(Hamilton)--The Planned Parenthood clinic on Ludlow Street near downtown Hamilton will close its doors for good on August 1st. The organization made the announcement Thursday, July 17th, blaming the closure on "unrelenting cuts to funding for reproductive health care at the state and national level." Nan Whaley with Planned Parenthood lamented "This is a devastating loss–for our patients, our staff and our community." Whaley continued "Due to the Reconciliation Bill that President Trump signed into law and state budget provisions under (Governor) Dewine, Medicaid patients are unable to receive care at Planned Parenthood health centers, forcing us to close our doors on two preventive and family planning health centers." The national organization has promised to sue the Trump administration over the cuts, calling them unconstitutional. 

(Middletown)--2025 has been quite the year for some famous Middletown High School graduates.

On January 20th, native J.D. Vance became the nation's 50th Vice President of the United States. Vance became a household name when he wrote his memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which later became a film directed by Ron Howard. He represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate for two years before President Trump picked him as his running mate.

On June 7th, during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Olympic Gold Medalist and Middletown High School grad Kayla Harrison won the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) women's Bantamweight Division Championship, defeating Julianna Peña.
She was welcomed back to her hometown with a rally, and a guest appearance on the Middletown Now podcast with Clayton Castle on July 10th.

 

On July 15th in Atlanta, Middletown High School graduate and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber was named the Most Valuable Player of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, hitting three homers in the first ever swing-off tie breaker. Schwarber's performance enabled the National League to win the game 7-6 over the American League.

Indiana State Police say a Hamilton woman may have suffered a medical emergency before a single vehicle fatal crash on I-74 near Batesville Monday afternoon. According to Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, 68 year old Darla Tabor was heading east bound on I-74 in northern Ripley County when she lost control of her 2002 Mercury, drove off the road, and overturned. Tabor was taken to UC Hospital in Cincinnati, where she was pronounced dead. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash. Troopers say the victim was not wearing a seat belt.

 

Image Courtesy: Grok 3