was left with — a sports betting-like product with no oversight from the state itself,” Mr. Pappas said. 

Prediction markets

Whether Kalshi can be regulated by any state law remains unclear, as the company maintains it can only be regulated by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act. 

While some courts have agreed with Kalshi, Judge Sarah Morrison of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division recently found that Congress likely didn’t intend for the Commodity Exchange Act to apply to athletic events.

“By enacting the CEA, Congress sought to serve the national public interest of ‘managing and assuming price risks, discovering prices, or disseminating pricing information’ by establishing a system to deter market disruptions, ensure financial integrity, avoid systemic risk, protect market participants from fraud and abuse, and promote responsible innovation,” Judge Morrison wrote.

“These goals are better achieved when a ‘swap’ is understood as a transaction involving financial instruments and measures that traditionally and directly affect commodity prices,” she continued. “Currency exchange rates, the weather, and energy costs all do that; the number of points scored in the Huskies-Bobcats game does not.”

The court also has an “obligation to avoid absurdity,” Judge Morrison wrote.

“Under Kalshi’s construction, a sports event contract is a swap because it is a contract for payment based on the outcome of a sporting event,” Judge Morrison said.

“But if that is true, then all contracts for payment based on the outcome of a sporting event — all sports bets — would be forced onto DCMs like Kalshi and every sportsbook in the country would be put out of business,” she continued. “In the absence of congressional intent to effect such a sea change, that result is absurd.”

Kalshi has appealed the decision to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler said his agency is analyzing its options while the legal battle continues.

“In addition to working through that appeal, and putting forth arguments, the commission is assessing if there are other things that we can do to try to uphold the integrity of Ohio law,” Mr. Schuler said. 

Predictable results

Mr. Click said he and Mr. McClain were among the few members of the Ohio General Assembly who voted against legalizing sports gambling in December, 2021. 

“The reason we voted against it isn’t because we don’t want people to have freedom,” Mr. Click said. “We saw the negative consequences that were going to come.”

Mr. Click said legal sports gambling is leading to increased mental health problems, pointing to the increased number of calls to the problem gambling helpline. 

“We are subsidizing, and we are financing mental health issues here in Ohio,” he said. 

Mr. Click emphasized that sports gambling would still be legal at Ohio’s four brick-and-mortar casinos.

“We do understand that people want some form of legalized sports gambling,” he said. “But we also know that people want consumer protections. ... I know some folks back home that participate in this, and they’re responsible and know when to say ‘when,’ but not everyone does. That’s the nature of addiction.” 

The lawmakers and Mr. Baer said the legislative package would be split up into two bills, with one focusing on consumer protections and one dealing with sports integrity. Mr. Click said he is sponsoring the consumer protection bill, and expects the legislation will be officially introduced in the coming weeks.

Mr. Dodd and Mr. Pappas said the bills will not achieve the desired goals.

“I don’t know if there’s a worse way to address issues with sports betting than what was proposed,” Mr. Dodd said. 

“This is exactly the opposite thing you would do if your intention was to protect consumers, eliminate black markets, and have a consistent revenue stream for the state,” Mr. Pappas said, adding that legal betting markets help with sports integrity.

“Sports integrity issues are far more likely exposed and understood and stopped in a regulated marketplace,” Mr. Pappas continued. “The entire situation with the Cleveland Guardians pitchers was only identified because regulated sportsbooks identified anomalies, reported it to the authorities, and these situations were dealt with.”

Toledoans are feeling the pressure of high energy bills, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton stopped in Toledo to lay out her proposal to fix that.

“Everyone is feeling it. Your electric bill is going up, small businesses are being crushed by it, manufacturers are really being crushed by it. We need an energy policy in our state,” Dr. Acton said at round table event Thursday.

Justin Lynch, an employee with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, attended and shared his experience of driving the library system’s bookmobile and seeing families who are struggling to get by.

“These folks have no resources, and they’re basically being beaten down even more because of energy costs,” Mr. Lynch said. “And then you have people who want to open up every single data center ever ... and that is going to crush the state under higher energy costs.”

Dr. Acton said she has met many people across Ohio with similar stories. Particularly on data centers, the candidate said, the developments have to “work for Ohioans.”

“We need to make sure if [data centers] are going to come here and benefit, you need to bring your own energy, you need to not make all of us pay for it,” she said. “And I think that is something we could definitely enforce.”

She emphasized that local governments need to have home rule on data center construction and there needs to be transparency, opposing the use of non-disclosure agreements. She also added that regulations need to be in place to keep Lake Erie safe.

The construction of data centers is just one of the issues front and center in Ohio’s gubernatorial campaign.

A group is currently gathering signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot that, if approved by voters, would ban the construction of large data centers in Ohio. 

During an event in Lakeside, Ohio, Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy agreed that construction of data centers needs to happen on the terms of local communities, but said he doesn’t think a ban is the right solution.

“Our data centers, like any other form of economic development, they pay for their own power utilization, and they should,” Mr. Ramaswamy said. ”And I think it’s common sense.”

Speaking at the United Auto Workers Local 14 hall, Dr. Acton said the construction of data centers should also utilize union workers.

“We know AI is coming,” she said. “We know we want to be at the center of industry and manufacturing, but we have to do it right so that it works for Ohioans.”

Other parts of Dr. Acton’s energy policy include establishing consumer advocacy programs and appointing new faces to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Her plan to lower energy bills is just one part of her affordability plan, but Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign has compared that plan to the policies of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“Liberal Amy Acton’s agenda means billions in new spending, higher taxes, and bigger government — with working families left holding the bag,” a spokesman for Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign said.

During the town hall event in Lakeside, Mr. Ramswamy was asked about data centers and other forms of energy, such as wind turbines. He criticized the use of wind turbines, saying the economics of running them does not support the state’s energy needs, but said he believes in a “common sense” approach.

“I’m a guy who believes that we have great natural gifts in Ohio,” he said.

“And on one hand, we constrain ourselves, partly due to federal policies, partly from a state perspective, we can do better on using our natural gas, which we have plenty of in this state,” Mr. Ramaswamy said. “The future of nuclear energy, I think is something that we obviously should have a conversation about, but I think that there are great opportunities there that actually can address the energy shortage, that actually can bring down the electric bills.”

Mr. Ramaswamy was later asked about state corruption, which he said makes state leaders “shy away” from policy changes. He used the First Energy bribery scandal as an example and a reason why there haven’t been changes to energy policy.

Mr. Ramaswamy said if elected, he would “clean house” if he needed to, adding that he wants to start with a clean slate.

After Dr. Acton’s event, Mr. Lynch said he felt confident in her leadership, adding that he feels she understands the needs of the working class.

“The fact that she wants to tackle energy and wants to tackle big state budget issues and affordability, affordability is key,” he said. “Having someone like her in our corner would be invaluable.”

An American who was arrested in the Bahamas after his wife, who is from Lenawee County, vanished while the couple were traveling in a motorboat near the archipelago denies any wrongdoing, his attorney said Thursday.

Brian Hooker “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" and has been cooperating with authorities, lawyer Terrel Butler said in the statement. Butler said Hooker could not provide further comments while investigations are continuing.

Authorities said the husband, a 59-year-old man whom they did not identify, was arrested in Abaco on Wednesday and is being questioned. Police and Butler did not provide further details, including whether or not he was charged.

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said a criminal investigation has been opened into the case.

Officials have said Lynette Hooker, 55, was traveling in an 8-foot motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on Saturday night, and that her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities she fell overboard with the boat keys, causing the engine to turn off.

Authorities said Brian Hooker then paddled to shore and alerted someone about her disappearance early Sunday.

“Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” police said in a statement issued Saturday.

Lynette Hooker’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, told The Associated Press late Wednesday that she was “glad to hear” about the arrest, but declined further comment, saying she was seeking more information.

Earlier on Wednesday, she said she wanted to hear more from her son-in-law about how her daughter disappeared. The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan. Online records gave Brian Hooker’s age as 58, and the reason for the discrepancy wasn’t immediately clear.

“I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days,” Hamlett said while on a six-hour drive back home from the Bahamian Consulate in Miami, where she secured a passport so she can fly to the Caribbean nation soon.

“Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming,” Hamlett said. “It would be a miracle if (she’s rescued), but I’m still counting on one.”

Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told NBC News that it is unlikely her mother would “just fall” off the boat, saying she was an experienced sailor. The couple had been sailing for years and documented their voyages on social media under the moniker, “The Sailing Hookers.”

Aylesworth also told NBC that the couple’s relationship was volatile, and that they have a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”

She told WXYZ-TV she doubted her mother survived and was able to tread water that long, but hoped to find her to get closure.

Butler's statement said that Brian Hooker's denial of wrongdoing includes in particular “the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth.”

On Wednesday morning, Brian Hooker wrote on Facebook that he is “heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.”

“Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,” he wrote. “We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has also joined the investigation and interviewed Aylesworth on Wednesday, according to her attorney, Ron Marienfeld.

“We are pleased to see it is being investigated, and hopefully more answers will come to give the family some closure,” Marienfeld said via email.

Bahamian police said search operations and investigative efforts remain active.