WIMA NEWS COPY THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2020

>>ARNOLD STANDOFF

AFTER AGREEING TO BAN SPECTATORS FROM NEARLY ALL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WEEKEND'S ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL IN COLUMBUS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS, ORGANIZERS NOW SAY THAT, WHILE THE TRADE SHOW PORTION IS STILL CANCELED, THEY WANT SPECTATORS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENTS. THIS PROMPTED A THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION LATE LAST NIGHT FROM GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE AND THE MAYOR OF COLUMBUS. BRYANT SOMERVILLE FROM O-N-N AFFILIATE WBNS-TV IN COLUMBUS EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED...

IN A LETTER TO GOVERNOR DEWINE AND MAYOR GINTHER - SCHWARZENEGGER POINTS OUT HOW OTHER EVENTS - LIKE NCAA TOURNAMENT GAMES IN CLEVELAND AND DAYTON AND MANY OTHERS ARE ALL SCHEDULED TO GO ON AS PLANNED. BECAUSE OF THIS - THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SELLING TICKETS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S ARNOLD. SCHWARZENEGGER SAYS 80 PERCENT OF ATHLETES COMPETING ARE FROM OHIO AND SURROUNDING AREAS THAT ARE UN IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS.

LATE LAST NIGHT GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE AND COLUMBUS MAYOR ANDREW GINTHER SENT A LETTER TO SCHWARZENEGGER SAYING, IN PART:

ON TUESDAY, WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE AGREEMENT WAS BETWEEN THE ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, AND THE STATE OF OHIO ABOUT HOW THE COMPETITION WOULD PROCEED. WE REMAIN GRAVELY CONCERNED THAT THE EVENT STILL POSES A UNIQUE AND UNACCEPTABLE RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 FOR GUESTS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE STAND UNITED IN OUR EXPECTATION THAT THIS EVENT AND ITS ORGANIZERS ABIDE BY THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT REACHED TUESDAY. IN THE EVENT THAT ORGANIZERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH OUR AGREEMENT, WE STAND READY TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION UNDER OHIO LAW TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF OHIO AND OUR GUESTS.

>>CARTEL BUST

AUTHORITIES IN COLUMBUS SAY A MASSIVE DRUG BUST ORCHESTRATED THIS WEEK HAS CONNECTIONS TO A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL. 900 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA PLUS COCAINE, METH AND 83 GUNS WERE TAKEN AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION. COLUMBUS POLICE SAY THE DRUGS CAME FROM MEXICO AND WERE SOLD ON THE STREETS OF COLUMBUS. NINE PEOPLE ARE FACING CHARGES- INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING.

>>OHIO ROBOCALLS

OHIOANS RECEIVED MORE THAN TWO BILLION ROBO-CALLS IN 2019 ALONE, A NUMBER THAT OHIO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL WANTS TO CUT DOWN. DAVE YOST IS ROLLING OUT A ROBO-CALL ENFORCEMENT UNIT. HE ANNOUNCED IT YESTERDAY, JUST IN TIME FOR NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK...

THE ROBO-CALL ENFORCEMENT UNIT WILL BE MADE UP OF ATTORNEYS AND INVESTIGATORS. THAT TEAM WILL INSPECT POSSIBLE SCAMS YOU CAN REPORT ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE. YOU CAN MAKE A REPORT BY TEXTING "ROBO" TO THE NUMBER 888-111. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OHIOPROTECTS.ORG.

>>INMATES LOSE

FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGES HAVE RULED THAT PEOPLE IN OHIO WHO UNEXPECTEDLY FIND THEMSELVES IN JAIL AHEAD OF AN ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED THE SAME ABILITY TO VOTE LATE AS THOSE WHO ARE SUDDENLY HOSPITALIZED.

A THREE-JUDGE PANEL OF THE CINCINNATI-BASED 6TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAVE OVERTURNED A LOWER COURT RULING THAT HAD SIDED WITH TWO MEN JAILED THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE 2018 ELECTIONS. THE MEN SUED CLAIMING UNEQUAL TREATMENT AND FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS. INMATES MUST REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY NOON, THREE DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION. HOSPITALIZED PATENTS ARE GIVEN UNTIL 3 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. THE JUDGES RULED OHIO'S INTEREST IN ORDERLY ELECTIONS OUTWEIGHS THE BURDEN OF ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES.

WIMA SPORTS COPY THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2020

Boys High School Tournament Basketball

Div. II District Semifinal at ONU

Defiance 48 Bryan 28

Shawnee 69 Wauseon 54

– Tyson Elwer 20 points, George Mangas 19 points; Mangas left game in 4th quarter with a sprained ankle. Shawnee and Defiance will meet Saturday night for the District Title.

>>Buckeye Basketball To Honor Five Seniors Tonight Before Game Against Illinois

(Columbus, OH) -- The Ohio State men's basketball team will honor its senior class tonight before taking on the Illinois Fighting Illini at Value City Arena. It's the final home game of the season for the Buckeyes with a special halftime ceremony planned to honor the 60th anniversary of the 1960 Ohio State basketball team that won the NCAA National Championship. OSU will also recognize departing senior players Andre Wesson and Danny Hummer as well as graduating student managers Sean Gill, Matt Plank, and Avery Van Reeth. Tip-off for tonight's game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

>>Dayton Flyers Tie Wins Record With Road Victory Over Rhode Island

(Kingston, RI) -- The Dayton Flyers tied the school record for victories in a season with an 84-57 win over the Rhode Island Rams. Dayton is now 28-2 on the year, which matches the win total of the 1951-1952 team that finished with a record of 28-5. The victory was also the 19th in a row for the Flyers, which is one short of the school record set in 1952. Obi Toppin had 20-points, and Trey Landers recorded a double-double for the Flyers who will next play Saturday in the season finale at UD Arena against George Washington.

>>Cavs Drop Another One With Home Loss To Boston

(Cleveland, OH) -- A short-handed Cavaliers team did their best to hang with an equally short-handed Boston squad but faded at the end in a 112-106 loss at home. Cleveland played again without Andre Drummond, Tristan Thompson, and Darius Garland but still found some offense with a game-high 41-points from Collin Sexton and double-doubles from both Kevin Love and Larry Nance Junior. The Cavs will next play on Saturday when they continue their homestand with a game against the Denver Nuggets.

>>Blue Jackets Blow Two Goal Lead Before Losing In Overtime On The Road

(Calgary, AB) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets gave up three unanswered goals as the Calgary Flames rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory. The CBJ scored early with two goals in the first period from Devin Shore and Gustav Nyquist but then saw their offensive attack dry up as the Flames chipped away in the third period to force overtime. The Jackets were able to salvage a critical point to keep them ahead of the New York Islanders in the Wild Card chase with 14-games left. Columbus will next play on Saturday when they head to Edmonton to play the Oilers.

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