AGP Executive Report

Live Music: Akron jazz saxophonist Chris Coles brings his band Gleam’s new album to Cleveland’s BOP STOP, joined by an eight-piece lineup and hip-hop artist Floco Torres. Cincinnati Arts: BLINK turned more than 35 blocks across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into a free, four-night outdoor gallery, with projections, illuminated sculptures, murals and performances. Campus Arts: Ohio University Chillicothe opens “Dive In,” an exhibition of Central Ohio artist Michael Kirk’s vivid paintings and cut-paper work, on Oct. 22. Education: Tiffin Columbian science teacher Chris Monsour is among five educators selected for a national teaching award. Fall Outings: ODNR has announced fall color events in Hocking Hills.

Community & Identity: At a Youngstown rally, President Trump attacked Somali and Haitian communities as he campaigned for Ohio Republicans, putting immigrant communities in the spotlight. Arts & Culture: Ohio University Chillicothe’s “Dive In” exhibition opens Oct. 22 with a reception, live music and works by Central Ohio artist Michael Kirk; it runs through Nov. 30. Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble also brought the Grateful Dead’s “Blues for Allah” to Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville. Ohio History: New markers recount the Wyandots’ forced removal from Ohio, as communities continue to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day alongside Columbus Day.

Land and Development: Anger over AI data centers is growing in Ohio, where a Grove City farm family says it won’t sell land for the project. The issue is also becoming a midterm flashpoint. Live Music: Beach Boys singer Mike Love, 85, performed seated at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center despite serious health challenges. Historic Preservation: Cleveland’s Shiloh Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. preached in 1967, received a $750,000 grant for repairs and improved community access. Libraries and Heritage: Ohio voters will decide local library ballot proposals this November. For Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Columbus is hosting a free community meal, while the Myaamia Center works to preserve Native voices.

Schools: Mason High School tops Greater Cincinnati’s 2026 public college-prep rankings, with Walnut Hills and Indian Hill also among the region’s highest-rated. Public Health: Ohio’s measles cases have topped 230, with Medina County reporting its first case of the year. Community: The Ohio Bird Sanctuary released a juvenile bald eagle back into the wild. Arts & Culture: Columbus’ Italian Festival celebrated its 46th year, while Dayton welcomed anime-inspired Tsukicon; the Columbus Symphony also launched an interactive music-learning site for children. Lottery Update: Ohio is beginning its first major gaming-system overhaul in two decades, with new terminals, self-service kiosks and accessibility features rolling out over several months.

Ohio on Screen: The statewide “Ohio Goes to the Movies” project is wrapping up after free screenings in all 88 counties, with organizers saying it helped bring people back to theaters. Creative Community: Dayton’s Westside Makerspace marked its new home with a block party, while Fremont’s reportedly haunted Bihl Manor is getting a makeover for an HGTV show. Wildlife: A juvenile bald eagle, treated for a spinal fracture after being hit by a car, was released back into the wild near the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield. Local Traditions: Canfield’s giant-pumpkin weigh-off crowned Carol and Dave Stelts, whose pumpkin tipped the scales at 2,565.5 pounds. Healthy Aging: More than 50 vendors offered screenings, information and activities at the Lake Community YMCA’s annual Senior Health Fair.

Arts & Events: Chillicothe’s Pump House Center for the Arts is preparing its Holiday Gift Show, opening Nov. 19, as director John Payne plans to retire at year’s end. The gallery is also hosting artist demonstrations and live music. Cultural Life: Columbus’s 46th Italian Festival brought food, music and dancing to Italian Village, with organizers and visitors celebrating the neighborhood’s community spirit. Community Voices: A Columbus exhibit pairs artwork by Epstein survivors with thousands of volumes of released records, creating space for survivors to share their stories and educate visitors about trafficking. LGBTQ+ Community: Akron activist Steve Arrington has spent three decades working to fill gaps in services for Black LGBTQ+ residents. Local Milestone: Cleveland emergency physician Stephen Biebelhausen set a world record by running a mile while pushing his young daughter in a stroller.

Parks & Play: Mill Creek MetroParks has opened a $3 million children’s garden at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown, with walking paths, hands-on learning and natural play features. Higher Education: Ohio State plans a new undergraduate nuclear engineering major, renovated labs and scholarships with support from a $4.5 million partnership with Oklo. Schools: Ohio’s chronic absenteeism rate fell to 23.7% in 2025–26, but remains well above its pre-pandemic level. Arts & Inclusion: Oberlin’s Queertober is putting drag center stage, while Cleveland State has announced free tuition for eligible Ohio students.

Higher Education: Cleveland State will cover tuition for eligible Ohio freshmen starting fall 2027. Students need at least a 3.0 GPA, family income of $125,000 or less, and must meet ongoing enrollment requirements; housing and other costs aren’t included. Campus Accountability: An Ohio University employee has sued, alleging the university failed to promptly investigate her report of sexual harassment by a former WOUB manager. She is seeking damages under federal law. Family Activities: Defiance County’s “Not So Spooky Forest” returns Oct. 17 with wildlife talks, crafts and nature trails at Penney Nature Center. Arts & Identity: Oberlin’s Queertober brought drag performers to campus for an evening celebrating queer creativity and community. Student Success: Akron’s I PROMISE program is celebrating eligible seniors earning college scholarships, continuing a support effort that pairs academics with emotional and family resources.

Behavioral Health: Four County ADAMhs received $211,000 in grants, including funds for supported employment for people with substance-use issues and trauma-response training. Books & Community: Dayton Metro Library hosts the Black Child Book Fair Tour on Oct. 17, featuring books by Black authors centered on Black children. Athens-area novelist Madeline ffitch also discusses her new novel, Avalon, Rise, on WYSO’s Book Nook. Arts: Cleveland’s Zygote Press presents “A Clearing: Word, Image, Body,” an exhibition by Ohio artists inspired by Toni Morrison, through Oct. 30. On Stage: Dayton native Schele Williams co-directs The Notebook, at the Schuster Center through Oct. 11.

Arts & Education: The Columbus Symphony has launched an interactive music-learning site for children, while Ohio State’s School of Music is adding a hip-hop studies minor this semester. Cincinnati Events: BLINK’s 2026 light-and-art festival has opened, bringing installations and street closures to downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Food & Tradition: The Columbus Italian Festival is celebrating 46 years with a Rome-themed program, and the Living Traditions festival in Stewart spotlights Appalachian crafts, stories and food. Live Music: Mariachi Herencia de México performs at Dayton’s Victoria Theatre on Oct. 9.

Cincinnati Arts: More than 300 cyclists lit up downtown and Over-the-Rhine ahead of BLINK, turning the pre-festival ride into a moving art display. School Community: Anti-Muslim flyers found near Rocky River High School prompted a police investigation and condemnation from school leaders and CAIR-Ohio. Health Costs: A new customs rule could make Canadian prescription drugs harder to obtain; Toledo resident Susan Hooper says the medicines she relies on are unavailable in the U.S. Ohio Education: Wright State welcomed more than 200 aspiring medical students for guidance on applications, the MCAT and financing medical school. Fall Outdoors: Secor Metropark’s Nature at Night Fest offered an after-dark wildlife-themed adventure, while Hocking Hills has autumn tours and events planned this month.

College Accountability: Ohio Auditor Keith Faber and federal education officials are set to announce criminal charges tied to defunct Eastern Gateway Community College. E-bike Safety: State lawmakers are proposing statewide rules, including helmet requirements, age limits and possible misdemeanor penalties for violations. School Finances: Nearly 1 in 10 Ohio districts could face severe financial strain this year, with the share projected to exceed 63% by 2030; Cleveland Heights-University Heights voters will also decide on an operating levy in November. Indigenous Heritage: Descendants of Tecumseh are set to present panels in Yellow Springs and elsewhere in Ohio. Faith Communities: A Hindu temple in Ohio was attacked with bricks in an incident being treated as a possible hate crime. Fall Outings: Hocking Hills hosts fall-color tours Oct. 24–25, and the Ohio Bird Sanctuary’s fall festival will feature a bald eagle release.

Food & Drink: Osmow’s Mediterranean opens in Cleveland’s University Circle on Oct. 8, with free chicken shawarma for the first 200 guests. Arts & Culture: WOSU’s “Broad & High” previews its 14th season, spotlighting artists and musicians from central Ohio. Appalachian Traditions: A free festival in Stewart on Saturday celebrates local skills, food and stories, with apple butter-making, music and hands-on demonstrations. Community Health: Columbus nonprofit Black, Out, and Proud hosts a Saturday forum at Stonewall Columbus focused on Black LGBTQ+ health and wellness. Ohio Garden Life: As fall cleanup begins, leave seed heads and standing stems where possible: they feed birds and shelter beneficial insects through winter.

Ohio Supreme Court: Voters will decide two Ohio Supreme Court Justice races this November—whether to retain Democrat Jennifer Brunner or replace her with Republican Colleen O’Donnell, and whether to keep Republican Daniel Hawkins or elect Democrat Marilyn Zayas. Cancer prevention: The NCCN held a two-day summit in Washington focused on expanding access to cancer prevention and screening, highlighting patient-friendly guidelines available in English and Spanish. Mental health: LifeAct’s Move for Mental Health 5K and 1-mile walk returns Oct. 11 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to teach students warning signs and fund free programming across Northeast Ohio. Public safety & health: A Toledo nurse and mother, Heather Huff, is preparing for the BE FAST 5K after surviving a heart attack and stroke, sharing her story to push faster recognition of stroke symptoms. Local government & climate resilience: Athens Mayor Steve Patterson updated council on flood recovery and prevention steps, including flood barriers and a sanitary sewer backflow prevention program. Privacy in policing: Troy Police says it has limited access to Flock camera data after community concerns about surveillance and misuse. Arts & culture: Eva Marie Saint, the Ohio-trained Oscar winner from “On the Waterfront” and “North by Northwest,” died at 102.

Pierogi as living heritage: In Wheeling, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ukrainian Catholic Church keeps handmade pierogi traditions alive for National Pierogi Day (Oct. 8), showing how a “trend” can’t replace generations of community craft. Midterm voting logistics in Ohio: Early voting starts Oct. 6 with weekday hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and ID rules; local boards are juggling multiple elections and special ballots. Ohio election races, up close: Candidate profiles and district matchups keep rolling, including the Sixth Congressional District and the Ohio House contest in the 81st District. Public art returns to Cincinnati: BLINK lights up 35+ blocks Oct. 8–11 with free nightly projections, installations, and zones across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Cleveland dining with a fire-first twist: ROSY launches a year-long Supper Club bringing top guest chefs to cook with fire, starting Oct. 2026. Health and safety watch: New York declares a measles emergency as cases surge, with Ohio also seeing increases—raising stakes for vaccine-preventable disease. Local civic participation: Ohio REALTORS can earn continuing education credits by serving as poll workers for the Nov. 3 election. Culture beyond politics: FotoFocus’ “The Long View” photography biennial rolls through Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky with dozens of exhibitions. Courts and community impact: Jury selection continues in the Rodney Hinton trial tied to the killing of a Hamilton County deputy, drawing attention to mental health, race, and law enforcement.

Election & voting access: Early voting starts Tuesday across Ohio, with absentee-by-mail also kicking off—Secretary of State Frank LaRose urges voters to check registration and make a plan. Ohio politics: The race for Ohio Secretary of State is heating up with three candidates—Frank LaRose’s successor contest centers on voter ID, ballot rules, and election security. Local governance & community life: Bowling Green City Council narrowed ward redistricting to Map 22 after population deviation concerns flagged “mal-apportioned” wards. Workforce & education: Northwest State Community College kept its Ohio TechCred provider status, preserving access to dozens of tech credentials for employer training. Arts & culture: BLINK returns to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with public art and light installations across 30 blocks, while Defiance’s Society of Artists readies its juried fall show. Community safety: Bomb threats shut down Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center campuses and delayed Waverly City Schools. Health & public awareness: A measles outbreak in New York prompted a state of emergency as officials push MMR vaccination. Sports & culture: Bigfoot Festival brings cryptid tourism to Nelsonville, and Ohio’s college football schedule fills midweek viewing options.