Thursday, February 13

LCSO SEARCHING FOR A NEWARK MAN

The Licking County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in locating a 30-year-old Newark man wanted on an assault charge. Deputies are actively searching for Kaden Smith. If you have any information on his whereabouts contact your local law enforcement agency.

FOSTER TO UNDERGO MENTAL EVALUATION

Bruce Foster III, the man accused of shooting and killing two people and injuring four others, was scheduled to be in a Licking County courtroom today, however, that has been postponed. According to court documents, the attorney for Foster, 28, has requested a mental competency evaluation. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Foster allegedly opened fire on his co-workers at KDC/ONE on Smith's Mill Road in New Albany. He remains held on $20 million bond.

TRESSEL CONFIRMED AS LT. GOV.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel is now officially Ohio's Lieutenant Governor. Wednesday, the Ohio Senate and House confirmed Tressel's appointment. He takes over for Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat left open by JD Vance who became vice president.

GRANVILLE KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Granville Kiwanis Club is holding a popular annual event this weekend.

President Brad Cook said Saturday's pancake breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children age 5-12. Tickets can be purchased at the door. This year's proceeds will go to the Granville Angels Foundation which helps families dealing with Angelman syndrome a rare neuro-genetic disorder that occurs in one in 15,000 births.

BIRD FLU

The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state's first probable human case of bird flu. An adult male Mercer County farm worker who was in contact with deceased commercial poultry was infected with the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the current risk of bird flu for the general public to be low. The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals.

WORKING TOWARD A COLLEGE DEGREE

According to research from Lumina Foundation, nearly 55-percent of American adults ages 25 to 64 have a college degree or industry-recognized certification. Ohio’s attainment rate is almost 53% – 12 points shy of the 2025 goal for the state. Theresa Lubbers with Lumina Foundation says the study was done with a sense of urgency.

The report specifies a post-high school education as an associate's, bachelor’s or master's degree or an industry-recognized certificate.