🚌 Children’s learning center: Greater Dayton RTA is converting its downtown bus concourse into an interactive educational space for elementary-aged children.
🏫 Private vs. public: Our education reporter Eileen McClory shares her recent analysis comparing private and public school proficiency scores.
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Dayton-bound Joby sees shares leap as company makes $125 million acquisition
Shares of Joby Aviation, a maker of flying taxis that has Dayton manufacturing plans, exploded Monday on news that Joby has entered into a definitive agreement with New York City-based Blade Air Mobility, Inc. to purchase Blade’s urban air mobility passenger business.
• Why it matters: The acquisition gives Joby access to what it called a “leading urban air mobility platform (with) dedicated terminal and lounge infrastructure in key urban markets in the U.S. and Europe, including New York City.”
• About Blade Air Mobility: The company operates helicopter and seaplane flights for passengers. Blade flew more than 50,000 passengers last year from a dozen urban terminals in some of the biggest cities.
• What they are saying: “This is a strategically important acquisition that will support the successful launch of Joby’s commercial operations in Dubai, our subsequent global rollout and our continued leadership in the sector,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and chief executive of Joby Aviation.
• Stock market reaction: Shares of Joby (NYSE:JOBY) jumped more than 20% in midday trading Monday.
‘Something special’ coming to RTA’s old concourse in downtown Dayton
Greater Dayton RTA is transforming the former concourse at the downtown bus hub into an interactive children’s learning center.
• Hub history: Before COVID, the concourse inside the Wright Stop Plaza Transit Center was home to several restaurants and shops and also served as a gathering place for people waiting for their buses. But the concourse shut down during the pandemic and never reopened to the public.
• Future plans: A children’s learning center that will serve young kids in elementary school is planned with an opening slated for late 2026.
• What to expect: The center will have stations and displays where kids can design their own buses and bus routes, learn the history of the transit agency and see how electric buses work.
The learning center also will have a full trolley bus inside with a middle section cut out, plus an RTA Connect bus. Kids will be able to touch and explore the vehicles.
• Who can visit: The RTA plans to pick up students from their schools and teach them how to ride the bus. He said the learning center will be by appointment only, for scheduled school groups.
What to know today
• One big takeaway: Here are 5 key highlights from our reporting that compares area private and public school test scores.
• Big move of the day: Miamisburg’s revamp of a decades-old neighborhood playlot is part of an ongoing effort to upgrade public play spaces citywide.
• Tip of the day: Under the new Senior Safe program, Dayton Fire Department staff will conduct regular wellness and safety checks and home visits on residents who are older, have mobility challenges or other needs.
• Dayton Food & Dining: Chef Dana Downs, who owned Roost Modern Italian in Dayton’s Oregon District, will appear on the Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games,” premiering Wednesday.
• Vote: Choose among 16 of the area’s most talented new and emerging artists in the 2025 Art in the City contest.
• Quote of the day: “It is the largest of three pavilions left in the state, has had many events held in it, and we hope many more,” said Gail Staley, secretary of the Friends of the Hance Pavilion, a group trying to revitalize the structure.
• Schools: During the decades that former school bus driver Matthew Hunt allegedly victimized students, he worked for at least seven area school districts.
• Inside Ohio Politics: After nearly three decades in elected office at the municipal and state level, Kettering Mayor Peggy Lehner will not seek another term.
• Thing to do: For more than 40 years, the city of Fairborn has celebrated the beginning of fall with its annual Sweet Corn Festival.
• Athlete of the week: The Dayton Daily News will be hosting a prep Athlete of the Week contest this fall. Here’s how readers can nominate and vote for their favorite athletes throughout the season.
• Dayton Flyers: Bryce Heard, one of six 2025 transfers on UD’s 2025-26 roster, is still only 18, but has a year of college experience.
• Photo of the day: The city of Fairborn and Real Roots Radio hosted the Bluegrass & Brew festival at Main Street Commons in downtown Fairborn on Friday. Bands featured in this gallery are as follows: Sevierville, Tennessee-based Grammy-nominated band The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys; Manchester, Tennessee-based the Becky Buller Band; and Xenia’s own Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers.
