Morning Briefing: Saturday, March 28th, 2026

Saturday has arrived and so has this newsletter. I have plenty to bring to your attention as you get up and get moving this morning...

🚰 Water service extended: Xenia has extended water service to Central State University through May 18 as negotiations with the university continue. Xenia City Council voted to extend the temporary agreement at their Thursday meeting following a roughly 45 minute executive session, with mayor Ethan Reynolds abstaining.

🧑🏻‍⚖️Thug Rider member sentenced: We have learned that a Thug Riders Motorcycle Club member who reportedly was involved in a deadly shooting in Harrison Twp. and the explosion of a former member’s truck in Huber Heights has been sentenced to prison. Our Kristen Spicker reports that Judge Michael J. Newman sentenced John A. Smith to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release, according to U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio records.

🌡️ Record tied: We now know that warm temperatures on Thursday tied a 119-year record in Dayton. The high temperature was 81 degrees, tying the record high set in 1907 for March 26, according to the National Weather Service.

If you have thoughts or feedback on this newsletter or other news tips, please let me know at jeremy.ratliff@coxinc.com.

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LOCAL NEWS

‘He was a good guy’: What neighbors say about man shot, killed by police

Ohio Supreme Court weighs parental rights in challenge to gender‑affirming care ban

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose activated for duty


LIFE

Surviving (and thriving) through allergy season

‘Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone’

Forgotten vinyl review: ‘Spin the World’ (1989) by Royal Crescent Mob


CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

3 injured during shooting near Greater Dayton Recreation Center

15-year-old facing murder charges in double shooting that killed teen in Dayton


SPORTS

Dayton basketball: Three questions facing the Flyers after the 2025-26 season

New A-10 commissioner supports NCAA tournament expansion

Boys basketball: Who are all state performers in Division I-III from the Miami Valley?


NATION & WORLD

Tiger Woods’ rollover crash is golfer’s fourth high-profile car accident and second DUI arrest

Israel hits Iranian nuke facilities and Tehran strikes base in Saudi Arabia, wounding US troops

Indonesia starts implementing social media restrictions for children under 16


FREE CONTENT: Boutique fitness studios reshape how Dayton works out downtown

Part of my plans today involve some form of exercise, so this story definitely has my interest. Our Anne Kaine tells us a growing number of boutique fitness studios are drawing people in with curated classes, flexible memberships and a sense of community that goes beyond the workout itself. She writes, “From high-energy cycling to restorative yoga, these five studios offer a snapshot of how the city’s fitness scene is evolving and why more people are choosing smaller, more specialized spaces.” You can read through her list on this Saturday morning here.