Sharonville passed its first ordinance regulating hookah lounges, establishing closing times, permitting requirements and operational guidelines for businesses that had previously operated without specific oversight in the city's code.

For 14 years, Sahara Hookah Lounge has been a fixture in Sharonville. Now, for the first time, it will operate under the new city regulations.

The ordinance was passed as an emergency measure at the end of February to get rules in place before warmer months bring increased activity.

Until now, hookah lounges existed in what city officials describe as a regulatory gray zone.

"These hookah bars were essentially unregulated, and so they could have stayed open 24 hours a day. They could have engaged in all kinds of behaviors for which there weren't ordinances to cover," said Mike Mathis, the city's hotel liaison who also does regulatory work in collaboration with the police department.

That changed after the city began noticing a rise in disturbances in the late summer and started connecting the dots to what was happening in Cincinnati.

WATCH: Sharonville passes first hookah lounge regulatory ordinance

As Cincinnati cracked down on its own hookah lounges, many of those patrons needed somewhere else to go. Sahara, which had been staying open until as late as 4:30 a.m., became that destination for some.

Kyra Al Hassan, a server at Sahara, told city council in January that the shift was noticeable.

"It started around the time when the hookah lounges in downtown Cincinnati started to close down. And a lot of their businesses started to come to us," Al Hassan said.

Mathis said the pattern was hard to ignore.

"If you're going to frequent a hookah establishment and Cincinnati closes theirs down at midnight, then you're going to go to where you can go. Our hookah bar was staying until like four o'clock in the morning, and so that's pretty late, and it allowed a lot of traffic to come out that way," Mathis said.

Jim Lukas, Sharonville's safety services director, said the nature of the incidents made it clear the city needed to act.

"We started seeing an uptick late summer, probably, and just more domestic disorderly conduct, fights, assaults, that type of thing. And nobody wants to see that. We don't want to be the next downtown Cincinnati or Austin, Texas," Lukas said.

Health and fire inspectors had also flagged violations at the lounge, Mathis said. A neighboring business reported finding trash along its property lines in the mornings after Sahara closed. And while Sahara did not sell alcohol, customers had been allowed to bring their own.

Rather than waiting for conditions to worsen, Mathis said the city chose to get ahead of it.

"We reacted to it proactively before any kind of serious issues happened, to make sure we had regulations in place that would protect the community," Mathis said.

City officials met with Sahara staff in the fall. Those conversations, combined with input from health, fire and law enforcement, led to a draft ordinance that was shared with the lounge before it ever reached a council vote.

At a January council meeting, Sahara owner Hussein Al Shafee, along with several staff members and building owner Naja Thai, came to address the proposal directly. Al Shafee said he supported the regulations with one exception.

"I agree with all the points. Just one point is going to be so hard for me like the time, because all my business is between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.," Al Shafee said.

The original draft mirrored Cincinnati's approach and called for a midnight closing time. Al Shafee asked for 2:30 a.m. the same hour the bar next door stops serving. Council agreed.

"Hey, bars can stay up until 2:30. We'll keep the hookah lounge up till 2:30," Mathis said.

Lukas said the result reflects what the process was always meant to achieve.

"I think this is a great compromise for the community safety and the hookah lounge in general," Lukas said.

The ordinance goes beyond closing times. Hookah lounges must now obtain a permit to operate a requirement Mathis called the most significant piece of the new law.

The permit process gives the city the ability to deny or object to a license if a business is not operating safely, similar to how the city can challenge a bar's liquor permit renewal.

Additional requirements include a prohibition on anyone under 21, a ban on alcohol on the premises, mandatory camera systems accessible to law enforcement, zoning restrictions that keep hookah lounges away from schools and other designated areas and a requirement to clean the parking lot within two hours of closing.

Al Shafee agreed to allow law enforcement to enter and verify no alcohol is being sold and told council the lounge would no longer permit customers to bring their own.

Manager Kareem Fami told council the lounge already had security measures in place, including three staff members on duty during busy weekend hours, ID checks and bag searches at entry and a strict no-tolerance policy on weapons and illegal substances. Security footage has been shared with authorities when needed, he said.

Both Lukas and Mathis said they were struck by how constructively Sahara engaged throughout the process.

"They did not take an antagonistic approach, either in the informal meetings that the police department had or with the draft ordinance that we gave them. They looked at it, they had some comments back and forth, and ultimately, we wound up with a good resolution," Lukas said.

Looking ahead, Mathis said the ordinance is built to accommodate growth. If additional hookah lounges open in Sharonville a possibility as the industry grows in popularity they would be subject to the same permitting requirements and operational rules.

Theres a decal on the back window of his truck that says, thank you Jesus. And inside, there are boxes of coats and hygiene supplies.

This winter, Daniel Hatfield slept in that truck. Not because he didnt have a place to go. But because he didnt want to forget where he came from.

Almost everyone I talk to about Hatfield tells me this story.

WATCH: He's turning years of addiction into outreach

His wife tells me another one one where she used to bang on the doors of drug dealers. If a red car pulled up outside, those dealers would yell.

Im here to take you back to your miserable life, his wife would say.

Hatfield spent two years living in the woods because of his addiction. Hed gone from painkillers after surgery to heroin it was cheaper and eventually lost his business. He almost lost his family.

I was horrible. I was a thief. I was a lying, cheating, conniving junkie, Hatfield said. Im not ashamed of what I did. Im proud of what I quit.

Last month, Hatfield celebrated 10 years clean. And now hes putting his energy and thousands of dollars of his own money into an outreach center in this Butler County village where one in four people live below the poverty line.

Hes helping a place thats been in dire need for a long time, said William Norris, who works with Hatfield. We all need a helping hand sometimes.

Norris is one of several people remodeling an apartment with Hatfield in Fairfield. Downstairs, Joe Stout puts a Mountain Dew in his tool belt and smiles. He tells me hes gained 15 pounds from eating the free meals at Hatfield's Faith Mission Outreach.

I tell him its hard to tell.

He means a lot to me, Stout said. Hes the only person I got.

I met Hatfield this winter when I was doing a story about people experiencing homelessness during dangerously cold weather. I spent the afternoon with an outreach specialist who was trying to make sure people were OK.

Faith Mission Outreach was one of the places we checked.

I see myself in some of these people, Hatfield said. I can see where they hurt, and I can see what theyre looking for.

I interviewed him then, but didnt have enough room to include him in my story. So I came back on a rainy evening in March, while they were serving dinner. When I get there, Tracey Myers-Birgel offers me cake. Then, she introduces me to her dog. Hes not allowed behind the gate where shes making vegetable soup.

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Thats Junior Little Man, Myers-Birgel said. Daniel jokes that hes kind of our mascot.

Myers-Birgel is helping out because she's one of the people who stayed here this winter, when Hatfield opened the building up as a warming center. She said without this place, she would've been living in a storage unit because she couldnt find anywhere else that would take her dog.

Its always warm in here, Myers-Birgel said.

Hatfield tells me hes helped 13 people get into rehab programs since Faith Mission Outreach opened in October.

Eddie Philpot tells me hes never used drugs, like a lot of people here, but four heart attacks left him without a job. He comes here every day and says the food is great. He tells me he's moving into new housing soon.

Thanks to the people Hatfield connected him with.

You come here as a stranger," Hatfield said. "But you leave as family.

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Days after some of the worst flooding the village of Millville has seen, water was still being pumped out of homes and businesses Friday as residents and shop owners worked to assess the damage and clean up.

Sandy Wilkins, a Millville resident since 1996, said her basement had never flooded before this week. The water in her backyard rose to waist level Wednesday night. She said neighbors were wading through the dark, unsure of where to step.

"You were sinking as you were walking," Wilkins said. "We have no furnace, no washer, dryer, water heater. I mean, nothing."

Wilkins said her insurance company told her it could not help because the flooding originated from a creek rather than a water backup. She said the insurer offered to send a cleaning service, but would not cover the cost of moving items to make that possible.

"Last night was the first time that we could actually sit and just close our eyes for a minute. But even then, your head's just like, 'Oh, I need to do this,'" Wilkins said.

Neighbors told us they are organizing laundry assistance. In the area of Liberty Street, people handed out ticket stubs good for one industrial-size load-wash, dry and detergent.

Brookwood Highlander Center in Hamilton, a local laundromat, will extend its hours in the meantime to help.

Organizers told us they're working on a way to accept donations to help with laundry assistance. We will post those details once they become available.

WATCH: On day two of cleanup in Millville, neighbors look for help digging themselves out of the damage

The scope of the cleanup extended well beyond neighborhood streets.

At a gas station in the village, employees worked to clear debris. A staff member said the store itself was spared from the worst of the flooding.

"We got lucky, because we didn't get any water inside the store, but everybody else, their basement got flooded," a gas station staff member said.

Other neighboring businesses were not as fortunate. Tim Draman, the owner of American V-Twin motorcycle shop, said he arrived at his business around 10 p.m. Wednesday night and worked through roughly 8 p.m. Thursday to mitigate water damage.

"The water was apparently flowing pretty well through the building because it moved things around," Draman said.

Draman said his landlord had previously poured five and a half inches of concrete to raise the floors before he moved in a little over two years ago, in an effort to prevent exactly this kind of damage. But, he estimated roughly two inches of water moved through the building, leaving a thick layer of mud across the entire floor.

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Draman said he does not see significant damage to major equipment, but is working through inventory, parts and pneumatic controls for lifts that were on the floor and may have been damaged. That work has forced him to close his shop for the time being.

"I've had to just stop work on bikes and focus on cleanup," Draman said. "I've got a bunch of friends coming over Sunday, and we're gonna do all the scraping and vacuuming and hopefully get the floor all cleaned up, and then I can be back to work basically Monday."

For anyone in need of cleanup help, Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Bolin said various volunteer groups are organizing to help with impacted neighborhoods. To coordinate assistance, you can reach out to the Butler County Emergency Management Agency at (513) 785-5810.

Talk about a room with a view: A Warren County business owner has invested millions of dollars in an Adams County observatory that can see objects billions of light-years away.

Dieter Moeller is opening his state-of-the-art stargazer to the public through a partnership with the Cincinnati Astronomical Society (CAS).

One of the main missions of the observatory here is to increase scientific engagement, increase scientific literacy through outreach, said Moeller, owner and chairman of RH Aero Systems in Mason. I love showing kids galaxies here that are 100, 150 million light years away and say, What youre looking at is from the age of the dinosaurs. Thats enough to blow most peoples minds right there.

Moeller has been working on this passion project since 2015, when he bought a dairy farm near Manchester to enjoy its sweeping river views and continue his love of astronomy.

Ive got some roots here in Adams County, Moeller said. My father owned some land here. So, as a teenager, I would come out with a good friend of mine, and we would just spend nights with our small amateur scopes and enjoy the dark skies.

One telescope led to others. Before long, Moeller had a cluster of research-quality instruments that can reach back toward the origin of the universe.

There is one object that is eight billion light years away, that you can actually see here, Moeller said. Before the sun was in the sky and the earth existed, that light left to travel so that it could hit my retina and allow me to go, Wow. Im looking back toward the beginning of the universe. Thats pretty powerful and heady stuff.

WATCH: Learn more about how you can experience The Moeller Observatory

The Moeller Observatory will be a star attraction for the Cincinnati Astronomical Society, where members have received specialized training in how to operate and maintain Moellers equipment. Theyve also been using its most powerful scope to work on Citizen Science Projects for NASA.

This really is a dream come true, said CAS President Bryan Simpson. Our team will come out here and point at a distant star that NASA says is a candidate star. And they can detect that through a sensitive instrument like this and be able to tell all sorts of characteristics about that planet like, How big is it? How close is it?

The Planewave PW1000 1-meter reflecting telescope is a research-grade instrument with precise tracking and advanced optics (that) make it ideal for high-level observing and imaging, said a CAS press release announcing the exclusive partnership with Moeller Observatory. This PW1000 is one of only two in the Eastern half of the US, and one of the largest and most advanced telescopes in the country accessible by amateur astronomers.

Three other scopes are anchored into the hillside by concrete piers and capped by a retractable roof.

While the facilities are open to the public, access to them will be managed by CAS.

The easiest way to experience the Moeller Observatory is to become a member of CAS, Simpson said. We try to hold at least one monthly event, so that our members can come out here. They can camp out. They can bring their own gear.

Founded in 1911, the Cincinnati Astronomical Society is one of the nations oldest amateur astronomy clubs. Simpson said the group has doubled its membership to nearly 400 since 2017 and is the nation's eleventh-largest amateur astronomy organization.

In August, the Moeller Observatory will host an after-party for ALCON 2026, a national conference for amateur astronomers that will convene in Covington this year.

After that, Simpson expects to bring dozens of visitors to Adams County each year, including scout troops and corporate outings. He said he hopes to kindle the same excitement he felt on his first visit to Moellers hilltop oasis.

To be able to see swirls in the clouds on Jupiter is not something youre typically able to do with most high-end, backyard refractors. And to be able to see that here, it just blew my mind, Simpson said.

For Moeller, the observatory is an extension of the scientific exploration he began in the hills of Adams County. It led to degrees in physics, computer engineering and business. It continued with a career that began at Daytons NCR Corp. and continued with his fathers jet-engine tooling company, Rhinestahl Corp.

At heart, I am a physicist, Moeller said. I mean, its shaped the way I think, the way I approach the world.

Rhinestahl grew for decades as an original equipment manufacturer for GE Aircraft engines. It doubled in size with the 2024 acquisition of Hydro Systems KG, a German company that played the same role for jet engines made by Rolls Royce. The combined companies now have about 1,000 employees and annual sales of roughly $500 million.

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Its an amazing company that does a great job of taking care of customers around the world, Moeller said. Itll be interesting to see how it does and how it grows in the future. Ive enjoyed being a part of it and look forward to guiding it to wherever it needs to go next.

As for Adams County, Moeller plans to be a longtime great citizen and local advocate for the ecotourism industry that has been growing in recent years.

A lot of nature preserves out here, and if you think about it, the study of astronomy is the study of the greatest part of nature, not just this environment on the earth but the environment of the whole universe that we inhabit, Moeller said.

No one likes seeing trash piling up along their sidewalks. That's why the nonprofit Keep Cincinnati Beautiful is giving residents a chance to keep their neighborhoods clean.

Madison Lentz is the coordinator for the nonprofit's Adopt-A-Spot program.

The program allows anyone to sign up and adopt an area in the city to help pick up trash and keep clean.

"These streets are our streets," Lentz said.

Lentz said individual residents, businesses and groups can sign up.

It's not just cleaning litter. Lentz said the program also allows for opportunities to clean graffiti and plant greenery.

She said it's a way to grow community by working together.

"There's so much more you can do once the litter and the debris is off the streets," Lentz said.

Learn more about how you can sign up and adopt an area to clean up in the video below:

Those who sign up receive supply kits full of gloves, trash bags and litter sticks for free.

The program has been around since the 1990s.

Lentz said that it was revitalized in 2024 thanks to grants from the city and individual donors.

Darlene Capell told us she adopted a stretch of Carll Street in North Fairmount last year.

"Dumping has been a problem in this neighborhood," Capell said.

Capell said she chose to sign up because she believes a welcoming neighborhood starts with how it looks.

"A clean neighborhood makes crime go down, makes people be prideful in where they live at," Capell said.

Lentz told us signing up is easy.

You can do that by filling out an application on the nonprofit's website. There, you can also find a map and see where more than 350 others have adopted their spots in the city.

"In this past year in 2025, all of our volunteers collectively picked up 30,000 pounds of trash," Lentz said.

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Lentz said keeping the city clean is easier with more hands helping out.

"We're all in this together, and every little bit counts," Lentz said.

President Donald Trump will visit Cincinnati next week, a source close to the situation told WCPO Friday.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston confirmed the president plans to make a trip to the Queen City on March 11 to discuss TrumpRx.gov, his federal government-run prescription drug website.

Trump will visit Thermo Fisher Scientific, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company in Reading, to talk about the site, which aims to help Americans find prescription drugs at the lowest prices.

TrumpRx.gov officially launched in February. The White House said patients would be able to "access large discounts on many of the most popular and highest-priced medicines in the country, paying prices in line with the lowest paid by other developed nations."

A White House spokesperson said Trump will "celebrate his economic victories and showcase one of his most transformational policies: delivering lower prescription drug prices for working families" during his visit.

"Thanks to President Trumps Most Favored Nation pricing agreements, American patients can now access dozens of medications at massively discounted prices through TrumpRx.gov with more savings in store for American patients when Congress passes the Presidents Great Healthcare Plan," the spokesperson said. "The President will tout that massively popular policy and the rest of his Administrations aggressive efforts to lower prices and make America more affordable."

Trump has won the state of Ohio in the last three presidential elections. His vice president, J.D. Vance, is originally from Middletown and now owns a home in East Walnut Hills.

A Clermont County man accused of intentionally setting fire to his Batavia home in 2022 was found guilty on multiple counts Thursday, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark J. Tekulve announced.

After a week-long trial and almost two days of deliberation, Tekulve said a jury convicted Asa Dawson of seven counts, including aggravated arson, arson, tampering with evidence, insurance fraud and telecommunications fraud.

Prosecutors say the home of Dawson and his wife, Kaitlyn Dawson, was set on fire and burned down on Sept. 20, 2022.

An investigation by the Clermont County Fire Investigations Team, the State Fire Marshal's Investigative Unit, Investigators at the Clermont County Sheriff's Office and a private fire investigator determined the fire was intentional.

Police said no one was home at the time of the fire, and a neighbor's surveillance system picked up video of Asa Dawson returning home at approximately 8:20 p.m. on the day of the fire and then leaving shortly after.

The fire also caused damage to a nearby home of an elderly couple, one of whom was in a wheelchair.

Prosecutors say Asa Dawson used accelerants to set fire to his home in an effort to fraudulently collect insurance money.

Kaitlyn Dawson was convicted of attempted insurance fraud in October.

Dawson faces a maximum of 34.5-40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 31.

Tekulve said it was a "difficult and complex case" and thanked those who sat on the jury for their work.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced the indictments Friday of two men in connection with Sunday's mass shooting at Riverfront Live that injured nine people.

The Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) Homicide Unit and Fugitive Apprehension Unit initially arrested and charged 24-year-old Franeek Cobb and 29-year-old Derrick Long with felonious assault on Monday in connection with the shooting. The two were also charged federally with illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon, the U.S. Attorney's office announced Tuesday.

Appearing at the Hamilton County Courthouse Friday, Pillich announced Cobb and Long were indicted by a Hamilton County grand jury for their roles in the incident.

According to Pillich, Cobb is charged with one count of attempted murder, 18 counts of felonious assault and one count each of inducing panic, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor establishment, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability.

Long is charged with one count each of illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor establishment, tampering with evidence, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability, Pillich said.

According to the prosecutor's office, the two men, who had "a longstanding dispute," entered Riverfront Live with guns despite being legally prohibited from possessing them due to prior convictions. You can read more about the previous convictions here.

Cobb shot Long from a close range, and Long then fired back in self-defense, the press release said. Eight bystanders were struck during the incident.

When asked why Long was not facing a felonious assault charge, Pillich said Cobb was "the instigator" who caused the mass shooting, and therefore "gets the charge of everything." She said Long "merely defended himself" and is not held accountable for the other people who were injured.

"Derrick Long did not even pull his gun out of his pocket until he had been shot and was laying on the ground," Pillich said. "So that would be an illustration of self-defense."

Cobb now faces up to 98 years in prison. Long faces up to 13 and a half years in prison.

Pillich said "hundreds of people" were at the venue and fled when gunfire erupted.

"Possessing a gun and bringing it into a crowded music venue and firing it is not only criminally illegal, but also a violent breach of our community safety," Pillich said. "We are fortunate that no one was killed. That kind of violence has no place in Hamilton County."

Planning to swing by Moerlein Lager House down by Smale Park during this year's Bockfest celebrations?

It'll be one of the last times to do so before you'll have to double check where you're headed because the lager house is getting a new name.

Moerlein announced Friday morning during Bockfest's annual Happy Hour keg tapping that starting next week the bar near The Banks will instead be called the Cincinnati Lager House.

"This is not simply a name change," said Greg Hardman, managing member of the now-named Cincinnati Lager House. "This evolution allows us to celebrate not just one chapter of Cincinnati's brewing history, but the entire story from the early 1800s when Cincinnati became known as the Beer Capital of the World, to today's vibrant craft brewing community."

The name change doesn't fully go into effect until next week, and a full public launch celebration is planned for Opening Day weekend.

According to a press release from Moerlein, the new name intends to celebrate Cincinnati's brewing traditions with a "brand evolution." The business is not changing ownership or management, and core business functions including menu options are not changing with the name.

The change does come with a new logo designed by Cincinnati artist Jim Effler. In the press release, Moerlein said Effler's work "has become synonymous with the city's brewing culture."

Effler is also the artist behind the annual Bockfest posters and illustrations, and his artwork can already be seen throughout the Lager House.

"I've had a long relationship with the Lager House and the Cincinnati brewing community," said Effler in the press release. "It was truly an honor to be asked to design a new, iconic logo that represents the Lager House, the city of Cinicnnati, its German-American heritage and its deep brewing culture."

The name change also comes with some other branding tweaks to be made, including select beer names and updated interior artwork highlighting Cincinnati's brewing history that will be visible inside the Lager House.

The company also plans to announce, alongside the rebrand, an enhanced loyalty program that will provide perks to frequent guests. Those perks include validated parking rewards, exclusive promotions and featured menu promotions.

A man has died after he was hit by a driver on US-27 near Cold Spring, Ky. Thursday evening, according to Cold Spring police.

Police said 42-year-old Ivan Chandler, of Newport, was hit in the northbound lanes of US-27 at around 7:07 p.m. The crash happened in the 5400 block of the road, just south of the exit for the AA Highway.

According to Cold Spring police, officers on the scene found Chandler with serious injuries after the crash. He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment, but died from his injuries at the hospital.

The driver involved in the crash stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, police said.

The crash is still under investigation; police did not say whether the driver involved would face any charges.

The Ohio River wasn't supposed to hit action stage until Sunday but all that changed Thursday as high amounts of rainfall rushed into the river.

The Ohio River rose to action stage early Friday morning.

The river went up 4.5 feet in less than 24 hours and that exceeded the forecast initially put out by the NWS.

So now, the river is expected to be even higher heading into next week. The crest is now expected around 45.9 feet, anticipated Monday around 8 a.m.

When the river rises to 44-45 feet, Riverbend is the main area that sees flooding.

There aren't any other big issues at this level. So as it stands right now, we shouldn't see big closures or issues along the Ohio River next week. At 47 feet, high water affects yards in California, and after that, at 48 feet, areas around Coney Island and Eldorado Street are typically impacted.

Fortunately, we get a break from the rain for a bit on Friday. But it's just a break, because storms are slated to move through the Tri-State again on Saturday.

One person is in custody after a fatal shooting in an apartment building in Avondale left a woman dead early Friday morning, according to Cincinnati police.

Cincinnati police officers were on the scene on Ridgeway Avenue just after 6:30 a.m. Friday morning; our crew at the scene saw homicide detectives arrive just before 7:30 a.m.

According to Cincinnati police, officers at the scene found 36-year-old Jessica Hardy had been shot.

Emergency crews attempted CPR, but Hardy died at the scene, police told us.

65-year-old Jesse Wilson was taken into custody for aggravated murder, police said.

This is an ongoing investigation.

One person is dead after a shooting Thursday night in Winton Hills, according to Cincinnati police.

Police responded to the Winton Terrace apartment complex on Craft Street Thursday night, around 10 p.m. When they got there, they found 41-year-old David Lee with a gunshot wound.

The Cincinnati Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but police said Lee was determined dead at the scene.

When a WCPO crew arrived at the scene, a large area around the apartment complex was taped off, and Cincinnati officers were investigating.

Police have not released any information about a potential suspect.

The Great Miami River and its tributaries swelled above action stage into minor flooding status as heavy rains blanketed the Tri-State area into Thursday afternoon.

The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) activated flood gates in places like Middletown and Hamilton and announced that area dams were working to store flood waters for slow release to protect communities downriver.

Mike Ekhberg, MCD water monitoring and analysis manager, said the five dams located on their system from Piqua to Hamilton could store a significant amount of what would otherwise be floodwater.

WATCH: We talk flood protection with leaders along the Great Miami River

"That'd be about 274 billion gallons of water, I mean, the numbers are just astronomical numbers," he said. "We have basically the largest lakes in Ohio behind each of those dams."

The 55 miles of levees along the system, like those along the widened portion of the river through Hamilton, also helped protect the downtown areas hugging the river.

The system was created in response to the historic floods of 1913 that destroyed hundreds of structures and killed more than 300 people, according to Ekhberg.

"Since 1913, none of the downtown areas that we protect have been flooded," he said.

The district stressed the need for additional funding for infrastructure upgrades when we covered their property valuation increases in 2024. District officials backed off implementing cost increases after backlash from customers along the river.

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Still, Ekhberg said funding is important so the river flows through communities, not over them.

"It's critical," he said. "The Miami Conservancy District just increases our region's resiliency around things like floods."

A woman is dead after she was hit by a driver in Liberty Township Thursday evening, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff said around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Butler County deputies and the Liberty Township Fire Department responded to the 4600 block of Millikin Road for a report of a person hit by a vehicle.

A 38-year-old woman driving a Ford Escape eastbound on Millikin Road hit a 58-year-old woman in the roadway, the sheriff said.

The Liberty Township Fire Department said the 58-year-old woman died from her injuries.

The Butler County Sheriff's Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident.

The sheriff's office did not release the identity of the deceased.

Travel chaos continues into its second weekend for some American travelers attempting to leave the Middle East after their vacations.

Eight Cincinnati residents are among those stranded in Dubai after the war in Iran grounded flights across the Gulf region.

"Being that we have kids as young as three to as old as 18, there are different levels of understanding of the situation, but all they know is that mommy and daddy are not home," said Bri'Ana Heard.

Bri'Ana Heard, Clifford Heard and Ruquiayah Lawson are among a group of parents who arrived in Dubai last Tuesday for a couples getaway. They were scheduled to return on Monday, but said their flight had been canceled six times.

"On Saturday, we were hanging out. We got a text message, and Cliff and I were separated from the other couples at the time, and we got a text saying that our flight was canceled," Bri'Ana Heard said.

That same day, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes and missile attacks against Iran.

"There was smoke coming from the building, and as we were looking at it, we saw two missiles in the sky," Lawson said.

WATCH: Iran war strands Cincinnati families in Dubai for second weekend as flights remain canceled

The group is not alone. Videos circulating on social media show other Americans stranded in the region pleading for help.

According to the Associated Press, some travelers are paying up to $232,000 for charter flights out of the region, while others are driving hours overland to Oman or Saudi Arabia to reach a working airport.

"Oddly enough, most of the things here are still open, people are kind of going about their daily lives like they normally would," Clifford Heard said. "There's a small sense of uncertainty and uneasiness, but the stores and most restaurants are open."

Bri'Ana Heard's mom, Tonya Geans, reached out to us in hopes of finding a solution to resources to bring her family home.

We asked the group whether they had completed the crisis intake form that the U.S. Department of State is requesting all American citizens abroad fill out to receive information about upcoming charter flights and ground transportation options.

"A lot of our family members are connected to the military, and three of us are veterans. So that was our initial instinct. Reach out to the embassy," Bri'Ana Heard said. "But we have not been able to access any of their resources."

According to the U.S. Department of State, nearly 20,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States since Feb. 28. The department has also activated a 24/7 task force to assist Americans abroad.

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The group said they are grateful for the support of family and friends, and they created a GoFundMe to support them until returning home. Bri'Ana Heard says her faith is keeping her grounded.

"This isn't about you, but God is using you for something that's bigger, so I'll be going to share that with my babies and with everybody who I can. It's bigger than you," Bri'Ana Heard said

The mayor of Millville, a Butler County village of less than 700 people, said Thursday that overnight flooding is the worst the area has seen in his lifetime.

We spoke with Mayor Curt Pennington as he pumped gallons of water out of his basement, which he said had about four to five feet of water in it following flash flooding.

"(Millville) is underwater right now, almost every basement in this village is," he said. "I got a freezer full of beef floating right now, down (in) the basement, and it's a mess."

WATCH: After overnight flooding, one Butler County village is working to pump gallons of water out of homes

Residents in the area described the flooding overnight, which officials say originated from Indian Creek, as fast and unexpected.

By Thursday afternoon, Red Cross volunteers were canvassing the area of Walnut and Liberty Streets. The Ross Township Fire Department also assisted residents with pumping water out of homes.

"We did lose some precious items that are priceless. Most of the stuff is replaceable," Tina Pope, a Millville resident, said. "This is going to hurt a lot of us. It's going to take a lot of weeks to clean this up."

Pope said she and her boyfriend tried to clear storm drains overnight as floodwaters rose, reaching up to her knees.

"It helped a little bit at first, but then there was just nothing we could do," Pope said. "I've lived here for about four or five years. It's flooded, minimally ... nothing ever like this."

Pope told us both her basement and the auto body shop where she works, Autos Plus Auto Sales, experienced flooding.

"What I was watching last night in our office looked like a scene out of the Titanic, the way the water was rushing through the walls," Pope said. "There was so much water in the basement."

Do you have a story for Connor? You can contact him here:

Pope said rushing waters brought a heaping of debris to the business's driveway, and crews had to rip out water-damaged hardwood floors. She told us she expects cleanup efforts to take a while and be expensive. Auto Plus Auto Sales will remain closed for the time being.

"It was a busy time for us. It's income tax season. We were picking up. (It) really put a hold on things," she said.

We asked Pennington what the village needed as cleanup efforts continue.

"Bring us some pumps," he said with a laugh. "Other than that, pray for no rain and sunshine."

A Northern Kentucky state representative has filed a bill to eliminate the state's 70-year cap on consecutive prison sentences, following the conviction of a Kenton County man on 20 counts related to child sexual abuse material.

Robbie Ray Miller, 32, was found guilty last week of nine counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor involving a child under 12, nine counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor involving a child under 12, one count of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor involving a child under 18, and one count of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor involving a child under 18. The jury recommended the maximum sentence of 285 years.

Under Kentucky law, however, the total sentence cannot exceed 70 years when a convicted felon receives consecutive indeterminate terms of imprisonment. Miller will also be eligible for parole after 20 years the maximum parole eligibility threshold under Kentucky law, regardless of the length of a numerical sentence.

WATCH: NKY lawmaker files bill to end Kentucky's 70-year sentencing cap

Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said the evidence presented during the two-day trial was among the most disturbing his office has encountered.

"These videos were very difficult to watch," Sanders said.

Sanders said the jury's recommendation carried weight beyond the courtroom.

"I think this jury was sending a message to the parole board, knowing that he would be eligible for parole in 20 years," Sanders said. "The jury wanted the parole board members to know just how seriously they took his offenses and how offended that they were at how grotesque these images and videos were."

Sanders described the 70-year cap as arbitrary and said it undermines the jury's role in sentencing.

"It's frustrating, almost embarrassing, to have to tell jurors that no matter what sentence you give this defendant, he could be out in as little as 20 years," Sanders said.

Sanders took to social media after the verdict, drawing attention to the sentencing cap. After reading his post, we emailed every Kenton County legislator. Within an hour, state Rep. Kim Banta got back to us.

"When I got your text, I was like, 'Oh no,'" Banta said.

Banta, a Republican representing District 63, told us she contacted Sanders, asking what she could do about the judicial limit.

"Rob was very to the point: 'Get rid of this statute,'" Banta said. "It's a half page. This is a very simplistic bill. If you can do those little steps that fill in the gaps in the law that keep somebody from getting out that shouldn't be out, that needs help, needs to be incarcerated."

Banta has since filed House Bill 893, which would remove the language in KRS 532.110 that caps aggregate consecutive indeterminate prison terms at 70 years.

Sanders said he had already been in contact with a Northern Kentucky state senator who had put in a bill request to address the cap before Banta filed her legislation.

"It's great that she responded so quickly," Sanders said. "And even if they just removed the 70-year cap for crimes against children, I think that would be a very good start."

Sanders questioned why the cap exists at all.

"Why 70 years? Why not 60 years? Why not 80 years? Why not 100 years? Or we can just let the juries that we trust to make life and death determinations we can trust juries to set a proper sentence," Sanders said. "If we can trust juries to do that, why do we have a law that just arbitrarily cuts the jury off at 70 years?"

Banta said he does not expect the bill to receive bipartisan support.

"No. I don't," Sanders said. "I think that there's people have a lot of feelings about putting people in jail for really long periods of time because people change, people get help, people evolve, whatever you want to say. Child abuse is something different for me. I don't think it's something you can fix."

Though the American Civil Liberties Union typically does not handle cases that involve criminal prosecutions, we reached out to the Kentucky chapter about how removing the sentencing cap could be detrimental to the state's justice system. We did not hear back by the time of publication.

Covington police began investigating Miller when a detective with the department's DART unit, which investigates crimes against children, received three cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerting police that a user on the social messaging platform KIK was sending videos depicting child sexual assault to other users and group chats.

The Covington Police Department is one of only two departments in Kenton County participating in the NCMEC Task Force.

Miller was eventually arrested in Butler County in March 2025 before being extradited to Kenton County.

Sanders encouraged residents to contact their legislators while the General Assembly is in session.

"Now is a perfect time to be reaching out and contacting legislators," Sanders said. "Let them know the people that get life sentences or 285-year sentences should be serving more than 20 years before they're parole eligible. Let them know that we shouldn't artificially cap sentences at 70 years."

Knowing how to handle floods when the Ohio River rises is a way of life for the residents of New Richmond.

"I think if you've been through it multiple times, then really, it's just one of those things that you don't have any control over," Joby Houck said.

Houck said he's lived in New Richmond for decades and owns several businesses in the village.

"It's just one of those things you have to be prepared for," Houck said.

Watch to see how New Richmond locals are preparing for annual floods:

In 2025, the Village of New Richmond was hit with devastating floods. Waters covered entire roads and got into dozens of houses, restaurants and other buildings.

"I believe it was 80-something structures that had water in them," New Richmond Fire Chief Tim Feldkamp said.

We were there as people found themselves standing in the high waters, and others had to salvage what they could while being unable to stay in their homes for a while.

"Every time the water comes up that high, we learn. We learn something from it, we put it into our emergency action plan," Feldkamp said.

I also spoke with Rod Coursey, who's opening up The New Richmond Distilleries on Front Street later this spring. He showed how high the water got just last year.

"It made it just over the step to the brim of the bottom of the door there," Coursey said.

In the days after the floodwaters receded, workers, volunteers and first responders cleaned up the damage left behind.

"We're very blessed and fortunate to have all these guys down here," Houck said.

Houck said one of the most difficult challenges that business owners and residents face is handling all the mud that sticks around when the waters recede.

"You have to get on the mud before it dries," he said. "If it dries, it's almost like trying to chip concrete off."

Feldkamp said residents should monitor water levels and keep an eye out for any issues. Residents can track the height of the Ohio River through the National Water Prediction Service's website.

"The main thing is just be prepared and be aware," Feldkamp said.

The fire chief addressed the impact of the ongoing construction project on Front Street if the village is hit by high floods this season.

"The biggest thing is, is the ability to be able to get around," Feldkamp said, "but we can work around that if it becomes that time."

Paige Huskey parks her car and walks toward the church.

Its pretty, isnt it?

That might be what she thinks now, but its not what she thought the first time she visited. It was raining, and there were no parking spots. The only light came from the church basement, where the welcome sign said "NO SMOKING."

Huskey was looking for a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Not because she thought it would work, but because she wanted to tell her children she tried everything. Because she was thinking about suicide.

I didn't see any other way out, Huskey said. And it's just very hard to explain to somebody who hasn't been through it what kind of hell that is.

WATCH: Gambling addiction is on the rise. One woman hopes her story will inspire others

For people living with addiction, suicide rates are highest among those with a gambling disorder, according to the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio. Research suggests that one in five people with gambling addiction will try to kill themselves.

It was very evident that we had an issue, said Cara Brown, director of addiction services for Butler Countys Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Board. We had no one able to treat problem gambling addiction."

In Ohio, casinos have been open for more than a decade. Yet in many counties, mental health professionals did not have specific gambling addiction training even though an estimated 250,000 Ohioans suffer from it.

Until recently, Butler County was one of those places. Brown said there are now five agencies with clinicians trained to treat gambling disorder.

Its never enough, Brown said. "But were trying."

Huskey lives in nearby Dayton, and she says she was lucky to find Gamblers Anonymous. Because she felt alone.

At one time, she didnt even believe you could become addicted to gambling. Her problems started with card games at a military base. Then, Texas Hold em. Then, Blackjack. Then slots.

Huskey soon became a casino VIP, which she now realizes just meant she lost a lot of money there.

My real world was completely crumbling, and I was having trouble paying my bills, Huskey said. I did a lot of things Im not proud of. It was horrible.

At a meeting in the church she is showing me, Huskey learned about a program where you can block yourself from casinos. It's part of what helped her turn her life around. She takes a coin out of her purse, which she got for seven years of recovery.

Huskey says she still goes to at least four meetings a month. And even though those meetings are anonymous, she doesn't want to be anymore. She's writing a book about her experience.

Even still, she originally wanted to use a fake name. But then Huskey spoke at a problem gambling conference in Columbus. She told me hundreds of people attended, but there were only a few people with experience like hers.

How can we improve how we help people, if we don't even have enough people here who have been through it? Huskey said. If I can't talk about it, then who is going to talk about it?

this link

this link

financial counseling

block yourself

block gambling apps

Findlay Kitchen is marking a decade of helping food entrepreneurs get their start in Cincinnati.

Over its 10-year history, the nonprofit incubator kitchen has helped hundreds of food businesses find their footing in a difficult field. One of its success stories is Makers & Bakers Co. a one-stop shop inside Findlay Market offering a variety of fresh baked goods.

"We started back in 1998 to sell cheesecake, which is still our flagship," said Kevin Fostin, co-owner of Makers & Bakers Co.

They serve everything from cheesecakes to pies, cookies and more. Customers from across the globe come specifically for the shop's famous banana pudding.

Fostin and co-owner Tara Patterson said the business wouldn't be what it is today without the help of Findlay Kitchen.

"It's something I wanted to do my whole life, and we are really fortunate that it was able to work out," Patterson said.

WATCH: How Findlay Kitchen has helped hundreds of food entrepreneurs

The partnership has even opened doors to a major brand collaboration.

"We were able to pitch an idea to Sam Adams using our cinnamon rolls, which is what we are known for, which is your roll, your way," Fostin said. "So you will get to pick your own roll and ice just the way you like it."

Findlay Kitchen offers 14 spaces for chefs and bakers to cook what they want at any time. Sami Stewart, marketing and communications manager at Findlay Market, said the setup makes it easier for small businesses to grow.

"It's a very affordable way for small businesses to get off the ground and get to their next stage of business, and were really proud to be supporting all these businesses day in and day out," Stewart said.

Stewart said they've helped grow and scale over 300 businesses in total "which is really exciting."

Findlay Kitchen is hosting its Small Bites Big Impact event Thursday to celebrate the milestone, where 10 current members and alumni will showcase their best food at Rhinegeist. You can learn more about it here.

"We've got something for everybody," Fostin said.

As the Ohio season of Netflix's hit reality series "Love Is Blind" comes to an end, it looks like we'll see more local representation on the streaming service's newest show, "Age of Attraction."

Like the name suggests, "Age of Attraction" is a dating show where, instead of throwing out your sight, your age is no longer part of the conversation. Singles will mingle, date and "commit to each other" before revealing their ages. Similar to "Love Is Blind," they'll then test their connection in the real world.

The show's inaugural season features 20 men and 20 women, one of whom is from the Tri-State. Sophie, whose age is obviously not mentioned in her bio, is a marketing manager from Cincinnati (or, as Netflix unfortunately spelled it, Cincinatti).

According to her bio, Sophie is constantly told she has an "old soul," and she's done with "immature guys who drain her energy." The marathon runner says she's looking for a long-term partner to start a family with "some day soon."

Among Sophie's prospects are an MMA fighter, multiple entrepreneurs and a specialty car scout.

The series, hosted by couple Nick Viall and Natalie Joy instead of Netflix mainstays Nick and Vanessa Lachey, will premiere March 11 the same day as the "Love Is Blind" season 10 reunion.

More TV news:

Just how bad is Cincinnati's dating scene? Meet one of the women taking a shot at 'Love Is Blind' instead

Project believed to be 'Superman' sequel 'Man of Tomorrow' to film in Cincinnati

'Dirty Talk' docuseries featuring exploration into Jerry Springer, daytime talk shows comes to ABC

One man is in custody after police said he entered another man's home, stabbed him and hit him several times with a shovel in Colerain Township Thursday morning.

Colerain Township police said officers were sent to the 10200 block of Crestland Court at around 10:40 a.m. Thursday for a reported stabbing. When they arrived, they found a man inside his home with multiple stab wounds. That man was taken to UC Medical Center.

While officers were setting up a perimeter, police said a man matching the suspect's description was seen running from the area. Officers pursued and detained the man, later identified as 28-year-old Ishmeal Mayfield.

After an investigation, detectives determined that Mayfield entered the man's home uninvited, stabbed him "multiple times" and struck him with a shovel "several times." Mayfield is charged with felonious assault and aggravated burglary. He was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center.

The department's Criminal Investigative Unit is still investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 513-321-2677.

Have you gotten a text claiming you owe unpaid parking fines? Then you're likely on the receiving end of a scam notice, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

The message, sent out to Ohio residents, includes a fake hearing notice with a fake judge (likely in Franklin County) if a parking or toll fine is not paid on time. The notice includes a QR code that links to a website to pay the alleged fine.

However, Attorney General Dave Yost said the link actually goes to a website traced to entities overseas.

"Scammers rely on fear and urgency," Yost said. "If you receive a message threatening court action or demanding immediate payment, take a moment to verify it before responding."

People who receive this message, or anything similar, are encouraged to avoid opening links or scanning codes, verify information independently by directly contacting a person or agency listed through a verified number found online and file a complaint.

Anyone who receives a scam notice is asked to contact the Ohio Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Section online or by calling 800-282-0515.

A Butler County woman has been arrested after the sheriff's office said she disseminated explicit material involving minors.

Sheriff Richard Jones said in a release that his office received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on Jan. 1, indicating that 50-year-old Tanya McCreadie had shared videos and images showing young children nude or engaging in sexual acts.

During their investigation, Jones said detectives seized multiple electronic devices connected to McCreadie, finding at least two images or videos that had been sent to other people.

McCreadie was arrested and charged with two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second-degree felony.

"This type of crime is among the most disturbing that law enforcement encounters," Jones said in a statement. "You have to be a pretty low person to possess such vile material where the ultimate victims are innocent children."

Jones said detectives are still conducting a thorough forensic examination to determine if there are any additional images and to identify those to whom McCreadie sent the material.

The man accused of shooting and injuring two people at Fountain Square in October 2025 now faces a federal charge.

Shaquille Ferguson, 24, was originally charged with felonious assault, having weapons under disability and improperly discharging a firearm after he turned himself in following a shooting near City Bird restaurant the night of Oct. 13, 2025. However, charges were dismissed with prejudice after video appeared to back up his claims that it was self-defense.

Police released surveillance footage showing two people walking away from the restaurant after what appeared to be an argument. One man, later identified as Ferguson, turns around, pulls out a gun and starts shooting. A 16-year-old and 19-year-old were injured. The gun Ferguson used was never recovered.

Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor David Hickenlooper said Ferguson is also connected to a shooting that happened on Spring Grove Avenue just two days before. According to prosecutors, shell casings from both shooting scenes match up, per evidence from the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network.

In an affidavit filed Wednesday, an ATF officer said just months before the two shootings, Ferguson was convicted of aggravated assault. While he was sentenced to a term of community control, his guilty plea stated that his conviction included a maximum sentence of 18 months.

Federal law states that a person convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than a year "cannot ship, transport, receive or possess firearms or ammunition." Because of that, Ferguson now faces one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

The All-Southwest Ohio boys basketball teams as selected by members of the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.

Division I

First team

Bryce Curry, West Chester Lakota West, 6-4, jr., 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg; Jayden Davis, Cincinnati Moeller, 6-2, fr., 9.8 ppg,4.6 rpg; Bubba Donald, Cincinnati Moeller 6-1, so., 11.7 ppg, 2.6 apg; Carson Duke, Batavia West Clermont, 5-10, sr., 19.6 ppg; Amire Gill, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-3, jr., 17.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Jayden McGraw, Kettering Fairmont, 6-3, jr., 20.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.1 spg.; Avery Pence, Milford, 6-5, sr., 16.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 apg; Trey Sam, Centerville, 6-3, jr., 13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Rognny Santiago, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-1, sr., 13.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg; Josh Tyson, West Chester Lakota West, 6-3. jr., 17.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg.

Player of the year: Josh Tyson, West Chester Lakota West

Coach of the year: Kelven Moss, West Chester Lakota West

Second team

Jashawn Coffey, Lebanon, 6-0, so., 16.2 ppg; Roman Combs, West Chester Lakota West, 6-6, jr., 10.0 ppg; A.J. Dean, Cincinnati Oak Hills, 5-11, sr., 16.4 ppg; Brady Gutmann, Springboro, 6-3, sr., 13.0 ppg; Isaiah Hill, Cincinnati Sycamore, 6-1, fr., 17.5 ppg; Brycen Johnson, Mason, 6-0, sr., 17.0 ppg; Liam McGeady, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-5, jr., 12.0 ppg; Kameron Mercer, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-5, so., 15.9 ppg; Elijah Rice, Springfield, 6-4, sr., 17.1 ppg; Isaiah Thompson, Huber Heights Wayne, 6-0, sr., 12.4 ppg.

Third team

Cordell Ball, Cincinnati Oak Hills, 6-3, so., 13.0 ppg; Brady Bowman, Liberty Township Lakota East, 6-1, so., 14.0 ppg; Dontay Chivers, Huber Heights Wayne, 5-10, so., 11.6 ppg; Keith Daniels, Middletown, 6-0, sr., 12.8 ppg; Kaden Estep, Cincinnati Elder, 6-0, jr., 9.8 ppg; Jack Haskins, Beavercreek, 6-0, jr., 17.2 ppg; Jordon Johnson-Perdomo, Hamilton, 5-11, so., 15.8 ppg; Sam Keely, Centerville, 6-5,jr., 12.5 ppg; Danny Kelly, Cincinnati Moeller, 6-5 sr., 9.7 ppg; Ty Rohrer, Centerville, 6-2, jr., 10.2 ppg.

Honorable mention

Spencer Maxwell, Julian Sam, Centerville; Donovan Chambers, Phil Emery, Cincinnati Colerain; Amir Phillips, Cincinnati Princeton; Charlie Gruber, Luke Sorce, John Veith, Cincinnati St. Xavier; Landen McDaniel, Charlie Stoffregen, Cincinnati Walnut Hills; Adama Soumare, Cincinnati Western Hills; Cam Arington, Fairfield; Luke Faler, Lebanon; Luke Shaw, Liberty Township Lakota East; Cale Curtis, Middletown; Braden Hilvert, Mason Thompson, Milford; Cade Wojnicz, Morrow Little Miami; Zeke Doliboa, Matt Meek, Springboro; Charles Cunningham, Springfield; Andre Richardson, West Chester Lakota West.

Division II

First team

Tyson Daley, Trenton Edgewood, 6-5, sr., 15.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 apg; Nate Dawson, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-2, sr., 12 ppg., 4.1 rpg. 4.4 spg; Kaleb Kelly, Clayton Northmont, 6-5, so., 12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg; Isaiah Mack-Russell, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-4, jr., 22.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg; Chase Martin, Loveland, 6-0, sr.; Chris Washington Jr., Cincinnati Aiken, 5-11, jr., 19.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.9 apg.

Player of the year: Isaiah Mack-Russell, Cincinnati Winton Woods

Coach of the year: Mike Pilgrim, Cincinnati Winton Woods

Second Team

Dasai Bronson, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-0, sr., 10.3 ppg.; DeAndre Carr-Short, Cincinnati Aiken, 6-7, jr., 15.9 ppg; Brady Lawhon, Harrison, 6-0, jr., 11.7 ppg; Kale Reynolds, Trenton Edgewood, 6-4, sr., 11.5 ppg; Toby Strausbaugh, Cincinnati Anderson, 6-3, sr., 17.1 ppg; Tysin Weaver, Cincinnati Anderson, 6-0, jr., 14.6 ppg.

Third team

Corey Brightwell, Miamisburg, 6-5, sr., 10.1 ppg; Malakyi Hall, Troy, 6-0, so., 10.0 ppg; Chisom Ibe, Clayton Northmont, 6-5, sr., 11.6 ppg; Kaleb Lee, Sidney, 6-1, jr., 14.0 ppg; Sammy Shuler, Kings Mill Kings, 6-1, sr., 10.9 ppg; Keegan Sullivan, Trenton Edgewood, 6-4, sr., 14.1 ppg.

Honorable Mention

Jayden McNeill, Cincinnati Aiken; Josai Hill, Jaequawn Walker, Cincinnati Winton Woods; Tucker Ward, Harrison; Andrew Lyman, Kings Mill Kings; Amir Cannedy, Trenton Edgewood; Brady O'Leary, Troy.

Division III

First team

C.J. Bailey, Tipp City Tippecanoe, 6-2 sr., 15.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.8 apg; Connor Gulley, Mt. Orab Western Brown, 6-4, sr., 17.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg; Joseph Ingram, West Carrollton, 6-7, sr., 14.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg; Colt Howard, Monroe, 6-1, so., 20.0 ppg; Tyler Owens, Goshen, 6-10, sr., 16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg; Je'Carious Reaves, Trotwood-Madison, 6-0, sr., 19.1 ppg, 4.0 apg; Ricky Robertson, Cincinnati La Salle, 6-3, sr., 13.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg; Eli Stroud, Hamilton Badin, 6-0, sr., 15.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.0 spg.

Player of the year: C.J. Bailey, Tipp City Tippecanoe

Co-coaches of the year: Ben Cosgrove, Hamilton Badin and Anthony Parker, West Carrollton

Second team

Daveon Arnold, Trotwood-Madison, 5-9, sr., 13.2 ppg; Le'Shawn Hill, Cincinnati Hughes, 6-0 so., 19.6 ppg; Jayceon Kibler, Wilmington, 6-3, sr., 19.2 ppg; Carson Lowe, Hamilton Badin, 6-4, sr., 12.2 ppg; Bryton Otto, Tipp City Tippecanoe, 6-7, sr., 14.2 ppg; Kendol Roberts, Franklin, 6-0, jr., 18.2 ppg; Shamari Scales, Cincinnati La Salle, 6-7, jr., 11.1 ppg; Grant Waters, Cincinnati McNicholas, 6-2, jr., 14.6 ppg.

Third team

Ethan Fuersich, Hamilton Ross, 6-9, jr., 15.0 ppg; Carson Harris, Batavia, 6-0, sr., 13.2 ppg; Bryce Lively, Cincinnati Woodward, 6-5, sr., 16.0 ppg; Deng Majack, Dayton Chaminade Julienne, 6-2, sr., 13.2 ppg; Ty Perkins, Monroe, 6-2, so., 14.0 ppg; Graham Roark, Goshen, 5-11, so., 14.8 ppg; Julius Rusk, Vandalia Butler, 6-4 sr., 14.1 ppg; Noah Wentz, Cleves Taylor, 6-3, sr., 17.7 ppg.

Honorable mention

Ryan Brose, Brett McKeon, Batavia; Cameron Reagan, David Gregory, Jack Howard, Bellbrook; Grayson Lotts, Bellefontaine; Alex Davenport, Cincinnati Hughes; C.J. Davis, Cincinnati La Salle; Owen Nienaber, Cincinnati McNicholas; Jeremiah Perry, Cincinnati Mt. Healthy; Gavin Hoffman, Drew Rardin, Cincinnati Turpin; Jamauri Benson, Jaquan Benson, Iverson Scott, Dayton Belmont; Noah Dent, Dayton Carroll; Anthony Clemens, Dayton Chaminade Julienne; Charleston Dixon, Dayton Ponitz; Malik Henderson, Jaionte Jones, Cincinnati Hughes; Christian Craig, Travontay Thomas, Cincinnati Northwest; Karson Alderman, Braylon Settelmayer, Goshen; Johnny Barr, Greenville; Chandler Taylor, Hamilton Badin; Bryce Fulmer, Ryan Smith, Hamilton Ross; Tyler Hitt, Dre Mitchell, Mt. Orab Western Brown; Corey Russell, New Carlisle Tecumseh; Cayden Bishop, Adrien Carter, Anthony Harris, Riverside Stebbins; Hudson Ganger, Colin Turner, Tipp City Tippecanoe; Darius Dennis, Justyce Taylor, Trotwood-Madison; Charlie Neely, Vandalia Butler; Sultan Khaleel, West Carrollton; Anthony Caudill Jr., Devin Withers, DeAunte White, Xenia.

Division IV

First team

Peyton Bakos, Kettering Alter, 5-11, jr., 14.8 ppg; Jason Caimano, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, 6-0, sr., 22.3 ppg; Brody Denny, Germantown Valley View, 6-2, jr., 30.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 4.0 rpg, 4.6 spg; Devin Evans, Wyoming, 6-3, sr., 15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg; Antwan Hinton, Cincinnati Taft, 6-0, sr., 19.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.3 spg; William Peagler Jr., Kettering Alter, 6-0, fr., 18.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.3 apg; Keonte Smith, Dayton Northridge, 6-5, so., 18.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg; Kellen Wiley, Wyoming, 6-3, sr., 18 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.0 spg.

Player of the year: Brody Denny, Germantown Valley View

Co-coaches of the year: Eric Coulter, Kettering Alter and Matt Rooks, Wyoming

Second team

Ty Fritz, Germantown Valley View, 6-6, jr., 15.2 ppg; Keion Griffin, Cincinnati Taft, 6-4, jr., 19.0 ppg; Grady Lantz, Urbana, 6-2, jr., 16.1 ppg; Mason McDermott, Springfield Northwestern, 6-0, jr., 18.2 points; Carter Moss, Bethel-Tate, 5-10, sr., 17.1 ppg; Braedan Smart, Brookville, 6-3, sr., 16.1 ppg; Drew Woeste, Oakwood, 6-1, fr., 17.1 ppg; Jay'Mal Whitfield, Dayton Dunbar, 6-1, so., 14.9 ppg.

Third team

Chrishod Averette, Dayton Dunbar, 6-4, sr., 9.2 ppg; Carlyle Billingsley, Wyoming, 6-8, sr., 13.1 ppg; Christian Byrd, St. Bernard Roger Bacon, 5-10, sr., 18.2 ppg; Drew Dixon, Urbana, 6-0, so., 14.6 ppg; Grant Guess, Kettering Alter, 6-6, sr., 11.1 ppg, Owen Hoersting, Oakwood, 6-2, sr., 14.0 ppg; Hudson Kreke, Fenwick, 5-11, jr., 11.0 ppg; Deonte Smith, Dayton Northridge, 6-2, sr., 15.4 ppg.

Honorable mention

Branson King, Brookville; Colin Michel, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Ashton Graham, Jack Huwel, Anthony Smith, Cincinnati Indian Hill; Lorenzo McMullen, Herman Walker, Cincinnati Taft; Ziayrious Petaway, Cincinnati Shroder; Cobe Euton, Clarksville Clinton-Massie; Moses Sanford IV, Dayton Dunbar; Dorryen Davis, Dayton Northridge; Jamarion Nelson, Dayton Thurgood Marshall; Will Duba, Fenwick; Hunter Ashley, Brady Young, New Richmond; Marc Smith, Ryan VonderMeulen, Reading; Xavier White, Springfield Kenton Ridge; A.J. Cornell, Kobe Sothard, Springfield Northwestern; Michael Noszka, St. Bernard Roger Bacon; Kaden Underwood, Urbana; Darren Gray, Wyoming.

Division V

First team

Drake Ahrens, Versailles, 6-3, sr., 16.1 ppg, 7.2 apg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 spg; Cameron Ball, Arcanum, 6-1, sr,13.9 ppg,9.0 rpg, 2.3 spg; Grady Barber, Williamsburg, 6-4, sr., 14.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.0 apg; Dre Chambers, Cincinnati North College Hill, 6-2, sr., 17.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.4 spg; Max Joiner, Cincinnati Summit Country Day, 6-5, so., 18 ppg , 8.5 rpg, 2.2 bpg; Brody Morton, Camden Preble Shawnee, 6-3, sr., 16.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 3.5 spg; Brodey Reisinger, Lewistown Indian Lake, 6-4, jr., 17.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg; Zevin Sesslar, Waynesville, 5-8, sr., 13.3 ppg, 5.8 apg.

Player of the year: Drake Ahrens, Versailles

Coach of the year: Dan McKibben, Williamsburg

Second team

Will Climie, Jamestown Greeneview, 5-10, sr., 17.7 ppg; Drew Conger, Carlisle, 6-0, sr., 15.8 ppg; Josiah Garrett, Dayton Stivers, 6-4, so., 17.8 ppg; Brody Jenkins, St. Paris Graham, 6-1, jr., 18.2 ppg; Brayden Kidd, Dayton Christian, 6-2, sr., 12.8 ppg; Xander Lake, Sabina East Clinton, 6-5, sr., 22.0 ppg; Rhylan Platfoot, Anna, 5-11, jr., 14.4 ppg; Brady Schmidt, Clermont Northeastern, 5-10, sr., 15.0 ppg.

Third team

Samir Bland, Norwood, 6-3, sr., 13.6 ppg; Bo Deeter, Cincinnati Mariemont, 6-2, sr., 15.0 ppg; Brody Foxbower, Camden Preble Shawnee, 6-5, sr., 10.6 ppg; Avery Pequignot, Lewistown Indian Lake, 6-3, sr., 13.8 ppg; Lucas Rocha, Waynesville, 5-8, sr., 13.7 ppg; Tahirou Siby, Cincinnati DePaul Cristo Rey, 6-4, jr., 22.0 ppg; Sam Stalzer, Cincinnati Mariemont, 6-2, sr., 13.0 ppg; Carson Tenhundfeld, Williamsburg, 6-4, sr., 11.4 ppg; Logan Washington, Cincinnati Seven Hills, 6-2, jr., 15.7 ppg.

Honorable mention

A.J. Barhorst, Brady Wenning, Anna; Ben Hamilton, Jace Mote, Arcanum; Sammy Woolery, Batavia Clermont Northeastern; Braylon Dorrel, Camden Preble Shawnee; Kolby Morgerson, Carlisle; Caleb Williams, Brandon Wise, Cincinnati Finneytown; Ben Reed, Cincinnati Madeira; Omari Brown, Isaiah Douglas, Cincinnati Clark Montessori; Torii Lipscomb, Joshua OHara, Maurice Watkins, Cincinnati North College Hill; Tim Martin, L.J. Stocks, Cincinnati Summit Country Day; L.J. Cave, Jaylen Hill, Dillion Taylor, Norwood; Peyton Lilly, Sabina East Clinton; Blake Monnin, Maddox Stonebraker, Versailles; Ross Barrett, Tyce Rutledge, Waynesville; Brody Fisher, Williamsburg; Brevin Louden, Brandel Sullivan, West Liberty-Salem.

Division VI

First team

Dom Black, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-5, jr., 12 ppg, 5.5 rpg; Devohn Ealy, Cincinnati Oyler, 5-11, sr., 17.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.2 apg; Kellen Laird, New Paris National Trail, 5-10, sr., 15.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.6 apg; Trey Sagester, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-3, sr., 25.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 3.6 spg; Riston Taylor, Troy Christian, 6-4, sr., 18.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg; Antonio White, Cincinnati Deer Park, 6-2, sr., 34.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.0 spg.

Player of the year: Trey Sagester, Tri-Village

Coach of the year: Josh Sagester, Tri-Village

Second team

Brody Barga, Fort Recovery, 6-6, jr., 10.2 ppg; Dante Farley, Lockland, sr., 25.0 ppg; Noah Finkbine, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-3, sr., 7.0 ppg; Terrell Franklin, Cincinnati Oyler, 6-4, sr., 16.6 ppg; Nate Hudson, Springfield Emmanuel Christian, 6-4, sr., 16.7 ppg; Trent Ray, West Alexandria Twin Valley South, 6-2, jr., 14.9 ppg.

Third team

Brant Angle, Covington, 6-1, so., 15.7 ppg; Tayden Blevins, New Paris National Trail, 6-1, sr., 14.5 ppg; Hayden Broadwell, Felicity-Franklin, 6-1, sr., 19.7 ppg; Noah Fecher, Troy Christian, 6-4, jr., 10.5 ppg; Caleb Smith, Springfield Northeastern, 5-10, jr., 14.4 ppg; Gianni Zeljo, Cincinnati Country Day, 6-2, jr., 16.0 ppg.

Honorable mention

Brayden Behymer, Blanchester; Jonathan Maru, Cincinnati Christian; Robert Hamilton, Cincinnati Oyler; Brayden Puckett, New Lebanon Dixie; Hudson Overman, Fort Recovery; Jevin Sponcil, Georgetown; Luke Crim, Houston; Brecken Gray, Griffin Richards, New Madison Tri-Village; Brody Orsborne, Hayden Sanford, DeGraff Riverside; Bryson Shirk, Josh Witherow, Springfield Emmanuel Christian; Aiden Neer, Springfield Northeastern; Lucas Cannady, Darius Wilcher, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Austin Stangel, Troy Christian; Lucas Barlow, West Alexandria Twin Valley South.

Division VII

First team

Lucas Brenner, Pitsburg Franklin Monroe, 6-1, sr., 15.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.4 apg; Charlie Coffman, Fayetteville-Perry, 6-3, jr., 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg; Shane Frantz, Sidney Lehman Catholic, 6-5, jr., 19.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg; Keegan Guenther, Springfield Catholic Central, 6-4, sr., 20.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg; Casey Heap, Cincinnati Miami Valley Christian Academy, 6-3, sr., 15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg; Kris McNeil, South Charleston Southeastern, 6-5, jr., 21.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg; Eli Pitts, Botkins, 6-0, jr., 13.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Cing Scott, Union City Mississinawa Valley, 6-2, jr., 16.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg; Jacob Thompson, Xenia Legacy Christian, 6-9, sr., 17.7 ppg, 13.2 rpg; Brayden Trimbach, Cedarville, 6-4, so., 18 ppg, 4.9 rpg.

Player of the year: Shane Frantz, Sidney Lehman Catholic

Coach of the year: Phil Groves, Botkins

Second team

Luke Cornett, Pleasant Hill Newton, 5-10, sr., 16.0 ppg; Brody Feldhaus, Fayetteville-Perry, 6-8, sr., 12.1 ppg; Carter Klopfenstein, Jackson Center, 6-3, sr., 11.9 ppg; Will Monnin, Botkins, 6-2, so., 10.3 ppg; C.J. Olding, Sidney Lehman Catholic, 6-0, sr., 16.2 ppg; Preston Serr, Jackson Center, 6-2, sr., 11.0 ppg; Nate Van Loo, Cedarville, 6-2, sr., 13.3 ppg; Rallie Wirrig, Bradford, 6-5, jr., 17.0 ppg.

Third team

Colin Gearding, Cincinnati Miami Valley Christian Academy, 6-2, sr., 12.6 ppg; Rhett Koffer, Pleasant Hill Newton, 5-9, sr., 10.0 ppg; Garret Maddy, Fairlawn, 6-2, jr., 13.4 ppg; Will Mossing, Cedarville, 6-3, sr., 12.0 ppg; Blake Riffle, Pitsburg Franklin Monroe, 6-3, jr., 14.4 ppg; Jude Rosen, Cincinnati Miami Valley Christian Academy, 6-2, sr., 12.5 ppg; Cooper Unverferth, Russia, 6-0 sr., 10.4 ppg; Owen Zimpfer, Botkins, 6-6, sr., 8.1 ppg.

Honorable mention

Graham Coppess, Ansonia; Cooper Hardy, Cedarville; Evan Davis, JaCion Johnson, Kenyon Revels, Cincinnati College Prep; DJ Barhorst, Fort Loramie; Koby Reynolds, Lewisburg Tri-County North; Mason Gross, Middletown Christian;Berkeley Little, Springfield Catholic Central; Bo Thompson, Xenia Legacy Christian.

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As the heavy rain continued into Thursday afternoon, local officials are asking residents living near creeks, streams and rivers to stay alert and remember to never drive through flooded roads.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office said its Emergency Response Services team helped the Morgan Township Fire Department in responding to flooding incidents and stranded vehicles throughout the night. Dry Fork Creek, officials said, affected homes along Okeana Drewsburg and Church Street, with multiple vehicles stuck around Race Street and Alert New London.

"While our deputies and emergency responders are always prepared to help, the best response is prevention and caution," the sheriff's office said. "Please stay alert, avoid flooded areas, and look out for one another during this severe weather."

We spoke with multiple neighbors in Millville who are currently dealing with major flooding inside their homes.

In Hamilton County, high water caused a shutdown on Miles Road between Mill Road and South Shore Drive in Springfield Township.

Near the Great Miami River, Lawrenceburg Road between Miamiview Road and US-50 in Whitewater Township is also closed due to flooding. Jordan Road near East Miami River Road in Miami Township is also closed due to high water.

While we aren't expecting a significant severe weather risk today, avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, as rain is expected to continue through the afternoon and early evening. You can find our latest weather updates here.

Following a tragic Clinton County house fire, neighbors and surrounding businesses are coming together to organize fundraisers for the surviving family.

Firefighters were dispatched to a fire in the 100 block of Main Street in Clarksville at around 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Clinton County official. It left a mother and her five children dead, and the father hospitalized.

Melissa Ryan, vice president of Dropout Restaurants, said the decision to host fundraisers for the family came quickly after she and the owner learned of the tragedy.

WATCH: Here's how to help the family impacted by a deadly Clinton County house fire

"We're able to help. We're in a position that we can help. So we want to help," Ryan said.

The group operates four restaurants in Wilmington, which is about 10 miles northeast of Clarksville. Between Monday and Thursday next week, each day, a different restaurant will donate 10% of its sales directly to the family:

Ryan said the loss has been felt widely in the tight-knit community.

"It affected everybody, whether you knew them or not. It affected you," Ryan said. "It's shocking. It shakes you to your core that you can lose everything overnight."

Another Wilmington business, Salon 92, will host a fundraiser on Sunday.

"This Sunday at Salon 92, I will be donating 100% of my sales directly to (the father) to support him during this unimaginable time," salon owner Ashlee Irwin wrote in a Facebook post. "I will also have a tip jar at my station, and every dollar collected there will go directly to him as well."

You can book an appointment for this Sunday here.

If you know of any additional resources to support the family, you can contact Connor here:

Chris Walls, owner of For the Love of Ink, Tattoos and Body Piercing in Wilmington, is also planning a fundraiser. He has not yet set a date, but said it will take place sometime in the coming weeks.

Walls said the loss hit close to home as a father to 10 children who previously lost his home to a fire.

"I know that when we lost our home to fire, everybody rallied," Walls said. "Everybody came together. It was amazing."

He said 100% of the tattoo shop's sales on the day of the fundraiser will be donated to the benefit fund set up for the family. Each tattoo purchased that day, he said, will be selected from flash sheets and come at a set price.

"We are completely transparent," he said. "So if the family wants to have somebody here, or the family wants to be here, or anything like that, they're welcome."

An official GoFundMe page has been started to support the sole survivor of the fire. Anyone wanting to donate can also contact any regional Fifth Third Bank and ask to donate to the Tommy Allen Benefit Fund.

Walls said the community's rapid response did not surprise him.

"We're a big family," Walls said. "It's nice to see people come together, but there's nothing good about this."

We also spoke with Clarksville Mayor Nonia Wood on Wednesday. She said the village will also be involved in fundraisers for the family, with more details expected in the coming days.

On Wednesday, education and health care workers called for state leaders to reject a package of bills currently in Ohios state house that would give federal immigration officials more power and freedom in the state.

"Today we are standing together to fight for our students, patients and colleagues," said Theresa Kulbaga, English professor and president of the Faculty Alliance of Miami University.

The suite of bills being protested is referred to as the Cooperation Package, with every bill either mandating local municipalities to work with federal immigration officers or give them more freedom.

WATCH: What supporters and opponents say about the potential impact of the bills

"You make communities safer by building trust with that community, not by intimidating them by force and violence," Kulbaga said.

The package includes four bills:

People against the bills claim it would lead to many living in fear and refusing to get an education or health care.

Kulbaga said they are already seeing a decrease in students coming to campus out of the fear of being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She said that if these bills become law, they will continue to see a decrease, and it may even lead some foreign faculty to hide.

Nurses like Kylee Ham, president of the UC chapter of the Registered Nurses Association (RNA), said it will be the same case for hospitals.

"It would completely disrupt our work, absolutely. It puts us in a really, really terrible ethical predicament, and also it prevents patients from seeking care," said Ham, who is also an ER nurse at UC Medical Center.

State Rep. Adam Mathews, a Warren County Republican, said he supports the package's overall goal of having Ohioans cooperate with federal immigration officers.

"Ohio has generally been safe, and they have been working with the federal government already," Mathews said. "We look at places like Minnesota, where you had the local governments working against the federal immigration authorities, and that is where the violence has happened."

Marlena wants to hear from you. You can contact her here:

I asked Mathews for his response to the concerns that people wouldnt attend school or get medical care if these bills were to pass.

"I agree comprehensively and in principle that we need to be enforcing our immigration laws, but we also want to make sure people get their emergency room care and continue to live their good law-abiding lives," Mathews said in response.

Mathews said he believes that the bills will be amended before their passage, but opponents are encouraging Ohioans to call their representatives and tell them to reject the package.

Democrats have also introduced their own bill package in response to the "Cooperation Package" called the Safeguard Package, which includes 8 bills.