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HOUSE BILL 492: THE “GIVE US YOUR NAME OR GO TO JAIL” BILL

Ohio lawmakers are back with another public-safety-themed solution in search of an actual problem. House Bill 492 would make it a crime punishable by up to 30 days in jail if you refuse to give police your name, address, or date of birth during a traffic stop.

Yes, this behavior is already illegal. Yes, police already have the authority to ask for ID. And yes, this bill would simply turn a minor citation into jail time.

Here’s what’s actually happening.

WHO THIS BILL TARGETS

Only drivers during traffic stops.

Not passengers.

Not pedestrians.

Not people walking down High Street with headphones in.

Just drivers, the one group already required to provide ID.

WHAT SUPPORTERS SAY

Rep. Sharon Ray (R-Medina) and Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) argue the bill helps police quickly ID drivers with warrants or “sovereign citizens” who refuse to cooperate.

Their argument: officers need a “tool in the toolbox.”

WHAT OPPONENTS SAY

The Ohio Public Defender’s Office calls it coercive and disproportionate.

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center says it will fuel unnecessary incarceration and erode trust, especially in communities already facing disproportionate policing.

Legal groups point out the obvious: Ohio already criminalizes obstructing official business. Police already have legal remedies. No one is walking away from a traffic stop because they refused to state their name.

THE REALITY

This bill doesn’t fix a safety problem. It just adds a jail penalty to a non-violent, low-level offense that’s already covered under existing law.

It turns a moment of confusion or fear into jail time.

And it hands Ohio police even broader discretion in traffic stops at a time when public trust is already thin.

WHERE IT STANDS

HB 492 has passed out of committee and now awaits a full House vote. If it passes the House and Senate, it heads to Gov. DeWine.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Find your representative at legislature.ohio.gov and tell them what you think about HB 492,  whether you believe it improves safety or just criminalizes behavior already covered under law.

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: How many grocery stores are in Ohio?

A) 2960
B) 3340
C) 5550
D) 4810

POWELL JUST GOT A 123,000-SQUARE-FOOT MONUMENT TO SUBURBAN GROCERY CULTURE

Powell has a new Kroger. And not just any Kroger, a 123,000-square-foot, $36 million superstore complete with groceries, clothes, household goods, mascots, free samples, and a parking lot that will now be the unofficial Hunger Games arena of Liberty Township.

It’s the second brand-new Kroger in the Columbus area in a year, which is remarkable considering the company didn’t open a single new local store for fifteen straight years. Powell, of course, broke the dry spell by adding thousands of homes, dozens of roundabouts, and enough new residents to convince Kroger it was finally time.

Why Powell, Why Now

Kroger already has another store three miles south, but spokesperson Mark Bruce was very clear: the suburbs are multiplying, and Powell’s rooftops have hit the magic number.

“We’ve had our eyes on this property for a while,” Bruce said, which is the closest a grocery chain will ever come to saying, “We watched the subdivisions sprout like soybeans.”

With Jerome Township getting its own new Kroger last year and Canal Winchester plus Delaware slated for openings next year, the Kroger drought is officially over. The floodgates have opened, and they are stocked with produce misting every 12 seconds.

The Grand Opening Circus

This being Powell, people camped out for hours.

Not for eggs. Not for deli meat.

For a Starbucks Bearista cup that,  plot twist, wasn’t even available at the in-store Starbucks.

The ribbon-cutting included mascots (yes, Brutus showed up to bless the aisles), free samples, raffles, and enough crowd energy to make you forget we were talking about a grocery store and not Taylor Swift tickets.

Shoppers arrived from Powell, Dublin, and probably a few people who claim Powell but actually live in Liberty Township. Many, like Ronnia Fort, said they’ll add the new location to their rotation strictly for variety.

A Grocery Lifeline

The new store instantly becomes the closest fresh-food option for thousands of nearby homes.

People like Marcie Lindo, who lives just over a mile away, walked in, saw the overflowing parking lot, and realized Powell just leveled up.

No closures are planned for any other local Kroger stores. This is expansion, not replacement. And if you’ve driven through northern Delaware County lately, that checks out.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just a grocery store. It’s another marker of how fast the region is growing and how quickly Columbus’ outer suburbs are turning into small cities of their own. Powell now has the kind of massive, full-service Kroger that usually lands in places like New Albany or Dublin.

And if you’re wondering how long it’ll take before they add a fuel center, a wine bar, or a drive-thru pharmacy shaped like a barn, the answer is probably “already in the works.”

If you’d like, I can also produce a shorter Instagram caption version.

THE BLOOD BATTLE: COLUMBUS’ OTHER FAVORITE WAY TO BEAT MICHIGAN

It’s that time of year when Ohio State and Michigan square off in the most Midwestern competition imaginable: seeing which campus can donate more blood without passing out.

And good news, the Buckeyes are three-time defending champions, which means we’ve been out-bleeding Ann Arbor since 2022. A dynasty, but with snacks and juice boxes.

The 2025 Blood Battle runs from October 22 to November 26, and the goal is simple: donate blood on Ohio State’s campus and keep the trophy where it belongs.

What’s at Stake

Last year, OSU took the title because thousands of students, staff, alumni, and maybe a few people who just wanted a free T-shirt rolled up their sleeves. This year, Michigan wants revenge. And the only thing standing in their way is… you. And everyone you can drag with you.

The Main Event

Ohio Stadium Blood Drive

Tuesday, November 18

11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ohio Stadium Recruit Room, Gate 30

Every donor walks away with:

• The exclusive 2025 Blood Battle T-shirt

• A shot at OSU–Michigan game tickets or signed Coach Day memorabilia

• Stadium tours

• A meet-and-greet with Brutus

• Free parking (which, honestly, is a prize by itself)

Why Should you Donate?
Blood donations drop every fall just as demand goes up. Winning the Blood Battle is fun, but hospitals in Central Ohio actually rely on this drive to fill critical shortages heading into the holidays.

If you’ve ever complained about long ER wait times or how impossible parking at the Wexner is, here’s a problem you can actually solve in under an hour.

Want In?

Sign up, show up, bleed scarlet, and make sure that Michigan goes home empty-handed.

Let’s give more Blood and Collect more food!

UNITED RIVALS: WHEN BUCKEYES AND WOLVERINES AGREE ON SOMETHING

There’s only one week a year when Ohio State and Michigan fans willingly stand in the same parking lot without shouting at each other. That week is now.

On Thursday, Nov 20, from 4 to 7 p.m., United Way of Central Ohio is hosting the United Rivals Tailgate at Grange Insurance on High Street. The mission is simple. Before the teams fight on the field, the fans fight childhood hunger.

Volunteers will pack 1,000 snack bags for two groups feeding kids over the holidays: Feed the Kids Columbus and St. Stephen’s Community House. It’s the stretch of the year when free and reduced lunch disappears and need spikes, and central Ohio families feel it.

The event comes with the full tailgate starter pack. Food. DJ. Cornhole tournament. A best-dressed fan showdown. Even a Michigan versus Ohio joke contest, because some traditions cannot be suspended. Former Buckeye and NFL lineman Doug Worthington will be there, plus other guests brave enough to stand between these two fan bases.

If you can’t make it downtown, donating fifty dollars or more gets you a United Rivals shirt shipped to your door. Every dollar helps fill the gap for kids who don’t get to choose which rivalry they were born into.

Click Here to help:

Trivia Answer:

B: 3340