Five things to know for Wednesday, Sept. 17

Cincinnati Southern approves $58 million to city

The Cincinnati Southern Railway’s board has approved $58 million in payments next year from a fund that now totals $1.8 billion.

WVXU-FM reported that the money will go to the city for infrastructure improvements. The fund was established following the sale of the city-owned railroad to Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern.

Teachers sue over retirement board provision

The Ohio Education Association, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors are suing over a provision in the state budget that eliminates educators’ vote for members of the State Teachers Retirement System Board. The lawsuit was filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

The budget changes the current makeup of the STRS Board, opting for more politically appointed members instead of STRS-elected members starting Sept. 30.

Security initiative uses AI to spot potential violence

Ohio Homeland Security has launched a suspicious activity reporting system that uses artificial intelligence to collect “actionable information” about possible threats of violence.

Developed by OHS and Vigiliti, a private party, the Safeguard Ohio app uses artificial intelligence to encourage users to furnish information and help authorities investigate suspicious activity. The app allows users to upload videos, audio, and photos, while giving them the option to remain anonymous.

Cleveland library scammed out of $400,000

The Cleveland Public Library sent nearly $400,000 to a fake vendor after failing to implement proper internal controls to catch payment redirection schemes, the Auditor of State’s Office said. The June 2024 misstep was noted in a letter to the library’s management coinciding with an audit of its finances from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

Yost accuses 16 of Medicaid fraud

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost accused 16 Medicaid providers of stealing $1.7 million from the government health-care program. The indictments were filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Two of the people had felony convictions and were barred from providing Medicaid services, yet received hundreds of thousands of dollars. Another, a home health aide, billed for services while on a cruise to Hawaii, and several billed for home services while their clients were hospitalized.

“Medicaid fraud may be a financial crime, but it comes at a human cost,” Yost said in a release. “It preys on the vulnerable who depend on the program and betrays the trust of the taxpayers who fund it.”

The attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.