Ohio News

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after the vehicle they were a passenger in caught fire after hitting the back of a semi-truck on Interstate 270 in Jackson Township Thursday.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened on I-270 westbound just east of Interstate 71 at approximately 3:26 p.m.

The sheriff's office said a 2022 Freightliner Semi-tractor trailer was driving west on I-270 when it started to slow down for traffic. A 2000 GMC van was also driving west on I-270 directly behind the semi-truck when it hit the trailer. The van then burst into flames.

People nearby were able to get two people out of the van, but a third was trapped. The driver and a juvenile passenger were taken to local hospitals for treatment, but the third was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The sheriff's office is investigating the crash.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Cybersecurity experts and agencies around the world have issued warnings about a wave of hacking attempts linked to last week’s CrowdStrike outage.

CrowdStrike said the outage was caused by a faulty software update; there is no evidence of malicious activity related to the outsage itself. But some bad actors are exploiting the situation for their own gain.

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The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned consumers to be mindful of phishing attempts connected to the outage. CrowdStrike also put out a warning in a blog post after the firm received reports that scammers are impersonating CrowdStrike employees in fake emails and phone calls, or posing as independent researchers, claiming to have evidence that the technical issue is linked to a cyberattack, then "selling" bogus software to fix the glitch, or asking in-depth questions to retrieve personal information.

"And, typically with these scams, a key telltale is urgency," said Neal O'Farrell, an award-winning cybersecurity expert and founder of The Center for AI Crime.

O'Farrell said the tactics these scammers use are nothing new, but there is a lot of uncertainty around the outage for everyday consumers; adding that a situation like this, where people are searching for information and are hungry for solutions, can mislead well-intentioned people into taking the wrong steps such as giving up sensitive information, a Social Security number, or financial information.

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"So, if this is a sense of urgency and they're asking you to do things that just don't feel right, take a breath, take a moment, double check,” O'Farrell said.

On its website, CrowdStrike posted a list of fake sites being used to impersonate the firm, and also offered additional resources and regularly updated information.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Finance reports show money is coming into Ohio’s U.S. Senate race from all over the country.

Incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown is facing off against Republican candidate Bernie Moreno. It’s a key battleground race that could determine which party controls the Senate.

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NBC4 Investigates sifted through the most recent filings showing how much money both candidates are raising. That cash and the balance of power in the Senate make Ohio a battleground state in this election.

It’s something the Buckeye state hasn’t seen in a while: Ohio went for Donald Trump in 2016 and again in 2020. Now in 2024, he’s already leading the polls in Ohio, showing again that it isn’t a battleground state for the presidency.

However, it is a battle for control of the Senate and that’s why the race is seeing so much money pouring in.

"We're a battleground state when it comes to the veto is what it is,” Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg said. “This is really about a veto. If the Democrats can maintain control of the Senate, regardless of what happens in the presidential race, the veto stays in place. That's a very important thing for checks and balances in the country.”

NBC4 Investigates compared numbers from the principal campaign committees that raise and spend money for a candidate, for both Moreno and Brown.

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The most recent filings cover April 1 through June 30. In day-to-day spending, which includes television ads, Brown outspent Moreno by more than $16 million.

However, a Republican strategist said this may not matter.

"When I talk about money regarding this race, I look at the money situation for the last race we had for U.S. Senate two years ago with JD Vance and Tim Ryan,” Republican strategist Bob Clegg said. “Tim Ryan outspent JD Vance at least three to one, maybe even four to one, and it didn't matter. Money can only do so much for you.”

Rothenberg sees money in the race differently.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) data shows Brown has raised the third most of any Senate race in the country; Moreno is 22nd.

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"It is hugely expensive, and frankly, it takes a lot of attention away from the actual people in state, because in order for either Moreno or Brown to win, you have to raise money and you're probably doing that 80% of your campaign time," Rothenberg said.

That time spent fundraising is paying off and shows eyes are on this race.

"It's pretty much what you would expect,” Clegg said. “The coastal elites give to the Democrats and, you know, more conservative types down south are the ones, they give to Republicans.”

FEC records NBC4 Investigates checked show most of Brown's donors are from Ohio, California and New York. For Moreno, it’s Ohio, Florida and New York.

NBC4 also dug through the employers of people who are contributing. For both campaigns, most individuals listed "None or "Self-employed," but the Moreno campaign did get more than $34,000 from Goldman Sachs employees. Brown received more than $50,000 from employees at the Ohio State University.

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Brown has more money and is spending more than Moreno, but whether that matters depends, right now, on which side of the aisle you fall on.

"I think Bernie is actually following the same game plan that JD Vance did two years ago,” Clegg said. “JD wasn't up hardly at all, if at all, during the summer of 2022 and it didn't hurt him. I think Bernie's campaign is just holding back the money because they know people really aren't going to click until after Labor Day.”

Something else from the FEC records: for Moreno’s individual donations, amounts of $2,000 or more showed the highest dollar amount. For Brown, the category for individual donations of $200 or less showed the highest dollar amount.

We will continue watching the money throughout this race: where the donations are coming in from, how much is being spent and where.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One week after a cybersecurity breach ended cyberservice for the City of Columbus, Mayor Andrew Ginther said IT investigators are still searching for answers, but the city’s computer system is still compromised.

Ginther said restoring service and doing it safely and securely takes time.

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The city unplugged its internet connectivity last Thursday immediately after the city’s IT team detected a serious problem.

“The issue is we can't restore things until we know they are safe and secure, and so our focus is going to be on public safety, public health, and public utility,” Ginther said. “So it's really essential basic city services, but it's going to take some more time. Our hope is email, both internal and external, will be up in the next few days, and this, as we have more information, will certainly share that with the public. But we need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to make sure the investigation is complete, that it's providing good accurate information because we would have learned from what happened. And we want to do everything we can to prevent it from happening in the future.”

Ginther hopes to have email services for most departments restored within the next few days. The city is trying its hardest to restore full computer services for public safety, utilities, and public health.

The mayor said the city has invested in technology in a significant way, but cybersecurity is a major issue for government, businesses, and institutions of education. After services are restored, Ginther said the city’s job will be to try to protect the system going forward.

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“The 311 is pretty much working from calls and paper and it's not the effective and efficient city service delivery that the people of Columbus are used to; they're accustomed to that, they expect and deserve, and we want to get back to that as quickly as possible,” Ginther said. “But we got to make sure we do it in a safe and secure way. Last thing we want to do is jeopardize our employees, our residents, or any of our partners’ really sensitive information.”

There were early reports that the source of this crisis was an infected email opened by a city worker, but one week into the investigation, the mayor said he still does not know if that is the case.

Ginther said he will be transparent and accurate with the public and will reveal the source of the problem as soon as he has answers.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person has died after being shot outside a gas station on the south side of Columbus Thursday.

According to Columbus police, the shooting happened at approximately 2:16 p.m. near a Sunoco station on the 1600 block of South High Street.

Police said a male victim was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:06 p.m.

There is no suspect information available at this time.

For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Prosecutors said they plan to try two teenagers as adults after they were charged with the murder of a Canal Winchester woman during an attempted carjacking.

During separate hearings in juvenile court Thursday, prosecuting attorneys said they will move forward in trying two 16-year-olds as adults for the murder of Alexa Stakely, who was struck by her own car after the boys, along with 19-year-old Gerald Dowling Jr., reportedly attempted to steal the vehicle on July 11.

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Stakely died after being struck around 1:30 a.m. that morning. She was picking up her 6-year-old child from his babysitter’s apartment. Police said that while the child was asleep in the car and Stakely ran back to the apartment to pick up the boy’s belongings, someone started to drive away in her vehicle.

• Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police
• Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police
• Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police
• Alexa Stakely

Stakely, a single mother who was attempting to stop the carjacking, was hit and killed by the car, which was found abandoned nearby with her son safe and still asleep inside.

Gerald Dowling Jr. (Courtesy/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)

On Wednesday all three suspects were arrested, According to the Columbus Division of Police, the first teen, from Canal Winchester, was brought to police headquarters by his parents, where he agreed to an interview with detectives. The boy allegedly confessed to stealing Stakely’s car and hitting her with the vehicle.

Police later announced a second 16-year-old, also from Canal Winchester, was interviewed about the case when he also allegedly admitted to being at the scene of the carjacking. Approximately an hour later, Dowling Jr., of Dublin, also agreed to be interviewed by police, where he allegedly admitted to being present during the carjacking.

All three have been charged with murder. Dowling Jr. was being held on a $10 million bond after an arraignment hearing Thursday morning. Dowling Jr. was not present at the hearing

Both teenagers, who also waived their court appearance, will be held in juvenile detention center until their next hearing on July 29.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on the fatal shooting in the video player above.

ORIENT, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio special operations officer has been charged after a 43-year-old lieutenant was shot and killed during a "tragic accident" at the Corrections Training Academy in Pickaway County.

A Pickaway County grand jury charged 45-year-old David Pearson on July 12 with negligent homicide, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of six months in jail. He's facing the charge in connection with the death of Rodney Osborne in April, according to court documents. Pearson's arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 7 in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.

Osborne was fatally shot just before 11 :30 a.m. on April 9 at the academy's tactical firing range, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction director Annette Chambers-Smith. The lieutenant received emergency care on scene from fellow trainees before he was taken to Mount Carmel Grove City, where he was pronounced dead.

Lt Rodney Osborne (Photo Courtesy: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction)

Later that month, an Ohio State Highway Patrol incident report revealed that the fatal shooting was being investigated as a reckless homicide. While the report had not revealed who was being charged, a statement from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction noted that Pearson, a west regional special operations commander, was placed on administrative leave beginning on April 10.

Pearson began his tenure with the Warren Correctional Institution in 2005 and has served in his current role since 2021.

Osborne had served with the department for 13 years and worked at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Scioto County. He was also part of the facility’s honor guard, had been named employee of the year earlier that month, and was a member of the special response team and the statewide special tactics and response team.

In late May, Osborne's family announced that they had hired a lawyer, Mark Kitrick, who is the president of Kitrick Lewis and Harris Law Firm. At the time, Kitrick said Osborne’s wife and kids still have so many questions.

"I'm going to heavily investigate the case. Look at every possible angle as to what could have happened. For example, why would an employee even pull a gun and point it at another employee, loaded or unloaded? It violates every safety rule there is in this business," said Kitrick. "Was there something defective about the vest? Was the pistol malfunctioning where the safety guard was removed or deliberately removed?'

See a report on an earlier Sheetz proposal in Gahanna in the video player above.

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – After two failed attempts, real estate company Skilken Gold has received the green light from Gahanna to build a Sheetz gas station and convenience store in the city. 

Gahanna's planning commission approved a Sheetz at 530 Tech Center Drive Wednesday. Plans call for a building on the southern portion of the 2.9-acre lot, with a drive thru and six fuel pumps covered by a canopy. The plot is currently undeveloped.

The approval comes after multiple failed attempts which drew backlash from residents. The real estate company proposed a Sheetz on a plot between Johnstown Road and Morse Road last year and then again at 230 Granville St. this spring; both of those applications failed. The company’s previous two attempts received immense criticism from residents on social media, who cited concerns about safety and traffic. 

During the Wednesday planning commission meeting, a Gahanna resident spoke, saying while she approved of the most recent proposed Sheetz location, she had concerns about the bike lanes on Tech Center Drive.

“Right by the Sheetz is where the bike lane transitions to a side path and because it’s downhill I am a little concerned about, with the traffic coming in and out of those two driveways, and the bikes flying onto that side path,” the resident said. 

At the meeting, six of seven planning commission members were present. Ultimately, all six members voted to approve of the Tech Center Drive Sheetz.

“There’s been very little on social media unlike the first two sites,” commission member Michael Tamarkin said. “The public supports it, the city supports it.” 

Chairman James Mako thanked Sheetz for working through a “long” and “contentious” road to find a location for the gas station, stating he believes Tech Center Drive will be a good spot for Sheetz. 

The convenience store chain opened its first central Ohio store in 2021 and has since quickly expanded to 27 more central Ohio locations.

BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) – A moodier establishment is emerging among the ice cream shops and local eateries on Main Street in Bexley as a new cocktail bar plans to open next month.

Bexley residents Matt Eshelbrenner and Mike Davis co-own Bexley Hospitality, the company behind the new bar, located at 2511 E. Main St. The pair said they plan to offer cocktails, fine wines and craft beer, along with coffee options in the earlier hours of the day. They also plan to partner with local food trucks as well for a rotating menu.

“Since we both moved to Bexley, we’ve had countless conversations with friends about how there is nowhere in Bexley to go for a nightcap after dinner,” the pair said via email.

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While the idea began as a solution to their perceived nightlife vacuum, the pair said they plan for the cocktail bar to extend beyond martinis or cosmopolitans. Eshelbrenner and Davis confirmed the shop will transition throughout the day to adjust to different community needs.

“We will be a coffee shop in the morning and a bar in the evening, and during the day, we’ll be a destination where you can schedule a networking meeting or come get some work done during lunch,” they said. 

Courtesy photo/John Millard

The establishment will also offer “unusually timed” sporting events, like European soccer or Formula 1 racing, to accommodate growing audiences for sports that may not be easily accessible to watch. Eshelbrenner and Davis further confirmed the place will have outlets and WiFi for customer use.

“Bexley is a family-friendly place, and our place is no exception, though at night, we’ll transition to a 21-plus atmosphere,” they said. 

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Currently, Bexley has seven restaurants that sell alcohol and are involved in the DORA set forth by the city in 2021. Davis said they are working to become the eighth DORA partner; however, the current DORA limits end right before their building, so they are discussing adaptations with the city.

Bexley's DORA limits and sinage (left), and its official DORA cups

Bexley’s Director of Administration and Development Megan Meyer said the vacancy the pair saw in Bexley’s nightlife is not the result of Bexley policies, which follow the same guidelines as the state in terms of liquor distribution and sales.

“I will say that it’s one of the city’s many development priorities to continue to attract restaurants to Bexley, something that we’re starting to see with the addition of Katalina’s,” she said,

Meyer also pointed to Giant Eagle renovations nearing completion, which she said will reopen its second-story bar and restaurant while adding a State of Ohio liquor store.

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Davis and Eshelbrenner are contributing to this development with the cocktail bar, complete with a name that is under wraps until their soft opening, an investor-exclusive event. They said their investors are 30 Bexley families who the pair sought out to invest and offer input where they can. They did confirm the name will be a nod to the Bexley community, however.

Eshelbrenner and Davis are also working with a nationally recognized bartender to contribute to Bexley’s growing alcohol market. Dustin Ross, who was recently named one of “Diageo’s Top 100 Bartenders in the U.S.,” is their “Beverage Director.” Ross, who helped curate cocktail menus for Lindeys, Service Bar and No Soliciting, will help create a custom cocktail menu.

Their 21-and-up ambiance will also be set with different design elements, they said, creating an “elegant, moody and comfortable” spot. 

Although the team is not yet ready to announce an official opening, they said the hope is to open in late August. 

“We are excited to become part of the fabric of the city and be mentioned in the same breath as other institutions on Main Street or other high-end cocktail lounges in town,” they said.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

Skies will be mainly sunny in the wake of a cold front pushing east of the region. Isolated showers will be confined to the northeastern part of the state. High temperatures will peak in the low 80s.

Less humid air will filter into Ohio tonight and Friday, as high pressure builds across the Great Lakes, creating a northwesterly flow of slightly cooler, drier air.

A warm-up this weekend will push readings back into the upper 80, as high pressure pushes off to the east, with readings climbing back into the upper 80s Saturday.

Moisture will return on the back side of high pressure over the Mid-Atlantic states, creating a southerly flow of warm, humid air. A band of showers and storms will arrive later on Sunday.

Rain chances will persist through the first half of next week, with scattered showers and storms each day, with temperatures in the 80s and morning lows near 70 in a muggy air mass.

Forecast

• Thursday: More sunshine. High 84
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, cooler. Low 59
• Friday: Sunny, pleasant. High 83
• Saturday: Sunny, warmer. High 88 (60)
• Sunday: Clouds increase, showers, storms p.m. High 88 (66)
• Monday: Partly sunny, sticky, scattered storms. High 87 (71)
• Tuesday: Scattered showers, storms. High 87 (72)
• Wednesday: Lingering showers, storms. High 88 (70)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of Ohio State's most honored athletes will be honored in a new way next month.

Archie Griffin, a former Buckeyes running back and the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy as the game's top player, will dot the "i" during a Script Ohio performance by the Ohio State Marching Band. It'll happen before the home football game on Aug. 31 against Akron.

Griffin, 69, joins a select group of honorees allowed to dot the "i," including comedian Bob Hope, golfer and Upper Arlington native Jack Nicklaus, and Griffin's coach with the Buckeyes, Woody Hayes. The last person to get to so was another former football coach, Earle Bruce, in 2016.

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• FILE - In this Dec. 8, 1975, file photo, comedian Bob Hope, right, talks with Ohio State All-America football player and Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin during taping of Hope's Christmas program in New York. For many college football fans of a certain age, their introduction to The Associated Press All-America team came during Bob Hope’s annual TV Christmas special. (AP Photo/File)
• Archie Griffin runs for a touchdown during a ceremonial play during Ohio State's NCAA college football Spring game Saturday, April 15, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
• Ohio State's running back Archie Griffin and his coach Woody Hayes are all smiles after Griffin is awarded the 1975 Heisman Trophy, on December 2, 1975, in New York City. Griffin, who already won in 1974, is the first player to win the prestigious award twice. (AP Photo)
• Ohio State's running back Archie Griffin smiles as he poses with the 1975 Heisman Trophy, on December 2, 1975, in New York City. Griffin, who already won in 1974, is the first player to win the prestigious award twice. (AP Photo)
• Archie Griffin (45), Ohio State running back carries for College All-Stars as Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Steve Furness begins to bring him down in the second quarter of the All Star game at Chicago's Soldier Field July 23, 1976. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell)
• Bob Knight, right, a member of Ohio State's 1960 national championship basketball team, stands at halfcourt with Archie Griffin after being honored during half time of Ohio State's NCAA college basketball game against Lamar on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
• President Barack Obama reacts to former Ohio State wide receiver, and pro football hall of famer Cris Carter gets his faced wiped by Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith, far left, as they all stand with former Ohio State running back and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, right, during a ceremony welcoming the NCAA College Football Playoff National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes, Monday, April 20, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
• FILE – In this Oct. 30, 1999, file photo, two-time Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, right, joined by his 7-year-old son Adam, acknowledges cheers after his number was retired during halftime ceremonies at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Former Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman filed a federal lawsuit Friday, July 14, 2017, against the university on behalf of several of the school's most famous former student-athletes including Griffin, lineman Jim Stillwagon, safety Mike Doss and others, over a marketing program the ex-athletes say used their photos without permission and robbed them of compensation. (AP Photo/Chris Putman, File)

“The opportunity, in Ohio Stadium, to dot the 'i' is a very special honor,” Griffin said in a news release Thursday. “I know that Woody was proud to have had that opportunity, and I am following in his footsteps and am extremely proud of this opportunity."

Griffin, a Columbus native who graduated from Eastmoor High School, played for Ohio State from 1972 to '75, winning the Heisman his final two seasons. He also served as president and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni Association before stepping down in 2015.

Dotting the "i" is the pinnacle of the Marching Band's Script Ohio performance before every home football game. It's typically done by a senior sousaphone player. The group surprised Griffin with the invitation in July, the news release said.

The Akron game is also the season opener for the Buckeyes, who went 11-2 last season and finished No. 9 in the final Associated Press rankings.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A prominent central Ohio real estate firm is moving forward with plans to build a mixed-use townhome development next to a cemetery near Dublin's Bridge Park.

Dublin-based Crawford Hoying's latest proposal calls for the construction of nine clusters of townhomes across 6.77 acres on both sides of Monterey Drive, to the left of the city cemetery. The development would also feature four commercial buildings totaling about 19,400 square feet of retail space with 2,960 square feet of patio space.

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The townhomes would feature 53 units with four clusters to the left of the city cemetery and the remaining five clusters across Monterey Drive. Crawford's proposal notes that a 0.62-acre tract would be dedicated to the city for the expansion of the cemetery.

• The proposal calls for nine clusters of townhomes and four commercial buildings. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)
• A rendering of Crawford Hoying's proposal calls for a 6.77-acre site on both sides of Monterey Drive, to the left of the city cemetery. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)
• A rendering of Crawford Hoying's proposal calls for a 6.77-acre site on both sides of Monterey Drive, to the left of the city cemetery. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)
• A rendering of Crawford Hoying's proposal calls for a 6.77-acre site on both sides of Monterey Drive, to the left of the city cemetery. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)

The firm's previous submittal which was reviewed by the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission in December called for two mixed-use apartment buildings and seven clusters of 40 townhomes. The new proposal also changes the height of the buildings along West Bridge Street from two to three stories to one-and-a-half stories, eliminating the previously proposed office or multi-family residential uses on the upper floors.

During a July 18 planning meeting, Commissioner Gary Alexander said he's "generally" supportive of the plan and noted he prefers this proposal over the previous one.

"I like the way you've taken the green space and created a buffer to the south," said Alexander. "That's more sensitive to the neighborhood properties."

Commissioners Jamie Chinnock and Rebecca Call, chair of the committee, echoed Alexander and said Crawford's vision is moving in the right direction. Still, Call noted that the proposal needs a lot of tinkering and voiced concern that the commercial aspect of the design should be grander.

"This parcel is setting the stage You are the first element in this area to re-envision what Dublin's gonna look like in 20 years," Call said. "This to me looks a little sleepy for its position. It looks like it belongs in more residential and not along a four-lane roadway."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Addie, a pit bull mix at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center, is ready to join a family for summer vacation.

Shelter Behavior Coordinator Brandy Trott described the 6-year-old "diamond in the rough's" energy as "middle of the road." She gets along well with everyone she meets, and flops on her belly for rubs and cuddles from her owner. When she's by herself, she's happy to keep herself occupied with toys.

"I think if you play fetch for a while, she'd probably play fetch until you stop," Trott said. "If you want a dog to go out for walks, she'd be good with that, but also I think just as long as she has a basket of toys she'd be happy."

Addie. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Addie also knows sit, down and shake, and is quite food-motivated for new tricks. Uniquely, Trott said she loves the pool, making her a great summer adoption pick.

Addie would prefer to be the only pet in the home, and is available for meet-and-greets at the Franklin County Dog Shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. Below are some additional dogs up for adoption as well:

Harley. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Harley

• Black and brown German Shepherd mix
• 4-year-old female
• Shy dog, according to the shelter
• Spayed and up to date on shots

Jafar. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Jafar

• Brown and white pit bull and terrier mix
• 2-year-old male
• Neutered and up to date on shots

Genie. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Genie

• Tan Perro de Presa Canario
• 2-year-old female
• Spayed and up to date on shots

Randy. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Randy

• Brown terrier and pit bull mix
• 1-and-a-half-year-old male
• Neutered and up to date on shots

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - From food festivals to live entertainment, here are things to see and do this weekend in central Ohio.

Ohio State Fair

Ohio Expo Center through Aug. 4

The fair will feature rides, games, exhibits and a variety of food to choose from, along with a full lineup of live entertainment and traditions for all to enjoy. For additional details including gate admission, click here.

In this year’s butter cow display at the Ohio State Fair, the iconic butter cow and calf proudly wear their butter medallions as they stand next to four elite athletes.

Nationwide Picnic with the Pops

Columbus Commons, July 26-27 at 8 p.m.

The Ohio State University Marching Band joins the Columbus Symphony featuring the sounds of The Best Damn Band in the Land. The series ends with the Buckeyes performing, topped off with fireworks.

The Ohio State Marching Band performs at the Picnic With The Pops concert on July 29, 2023. (SEN LI/NBC4)

Columbus Food & Wine Festival

Downtown Columbus, July 26-28

The annual three-day festival celebrates all things food and wine in the Columbus area, with each day featuring a themed event.

Columbus African Festival

Genoa Park, July 26-28

The festival is a celebration of African culture, music, dance, food and more. This event celebrates the rich heritage and diversity of the African continent in Columbus. The event will showcase performances by talented artists, along with unique vendors, and traditional African dishes.

Whitehall Food Truck and Fun Fest

573 S. Yearling Road in Whitehall, July 27 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The event that celebrates cuisine from local spots, music, and community spirit. The festival will feature a lineup of food trucks and live entertainment.

Taste of New Albany

Rose Run Park, July 28 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy an evening full of showcasing from local restaurants, caterers and food vendors. Patrons can also sample a variety of food, wine, beer, and cocktails while enjoying live music.

County fairs in central Ohio this summer

From now through October, central Ohio is holding a variety of county fairs featuring food, rides, games and more.

Other top summer Columbus events

This summer is also packed with central Ohio’s favorite festivals, along with numerous star-studded concerts in the city’s biggest venues.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A map is out that shows what John Glenn International Airport will look like once a $2 billion terminal project is complete.

Planning on the terminal is moving forward after $250 million in contracts were approved by the board of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority in June. The project is anticipated to have an early 2025 groundbreaking and be completed in 2029. The 36-gate terminal will completely replace the existing one that has three concourses, multiple security checkpoints and just 34 gates, with its oldest sections dating to the 1950s.

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The airport posted the map this week to its Facebook page, highlighting recent changes like the rental car center, plus upcoming ones like the new parking garage and the expansion of the red and green parking lots. The airport McDonald's is set to be demolished to make way for the $180 million garage.

(Courtesy/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)

Other changes shown on the map include a public safety facility and relocated phone lot. The map also showed that the garage next to the existing terminal will remain in place.

Renderings released in February showed what the inside of the terminal will look like. The images included a ticketing lobby, security checkpoint, central marketplace and concourse. Earlier renderings were released in August 2023.

• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• A rendering of the new terminal coming to John Glenn International Airport. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• (Courtesy/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• (Courtesy/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• (Courtesy/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)
• (Courtesy/Columbus Regional Airport Authority)

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects the 15-county area served by the airport region is on track for a population of 3.15 million by 2050. This new terminal is meant to accommodate those hundreds of thousands of incoming residents, airport officials say.

"I've said this to our staff and challenged them, it has to be the best, most efficient terminal built in the world," said Joseph Nardone, President and CEO of the airport authority, on the website for the terminal project.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ohio's sales tax holiday in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio's back-to-school sales tax-free holiday, when clothes and supplies are exempt from sales taxes, kicks off next week and will run for an expanded 10 days.

Starting midnight on July 30 to 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 8, all tangible personal property that is $500 or less will be exempt from sales and use tax in Ohio. There is no limit on the amount of the total purchase, as the qualification is determined item by item. So, the purchase of two shirts, two pair of pants, a pair of shoes and a jacket, each item costing $100 for a total purchase of $600, would be tax exempt.

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The holiday does not include an exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of a watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products or any item that contains marijuana.

If a retailer offers a discount to reduce the price of an eligible item to $500 or less, the item will qualify for the exemption. This applies to all discounts even if a retailer's coupon or loyalty card is required to secure the discount. 

Items sold by mail, phone, e-mail or Internet qualify for the exemption if the order was placed during the holiday, even if delivery is made after the exemption period. However, if the order and payment were made before the holiday, even if the item was delivered during the sales tax exemption, it would not qualify.

Qualifying items placed on or picked up from layaway during the sales tax holiday are also exempt from sales tax.

Since 2019, Ohio Senate Bill 226 has provided a permanent sales tax holiday that previously ran for three days. Gov. Mike DeWine announced in May that the holiday would be expanding to 10 days for this upcoming school year.

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"Ohio's sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year," DeWine said. "This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is working to remedy a shortage of skilled trade employees by providing resources for incarcerated juveniles to start careers in fields such as construction or welding once they are released.

The Ohio Department of Youth Services and Department of Commerce have partnered to educate incarcerated youth about skilled trade career opportunities. So far, the departments held an event at the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility in May and at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in July. At the events, workers from local skilled trades taught incarcerated youth who are close to graduating about available careers and apprenticeship programs. 

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“Ohio is growing leaps and bounds,” said Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield. “There's lots of construction going on. We have a shortage of people in the trades for a lot of different reasons and this is a good golden ticket forward for these formerly incarcerated youth to have a career path.”

Maxfield said the two events are just the first steps in a long-term plan for the state to gain much-needed workers.

“We’re going to have to start thinking about those that are in community-based programs as well,” Maxfield said. “It’s going to take a lot of years for the effect to show up because there will be people that certainly sign up for this program. We hope they make it through their apprenticeship and go on to become a certified electrician or plumber or HVAC installer, but realistically, some will drop out, but we are thinking about the long game.”

In Ohio and across the country, skilled trades are facing an aging workforce resulting in a high demand for workers. Construction, plumbing, HVAC, electric, welding and pipefitting positions are highly sought after and offer competitive salaries even at the apprenticeship level, according to the Department of Commerce. 

After as little as five years as an apprentice, individuals in a trade can expect to earn more than twice the median income in Ohio while avoiding student debt, the Department of Commerce states. In numerous cases, if a higher education is desired, skilled trade employers will offer to pay for an individual to earn college credit toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. 

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“I think a second chance is extremely important because we’re still young and still have our whole life ahead of us,” an incarcerated juvenile told the Department of Commerce. “It’s a great program, it’s definitely something to look into.”

Research shows that having a job reduces the chances of a formerly incarcerated person reoffending, and similarly finds individuals are less likely to commit crimes when they have stable, full-time employment, according to The Brookings Institution. Additionally, providing education in prison is proven to reduce recidivism rates and is associated with higher employment rates, the U.S. Department of Education claims. 

Ohio is seeing an increase in the number of incarcerated youth who are completing their high school education, according to the Department of Youth Services. During the 2023 to 2024 academic school year, 34 incarcerated juveniles in the department's facilities earned GEDs and 53 earned a high school diploma. These figures mark the highest number of high school diplomas earned in at least a decade and the highest combined number in five years, according to a spokesperson. 

Additionally, youth completed 1,307 skill certificates and 187 industry credentials. Several juveniles also earned college credit hours through Stark State College and Sinclair Community College. The Department of Youth Services funds three correctional facilities that housed a total of 411 juveniles as of June 2023.

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Maxfield said while this particular project is aimed at young people who are incarcerated, the state needs more skilled trade workers and people of all ages are encouraged to consider a career in these fields. 

The state agencies will visit the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in August to continue their initiative and educate more incarcerated juveniles about career opportunities.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Isolated showers, clearing, high 85
• Tonight: Mainly clear, low 61
• Friday: Mostly sunny, high 84
• Saturday: Warm sunshine, high 89
• Sunday: Some clouds, showers later, high 90
• Monday: Sct'd showers, high 87

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Thursday!

A cold front is working through our area this morning, and as a result, we've got some isolated shower activity across Central Ohio. Showers will remain very isolated in nature today, leading to mainly dry conditions overall. Clouds will gradually break, so we will see a good bit of sunshine, with highs in the middle 80s, and lowering humidity.

For Friday, we will see abundant sunshine, with a much more comfortable feel to the air. Highs top out in the middle 80s once again, with a dry feel.

We warm up this weekend, with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 on Saturday, but luckily, humidity still remains comfortable, and we hang onto the sunshine!

Sunday will feel a bit more sticky. Expect highs near 90, with gradually building cloud coverage. We'll then see spotty showers approaching the area mainly late-day Sunday, and overnight into the start of the next workweek.

-McKenna

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - Around 20 parents and children stood outside a Grove City church Wednesday evening chanting and holding signs that read "Keep Church and State Separate" and "Our Public Schools are not Mission Fields."

The group was demonstrating against the Bible-based education non-profit LifeWise Academy, which was holding its largest event of the year with around 800 LifeWise directors and employees from all over the country in attendance.

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Zachary Parrish is a father who lives in Fort Wayne, Ind., but made the three-hour drive with his daughter to voice his disappointment with the organization.

His daughter was a second grader in Defiance schools when he was first introduced to LifeWise Academy.

"The school had listed LifeWise as the special class, right along with music and the work list listed LifeWise as the class that they would be going to on Wednesday, and when I asked what's my daughter was going to be doing? Because this is an optional program supposedly," Parrish said.

Parrish wanted to know what his daughter would be doing at school instead of the LifeWise program. LifeWise CEO Joel Penton said it's up to the school to decide how the program is implemented.

"They said she'd be going to a study hall to read by herself and to work on making it work, and I mean, that's just not right,” Parrish said. “Your program is costing my child's education.”

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On top of missing out on "real" educational opportunities, he said she is being ostracized and judged by other students.

"She's been told she's going to Hell for years, things like that,” Parrish said. “I mean, that's super common. We see a lot of kids, is not just my daughter, was going through it.”

Alan Limke was also protesting against LifeWise Wednesday.

"I was a STEM teacher from kindergarten through fifth grade and once a week, students would miss my class,” he said. “Sometimes, a few students would miss my classes, so some students would miss music. Some would miss art.”

The group chanted slogans like "Separate, Church and State. Separate, Church and State," and "Yes to education. No to indoctrination."

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Limke complimented the LifeWise staff he encountered, saying, "The people that were involved, likewise at my school, are lovely people. They got great friends and great kids. But in this one area, we disagree."

LifeWise Academy touts itself as "Bible-based character education." Skeptics, like Limke, aren't sold. 

"I'm not too sure what amount of it is character, education and what amount of it is actually indoctrination of this very narrow interpretation of the Bible,” he said. “If it was just about character education, I'm fine with that. I'm fine and responsibility of being accountable for your actions. We do a lot of that in school already, and kids need to be in school. We do a lot of that in school already, and kids need to be in school, willing to work together, learn how to collaborate. We do that in public school very well and we're very trained to do that. We're fingerprinted and we are vetted vigorously, so that we are, we're qualified to do that. I'm not too sure all the LifeWise teachers are.”

LifeWise founder and CEO Joel Penton spoke with NBC4 after the two-day summit. When asked about the protesters, he said, "We respect others' rights to have their own beliefs. We respect others' rights to express their beliefs. We believe in what we're doing, providing Bible-based character education for public school students across the country. If there are some that don't like that, they are entitled to that belief. But we see the impacts every day, and so we're going to keep going."

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Penton has grown the organization from only two schools in 2019 to more than 350 schools in 26 states in 2024. That number is going up. He said LifeWise confirmed a 27th state Wednesday and will have more than 500 programs next year.

"I would just invite anyone who is curious to look into it, to look into LifeWise, go to life outside of work,” Penton said. “You can watch videos. You can learn about the program. You can see the curriculum. We'd love to engage with anyone who's curious.”

LifeWise uses an outcomes report to show schools and legislators the success it is having. The results of the study have been questioned for validity by Honesty for Ohio Education.

"A lot of the impact is invisible,” Penton said. “A lot of the impact is planting seeds that you won't see the fruit of for years. But you can certainly quantify something, and we see attendance go up for schools that have LifeWise. We see disciplinary issues decrease.”

As for the protesters, Penton maintains the program is completely optional.

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"I would encourage them to consider that our program is entirely optional, that only parents that want to enroll their children do enroll their children, and I would encourage them to look at what's happening again, the rapid growth across the country and hundreds of people there today from nearly 20 states to see that parents really do want this for their kids,” he said. “Parents for years have been longing for an opportunity like this, and we simply want to give all parents the option."

A lawsuit filed by LifeWise Academy against Parrish has not yet been settled. Parrish posted the LifeWise curriculum on a website without permission. It was removed by the website host, WordPress. LifeWise has since made its entire curriculum available by request.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the second year in a row, the MLS All-Stars were blown out as the Liga MX All-Stars won 4-1 at Lower.com Field in Downtown Columbus in front of a record crowd.

The best of the Mexican first division were able to go into halftime up 2-1 despite hometown favorite Cucho Hernandez's 17th minute goal, the lone bright spot for MLS. As MLS pushed for an equalizer, Liga MX silenced the stands and were able to add two more to complete the rout.

The Crew stated nearly 21,000 fans were in attendance, marking the most attended match in Lower.com Field's three-year history.

After some good pressure from MLS, Liga MX opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a German Berterame header. Seconds later, Hernandez equalized for the MLS All-Stars in front of his hometown fans with the assist from his Columbus teammate Diego Rossi. It was the first time in three years an MLS player scored in their home stadium in an All-Star game.

10 minutes later in the 26th minute, MLS thought they were awarded a penalty kick from a handball but VAR reversed the decision to the disappointment of the crowd as Hernandez was set to take the penalty.

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Just before halftime in the 41st minute, Liga MX regained the lead as Pachuca's Oussama Idrissi curled a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Crew defenders Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira came on to start the second half for MLS as Hernandez and Rossi were subbed out in a full lineup shift. Crew captain Darlington Nagbe came on later in the half.

Nashville SC attacker Hany Mukhtar had multiple chances in the middle part of the second half for MLS, trying a long distance chip that was just over and hitting the bar on a point blank header.

MLS continued to push for that second goal but Liga MX was able to take the key edge by scoring a third in the 68th minute through Juan Brunetta after some excellent passing. A few seconds later, Liga MX added a fourth as Monterrey's Maximillian Meza slotted one past Maarten Paes, making it 4-1.

The defeat is MLS' first to the Liga MX All-Stars but its second straight in the All-Star Game. With last year's 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in Washington D.C., MLS has conceded nine goals in the last two All-Star games. Next year's edition will be played at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

This was the third MLS All-Star Game in Columbus and continued a trend of each edition of the game producing at least five goals when played in central Ohio.