Community Announcements

Attorney General Wilson Announces Largest Big Tech Settlement in History

Attorney General Wilson Announces Largest Big Tech Settlement in History 8/26/2026 (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson today announced a landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta that will require the company to implement sweeping new safety measures designed to better protect children and teens on Instagram and Facebook. “With this historic settlement, Meta agrees to establish meaningful protections for young users,” Wilson said. “Digital platforms that cater to children have a duty to shield impressionable minds from the risks of unchecked exposure to social media.” Under the proposed agreement, Ohio is expected to receive more than $319 million over the next decade. The settlement resolves claims that Meta designed its social media platforms with features intended to keep young users engaged and addicted, knowingly exposed children and teens to serious mental harms, and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms, while also violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data of children under the age of 13. The agreement represents a victory for the protection of children online and marks a significant step toward fundamentally transforming how the entire social media industry designs products for kids and teens. The settlement requires Meta to implement a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook including: Hard cap daily time limits and “Productive Pauses” for children: for its two platforms, Instagram and Facebook, a combined two-hour daily time limit with mandatory pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use and again at 60 and 90 minutes to interrupt endless scrolling. “Nighttime blocks” restricting children’s access from 12-6 a.m. Push notification elimination on weekdays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. during the school year. Robust age assurance measures to more effectively verify the age of young users. Safer, age-appropriate content controls, including stronger safeguards against bullying and content that may promote harmful behavior such as eating disorders, suicide and self-harm. Stronger, more user-friendly parental controls. Disabling social comparison features, including beauty filters and visible “like” counts, that have been linked to poor mental health outcomes in kids and teens. Both the implementation and efficacy of the features will be assessed regularly by an independent auditor and the settling states. Attorney General Wilson also acknowledged that this problem extends well beyond one company. The agreement establishes groundbreaking changes to Instagram and Facebook that are more significant and comprehensive than any previously ordered by a court or agreed to by a social media company. Nearly all the attorneys general have signed onto the settlement, which now awaits court approval. MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Hundley: 614-906-9113 -30-

New Executive Director Appointed to Lead Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy

COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced today that James Cyphers will serve as executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). “Jim is a proven leader with the knowledge and experience to guide OPOTA forward,” Wilson said. “Under his leadership, OPOTA will continue to set the standard for excellence in law enforcement training.” A candidate for the OPOTA executive director position is recommended by the attorney general to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, whose members then vote to appoint the leader of the training academy. Cyphers starts as the OPOTA executive director today. Cyphers served with the U.S. Marshals Service for 24 years, most recently as a chief deputy U.S. marshal based in southern Ohio. During that time, his responsibilities included running the agency’s national body-worn camera program and overseeing daily operations of offices in Cincinnati and Dayton, as well as the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team. He also implemented training programs focused on officer safety, warrants and body-worn cameras. Before joining the U.S. Marshals Service, Cyphers spent three years with the West Virginia State Police and six years in the Marine Corps. OPOTA offers courses in both the civil and criminal functions of law enforcement officers under the direction of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. OPOTA provides hundreds of advanced law enforcement classes each year to local law enforcement departments.

Two Indicted in $1.7 Million Ponzi Scheme

(TOLEDO, Ohio) — Two people accused of defrauding investors of $1.7 million through a Ponzi scheme involving elderly victims have been indicted in Lucas County, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield announced today. George Flanner, 70, of Toledo, and Kristin Holcomb, 69, of Chelsea, Michigan, face dozens of felony charges including securities fraud, aggravated theft, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and theft from a person in a protected class. According to the indictment, Flanner used his position as a licensed investment adviser in Ohio to solicit clients – many of them elderly – for the Made in the Trade Investment Club, a Michigan company operated by Holcomb. Holcomb has never been licensed to sell securities. From May 2022 through November 2023, at least 19 clients from Ohio and Michigan invested more than $1.7 million with the club. Records show the funds were deposited into Holcomb’s personal brokerage account, which she used for day trading. An investigation by the Department of Commerce’s Division of Securities found that Holcomb used investor funds for personal expenses and to make Ponzi-style payments to prior investors. Investigators also determined that she allegedly paid Flanner $211,715 over a 13-month period, despite Flanner telling clients that he was not paid to solicit their investments. Despite being fired by his company in 2023 for failing to disclose the investments in Holcomb’s company, Flanner allegedly continued to advise investors without a license. The attorney general’s Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law. MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Binkley: 614-728-4127 -30-

Unknown County Commissioners to Hold Regular Meeting June 23rd

Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM Location: County Commission Chambers, Unknown County Government Center This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Unknown County Board of County Commissioners. The public is invited to attend. The agenda will be posted online at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

Get a little help with Thursday’s daily crossword clue from USA TODAY.

On Crossword Clue CROSSWORDS On Crossword Clue USA TODAY Staff Sept. 17, 2026, 5:34 a.m. ET In case you've faced some hurdles solving the clue, On, we've got the answer for you. Crossword puzzles offer a fantastic opportunity to engage your mind, enjoy leisure time, and test your knowledge simultaneously. Now, let's delve into solving the On crossword clue, featured as 58 Across in the USA Today Crossword on September 17, 2026. The On Crossword Clue Answer is... Answer: ATOP For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles Crossword Archive Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This crossword clue page was generated automatically using information from play.usatoday.com. You can send feedback via this form.

Unknown County Jail Visits Available on Thursdays

Jail Visits When: Thursdays

Unknown County Sheriff Sales Held on Tuesdays

Sheriff Sales When: Tuesdays

Unknown County Offices Closed for Independence Day on July 4th

Unknown County Offices Closed - Independence Day

Unknown County Commissioners to Hold Weekly Public Meeting

Board of Commissioners Public Meeting

Unknown County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to Meet on June 25

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Unknown County Government Center, 1200 N. Ave. C Unknown, TX

Unknown County Commissioners to Meet on June 23rd

Unknown County Board of County Commissioners Commissioners' Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM Location: County Commission Chambers, Unknown County Government Center Description: Regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to address various county matters, public hearings, and administrative actions.

Unknown County Sheriff's Office Calendar Currently Empty

The website for the Unknown County Sheriff's Office, at the URL https://lickingcounty.gov/calendar/default.htm, displays the message 'There are no calendar events available at this time.' This indicates that there are no scheduled public events, meetings, or announcements currently listed on their calendar.

Commissioners Regular Meeting

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Sheriff Greene Welcomes Community, Encourages Partnership for Safety

Welcome to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office website. The dedicated men and women of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office are committed to serving you, the citizens of Mahoning County. We hope you find our website informative and helpful. We encourage you to partner with us in making Mahoning County a safe place to live, work and visit.

Property Owners with Past Due Taxes Encouraged to Enroll in Payment Plan

Property Owners with Past Due Taxes Encouraged to Enroll in Payment Plan es-exclude-start-header Home County News County News Detail es-exclude-end-header Back to County News listing page Treasurer’s Office can help with delinquent tax payment plans to avoid collection action Media Contact: Jennifer Ciaccia, Press Secretary216-250-5863 | [email protected] CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – The Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s Office is encouraging property owners with past due real estate taxes to act now and explore the County’s payment plan options. Property taxes were due on August 13, and late payments and interest charges have been assessed on unpaid tax bills. The next interest charges will be applied in December. “Our office is committed to doing everything we can to help residents stay current on their property taxes and, most importantly, stay in their homes,” said Cuyahoga County Treasurer Brad Cromes. “We offer a variety of payment options for those who have fallen behind, and we encourage anyone who needs additional support to visit our Financial Empowerment Center. Our goal is to work with residents, connect them with the right resources, and guide them toward financial stability.” Under Ohio law, delinquent property taxes accumulate compounding penalties and interest charges. If left unresolved, those charges can result in significantly higher tax burdens and, ultimately, foreclosure. The Treasurer’s Office offers a variety of delinquent tax payment plans to help property owners get back on track, while making smaller payments over time. Payment plans may be extended for up to 60 months, with interest deferred. If those payment plans are successfully completed, interest charges are forgiven. Property owners can also arrange for monthly automatic payments to be deducted from their bank accounts. To remain in good standing, property owners enrolled in a delinquent tax payment plan will need to pay their current property taxes on time. While a delinquent tax payment plan remains in good standing, the associated parcel will not be subject to a tax certificate sale or placed on the Sheriff’s Sale list. Residents experiencing financial challenges are encouraged to seek assistance from the Cuyahoga County Financial Empowerment Center. There, residents can speak with counselors one-on-one for help with budgeting, debt reduction, preventing foreclosures, and creating greater financial stability. Residents can explore options for setting up a delinquent tax contract in person on a walk-in basis at the Treasurer’s Office located at 2079 E. 9th Street Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information about delinquent tax assistance, contact the Treasurer’s Office at 216-443-7400 (option 1). Was this page helpful? Yes No How could we make it better? Leaving an email can assist us in troubleshooting the issue. Submit Cancel Thank you for your feedback Your feedback means a lot to us. We use it to improve the experience of all of our users. es-exclude-start-footer es-exclude-end-footer

Knox County Clerk of Courts Announces Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

Job Description for Unknown County Department Manager Role Available

Please see attached job description.

Quality Inn to remain open during renovation into Hearth & Forge Hotel

Quality Inn to remain open during renovation into Hearth & Forge Hotel LOCAL Local investors acquire downtown hotel as part of $10 million project Lou WhitmireMansfield News Journal Sept. 16, 2026, 5:14 a.m. ET A local investment group led by Mansfield entrepreneur Jay Goyal and hotelier Snehal Patel has completed the purchase of the Quality Inn & Suites at 116 Park Avenue West, launching a $10 million effort to create a boutique hotel. The goal is to remake the property into the Hearth & Forge Hotel and bring new life to downtown Mansfield with a high-quality, full-service hotel and gathering place that's a Choice Hotels' Ascend Collection Hotel, according to a press release. “This is an exciting day for downtown Mansfield,” Goyal said. “For a long time, we’ve talked about what this property could be again. Today, we get to start making that vision real. We have an incredible building, an irreplaceable downtown location, tremendous community support and a group of local investors who believe deeply in Mansfield and its future. We can’t wait to get to work.” The hotel will operate as the Quality Inn & Suites Downtown Mansfield during renovation. Over the coming months, the property will undergo "a comprehensive transformation touching virtually every part of the hotel," Goyal said. The Hearth & Forge will be the Mansfield area’s only full-service upscale boutique hotel and will feature a restaurant and bar, meeting and event facilities and amenities for hotel guests and locals. Investors plan to hold a grand opening in summer 2027. “Our goal isn’t simply to renovate a hotel. We want to create a destination,” Patel said. “We want guests coming to Mansfield to have a hotel that feels special and reflects the character of this community while also creating a place local residents want to use for weddings, meetings, celebrations, dinner, drinks and events. This property hastremendous potential, and we’re excited to bring it back to life.” Park National Bank provided financing for the project. “We approached a number of financial institutions about this project, and Park National Bank really stepped up,” Goyal said. “They understood that this wasn’t just about financing a hotel. They saw what this project could mean for downtown Mansfield and for the broader community ... I want everyone in the community to know that this project would not be happening without Park National Bank's support. "We owe Park National and especially Chris (Hiner), Barb (Miller) and Scott (Heiman) a tremendous debt of gratitude — in addition to a fairly substantial mound of actual debt.” Mansfield City Council approved a 12-year, 75% property tax abatement for the redevelopment earlier this year, Goyal said, and the Ohio Department of Development approved a $528,000 tax credit. The investment group behind the project includes Mark and Beth DeLaney, David and Leslie Eichinger, the Gorman Family, Rich and Gayle Gorman Green, Chuck Hahn, John and Maura Siegenthaler, Rick and Carol Taylor, Goyal and Patel. “For us, the fact that this is a locally driven project matters,” Goyal said. “These are people who live here, work here, have built businesses here and care about what Mansfield looks like 10 and 20 years from now. We all see the same opportunity: to take an important property that has fallen short of its potential and turn it into something the entire community can be proud of.” Plans call for reducing the hotel’s room count while creating larger rooms and suites, Goyal said. Design, engineering and pre-construction work are already underway, with construction activity expected to ramp up in the coming months. “We think something special is happening in downtown Mansfield,” Goyal said. “There are a lot of people investing, taking risks and believing in this community. The Hearth & Forge is one more piece of that momentum. A year from now, we want people to walk through these doors and be amazed by what this building has become — and proud that it happened here in Mansfield.” Contact Lou Whitmire at 419-521-7223. She can be reached on X at @LWhitmir.

National bakery chain to give away thousands of free cakes today

Nothing Bundt Cakes to give away over 250,000 free Bundtlets FOOD Nothing Bundt Cakes wants to give you free cake today Julia GomezUSA TODAY Sept. 15, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET Nothing Bundt Cakes will give away hundreds of thousands of bundt cakes for free to celebrate its newly declared "National Bring the Joy Day." The day is a part of the chain's six-week promotion, which started Aug. 24 and will end Oct. 4, called "10 Million Bites Of Joy." During that time, the chain plans to "share 10 million bites of cake through giveaways, in-bakery sampling, fundraising, community events and surprise-and-delight experiences," according to a news release. Here's what to know about how you can snag the freebie. How can I get free cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes? On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the first 300 guests to visit any of Nothing Bundt Cakes' locations will receive a free Confetti Bundtlet in honor of the bakery's first National Bring the Joy Day, according to a Nothing Bundt Cakes news release sent to USA TODAY. The chain is planning on giving away over 250,000 Bundlets. The Confetti Bundtlets are small, individually packaged "birthday cake"-flavored cakes with colorful sprinkles baked in, topped with cream cheese frosting. Nothing Bundt Cakes fall flavors In addition to receiving a free bundtlet, Nothing Bundt Cakes will be serving two fall-inspired cakes that customers can purchase, including: The returning Biscoff Cookie Butter Cake. The spice cake is baked with Biscoff Cookie Butter Cake and topped with cream cheese frosting and a Biscoff cookie. This cake is available for a limited time, from Aug. 17 to Oct. 11, per the bakery's website. The new Apple Pie Cake debuts on Monday, Sept. 14, per the bakery's website. The cake is made with cinnamon apples and brown sugar streusel. It is topped with cream cheese frosting and a caramel drizzle. Like the Biscoff Cookie Butter Cake, it is only available for a limited time, and fans can purchase it until Sept. 27, or while supplies last. What is Nothing Bundt Cakes? Nothing Bundt Cakes is a popular national bakery chain that specializes in bundt cakes. Its started in 1997 in Las Vegas, according to the chain's website. It currently has over 800 locations across multiple states and in Canada. Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]. Featured Weekly Ad