Ohio Education Oversight: Ohio asked the federal government for an ESSA waiver that could let the state take over local school improvement plans—and in worst cases push governance changes, charter conversions, or even school closures—while critics note private and parochial schools aren’t held to the same standard. Care Access in Columbus: Columbus launched a Nurse Health Care Navigation Line tied to 911, routing some callers to a nurse for assessment and connections to primary care, urgent care, telehealth, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use services, or transport. Food Safety: FDA issued a Class I recall for Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip over possible salmonella contamination, listing affected PLU codes and multiple states including Ohio. Drug Policy & Public Health: DEA/DOJ moved three kratom-related opioid-like compounds to Schedule I on an emergency basis for two years, citing abuse risk. Local Health Workforce: JobsOhio announced a technician earn-and-learn incentive for Ohio employers, plus new training and a medical wellness center opening in Canfield. Skilled Nursing Quality: A Cincinnati-based skilled nursing group highlighted how EMR-integrated partnerships helped improve Five-Star quality and reimbursement accuracy. Animal Health Tech: Purina and Ohio State reported smart litter box monitoring may help detect early feline chronic kidney disease signals at home.