CINCINNATI —

Monday will be filled with the symphony of classic July 4 celebration sounds: The pop of fireworks, the sizzle of the grill, the splash of a cannonball at the pool and music thanks to a local parade.

While the ‘wow factor’ of fireworks has been appealing to people for generations, local doctors once again remind people to be safe especially if using pyrotechnics from their own private celebrations.

WLWT spoke with TriHealth’s Dr. Jaclyn Jansen who works in the emergency room at Bethesda North Hospital. She said that July 4 weekend typically sees higher amounts of traumatic injuries, especially as it relates fireworks-related injuries.

“Oftentimes we see adults who have a firework in their hand,” Jansen said. “They like the firework and the firework goes off in their hands, that causes a very traumatic injury that results in many, many surgeries," she said. "As kids to go, that's probably more likely burn, injury from sparklers, that sort of thing. And then always make sure if you are lighting fireworks that you have an area of safety around those fireworks. Oftentimes the bottle rockets and those sorts of injuries, they don't go exactly where we think. And you don't want to be one of those people who's caught on the sidelines."

With Ohio's new firework law now in effect, which makes it legal for people to purchase and use consumer-grade fireworks in certain areas, medical professionals have been bracing for an increase in emergency room visits.

Jansen said people should not let the temptation of trying to capture of snazzy social media video distract them from acting safely.

"The TikTok videos are a lot of fun, but it's not fun to spend your day with us," Jansen said. "Oftentimes we have really long waits at all of the emergency departments just because it's a high utilization weekend. And as much as I enjoy seeing you guys, it's not a great weekend if you come see me. So be safe and enjoy your weekend."

CINCINNATI —

A Fourth of July celebration in Washington Park turned scary Monday night.

According to witnesses, about two minutes into the fireworks show, a malfunction on stage caused the cannons to start shooting towards the crowd.

No injuries were immediately reported.

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Viewer video sent to WLWT shows the frantic moments in the crowd as people started clearing the area.

In the video, fireworks can be seen hitting trees and bouncing near the crowd of spectators.

Organizers of the celebration quickly cancelled the show due to technical difficulties.

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The event was originally scheduled to be held from 6 to 10 p.m. with fireworks starting around 9.

WLWT reached out to 3CDC for a comment but did not get a response.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

A man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at officers in Washington, D.C.

U.S Capitol Police said they were alerted to the man Wednesday afternoon. The officers said the suspect was trying to light the Molotov cocktail when he threw it at them and tried to get away. However, the officers managed to stop him.

“Both of our officers were treated for minor injuries. Thankfully they are going to be OK,” said acting Assistant Chief of Police for Uniformed Operations Sean Gallagher.

The man also had an explosive device made with a tequila bottle and a petroleum-based accelerant, police said.

It's unclear what the man was planning to do with the Molotov cocktails, but police said there's no indication he was targeting the U.S. Capitol or members of Congress.

He's facing charges of assault on a police officer, possession of a Molotov cocktail and assault with a deadly weapon.

TAMPA, Fla. — At a Tampa mall on May 30, Hillsborough County Deputy William Scobie was on the frontline as hundreds of rioters put on a relentless attack lasting several hours.

The violence came in waves. Periods of calm were followed by coordinated attacks on Hillsborough County deputies and Tampa police standing in front of University Mall.

At one point, law enforcement deployed tear gas, clearing the crowd. Once the wind carried the choking fumes out of the area, more and more people began to show up. Heavily outnumbered and overwhelmed, law enforcement did everything they could to protect themselves and prevent more violence.

As law enforcement scanned the crowd and sky for objects, they couldn't look everywhere.

"Nothing real violent was going on for about probably 15 minutes or so," deputy Scobie said. "And then, all of a sudden, I took a beer bottle to the face. When the bottle exploded, it caused my head to drop down; there was about three inches of my neck that was unprotected when I looked down. And, it was a lucky shot that got me right in that three inches."

Scobie said he doesn't remember anything after the brick hit his neck.

"It actually hit my carotid artery, which caused me to lose temporary consciousness," Scobie said. "I just remember waking up on the ground. The deputies were asking me where I was shot. They thought I was shot. I was just telling them I got hit with a brick and couldn't feel my arms and my legs. And, they rushed me to try and evacuate me out of there. With the amount of people and stuff that were around, it was hard to get me outta there, so there were two Tampa police officers that had a car they threw me in the back of the car and the Tampa police actually evacuated me to the hospital."

For more roughly seven hours, Scobie was checked out at the hospital.

"I got feeling back in legs pretty quick. My right arm took about two hours. My left arm, I suffered a pinched nerve, and it was swollen. So, I had no feeling in my left arm for almost 24 hours, and I had a pretty significant bruise on my neck," he said.

Scobie said he's wanted to be in law enforcement since he was 5 years old. After eight years in the military, he joined the sheriff's office. In 2018, Scobie was honored with the Tampa Police Chief's Appreciation Award after helping track a murder suspect.

On June 24, 2018, Scobie's neighbor, 42-year-old Pedro Aguerreberry, was riding bikes on a bike trail with his two children when a car veered over the grass and onto the bike trail, hitting and killing Aguerreberry and injuring his two sons, ages 3 and 8. Mikese Morse, the suspect driver, was arrested and charged in the incident.

Scobie heard the call and tracked down the car police say Morse was driving and eventually leading to an arrest.

Morse was found incompetent to stand trial.

Scobie said he loves his job and wants the public to know he is human, has a family, and only wants to serve and protect his community.

Two days after Scobie was hit by the brick, he was back at work patrolling the streets.

"When we show up on a call, just give us the benefit of the doubt. Know that it truly is our goal to help you in any way we can without getting into a fight, without being injured, without causing any injuries," Scobie said. "If I could deal with 20 people a day and every one of them says 'thank you,' it's a good day. And, that's truly what we come to work for."

This story was originally published by Michael Paluska at WFTS.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Come Sunday, The Banks is expected to be packed for Riverfest, the traditional end-of-summer festival.

While some are thrilled Riverfest is back again, others worry the large crowds could cause superspreader events on both sides of the river.

2020 was a year without Riverfest.

"Last year was a zero,” said Alan Bernstein, owner of BB Riverboats.

He said his team is excited to be back out, cruising people alongside the fireworks.

"We're looking forward to it,” Bernstein said. “When you miss it, it's a little bit easier to come back and enjoy it."

Just down the river, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer is cautiously excited.

"We are excited about the event, it's always a wonderful thing, but this year it's definitely a two-edge sword,” Meyer said.

Meyer is concerned the massive festival, which brings people out along the river banks of Cincinnati, Newport, Bellevue and Kentucky, could become a superspreader event.

"We'll have virtually our entire police department there, and if we've got 10 or 15 or 20 of our police officers who are exposed to COVID, that is a huge impact to our ability to keep the residents safe,” Meyer said.

He's asking people to use their best judgment.

"We have to encourage people to think about what they're doing and take steps to protect themselves,” Meyer said. “My suggestion would be to watch it on TV."

It's a similar message from Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman.

For those vaccinated, he suggests sticking with your group during the festival, socially-distanced if possible.

For those unvaccinated, he’s suggesting they reconsider attending the festival altogether.

"If you've chosen not to get vaccinated and you're thinking about going to an event like this, you might want to think twice,” Kesterman said. “Particularly if you have some underlying health condition."

Bernstein said riverboats are sold out for Sunday.

"We really have felt this year that people are even more excited about being out simply because last year was the quarantine year and everyone was locked up," Bernstein said.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday boats will not be allowed to tie up in the river during Riverfest because of high water.

Unlike leisure boats, BB Riverboats said they are still permitted to dock in certain areas of the river.

CINCINNATI — People in Indiana and Kentucky can legally shoot off their own fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July, and people in Ohio might be able to join them soon.

Ohio Senate Bill 113 allows Ohioans to shoot off fireworks on select holidays, including the Fourth of July. The bill passed the Ohio House and Senate earlier this year. Now the bill sits on Gov. Mike DeWine's desk waiting for his signature.

Indiana started permitting people to shoot off fireworks legally in 2006, and firework-related injuries fell, or remained constant, in the years afterwards.

"When something is illegal, I as a fireworks expert, cannot educate you on how to use them safely," Daniel Peart, the director of government affairs for Phantom Fireworks, said. "I can't tell you how to do something illegal… It's the educational component that has a profound impact on fireworks-related injuries and more specifically the decrease."

If DeWine signs the bill now, the law wouldn't take effect until 2022.

CINCINNATI —

This July Fourth has been a celebration not only of Independence Day, but also a return to what feels like a normal summer.

This time last year, many events were scrapped due to COVID-19 and people said they are happy to be back.

There is an energy in the air.

In Harrison, band students marched and played instruments in a parade through downtown.

"It's nice to be everyone together, no masks, and watch our kids. Our kids have been in the band and so it's nice to see them in person," parent Jon Roberts said.

Some said this July Fourth feels especially meaningful.

"I think it makes everybody appreciate this year a little bit more. Not being able to do as much as we were able to last year," parent Kristin Claypoole said.

Last year, COVID-19 fizzled out most Independence Day celebrations, but in places like Harrison, the tradition is back.

Cars, people, floats and the band all made their way through town.

Candy and other free giveaways were thrown into the streets and in the direction of people happy to pick them up.

"I really did miss it. I couldn't hang out with my friends on Fourth of July like I usually do and I just really missed them," 11-year-old Adriana Claypoole said.

In Blue Ash, one of the biggest celebrations in Greater Cincinnati, Red, White and Blue Ash, was on.

"It's a day to celebrate and it brings happiness to me whenever I think about it and it's a day to feel proud," 12-year-old Avni Sharma said.

People snagged their spots for a show they've come to expect.

"It does kind of feel like a fresh start, and it's nice to just be able to return to normalcy, slowly but surely," Alee Hawkins said.

They said this Fourth of July is about celebrating a milestone and even better days ahead.

"We're back in business. That's what it means. I mean, this is life, everybody likes to enjoy themselves and they finally can," Brandon Barry said.

There have been many celebrations across Greater Cincinnati this weekend.

People were already setting off fireworks before the sun even set on Sunday.

CNN —

A California man faces federal charges after allegedly transporting tons of explosives from out of state — including devices that later exploded in a police bomb disposal truck, injuring 17 people, authorities said.

Arturo Ceja III was arrested Saturday by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), federal authorities said. He's accused of transporting explosives without a license or permit.

It was not clear Sunday if Ceja had retained an attorney. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

He was initially arrested Wednesday after Los Angeles police received a tip and found a large stockpile of fireworks at his South Los Angeles home.

"The initial investigation by local authorities estimated that approximately 5,000 pounds of fireworks were found; however, today the ATF determined that Ceja was storing approximately 32,000 pounds of fireworks in his backyard," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a statement Saturday.

According to a criminal complaint, "Ceja made several trips to Nevada in late June to purchase various types of explosives — including aerial displays and large homemade fireworks containing explosive materials — that he transported to his residence in rental vans," the U.S. attorney's office said.

"The complaint notes that fireworks in California can be sold for as much as four times what purchasers pay for the fireworks in Nevada," the U.S. attorney's office said.

The illegal fireworks were intended for sale around the Fourth of July holiday, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said.

While the fireworks were being removed from Ceja's home, the LAPD bomb squad determined some of the homemade fireworks with explosive materials were not safe to transport due to the risk of detonation in a densely populated area, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Police decided to destroy those fireworks at the scene using a total containment vessel (TCV), according to the affidavit.

"During the destruction of the devices, the entire TCV exploded, causing a massive blast radius, damaging homes in the neighborhood and injuring a total of 17 law enforcement personnel and civilians," the U.S. attorney's office said.

Nearby buildings and vehicles were also damaged, the arrest warrant affidavit said.

The police chief said he wasn't sure why the total containment vessel couldn't contain the explosives.

"This vessel should have been able to dispose of this material," Moore said last week. "Something happened in that containment vehicle that should not have happened, and we do not know why."

BLUE ASH, Ohio — Red, White and Blue Ash returned for the Fourth of July after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but there were a few changes this year.

Families and visitors gathered in Summit Park for the first fireworks show since the pandemic began, happy to be back in crowds and with friends once more.

"It feels like, you know, we need to take these opportunities more seriously and really show more appreciation for the fact we can celebrate something like independence," said Sue Chae, from Mason.

For years, Chae said she'd heard Red White and Blue Ash was a fun party, but it wasn't until this year she ventured to the event for an opportunity to see friends from Dayton whom the pandemic had kept away.

"I think we've learned a lot in the last year and a half and I think celebrating independence has taken on a new meaning," she said.

The big changes Sunday night were centered mostly on food, though the event did not have a concert this year either. Summit Park was absent any food or drink vendors for the celebration, though event organizers encouraged people to bring their own food and drinks.

When the temperatures rose on Sunday, nearby ice cream shop Nanny Belle's celebrated the return of Red White and Blue Ash customers the shop had struggled without during the pandemic.

"We were fortunate we could keep our walk-up window and keep our distance and everything, but it really hurt when we were not able to do our event," said Jill Donnellan, co-owner of Nanny Belle's.

Another change involves the fireworks show put on by Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics. During the show, the display included 200 drones in the sky creating pictures and displays to accompany the spectacle.

"We’re really excited to bring an amazing fireworks show back to Blue Ash,” Rachel Murray, the communications coordinator with the city of Blue Ash, said. "I think everybody’s ready to get out of the house and do something fun. And this is the perfect opportunity to have the family out, and have a great time and see a great show.”

The event and parking were free at Summit Park, and the park is open all day Sunday. The fireworks show began at 10 p.m.

RADCLIFF, Ky. —

Live music, good food, and of course, fireworks. It's what you can expect this holiday weekend across the country.

But one popular Fourth of July celebration in a Kentucky community is going to be bigger and better because of a generous community member.

"It's just something that's always been a custom here in our community," said Radcliff Mayor J.J Duvall.

A long-standing tradition in the city of Radcliff, the "Thunder over Radcliff" fireworks show during the 4th of July weekend brings people from near and far to celebrate.

But this year, with a fireworks shortage and the demand so high, the $5,000 to $6,000 the city would usually pay for the show wouldn't be enough -- putting the popular event in jeopardy. And then an anonymous Radcliff resident stepped in to help.

"Last month, we had a citizen step forward and said, 'I want to do something for our community, I want to do something that benefits the community and something that can be fun and be enjoyed by the community,'" Duvall said.

It came in the amount of a check for $10,000, offsetting the higher costs of the fireworks, with money left over to add in several more minutes.

"Obviously $10,000 is a lot of money, and for this individual to do that just shows how much they care and love our city," Duvall told sister station WLKY.

Watch the video above for more on this story.

Fireworks detonated Sunday morning on the Ocean City, Maryland, beach, injuring an employee who was setting up for July Fourth festivities.

Several videos of the explosion were tweeted around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Video obtained by sister station WBAL 11 News shows the explosion.

Police said an employee of the fireworks company suffered minor injuries and refused to be taken to a hospital. No beach or boardwalk patrons were injured, police said.

"Our fire marshals are on the scene and will investigate the cause of the unintentional discharge," Ocean City fire Chief Richie Bowers said in a statement posted on Facebook. "Prior to the fireworks being offloaded from the vehicle, fire marshals secure a safe zone around the fireworks and put other safety protocols in place. It is this very zone and safety protocols that kept anyone else from being injured."

A fireworks show was planned for later in the day for July Fourth celebrations in the area of North Division Street and the boardwalk.

Watch the video above to see the fire works detonate on the beach.

Fireworks explode like magnified gunfire in the exquisitely sensitive ears of many of our pets.

Measuring between 150 and 175 decibels, fireworks are louder than gunfire (140 decibels) and even many planes at takeoff (120 decibels). Decibels measure the loudness of a sound while hertz measures the frequency of a sound.

Human ears are damaged at a mere 85 decibels. Yet we can hear to only about 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear between 45,000 and 65,000 hertz. Just think of the physical and emotional damage that might occur to a dog left outside to face the noise.

Animal advocates say the pandemic has made it extremely bad for pets with noise phobias. Last year, instead of people going to central locations to watch a huge display, they bought fireworks in record numbers, setting them off in the streets next to homes for weeks.

This year, although orchestrated displays are back, there will likely be people use their fireworks stash to celebrate the Fourth of July. When frightened, dogs bolt and owners may lose their best friends in the night.

"Dogs have been known to dig under or jump over fences, break tethers or even shatter windows in response to their fireworks fears," said Temma Martin, the public relations manager for the Best Friends Animal Society, one of the nation's oldest no-kill agencies.

Prevention is key

Statistics show at least 40% of dogs have noise phobias, which can include fear of thunderstorms, leaf blowers, power drills, even hair dryers. But those noises are relatively constant, experts say, while fireworks are frighteningly sporadic and therefore unexpected.

"It's hard not to feel helpless when you see them shaking and panting and so obviously distressed," said Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, in a statement.

And it's not just dogs. Cats and many other domestic (and wild) animals have sensitive hearing, provided by nature to find and hunt prey.

Prepare your pet before dark

The key to helping your pet survive this onslaught, experts say, is being prepared.

"With a little advance planning and preparation you can ease your pets' anxiety and help get them through this time," Howe said.

Tags and microchips. Be sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with current identification tags. If your pet has a microchip, make sure your correct contact info is recorded with the vet clinic or shelter that implanted the chip.

That way, if your pet does escape into the night, you will be able to immediately call and alert the vet or shelter about their absence.

Exercise before dark. A tired dog is a calmer dog. A happy cat is a more relaxed cat. Fit in some extra playtime for your cats, and take dogs out for play and exercise earlier in the day. Such activities burn off extra energy, thus limiting anxiety later when it's time to sleep.

Bring all pets indoors. Don't leave your pet outside to suffer alone. Put a dog's crate or bed in the quietest, most enclosed room possible, and see if they like being covered with a blanket.

Cats like to go high to feel secure, so give them a covered cozy cave that is elevated off the ground, like a hut on an indoor cat tree or in a closet.

Distract your pet. Provide lots of new toys and long-lasting chews and treats. Food puzzles may also keep them distracted from the unnerving noises.

Use calming aids. Many pets respond to "thunder" shirts or blankets that wrap them in a heavy, calming cocoon. Cats and dogs often enjoy smelling species-specific pheromones. Cats can wear collars with scents that mimic the pheromone mother cats produce to calm their kittens. Dogs respond to the scent of lactating female dogs, called appropriately "dog appeasing pheromone," or DAP.

Use calming sounds. First, muffle sounds by closing curtains and doors near your pet. Calming music, white noise or television can be used to provide comfortable, familiar sounds.

"Some experts even suggest playing a war movie to blend the sound from the TV with the sounds from outside," Martin said.

Use medication as a last resort. While there's nothing wrong with turning to your vet for calming medications, experts worry that pet owners might rely on that first, without doing the behavior modification tips above. But if you've tried all these ideas and your furry friend is still in a panic, reach out to your vet for advice.

Many people may be looking forward to the colorful sights and sounds of fireworks this Fourth of July after the COVID-19 pandemic forced some plans to change last year.

However, retailers are warning customers about a fireworks shortage that may impact those July 4 celebrations. Suppliers and retailers are worried about fireworks shortages across the country caused by pandemic-related delays.

"I got the rolling thunder assortment, I got a coupon in the mail, it's for my grandkids," said Bill Collins, a customer in Georgia.

Collins says he learned the hard way that you need to get a jumpstart on all fireworks purchases or your options may be dim.

"That's why I'm buying early, last year they ran out," said Collins.

A shortage of shipping containers in China is slowing down fireworks deliveries globally. There are also delays in the U.S. getting products both unloaded and put on trucks. These pandemic-related problems are creating issues with the supply-chain and retailers.

But with shelves currently packed with pyrotechnics, it may be hard to believe there's a major nationwide shortage.

"They don't have enough shipping containers to ship in," Oklahoma City-based Fireworks Warehouse general manager Tyler Herzog said.

Herzog said that 99% of fireworks come from China, and there are delays in shipping the products here.

"There's a backup out in Long Beach, and the container ships can't get in here quick enough," Herzog said.

He recommends shopping early to beat the rush and save money.

"Our shipping costs have gone up 300% to 400%," Herzog said. "The actual fireworks themselves are going up 30% to 50%, so you're going to see higher prices because of that."

Jason Lewis, a retired tattoo artist in Oklahoma, said he normally puts on shows up to an hour long in an annual backyard barbecue gathering of about 50 family and friends July 4. This year, he drove through three states and, spending a little less than last year, was only able to amass about half as much.

“At one stand in Texas, he had one 500-gram repeater I saw last year for $40. He wanted $115,” Lewis said. “I looked at him and said, ‘I’m done, I’ll go somewhere else.’ But little did I know it was the same everywhere.”

Normally, he puts together the whole show. This year, he said he will go "potluck," asking guests to bring any fireworks they see along the way — telling friends: "Don’t be shocked by [price] surprises. Get what you can."

CINCINNATI —

A terrifying scene played out over the weekend in Anderson Township. Video shows fireworks being shot off at homes early in the morning.

“If it hit an evergreen or hit the house in the wrong place, a wooden housed it would go up in smoke,” Jim Thompson, owner of Lucy Blue Pizza, said.

At Lucy Blue Pizza, you can enjoy a hot slice and good conversation, but all the talk now, according to Thompson, is the video from Royal Green Drive.

“It feels like a prank, but yes that's serious. If it's a roman candle, they have potential of starting a pretty good size fire,” Thompson said.

Thompson has employees that live in what they say is normally a quiet area. It's all that's being talked about among friends and family who are all wondering who could do something so irresponsible.

“That completely was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen,” Lucy Blue Pizza employee Bella Bolin said.

Bolin has heard fireworks in the area, but what she saw on video goes well beyond holiday fun.

“Shooting roman candles out of a moving car? I wouldn't think that would be very fun especially if they have it on camera and they're going to get caught,” Bolin said.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone this behavior is illegal and dangerous. They say all their units have been notified to be on the lookout. For Jim Thompson, he hopes whoever is behind this stops before something serious happens.

“They're in that age group where they want to have fun, but I don't know if they understand the risk and the consequences that come along with that,” Thompson said.

If you recognize the car in the video or know who is responsible, reach out to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

The company said Tuesday that firework shows will resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year.

The decision was the latest move by Disney to lift restrictions implemented last summer to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Starting Tuesday, face masks were made optional for visitors to Disney World in Florida, provided they are vaccinated, though Disney workers weren't requiring proof of vaccination.

Related video: Disney World now allowing cast members in some outdoor roles to go without a mask

Disney World visitors who were not fully vaccinated still were being required to wear face masks indoors and on all rides and attractions, and all visitors, whether vaccinated or not, were still being required to wear face coverings on buses, monorails and the resort's aerial gondola.

"As we continue to see more communities adjust and ease COVID-19 guidelines, there's a new sense of optimism with many positive signs moving forward," Disney said in a blog post. "We're encouraged by it too, seeing more families making travel plans, friends dining out together more often and more Americans returning to work. And at Disney theme parks, we're gradually bringing back more of our beloved park experiences."