WIMA SPORTS COPY THURSDAY JULY 23, 2020

>>STATEWIDE MASK ORDER

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- AS MANY EXPECTED WOULD BE THE CASE, OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT ALL OHIOANS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC BEGINNING AT 6 P.M. TODAY.

DEWINE STRESSED THAT THE WEARING OF MASKS IN ALL OF OHIO'S COUNTIES - NOT JUST THOSE AT A LEVEL 3 OR 4 HEALTH ALERT - WILL BE CRUCIAL TO DETERMINING HOW SWIFTLY THE STATE IS ABLE TO RETURN TO SOMETHING CLOSER TO NORMALCY. DEWINE SAID THAT, IN THE 19 OHIO COUNTIES WHERE MASK MANDATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE, THERE IS A NOTICABLE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. MASKS WOULD BE MANDATORY WHEN IN AN INDOOR PUBLIC PLACE OR OUTDOORS, WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE MAINTAINED.

>>DEWINE ON HOUSEHOLDER

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- DEWINE DID NOT MINCE WORDS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AS HE ADDRESS THE BRIBERY SCANDAL THAT RESULTED IN OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER BEING ARRESTED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HOLD A VOTE TO REMOVE SPEAKER HOUSEHOLDER FROM OFFICE, BUT SAYS HE WANTS TO WAIT FOR THE HOUSE TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. HE CALLED THE CHARGES AGAINST SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER "SERIOUS" AND "DISGUSTING." DEWINE SAID NEITHER HE NOR HIS ADMINISTRATION HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED CRIME UNTIL IT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE US ATTORNEY. HE SAID ALTHOUGH ONE IS CONSIDERED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, HOUSEHOLDER MUST GO.

WHILE DEWINE WAS UNEQUIVOCAL THAT HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER SHOULD RESIGN, HE TOOK A MUCH SOFTER STANCE ON THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY PASSED THANKS TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PAYOFFS.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SAID HE WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF REPEALING HOUSE BILL 6, THE BILL AT THE CENTER OF THE ALLEGED BRIBERY SCHEME INVOLVING SPEAKER HOUSEHOLDER. THE GOVERNOR SAID THE INTENT OF THE BILL WAS SOUND, AND SAID IF THE STATE WOULD HAVE LOST BOTH POWER PLANTS, IT WOULD HAVE COST THE STATE A LOT OF JOBS, AND LEFT THE STATE WITH LITTLE NO-CARBON GENERATING ENERGY.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO DENIED KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ALLEGED SCHEME.

>>HANCOCK COUNTY FAIR CANCELED

(FINDLAY, OH) -- THE HANCOCK COUNTY FAIR BOARD HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE 2020 HANCOCK COUNTY FAIR HAS BEEN CANCELLED, INCLUDING ALL JUNIOR FAIR ACTIVITIES. THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY TRIED TO RAISE $80,000 BY LAST WEEK TO MAKE UP FOR LOST REVENUE FROM THE PROHIBITION ON HOSTING EVENTS ON THE FAIRGROUNDS THIS SPRING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN.

>>ON SENATE FLOOR, PORTMAN OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR NEXT COVID PACKAGE

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- YESTERDAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR, U.S. SENATOR ROB PORTMAN (R-OH) HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE KEY POLICY PRIORITIES HE IS ADVOCATING FOR DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE UPCOMING PHASE 5 COVID-19 RESPONSE PACKAGE. PORTMAN BELIEVES, GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND THE AMOUNT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS BEING SPENT, THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT BOTH PARTIES WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO ENSURE THE HEALTH CARE, ECONOMY, EDUCATION, AND OTHER NEEDS OF AMERICANS DURING THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC ARE ADDRESSED. THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE HOUSE-PASSED HEROES ACT, WHICH IS A $3.5 TRILLION DEMOCRATIC WISH-LIST THAT INCLUDES A NUMBER OF NON-COVID-19 RELATED PROVISIONS AND PASSED WITH ALMOST NO REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BACK IN MAY.

IN HIS REMARKS, PORTMAN OUTLINED HIS SUPPORT FOR COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ALLOW US TO MORE EFFECTIVELY RESOLVE BOTH THE HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. AMONG OTHER PRIORITIES, HE SUPPORTS INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH CARE RESPONSE AND GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY IN SCHOOLS AND THE WORKPLACE; INCENTIVIZING EMPLOYERS TO RESUME HIRING WORKERS AND WORKERS TO REENTER THE ECONOMY; PROVIDING ADEQUATE FUNDING AND FLEXIBILITY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; AND ADDRESSING THE ONGOING MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION CRISIS THAT IS THREATENING THE RETIREMENT OF MILLIONS OF HARDWORKING AMERICANS.

>>RHODES STATE OFFERING FREE TUITION FOR FAST-TRACK EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES

(LIMA, OH) -- RHODES STATE COLLEGE HAS CREATED A TUITION AND FEE FREE PATHWAY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SECURE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN IN-DEMAND CAREER IN AS LITTLE AS ONE SEMESTER.

RHODES STATE HAS RECEIVED A GRANT TO PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT STUDENTS FREE TUITION FOR SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATES. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FUNDS INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN FOSTER CARE, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AID, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VETERANS’ BENEFITS, AND THOSE WHO LIVE WITH A DISABILITY.

THE GRANT PROVIDES FOR TUITION AND FEE FREE PROGRAMS IN A VARIETY OF IN-DEMAND AREAS.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

STATE TESTED NURSE AIDE (STNA)

PHLEBOTOMY

EMT BASIC CERTIFICATION

ACTIVITY DIRECTING

FANUC ROBOTICS

UPON COMPLETION, STUDENTS WILL EARN AN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL, HAVE ACCESS TO CAREER AND INTERVIEW COACHING, AND BE CONNECTED TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS THROUGH THE COLLEGE’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

“ADDITIONALLY, MANY OF THE CERTIFICATES ARE ALSO A PATHWAY TO ENTER INTO ONE OF RHODES STATE’S HIGH-DEMAND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS,” THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO RECEIVE THESE GRANT FUNDS CAN COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION AT WWW.RHODESTATE.EDU/ADMISSIONS OR CAN GET MORE INFORMATION BY CONTACTING CHAD TEMAN AT (419) 995-8010 OR TEMAN.C@RHODESSTATE.EDU.

>>PATROL PROJECT

OFFICERS FROM SIX DIFFERENT AGENCIES INCLUDING THE OHIO HIGHWAY PATROL ARE FOCUSING ON THE MOVE OVER LAW THIS WEEK.

SINCE 2015, 49 OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF CRASHES RELATED TO THE MOVE-OVER LAW. OHIO LAW REQUIRES ALL DRIVERS TO MOVE OVER TO AN ADJACENT LANE WHEN APPROACHING ANY VEHICLE WITH FLASHING OR ROTATING LIGHTS PARKED ON THE ROADSIDE. IF DRIVERS CAN'T MOVE OVER, THEY ARE TO SLOW DOWN AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION. THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND STATE POLICE FROM INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA ARE TAKING PART IN THE CAMPAIGN. THE MOVE-OVER LAW NOW EXISTS IN ALL 50 STATES. EB, ONN NEWS.

WIMA SPORTS COPY THURSDAY JULY 23, 2020

>>REDS DOWN TIGERS

(CINCINNATI, OH) -- THE REDS DEFEATED THE TIGERS, 2-1, AS THEY SWEPT BOTH EXHIBITION GAMES IN PREPARATION FOR THE TEAMS OPENING THE REGULAR SEASON VERSUS EACH OTHER TOMORROW NIGHT AT GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK.

RESERVE OUTFIELDER TRAVIS JANKOWSKI’S RBI SINGLE SCORED JOSH VANMETER TO PROVIDE THE WINNING RUN.

MATT DAVIDSON HOMERED IN THE FOURTH FOR CINCINNATI’S ONLY OTHER RUN AS HE CONTINUED HIS PUSH TO EARN A SPOT ON THE SEASON OPENING ROSTER. HE CAN PLAY BOTH CORNER INFIELD SPOTS.

>>TRIBE TAKES DOWN BUCCOS

(PITTSBURGH, PA) -- CARLOS SANTANA SINGLED, HOMERED AND DROVE IN A PAIR OF RUNS AS THE CLEVELAND INDIANS DOWNED THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES, 5-3, TO SWEEP THE EXHIBITION HOME-AND-HOME IN PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW NIGHT’S SEASON OPENING GAME WITH KANSAS CITY IN CLEVELAND.

JOSE RAMIREZ ALSO HAD TWO HITS AND HE SCORED TWICE FOR THE TRIBE.

>>BETTS, DODGERS AGREE TO MEGA-CONTRACT

(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- THE DODGERS AND OUTFIELDER MOOKIE BETTS HAVE AGREED TO A 12-YEAR EXTENSION THAT WILL KEEP THE 2018 AL MVP UNDER CONTRACT THROUGH 2032. BETTS WILL RECEIVE $365 MILLION OVER THE LENGTH OF THE NEW DEAL, WHICH WOULD BE THE SECOND-LARGEST CONTRACT IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY IN TERMS OF GUARANTEED MONEY. THE ANGELS SIGNED THREE-TIME AL MVP MIKE TROUT TO A 12-YEAR, $426.5 MILLION EXTENSION PRIOR TO THE START OF LAST SEASON.

>>ZION WILL RETURN

(ORLANDO, FL) -- THERE IS NO TIMETABLE FOR ZION WILLIAMSON'S RETURN TO THE PELICANS, WHO INSIST "HE FULLY INTENDS TO REJOIN THE TEAM." WILLIAMSON, THE PELICANS' SECOND-LEADING SCORER AT 23.6 POINTS PER GAME, DEPARTED THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT COMPLEX IN FLORIDA LAST WEEK TO ATTEND TO WHAT THE TEAM TERMED "AN URGENT FAMILY MATTER."

>>NFL FANS WILL HAVE TO MASK UP

(NEW YORK, NY) -- IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, BUT THE NFL MADE IT OFFICIAL THAT

ALL FANS ATTENDING GAMES IN THE 2020 SEASON WILL HAVE TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS.

Todd Walker

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