A sea of blue pinwheels sits scattered throughout the grass along State Route 222 in front of the Clermont County Municipal Court building.

The pinwheels are lined up, row by row, honoring victims of child abuse as April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Monday afternoon, representatives from the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children and Clermont County Childrens Protective Services worked together to place the pinwheels.

Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Tekulve said last year, there were over 1,400 cases of child abuse and child neglect reported in Clermont County.

WATCH: How Clermont County agencies are raising awareness of the toll of child abuse

Tekulve was joined by Clermont County Assistant Prosecutor Christina Dattilo, who handles child sexual assault and abuse cases, as well as adult sexual assault cases.

I was in the courtroom in March when Dattilo represented the state in consecutive arraignments and bond hearings for suspects accused of sex crimes against children in Clermont County.

Tekulve said it's a team effort to stop abuse and hold those responsible accountable.

We work cooperatively with all these agencies to, again, do our best to protect these kids and punish offenders," Tekulve said.

The Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children is a program inside Cincinnati Children's Hospital, directed by Dr. Robert Shapiro.

I am struck by the loss of potential for happy, healthy lives," Shapiro said.

The center offers treatment for children who've suffered at the hands of abusers.

Sam Harasimowicz covers Clermont County for WCPO. You can contact him here:

Both Tekulve and Dattilo pointed out that parents, guardians and loved ones need to watch out for signs a child might be dealing with abuse.

The old adage, if you see something, say something," Tekulve said.

Three people, including two juveniles, have been charged after the Clermont County prosecutor said they robbed and killed a man, leaving his body on the side of the road.

Ohio State Highway Patrol first reported that troopers responded to a possible hit-and-run on the 1000 block of Bethel New Richmond Road just after 4 a.m. on March 8. When they arrived, they found 19-year-old Jayden Nelson dead in the road, but noticed that the scene did not align with a hit-and-run.

The Clermont County Coroner's Office did an autopsy that determined Nelson had died from a gunshot wound to the head, with the bullet lodged in his brain. At that point, OSHP began working with the sheriff's office to further investigate the case.

Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve said searches and forensic analyses helped the two agencies locate and arrest two male juveniles aged 16 and 17 as well as 19-year-old Dakari Campbell.

Tekulve said the three came to New Richmond under the guise of selling marijuana to Nelson, but instead robbed him of more than $3,000, took his cellphone and left his dead body on the side of the road.

All three now face multiple charges, including aggravated robbery and aggravated murder.

Additionally, the prosecutor said the investigation uncovered "a wide-ranging drug operation with cross-county ties."

"Too often, the youth of our counties get caught up in a world of drugs and violence and face few repercussions," Tekulve said in a release. "In Clermont County, we do not tolerate this type of behavior and those involved in these types of actions will be brought to justice and will face severe penalties. Our citizens deserve to feel safe in this county and my Office is committed to holding those accountable who would disturb that peace."

Farming has been a way of life for generations at Brown's Family Farm Market, but it now faces a one-two punch of higher fuel prices to run the equipment and high fertilizer costs to grow the crops.

Jody Boyd is a fourth-generation manager who oversees day-to-day operations around the farm and market.

"We expanded into the produce business probably about 36 years ago when we moved to this location in 1990 and we have always grown produce," Boyd said.

Watch below to learn about the impacts to local farmers:

Boyd said local farmers are facing challenges from rising fuel and fertilizer prices.

Fuel powers everything from farm vehicles to heating greenhouses, while fertilizer is essential to keep crops growing, Boyd said.

"Whether it's to produce food, to feed people, or to grow the flowers and things that we have in the greenhouses, the pumpkins that we pick in the fall ... they all need fertilizer at some point," she said. "It's a little concerning. You see fuel surcharges come and go, and there's things like that always affecting the bottom line. The fertilizer, if there ends up being fertilizer shortages, how that's going to trickle down in the future, that's where the concerns start to come in."

The farm is making strategic moves to stay ahead.

"We just have big tanks back there, so I don't know how often they get filled, but we say roughly monthly," Boyd said.

Despite the uncertainty, there are signs of support from the community.

"It's fun, it's great to see all the people returning again, some of the same faces have supported us for years," Boyd said.

The farm's market, located at 11620 Hamilton Cleves Road in Hamilton, just opened for the season on April 1.

"We're still optimistic that things are going to move along as normal," Boyd said.

A 40-year-old woman is dead and another woman was seriously injured in a crash Saturday evening in Miami Township in Clermont County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

Troopers said they responded to a crash in the 1300 block of US-50 around 7:43 p.m.

They found that a 47-year-old woman driving a 2013 GMC Yukon eastbound on US-50 traveled off the left side of the roadway, striking a pole and a tree.

As a result of the crash, Kristin L. Houser, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was transported to UC Medical Center with serious injuries.

Troopers were assisted by the Miami Township Police Department, Miami Fire and EMS and the Clermont County Coroner's Office.

The crash remains under investigation, troopers said.

A woman is dead after a crash in Clermont County Thursday night, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the crash happened at around 10:03 p.m. Thursday night, on US-50 in Stonelick Township.

According to troopers, 38-year-old Emily Koeppe, of Batavia, was driving a Harley Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle when it failed to negotiate a curve and overturned. The motorcycle then went off the left side of the road and hit a guardrail, troopers said.

Koeppe sustained serious and life-threatening injuries in the crash, and first responders took her to a nearby landing zone to be flown to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, troopers said.

However, Koeppe died before she could be flown, and was pronounced dead at the landing zone, troopers said.

Koeppe was wearing a helmet when she crashed, troopers said.

The crash remained under investigation.

A West Clermont Middle School teacher was indicted on four counts of sexual battery Thursday, according to the Clermont County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said a West Clermont Middle School staff member was initially reported in early February by a parent of a student. The parent reported concerns of "inappropriate physical contact" involving a staff member and multiple juvenile students.

Detectives responded to the school and learned the staff member, identified as 32-year-old Nicholas Gilbert, had been placed on administrative leave after the school learned of the allegations reported by the parent.

The sheriff's office said detectives identified four juveniles in their investigation who reported instances of "inappropriate and unwanted physical contact by Gilbert" during the school day on multiple different occasions.

Gilbert declined to speak with detectives when they attempted to interview him, according to the sheriff's office, and he was issued a summons on indictment.

Gilbert will be arraigned on the charges on April 10.

City leaders unveiled a series of ideas Thursday to reshape downtown Milford and prepare for what Mayor Ralph Vilardo Jr. called the next era for the city while pledging to preserve the community's historic charm.

The State of the City presentation at the Little Miami Brewing Company Event Center offered residents a first look at plans that could bring new restaurants, retail spaces, housing and green gathering areas to the citys core.

Downtown certainly will be a focus tonight, City Manager Benjamin Gunderson told the crowd. We have such a unique downtown that we can use as a foundation to leverage. Development follows activity. People develop where the action is.

One of the centerpiece concepts is a $15$20 million anchor project near the Little Miami River and bike trail. Plans call for 5060 new residential units along with amenities designed to take advantage of Milfords natural assets, using the river and trail access to attract both residents and visitors.

City officials described what they call a package deal redevelopment that would combine two properties the former bank site and the Fountain Specialist location into a mix of offices, restaurants, housing and public space.

Here's what the "package deal" would look like:

Gunderson said pocket parks are one of his passions.

They keep people in the downtown, create an ecosystem where people go to multiple places, not just one," Gunderson said.

The presentation also referenced the Rivers Edge project, a 350-unit residential development between Target and Cinemark. Estimated at $65$70 million, officials say the project would redevelop long-vacant property, boost nearby businesses and attract more residents.

Renderings and plans shared by the City of Milford are available online. The proposed developments focus on the fountain area, the bank building and the riverfront corridor between Wooster Pike and the Little Miami River near Little Miami Brewing.

WATCH: What was unveiled at the State of the City and how Milford residents reacted

Vilardo said that no decisions have been made by the Milford City Council and that all projects remain at the conceptual stage.

We are very cognizant in the importance of maintaining that historic charm none of that will change, Vilardo said. Everything will be transparent and open to the public for their input.

Vilardo said the visionary proposals are designed for a controlled, responsible growth that could unfold over the next five, 10 and even 15 years building on Milfords walkable downtown and the success of existing businesses.

We are open for business, Vilardo said. But nothing that we saw tonight has been finalized, and we look forward to the input were going to get from the community. "

Business owners in Milford were quick to voice support for improvements. James Wolf, who has lived in the area for about 10 years and owns Hometown Clean, said adding to downtowns recreational appeal could boost both local businesses and quality of life.

To build on to the whole recreational aspect of Milford, to try and get more people on the river, Wolf said, And all the different restaurants and stuff is awesome.

Wolf said he enjoys the community's feel, noting that Milfords historic architecture and small-town camaraderie are key attractions.

Not all residents greeted the proposals without hesitation.

One longtime Milford resident who declined to give his name arrived at the event carrying a sign reading Destroy Milford to Save It.

For him, the phrase borrows from a Vietnam-era slogan and symbolizes the contradictions he sees in the push for redevelopment.

I view it as a positive thing in a qualified way, in a way that respects the inherent fabric of this town, he said. They need to consider both the residential as well as the business communities fair representation and compromise acceptable to all.

The same resident also warned about parking pressures, recalling that traffic congestion has grown exponentially since the late 1980s. City officials acknowledged parking is an ongoing challenge and said a study is underway, with options like making Water Street one-way to increase availability.

Vilardo said the city will court developers interested in Milfords properties, hold public meetings, consult the planning commission, manage zoning changes and solicit resident feedback.

We want to make sure the community is part of every discussion, Vilardo said.

The full State of the City presentation can be viewed on Milfords website.

If there is something you want to see in Milford or problems that are not being addressed, reach out to dedicated Clermont County reporter Sam Harasimowicz, who is always working to find solutions:

"Road Closed" signs are now placed on both ends of a bridge over I-275, along Branch Hill Miamiville Road in Miami Township.

Residents in the area will have to find a new route while contractors with the Ohio Department of Transportation start a rehabilitation project on the bridge.

"Over time, there's always deterioration, you know? We're talking about traffic and weather and just the age of the structure," Kathleen Fuller with ODOT said. "And over time, there comes a moment when you do have to do deck replacements."

ODOT announced that The Eagle Bridge Company was awarded $3.03 million to complete the project. There will also be shoulder closures along I-275 as construction continues.

Watch to see the latest on the bridge rehabilitation project:

For residents and commuters, ODOT has mapped out specific detours to get around the closure.

"So the mapped out detour, signed detour, will be using State Route 126, Wards Corner Road and Branch Hill Guinea Pike," Fuller said.

Fuller said these road closures will be represented on GPS apps, like Google Maps and Waze.

ODOT has been working directly with Miami Township leaders in the planning and construction phases of the project.

"It's going to be a little bit difficult for some of the residents that are immediately adjacent to the bridge, but ODOT has worked to identify very adequate detours around that area," Steven Kelly, Miami Township administrator, said.

Kelly met with crews on Wednesday morning to discuss planning and a new Miami Township sign that will be added to the updated deck.

Kelly said the project will also have perks for pedestrians, not just drivers.

Are you a Clermont County resident with a story for Sam? You can contact him here:

"It gives us an opportunity to create pedestrian improvements, create sidewalks over the bridge that we can connect to eventually," Kelly said.

The closure is set to last 120 days. The initial announcement said it would be 150 days, but Fuller confirmed Wednesday that there was an addendum to the plan.

The entire project is set to be done in August 2027, according to ODOT.

The Butler County Coroner's Office has released the identities of the two people found dead in a murder-suicide inside their Liberty Township home.

After autopsies were conducted, the coroner's office said 72-year-old Claire Olmsted Buckley was shot and killed, and 70-year-old Frederick Buckley died by suicide on Wednesday evening.

According to the Butler County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the couple's home in the 4400 block of Hidden Oaks Lane after a welfare check was requested by their son-in-law, who told officials he hadn't heard from his in-laws in a couple of days. The son-in-law told dispatchers he was at the home and could see his family's vehicle inside the garage.

Inside the home, deputies found a 72-year-old woman, now identified as Olmsted Buckley, lying on a couch with a gunshot wound while a 70-year-old man, Frederick Buckley, was found dead on the living room floor, also with a gunshot wound, the sheriff's office said.

Neighbors said the two lived in the neighborhood for more than a dozen years.

"It makes zero sense. It makes zero sense," a next-door neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told us. "Very nice people, very kind people. Always friendly, always something nice to say. Just shocked."

Watch: We speak with neighbors about the couple found dead in Liberty Township

While neighbors said the couple recently built a new home in Columbus and moved there, they frequently came back to Liberty Township because of a financial planning business that was run out of the home. The next-door neighbor we spoke with said she had a conversation with the elderly woman this past weekend about the move.

"She was talking about the painters in their new house, and that she was starting to feel comfortable there and getting it set up and making it her own," the neighbor said. "And she seemed very happy."

Deputies also found a dead dog in the home's living room, according to the sheriff's office. The next-door neighbor said the couple had a dog named Luna, and they loved playing with her.

"Just this past week, when they were home, I heard them in the backyard playing with Luna and throwing the ball and the Frisbee for her," she said. "And they laugh out loud watching her. I mean, they get total joy out of that dog."

The Butler County Sheriff's Office remained at the scene for hours on Wednesday afternoon. As of Thursday, the office said no more updates were available at this time.

"This is completely out of character. They're very kind people with a very nice family, and I just can't believe it," the neighbor said, before sharing her immediate reaction to the news. "Like, 'This is not true. Is there some other explanation? Why? What?'"

A Village of Batavia council member has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after he was accused of punching a man following a public meeting last week.

The Clermont County Sheriff's Office charged Michael Gardner, a former Batavia police chief, with assault after officials said he followed a resident who addressed council outside of the Batavia Village Administration Building on Monday, March 23, and physically assaulted him.

A criminal complaint reported that the resident, identified as William Albright, held his middle finger up at Gardner. The two then left the room, leading to the altercation.

He told me, 'Flip me off again,' and I did it again, and he took a swing, Albright said.

Watch to see video capturing the moments leading to the alleged assault:

Though initially charged with assault, Gardner on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

We attempted to speak with Gardner after his initial hearing, but he said he had no comment on the matter.

We also reached out to the village for comment on the situation.

"The matter is under review by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office," a statement from the village said. "Once the review and any related investigation has been completed, any records will be provided to the extent permissible under Ohio Law."

Documents from the Village of Batavia show that Gardner has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior before.

In 2018, while Gardner was still the chief of the Batavia Police Department, a village investigation found that Gardner was drunk and disorderly while on vacation with two subordinate officers.

The council found that Gardner was guilty of administrative charges that included neglect of duty and insubordination. He voluntarily resigned at the end of that year.

Years later, Gardner was elected to the village council.

A large fire broke out at a lumber facility in Lebanon late Tuesday night, according to the Lebanon Fire Department.

Lebanon Fire Department said they were called for a fire at U.S. Pallets and Lumber, formerly known as R W Long Lumber and Box Company, on Cornett Road in Lebanon just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Lebanon Fire Chief Ryan Dipzinski said Lebanon police initially called the fire in after they saw smoke and flames coming from the bypass around 10:30 p.m.

On the property, a building filled with pallets and equipment was fully engulfed in fire, Dipzinski said. The fire spread quickly because of wind conditions, and the road was closed while they battled the fire, fire officials said.

Dipzinski said explosions heard during the fire are believed to have been propane tanks.

The building is a total loss, according to Dipzinski.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire, and no one was hurt. The fire is out and the road is back open.

The lumber facility is located next to an Ohio Department of Transportation post, which was not damaged in the fire, according to Dipzinski.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation; the fire department said crews will likely be back at the facility Wednesday morning to look at the damage.

The financial future of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District is in the hands of residents.

On May 5, voters will decide on an 8-mill levy that would last five years. District officials said the levy would be an extra $280 per $100,000 of the assessed home value.

In December 2025, the district submitted its fiscal precaution plan, following voters' rejection of an income tax levy.

The district is still feeling the impact of the closure of two major power plants. In 2014, the Beckjord plant closed, and the Zimmer plant closed in 2022, shrinking the district's revenue.

Those both accounted for about 37% of the total revenue that was generated here in the school district," Superintendent Paul Daniels said in October.

WATCH: Residents share their thoughts on the upcoming levy vote

Two Village of New Richmond residents, Alex Spivak and Steve Williams, shared their thoughts on the proposed property tax increase for the school district.

"If there's a plan for it and it's clearly laid out and they follow through with it and people can support it, I'm certainly for it," Spivak said.

Williams, who's both a resident and a parent of a current district student, said he still needs to be convinced to vote to approve the levy.

If they can show me a line-by-line that they are spending the money in a proper manner, they may be able to get me to vote yes," Williams said.

I brought that concern directly to the district treasurer and chief financial officer, Brett Floyd.

I would be open to a meeting with (Williams) and going through it to that level of detail," Floyd said. "They just need to reach out. But for a more digestible version of said numbers, our five-year forecast is really the best way to look at that."

Back in January, the district confirmed the plan included a $300 pay-to-play fee for sports. That fee would have been per student and per sport with no family cap.

But now, Floyd told me leaders had revisited the idea and do not have a set number at this time. He said the numbers reported in the district's updated February forecast of finances could cause plans to change.

Other changes coming to the 2026-27 school year include a reduction of five teaching positions, most through retirements.

Are you a Clermont County resident with a story for Sam? You can contact him here:

We are not scaling back on any of the reductions in the plan that was filed, regardless of whether this passes in May or not," Floyd said.

I asked Floyd how the vote in May will impact the district moving forward.

What people decide in May is theyre really telling us what they want the future of the district to look like, and we'll respect that and move accordingly," Floyd said.

The district hosted a community forum Tuesday evening at New Richmond High School to discuss the property tax levy. For those who were unable to attend, district officials encourage people to submit their questions to this online forum.

Avionics technology produced in Mason will play a crucial role in the Artemis II mission launch on Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Dozens of companies around the state have played a role in the effort to send humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, including L3Harris.

The Florida-based company's space and sensors division, which operates in Mason, produced technology that will be paramount to the mission's Space Launch System, the 322-foot rocket that will carry four astronauts into space in the Orion capsule.

WATCH: Technology made in Cincinnati will bolster the Artemis II mission. Here's how

Jake Hendrickson, Space Avionics Chief Engineer at L3Harris, told us it was "super exciting" to have a part in the mission.

"We all understand the gravity of launching four astronauts in this particular mission. They're going to be the furthest away from Earth that they've ever been," Hendrickson said. "The avionics are really the brain of the launch vehicle."

A team of more than 150 people worked on the hardware, he said.

"Whether it's designing it and engineering, building it and operations and testing it. All of that is done right here in Mason, Ohio," Hendrickson said. "So certainly (there's) a sense of pride in being able to provide the launch vehicle and the avionics behind it that keeps those astronauts safe on the way to the moon."

The technology is embedded throughout the different elements that make up the rocket, helping one of the most complex launch systems work in tandem.

"They control everything that goes on, from ignition start to steering the nozzle to steering the entire launch vehicle," Hendrickson said.

The avionics also collect data from all over the rocket, including temperature, pressure, vibration and load data.

"(There's) over 500 to 1,500 sensors on each stage getting that data back down to the ground so they can post-process it, ensure everything is working as expected," Hendrickson said. "They're able to make sure that the launch vehicle is going on the right trajectory, and monitor that in real time."

We spoke with Hendrickson right before his flight to Florida to watch the launch. He said a crew of about 20 people from the company will be there with him.

"It's exciting for the individuals that get to go see it. They get to see their hardware and all their hard work come to fruition," Hendrickson said.

There is more work to be done, Hendrickson said, as L3Harris teams are already working on future Artemis missions ahead of Wednesday's historic launch.

The Trenton Planning Commission gave swift approval Monday to a site plan for the Prologis data center project, wrapping up its meeting in about 10 minutes but not all residents were satisfied with the decision.

The commission voted that the site plan complies with the citys zoning code.

The development, located on 141 acres in Trentons industrial park south of Kennel Road, is already under construction. The project features four buildings totaling 880,000 square feet, each equipped with high-tech cooling systems.

Prologis, the company behind the project, says it will create 140 jobs, bring in $120,000 annually in city utility fees, and operate with a water-efficient design that requires no chemicals and only uses water about 3% of the year. The company also says it will cover the cost of power upgrades and all utility costs.

But not everyone is convinced.

I did not expect a 10-minute meeting and a decision to go ahead, said Melinda Zemper, a Butler County resident and member of Save Ohio Parks. My question is what kind of air emissions are going to be coming from this natural gas plant?

WATCH: How the Trenton Planning Commission made the decision Monday

Zemper also questioned the pace of the decision.

Why rush? We can live without AI. We cannot live without clean air and clean water, a viable planet and healthy children. People will not live here, they will not stay here, and they will not work here, Zemper said.

Barry Blankenship said he's concerned the meeting did not allow for enough discussion.

It was supposed to be a site plan review," Blankenship said. "It didnt say 'site plan vote.' They shouldnt have voted on this tonight."

Blankenship leads a grassroots group of more than 500 members who have raised concerns about noise, traffic, diesel generators and fossil fuel power plants.

After the meeting, city officials declined to answer questions, saying they would only respond via email. We reached out to Trenton city officials through email following the meeting, but have not yet heard back.

Jay wants to hear from you. You can contact him here:

Despite the commissions review and approval of the plan, opposition organizers like Blankenship said they will continue monitoring the project.

Were going to keep on fighting, Blankenship said. If we cant get it stopped, were going to be watching. Everything that goes wrong that we see, were going to report it.

On March 13, 17-year-old Dylan Sougstad died following a head-on collision on State Route 741 in Turtlecreek Township.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said he crossed the center line and hit a woman driving north, and both people died at the scene.

"As a father of a teenage boy, you're always worried that they're now just out there running around, doing stupid stuff when they learn how to drive, and he wasn't. He was a good kid," Dylan's father, Steve Sougstad, said.

Now, his parents are searching for answers and pleading for key witnesses to come forward.

Dylan's mother, Lori Taylor, said the family is still waiting for answers and hopes those who saw the crash will contact authorities.

"I just know that there were two other people involved ... they haven't called in with the statement, and I just really wish they would," Taylor said. "We do have a Tesla, and we are getting the photos, and we will know, and it would be just so great if we didn't have to wait as long as we're going to for the information that we're eventually going to get."

WATCH: Family asks witnesses to come forward while they work to honor their son's memory

Tesla records other cars and the surrounding environment while driving and parked, using a dashcam feature that continuously records.

"I want to send my love and my prayers to the person who didn't make it, Chastity, because she had a family too that loved her," Taylor said.

Dylan was a student-athlete at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. He leaves behind a twin brother and three other siblings. His family described him as a kind, loving and amazing athlete who loved soccer and his teammates.

"Coach would call him his Swiss Army knife, and he would put him anywhere on the field," Taylor said. "You couldn't beat him, he's so fast."

Taylor said Dylan's team had just finished a game when they "got in their cars and drove away on the most dangerous road in Cincinnati."

Sougstad said since Dylan's death, he's been moved by the support from his son's peers.

"(I) was really blown away by the amount of kids that came up to me and told me all these stories about how he was there for them," Sougstad said. "How he loved them, how he had helped them out."

The teen's family has shown support for each other following the loss as well.

Dylan's godfather, Sean Platt, wrote a song in his memory titled "Still Your Six."

"I'm sorry for the quiet and hurt. Please forgive me," the song says. "Look across the table now ... half of me is still with you."

The family said they are working on a memorial and scholarship fund through Dylan's school to inspire other kids to spread positivity.

"I'm also working with some worldwide global impact people, so I'm going to do everything I can to inspire people to stand up and to recognize that there's a lot of light that needs to be shone in this world right now, and it's a dark place," Taylor said.

"That's who he was. It really was who he was. He wanted everyone to feel happy," Taylor said.

The crash remains under investigation by OSHP.

"He's not perfect by any stretch, but he was a good kid, and parents just cherish every moment," Sougstad said.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Lebanon.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help fund Dylan's funeral.

Crews are responding to a working fire at a Hanover Township body shop, dispatchers said.

Butler County dispatchers said units from several cities and townships have responded to Rice Auto Body Shop for a reported fire that has impacted multiple cars. Videos show black smoke billowing above the body shop.

In a social media post Monday, Rice Auto Body confirmed a fire happened at the property and said everyone is safe.

"After 55 years in business, this is a tough day for our family and friends who are like our family," the post reads. "Many people showed up today without even being asked to help us in the most crucial moment."

The post said two out of five buildings were damaged in the fire.

"We are going to regroup, rebuild, stay strong and keep doing what we love... building and fixing cars!" the post reads.

A Canadian-based transportation company is laying off 149 employees, the majority of them at its Butler County location.

Day & Ross USA, which is based in New Brunswick, will cut 100 jobs from its site at 3560 Symmes Road in Hamilton, effective May 30, the company said in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, filed with the state last Wednesday.

At the Butler County facility, the majority of the layoffs will affect drivers (54) and dock workers (36). The remaining positions affected are dispatchers and dock leads (two each), plus administrative assistant, driver manager, inbound dock manager, operations coordinator, operations supervisor and senior operations manager (one each).

Thirty-two layoffs will come from the companys facility in Livonia, Michigan, while the remaining cuts will be carried out in Indiana (6), Kentucky (6), Tennessee (3) and West Virginia (2), according to the WARN notice.

Day & Ross started in 1950 and was bought by McCain Foods in 1966. It is now owned entirely by McCain, the worlds largest manufacturer of frozen french fries and potato products.

The company opened its Symmes Road location in 2000 and hired workers who had lost their jobs when the previous company there, Dedicated Logistics Inc., shut down after General Motors chose a different shipping company.

Day & Ross has no union, the company said in the notice. Employees who are laid off will not be able to move into other jobs at the company and will not receive severance pay, it said.

The company said it will provide information on how employees can access unemployment insurance benefits and available services, including job placement assistance, retraining programs or counseling.

Asked in the WARN form what actions the company took to mitigate the impact of the employment loss, Day & Ross said, Contract negotiation with our customer over calendar year 2025 while customer took business out to bid and New contract ultimately awarded elsewhere impacting our current workforce.

A Cincinnati family is pleading for the release of a father and small business owner who has been in federal immigration custody for nearly six weeks.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Efrem Yemane Berhe outside his Ohio home on Feb. 16, his family said. His wife, Ksanet Desta, said agents were waiting in vehicles near their driveway when Berhe left for work that morning.

"It was early in the morning, 7 a.m. He was going to work. They blocked him and took him into custody," Desta said.

WATCH: Berhe's family says he has lived in the U.S. for 15 years

Berhe, who has lived in the United States for 15 years, entered the country legally and has no criminal record, according to his family. His detention stems from a civil immigration matter tied to a prior marriage.

Desta said the absence of her husband has left her struggling to pay the mortgage and care for their children, ages 5 and 3.

"They keep asking about their dad when will he come back? Every knock at the door, they think its him. Its heartbreaking," Desta said.

WATCH: Berhe's family details how he was detained by ICE

Berhes uncle, Alem Zewoldai, said his nephew is a well-known member of the local church community, donating both time and money and volunteering on weekends.

"Hes been here 15 years, owns a business, his home and contributes to the community," Zewoldai said. "Theres no reason to call him a flight risk."

The family also fears Berhes activism against the Eritrean government could put him at risk of torture or death if deported.

A judge denied Berhes bond on March 5, citing flight risk concerns.

Berhe's green card hearing had been scheduled for next year, but has been moved up to April 30 because he is in custody.

His family has appealed the bond decision and is pushing for his release before the hearing.

"We want justice for Efrem. We want him to be free and return home to his kids," Desta said.

Berhe remains at Butler County Jail awaiting his next hearing.

Batavia Township resident Cody Winn has been indicted on over 100 charges after allegedly scamming people out of over $1 million, according to the Clermont County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office announced that Winn was indicted on 62 counts of theft and 31 counts of telecommunications fraud. WCPO obtained a second indictment, bringing the total number of charges to 102.

CCSO said that initially, $965,500 was stolen. The second indictment brought the total to over $1 million.

According to the sheriff's office, Winn acted as someone named "Cody Clay" from a business called Market Modern LLC.

CCSO said someone in California reported the interaction, where they were promised an investment opportunity and told they'd receive a full return within three months.

Carmy Michael reached out to us and identified himself as the one who reported the allegations to police.

WATCH: We looked into the latest from the criminal case against the alleged scammer

Michael gave $25,000 to fund the creation of an automated Amazon store, but according to the sheriff's office, he saw months of no progress and could not contact anyone about the investment.

After receiving the report, CCSO began an investigation, leading them to Winn.

Deputies said during the investigation, it was discovered that Winn was operating a YouTube channel marketing his business plan to potential clients. He was responsible for collecting investor payments and forwarding the funds to a separate global e-commerce company operating across multiple counties, CCSO said.

According to multiple testimonies, Winn was involved in the operation between March and October 2023. Deputies said he failed to send several investors their payments and could not be contacted for a refund.

CCSO said Winn reportedly stole from people across several states, including:

Michael said he made the investment after coming across one of Winn's ads. But shortly after, he said he realized something may be wrong.

I got a message with a link to click, saying click this link, and then you will receive the package to get started. And I clicked the link, and there was Cody on it laughing, and saying, 'Goodbye,' and then everything disappeared," Michael said.

We reached out to Ravert J. Clark, who confirmed he is Winn's criminal defense attorney. He said plea negotiations have taken place, but nothing is set in writing at this time.

The Clermont County Prosecutor's Office said they have no comment.

Are you a Clermont County resident with a story for Sam? You can contact him here:

Michael said an assistant prosecutor working on the case informed the victims that there may be a plea deal. We asked Michael what he thinks the penalties should be.

Justice would be, repay us, full restitution, at the same time, being stopped from doing that to other people," Michael said.

Court records show that Winn's next court appearance is set for April 21.

A Village of Batavia council member has been charged with assault after an alleged incident following a public meeting, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said a physical altercation happened outside the Batavia Village Administration Building on Monday, shortly after a public participation session during a council meeting.

Council member Michael Gardner, a former Batavia police chief, followed a resident who addressed council outside of the building and verbally confronted them, according to CCSO. The verbal altercation then escalated when Gardner physically assaulted the resident.

Both Gardner and the resident, identified as William Albright, declined medical attention.

Watch to see video capturing the moments of the alleged assault:

The criminal complaint reported that Albright held his middle finger up at Gardner. The two then left the room, leading to the altercation.

He told me, 'Flip me off again,' and I did it again, and he took a swing, Albright said.

Gardner was charged with one count of assault Tuesday and taken to the Clermont County Jail. He was granted a $7,500 cash bond in court.

Magistrate Matthew Graber approved a temporary protection order against Gardner when he was back in court Wednesday morning.

The council member asked the magistrate how this order would impact his elected position.

"I would encourage you to talk to your lawyer about the ramifications of the protection order," Graber said.

We spoke with Gardner after the hearing, who said he has no comment on the matter.

We also reached out to the village for comment on the situation.

"The matter is under review by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office," a statement from the village said. "Once the review and any related investigation has been completed, any records will be provided to the extent permissible under Ohio Law."

Documents from the Village of Batavia show that Gardner has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior before.

In 2018, while Gardner was still the chief of the Batavia Police Department, a village investigation found that Gardner was drunk and disorderly while on vacation with two subordinate officers.

The council found that Gardner was guilty of administrative charges that included neglect of duty and insubordination. He voluntarily resigned at the end of that year.

Years later, Gardner was elected to the village council.

One person is dead after a three-vehicle crash in Liberty Township on Saturday, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said deputies were dispatched at around 5:20 p.m. after getting reports of a reckless driver in a Mazda6, heading west on SR-129.

The driver exited SR-129 onto SR-747 where it sideswiped a silver SUV, before it continued north on SR-747, the sheriff's office said. The driver then made a u-turn and headed south on SR-747.

As the driver got to the SR-129 bridge, they ran a red light and hit a Ford F-150 head-on, according to the sheriff's office. The Mazda then hit a guardrail and stopped on the bridge.

The sheriff's office said the driver of the Mazda was taken to UC West Chester Hospital, where they were pronounced dead; their identity has not yet been released.

The driver and a passenger in the Ford F-150 were also taken to UC West Chester with injuries the sheriff's office said were not life-threatening. The people inside the silver SUV that was side swiped were not hurt, the sheriff's office said.

SR-747 was shut down in both directions while emergency personnel responded and law enforcement investigated.

Although President Donald Trump is the top Democratic nemesis, some of the partys most ambitious leaders are increasingly looking past him and at Vice President JD Vance.

In the latest example, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear traveled to Vances home county in Ohio, where on Saturday night he said the vice president had abandoned the communities that he wrote about in the memoir that made him famous.

Beshear said Hillbilly Elegy, which detailed Vance's hardscrabble upbringing, had trafficked in tired stereotypes.

His book Hillbilly Elegy was really hillbilly hate, the governor said at a Democratic fundraiser in Butler County. It is poverty tourism, because he aint from Appalachia.

The broadside was not only a sign of Beshears own potential presidential aspirations, but a reflection of Vances status as the Republican heir apparent to the coalition that twice elected Trump to the White House.

With every day that passes, we get closer to a day when Donald Trump is no longer president. And we need to prepare for that day, said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist. Right now, JD Vance is a clear front-runner for the 2028 nomination. And so we should begin defining him not in 2027, not in 2028 but today.

Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk brushed off Beshear's criticism as coming from a flawed messenger.

Every time Andy Beshear attacks the vice president to try to get himself publicity, he ends up humiliating himself in the process, but maybe thats something hes into? she said.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California was among the first Democrats to begin focusing on Vance last year. Khanna stopped at the City Club of Cleveland and Yale University, where he and Vance studied law, and gave speeches that attempted to cast Vance as more extreme than Trump.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another potential presidential contender in 2028, singled out Vance in November while making the argument that the Trump administration did not care about working people.

At least with Donald Trump, hes transparent about that, Shapiro said. JD Vance is a total phony.

Some Democrats have coalesced around California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a strong candidate because of his aggressive strategy in going after Republicans.

He coined the nickname JD Just Dance Vance" on social media, and he has mocked the vice president's appearance, saying Vance grew a beard and lost his spine."

Smith, the strategist who led Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign and still works with the former Biden administration transportation secretary, said every line of criticism of Vance is an audition.

There's definitely value in taking on Vance to show Democrats, hey, this could be me on the debate stage against him, said Smith.

The vice president was born and raised in Butler County's Middletown, and he rose to prominence with the publication of "Hillbilly Elegy in 2016. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain Trump's appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.

Vance carried that reputation to the U.S. Senate, winning election in 2022, and later to the vice presidency. That same background is likely to be central to any future presidential run and it is precisely what Democrats are now working to undercut.

At Saturday's Democratic fundraiser, the mere mention of Vance's name drew a chorus of boos from the audience.

I don't think he's got the magic that everybody looks at with Trump, said Theresa Vacheresse, a retired physician and business owner who attended the event. I think when Trump is gone, the Democrats might have a chance. My god, I hope so.

The focus on Vance is not unusual for a vice president widely seen as a potential future nominee, particularly one as young as 41. Republicans went after Kamala Harris early in her tenure under President Joe Biden to undermine her political future.

Jamal Simmons, Harris communications director in 2022 and 2023, said vice presidents can be vulnerable.

The party is built to defend the president more than it is the vice president, he said. The vice president's kind of out there on their own, to defend themself, and find friends where they can.

Republicans, including Vance, frequently tied Harris to some of the Democratic administrations most politically difficult issues, such as immigration and border security.

Being vice president is a very mixed blessing," said David Axelrod, who was a top adviser to Democratic President Barack Obama. You often don't have the assets of the president, but you inherit all of the president's record. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Beshear is the rare Democrat to lead a red state, and he is positioning himself as someone who can reach voters who have tuned out his party.

He said Democrats can actually go and win back those voters that JD Vance is so condescending to if they stay focused on Americans' basic needs such as affordable health care and public safety.

We've gotta start talking to people and not at them," he said. Thats how I won counties in eastern Kentucky that normally vote for Republicans by large margins including Breathitt County. That's the county JD Vance pretends to be from. Donald Trump won it by 59 points. I won it by 22 points the year earlier.

The audience appeared delighted with Beshear's message.

I think he's first-rate, said Mark Kaplan, who lives in Butler County. What he's got is compassion, empathy, charisma and intellect, but he's also down-to-earth.

A 40-year-old man faces multiple charges after the Butler County Sheriff's Office investigated claims that he sextorted a juvenile.

Sheriff Richard Jones said deputies were notified on March 10 that a student at Ross Local School District told her school resource officer that an adult man, Brandon Anderson, was sexually extorting her.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Anderson's Hamilton home, seizing multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination led detectives to find multiple images of young girls "in states of nudity and engaged in sexual acts."

Anderson was charged with two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and one count of obstructing official business after the sheriff's office said he attempted to prevent detectives from entering his house.

Jones said that additional charges are expected "due to the volume of content discovered."

"Predators who target our kids whether in person or online need to understand there is no place to hide," Jones said in part in a statement. "We will use every resource available to track them down, hold them accountable, and make sure they face the consequences of their actions."

Anyone who believes they may be a victim, or knows someone who may be a victim, is asked to call Det. Partin at 513-785-1252.

Dozens of Liberty Township residents packed a trustee meeting Tuesday night to oppose a rezoning request that would have brought the first commercial property to a residential block on Princeton Road and trustees sided with residents.

The rezoning request came from HAC Properties LLC, which sought to rezone the land for BCL Enterprises, an engineering firm specializing in audio-visual and security system designs for businesses.

Christy Miller, owner and founder of BCL Enterprises, said the business would have little impact on the neighborhood.

"We arrive at eight, we work at desks and leave at five, Monday through Friday. We are the neighbor you never notice," Miller said.

But residents pushed back, pointing to activity on the property they said contradicts those promises.

"The neighbor you never notice? As you see, many people have noticed," one resident said during the packed meeting. "Right after they bought, there was burning of debris for multiple days."

Peter Dardzinski, a Liberty Township resident, said the prospect of a commercial property next door was alarming.

"That's right in my backyard," Dardzinski said. "So, I'm basically looking at an industrial warehouse. My concern (is) they really haven't done what they say they have. There's been traffic coming and going for the last couple of weeks. It's only for the last couple of days that they've ceased activity."

WATCH: Liberty Township residents speak out in opposition to the rezoning of property along a stretch of Princeton Road

Danielle Little said she bought her Liberty Township home specifically for its seclusion. She said that privacy was already compromised before Tuesday's vote.

"Privacy was immediately destroyed," Little said. "There was a 30-year-old tree line that protected my property on the left-hand side, and then all of the neighbors in the back of it. They actually came in, trespassed on my property, cut down our trees."

The rezoning request had already faced opposition before Tuesday's meeting. In January, the Butler County Planning Commission recommended approval. In February, the Liberty Township Zoning Board voted to deny the request.

Trustees denied the request Tuesday night, citing multiple reasons. They said the plans presented had changed from what was shown to the zoning board.

This doesn't completely shut down any rezoning in the area. In fact, the trustees said business rezoning would still come, and the developer is allowed to reapply.

Miller said she remains puzzled by the community's opposition.

"I don't know why there's an uproar," Miller said. "To me, it's the perfect place. The building is set back on the property. We're offering 63% green space. Everybody will see green. They won't see the building from the street."

If you have a concern or questions about development or projects in your neighborhood, reach out to Jay Shakur here:

Along S. Fifth Street in the Village of Williamsburg sits a brightly colored new business. Wild Pop is a specialty popcorn store that also serves sandwiches and viral "dirty" sodas.

One of the store's owners and the woman behind the products, Christina Lindsey, walked me through what led her to open the shop.

Well, I love popcorn, and I had purchased a machine, a big popper, mixer, back in 2018," Lindsey said.

Lindsey had been a nurse for over 25 years, but that purchase led her to a new dream.

Watch to learn about the new shop in the heart of the Village of Williamsburg:

She told me that she brought the idea of opening a storefront to her husband, Brandon Lindsey, who fully supported her.

Once she mentioned that she wanted to do it, like hey, lets do it, lets go for it," her husband said.

And that storefront was opened to the public in mid-February 2026.

"The first week itself was like just crazy, amazing," Lindsey said. "So many people came out, people from different communities and towns."

The store has an abundance of different popcorn flavors, including birthday cake, Cincinnati chili, dill and even Cincinnati BBQ.

They also sell the popular "dirty" sodas, a trend of mixing sodas with cream or flavored syrups that started in Utah and was popularized by social media and the rise of the television show "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

"I'm like, OK, so we have the popcorn, the snacky stuff, we have sandwiches, we need some drinks to go with it. So (we) decided, let's try these dirty sodas that are so popular out west," Lindsey said.

One of Lindsey's employees said that she had seen the soda products on social media, which made her even more excited to apply for a job.

"I finally saw that we were opening up in Burg, and I was like 'Yes! I gotta work there, I gotta work there,'" the employee said.

As the shop hits its one-month birthday, I asked the owner to share her words of wisdom for anyone looking to start a new chapter.

It never hurts to try, even if you fail. You know, like, thats probably when we learn the most, is when we fail, get yourself back up, wipe yourself off and do it again," said Lindsey.

13 people in Clermont County have been indicted on several sex crimes, including various crimes against children, Prosecutor Mark Tekulve announced Wednesday.

Tekulve said a grand jury indicted 12 men and an unnamed minor for charges, including rape of multiple children under the age of 10, violent sexual assaults against children as young as infants and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Those indicted on those charges are:

The Clermont County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that Ramirez, 45, was indicted on 32 counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition.

WATCH: Several of the men appeared in Clermont County court Wednesday

The sheriff's office said a juvenile told Clermont Mercy Hospital staff that she was a victim of prior sexual assault while being treated for unrelated injuries. Investigators spoke to the juvenile and found that she and two of her siblings learned they were each sexually assaulted by Ramirez between the ages of 9 and 14 years old.

Ramirez told detectives he is "currently in the United States illegally" and is a citizen of Guatemala, the sheriff's office said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has placed an immigration detainer on Ramirez pending further proceedings.

Prosecutor Christina Dattilo said that the alleged victims lived in the home with Ramirez.

"There are either seven or eight children also living in that home. So we would ask that there to have no contact with the victims, no contact with any minors," Dattilo said.

The prosecutor also addressed four defendants who appeared in court on charges of possessing child sex abuse material.

"In doing this for as many years as I have, these are some of the most disgusting images that I have ever seen, as young as babies as pacifiers," Dattilo said, in regards to the charges brought against Holden.

Dattilo also said in court that East was acting as a "vigilante."

He told Detective Hawkins that he was sending and receiving child pornography in order to catch predators. So essentially, hes reporting that he is a vigilante," Datillo said.

Six of the men charged were investigated by detectives with the Goshen Township Police Department.

Outside of those men, who were all indicted Tuesday, Tekulve said Logan Zimmerman and Dillon Jacobs were previously indicted on March 12 for rapes of an adult woman and a female minor, respectively.

Zimmerman was arrested in Tennessee, but Jacobs is still at large, Tekulve said. Authorities are currently seeking any information about his whereabouts.

"The investigators and road patrol work tirelessly to protect the children of this community," Tekulve said. "The effects of prosecuting these monsters for CSAM cases will potentially help children all over the world."

One person was killed and another was injured Saturday night in a house fire in Miami Township in Clermont County, according to Miami Township Fire & EMS.

Officials said that crews responded to the 330 block of Elm Crest Drive in the Vista Woods Community for a structure fire with reports of people trapped. A 911 caller said one person was pulled from the home, but another person was still inside.

When they arrived, crews found a house with "extensive fire damage," officials said. Firefighters immediately searched the house and located the trapped individual.

After they were extricated, they were pronounced dead, officials said. The person who died has not been identified.

Sue Weddle, a neighbor across the street, was home with her son when the nearby residence was engulfed in flames.

WATCH: Neighbor describes seeing the fire from across the street

The street was full of fire equipment. I think there was at least four fire trucks going down the road there, right here. Then there was other vehicles, emergency vehicles on the road, too," Weddle said.

Weddle said several neighbors went outside to see what was happening.

Its horrible," Weddle said.

Weddle and other neighbors told us they heard multiple booms coming from the house when the fire began.

We asked her about the neighbor she lost in the fire.

She was a very, very nice lady. She always wanted to help people," Weddle said.

Weddle said she was worried because the fire was so close to her home.

To see one actually go up in flames that fast, its worrisome," Weddle said.

We brought those concerns to Miami Township Fire & EMS Deputy Chief of Operations, Jonathan McKinnish.

Our guidance to them is all about pre-planning. And so, early detection makes a huge difference," McKinnish said.

The deputy chief said that the most important thing anyone can do, regardless of their living situation, is to be prepared for emergencies.

Working smoke detectors in the home are what easily identify that theres a situation that needs mitigated," McKinnish said. "Have an escape plan."

The person who escaped the house was treated on-scene and transported to UC Medical Center via AirCare.

Officials said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office, the Clermont County Fire Investigation Team and the Miami Township Police.

A 4-year-old boy died Saturday evening after drowning in a pond near his home, the Warren County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said crews responded to the 4300 block of South Shore Drive in Deerfield Township around 4 p.m. for reports of a child found in a pond.

Crews performed CPR on the child before transporting him to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office has not identified the child yet or said how he ended up in the pond.

This is an ongoing investigation.

A Jackson Township woman was killed Friday afternoon when a tree fell on her home, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said that the Clermont County Communications Center received a 911 call from a passerby about a tree that had fallen on a house in the 3000 block of US-50.

Deputies and first responders arrived at the scene and found an elderly woman who had become trapped under the fallen tree. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office has not identified the woman killed.

The incident remains under investigation, the sheriff's office said.

Two people were killed in a crash Friday night in Warren County, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).

OSHP said the crash occurred around 10 p.m. Friday on State Route 741 near milepost 6 in Turtlecreek Township.

A 17-year-old was driving a 2019 Tesla Model 3 south on SR-741 when he traveled left of center and struck a 2020 GMC Terrain, which was being driven northbound on SR-741 by 53-year-old Chastity Smith. After the initial crash, the teen's Tesla traveled off the west side of the roadway, while Smith's GMC traveled off the east side of the roadway, OSHP said.

OSHP said both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

State Route 741 between Hamilton Road and State Route 63 was shut down for several hours after the crash due to cleanup and vehicle removal.

OSHP was assisted by the Warren County Sheriff's Office, Turtlecreek Township Fire and EMS, the Warren County Coroner's Office and Jacob's Towing.

The crash remains under investigation by OSHP.