🚦Beavercreek land purchase: The city plans to acquire 62 acres near U.S. 35 by the end of December to block incompatible development and reserve space for a potential overpass.
❄️ Weather watch: Southwest Ohio is expected to see accumulating snow starting early Friday and continuing into the afternoon, potentially impacting the morning commute.
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Ohio Senate votes to restrict intoxicating hemp to dispensaries, tweak recreational cannabis law
The Ohio Senate has rubber-stamped a House-passed bill that tweaks the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana laws and bans intoxicating hemp products from retailers.
• Senate Bill 56: Passed by Senate Republicans along party lines 22-7, the bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine, who has clamored for years now for the state to regulate, and even fully ban, intoxicating hemp products.
• The change: Intoxicating hemp products will be confined to the shelves of Ohio’s licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries and removed from other retailers.
• Other aspects of the bill: It criminalizes possession of all recreational marijuana bought out of state and requires that recreational marijuana must stay in its store-bought packaging.
• Timeline: The bill will go into effect 90 days after DeWine’s signature.
Future U.S. 35 overpass in Beavercreek? City to buy 62 acres on land needed for one near Factory Road
The city of Beavercreek plans to close on a property acquisition later this month for land off of U.S. 35 to prevent future “incompatible” developments, and secure land for a potential overpass there.
• The deal: Beavercreek is purchasing about 62 acres in the area of Factory and Shakertown roads, with a goal to close by the end of December.
• The cost: The purchase price for the property is $650,000. By buying this land, city officials are hopeful that potential future roadway improvements “can be implemented efficiently and cost-effectively,” said City Manager Pete Landrum.
• What else the city manager is saying: “By securing the property now, the city helps prevent incompatible development and protects the ability to move forward with regional transportation projects when funding becomes available,” Landrum said.
FREE CONTENT: Things to do in Dayton this weekend: Hot Chocolate Festival, SantaCon, Christkindlmarkt and more
This weekend, there will be many events taking place across the Dayton area including holiday markets, film screenings, festivals and more. Here’s a look at what’s happening.
What to know today
• One big takeaway: Discount stores resell overstock and returned items from major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart at deeply reduced prices, offering big savings for shoppers.
• Person to know today: When Riley Weisman, aka Man Dies., deejayed from 6 a.m on Black Friday to 6 a.m. the next day — a full 24 hours from behind his deck at Belmont Billiards in Dayton — it became a journey into self-transcendence.
• Big move of the day: Michael’s House Child Advocacy Center has recently completed renovations to its Fairborn center, aimed at better caring for children who have been victims of violent crimes.
• Dayton Food & Dining: Jukebox, a sparkling beverage studio at the Deerfield Towne Center in Mason, has added a customizable, high-protein pudding bar to its lineup.
• Help us out: Do you get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act? We want to talk to you. Fill out our questionnaire here.
• Thing to do: Holiday music, twinkling lights, festive treats and lap after lap around the rink with family and friends — nothing says the holidays quite like a night at the MetroParks Ice Rink.
• Photo of the day: The Kettering Mayor’s Tree Lighting kicked off the city’s holiday season on Friday at Lincoln Park Civic Commons. Activities included Mayor Peggy Lehner’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, photos with Santa Paws and Santa & Mrs. Claus, caroling by the Kettering Children’s Choir, horse-drawn carriage rides plus cookies and cocoa. See more photos here 📷.