MEGAN. PERFECT RANDI. THANK YOU. HAPPENING TODAY, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PARENTS FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK. THIS COMES ONE DAY AFTER A CITY LEADER RAISED NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY AT YOUTH SPORTS. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S GIACOMO LUCA IS LIVE FOR US WITH THE ACCUSATIONS AT A JOINT COUNCIL BETWEEN CPS AND CITY COUNCIL. GIACOMO. YEAH. MEGAN. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTTIE JOHNSON, ADDRESSING RECENT VIOLENCE AT YOUTH SPORTING EVENTS. PUTTING THE BLAME NOT ON STUDENTS BUT GAMBLING. NOW, WE HAVE COVERED MUCH OF THE RECENT VIOLENCE AT THOSE SPORTING EVENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING A SHOOTING AT A PEEWEE GAME AT THE WALNUT HILLS FOOTBALL FIELD TO GUNFIRE NEAR NORTH COLLEGE HILL HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM. NOW, THOSE CASES PROMPTED NEW SAFETY RULES AND SCHEDULE CHANGES AT CPS SCHOOLS LAST FALL. BUT THERE’S NO EVIDENCE THAT SPORTS BETTING PLAYED ANY ROLE. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, WHO’S A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, SAID AT LAST NIGHT’S JOINT MEETING THAT IN GENERAL, THERE’S A BIGGER PROBLEM AT PLAY HERE. COMMUNITY, STOP BETTING ON OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE THAT’S REALLY WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE. AND THAT IS WHY CINCINNATI POLICE HAVE STEPPED AWAY. YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUTH FOOTBALL GAMES WHEN THEY’RE THREE AND FOUR, AND $5,000 BETS TAKING PLACE. PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR A LOT LESS MONEY. NOW, OTHER LEADERS AT LAST NIGHT’S JOINT MEETING SAID THEY WEREN’T AWARE THAT THAT WAS AN ISSUE. MEANWHILE, TONIGHT’S TOWN HALL WITH CPS THAT TAKES PLACE AT 6 P.M. OVER AT GAMBLE MONTESSORI. WE’RE LIV
Advertisement
Cincinnati councilmember blames violence at youth sporting events on gambling
Giacomo Luca
Reporter
Thursday, the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools will answer questions from parents for the second time this week.It comes one day after a city leader raised new questions about safety at youth sports.Cincinnati city councilmember Scotty Johnson addressed the recent violence at youth sporting events, putting the blame on not students but gambling.WLWT has covered much of this violence, from gunfire near North College Hill High School's stadium in September to a shooting at a pee-wee game at the Walnut Hills football field in October.Those cases prompted new safety rules and schedule changes at CPS schools last fall. But, there's no evidence that sports betting played any role.But councilmember Johnson, who is a former police officer, said at Wednesday's joint meeting that, in general, there's a bigger problem at play."Community, stop betting on our children, because that's really what's taking place," he said. "And that's why Cincinnati police have stepped away. You cannot have youth football games where three, four, five thousand dollar bets are taking place. People are dying for a lot less money."Other leaders Wednesday said they weren't aware that this was an issue.Thursday, CPS will be holding a town hall with Superintendent Shauna Murphy at Gamble Montessori High School. It will begin at 6 p.m.
CINCINNATI —
Thursday, the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools will answer questions from parents for the second time this week.
It comes one day after a city leader raised new questions about safety at youth sports.
Advertisement
Cincinnati city councilmember Scotty Johnson addressed the recent violence at youth sporting events, putting the blame on not students but gambling.
WLWT has covered much of this violence, from gunfire near North College Hill High School's stadium in September to a shooting at a pee-wee game at the Walnut Hills football field in October.
This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
"Stop betting on our children": That was the message from Cincinnati city councilmember Scotty Johnson, who said last night that youth violence at sporting games are the result of gambling. https://t.co/FwYAKetnEa pic.twitter.com/0QhsN4NhjH
— WLWT (@WLWT) April 17, 2025
Those cases prompted new safety rules and schedule changes at CPS schools last fall. But, there's no evidence that sports betting played any role.
But councilmember Johnson, who is a former police officer, said at Wednesday's joint meeting that, in general, there's a bigger problem at play.
"Community, stop betting on our children, because that's really what's taking place," he said. "And that's why Cincinnati police have stepped away. You cannot have youth football games where three, four, five thousand dollar bets are taking place. People are dying for a lot less money."
Other leaders Wednesday said they weren't aware that this was an issue.
Thursday, CPS will be holding a town hall with Superintendent Shauna Murphy at Gamble Montessori High School. It will begin at 6 p.m.
