Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio’s highway system is among the top 10 best in the country, a recent report found.

The Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, ranks all 50 state highway systems annually. Rankings are based on a slew of metrics relating to highway systems' conditions and cost effectiveness, including pavement conditions, traffic fatalities and administrative costs. The data included in this year’s report is sourced from 2022, and collected from entities such as state highway agencies, the National Bridge Inventory and American Community Survey.

“States with high rankings typically have better-than-average system conditions (good for road users) along with relatively low per-mile expenditures (also good for taxpayers),” the report reads. 

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In the Reason Foundation's 28th annual report released this month, Ohio’s highway system ranked as the 10th best in the United States. The Buckeye State jumped seven spots from its ranking of No. 17 in the organization's previous report. 

When it comes to what specific categories Ohio did well in, the Buckeye State ranked among the top 10 for the condition of pavement on major rural roads, the fatality rate on rural roads, and the costs associated with building or expanding bridges. 

However, Ohio did rank lower in some categories, including the fatality rate on minor arterial and local roads (No. 31). 

“In terms of improving in the road condition and performance categories, Ohio should focus on improving its urban pavement condition – both arterial and Interstate. The state ranks in the bottom 20 in both categories,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, the lead author of the report. 

Ohio ranked better than its neighboring states, including Kentucky (No. 11), Indiana (No. 20), Michigan (No. 23), West Virginia (No. 33) and Pennsylvania (No. 37).

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North Carolina was the state with the best highway system in the country according to the report, followed by South Carolina, North Dakota, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Minnesota, Utah and Missouri. 

The lowest-ranked highway systems were those in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Washington, Louisiana, New York, Vermont, Colorado, Rhode Island and Delaware.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A solar energy project near Indian Lake that promised to combine photovoltaic panels with sheep farming, known as lambscaping or agrivoltaics, is no longer going forward.

According to a news release, Open Road Renewables’ Grange Solar Grazing Center has withdrawn its application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB).

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Doug Herling, Vice President of Open Road Renewables, stated that the decision to withdraw was difficult, noting that the project was thoughtfully designed to balance environmental protection, agriculture, tourism and economic benefits for the community.

“All legitimate concerns about the project were addressed and the benefits would have been spread far and wide,” Herling said. “Unfortunately, some community members were swayed by fears that were entirely unfounded.”

On a website for the solar opposition organization, Indian Lake Advocacy Group, objections to the project included concerns about protecting and preserving wildlife, tourism, farmland, and historical landmarks.

“The disruption caused by years of construction, along with the loss of open landscapes and natural views, will diminish Indian Lake’s appeal to boaters, anglers, campers, and tourists,” the group offered in a prewritten letter for supporters to send to the OSPB. “Many businesses rely on tourism to survive, and a project of this scale threatens to drive visitors elsewhere, resulting in economic harm to our community.”

The solar rival group also focused on infrastructure details and possible future owners of the agrivoltaic operation on its website to sway opinion against the project.

“What is the solar project? 2,600 acres full of 15 feet tall solar panels, inverters, driveways, racking poles, cables, and 7 feet tall fencing,” Indian Lake Advocacy Group posted on its site. “Over 4,000 acres have been leased, so there is a potential for more if they get the necessary easements. This project … is being developed by Open Road Renewables, LLC out of Texas. They are just the developer and in most cases will sell to another company (often foreign-owned) before construction even starts.”

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Criticizing the approval process, Herling stated that while the OPSB staff thoroughly vetted the project’s plans, equivalent scrutiny of the opposition’s claims did not exist.

“There is no such fact-checking of the onslaught of anti-solar propaganda, which caused local officials to make statements against solar,” said Herling. “OPSB staff relied on those stated positions to declare the project not in the public interest, despite all of its benefits.” 

Wrapping up his statement, Herling thanked those who supported the project and reiterated the company’s belief in the long-term benefits of renewable energy for the state’s economy, environment, and communities.

“Opportunities like the Grange Solar Grazing Center do not come along often,” Herling said. “The project would have brought jobs, wages, and millions of dollars in annual tax revenue to fund local schools and county and township services.

“The agrivoltaics plan would have created a new generation of sheep farmers. The drain tile plan would have improved drainage in the area. The vegetation management plan would have supported biodiversity, improved water quality, and reduced run-off. We wish all of these benefits could have come to fruition.”

Herling told NBC4 that Open Road Renewables has two other agrivoltaic projects in Ohio. Frasier Solar is in Knox County and is awaiting a decision from the OPSB and Crossroads Solar, in Morrow County, is preparing to submit an application to the OPSB.

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Additionally, Herling said the majority of farmers and landowners who signed on to partner with the project plan to continue farming.

“Others may develop the land into housing, mining, livestock facilities, or seek out other forms of electricity generation development such as nuclear or energy storage,” Herling said. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The National Low Income Housing Coalition released its annual report last week, and data shows fair housing is difficult to achieve in Columbus.

According to the report, Columbus residents would have to work 2.5 full-time minimum wage jobs in order to afford the average fair market rent in the city, much more than the state average. At large, Ohio residents need to work 1.6 full-time minimum wage jobs -- 64 hours a week -- to afford a one-bedroom home in the state.

The nonprofit looked at average fair market rent, a federally calculated rate based on locational rent averages that is used in housing voucher programs. In the Columbus metropolitan area, the rate for a one-bedroom unit varies by zip code, ranging from $960 in to $1,790 per month. This data includes zip codes across seven central Ohio counties, with lower averages in more rural counties farther from the city.

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To afford fair market rent and utilities without paying more than 30% of their income -- the typical standard for how much of a paycheck should go to housing -- Columbus area residents would need to make $25.04 an hour, or just over $52,000 per year.

Ohio's minimum wage is $10.70 per hour for nontipped employees, just 43% of the necessary salary to afford housing in Columbus.

Although 32% of extremely low-income renter households are actively working, the largest percentage share, many others are unable to work. Extremely low-income renter households also include disabled, senior or single-adult caregiver homes unable to work many typical labor jobs, as well as full-time students.

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Although citizens are most likely affected by the gap between income and rent, there are limited options for residents to fix the larger project. The report asks Congress and the General Assembly to bridge the gap between incomes and rent. Among these recommendations are establishing rental assistance programs and offering tax credits.

Lawmakers tell NBC4 they are working hard to address housing concerns, and low-income housing opportunities are receiving state and city support. However, the housing crisis continues, and the report said it will likely persist until the gap between average income and average rent is remedied. See previous coverage on the housing shortage in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Former fast-food buildings in central Ohio could soon face bulldozers making way for new Panda Express locations.

The chain's development company, CFT NV Developments, purchased a south Columbus property at 3847 S. High St. for $1 million in December, Franklin County Auditor's Office records show. The site was a Long John Silver's, then taken over by a New Orleans-themed restaurant called Way Down Yonder that operated for nearly six years before closing last fall.

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Plans submitted to the city of Columbus call for the building to be demolished before a 2,350-square-foot Panda Express location with a drive-thru is constructed.

• Way Down Yonder was open at 3847 S. High St. for nearly six years. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• Long John Silver's was a long-time tenant at 3847 S. High St before Way Down Yonder. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)

CFT made another December purchase last year in Hilliard at 3721 Fishinger Blvd., the long-time home of a Kentucky Fried Chicken location. The fried-chicken brand first acquired the Hilliard site for $380,000 in 1995, while CFT paid $1.2 million, according to the auditor's office.

Records show that KFC's 2739-square-foot eatery was built in 1996. It's unclear if the building will be demolished or renovated for the new Panda Express location.

KFC operated at 3721 Fishinger Blvd. for nearly three decades. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)

Panda Express is also readying a third new location in New Albany. CFT purchased a 1.3-acre site at the intersection of Johnstown and Smith's Mill roads in October for $1.9 million, according to the auditor's office.

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A vacant site that has yet to receive an address, the New Albany property sits across from a former Panda Express at 9855 Johnstown Road that has since been converted into a Dunkin location.

CFT purchased a 1.3-acre site at the intersection of Johnston and Smith's Mill roads. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)

Panda Express is not the first fast-food chain to bulldoze a series of central Ohio buildings to make way for new locations. Chick-fil-A and Sheetz are also expanding by demolishing buildings like a Buca di Beppo, a Woody's Wing House and several Max and Erma's restaurants.

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – A massive overnight fire has destroyed a Worthington business and damaged neighboring properties.

The Worthington Fire Department was called to Rodos Greek Taverna on State Route 161, near the Linworth Road intersection. The two-alarm blaze destroyed the restaurant and damaged neighboring businesses, including a florist and and salon spa, located adjacent on either side of the restaurant in the small shopping plaza.

A fire destroyed Worthington's Rodos Greek Taverna, March 20, 2025. (NBC4/Ronald Clark)

Several units were called to assist Worthington Fire, which remains at the scene to investigate the cause of the blaze, which occurred at around 11:45 p.m. Thursday night. No injuries were reported.

State Route 161 is closed in both directions between Linworth Rd. and Flora Villa Drive.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State was the top producer of doctoral Fulbright U.S. scholars for this school year, but State Department funding is now paused for two of the four programs faculty and students are enrolled in.

According to the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, OSU was the top producer of Fulbright Scholars across all universities for the 2024-25 school year. It was one of only 19 institutions recognized as a top producer of both Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar programs.

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Ohio State is nearing its annual Fulbright Week celebration, a weeklong event with information sessions and activities beginning March 26. The celebration might be dampened this year; Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said two of the four federal scholarships that students and faculty are involved with have been affected.

Johnson said the university is considering how to proceed. He broke down the four federal study abroad scholarship programs OSU currently has participants enrolled in. Of them, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the Gilman Scholarship have been impacted by funding pauses.

• Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Students: Six faculty and 24 OSU students are currently abroad through this program, Johnson said. It sponsors students, scholars and young professionals to pursue educational projects abroad.
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Johnson said 36 international students are studying at OSU this year through this program, which provides opportunities to foreign students to study in the U.S.
• Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program: This program is similar to the foreign student program but provides opportunities for scholars and professionals rather than students. Johnson said Ohio State is currently housing six international scholars through this program.
• Gilman Scholarship: This is not part of the Fulbright program but is also funded under the same federal department. According to the State Department, this program provides merit-based scholarships up to $5,000 for language and research studies overseas. Johnson said two OSU students are scheduled to study abroad this summer through the program.

Johnson said 16 students have alerted the institution that they have been affected by funding freezes: both Gilman scholarship participants and 14 of the 36 foreign student participants. The Foreign Student Program gives monthly stipends to participants to cover food, housing and living expenses.

Johnson said Ohio State has not heard from any of the visiting scholars or U.S. participants about a funding pause, but in both cases, he said the funding comes from the State Department and the university is not directly involved.

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According to information from the federal government's spending website, some Fulbright programs were canceled over the past few months. For instance, a Fulbright agreement with the Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Scholarship and Leadership program sponsoring Colombian students' attendance in the U.S. was terminated on Feb. 28. The termination lists government DEI programs and illegal discrimination as the reasons for canceling the funds.

The spending data shows 10 Fulbright Foreign Student grantees from Uruguay had program elements removed on Feb. 19 to comply with anti-DEI requirements. Another Fulbright collaboration, this one in Canada, was revised on Feb. 18 to add a certification confirming it complies with anti-discrimination laws.

So far into President Donald Trump's second term, changes have been made to 35 grants, which appear to receive certificates of compliance, remove portions or cancel grants altogether. As these grants often fund multiple awardees, the data shows dozens of awardees' Fulbright funds have been eliminated or updated to remove provisions encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion.

Spending data lists the Gilman Program as terminated "in alignment with an executive order" as of March 6. There are four total federal grants affiliated with the Gilman scholarship that had not expired, including the terminated grant. There are no immediate differences between the canceled grant and the uncanceled ones, which may be active or paused.

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Ohio's Oberlin University was also a top Fulbright Scholar producer as the college with the most honorees among undergraduate-only institutions. An Oberlin spokesperson said the university has been in contact with most of its scholars, all of whom said they have received funding through the end of the month. Oberlin will continue to be in contact with them to monitor their wellbeing, representatives said.

The Fulbright Program had fairly active social media on multiple platforms but appeared to stop posting multiple times a week in late January, around the time federal funding freezes were enacted.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Marysville City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday in favor of staff cuts after voters rejected a levy proposal last fall. 

Thirty positions will be eliminated effective May 23 if the 5.5 mill operating levy on the May ballot does not pass. 

Board members said the decision was not made lightly and is not a reflection of teachers' performance. The cuts would include around two dozen teachers in subjects like art, music, and physical education. 

Cutting those positions would mean students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade would have physical education once a month and art and music experiences up to three times a year. 

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The district has placed last fall's failed 5.5 mill operating levy back on the ballot in May. If passed, those cuts would be restored. It would cost homeowners about $190 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value. 

"I've watched this district cut before and we're just now, you know, and that literally when I say 20 years, 20 years coming back from those cuts, so it’s sad,” Marysville School Board Member Bill Keck said. “They're doing what they can with the funds they have, and if the state decides that we're not going to support our schools the way that, you know, we all would like to see that done, at the end of the day, it's up to us as a community to do so. And that's really the request here, is we've got to stand up and do it and support the schools as a community because that's the position we're in." 

The board will hold a town hall meeting on March 31. Board members said it’s their priority that voters have all the information they need to make an informed decision on the May levy, so they are encouraging all residents to attend and ask questions. 

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Work has begun on a county-funded, nearly $5 million expansion of broadband services in Delaware County.  

This project is the next phase of an effort that began in 2023 to get more people connected. 

Delaware County conducted a study in 2023 to identify its “internet deserts.” Most of the places identified are in the northern half of the county, which is primarily farmland.  

To expand broadband, the county is using money from the American Rescue Plan Act.  

Leeds Farm will be one of the many to benefit from improved connectivity. The farm has grown over the years, stretching roughly 30 acres and offering family-fun activities. One thing it’s lacking is connectivity.  

“When you get a lot of people on the farm, it's really hard to even make a call or, you know, send a text,” Leeds Farm co-owner Rob Leeds said. “It's just really difficult. Even in agriculture, you know, we have planters and we have sprayers and everything has some connectivity to it. Even our grain bins, we're monitoring by, you know, some kind of connectivity on our phone to make sure everything's working.” 

County leaders said agriculture is the biggest industrial sector in the county, which is why it’s vital for farmers to have reliable internet access. 

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. 

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some school districts in Ohio are facing budget challenges and oftentimes, school social workers are among the first positions to be cut.

That’s the case with Reynoldsburg City Schools. The district is cutting more than $8 million after its levy failed in November.

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A district spokesperson said Reynoldsburg has a total of 10 social workers right now, with two open positions. Because of the budgets, those two open positions will be eliminated and three more social workers will be cut after this school year, leaving Reynoldsburg with seven school social workers.

Teri Kinsway, the program coordinator for the College of Social Work at Ohio State-Marion, said districts across the nation are cutting school social workers.

“Some students will fall through the cracks, honestly, and student needs, family needs will go unmet,” said Kinsway.

She said social workers are responsible for suicide risk assessments, addressing behavioral concerns and connecting students and their families with resources. Kinsway said Reynoldsburg cutting nearly half of their school social worker positions is worrisome.

“If any district is losing half of their school social workers they will see increased student needs falling upon other people in the district who are already busy and stretched far,” Kinsway said.

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For Columbus-area school social worker, Leah Alexander-Leeks, her daily life includes helping kids deal with mental health crises, behavior management, attendance issues and more.

“A lot of what we do is help to address basic needs and if those basic needs aren’t met, like food, clothing and shelter, then there’s really no way for a child to be successful at school,” Alexander-Leeks said.

With less social workers in a district, Alexander-Leeks said more students will struggle academically, miss school and act out in class. She wants parents to know that every child at school could be negatively impacted, even the ones who don’t need extra help.

“Those children who we are helping to support them with things like mental health crises and behavioral management, their children are in classes with those kids and if they’re not able to manage and regulate themselves, their children are being affected even if it doesn’t seem like it,” she said.

Seeing school social workers cut in central Ohio and across the country worries Alexander-Leeks for the future.

“I think it is really a scary time for us as school social workers to be concerned about the possibilities of losing jobs and even more so than us, the effect that that could have on students and the families that we work with."

A Reynoldsburg district spokesperson sent a statement to NBC4 saying in part, “While the changes are not ideal, we will continue to provide the necessary support and resources to our students and families.”

They said the well-being of students is the top priority for the district. To learn more about school social work in the state of Ohio, check out the Ohio State Social Workers Association.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Construction of a new Columbus Division of Police substation along Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop will start later than previously planned.  

The new facility will be built along Sullivant Avenue just east of the current substation 19. At the moment, the property is full of brush and trees. 

“I grew up here and for me, this has been a parcel that is ripe for revamping," said Brandon Barcus, a lifelong Hilltop resident and member of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission.

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The current substation is more than 50 years old, has ceiling damage, is too small, and has flooded multiple times, according to CPD. 

“It just does not meet the needs of the community and doesn’t meet the needs of the officers," Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant said to NBC4 in June of 2023.  

Bryant and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther talked to NBC4 about the substation and plans for the new one that summer. Design funding was approved back then. A city fact sheet dated October 1, 2024 called for construction of the new facility to start in January of 2025. Construction was to be completed in April 2025, according to that same document.  

But construction has not started. Ginther said he is hoping it will begin in May or June.  

“This was a more complicated, we had to work with the state of Ohio to acquire this land, there were a number of other land issues we had to work out, but it's full steam ahead," Ginther said.

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The mayor also described the project as a priority of his. Barcus and Carla Carr, another member of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission, said residents have been asking about what's going on with the project. 

“There’s been just a lot of conversations about is it really even coming and just where is it, we’ve been promised this for a very long time," Carr said. "It’s something that we’ve waited for quite some time and I think it’ll be a great asset for all the neighbors in our community.” 

Once built, the new substation will also be a place for community members to gather. The mayor said the goal is for it to open in 2026.  

“I’m just excited to see groundbreaking. It’ll look a lot different and that will be a welcome change," Barcus said. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Whether you're making updates to your home or making repairs after a severe storm, hiring a reliable contractor matters.

"We do see quite a bit of home contractors out there -- again, most of them are well-meaning," Ohio Attorney General's Office Consumer Educator Ryan Lippe said. "But when there's a natural disaster, some of them go way over their head in terms of the number of jobs they can support with their current workforce. Sometimes it's a mistake on their end, sometimes it's a scam. It's just a matter of making sure that you follow up as consumer, if you think that they've not done a satisfactory job."

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Better Call 4 asked Lippe what a homeowner who's been wronged by bad business can do if they aren't pleased with a project they paid for.

"There are a lot of tips you can use to react to a job that doesn't go well," Lippe said, such as trying to work things out with the company directly.

"Give them a letter in writing," Lippe said. "Either email or postal mail. Even hand deliver them the letter with a deadline and send it certified if you need to for proof that it was actually delivered."

If you gave them a deadline and a chance to respond and still don't see eye to eye, Lippe said the next step is to contact the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General's Office.

"We have informal dispute resolution all year round," Lippe said. "Again, we handle 24,000 to 25,000 complaints a year through informal dispute resolution. So, we want to help consumers get their money."

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Though the office cannot give legal advice, Lippe said this method is another step to consider before taking the issue to the courts.

"There are really good scenarios that come out of informal dispute resolution with our office," Lippe said. "We will tell the consumer side of the story. We'll see if we can help mediate between the company and the customer."

Again, informal dispute resolution is more of a mediation with the help of the Attorney General's Office, but could help to take care of any contractor-related issues, including if the business you hired stops answering your calls.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- President Donald Trump dismantling the U.S. Department of Education is leaving Ohio leaders at odds about whether it will help or hurt our education system to have more power returned to the state.  

“I think there could be major benefits for all for Ohio,” Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said.  

“I'm concerned about that,” Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said.  

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Gov. Mike DeWine took a clear stance on the issue. A spokesperson confirmed that DeWine attended the executive order signing.

“Today, I joined President Trump and several fellow governors at the White House in support of the president’s proposal to return education back to the states," DeWine said in a statement.

“Every student, family, and community is different," he said. "In Ohio, we’ve achieved great results by focusing on our administration’s priorities, like improving literacy achievement, ensuring all students have pathways to thrive in our workforce, and more. Now it’s time to take the next step. By giving states more authority over education, we will have the flexibility to focus our efforts on tailoring an educational experience that is best for our children and that meets Ohio’s needs, rather than trying to chase federal priorities.”

The Ohio Democratic Party criticized DeWine for attending the signing.

"Ohio's students are our state's future, but their elected officials are cheering as billionaires rip away their access to a quality education," Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer said in a statement. "Today reveals DeWine, Husted & Moreno's complete disinterest in any future that isn't focused on their extreme politics. Our elected officials should be standing up for our students, but they can't even stand up to Donald Trump."

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How does it all really impact Ohio?

The state’s public K-12 schools and universities receive millions, sometimes billions, of dollars a year from the Department of Education. McColley said it comes with too many strings attached.

A recent example is Title IX compliance funding.  

“It's now basically legal bribery to the states to say you have to take this federal money and you have to do everything that we're asking you to do, otherwise, you're not going to get this federal money,” McColley said. “And they put us in a position where, quite frankly, the one-size-fits-all approach that's coming down from Washington, D.C. is not working.”
  

Overall, McColley said the money from the federal government should be free for use, as prescribed by the state.  

“We would be better served to block grant that money to the state of Ohio and to all the other 49 states and basically say, ‘Look, the beauty of this country is we have 50 laboratories of democracy. Some states are going to get it right. Some states are going to get it wrong,’” he said.  

McColley said it lends itself to one “simple fact": Ohio knows what is best for Ohio.  

“Just greater flexibility on how we're going to spend the money in the state, I think would be helpful for everybody,” he said. “We are going to have a better idea of what Ohio education needs are than they are in Washington, D.C. That's just a simple fact.”  

But it is not that straightforward for Antonio. Antonio said she worries about how Ohio’s Republican-led legislature would dole out the money.    

“You hear leaders say things like ‘the Fair School funding formula is just not sustainable; they need $1 billion.’ And at the same time, the same legislator leader is suggesting that we give $1 billion to private schools, religious-based schools,” she said.  

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Antonio said it goes beyond the ways Ohio would choose to spend the money, but also the threat of a loss of programs, like Title 1.  

“Which provides a supplemental reading services and additional help for kids that are that otherwise would fall through the cracks,” she said.

“They don't have enough learning problems to qualify for, to be on an individual education program or plan. But they still need some assistance, some help. And they're identified and they're given extra assistance.”  

Antonio said while there is no telling what will really be done, she does not trust Republicans in power in Ohio to legislate responsibly when given more power.  

“There's a disconnect with the state of Ohio legislators in power right now who support giving money to private entities over public schools. I think that's a problem,” she said. “I don't think Ohio is a good example of a state going ahead in and forging ahead with its own policies when it comes to education.”  

But McColley said, when it comes down to it, he thinks this power rightfully belongs to the states.  

“Every state is going to have a better idea of what they can do with that money, better than what Washington, D.C. is having us do,” he said. “The Constitution, quite frankly, dictates that we should be the ones controlling education in our states, not the federal government.”  

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“There are a lot of levers, pulleys and checks and balances that come through the Department of Education, that states left to their own devices, I worry what that means for each individual state,” Antonio said. “More importantly, I worry about what it means for our children.”  

This all comes after Ohio lawmakers majorly restructured the state’s own State Board of Education and Department of Education and Workforce.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — NBC4 Investigates is hearing from people who are being robbed; people using SNAP benefits, once known as food stamps, are logging in to their accounts to find their money is gone.

Now, we are getting a look at the first line of defense: the stores where we all shop. A Columbus market on the north side showed how it keeps customers safe -- by using a device that blocks others from tampering with their credit card machines.

These by no means are everywhere and SNAP cards are an easier target because they don't have the microchip technology, which became widely used in 2015. That means millions of dollars are being stolen from those relying on this money to survive.

"It kind of hurt my feelings badly because that's all I had for that week," SNAP fraud victim Kaiden Bickmeyer said. "I cried. I mean, I'm struggling and it's not fair to my kids," SNAP fraud victim Mindy Hurley said.

Those are just two of the victims we spoke with who have experienced snap theft potentially through skimming. A skimmer is a device that steals your card information. It’s something that Weiland’s market in North Columbus keeps an eye out for.

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"We have anti-skimming devices at all the pin pads. So what that does when someone puts in their card it then scrambles the information. So if someone does try to come in and skim information from it, there's nothing to get," Weiland's Market Co-Owner Daniel Phillips said.

He’s had them at his store for about a year. "If I was using SNAP benefits, I would kind of hope and assume that businesses would have implemented it by now," Phillips said. 

NBC4 Investigates checked with other central Ohio grocery stores and gas stations. One told us they check their devices every morning, another said they don’t have any protections. "It used to be a gas station problem. Right? Well, now it's anywhere and everywhere. And these scammers have gotten more and more intelligent," Ohio Grocers Association CEO Kristin Mullins said. 

The Ohio Grocers Association is a lobbying organization that represents mostly independent grocery stores. "Grocers across the state, probably across the country are doing what they can to protect that," Mullins said. 

Scams to get your card information can look very different; it could be a small device stuck onto a card reader or someone could be using sleight of hand to run your card through another device, before charging it. "We found over 600 credit cards inside of just one of these two devices," Whitehall Division of Police Deputy Chief Dan Kelso said.   

Whitehall Police caught a man using this skimmer at a gas station. They said he took customers' cards and ran them through this before charging them on the store device. "We've got a call from a victim who stated, hey, my credit card was used at your target, but it's still in my hand. What's going on?" Kelso said. 

Surveillance video and license plate readers helped Whitehall Police track down the suspect, and arrest him, with the devices on him. Deputy Chief Dan Kelso says to keep an eye out for anything that looks like it may have been stuck onto a credit card machine and try not to hand your card over to anyone.

"Give us a call. Let us come check that out right away. I mean, you might be saving a lot of financial heartache to people," Kelso said. Despite chip-based card technology gaining in popularity a decade ago in the United States, only three states have made progress in updating SNAP cards too.

Now, Ohio might join that list and the upgrade would pay for itself in less than a year. Two state representatives have introduced legislation that would require the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to add chip technology to all Ohio SNAP cards over the next two years.

In Ohio last year, nearly 27,000 people reported their SNAP benefits stolen, almost $14 million dollars of taxpayer money, gone. This bill could stop a majority of those thefts. The Republican representative who co-introduced it calls it a no-brainer.

"We have two paths forward, one independent legislation which we have introduced and then secondarily where we have tried to put it in the budget as a budget amendment. So again, just working with the leadership team in the House and the Senate to get that through," Rep. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) said. 

If this moves forward the state would be investing about five million dollars in this security upgrade. The other half would come from the federal government.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio reported its first measles case of 2025 on Thursday.

Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said the case was reported in an adult in Ashtabula County.

Vanderhoff said the adult was unvaccinated and recently was in contact with someone who traveled internationally.

"The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated," Vanderhoff said in a statement. "This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated."

The state saw seven measles cases in 2024, one in 2023 and 90 in 2022, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Your closets and cars aren’t the only things that could use a spring cleaning. So could the streets.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says that at the start of spring, more cigarettes, cans and other trash appear all over the roads each year.

“It’s disgusting out there. It’s embarrassing. All of us as Ohioans should be embarrassed at the level of trash that is out there along our roadsides,” said Matt Bruning, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

All of the cigarette butts, cans and more is left for crews like ODOT to clean up. The same employees tasked with picking up your trash are also the ones who spent all winter plowing roads. So after a busy season, they’re met with an overwhelming amount of litter. “We all can do a little bit to keep one person from having to do a lot,” Bruning said.

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Each year, around $10 million worth of taxpayer money goes into litter clean up, money that could be going elsewhere. “Our Safe Routes to School program which builds infrastructure and programming to help kids get to and from school safely walking and biking has been around $10 million. We could double that program with what we’d save,” he said.

Littering is a misdemeanor in Ohio. It can be punished with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Still, Bruning said it doesn’t stop people from throwing their trash out on roadways. “I think it’s hard to fix it because it's a culture change. Just like drunk driving, distracted driving it’s a culture change that has to be made,” he said.

If you want to help out, the city is hosting the first major clean up event of the year on Saturday. Organizers said if you’re interested in volunteering, meet at 10 a.m. at the Wolfe Park Shelter House on 105 Park Drive.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As Ohio lawmakers debate how they want to fund public schools, the state's poorest districts will bear the brunt of the Department of Education's sunset.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to begin shuttering the Department of Education while maintaining services and benefits people rely on. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined Trump at the signing of the executive order, saying he is in support of increasing state authority over education.

The order instructs McMahon to ensure the agency does not fund programs that advance diversity, equity and inclusion or gender ideology. Framed by around a dozen school children seated at desks, Trump said at the signing that he hopes McMahon will be "the last Secretary of Education."

The Department of Education does not set curricula and primarily serves as a funding and civil rights compliance office, and Trump plans to continue them with a smaller budget and fewer staff. In Ohio, this order is likely to disproportionately affect students with disabilities or who come from lower income families and school districts.

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Trump cannot close the Department of Education alone. Because it was established by Congress, it would need an act of Congress to dissolve it. However, Trump’s plan already has Congressional support; Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a bill to terminate the Department on Jan. 31, and the bill is currently in the House education committee, although it has not seen further action since it was introduced. 

According to the Department of Education itself, education in the U.S. is primarily left to the states and to local municipalities. The department said federal funding only makes up about 8% of funding for K-12 education in the U.S., including funds from other federal departments. In 2024, federal funding for Ohio's public schools totaled $3.18 billion, or 11.6% of all public school revenue.

What does this mean for K-12 schools?

Trump's order said it will maintain primary functions, for now, with a short-term goal of fully shuttering the department. Now operating with fewer staff and smaller budgets, NBC News correspondents report many of its primary functions may see backlogs and be unable to keep up with demand, stalling or limiting possible funds.

Most of Ohio's 2024 federal funds came from temporary COVID-19 relief payments, which have since stopped and are unrelated to Trump's order. The remaining funds primarily came from Title I funding and IDEA funding, both housed under the department. Title I primarily offers financial support for economically disadvantaged students through various grants, and IDEA funds generally support special education programs.

According to state data, school districts with high poverty rates received significant funding from Title I grants. Urban schools with very high poverty rates and large populations received an average of $1,119 per student in Title I funding in 2024. Ohio lists eight school districts and 200,000 students across those categories, so without Title I funding, those districts would lose a combined $223.8 million.

One of those eight districts is Columbus City Schools (CCS), which has an 82% student poverty rate and is Ohio's largest district. For Columbus' 46,000 students, that equates to $51,474,000 in federal funds from Title I alone. In 2024, CCS had more than $1.1 billion in expenditures. Title I funds are limited in how they can be spent, but would have equated to 4.5% of CCS' total expenses for that school year.

Federal funding losses come at especially poor timing for districts like CCS, where leadership has been outspoken about funding losses under Ohio's biennial budget, which will be finalized this summer. Under current drafts, CCS leadership say they would lose $45 million over the next two years. Central Ohio school districts are predicted to lose a combined $120 million if the budget does not adjust its school funding.

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IDEA funding could also be cut, effecting payments supporting public education for students ages three to 21 with disabilities. Central Ohio's 17 primary public school districts received nearly $53.5 million in IDEA funding in 2024. Special education funding is also of concern in state funding cuts, where central Ohio districts are projected to lose more than $33.5 million under the proposed state budget.

Ohioans -- especially in poorer school districts -- have conveyed that they do not want higher property taxes, which contribute to public schools' other source of funding. In November, 60% of local school levies failed. The districts that passed levies had an average student poverty rate of 18.1%, where districts that failed averaged 49.5%. With less state funding and school levies failing at the ballots, poorer districts are more likely to feel the loss of this federal funding.

What does this mean for Ohio universities?

Ohio universities could also lose millions. According to federal spending data, Ohio State received nearly $550 million in Department of Education grants in the past 12 months, and Ohio University received $72.1 million. In total, Ohio's 13 public universities received nearly $1 billion in federal funds from the Department of Education in that same time span.

The Department of Education also plays a significant role in student loans, and Ohio ranks among the top 10 states with the most student debt. According to Pew Research Center, Americans owe about $1.6 trillion in student loans, and one in four adults under 40 has student loan debt. Even if the Department of Education is eventually fully abolished, this money would likely still be due. 

The executive order suggests shuttering the department will help with student loan debt, equating the department to Wells Fargo in the total value of its transactions. The order asserts there are not enough financial aid employees to manage such a large amount of money, and says it must return bank functions to an entity better prepared to serve as one, although it does not say which entity.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told NewsNation in early March that student loans, Pell Grants and other student aid "might be served best" in another federal department. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said student loans and Pell grants will be much smaller, but remain under the Education Department for now.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 74-year-old man who used to practice law in Columbus has pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice said that Dennis McNamara pleaded guilty on Tuesday to both charges and could serve a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been determined for McNamara. This comes after he allegedly denied discussing a client to a sex worker while representing said client in a drug and sex trafficking case.

WATCH: Suspect grabs bag of cash from armored car employee

Court documents said that McNamara was representing a witness during a case in the Southern District of Ohio related to a drug and sex trafficking organization. While he was in the middle of the case, he was engaged in a sexual relationship with a female sex worker and allegedly told her about the cooperating witness, per the DOJ.

Because of the nature of the case, the DOJ said that McNamara disclosing this information to the sex worker put the witness at risk of personal harm. When FBI agents asked him about this, McNamara did not disclose telling anyone information about the witness. The case had to be moved and assigned to the Western District of Pennsylvania.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man seen on video surveillance swiping a bag of cash from an armored car employee has been arrested.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a reported robbery in Valleyview, where a Brinks armored car employee was servicing an ATM machine at a Food Mart on Valleyview Drive in the west side of the city.

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It was reported that an unidentified man was waiting behind the Brinks employee before snatching a bag with a large sum of money inside of it and fled the store. Video surveillance captured the suspect eyeing the Brinks employee before swooping in behind him to grab the bag.

The suspect was briefly pursued by the Brinks driver but ultimately got away in a dark-colored Ford SUV.

Approximately 14 hours later, at 11:30 p.m., 21-year-old Yelon Shepherd, who was identified as the suspect, was arrested and charged with robbery and felony theft. He is being held in Franklin County Jail while the case remains under investigation.

Shepherd is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court for an arraignment hearing on Friday at 9 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As the weather warms up, many central Ohioans turn their attention to yard work, including pruning trees, however for the people of Columbus, knowing if the tree is city property is essential before any alterations are made.

A recent post on the social media site, Nextdoor, warned neighbors about the repercussions of clipping city trees.

“Just a reminder to everyone,” the poster wrote. “The trees that are located in the area between the sidewalk and the street are considered city property in The City of Columbus. Be careful, my neighbor got fined $1,200 for taking … even dead limbs off a tree. If you want them trimmed, call the city.”

Street trees, which are usually planted along roads in the space between the sidewalk and the street, known as the tree lawn, belong to the city, according to the Columbus Recreation and Parks website. The Recreation and Parks Department’s Forestry section manages these trees, including planting, pruning, and removal. The site states that its team is on call 24/7 to handle tree-related emergencies.

For those wondering about general tree maintenance, the city has clear guidelines in place, requests for service, such as pruning or tree removal, can be submitted through the City 311 Service Center at 614-645-3111 or online at 311.columbus.gov. People can also ask for a new tree to be planted through this service. Since these requests are prioritized based on public safety and available resources, residents should plan ahead when seeking tree maintenance.

If homeowners prefer to pay out of pocket for trimming, treatment, or removal of a city-owned tree, the work must be done by a certified arborist with a permit from the Forestry section. Permits are free and are supplied after a city arborist makes an inspection.

Image of the Columbus Public Tree Inventory site. Courtesy/City of Columbus.

Figuring out whether a tree belongs to the city or a homeowner is key before any changes are made. To be sure, residents can check the Columbus public tree inventory map. This interactive online tool provides information about tree species, size, and location, helping homeowners understand whether a tree falls under city management. This knowledge can prevent accidental violations and ensure trees receive the proper care.

In December 2023, NBC4 reported on increased fines for cutting down city trees. The newest tree code increased the penalty for cutting down public trees, from $200 per diameter inch to $260 per inch. In March of the same year, Dunkin’ Donuts in Clintonville received an $8,000 fine for cutting down trees. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus saw the largest population increase of any Ohio metropolitan area after the COVID-19 pandemic, a change driven by immigration.

Only three major Ohio cities experienced population growth after the pandemic, according to recent data from the U.S. Census. Columbus saw a 4% population increase, more than any other Ohio city by at least 1.6%. And much of that growth came from immigration.

The Census Bureau reported that Franklin County has gained 32,500 residents since the pandemic. The census tracked international and domestic migration from 2020 to 2024 and noted Franklin County saw negative domestic migration, meaning people in the U.S. were moving away from the area more than moving to it. At the same time, Franklin County saw more than 50,000 people move to the area internationally.

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Only the Cincinnati and Dayton areas joined Columbus in population growth since COVID-19, growing 2.4% and 0.9%, respectively. The numbers reflect the greater cities' areas determined by the Census. Columbus is considered the 14th most populous city in the U.S., but in this federal dataset, it appears to have fewer residents than Cincinnati.

Franklin County's population is expected to increase by around 363,000 people by 2050. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Committee reports that central Ohio is seeing higher death rates than birth rates, making domestic and international migration crucial to the region's growth.

Columbus' immigration surge was especially noticeable between July 2023 and July 2024, when more than 20,000 immigrants moved to Franklin County. This meant immigration was the area's largest population contributor, making up 54% of all growth. The Census Bureau said 15.1% of Columbus residents are foreign-born, much higher than the state foreign-born population of 5.3%.

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According to data from the state, most refugees who came to Columbus in 2024 arrived from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And according to data from the Migration Policy, immigrants to Columbus primarily come from India, Mexico and western Africa, which did not specific countries of origin.

Immigration has been the subject of many federal orders since President Donald Trump assumed office in January. Trump has indefinitely suspended the refugee admissions program, which brought thousands of foreign-born residents to Columbus. He has also cracked down on undocumented immigration and immigration crimes, including the contested deportation of hundreds of immigrants to an El Salvador prison this week.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has said although the city will comply with all federal laws, it will not devote city resources to immigration enforcement. Federal agents have set up a task force in central Ohio to investigate and arrest criminals who are not lawfully in the U.S. See previous coverage of Ginther's immigration stance in the video player above.