Clayton Murphy

Wednesday saw another sharp rise in COVID cases in Ohio with the highest number since mid-April; Kent State University and the University of Akron are requiring everyone on campus to wear masks indoors; Cuyahoga County health officials are recommending masks in indoor spaces; and more stories.

Federal authorities and now the company itself say former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder worked closely together to win a $1 billion legislative bailout for two failing nuclear plants and provide the company's three Ohio electric companies with annual rate guarantees; a federal freeze on most evictions enacted last year came to an end on Saturday; a memorial grove to COVID-19 victims planted in Chillicothe earlier this year represents how governors and lawmakers from other states are pursuing similar permanent remembrances; and more stories.

The police chief of Albany, New York is out of the running for the Akron job; Lordstown Motors execs sold $8 million in stock ahead of public troubles; a Hudson resident on a backpacking trip at the Grand Canyon has died; and more stories.

The University of Akron is celebrating its first ever track and field Olympic medalist. Clayton Murphy, 21, won the bronze in the 800-meter final in Rio…