Rep. Jon Cross

A religious group based in Holmes County has announced that a violent gang in Haiti has released three more hostages; two Northeast Ohio hospital systems are restricting visitations as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise; a Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation to attract and retain Ohio college students through a series of grants, scholarships and tax breaks; and more stories.

The proposed legislation would increase penalties significantly, and cities that repeatedly are cited could face more than $1 million in fines.

The controversial bill in the Ohio House that would ban businesses and employers from requiring vaccines is now on hold because it lacks the votes to proceed; Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted say they won’t be attending former President Donald Trump’s rally in Lorain on Saturday; two Republican lawmakers got into a tense confrontation at an upscale Columbus restaurant two weeks ago over the now-historic vote to expel Larry Householder from the Ohio House; and more stories.