(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and seven other attorneys general announced two related judgments effectively shutting down a massive robocall operation that bombarded Americans with billions of illicit robocalls, including more than 69 million to Ohioans.
“Stopping annoying robocalls is a lengthy process, but this judgment is a reminder that we can cut them off,” Yost said. “There are enough distractions in life – let’s not let spam callers interrupt our lives anymore.”
In separate rulings, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas this week imposed a combined monetary judgment of $244,658,640 against John Caldwell Spiller II and his business partner, Jakob Mears. The men owned Texas-based Rising Eagle Capital Group, JSquared Telecom and Rising Eagle Capital Group-Cayman.
Because of Spiller and Mears’ inability to pay, the judgments will largely be suspended in favor of a permanent operational ban, meaning that neither can initiate or facilitate any robocalls, work for or with companies that make robocalls or engage in any telemarketing.
The court’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Yost and others in June 2020 citing violations of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as various state consumer-protection laws.
The complaint alleged that Spiller and Mears used the three companies to unleash a barrage of deceptive robocalls, many of them selling bogus extended car warranties and health-care services. They also “spoofed” calls by manipulating the number that appeared on caller ID to mislead people and called millions of phone numbers on the Do Not Call list.
Specifically, between January and May of 2019 and January and March of 2020, the defendants initiated more than 69 million robocalls to phone numbers associated with Ohio area codes. Of those, roughly 32.3 million were numbers on the Do Not Call list.
Yost and the other attorneys general are continuing cases in this same litigation against Scott Shapiro, Michael Theron Smith Jr. and Health Advisors of America Inc., all of Florida. These defendants allegedly worked with Mears and Spiller to make illegal robocalls targeting people who never asked to be contacted by Health Advisors.
Joining Yost in the announcement were the attorneys general of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota and Texas.
Consumers who receive unwanted calls can complete an Unwanted Call Notification Form at www.OhioProtects.org. That information will be shared with the Robocall Enforcement Unit, which uses the reports to identify trends and protect Ohioans.
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Track & Soil Removal
Ohio EPA continues to oversee the soil excavation from beneath the tracks at the site of the train derailment. Nineteen hundred feet of rail in one direction has been fully removed, and approximately one half of contaminated soil from beneath the removed line has been excavated. Once contaminated soil is removed, samples of the top layer of soil that remains in the ground are taken and tested by U.S. EPA to ensure that contractors have dug deep enough to remove all hazardous materials. Excavated soil is being stored onsite in a specially lined waste containment area until it can be hauled offsite to a hazardous waste facility.
Soil Removal Odor – Resources Available
Residents in and around the area may notice a smell from the derailment site as contractors excavate contaminated soil from underneath the railroad tracks. The U.S. EPA continues to monitor the air in the community and has also conducted air monitoring tests near the soil excavation area. Although there were no sustained exceedances above health screening levels, some of the contaminants in the soil have a low odor threshold, which means that these contaminants can be smelled at levels much lower than what is considered hazardous.
As a reminder, Norfolk Southern has agreed to provide additional financial assistance to residents of the East Palestine area within a mile of the derailment site. This assistance may include temporary lodging, travel, food, clothing, and other necessities. Residents should call 800-230-7049 (open 24 hours) or visit the Family Assistance Center at Abundant Life Church in New Waterford, Ohio, for more information. Residents can also contact the U.S. EPA at 866-361-0526 for additional guidance about available resources.
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 3.2 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
Approximately 230,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 2.7 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 320,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 2,070 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
Approximately 290 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 900 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
Approximately 440 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana to be placed in a landfill.
FEMA Letter
On Friday, Governor DeWine submitted a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting a 120-day extension to submit a request for a major disaster declaration.
Governor DeWine announced his intent to file for the extension on February 17, 2023, after determining that the East Palestine disaster did not qualify for traditional FEMA aid. This extension would ensure that East Palestine can receive assistance from FEMA should the derailment qualify for traditional FEMA aid in the future.
Agriculture Meeting
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge visited East Palestine today to meet with federal, state, and local agricultural partners to discuss farmer impact following the train derailment. Today’s visit comes ahead of a roundtable discussion that will take place later in the week with East Palestine area farmers to address concerns about the upcoming planting season. The meeting will be held on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Education Building in Salem, Ohio. ODA currently has no reason to believe that crops planted in soil in the area of East Palestine are not safe for consumption.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife officers from ODNR continue to monitor the streams in the East Palestine area impacted by the train derailment. In the initial spill, ODNR estimates approximately 38,222 minnows, ranging in size between 1 and 3 inches, were killed. ODNR also estimated the total number of other aquatic life killed as a result of the derailment, including fish, crayfish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates to be approximately 5,500.
Other than this aquatic life, eleven deceased animals have been submitted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for evaluation to determine if their deaths were related to the chemical spill. Final necropsy results on a beef calf, three birds, and an opossum show no evidence of chemical toxicity as a cause of death. Preliminary results connected to the deaths of four raccoons, one muskrat, and one snapping turtle show no evidence of chemical toxicity as a cause of death.
Private Well Testing
Water sample results from private water systems of East Palestine area homes continue to show no harmful levels of contaminants.
The Ohio Department of Health, working with the Columbiana County Health District, had received verified laboratory results from 14 additional samples from private water systems as of noon Monday. Five of those wells showed no detectable contaminants. Nine wells had trace detections at levels well below safe drinking-water standards. There is no evidence that any of those trace detections are linked to the train derailment.
In total, 170 private systems have been sampled. Of those, test results from 71 samples have been verified, and none have shown any harmful contaminant levels associated with the derailment.
The results can be found on the Columbiana County Health Department site at https://www.columbiana-health.org/resources/.
Residents near East Palestine who would like their private water system sampled should call 330-849-3919.
Health Assessment Clinic
The Ohio Department of Health’s Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine now is operating on a walk-in basis. Residents should arrive at least an hour before closing to ensure there is enough time to be served.
This week’s clinic hours are:
Monday – Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. For information, call the Columbiana County Health District at 330-424-0272.
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
More Information and Previous Updates: ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Dam Modification for Water Overflow
The dam at the confluence of Sulphur Run and Leslie Run continues to work as expected. Although it may have appeared that the dam in this area was breached on Friday evening, the overflow of water was part of the mitigation plan to address the increase in water caused by heavy rains. The dam did not fail.
As surface water accumulated in the flood plain area at the confluence of Sulphur and Leslie Runs, the dams there were modified to allow for water overflow. According to the Ohio EPA, the contractor created a depression in the dam to relieve the overflow and lower the water level, and vacuum trucks were then used to pull up the released water.
This mitigation work allowed the contractor to control the runoff in the derailment area, and the Ohio EPA does not believe that any visible contaminated waste was released into the streams. In fact, the water from the dammed area that was allowed to overflow had been tested daily prior to the storm and had shown very low or non-detectable dissolved contaminant levels.
Out of an abundance of caution, the ponded rainwater that was released was sampled before it was collected for disposal. Test results are expected in two to three days. Ohio EPA will continue daily stream monitoring.
Track Soil Removal
The track panels were removed from the south line yesterday and the excavation of the track area began today. Crews began removing the ballast (stone) to expose the underlying clay. Due to wet conditions from overnight rain, the excavation of the clay will be delayed until conditions are favorable to securely remove and sample the material. The work is proceeding from the east side of the derailment west toward Pleasant Drive.
Municipal Water Open House
The East Palestine Municipal Water System held an open house today at the village’s water treatment plant. Plant employees explained where the village’s wells are located, presented ground water and source protection maps, and answered questions about the water system. All sampling of East Palestine’s municipal water wells to date have shown no contaminants associated with the derailment.
Photo from today’s open house event.
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 2.7 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total. (Note: Yesterday’s reported estimate of 3.2 million gallons should have read 2.5 million.)
Approximately 230,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 2.1 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 320,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 1,970 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
Approximately 290 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 800 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
Approximately 440 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana to be placed in a landfill.
Negley Townhall
Ohio EPA took part in a town hall meeting in Negley, a community just south of East Palestine, on Saturday. The Columbiana County EMA brought representatives together from several agencies, including Norfolk Southern, to answer residents’ questions. The community asked about several issues including private wells, air quality, and long-term monitoring.
Health Assessment Clinic
Hours for the Ohio Department of Health’s Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine this week are:
Monday-Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Health Assessment Clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
More Information and Previous Updates: ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine
President Zelenskyy, Prosecutor General Kostin, and esteemed colleagues: it is an honor to be here with you on behalf of the United States Department of Justice.
Just over twelve months ago, invading Russian forces began committing atrocities at the largest scale in any armed conflict since the second World War.
We are here today in Ukraine to speak clearly, and with one voice: the perpetrators of those crimes will not get away with them.
Thirty years ago, at the dedication of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the late Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel issued a charge:
“For the dead and the living,” he said, “we must bear witness.”
For the past year, our colleagues in the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office have risked their lives to bear witness.
Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth of what is happening here in Ukraine, and to preserve and record it for future generations.
They have meticulously collected and catalogued evidence from the rubble of blast sites – including hospitals, apartment buildings, and schools.
They have worked urgently to seek justice on behalf of the thousands of Ukrainian men, women, and children who have been killed.
They have exhumed mass graves and carefully studied the bodies of victims – in order to tell the stories of those who no longer can.
They have documented the Russian regime’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children and its use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
They have worked relentlessly to pursue accountability for these crimes and make clear the costs of perpetrating them.
They have opened investigations, identified and tracked down suspects, and initiated prosecutions.
And they are only just getting started.
In bearing witness, Ukrainian prosecutors, like the Ukrainian people, have stood courageously in defense of democracy and in defense of the rule of law.
The United States Department of Justice is honored to stand beside you.
And we are honored to stand beside our international partners here today.
The courage of the Ukrainian people has inspired us all.
And it has galvanized cooperation in the international community to hold the Russian regime accountable for its crimes.
Just now, the United States signed an historic agreement with Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, and Romania that will strengthen our efforts to hold Russian war criminals accountable.
This agreement will expand information sharing between our countries that will help us not only to identify and prosecute Russian war criminals, but to build winning cases against them.
In addition to strengthening our international partnerships, the United States is working more closely than ever with our Ukrainian partners in our investigations of Russian war crimes.
Together, American and Ukrainian prosecutors have zeroed in on specific crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilian targets.
We are working to identify not only the individuals who carried out these attacks, but those who ordered them.
As part of this effort, the Department’s human rights prosecutors are providing advice and assistance to the Prosecutor General’s office on specific cases.
Our environmental crimes prosecutors are training their Ukrainian counterparts on the investigation and prosecution of potential environmental war crimes.
And we are partnering together to apply the lessons the Justice Department has learned from its own complex criminal investigations to assist the Prosecutor General’s Office in developing a secure electronic case management and analysis system.
This is not the first time the Justice Department has worked with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office to hold accountable those who committed atrocities in Ukraine.
Thirty years ago, the U.S. Justice Department and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office signed an agreement similar to the one that Prosecutor General Kostin and I signed in Washington last fall.
In 1993, the goal of that agreement was to deepen our countries’ cooperation on cases involving Nazi war crimes.
As a result, the Justice Department and the Prosecutor General’s Office successfully worked together to prove atrocity crimes in Nazi-occupied Ukraine.
This was integral to the Justice Department’s own decades-long efforts to identify, denaturalize, and deport Nazi war criminals in the United States.
All told, the Department’s Office of Special Investigations brought more than 130 cases against perpetrators of Nazi crimes.
The Justice Department – and the American people – have a long memory.
I am proud that I successfully persuaded the same prosecutor who led the Justice Department’s work to investigate Nazi atrocity crimes to lead the Department’s current efforts to investigate atrocity crimes in Ukraine.
I announced that effort – the War Crimes Accountability Team – when I visited Ukraine last June.
The U.S. Justice Department is also deploying our resources to hold accountable those whose criminal acts enable Russia’s continued brutality.
In March of last year, I announced the launch of the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture. That team of prosecutors, agents, analysts, translators, professional staff, and law enforcement partners has been busy seizing assets, executing arrests, and bringing prosecutions against sanctioned enablers of the Kremlin and Russian military.
Last month, I authorized the United States’ first-ever transfer of seized assets to the U.S. State Department to support the rebuilding of Ukraine. There will be more to come.
In addition to our work in partnership with Ukraine and the international community, the United States has also opened criminal investigations into war crimes in Ukraine that may violate U.S. law.
Although we are still building our cases, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence, we have already identified specific suspects.
Our prosecutors are working day and night to bring them to justice as quickly as possible.
What is happening here in Ukraine has significantly re-shaped the way the United States approaches war crimes accountability.
Until recently, our jurisdiction over war crimes was limited to cases in which a U.S. national was a victim or perpetrator.
But earlier this year – in the wake of Russia’s campaign of brutality – Congress enacted a change in the law that will allow the U.S. Justice Department to prosecute alleged war criminals from anywhere in the world who are found in the United States.
And we intend to do so.
This means that in the years – and decades – ahead, Russian war criminals who set foot in our country should expect to find themselves in U.S. courts of law. War criminals will find no refuge in America.
In courageously defending itself against an authoritarian regime, Ukraine has demonstrated the stakes that we all have in the success of democracy and the Rule of Law.
The United States recognizes that what happens here in Ukraine will have a direct impact on the strength of our own democracy.
That is why, in addition to ensuring accountability for individual war crimes, the United States also supports efforts by the international community to ensure that individuals responsible for crimes of aggression are held accountable.
In doing so we can, and we should, look to the model established by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg nearly eight decades ago.
In that effort, the United States and its allies demonstrated their faith in the Rule of Law to hold accountable those who perpetrated some of the worst crimes in history. That effort was led by one of my most illustrious predecessors as Attorney General – Robert Jackson.
Our presence here today is proof that our faith in the Rule of Law has not wavered.
My grandmother was one of five children born not far from here, in what is now Belarus.
Three, including my grandmother, made it to the United States long before the Nazis invaded. Two did not make it. Those two were killed in the Holocaust.
My family does not know exactly when, or exactly where, they were killed. We do not know if anyone involved in their deaths was ever held accountable.
The families and descendants of the victims of the current atrocities in Ukraine deserve to know what happened to their loved ones. They deserve justice.
Today, members of the international community have joined together here in Ukraine to bear witness to the atrocities being committed by Russian forces.
We have come here to remember and reaffirm the humanity of the individuals who have been victimized by Russia’s brutal crimes.
And we have come here to seek justice and accountability under the law for all those who bear responsibility for those crimes.
Fulfilling those tasks will demand an enormous amount of work – not only from the Ukrainian people and their leaders, but also from the international community.
It will require painstaking attention to the details of individual crimes, sifting through enormous amounts of rapidly mounting evidence, and a relentless commitment to justice.
And it will require us to continue to adhere to, and put our trust in, the Rule of Law.
The United States Department of Justice will do that work for as long as it takes.
Thank you.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the JIT MOU Signing Ceremony
Prosecutor General Kostin – Andriy – thank you for hosting the United for Justice Conference here in Lviv. It is good to see you again, and good to be back in Ukraine at this critical time.
Fellow prosecutors, thank you for making this historic moment possible.
A little over one year ago, the world watched in horror as Russia began its full-scale, unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
In the following twelve months, we have witnessed shocking attacks on innocent civilians, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, and other blatant violations of international law. Even the city in which we gather today has been the site of deadly Russian attacks.
But the world has also watched with awe as the men and women of Ukraine have stoodtheir ground to protect their country. And we have watched with awe as brave Ukrainian investigators have rushed to process war crime scenes in the midst of ongoing conflict.
The Ukrainian people have shown the world what true courage looks like.
As Prosecutor General Kostin says – the tools of justice must be as strong as the tools of war.
That is why we are here. Those Russian officials and members of Russia’s armed forces who are responsible for the atrocities we have seen in Ukraine must be held to account.
Colleagues, you have been on the frontlines of that righteous task. You have been processing large amounts of evidence, including witness and victim testimonies from Ukrainian refugees. And you have been pursuing investigations within your respective jurisdictions.
To ensure that every possible measure was being taken to coordinate that gathering of war crimes evidence, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine established a Joint Investigative Team – a JIT – on March 25, 2022.
Just a month later, and for the first time in its history, the International Criminal Court signed an agreement to participate in the JIT. Not long after, Estonia, Latvia, and Slovakia became members. And later that year, Romania joined – forming the JIT as we know today.
Your collective action to ensure rapid and real-time law enforcement coordination and cooperation was far more than a practical, logistical step. It was a signal to the world that the perpetrators of this invasion would not undermine our shared commitment to free and democratic societies.
And it is one more reason – in the face of so much darkness – to be hopeful for the future of Ukraine and our ability as an international community to react quickly and decisively to unprovoked Russian aggression.
It is our honor to stand with you today.
Like you, the United States has been pursuing every avenue available to achieve justice for victims of atrocities in Ukraine.
In June of last year, I announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team, to centralize and strengthen the Justice Department’s accountability efforts in the wake of Russia’s aggression. The Team has played an integral role in the Department’s ongoing investigation of potential war crimes over which the U.S. has jurisdiction.
In addition to pursuing our own domestic cases, we have engaged with our allies and partners on a bilateral and multilateral basis.
In September of last year, the Justice Department entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office. That MOU has already paid dividends as we work closely together.
But we recognize that investigating and prosecuting crimes of this magnitude poses a monumental challenge that can only be overcome with strong, multinational cooperation and coordination.
We are grateful for the JIT’s pursuit of justice for victims in the face of Russia’s continued aggression. We recognize the European Union’s invaluable support for the JIT, and in particular the important work done by Eurojust to ensure that the JIT has the resources it needs to succeed.
And today, we are pleased to be the first country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with all seven JIT national members.
The MOU will formalize and facilitate coordination between the United States and JIT member countries on our respective investigations and prosecutions.
We will back our contribution with the full force and weight of the United States government. You have our commitment that we will do everything in our power to achieve the accountability necessary for true justice.
Our mission is clear. Our resolve will not weaken. And our determination to see justice done will not waver.
Oxford Township – On Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:32 P.M., the Milan Highway Patrol Post responded to a fatal crash on the Ohio Turnpike at milepost 116.5 in Oxford Township, Erie County.
A 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee was being operate d westbound by Gilbert Jorden Jr., age 30, of Corry, Pennsylvania. Jorden went off the right side of the road , struck the guardrail and became disabled in the center lane. The passengers in the Jeep were Effie Carder, age 26, a 4-year-old female, a 3-year-old male, and a 2-year-old female all of Corry, Pennsylvania. All five occupants exited the vehicle in an attempt to get off the roadway.
A 2023 Freightliner Semi was being operated westbound by Akeeva Stinson, age 27, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Stinson struck the Jeep and five pedestrians.
Carder sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and wa s pronounced deceased at the scene. Jorden and the three female juveniles sustained serious injuries and were transported by LifeCare EMS to Firelands Regional Medical Center. Stinson was not injured.
The Ohio Turnpike was closed westbound for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated by Troopers. The Sta te Highway Patrol was assisted on-scene by the Groton Township Fire Department, LifeCare EMS, Interstate Towing, and Ohio Turnpike Maintenance.
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Health Assessment Surveys
Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA today released the results of health assessment surveys conducted at the East Palestine Health Assessment Clinic, a partnership between the Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health District, and door-to-door visits conducted by representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Residents completed the After Chemical Exposure (ACE) Community survey to provide valuable information about how they may be impacted by the train derailment. During a visit to the clinic, residents have the opportunity to complete this survey, have their vital signs taken, and be evaluated by a physician. Referrals are made for ongoing care if necessary and certified counselors are available at the clinic.
Of the 168 surveys completed, the most common symptoms reported includes headache, anxiety, coughing, fatigue/tiredness, and irritation, pain, or burning of skin.
The median age of respondents is 57 and most participants are over the age of 18 (94%).
Health Department officials use the information provided to better understand how the derailment incident may be impacting residents and determine appropriate public health response.
Next week’s clinic hours are:
Monday-Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St. and can be reached by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.
Track Removal Update
Ohio EPA is overseeing operations as tracks and ties are removed from the derailment site in preparation to excavate the soil underneath. Nineteen hundred feet of rail will be pulled up on both sets of tracks. The plan submitted by Norfolk Southern and agreed on by state and federal authorities overseeing the remediation process indicates the entire removal of tracks, excavation of soil, and reconstruction of the rails should be complete by April 30.
Agriculture Meeting
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and state agricultural experts will meet with East Palestine area farmers next week to address concerns about the upcoming planting season. Although ODA currently has no reason to believe that crops planted in soil in the area of East Palestine are not safe, Norfolk Southern is developing a soil sampling plan for residential and agricultural areas. Once finalized, the plan must be approved by the U.S. EPA.
The time and date of next week’s meeting have not yet been determined, but additional information will be provided in a future update.
New Signage
The Village of East Palestine will begin posting signs advising residents to stay out of local waterways where testing and cleaning are taking place. Residents can expect to see the “KEEP OUT” signs posted along Sulphur Run and Leslie Run near the public park, the train derailment site, and elsewhere throughout the village.
Municipal Water Open House
An open house will be held Saturday by the East Palestine municipal water system at the village’s water treatment plant. Plant employees will explain where the city’s wells are located, present ground water and source protection maps, and answer questions about the water system.
Members of the media are welcome to attend from 9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m., and residents are invited to attend from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The address is 481 Bacon Avenue, East Palestine.
All sampling of East Palestine’s municipal water wells to date have shown no contaminants associated with the derailment.
Private Well Sampling
Water sample results from private water systems of East Palestine area homes continue to show no harmful levels of contaminants.
In total, 157 private systems have been sampled. Of those, test results from 57 samples have been verified, and none have shown any harmful contaminant levels associated with the derailment.
The results can be found on the Columbiana County Health Department site at https://www.columbiana-health.org/resources/.
Residents near East Palestine who would like their private water system sampled should call 330-849-3919.
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 3.2 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
Approximately 210,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 1.9 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 320,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 1,700 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
Approximately 190 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 660 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
Approximately 440 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana to be placed in a landfill.
Animal Necropsies
Preliminary reports on six deceased wildlife animals submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory show no evidence to support chemical toxicity as a cause of death.
The four racoons, one muskrat, and one snapping turtle were found in or around Sulphur Run earlier this week. Some of the animals submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources were too decomposed for lab work.
Student Services
Governor DeWine is also announcing that the Learning Aid Ohio program, which provides in-home support services for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to supplement the services they receive in schools, is reserving dedicated slots for children in Columbiana County who have been impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Learning Aid Ohio provides families with financial resources to cover the costs of certain in-home support services, such as tutoring, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, to help children catch up and succeed academically. Learning Aid Ohio is also always recruiting providers to support enrolled learners. For additional information on the program, families and providers can visit LearningOhio.com. Columbiana County families with questions may email learningohio@dsaco.net
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
More Information and Previous Updates: ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine
On 03/02/23 at 11:06 PM Mansfield Police responded to a shooting at the M & S Drive-Thru located at 753 Springmill Street Mansfield, Ohio. An employee of the business called to report a homicide at the location.
Upon officers’ arrival a 26-year-old male was found deceased at the location from a gunshot wound along with another 26-year-old male with a gunshot to his calf. Both victims were transported to Ohio Health-Mansfield.
While officers were investigating the shooting a 24-year-old female victim suffering from a gunshot wound to her foot arrived at Ohio Health Mansfield and was found to have been present at the original dispatched location when the shooting occurred but fled before officers’ arrival.
Major Crime detectives arrived on scene and are working to determine who is responsible for the shooting of three individuals which ultimately caused fatal wounds to one of them. The Richland County Coroner’s Office will be sending the deceased victim for an autopsy. Once additional details are known they will be released at that time.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to please call Major Crimes Detective Ronee Swisher at 419-755-9432.
CINCINNATI – A federal jury convicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 63, of Glenford, Ohio, and former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 50, of Bexley, Ohio, of participating in a racketeering conspiracy.
“As presented by the trial team, Larry Householder illegally sold the statehouse, and thus he ultimately betrayed the great people of Ohio he was elected to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Matt Borges was a willing co-conspirator, who paid bribe money for insider information to assist Householder. Through its verdict today, the jury reaffirmed that the illegal acts committed by both men will not be tolerated and that they should be held accountable.”
“The FBI’s top criminal priority is investigating public corruption to hold elected officials accountable when they commit illegal acts,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “I commend the special agents who investigated this historic case, the FBI analysts and staff who provided integral support, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their successful prosecution.”
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Jan. 23 before Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Householder and his enterprise conspired to violate the racketeering statute through honest services wire fraud, receipt of millions of dollars in bribes and money laundering.
The conspiracy involved nearly $61 million in bribes paid to a 501(c)(4) entity to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from March 2017 to March 2020, the enterprise traded millions of dollars in bribery campaign donations in exchange for Householder’s and the enterprise’s help in passing House Bill 6. The defendants then also worked to corruptly ensure that HB 6 went into effect by defeating a ballot initiative to overturn the legislation.
In March 2017, Householder began receiving quarterly $250,000 payments from the related-energy companies into the bank account of his 501(c)(4), Generation Now. Team Householder spent millions of the company’s dollars to support Householder’s political bid to become Speaker, to support House candidates they believed would back Householder, and for their own personal benefit.
The United States detailed that Householder spent more than half a million dollars of the dark money to pay off his credit card balances, repair his Florida home and settle a business lawsuit.
Borges used approximately $366,000 for his personal benefit.
Borges was budgeted $25,000 to bribe an Ohio Republican operative to try to save House Bill 6. Borges gave the man a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum.
Householder’s longtime campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others.
The racketeering conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced today’s verdict. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The Ohio Attorney General’s Office today certified the summary of a petition entitled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety.” The amendment would add a Section 22 to Article 1 of the state constitution.
The Attorney General’s Office received the petition summary on Feb. 21. The attorney general’s sole role in the petition process is to determine whether the language submitted by the petitioners is a fair and truthful summary of the proposed statute.
The proposal next moves to the Ohio Ballot Board, which will determine whether it contains a single constitutional amendment or more than one. If the board certifies the proposal, the petitioners must then collect signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Those signatures must come from voters in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties and, for each of those counties, the number must equal at least 5% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election.
If sufficient signatures are verified by the Ohio Secretary of State at least 65 days before the election, the full text of the proposed amendment will be placed on the ballot in the regular or general election that occurs subsequent to 125 days after the filing of the petition.
(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— The following are updates from the State of Ohio regarding remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
“To address any continuing concerns for potential release of dioxins in the local area resulting from the derailment, out of an abundance of caution (U.S.) EPA will continue to sample for indicator chemicals and will also require Norfolk Southern to begin sampling directly for dioxins. If dioxins are found in the area including East Palestine, (U.S.) EPA will share the information with the public, determine whether the level of contaminants found poses any unacceptable risk to human health and the environment, and direct the immediate cleanup of the area as needed, in coordination with OEPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and other partners.”
Hazardous Waste Removal
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 2.1 million gallons of liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
Approximately 190,000 gallons have been shipped to Vickery Environmental in Vickery, Ohio, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 1.6 million gallons have been shipped to Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, to be disposed of through deep well injection.
Approximately 300,000 gallons have been hauled to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Michigan to be disposed of through deep well injection.
The Ohio EPA reports that approximately 1,400 tons of solid waste have also left the derailment site.
Approximately 140 tons have been hauled to Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 370 tons have been hauled to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be incinerated.
Approximately 440 tons have been shipped to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Michigan, to be placed in a landfill.
Approximately 440 tons have been hauled to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Indiana to be placed in a landfill.
Municipal Water Testing Update
Both the village and Ohio EPA have committed to independently testing East Palestine’s municipal water wells once a week to ensure that they are free from contaminants associated with the derailment.
Testing results received yesterday by East Palestine showed no detection of contaminants associated with the train derailment in water samples pulled on February 21. Test results from Ohio EPA’s February 21 water sample were returned today and are consistent with the village’s test results.
Private Well Sampling
Water sample results from private water systems of East Palestine area homes continue to show no harmful levels of contaminants.
The Ohio Department of Health, working with the Columbiana County Health District, had received verified laboratory results from 12 additional samples from private water systems as of noon Thursday. Five of those wells showed no detectable contaminants. Seven wells had trace detections at levels well below safe drinking-water standards.
There is no evidence that any of those trace detections are linked to the train derailment.
In total, 151 private systems have been sampled. Of those, test results from 57 samples have been verified, and none have shown any harmful contaminant levels associated with the derailment.
The results can be found on the Columbiana County Health Department site at https://www.columbiana-health.org/resources/.
Residents near East Palestine who would like their private water system sampled should call 330-849-3919.
Animal Necropsies
The Ohio Department of Agriculture reports that final lab results on a six-week-old beef calf that died on February 11, 2023, near East Palestine show no outward evidence of chemical irritation or exposure. Although a specific cause of death could not be identified, there is nothing to support chemical toxicity as a cause of death.
Student Services
Governor DeWine is also announcing that the Learning Aid Ohio program, which provides in-home support services for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to supplement the services they receive in schools, is reserving dedicated slots for children in Columbiana County who have been impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Learning Aid Ohio provides families with financial resources to cover the costs of certain in-home support services, such as tutoring, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, to help children catch up and succeed academically. Learning Aid Ohio is also always recruiting providers to support enrolled learners. For additional information on the program, families and providers can visit LearningOhio.com. Columbiana County families with questions may email learningohio@dsaco.net
Health Assessment Clinic
Walk-ins now are being welcomed at the Ohio Department of Health’s Health Assessment Clinic in East Palestine. Appointments can still be made by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888
The clinic is located at the First Church of Christ, 20 West Martin St.
Clinic hours tomorrow are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ohioans will not be called by Ohio Department of Health employees to complete a health assessment. If you receive a call, do not give the caller personal information.
Coping with Trauma
According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, traumatic events, such as the train derailment, can cause intense stress, anxiety, and worry, especially in the first several weeks following the event.
Local certified professionals are onsite at the East Palestine Mobile Health Clinic and are ready to assist anyone who has questions or concerns. In addition, any resident can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 at any time of day for free, confidential, emotional support from a trained professional.
For more information about local behavioral health resources and providers, contact the Columbiana County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board at https://www.ccmhrsb.org/.
Joe Lyons •
March 7, 2023
On 03/02/23 at 11:06 PM Mansfield Police responded to a shooting at the M & S Drive-Thru located at 753 Springmill Street Mansfield, Ohio. An employee of the business called to report a homicide at the location.
