Additional law enforcement will be out over the Thanksgiving weekend looking for impaired drivers in an effort to keep the roads safe. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is making federal dollars available for overtime enforcement. That funding will enable crews to be out… More >>

Counties in West Central Ohio saw a slight decrease or no change in the unemployment numbers from September to October. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says that Allen and Putnam counties fell just 0.1%.  Auglaize County remained the same. Mercer County continues to have the l… More >>

The highest traveled holiday is upon us and AAA is reminding people to stay safe on their trips. Thanksgiving is only 10 days away and it's never too early to start thinking about your travel plans. With the highest travel numbers expected for the fourth year in a row, drivers are urged to b… More >>

Members of the United Auto Workers union at Ford have voted to approve a new contract with the company, but the majority of Lima Union workers rejected the deal. The union says in a statement Friday night that just over 56% of workers who voted were in favor of the deal. The Lima Engine Plan… More >>

A crew of about 12 volunteers were not wasting anytime replacing the roof at home of Larry and Miriam Elkins.  The volunteers were there as part of the Habitat for Humanities Critical Home Repair Program.  Larry is a Vietnam Veteran and Miriam is a four time cancer survivor and when they qua… More >>

The Ohio Department of Health releasing some alarming numbers involving suicides, and unfortunately, it’s the young people that saw the biggest jump. From 2007 to 2018, the number of suicides has increased by 45% among all Ohioans, but more shocking the number of suicides for youth ages 10 t… More >>

All around the state of Ohio, businesses are being rewarded for their safety standards. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation stopped by UNARCO in Pandora to present a reimbursement check and discuss their efforts to promote workplace safety. The check was worth over $42,000. Across the s… More >>

A man that has already been convicted for threatening Putnam County officials has been indicted once again. Kenneth Richey has been indicted in Putnam County for the fourth time with charges of retaliation and violation of a protection order. Last month, he was indicted on the same charges, … More >>

While many dogs have a lot of fur to keep them warm, the Allen County Dog Warden still wants pet owners to be careful with their furry friends this winter. Your pet's paws can get cold very quickly, so be sure to get them in the house and clean off their paws and fur to get rid of any snow a… More >>

Two words could mean everything to someone who is considering suicide and one woman has gone out of her way to create signs to show people that they truly matter. Brooke Dudgeon has been hard at work making sure people know that they matter. She felt she needed to do this after she lost her … More >>

The first big snowfall of November is here and snowplows everywhere are fired up. Luckily for us, the Ohio Department of Transportation has been preparing for this weather for weeks. Northwest Central Ohio is expecting at least a few inches of snow to start the week and it'll be the first si… More >>

With the wintry weather here, drivers have to take more precautions. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has some tips to help drivers remain safe during inclement winter weather. Motorists should drive slower, watch your following distance of the vehicle in front of you, and always plan extra tim… More >>

With temperatures dropping outside, we're looking at an increased risk for fires inside your home. Our Adrianna Michaels talked with experts on how to keep your family safe this winter season. Fire Safety Inspector Warren Pughsley with the Lima Fire Department says they always see an increas… More >>

Here are the 2019 unofficial election results for Putnam County. More >>

The man who stole money and a car from a Putnam County woman, at gunpoint over the weekend, turned himself in at the Lucas County Sheriff's Office. The Putnam County Sheriff says that James Phillips turned himself in just before noon Tuesday(11/5/19). Phillips was identified as the person wh… More >>

Over 1,300 people were killed in crashes over the past two years in Ohio as a result of not wearing seatbelts. That's why the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is encouraging people to follow the right seatbelt procedure. One of the first things you are encouraged to do as soon as y… More >>

Law enforcement is on the lookout for a man who robbed a woman outside of a Dollar General in Columbus Grove. According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the incident happened around 8:30 pm on Saturday night.  More >>

An update tonight(10/31/19) on the Ohio Supreme Court ruling involving a Putnam County man. The Ohio Supreme Court says Travis Soto, who spent 5 years in prison after telling police he accidentally killed his 2-year-old son with an ATV, could face more serious charges after authorities say h… More >>

Small coins make a big difference when Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative members join together to fund change in their communities. In fact, $12,560 was recently donated to 12 area Ohio charities and community projects through the co-op’s Operation Round Up program. Participating members … More >>

Halloween and trick or treating is upon us, but are you taking the necessary precautions for your children with allergies? A doctor at Lima Memorial Health System says the number one rule is to always check your children's candy, especially if they have a food allergy. Also, check to make su… More >>

An Ohio House bill is targeting more road construction to cut down on high-speed accidents. The Ohio Senate is taking a look at a bill that would require rumble strips in the center of all undivided two-way highways with a speed limit of at least 45 miles per hour. The House passed the bill … More >>

New foster kids will be getting a care package, thanks to some generous donors. The Allen Lima Leadership Class of 2006 and the Allen County Family Services organized 92 individual care bookbags for local foster kids on Friday. The Love Luggage project has been going on since 2006 and benefi… More >>

Nighttime is already a dangerous time for drivers, but Halloween often creates a lot more traffic and distractions. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, will be increasing their presence this weekend through Halloween. They'll be looking to keep those tr… More >>

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is tomorrow(10/26/19) and the Drug Enforcement Administration is urging people to turn in their unused prescription drugs. According to the DEA, last year nearly 10 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs and most were taken from the me… More >>

As the Trump administration looks to end the Affordable Care Act, Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is doing all he can to keep it in place. According to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, close to 53.9 million Americans and a little less than 2 million Ohioans could be in jeop… More >>

There was little to no change in the county unemployment rate from August to September. According to the Ohio Job and Family Services, 49 of the counties increased, 12 decreased and 27 stayed the same.Locally, Allen County went down 0.1%, Mercer County went up 0.1%, but still has the lowest … More >>

Halloween is a fun time for children to go out to trick or treat, but not a time to forget some simple safety tips. Before everyone heads out all dressed up, the Lima police want to remind everyone to stay safe with a lot of people out and about. They encourage parents to walk with their kid… More >>

Putnam County veterans get recognized for their service, abroad and here at home. The Putnam County Veterans Service Commission held their 5th annual Veterans of the Year Recognition Dinner.  Veterans who were in the Korean and Vietnam Wars received special honors.  New this year, the men an… More >>

With the fall-like weather finally starting to arrive, that can only mean winter is right around the corner. Some of us may turn to old wives’ tales to see what our winter outlook is going to be like and I’m here to help you fact check whether or not those might be true. One example would in… More >>

Many workers who are on strike against General Motors say they're ready to go back to work now that their union has agreed to a tentative four-year contract with the company. The United Auto Workers union announced Wednesday morning that they had reached a deal that could end the month-long … More >>

It's a concept that has been in the works for the State of Ohio over the last year, a law that would make Ohio the 18th state to raise the smoking age to 21. That means that anyone under the age of 21, starting on October 17th, cannot buy cigarettes, vapes, chewing tobacco, and other related… More >>

High school football teams go head to head on the gridiron but they're coming together for one cause. On football Friday nights, you'll see teams in our region with stickers added to their helmets in support of Vince Koza. The stickers say "Koz" and it has a cancer ribbon in the middle. Near… More >>

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is once again reminding drivers to be aware that it's the time of year that more deer will be seen on the roadways. More >>

Off the bat, the West Ohio Food Bank has received a $30,000 donation from Anthem Blue Cross. The money is immediately going into the way food will be distributed. And clients will be getting much more. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to assist the West Ohio Food Bank with this dona… More >>

Ready or not, it's harvest season for those brave farmers that battled Mother Nature this spring. With the extraordinarily wet spring this year, a lot of farmers faced the possibility of a poor yield this fall. However, the summer turned out to be pretty fair to farmers, and now it's time fo… More >>

The Better Business Bureau wants the public to know about some scams that they have been getting calls on. The first is one that has been around for awhile involving callers who said that your social security number has been compromised or has been used illegal activity. Then they say they w… More >>

Ohio's Department of Aging is accepting nominations for the state's Senior Citizen's Hall of Fame. It honors current or long-time Ohio residents age 60 and older who have made and continue to make a lasting impact on their communities, professions, or vocations. The department says 486 older… More >>

Three of the four Lima City Council seats up for grabs in the November election are contested.  Tony Wilkerson will be challenging his neighbor incumbent Sam Mclean for the 2nd council seat.  Peggy Ehora will be taking on current 4th ward councilwoman Rebecca Kreher for that seat. And long t… More >>

Close to a dozen area schools will be receiving school safety and security upgrades thanks to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.This year the BWC has approved $6.6 million in grant money for its School Safety and Security Grant program. More >>

A man no stranger to the Putnam County court system returned to be arraigned for his third set of criminal charges. 55-year-old Kenneth Richey pleaded not guilty to charges of retaliation, violation of a protection order, and tampering with evidence. Richey is a dual citizen of the United St… More >>

Here's a list of the 2019 Trick or Treat times and events for West Central Ohio. If you want to be added, email newsrelease@wlio.com. More >>

The Putnam County Board of Elections tested out new voting equipment for the first day of early voting.That equipment includes 21 new DS-200 machines that scan the absentee ballots. More >>

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the legislation he is proposing in the wake of the mass shooting in Dayton this summer. DeWine, who previously backed a red flag law, has opted to not include that in this bill. The Strong Ohio bill does state there is a due process for anyone suspected of being a … More >>

A man that has a long history of being in trouble with the law in Putnam County, is back in its county jail. 55 year old Kenneth Richey is back behind bars after an arrest warrant was issued for him on the charge of retaliation.  Back in 2012, Richey was sentenced to three years in prison on… More >>

The program is called TechCred. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said its a way to close a workforce gap by upscaling the skills employees have.Through this program, the state will reimburse businesses to get employees or incoming employees certified in a technology-focused skill of need.Husted spoke to … More >>

Governor Mike DeWine officially called on the General Assembly to ban flavored e-cigarettes throughout the state, something that he has shown interest in doing before. A conference between the governor and members of his cabinet was held to discuss how e-cigarettes affect teenagers and young… More >>

Hunger is not about the lack of food but the ability to get food to people who struggle with hunger. The West Ohio Food Bank can help with this. The food bank is gearing up for the holiday season and all the food drives that will happen. They ask you to work through the food bank as they can… More >>

A priority piece of legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives was put together to help those who are going through training become foster care parents. Rep. Susan Manchester introduced House Bill 8, which would adjust training requirements for people interested in being caregivers. Th… More >>

The House's Ukraine investigation will largely center in the intelligence committee and the chairman says they're already reaching out witnesses and planning subpoenas. Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff from California says more hearings are possible and that the whistleblower wants to test… More >>

82 of the 88 Ohio counties saw their unemployment rates lower from July to August. This includes every county in West Central Ohio. According to the Ohio Job and Family Services, Allen County's unemployment rate lowered .6%. Auglaize, Putnam, and Mercer counties are in the bottom four when i… More >>

It's been a decade since "Court Appointed Special Advocates" began helping children in Allen and Putnam counties. Better known as "CASA", the program will have served 1,000 children with 100 active advocates on its 10th anniversary which is October 2nd. It's a volunteer-driven organization t… More >>