Butler County News

Brian Oswald, pictured standing before the audience at the Sept. 27, 2021, Lakota School Board meeting, claims the board violated his freedom of speech by stopping him from addressing parents of the district. School board policy states all commenters must address the presiding officer of the board. SCREEN CAPTURE/YOUTUBE.COM

Lakota parent, sheriff’s deputy sues school board for freedom of speech violation

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Butler County commissioners T.C. Rogers, Cindy Carpenter and Don Dixon approved a new $20.3 million contract with Humana for 2022 that includes a rate lock in the second year and maximum rate increase of around 6% in the third year.

Butler County secures $62.2 million health insurance deal

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$Randy Bertram, treasurer of Middletown Schools, told the city school board Monday evening his financial projections include no need for the district to ask residents for an operating tax hike for at least the next half-decade. Bertram presented to the board a five-year financial forecast as mandated by the state for all public school systems, twice a year. (Photo By Michael D. Clark\Journal-News)$

Middletown fiscal officer predicts no school operating tax hikes for next half decade

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Long-time Butler County zoning official resigns amid corruption allegations

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It's looking like another overflowing year of generosity as Lakota school officials report a possible record number of collections so for the school system's annual "Stuff The Bus" food drive campaign. The donation drive benefits Reach Out Lakota, which serves needy families in West Chester and Liberty townships from which Lakota draws its 17,000 students. File photo shows a previous year's stuffed bus with superintendents from Middletown, Hamilton and Lakota representing their friendly rivalry of each district collecting donations for their respective community food pantries. (Provided Photo/Journal-News)

Food pantry, school officials happy about ‘Stuff The Bus’ campaign results at Lakota

Edgewood school board candidates agree communication is key

Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Services Board is honing plans for an emergency mental health crisis stabilization center. FILE

Butler County finalizing plans for emergency mental health crisis center

$Butler Tech last week unveiled a new driver’s examination test site in Liberty Twp. for those adults seeking to earn their commercial driver’s license (CDL). The adult student program and its new testing facility will greatly speed the licensing process, say Butler Tech officials. (Provided Photo\Journal-News)$

Butler Tech opens new truck driver license testing site to speed more into the workforce

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones photographed on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Major Butler County police agencies seek funds for new body cameras

Painful memory leads to new U.S. map in Fairfield school playground

U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel was asked to leave the Oct. 11, 2021, school board meeting after he questioned the board on its mask mandate policy. The board cited Mandel was not a resident of the district. Residents or designees of residents are permitted to speak, according to the district. A woman said she designated Mandel to speak on her behalf, but the board said she "yielded" her time and did not formally designate him. SCREEN CAPTURE/TWITTER.COM/JOSHMANDELOHIO

Lakota board cancels tonight’s meeting, instead will hold ‘respect, civility’ discussion...

$The recent Liberty Twp. Trustee candidate forum saw much of the discussion focused on the community's future growth, specifically the proposed Millikin Road development at the Interstate 75 interchange. Three candidates - who were joined by West Chester Twp. trustee candidates - are seeking two open seats on the Liberty Twp.'s governing board. (Photo By Michael D. Clark\Journal-News)$

Proposed I-75 interchange, future growth of Liberty Twp. big in trustee race

Police investigate multi-county theft ring along I-75 corridor

The new $4.3 million West Chester Twp. Fire Station 73 is open for business. COVID caused a few cost overruns, but the final price was only 1.3% over budget.

West Chester trustees approve extra $300,000 for new fire station

Butler County probably returning to risk-free traditional insurance: What that means

$Badin High School junior Kendyl Roberts recently added to her already impressive karate competition resume by bringing home a gold medal from an international event in Romania. The 17-year-old Roberts won top honors at the World Karate Championships in Romania. (Provided Photo\Journal-News)$

Butler County high school girl wins international gold medal in karate

Butler County law enforcement agencies applying for body camera grants

The city of Oxford has been awarded $2.76 million to complete Phase 5 of its multi-phase Oxford Area Trails project to create a 12-mile loop around the city. Pictured are cyclists on the multi-use trail that opened in the city of Oxford in 2017. FILE

Nearly $8 million coming to 2 Butler County transportation projects, including new RTA...

Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities GREG LYNCH / STAFF

Butler County Developmental Disabilities board rolling back taxes again: What that means...

There are four candidates for Fairfield Twp. Trustee in the 2021 general election. Pictured, clockwise from top left are incumbent Trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer and candidates Benjamin Wall, Michael Berding and Denise McCoy. They are vying for one of two open four-year terms on the township trustees board. PHOTOS PROVIDED

Fairfield Twp. trustees’ 4-candidate field has only 1 incumbent for Nov. 2 election

$Sharon Redmond, formerly a top official with Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati, was recently named as the new chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty. The $6.9 million, 30,000-square-foot youth club in Olde West Chester is one of the premier youth facilities in southwest Ohio. (Provided Photo\Journal-News)$

Boys & Girls Club lands veteran school administrator as new CEO

Early voting turnout for Nov. 2 election in Butler County outpacing 2019 election

Preliminary estimate for a new Millikin Road interchange at Interstate 75 in Liberty Twp. is $72 million.

Funding coming together for the proposed Millikin Road interchange on I-75

Teen pleads guilty, gets life sentence in fatal Middletown shooting over $60 marijuana...

Butler County spending about $32.5 million on major modifications to the Liberty Way and Interstate 75 interchange and other surrounding roadways. GREG LYNCH / STAFF

Butler County commissioners balk at $2.5M Liberty Way land buy from The Christ Hospital

$A recent forum - shown online - included three candidates seeking two open seats on the board of trustees of West Chester Twp. and talk of business development dominated the discussion. The township is one of the most populous in Ohio and in recent years has been lauded by some national publications as one of the nation's most desirable communities in which to live. (Photo By Michael D. Clark\Journal-News)$

A Lakota Board of Education candidates' forum earlier this month saw the eight candidates - who are seeking to fill three seats - outline their qualifications and focuses of their campaigns. Voters will decide on Nov. 2 the majority of the five-member school board overseeing the 17,000-student district. Michael D. Clark / Journal-News

8 candidates vying for 3 seats debate issues for Lakota Schools

Does freedom of speech apply to speaking at a public meeting? Mandel incident at Lakota...

The Butler County sheriff may reopen the Court Street Jail in Hamilton to help with region’s jail space crunch. GREG LYNCH/STAFF

Drop in Ohio report card performance was expected amid COVID-19, Butler County officials...

Fairfield getting new self-service BMV station to help avoid lines

Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds took his property reassessment fight with the state tax commissioner to Columbus this week for a board of tax appeals hearing. GREG LYNCH / STAFF

Butler County auditor takes fight over mandated property reassessments to Columbus