Welcome to the first edition of The Lima Report, powered by BLK.AM Media.

It is Monday, Dec 22nd. We know your time is valuable. Our goal is to get you fully caught up on the intelligence you need to navigate our city in under 4 minutes.

Let’s dive in.

THE CRISIS: Why We Exist

Ohio is currently facing a "Civic Outage."

• The Vanishing Press: Ohio has lost 50% of its local newspapers over the last two decades.
• The Reporter Gap: Since 2005, the number of local journalists has plummeted by 75%.
• The News Desert: Dozens of our counties are now "deserts" where no one is walking the halls of municipal buildings or attending school board meetings.
• A Legacy of Distrust: According to recent data, 88% of Black Americans report regularly seeing inaccurate news coverage of their community, and 52% believe mainstream media was designed to hold them back.
• In 1827, the founders of the first Black newspaper in America wrote: "We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us." Today, those words are more urgent than ever.

THE COST: Why This Matters

When the "traffic cops" of local news disappear, the community pays the price:

1. Participation Drops: Voter turnout plummets and fewer residents run for local office when they don't see themselves represented in the civic conversation.
2. Transparency Fades: Without a watchdog, government and business decisions happen in the dark.
3. Stolen Narrative: The story of our city is no longer told by us—it’s told by outsiders looking in.

THE MISSION: Informed. Empowered. Connected.

BLK.AM Lima is our response. We aren't just reporting; we are restoring the context.

• Neighborhood Intelligence: From City Council meetings to local homeownership grants.
• Economic Interests: Identifying the resources and opportunities that define our community’s wealth.
• Your Voice: A dedicated platform for the issues that actually resonate with your daily life. We’re here to serve Lima and Allen County with the local intelligence and direct utility you need to thrive.

Thank you for being a Day One partner. By subscribing, you are ensuring that the light of local journalism in Lima never goes out.

Smarter. Faster. Local.

Jermaine Harper Founder, BLK.AM Media

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: The Intelligence Brief

• 🚦 Speeding Solutions: The City is moving forward with its Neighborhood Traffic Management Program after months of data collection. Priority areas include Cole Street, Nixon Avenue, and Cable Road. Residents can expect "traffic calming" tools like speed humps and raised crosswalks to begin rollout in 2026. (WLIO)
• 🏗️ Murphy Tractor Expansion: Allen County Commissioners officially approved a 10-year, 75% tax abatement for Murfin, Inc. The $9 million project on Commerce Parkway will be visible from I-75, retaining 16 jobs and acting as a new "anchor business" for the region. (The Lima News)
• 🗳️ Mayor Smith Term II: Mayor Sharetta Smith was sworn in for her second term this month. Her "Day One" priorities for the next four years focus on the redevelopment of the old VFW and River Front One properties. (WLIO)

📜 THE INAUGURATION: Council Update

The Lead: Lima’s legislative leadership is set for 2026. Following the recent elections, our ward representatives are ready to take the oath.

• The Lineup: Todd Gordon (1st Ward), Thomas Jones (5th Ward), Jesse Lowe (3rd Ward), and Jon Neeper (7th Ward).
• The Event: Formal swearing-in ceremony.
• Date: Monday, January 5, 2026.
• Time: 7:00 PM.
• Location: Lima Municipal Center, Council Chambers (50 Town Square).

🤝 CIVIC STEWARDSHIP

Faith in Action: The Lima Black Ministerial Alliance presented a $5,500 check to the city’s Stronger Together Fund this month. The donation directly supports the West Ohio Food Bank, helping bridge the gap for families facing food insecurity during the winter months. (The Lima News)

STREET TALK: The Lima Lowdown 🗣️

• 🍔 Rumor Has It: Word on North Main is that LeAndra Johnson—the visionary behind Fresh N Faded—is the new hand at the helm of 318 Restaurant & Bar. If the whispers are true, expect that same "community-first" energy from the barber chair to hit the downtown food scene.
• 🗳️ Spotted at The Vibe: Politics got personal this week as Sherrod Brown stopped by The Vibe for an intimate listening session. Fresh off his 2026 Senate bid announcement, Brown spent the evening discussing the "Dignity of Work" with local labor leaders and entrepreneurs.

SPARTANS BASKETBALL: Redemption Tour 🏀

The Big Picture: Coach Quincey Simpson has the Spartans at a blistering 5-0. After a heartbreaking 22-3 finish last year, Lima Senior isn't just winning—they are hunting. They are currently averaging a Division II-high 95.7 points per game.

The Intelligence:

• Shawn Foster (Jr, G): The engine. Averaging 19 PPG with a season-opening 90-point team statement against Toledo Start.
• Willie Foster (Sr, G): The Northern Kentucky commit is the transition specialist, contributing 16 PPG.
• Dashad Greer (Sr, F): The anchor. Leading the team with 8 RPG; supported by 6’7” sophomore transfer Elynn Stearns.
• Amari Addy (Sr, G): The floor general. Facilitating the "fastest show in Ohio" with 6 APG.

Why it Matters: The Spartans have outscored opponents by an average of 36 points. In Lima, this team represents more than sports; they are a tradition of Black excellence and a legitimate 2026 State Championship threat.

AROUND THE STATE: 4-Minute Brief 🗳️

• Absente Ballot Shift: Lawmakers cleared a bill for stricter citizenship verification on ballots. Advocates warn this could disproportionately impact minority voter access in Ohio’s urban centers. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• Success Sequence: The "Success Sequence" bill passed the Senate, mandating schools teach specific life milestones (graduation, work, marriage) as the primary path out of poverty.
• Kratom Ban: Governor DeWine issued a 180-day emergency ban on synthetic kratom products, citing immediate public health risks.
• Literacy Audit: A new audit found 10 Ohio colleges are failing to meet "Science of Reading" standards, potentially stalling the state’s push for higher literacy rates.
• Winter Warning: Rising energy costs from data center demands are expected to hit low-income Ohioans hardest as winter temperatures drop.

DEEP DIVE: The Section 8 Overhaul 🏠

Presented by JD Harper

THE SHIFT: Federal housing is undergoing its most radical transformation in 50 years. Under the new "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is moving away from the "permanent safety net" model. In its place: a "Temporary Bridge" system designed to force rapid turnover.

THE LIMA IMPACT: The "Three Pillars" of the Overhaul

1. The 24-Month Clock: HUD now grants local authorities—like the Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA)—the power to impose 2-year term limits. By 2028, hundreds of Lima families could be cycled out of the program regardless of their financial stability.
2. The 40-Hour Mandate: "Able-bodied" adults (ages 18–61) must now document 40 hours per week of work or approved vocational training. In a town where many warehouse and service shifts are capped at 30–35 hours, this creates a "Cliff Effect" that could disqualify hard-working residents.
3. The Citizenship Wall: New "Verification of Eligible Status" rules make "mixed-status" households—families where even one member is not a U.S. citizen—ineligible for any aid.

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ⚖️

While proponents argue these changes promote "self-sufficiency" and shorten waitlists, local advocates and policy analysts are sounding the alarm:

• The "Homelessness Pipeline": Critics argue that 24-month limits don't account for Lima's stagnant wage growth. Forcing families out before they reach a "living wage" doesn't create homeowners; it creates a surge in local homelessness.
• The Child Poverty Trap: With 41% of Ohio voucher holders being households with children, advocates warn that the 40-hour mandate will punish single parents who cannot find—or afford—childcare for those extra 10 hours of required work.
• Administrative Chaos: Small housing authorities like AMHA are not equipped to track weekly hour logs for thousands of residents. Critics fear "clerical errors" will lead to mass evictions of eligible families.
• Economic Stagnation: By making mixed-status households ineligible, critics argue the bill removes essential workers from the local economy, destabilizing neighborhoods that rely on their labor and rent contributions.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Local Stakes

• 1,800+: Households in Lima currently relying on HUD-funded rental assistance.
• 1,200: Section 8 vouchers managed locally by AMHA.
• The "Local Discretion" Loophole: The HUD rules allow AMHA’s Board of Directors to decide exactly how strictly to enforce these clocks.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This isn't just a DC policy; it’s a Lima reality. The decisions made at the 540 S. Central Ave (AMHA Office) will determine if our neighbors stay housed. Your presence at these board meetings is no longer optional—it is a matter of community survival.

CIVIC CALENDAR: The Power Brief 🏛️

Your seat at the table. Where decisions are made in Lima and Allen County.

GOVERNMENT: The Legislative Watch

• 🏛️ Lima City Council (Organizational/Regular Meeting): The first official session of 2026. Includes the swearing-in of council members Gordon, Jones, Lowe, and Neeper.
  • When: Monday, Jan 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM (Pre-council at 6:30 PM).
  • Where: Council Chambers, Lima Municipal Building (50 Town Square).
  • Note: Future Jan meeting scheduled for Jan 26.
• 🏗️ Allen County Commissioners: General sessions for county-wide policy and budget decisions.
  • When: Every Tuesday and Thursday morning.
  • Where: 204 N. Main Street, Suite 301, Lima.
  • The "Why": These meetings handle large-scale county projects and tax abatements that affect your neighborhood's growth.

EDUCATION: Shaping the Future

• 🏫 Lima City Schools Board of Education: Annual organizational meeting followed by regular business.
  • When: Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026 | 6:00 PM.
  • Where: South Science and Technology Magnet School.
  • Cost: Free. Open to the public.

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

• 💼 Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce Press Conference: Strategic update for business and non-profit members.
  • When: Monday, Jan 26, 2026.
  • Action: Registration required via the Chamber website.
• 🛡️ Allen County Guardianship Services Board: Quarterly meeting held at the Pangle Community Center (United Way Building).
  • When: Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026 | 12:30 PM.
  • Where: 616 S. Collett Street, Suite 201, Lima.

ELECTIONS: The 2026 Roadmap

• 🗳️ Board of Elections Preparations: Key certification deadlines for the May 5 Primary/Special Election.
  • Key Date: Jan 30, 2026 | Deadline for Boards of Elections to certify the validity of partisan candidate petitions.
  • Voter Registration: Deadline for May 5 election is April 6, 2026.

LIMA & THE 419: Home Turf

• 🏛️ City Council Swearing-In: Witness the formal start of the 2026 legislative year for the city’s newest representatives.
  • When: Monday, Jan 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM.
  • Where: Lima Municipal Center (50 Town Square).
  • Cost: Free.
  • The "Why": For the Black community, this is where the policy starts. Show up to let the new council members know who they represent.
• 🎷 Motown in the Upper Lounge: The Prolifics bring the legacy of Motown and the Sounds of Philadelphia to Lima.
  • When: Friday, Dec 26, 2025 | 8:00 PM.
  • Where: Old City Prime (215 S Main St).
  • Cost: No cover (Reservations recommended).
  • The "Why": A sophisticated night out for the "grown and sexy" crowd right in the heart of downtown.

TOLEDO: The Glass City Connection

Approx. 1 hour from Lima via I-75 N.

• 🎤 Earthquake @ Toledo Funny Bone: The "Comedian’s Comedian" brings his no-holds-barred set to the region.
  • When: Friday, Jan 2 & 3, 2026 | 9:45 PM.
  • Where: Toledo Funny Bone (Levis Commons, Perrysburg).
  • Cost: $37–$47.
  • Pro-Tip: Arrive at Levis Commons early for a drink; the 9:45 PM show is usually the wildest set of the night.

FORT WAYNE: The 260 Soul

Approx. 1 hour 15 mins via US-30 W.

• 🕺 Arnez J @ Summit City Comedy Club: One of the funniest physical comedians in the game.
  • When: Upcoming Winter Series (Check venue for weekend dates).
  • Where: Summit City Comedy Club (5535 St. Joe Road).
  • Cost: $33.99 – $44.99.
  • Pro-Tip: Arnez J is known for being family-friendly-ish but high-energy; perfect for a group outing or a "first-date" laugh.

COLUMBUS: The 614 Powerhouse

Approx. 95 mins from Lima via US-33 S.

• ✨ Jess Hilarious @ Columbus Funny Bone: One of the most dominant voices in modern comedy hits the Easton stage.
  • When: Jan 16–17, 2026 | Various showtimes.
  • Where: Columbus Funny Bone (Easton Town Center).
  • Cost: $55–$65.
  • The "Why": A high-profile urban comedy event at the state’s premier shopping destination.
• ⛸️ The Skate Zone: Open-air ice skating at Easton.
  • When: Daily through January.

REGIONAL ROAD TRIP: Detroit & Dayton

• 🎸 Detroit Winter Jazz: Various venues across the Motor City starting mid-January.
  • The "Why": Detroit remains the cultural North Star for Lima residents looking for world-class Black music and art.
• 🎭 Dayton Heritage Bank Center: Keep an eye on winter "R&B Soul Jams" typically announced for late February.
  • Drive-Time: 1 hour via I-75 S.

WE OUT! ✌🏾

Thank you for rocking with us for the inaugural BLK.AM Lima. We are doing this for the city, the culture, and the legacy. Information is only powerful if you move with it.

Stay focused. Stay hungry. Keep building.

We are the Day Ones. See you in the next briefing.