Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The 2024 Paris Olympics are open after a stunning Opening Ceremony on Friday across the Seine River. Although a few sports started earlier this week, Saturday is the first full day of the games.

A former Ohio State swimmer will look for his first medal, and multiple American teams hope to start their tournaments with victories. 14 medal events will take place on Saturday across eight different sports. Here is what to know and how to watch day one of the Paris Olympics.

Ohio's Hunter Armstrong aims for gold

Dover native and former Buckeyes swimmer Hunter Armstrong is among the top athletes at the Olympics from Ohio. Armstrong is set to feature on the 4x100m freestyle relay team Saturday afternoon at the Paris La Defense Arena.

While Armstrong won gold three years ago in the men's 4x100m medley relay, he only raced in the preliminary heats and not the final. Armstrong and Team USA are hoping to win their third straight gold in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at 3:50 p.m. on NBC4.

USA teams begin Olympics

Six U.S. teams will play on Saturday and five of them are opening up their Olympic campaigns. Two beach volleyball pairings will start their pool play journey with men's pair Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh (8 a.m.) along with women's pair Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth (4 p.m.) each playing.

Men's soccer will play its second game at 1 p.m. against New Zealand after a 3-0 loss to France on Wednesday. Women's water polo begins its gold medal defense at 9:35 a.m. against the Greeks, women's field hockey plays its first Olympic match since 2016 against Argentina at 1:45 p.m., and men's indoor volleyball also meets the Argentines to open group play at 3 p.m.

NBC4 Day 1 schedule

Bold denotes medal event. Italics denotes replay.

• 5 a.m.-5:50 a.m. - Diving: Women's synch 3m springboard final
• 5:50 a.m.-7:30 a.m. - Gymnastics: Men's qualifying group 1
• 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m. - Swimming: Qualifying heats
• 8 a.m.-9 a.m. - Beach Volleyball (Men's): USA vs. Cuba
• 9 a.m.-10 a.m. - Road Cycling: Women's time trial
• 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m. - Rugby: Men's semifinal
• 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. - Swimming: Qualifying heats
• 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Gymnastics: Men's qualifying group 2
• 11:30 a.m.-12:35 p.m. - Skateboarding: Men's street final
• 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m. - Water Polo (Women's): USA vs. Greece
• 1:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m. - Rugby: Men's gold medal game
• 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. - Swimming finals: Men's and women's 400m freestyle, women's and men's 4x100m freestyle relay
• 4 p.m.-5 p.m. - Beach Volleyball (Women's): USA vs. Canada
• 5 p.m.-6 p.m. - Road Cycling: Men's time trial
• 8 p.m.-11 p.m. - NBC4 primetime (Swimming finals, diving final, gymnastics qualifying)
• 11 p.m.-1 a.m. - NBC4 late night (Skateboarding final, Surfing report)

Day 1 medal events

• 5 a.m. - Diving: Women's synch 3m springboard
• 5 a.m. - Shooting: Mixed team 10m air rifle
• 8:30 a.m. - Cycling Road: Women's time trial
• 10:34 a.m. - Cycling Road: Men's time trial
• 11 a.m. - Skateboarding: Men's street
• 11:38 a.m. - Judo: Women's -48kg
• 12:09 p.m. - Judo: Men's -60kg
• 1:45 p.m. - Men's Rugby final
• 2:42 p.m. - Swimming: Men's 400m freestyle
• 2:55 p.m. - Swimming: Women's 400m freestyle
• 3:30 p.m. - Fencing: Women's individual epee
• 3:37 p.m. - Swimming: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
• 3:50 p.m. - Swimming: Men's 4x100m freestyle relay
• 3:55 p.m. - Fencing: Men's individual sabre

Day 1 television schedule (By sport)

All events are available to be streamed live on Peacock, a platform owned by NBC and not NBC4's parent company, Nexstar. Bold denotes medal event.

Click here to see full Olympics schedule

Badminton

• 4:30 a.m. - Group play (USA Network)
• 7:30 a.m. - Group play (E! Network)
• 9 a.m. - Group play (USA Network)
• 12:05 p.m. - Group play (USA Network)

Basketball

• 5:30 a.m. (M) - Australia vs. Spain (CNBC)
• 11:15 a.m. (M) - France vs. Brazil (CNBC)
• 3:15 p.m. (M) - Greece vs. Canada (CNBC)
• 8 p.m. (M) - Germany vs. Japan (USA Network)

Beach Volleyball

• 8 a.m. (M) - USA vs. Cuba (NBC4)
• 4 p.m. (W) - USA vs. Canada (NBC4)

Boxing

• 5 p.m. - Women's bantamweight bouts and more (CNBC)

Canoeing

• 12 p.m. - Women's kayak slalom heats (E! Network)
• 9:30 p.m. - Men's canoe slalom heats (USA Network)

Cycling

• 9 a.m. - Women's road time trial (NBC4)
• 10:45 a.m. - Men's road time trial (USA Network)

Diving

• 5 a.m. - Women's synchro 3m springboard final (NBC4)

Equestrian

• 3:30 a.m. - Eventing dressage (USA Network)
• 4:30 p.m. - Eventing dressage (E! Network)

Fencing

• 5 p.m. - Women's epee, men's Sabre finals (USA Network)

Field Hockey

• 1:30 p.m. (W) - USA vs. Argentina (CNBC)

Gymnastics

• 5 a.m. - Men's qualification subdivision 1 (E! Network)
• 5:50 a.m. - Men's qualification subdivision 1 (NBC4)
• 9:30 a.m. - Men's qualification subdivision 2 (E! Network)
• 11 a.m. - Men's qualification subdivision 2 (NBC4)
• 2 p.m. - Men's qualification subdivision 3 (E! Network)

Handball

• 10 a.m. (M) - Spain vs. Slovenia (CNBC)

Rowing

• 3 a.m. - Heats (USA Network)
• 7:15 a.m. - Heats (USA Network)
• 10:15 p.m. - Heats (USA Network)

Rugby

• 9:35 a.m. - Men's semifinal (CNBC)
• 10 a.m. - Men's semifinal (NBC4)
• 1 p.m. - Men's bronze medal game (CNBC)
• 1:45 p.m. - Men's final, bronze medal games (NBC4)

Shooting

• 5 a.m. - Mixed team air rifle final (CNBC)

Skateboarding

• 6:45 a.m. - Men's street preliminary round (CNBC)
• 11:30 a.m. - Men's street final (NBC4)

Soccer

• 1 p.m. (M) - USA vs. New Zealand (USA Network)

Surfing

• 11:30 p.m. - Day 1 recap in NBC4 Late Night

Swimming

• 5 a.m. - Qualifying heats (USA Network)
• 7:30 a.m. - Qualifying heats (NBC4)
• 10:30 a.m. - Qualifying heats (NBC4)
• 2:30 p.m. - Finals in 400m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay (NBC4)

Table Tennis

• 1:10 p.m. - Preliminary matches (E! Network)

Volleyball

• 7:45 a.m. (M) - Italy vs. Brazil (USA Network)
• 3 p.m. (M) - USA vs. Argentina (USA Network)

Water Polo

• 8 a.m. (W) - Netherlands vs. Hungary (E! Network)
• 9:30 a.m. (W) - USA vs. Greece (USA Network)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- State funding for the Ohio State Fair has seen more than a 5,000% increase over the past several years. It is all part of a new project called Expo 2050, much of it funded by taxpayer dollars, to transform the fairgrounds.

“A lot of things that we're spending money on, you're really not going to see. But if we want the fair to continue, we have to do it,” Governor Mike DeWine said. “It's our obligation, to look to the future, not just things that you're going to be able to see immediately, but things that will make a big difference in the future. This fair is one of them.”

DeWine said there will be a new fair entrance and by 2026 he said fairgoers will see a “significantly new fair.”

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“What we wanted to do really is to have this fair reflect, not just the past, but also our future and the buildings that we're building and the changes that we're doing will reflect that,” he said.

So, how much money, exactly, is going into it? In the last 18 months alone, state lawmakers have invested than $386 million.

“We may add on to that in the next budget or next capital budget. None of that has been determined at all. That would be something that I would discuss with the legislature,” DeWine said. “The ‘why’ behind all of this is the state fair is Ohio.”

The near $400 million investment is a stark contrast to the money allocated by the state legislature to the fair in previous years:

• Fiscal year 2019-20: $7 million
• Fiscal year 2021-22: $11.5 million
• Fiscal year 2023-2024: $21.5 million

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“The other thing that's going on that you don't see really is we've neglected infrastructure at this state fair for decades and at some point, somebody has to go do it and it's now time,” DeWine said. “It's just like a house that you neglect for 20 or 30 years, you know, it's just going to take a lot of money to do it.”

And DeWine said the money is not just about the 12 days the state fair is open.

“This is very, very valuable real estate,” he said. “We have to maximize it 365 days a year because some of the money we're putting in and will continue to put in, will have to do with that.”


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- AAA said total vehicle thefts nationwide have increased over the past 15 years, and some of that has to do with social media.

According to AAA, thieves of all ages are using the internet to invent and find new ways to steal cars.

Bill Purpura with AAA said there are two main types of thieves: joy riders and sophisticated thieves. Purpura said the more sophisticated type are using keyless entry hacks to relay attacks on key fobs, gaining them easy access into strangers' vehicles.

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Alternatively, Purpura said many of the joy-rider thieves are using tutorial pictures and videos posted on social media that provide specific instructions on breaking into certain types of cars.

With the increase in vehicle theft, Purpura said insurance premiums are also on the uptick nationwide.

To reduce the risk of being a victim, Purpura said there are some simple things you can do. These include closing and locking all car doors and windows, keeping valuables out of sight and making sure to never leave your keys in the vehicle or leave the car running.

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Another line of defense is a visual deterrence like a steering wheel lock, which may make thieves think twice about taking a car because it would be added work. Purpura said he has also seen thieves towing cars off the street.

“Another tip that AAA would provide is when you do park if you can turn your wheels very sharply one way or another and set your parking brake," Purpura said. "That will make it much more difficult for a thief to tow your car.”

If your car is stolen, Purpura said your first phone call needs to be to the police, and your second should be to your insurance company.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A group of Central Ohio children got a taste of West African music, dancing and drumming on Friday.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library invited kids aged 7-11 to celebrate African history, unity and culture Friday morning at its Hilliard branch.

The call and response event invited local West African artist and performer BabaaRitah Clark to lead the group of children.

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She began the program with affirmations, inviting participants to repeat "I like to play the drums today," which Clark says is her mantra for events like this.

Clark said her goal is to connect children with music and each other, and even attending parents joined in the music. She is also the founder of an all-women's drum group, and has collaborated with the library in the past.

The event was part of a week-long program celebrating the library's summer reading program. From Monday through Saturday, kids of all ages were invited to learn with hands on activities, focused on everything from drumming cadences to learning about wolves. The final event is Saturday from noon to 1 p.m., where ages 7-11 can learn about bats hands-on, complete with a bat attendee.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Amid rides, livestock and fried food, the last thing you want at the fair is to get sick. Columbus Public Health is making sure that doesn’t happen.

Their team checks every single food and drink stand on the fairgrounds, and NBC4 Investigates looked at inspection reports for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into keeping fairgoers safe.

The process started months ago, and now Columbus Public Health is making sure each stand has its stamp of safety. It starts with knowing where each stand will be, and before the fair opened, inspectors began making their rounds.

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"We had staff come out Monday and start doing what we call some pre-licensing to make sure that everybody is getting licensed and getting ready to go," CPH Environmental Health Supervisor Robert Acquista said. 

Those green signs visitors see indicate a stand has been inspected, with inspectors ensuring a number of safety protocols are in place.

"We start looking at handling, making sure that handling is being done properly, making sure that people are wearing gloves when they're doing ready-to-eat foods, make sure temperatures are being cooked properly," Acquista said. 

It also means making sure food is cooked the right way. NBC4 Investigates looked through the reports for the last two days of inspections. Columbus Public Health says it’s usually smooth sailing at the fair and the documents showed the same.

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"We have normal issues that we run into," Acquista said. 

One report showed a stand with hot dogs at the wrong temperature. Those were thrown out. Another did not have a way to sanitize dishes. They were approved to operate only after fixing this.

"That's why we're here, is to come out and to educate and talk to the operators about making sure the temperatures are where they should be, making sure they're handling food the proper way," Acquista said. 

Schmidt’s has been serving at the Ohio State Fair for 110 years; this is second nature.

"This is our comfort zone this came before the restaurant, before the food trucks," Schmidt's General Manager of Fairs and Festivals Drew Karram said. 

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The temperature of meats, fridges and freezers are all checked to make sure what customers buy is safe to eat.

"You can have the best food in the world, you can have the nicest customer service but if your food isn't up to code, if your food gets someone sick that’s a real problem," Karram said. 

For Schmidt’s, safety is key, and with stands all over the fair, it’s all hands on deck.

"I mean, honestly, it's pretty simple. You don't want to get anyone sick," Karram said. 

Usually, the inspection reports are digital. However, the city’s cybersecurity incident took down many systems, including for Columbus Public Health.

It’s taken them a little longer to inspect every stand as they have to write each report by hand; however, say this is how they used to do things so there has not been a major disruption to the process. 

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) – One person is dead and another is in custody after a fatal hit-skip Wednesday night in Licking County.

According to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, a man was walking eastbound on State Route 16, outside of the traffic way, approximately nine miles east of Newark. At the same time a person driving a vehicle was also traveling eastbound near milepost 30.

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The man, identified as 49-year-old Randall Thomas, was found alongside of the road, near milepost 30, at 8:49 a.m. Thursday, though deputies believe Thomas, of Nashport, was carrying a flashlight when he was struck sometime Wednesday.

The driver reportedly fled the scene but has since been located. Deputies did not reveal what, if any, charges have been filed and the investigation remains ongoing.

The sheriff’s office asks that anyone with information to call 740-670-5565.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

Less humid air has filtered into Ohio, as high pressure builds across the Great Lakes, with a northwesterly flow of slightly cooler, drier weather conditions.

A warm-up begins his weekend that will see readings back into the upper 80 and low 90s, as high pressure pushes off to the east. Winds will turn southerly Sunday, allowing more humid air to flow northward on the back side of high pressure over the Mid-Atlantic states.

A few showers and storms could push into southwestern Ohio late Sunday, but the bulk of the moisture will remain off the south of central Ohio until Sunday night,

Rain chances will develop during the first half of next week, with several rounds of showers and storms. Temperatures will top out in the upper 80s and morning lows won't drop below 70 degrees in a muggy air mass.

Forecast

• Friday: Partly cloudy. High 85
• Tonight: Clear, pleasant. Low 59
• Saturday: Sunny, warmer. High 88 (60)
• Sunday: Partly sunny, hot, humid, storm south. High 91 (65)
• Monday: Clouds, sticky, scattered showers, storms. High 85 (71)
• Tuesday: Scattered showers, storms. High 86 (71)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, few storms. High 88 (70)
• Thursday: Hot. humid, storm p.m. High 89 (71)

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) – Food trucks, entertainers and local vendors return this Saturday for the 11th annual Food Truck and Fun Fest.

The festival is a free event that will feature 36 food trucks and 34 local vendors, crafters and service providers who will offer an array of homemade goods for purchase. For the first time, this year’s event will also feature a Workforce and Wellness pavilion, which will host employers looking to hire and medical wellness checks. 

This year’s performers will include DJ Mix Master ICE, Discarded Mischief, Mojo Flo and headliner Karyn White, known for ‘80s and ‘90s hits like “Romantic,” “The Way You Love Me” and “Superwoman.” 

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Whitehall Director of Public Service Casey Thomas said preparations for the event begin as early as January, citing the 11-year history as a good base when establishing their timeline. She said they start by exploring music acts, securing vendors and ensuring electronic access. 

Thomas said the festival brings in an average of 25,000 attendees to the quarter-mile venue down Yearling Road. 

Thomas said the new Workforce and Wellness initiative came from Mayor Michael Bivens’ emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion and a partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.

“We brainstormed as a team on how we could enhance the lives of the folks in our community,” Thomas said. “We are super excited to see how many opportunities grow from this new, and hopefully recurring, component.” 

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Resources at the pavilion will include health screenings and wellness checks from Heart of Ohio Health centers and Mount Carmel, as well as on-site interviews with employers like UPS, according to a Facebook post for the City of Whitehall. The pavilion will also offer educational activities from COSI and Whitehall City Schools, along with representatives from various higher education programs. 

Now sold out, the festival also offered VIP tickets. These tickets included 2 drink tickets each, along with “premium seating” and access to private restrooms, according to the city. The VIP area opens at 4 p.m.

The festival also offers a “Rock City Kid’s Zone,” which will feature free activities like bounce houses and mural painting until 5 p.m. 

Among the food trucks participating is Schmidt’s Sausage Truck. Andy Schmidt, owner and “visionary” for Schmidt’s, said the festival is one of their favorites to attend each year.

“It’s really special to us because it was one of the first true food truck festivals that we participated in a decade ago when we got into the food truck business,” Schmidt said.

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Schmidt's and the other food trucks will serve attendees and a small panel of judges. Hanja Morales, a Whitehall native, is one of two community food truck judges selected for this year. He said he applied for the volunteer judge position with low expectations, but he’s happy to be part of a festival he has attended for years.

“Going from attending the festival to being one of the judges is an absolutely amazing feeling and I’m so very excited,” Morales said. 

The food truck festival was first held in 2013, where the Saturday event also fell on July 27. In its inaugural year, the festival featured 25 food trucks. Since then, the festival has been free for Whitehall citizens each year, with the exception of a COVID-19 cancellation in 2020. 

This year’s event will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., although after 9 p.m. the event is 21-and-older only, according to the event schedule. Last call is also at 9 p.m., when drink ticket sales stop. Alcohol sales end at 9:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Near East Side brewery and taproom specializing in sour beers is closing in August after seven years of business.

Pretentious Barrel House -- located at 745 Taylor Ave. near Bexley -- announced on Facebook that it would be shutting down Aug. 11. The brewery did not specify the reason for the closure, but thanked those who had been loyal visitors over the years.

"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support over the past seven years," the post said.

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Since it opened in 2017, Pretentious has exclusively made barrel-aged sour ales. The brewery's website touts its "extensive knowledge of the symbiotic relationship between beer and wood," which it said results in consistent and quality sours.

Skee-ball was also offered at the brewery -- its website advertised sign ups for an eight-week season.

The brewery will remain open under its regular hours of operation in the meantime. It urged fans to come by for one last visit.

"We encourage you to drop by for a final pint of our beloved barrel-aged beer," the post said.

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A proposal to build a 230-acre development in Delaware that residents previously said will aggravate the "central Ohio traffic nightmare" has moved another step forward.

Metro Development is aiming to build a neighborhood named "Northwood" with 1,168 homes across 230.67 acres at the northwest corner of State Route 521 and the Byxbe Parkway roundabout. The Delaware Planning Commission approved a subdivision plat on July 17 to split the 230-acre site into three separate properties, given the development will be home to three subareas with different development teams.

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However, the development's last review by the planning commission in December received pushback from Delaware residents like Philip Taraska, who argued that State Route 521 is insufficient to support the development. Taraska said an extension of Byxbe Parkway through Northwood will "only add to the traffic congestion and make things worse."

"Delaware is known as a central Ohio traffic nightmare," said Taraska. "The city of Delaware is expanding at an unhealthy pace and with insufficient infrastructure to support it."

• Metro Development is aiming to build a new neighborhood named "Northwood" with 1,168 homes across 230.67 acres. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)
• Metro Development is aiming to build a new neighborhood named "Northwood" with 1,168 homes across 230.67 acres. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)
• Metro Development is aiming to build a new neighborhood named "Northwood" with 1,168 homes across 230.67 acres. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)

Plans call for Northwood's Subarea A to contain up to 260 multi-family units in three-story walkup buildings on 22.88 acres. The buildings would have one to three-bedroom units ranging from 680 to 1,200 square feet. A clubhouse with an outdoor pool would also be constructed in this section.

Subarea B would be constructed by M/I Homes and include up to 257 single-family homes on 124 acres, and would also feature a clubhouse. One-story homes with a minimum of 1,400 square feet and two-story homes with a minimum of 1,700 square feet are proposed for this section.

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Northwood's Subarea C would include up to 451 multi-family units in either single-story buildings or two-story townhomes across 83.38 acres. The structures would house two to eight units with one to three bedrooms ranging from 800 to 1,200 square feet. The third area would also feature a clubhouse.

Sylvia DiGuilio, a resident of the neighborhood to the west of the site, said during the December meeting the proposal's multi-family units would worsen traffic congestion. DiGuilio said she and her neighbors agree that the way to reduce high-density traffic is to eliminate the building of all apartments in the area.

"This is like adding fuel to the fire, it cannot happen," said DiGuilio. "If you plan to proceed with these apartments, knowing full well that all of us are against it, it will prove to us that our city does not care what matters to the people."

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David Gaines, another local resident, said the volume of rental properties in the area is concerning and argued apartment tenants are not invested in the neighborhood. Gaines said he moved to the area because he wanted to live in a small community

"I grew up in apartments, and they're depressing as hell," said Gaines. "I think this project will change the dynamic of the area we live in, and I would strongly encourage not approving this project."

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Intel has revealed what's being transported to its Ohio One construction site, as the third nearly 1 million pound super load is expected to delay traffic in several central Ohio communities over the following days.

On Wednesday, the "extra large super load" left from a dock on the Ohio River in Adams County. The Ohio Department of Transportation began moving the super loads in March, with most going to Intel but a few taken to a recycling facility elsewhere in Licking County.

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"So far so good," ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning said. "We haven't had any major incidents at all. Things have been running smoothly."

Despite the transportation project starting more than four months ago, details of what's been inside the super loads have been kept close to the vest. Until this point, it was only known that they were moving air processors, also known as cold boxes.

Now, Intel has revealed what exactly these air processors are used for and how they are necessary to the construction of the semiconductor plant. Intel's senior construction manager Laura Tenney explained how the equipment works.

"It takes the air that we're breathing right now and it separates it into three primary gases: oxygen, nitrogen and argon," Tenney said. "And that is used in the construction and manufacturing process for Intel."

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This super load -- the third of four extra large shipments -- is carrying another of these cold boxes. Measuring 23 feet tall, 20 feet wide and 280 feet long and weighing in at 916,000 pounds, the super load is scheduled to take seven days to reach New Albany.

The "extra large super loads" measure in at around 23 feet tall, 20 feet wide, 280 feet long, and weighing in at 916,000 pounds. (Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Transportation)

Stopping in multiple central Ohio townships and cities during its trip, the super load is expected to continue along the following route, before its arrival Tuesday:

• Friday — Starts in Scioto County and travels through Pike County into Ross County, with an approximate departure of 5:45 a.m.
  • Travel north on U.S. 23 to Piketon where it will cross over into southbound lanes of U.S. 23 at Market Street to maneuver around traffic signals, then crossing back over into the northbound lanes of U.S. 23
  • Travel north on U.S. 23 to Chillicothe
  • Take U.S. 35 west to State Route 104 north
  • Travel north on State Route 104 toward State Route 207
  • Overnight location: North of State Route 104/State Route 207 intersection
• Saturday — Starts in Ross County and travels through Pickaway County into Franklin County, with an approximate departure of 5:45 a.m.
  • Travel north on State Route 104 to State Route 762 near Commercial Point
  • Travel east on State Route 762 to Rickenbacker Parkway
  • Overnight location: Rickenbacker
• Sunday — Starts in and travels through Franklin County into Fairfield County, with an approximate departure of 5:45 a.m.
  • Travel north on Rickenbacker Parkway north to State Route 317
  • Travel north on State Route 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road East
  • Travel east on Bixby Road to U.S. 33
  • Travel east in the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
  • Travel the wrong way on Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp
  • Take State Route 674/Gender Road north to Brice Road
  • Travel north on Brice Road to the Tussing Road/State Route 204 intersection in Columbus
  • Travel east on Tussing Road/State Route 204 toward State Route 310
  • Overnight location: Freedom Way in Pickerington
• Monday, July 29 — Starts in Fairfield County and travels into Licking County, with an approximate departure of 9 a.m.
  • Travel east on Tussing Road/State Route 204 to State Route 310
  • Travel north on State Route 310 to U.S. 40 in Etna
  • Travel west on U.S. 40 to Mink Street
  • Travel north on Mink Street to State Route 16
  • Travel east on State Route 16 to Park Avenue
  • Overnight location: Pataskala
• Tuesday, July 30 — Starts in and travels through Licking County, arriving at Intel site in New Albany, with an approximate departure of 9 a.m.
  • Travel east on State Route 16 to State Route 310
  • Travel north on State Route 310 to State Route 161
  • Travel west on State Route 161 to Mink Street
  • Travel north on Mink Street to Clover Valley Road NW

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Forbes recently ranked a central Ohio institution as the best employer for women in the United States.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital took the No. 1 spot among 600 companies in the seventh-annual list, which surveyed 150,000 women working for companies with at least 1,000 employees. 

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To determine the best employers for women, Forbes partnered with research firm Statista to survey respondents, who were asked how likely they were to recommend their current employer. 

Participants were also asked to rate their current employer’s work environment, pay equity, parental leave and the company’s handling of incidents related to sexual misconduct or discrimination. Researchers also compiled data on the percentage of women in executive and board positions at each company. 

Women represent 80% of the hospital’s workforce and 65% of management positions, according to Chief Human Resources Officer Lorina Wise.

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital was founded by a group of dedicated women volunteers in 1892,” Wise said. “Today,132 years later, the hospital is still being driven forward by amazing women.”

Over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails proposed for central Ohio

Nationwide Children’s, with 14,568 employees, was followed by Progressive, Lululemon Athletica, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Foot Locker and Boston Medical Center in the list of best employers for women. 

Several other central Ohio employers made the list, including American Electric Power Co. Inc. (35), Ohio State University (38), OhioHealth (109), Cardinal Health Inc. (118), Olentangy Local School District (185), Victoria’s Secret & Co. (191) and Bath & Body Works Inc. (243).

Another 2024 Forbes study named Nationwide Children’s as one of the best employers for new graduates in the country, ranking 41 out of 400 employers. 

View a previous report on the owners of Latitude Five25 being ordered to pay thousands of dollars in settlement payments in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After standing empty for nearly two years, the Latitude Five25 apartment complex could be demolished and replaced to the tune of almost $150 million under a proposal submitted to city officials.

Nearly 150 families were forced out of their apartments on Christmas Day in 2022, due to lack of heat and bursting water pipes at the towers on Sawyer Boulevard. In March, a judge ordered New Jersey-based owner Paxe Latitude to pay the displaced families settlements of just over $10,000 each. And soon, the complex might be sold to a global investment group.

• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor's Office)

One of the largest investment managers in the world, Nuveen -- which recently bought a Canal Winchester apartment complex for $40 million -- is planning to purchase the complex for $7 million and demolish it, according to documents submitted to the city. In its place, the firm plans to create a 393-unit apartment development that documents said would be "100% affordable." The project is expected to have a total development cost of $147 million.

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Of the nearly 400 proposed units, 177 will be targeted to senior and intergenerational households, with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority tabbed to make sure older residents spend no more than 30% of their income on rent. The other 216 units will be reserved for families with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income.

Multiple renderings were submitted to the city showing what the completed project would look like:

• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)

The developers have four different apartment configurations in mind, with varying rent costs:

• Zero bedroom: $1,041 per month
• One bedroom: $1,109 per month
• Two bedroom: $1,327 per month
• Three bedroom: $1,528 per month

Plans call for 7,000 square feet of shared spaces, 110,000 square feet of open space and 295 parking spaces. A community room and lounge, two multipurpose rooms, a children's play and teaching room, offices for service providers to meet with tenants and a fitness center are included. And the open space would feature a basketball court, seating areas and fitness center.

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The project is being worked on by Paths Development, an affordable housing developer, builder and operator owned by Nuveen. The firm's development subsidiary has over 12,000 units across 10 states under its management and has designed over 30 affordable housing developments in Ohio.

The replacement for Latitude Five25 includes a second phase that would turn a decommissioned school site next to the towers -- which sits east of Downtown and is visible from Interstate 670 -- into another residential community, more than doubling the number of units brought about by the first phase.

If approved, Latitude Five25's demolition is expected to take place in 2025, with groundbreaking in the middle of 2026 and apartments opening in 2029.

Nuveen declined to comment to NBC4, saying it doesn't currently own the property.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Mostly sunny, high 85
• Tonight: Clear sky, low 60
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 89
• Sunday: Few clouds, showers late, high 91
• Monday: Sct'd showers, high 85
• Tuesday: Rain & rumbles, high 86

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Friday!

We are ending the week on a beautiful note, with lowered humidity, and lots of sunshine. Highs top out in the middle 80s this afternoon, with just a light breeze.

Saturday is great, too, just warm! Expect highs to warm to the upper 80s to near 90, with continued sunshine, and comfortable humidity.

We'll be slightly sticky out on Sunday, with highs in the lower 90s. We'll still see a good bit of sunshine, but clouds will begin to filter in. This is ahead of a series of disturbances nearing the area starting late Sunday and into Monday.

Expect rounds of showers from Sunday night, through the middle of the next workweek.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Olympic gold and silver medalist Harry "Butch" Reynolds raced into international stardom in 1988. He set the World Record about a month before the Olympic Games by running a 43.29 in the 400-meter race in Zurich, Switzerland.

He went on to win the silver medal in the 400 meters at the Seoul, Korea Olympic Games in 1988, suffering a narrow defeat to fellow American Steve Lewis. Reynolds now lives in central Ohio and looks back on that year fondly, especially the World Record sprint in Zurich.

"I didn't approach the race as I want to break the world record; I approached the race more as I got to do my best and I want to win,” Reynolds said. “And when a gun went off, you know, the guy ahead of us time you call him a rabbit. But he was trying to win that race. I was just watching him. I thought, my God, he's not going to come back. So I started my kick a lot earlier than I ever did before. And that Zurich, Switzerland crowd was amazing. It was like 50,000, and they were screaming, yelling. And it was just amazing. The atmosphere, the environment was very incredible for a world record.”

Reynolds’ first Olympic Trial was in 1984 in Los Angeles. He didn't make the finals in that trial, but that was when he knew he had what it would take to get to the Olympics.

"Just to focus, to commit to be the best,” he said. “That's all it was when I figured out what being the best is about -- the dedication, the commitment, the sacrifice to that. Know, I was able to handle my business and win some races.”

The journey to the Olympic Games is a grueling one.

"That's a part of the being the best,” Reynolds said. “You've got to travel. You got to go in a different environment. And it's like being away of being home. You're going to play the same intensity as an elite athlete.”

Reynolds trained for years to earn a spot on the team. Then, training schedules and workouts are interrupted by travel. But it also offered an opportunity to unite as a team, Team USA.

"We spent about two weeks in Japan, the Olympic team, and then we bonded as a team,” he said. “We really bonded as a team at that time. We got some of the best athletes in the 1988 team Joe, Evan Moses, Carl Lewis, but you know, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Gwen, the list goes on, the names that we had. So, when we bonded and then Japan, when we got to the Olympics in South Korea, we were ready to go. We thought the opening ceremonies we were ready for the opening ceremony. We came out too loud. We came out too excited. We were always young. And I think that was that was a very fun opening ceremony. I can remember correctly, we had a ball, we enjoyed it. That's why I remember walking in like, Yeah, we are here. We were ready to compete.”

Walking into that very first Opening Ceremony was an emotional experience for Reynolds.

"When you represent USA across a chest were for everybody you want to for your country,” he said. “I'm running against Germany, I'm running against Russia, running against those countries and representing my country. That's to me, I was the first name. How will I represent it being the world record holder? To me, it gave me even more responsibility in that arena and I was able to embrace that responsibility.”

Thankfully, it was an experience he earned twice in his career. He marched with Team USA in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, an Olympic Games that didn't go his way on the track, but he still remembers the incredible moment witnessing history at the Opening Ceremony.

"The opening ceremony was awesome for me,” Reynolds said. “That opening ceremony was I didn't expect it was a surprise to me when I watched the opening ceremony to see Muhammad Ali like the torch. That was the moment that was my Olympics. I didn't know it, but that was my Olympics because we had some of the same like going to the Supreme Court, and for me to get to that point after all of that and I went through that was it.”

He's referring to the 1990 false-positive test for banned substances. He was suspended wrongfully from competition and didn't know if he would ever get the opportunity to run in the Olympics again. NBC4's Kerry Charles sat down with Reynolds before a new documentary was released by ESPN that chronicles his journey from world record holder to wrongfully suspended runner.

For the 2024 Team USA, Reynolds has high hopes and can't wait to see his race, the 400 M.

"Enjoy the moment. To enjoy the moment. That's a gold medal within itself. Everybody who walks through there with all those flags, you know, representing your country, one is calling out every one of Japanese won a gold medal. That's how I look at it,” he said.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France begins this week on NBC4. The Opening Ceremony will be aired LIVE beginning at 1 p.m. and a recorded version at 7:30 p.m. in Prime Time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Over 150 miles of sidewalks, bike paths, and trails are proposed for central Ohio as part of a $2 billion transit project.

The LinkUS Mobility Initiative is COTA's plan to overhaul public transportation in the area. While this primarily introduces bus rapid transit -- a public transportation system Columbus leaders have compared to light rail -- it also includes creating walkable communities with more affordable access to work, home and entertainment.

Working toward that goal, LinkUS announced 83 proposed projects Thursday with its partners MORPC, COTA, the City of Columbus and Franklin County. These projects are where the more than 150 miles of sidewalks, bike paths and trails come in across the region. By 2050, LinkUS is expected to add more than 500 miles of bike and pedestrian paths.

"These investments will change everyone's daily life for the better," said MORPC's Executive Director William Murdock.

An average of $50 million will be provided annually for these projects, which LinkUS called "transit-supportive infrastructure," as part of the program. A total of 40 communities worked together to choose the 83 projects, according to Murdock.

"They've prioritized the best projects to help their communities, connect people to transit, jobs, services and each other, and strengthen neighborhoods," Murdock said.

Examples of the projects include the Big Walnut Trail extension, which would connect Gahanna's district, parks and community centers to Tech Center Drive and Hamilton Road. With this infrastructure in place, users would be able to safely cross I-270 and Hamilton Road.

The Big Walnut Trail extension is included in the 83 projects announced by LinkUS. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor's Office)

Millions of people are expected to move to central Ohio by 2050. LinkUS is local agencies' plan to accommodate that growth by making its transportation system larger and more modern. Thursday's announcement is a step toward creating walkable infrastructure for that increasing population.

"The result is a region with safer, equitable transit options, and is walkable, bikable and accessible for everyone," said Monica Tellez-Fowler, President and CEO of COTA.

A sales tax increase to fund LinkUS will go before voters in COTA's service area in the November election.

To learn more about COTA's plans for sidewalks and trails, including a map of the proposed projects, click here.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio man will soon embark on a 10,000-mile journey he's completed once before, but previously did not think he'd do again, and it's all to help veterans.

In 2020, Patrick Romeo completed the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. It starts in Florida and ends in Alaska.

“I had no intent on doing that ride again. It is a challenge. It is a difficult ride," Romeo said.

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Once riders do the challenge once, they have the number they were assigned forever. Romeo's number is 988. Two years after his first ride, 988 became the number to call for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Once that happened, Romeo decided he needed to do the ride again. 988 is now displayed in several places on his motorcycle.

“To me, just more than a coincidence, that was a sign," he said. "When 988 came out, that's the first thing I thought of was that was my number I can't think of a better way to help our veterans and help promote it than riding across the country with it plastered on my windshield and working with Resurrecting Lives Foundation and getting the word out.”

Participants are required to raise money for a charity or nonprofit. Romeo partnered with the Resurrecting Lives Foundation (RLF) on his first ride. It's a central Ohio based nonprofit that supports veterans' brain health and works to lower the veteran suicide rate. Romeo has partnered with RLF again.

“The fact he has chosen to do this for us again is just the most magnificent gift we could ever ask anybody to do," said Dr. Chrisanne Gordone, RLF's founder. 

Romeo is an Air Force veteran and former firefighter. Through the ride he's still giving back, one dollar, one day and one mile at a time. 

“Everything I’m going to go through on this ride pales in comparison on what many of our veterans have to deal with day in and day out," he said. 

Challenge participants cannot use GPS so Romeo will write directions given to him at each checkpoint on his windshield. They are also required to sleep outside with their motorcycles. 

"It's a small price to pay and it's because of our veterans that I have the luxury that I can make the choice to do this ride," he said. 

Romeo completed his first ride in 13 days. He's hoping to do that again this time around. That comes out to about 770 miles per day. He raised $25,000 dollars through the 2020 ride. The hope is to double that this year. Those interested in supporting RLF through Romeo's ride can do so here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance is holding solo rallies around the nation and presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris, has yet to name her running mate. But how much do those picks matter?

“Historically, who the number two person is doesn't really much matter because most voters vote for the person at the top of the ticket, not who the number two is,” Democratic strategist Dale Butland said. “This time may be different, particularly on the Republican side.”

“People don't vote for vice presidents, they're going to vote for either Donald Trump because they like him or they're going to vote for Kamala because they might like her,” Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis said. “Down ticket races do matter to a smaller degree, but at the end of the day, this is Trump versus Harris and that takes up all the oxygen in the world.”

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There have been 49 vice presidents in U.S. history and of those, nine have risen to the presidency due to a sitting president’s death or resignation. The last time it happened was in 1973.

Butland said those who vote for Trump ought to be comfortable with Vance becoming president, should something happen to the 78-year-old if he is elected; he said it is likely not the same for Harris.

“Whoever she picks is not going to be as much a heartbeat away from the presidency,” he said. “Remember, Donald Trump, if he were to be reelected, will be 82 years old by the time he completes his term in office and the actuarial tables say that some something is much more likely to happen to him than it is Kamala Harris. Remember, before Biden dropped out, a lot of people were concerned about who was the number two person or because they didn't think that Biden would be able to last to the end of his term.”

Butland said Harris has to pick a running make “who is going to help her in some of the battleground states.” But Gonidakis does not think Harris has a clear path to a strong VP pick.

“Picking a governor from a specific state will help that state, but if it's not someone that the average person can gravitate to, relate to, like JD Vance, then I'm not sure you get that much of a bump,” Gonidakis said. “You know, there really are no sexy names, in my opinion, for Kamala to choose from.”

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Gonidakis said it is “more important that you don’t get it wrong” when choosing a running mate. He pointed to John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin back in 2008.

“That was probably the wrong choice for John McCain and obviously the voters told him so when he lost to Obama,” he said. “I think it's important to get a stable person that shares your vision. But Kamala Harris's vision is that of Joe Biden because it's the Biden-Harris ticket.”

But Butland argues that Trump’s pick of Vance “is going to turn out to be a major mistake.” Butland said he thinks Vance has a lot of “bizarre beliefs,” and said, “to know him is not necessarily to love him.”

“JD Vance does not bring Trump any voter that he doesn't already have,” Butland said. “It was a play to the MAGA base. [Trump] doubled down with another MAGA person who, in many ways, is even more extreme than he is. And here's the fundamental problem with the Republican ticket. JD Vance has no convictions. Donald Trump has 34.”

But Gonidakis sees it differently. He said Vance’s story is relatable to the average American and will help energize voters beyond Ohio and the MAGA base.

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“In picking JD Vance, it's our future. President Trump knows he's going to get four more years in the White House, and he wants someone that shares his vision of America first,” Gonidakis said.

The Democratic National Convention, where a Democratic presidential nominee will be officially chosen, is in less than one month. Sources have said Harris could name her vice-presidential pick sometime in the first week of August.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As the world converges on Paris for the 33rd Olympiad, it's a reminder of the ancient heritage of the Olympic movement. 

It starts with the term "Olympiad." It was how the ancient Greeks would mark a period of four years, and it's the schedule they followed in the creation of the ancient games.

Those games laid the foundation for what we know today as the most prominent sporting event on Earth. And in Greece, it's a source of national pride. 

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"The Greeks view the Olympics as something which is very much tangibly theirs," said Alexander Kitroeff, an Athens native and Greek history professor and author. "It's part of their heritage."

The Olympics began in the 8th century B.C. as a religious festival honoring Zeus, the king of the Gods.  Olympia was the small village where the Greeks built the Temple of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  40-thousand Greeks would gather in Olympia for the celebration. 

"It really was a sanctuary and for most of its history, there was no permanent dwelling there during the rest of the 4-year Olympic cycle," said Tom Hawkins, an Associate Professor of Classics at Ohio State, and an author focused on Greek and athletic history. 
 
The earliest versions of the ancient games consisted of a single athletic event, called a Stadion. It was a 200-yard sprint on the floor of what was the original Olympic Stadium. A series of hillsides surrounded the original dirt track, where only one winner was celebrated. That winner received an Olive branch crown, and the games were named for them. There were no second or third-place awards. Only men competed in the original games. 

"There was really no concept of a team sport in ancient Greece, in part because there was a pretty clear ideology that the reason that we're going to have a competition is to find out who is the best," Hawkins said. 

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In 391 A.D., so-called pagan rituals like the Olympics were banned by the Roman Emperor. The games vanished for more than 1,500 years. 

"There really is no way in which you can have an Olympics in which you celebrate the athleticism without having it be associated with Zeus," said Hawkins. "So it really was terminated for what you might call theological policy."

Hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to Olympia each year to visit the site of the ruins. Olympia has endured earthquakes and other natural disasters, yet some original structures are still standing. 

Among the other lasting traditions established in Olympia was the use of torches—an Olympic flame. In April, the Olympic Torch relay began with the lighting of the flame in Olympia. The torch relay then extended through more than 400 towns in France. The torch will arrive at the opening ceremony Friday in Paris. ​

"It was the Greeks who had this idea that, that you could not only just light the flame but have a relay from ancient Olympia," said Kitroeff. 

Underscoring that universal message of love, peace and friendship of peoples, these ancient symbols that somehow inspire and unite us in a modern world that's really something unique."