Daily editionWednesday, October 21st, 2026
Good morning, Cincinnati.
The 5AM Cincinnati Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 21st of October.
Community
A Cincinnati pastor is walking 46 miles to spotlight the challenges facing homeless youth and foster children.
His journey began on Oct. 19 at Plum Street Temple and will end on Oct. 23 at the Islamic Center in West Chester ahead of a vote on a children’s services levy.
Cincinnati.comRead more
Business
Kroger will slash grocery prices by $5 billion by 2029 and add 110 new stores over the next 4 years.
The expansion may offer more local options for shoppers.
Cincinnati EnquirerRead more
Whole Foods Market is relocating its Mason store to West Chester and will open its new Liberty Way location on Nov. 18.
The store will offer more than 300 regional products & specialty departments including certified organic goods, a cheese section, full-service meat & seafood counters, bakery and beverage areas.
Local 12Read more
Amazon will hire 2,000 seasonal workers in the Tri-State, offering hourly wages of $20 to $24 and healthcare for those working 30 hours per week starting Jan. 1.
Applicants can sign up online or text NEWJOB to 31432.
Local 12 NewsRead more
Chick-fil-A is set to open its first Clifton location at 18 E. McMillan Street tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. The chain will celebrate by offering free meals to customers in cow costumes and donating $45,000 to local hunger relief (supporting Feeding America and two local food banks).
WLWTRead more
Economy
Electricity rates in Ohio have risen 56% over the past decade, leaving residents like Clermont County's Paul Napier facing high bills and using income-based plans to manage costs.
Local agencies are offering payment assistance for customers struggling with steep rates.
WVXURead more
Education
U.S. News released its 2027 rankings for elementary and middle schools, naming Spencer Center (rising from No. 8) as Ohio’s top elementary school while Orchard Middle School in Solon topped middle school rankings.
The rankings compared math and reading scores with student performance expectations.
Cincinnati EnquirerRead more
Cincinnati Public Schools placed a five-year, 7-mill operating levy on the November ballot to preserve programs for over 34,000 students (costing about $122.50 per half-year tax bill) as district officials host town halls to explain the measure is expected to raise about $66.3 million annually.
WLWTRead more
Saint Vincent Ferrer School will dedicate its new outdoor learning lab tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the Francis Courtyard along Montgomery Road after staff and volunteers cleared a 1,500-foot area of honeysuckle and planted native species.
The lab features a 50-foot dry creek bed that feeds a pond with minnows.
Local 12 NewsRead more
Government
Lawmakers say Ohio risks losing up to $100M in tax revenue from quickly growing prediction markets (including firms such as Kalshi and Polymarket) as court cases and a bill to ban election bets are underway.
Local 12 NewsRead more
On Saturday, fighter jets intercepted a general aviation aircraft that entered a temporary flight restricted area above Cincinnati at about 4 p.m. while a rally was held at Truist Arena in Highland Heights — the plane was safely escorted out.
Local 12 NewsRead more
Attack ads fill TV and radio as Sen. Jon Husted and former Sen. Sherrod Brown compete in the Senate race.
Ohio voters will see these messages before the Nov. 3 election.
Cincinnati EnquirerRead more
Accidents
Lockland reported the second highest number of stalled train incidents in Hamilton County over the past 12 months (including one on Oct. 18 that slowed response to a fatal house fire) based on federal data.
Cincinnati EnquirerRead more