Public Safety

Latest reporting from the Public Safety desk.

A solar-powered Flock Safety ALPR camera mounted on a metal pole against a blue sky.

State rep. seeks Ohio license plate reader pause after felony charge

State Rep. Karen Brownlee is calling for an indefinite statewide pause on automatic license plate readers after a Sharonville police lieutenant was indicted for allegedly misusing the same Flock camera technology that Liberty Township installed earlier this year.

Brick high school building exterior with glass entrance doors and a welcome sign.

Lakota West teachers report mold, insects in freshman building

Lakota West teachers describe mold, bee infestations and cockroaches in the freshman campus building, adding firsthand accounts to the case for a $223 million bond issue on the Nov. 3 ballot that would close the building and end the district's split-campus model.

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Person walking through a covered outdoor corridor of a brick elementary school campus.

Lakota schools begin Erin's Law safety lessons in October

Heritage Early Childhood School and Cherokee Elementary in Liberty Township are rolling out state-mandated Erin's Law personal body safety lessons, with Cherokee starting the week of Oct. 6 and Heritage beginning kindergarten lessons Oct. 21.

Sealed bag of frozen mixed berries resting on a frosted freezer shelf.

FDA recalls frozen berries sold at Ohio Walmart, Trader Joe's

Three frozen organic berry products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's have been recalled in Ohio over possible E. coli O145 contamination; shoppers should check lot codes and discard or return affected bags for a full refund.

A car windshield shattered into many fragments, glass still in the frame.

Six windshields shattered on Liberty Township road, sheriff says

The Warren County Sheriff's Office is investigating after at least six drivers reported objects thrown at their windshields along Socialville-Foster Road in Liberty Township on Thursday, Oct. 1, causing hundreds of dollars in damage and no arrests so far.

Vaccine vial and pre-filled flu shot syringe resting on a gray surface.

FDA approves first mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50 and older

The FDA-approved mRNA flu vaccine mFLUSIVA is now available in limited quantities at Walgreens and CVS for adults 50 and older, with a clinical trial showing about 27% better effectiveness than standard flu shots.

Ornate stone courthouse building with central clock tower and American flag.

West Chester man pleads guilty in VIP Smoke Shop drug case

West Chester resident Ismail Sharida and his brother Wael Sharaydeh pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 22, to felony drug trafficking and organized crime charges tied to their nearly 100 VIP Smoke Shops, which investigators say sold illegal substances to minors in southwest Ohio.

Overhead electronic message sign spanning a multi-lane interstate highway.

I-75 weekend closure reroutes trucks through West Chester area

ODOT will close I-75 in both directions through downtown Cincinnati from Sept. 25-28 for Linn Street Bridge girder installation, encouraging heavy trucks to detour onto I-275 through West Chester and Liberty townships.

Road map showing a highlighted detour route around a closed segment of West Chester Road.

West Chester Road closes overnight Sept. 23 for pole work

West Chester Road will close overnight Wednesday, Sept. 23, between Barret Road and Selkirk Drive for a Duke Energy transmission pole replacement, with a possible second-night extension.

Solar-powered Flock Safety license plate reader camera mounted on a roadside pole.

Ohio AG defends Flock cameras Liberty Township uses

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson defended Flock license plate readers as valuable law enforcement tools Wednesday and called on lawmakers to criminalize misuse, as Liberty Township continues operating its 10-camera system amid a regional wave of communities pausing or dropping the technology.

Solar-powered license plate reader camera mounted on a metal pole against a blue sky.

Liberty Township's 10 Flock cameras face Ohio ban call

Gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is calling for a statewide ban on Flock license plate cameras, putting a spotlight on Liberty Township's 10-camera system approved earlier this year and West Chester's past use of the technology.

Child in orange safety vest and yellow hard hat blowing a whistle at a crosswalk.

Lakota parents volunteer at crosswalks after district pulls aides

Eight Lakota parents are volunteering as crossing aides near Endeavor Elementary after the district pulled staff from off-campus crosswalks at three schools two days before classes began, citing liability and jurisdiction concerns.

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