Jen Balduf

Dayton

Ohio University graduate, serves on the breaking news team at the Dayton Daily News. Formerly reporter, copy editor and night editor at the Journal-News.

Articles

Voters solidly defeat Franklin school, fire levies

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jen Balduf

“The levy’s outcome is definitely not what we had hoped for,” Superintendent Mike Sander said. “We are very disappointed for our students and the reduced learning opportunities that will result from the levy’s defeat.”The five-year, 6.301-mill property tax levy would have raised $4.5 million annually to fund district operating costs, and would have cost homeowners $220.54 a year for each $100,000 of appraised home value.
Springboro police use drone camera to help catch three armed suspects

1 week ago | journal-news.com | Jen Balduf

Agencies from Montgomery County also responded because the suspects were seen running north, toward their jurisdiction. Springboro officers apprehended three suspects, each in possession of loaded handguns, police said. One drone video shows a Springboro officer pull a handgun from a juvenile. Another armed suspect was found hiding on a deck of a residence.
Madison Schools levy request ends Election Day in a tie

1 week ago | wcpo.com | Michael Pitman |Jen Balduf

The Madison Local School District ended Election Day in an even split of votes in its pursuit of a voter-approved tax levy. Exactly half of the voters (620) said “yes” and “no” (620) to a 10-year renewal request of Madison School District’s 4-mill property tax levy. This was the first tax issue the district has sought since 2022, when voters said “no” to an earned income tax on that year’s spring ballot.
Huber Heights, West Carrollton and German Twp. voters lean towards approval in early results

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jen Balduf |Eileen McClory

West Carrollton voters are approving a renewal of 3.9 mills for five years with 77.9% for the tax levy and 22.1% against the levy, according to partial results from early voting. In German Twp., the village asked for an additional 10-mill fire levy over 10 years. In early, unofficial results 57.8% of voters were for the levy, and 42.2% were against the tax levy. ************These tax renewals are key to services for residents, city officials argue.
Beavercreek, Franklin schools among top Greene, Warren votes

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jen Balduf

Beavercreek’s multimillion-dollar bond issue would fund construction of a new high school, relieving pressure on a school district that is already strapped for space, administrators say. The 4.9-mill bond issue — identical to one rejected last November — would cost a homeowner within the school district an additional $172 annually for each $100,000 of appraised real estate value ($258 for a $150K home, $516 for a $300K home, etc.), according to the Greene County Auditor’s Office.
Trenton woman accused of embezzling thousands from Sketchers at outlet mall

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jen Balduf

Burt reportedly used customer return receipts to take cash for herself from her job at Sketchers, 828 Premium Outlets Drive, according to an affidavit filed by the Monroe Police Department in Lebanon Municipal Court. “The incident started on Nov. 6, 2024, and did not stop occurring until Jan. 31, 2025. In total, Tara stole $6,317.07 from the company,” the affidavit read. Burt is free after posting 10% of a $15,000 bond set in municipal court, according to court records. In Other News12345
Early Butler, Warren election results show most area tax issues failing

1 week ago | journal-news.com | Jen Balduf |Michael Pitman

Edgewood City School’s 4.45-mill, five-year substitute levy is failing 54.9% to 45.1%. Madison Local School’s 4-mill, 10-year renewal levy request is losing 66.3% to 33.7%. The Edgewood district would face a $2.9 million operating deficit if the property tax levy is not approved. The current levy expires at the end of December. School officials say a “yes” vote would not raise taxes — $156 per $100,000 home valuation — and the new levy goes into effect in January 2026.
Trenton woman accused of embezzling thousands from Sketchers at outlet mall

1 week ago | journal-news.com | Jen Balduf

Burt reportedly used customer return receipts to take cash for herself from her job at Sketchers, 828 Premium Outlets Drive, according to an affidavit filed by the Monroe Police Department in Lebanon Municipal Court. “The incident started on Nov. 6, 2024, and did not stop occurring until Jan. 31, 2025. In total, Tara stole $6,317.07 from the company,” the affidavit read. Burt is free after posting 10% of a $15,000 bond set in municipal court, according to court records. In Other News12345
Attorney: Jail video shows Christian Black 'murdered in front of our eyes'

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Jen Balduf |Josh Sweigart

May 5—Lawyers representing the family of Christian Black, who died in March after an altercation at the Montgomery County Jail, are calling for major changes and for corrections officers to be charged with murder. The attorneys shared jail video of the March 24 interaction with corrections officers that led to the 25-year-old Zanesville man's death as a result of mechanical and positional asphyxiation, according to a report from the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
Deal pending to bring hockey team to Middletown at Renaissance Pointe

1 week ago | daytondailynews.com | Jen Balduf

Warren County, in partnership with the city of Middletown, is close to inking a deal to build an arena to anchor the project, said county Commissioner Shannon Jones. “We’re currently in negotiations with United States Hockey League for a developmental hockey league and team,” she said.