Morning Briefing | Ohio leads the nation in bird flu

Bird flu is affecting poultry in Ohio more than anywhere else in the country.

Today in the Morning Briefing, we tell you about the latest data on bird flu cases and how they do (and don’t) affect you. We also look at the University of Dayton’s future with paying athletes directly as part of coming college athletics rules changes.

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The newsletter should take about 2 minutes, 15 seconds to read.

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Ohio leads nation in bird flu cases among commercial poultry operations

Ohio leads the nation in recent bird flu cases among commercial poultry operations.

• By the numbers: More than 4.1 million chickens and turkeys have been affected so far this year in Ohio.

• In the region: All of the state’s confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza this year have involved commercial flocks at 16 facilities in Darke and Mercer counties

• What happens? If a flock is infected with HPAI, the USDA provides compensation for some of the producer’s losses and costs.

• Ohio’s role in eggs: Ohio is the second-largest egg producing state, behind Iowa. In 2023, Ohio produced more than 11 billion eggs.

• What you should do: HPAI cannot be transmitted through properly cooked meat or eggs. Products from any HPAI-affected flocks are prohibited from entering the food system. However, the government recommends proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees as a general food safety precaution.

‘We’re going to be bold’ — Dayton AD ready for new era of paying athletes directly

The newest development in the world of college athletes being compensated directly for their play or their likeness dwarfs all the changes in the past.

• What’s happening? Because of a $2.78 billion lawsuit settlement involving the NCAA, schools will be able to pay athletes directly. Schools will have to decide whether to opt in or out of sharing revenue with athletes. A memo sent to schools in power conferences in the fall projected there will be a $20.5 million cap per school for athlete revenue sharing in the 2025-26 academic year. The cap will rise 4% every year.

• How that’s different: College athletes have earned money from name, image and likeness deals for the past four seasons. While college athletes will still profit off their name, image and likeness, they will now also earn a share of the revenue schools make through ticket sales, television deals, etc.

• What about UD? The amount Atlantic 10 Conference schools like Dayton, which do not reap the benefits of having Football Bowl Subdivision teams and the TV money that comes with them, will pay to athletes will be far lower.

• What they’re saying: “We’re ready. I’m confident we’re going to be well positioned. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t keep me up at night, or that anything’s easy, but we have a legacy of a fan base. We have a healthy program. We have a university that believes in athletics and believes in basketball. We have alignment there. We have a community that supports it. So we’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to be bold.” — UD Athletic Director Neil Sullivan.