Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A person has been hospitalized after a shooting took place on the north side of Columbus.

According to Columbus police one person was shot in or near an Advance Auto Parts parking lot on East Dublin Granville Road, just west of Interstate 71. The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m., when police cruisers arrived at the Sheetz gas station, which sits adjacent to the Advance Auto Parts parking lot.

Ohio National Guardsman accused of raping minor faces judge in Delaware County

Officers found a victim in the adjacent parking lot at a Sheetz gas station. The victim was suffering from a gunshot wound and emergency crews took them to Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Police do not currently know what condition the victim is in, what led to the shooting, or have any suspect information.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The most-anticipated ranking of Ohio public high schools is in, and several central Ohio schools ranked high on the list.

The U.S. News and World Report released its school rankings Tuesday. The news organization analyzed more than 700 public high schools in Ohio based on six factors:

• 30% weight given to college readiness, measured by the proportion of seniors who took and earned a qualifying score on an IB or AP exam
• 20% weight given to state assessment proficiency
• 20% weight given to state assessment performance, measured against U.S. News and World Report's prediction for how a school with similar characteristics would score
• 10% weight given to college curriculum breadth, measured by how many AP or IB exams students take and pass
• 10% weight given to underserved student performance, measured by learning outcomes among Black, Hispanic and low-income students
• 10% graduation rate

Bexley High School nearly topped the list, being ranked second with a 99.17 score out of 100. Dublin Jerome High School, meanwhile, rounded out the top 10 with a score of 97.56. Other central Ohio high schools, including Olentangy Liberty, Columbus Alternative, Grandview Heights and Olentangy also ranked high on the list.

Two students arrested during pro-Palestine protest at Ohio State

The top 50 public high schools in Ohio in the ranking are:

1. Walnut Hills High School -- Cincinnati (#118 nationally)
2. Bexley High School -- Bexley (#147 nationally)
3. Madeira High School -- Cincinnati (#212 nationally)
4. Solon High School -- Solon (#220 nationally)
5. Rocky River High School -- Rocky River (#232 nationally)
6. Oakwood High School -- Dayton (#265 nationally)
7. Chagrin Falls High School -- Chagrin Falls (#297 nationally)
8. Indian Hill High School -- Cincinnati (#310 nationally)
9. Hudson High School -- Hudson (#404 nationally)
10. Dublin Jerome High School -- Dublin (#431 nationally)
11. Olentangy Liberty High School -- Powell (#441 nationally)
12. Wyoming High School -- Wyoming (#466 nationally)
13. Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School -- Broadview Heights (#488 nationally)
14. Olentangy High School -- Lewis Center (#490 nationally)
15. Kenston High School -- Chagrin Falls (#495 nationally)
16. Columbus Alternative High School -- Columbus (#510 nationally)
17. Sycamore High School -- Cincinnati (#528 nationally)
18. William Mason High School -- Mason (#530 nationally)
19. Grandview Heights High School -- Grandview Heights (#535 nationally)
20. Aurora High School -- Aurora (#569 nationally)
21. Upper Arlington High School -- Upper Arlington (#585 nationally)
22. Ottawa Hills High School -- Toledo (#588 nationally)
23. Granville High School -- Granville (#591 nationally)
24. Bay High School -- Bay Village (#616 nationally)
25. Turpin High School -- Cincinnati (#628 nationally)
26. Perrysburg High School -- Perrysburg (#698 nationally)
27. Revere High School -- Richfield (#700 nationally)
28. Mariemont High School -- Cincinnati (#726 nationally)
29. John Hay Early College High School -- Cleveland (#745 nationally)
30. Orange High School -- Lewis Center (#794 nationally)
31. Dublin Coffman High School -- Dublin (#799 nationally)
32. Highland High School -- Medina (#808 nationally)
33. West Geauga High School -- Chesterland (#811 nationally)
34. Avon Lake High School -- Avon Lake (#842 nationally)
35. New Albany High School -- New Albany (#877 nationally)
36. Cleveland School of Science and Medicine -- Cleveland (#894 nationally)
37. Olentangy Berlin High School -- Delaware (#915 nationally)
38. Orange High School -- Pepper Pike (#965 nationally)
39. Loveland High School -- Loveland (#971 nationally)
40. Avon High School -- Avon (#999 nationally)
41. Fort Loramie Junior-Senior High School -- Fort Loramie (#1,005 nationally)
42. Waynesville High School -- Waynesville (#1,024 nationally)
43. Bellbrook High School -- Bellbrook (#1,040 nationally)
44. Hiland High School -- Millersburg (#1,220 nationally)
45. Versailles High School -- Versailles (#1,240 nationally)
46. Strongsville High School -- Strongsville (#1,249 nationally)
47. Canfield High School -- Canfield (#1,275 nationally)
48. Kings High School -- Kings Mills (#1,308 nationally)
49. Anderson High School -- Cincinnati (#1,319 nationally)
50. Milford Senior High School -- Milford (#1,350 nationally)

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – A member of the Ohio National Guard accused of raping a minor was in court Wednesday.

Steven Vicario, of Delaware, was arrested by Delaware police Friday and faces three counts of rape and one count each of gross sexual imposition and tampering with evidence. The charges stem from two alleged incidents, one on November 5, 2023, when a woman brought a 14-year-old girl to the Delaware Police Department. The woman alleged the incident occurred in the early hours of Nov. 5 at a south Delaware residence.

The Delaware police report states that an officer escorted the victim to Grady Memorial Hospital, where an interview was conducted. The woman told police that she found Vicario in a bedroom with the minor, who was not fully clothed.

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According to the report, Vicario left the room before the minor was brought to the police station. The victim was next taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for additional examination.

Steven Vicario speaks with his attorney in court. (NBC4 Photo/Jackie Gillis)

An official indictment also includes additional charges in which Vicario is accused of rape between October 2022 and October 2023.

A Delaware County Court of Common Pleas copy of the indictment states that Vicario is charged with four total sex crimes, three counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition, over the two incidents, which accuse him of forcing vaginal and anal intercourse with the minor.

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Vicario is a lieutenant colonel currently serving as the Mobilization, Plans and Readiness Division Chief with the Ohio National Guard, according to his social media account. The woman told police that there were upwards of 50 firearms in the home, though Vicario was arrested without incident on April 19.

After a plea of not guilty, a judge issued Vicario a $500,000 bond and ordered him to have no contact with the victim, witnesses or family members. The judge added that should Vicario post bond, he will be ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.

A trial date has been set for June 25.

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – A small business selling customized apparel has found its new home.

643 Spirit relocated to 62 Mill Street in Gahanna in mid-April. The store, which opened in 2017, was previously located at 97 East Main Street in New Albany.

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“We were looking for a more central location with a little bit more visibility than what we had in New Albany,” owner Megan Lindholm said. “It seemed like Mill Street and the Creekside area was up and coming, so we decided to make our place here.”

The business, which is completely woman-owned and run, offers both screen printing and embroidery. 

“We do logo apparel, so we do any kind of apparel for spirit wear, schools, team uniforms, corporate apparel and promotional products,” Lindholm said. “So basically anything with your logo on it, we can sell.”

643 Spirit offers sales both in person and on their website. The business is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

PLAIN CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction crews have begun dismantling a historic central Ohio railroad depot that will be relocated as part of a new public square development featuring a park and a marketplace.

The interior of the Upper Arlington depot is being disassembled ahead of the structure's shipment this summer to Plain City, the village said in an update posted this month. While an exact opening date has yet to be announced, Plain City is anticipating the depot will begin welcoming guests as the first phase of the larger town square project in late fall or early winter.

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Officials said elements of the depot, such as the flooring, walls, windows and doors, will be preserved and reincorporated, while surplus furnishing will be auctioned at a later date. The brick patio encircling the depot has also been dismantled and transported to Plain City, where it will be reinstalled following the reconstruction of the depot, the village noted.

• The interior of the Upper Arlington depot is being disassembled ahead of the structure's shipment this summer to Plain City. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• Plain City is anticipating the depot will begin welcoming guests as the first phase of the larger square project in late fall or early winter. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)

Site preparation at the new Plain City location is also underway, the village noted. Crews have removed fencing and will soon begin site leveling to allow the construction of a new foundation and the installation of utilities.

Once installed, the depot will provide space for events, visitor amenities, commercial ventures and historical displays. Future phases of the public square will include a park with a railroad-themed play area, splash pad, seating and fire pit, trailhead and green space for outdoor community events. The village will also repurpose an existing building into a marketplace that will provide all-season event and vendor space for a year-round farmers market.

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"A goal of staff and council is to create unique gathering spaces in our Uptown district that complement our local businesses and landmarks of Plain City," village administrator Haley Lupton said. "I'm eager to see the addition of the Public Square project come to life and help round out our uptown amenities."

• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)
• The depot will anchor Plain City's public square, which will feature a park and a marketplace. (Courtesy Photo/Village of Plain City)

Positioned at the corner of East Bigelow Avenue and Church Street, the development pays homage to historical maps from 1862 to 1875 that also referred to the property as the public square. The site was home to the original Plain City town hall, fire department, school and other early community buildings.

Plain City purchased the 1,473-square-foot depot from the Fromm family, who restored the historic structure after acquiring it in 2004. Many of the original depot components were retained, including the original wooden walls and ceilings, while others were salvaged from other historical structures.

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"The vision for the depot and Public Square brings excitement to our town and solidifies a place to gather as a community for many years to come," Mayor Jody Carney said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former Westerville high school girls basketball coach has been extradited to Columbus from North Carolina on alleged sex crimes involving two minors.

According to Franklin County Municipal Court records, Jason Dawson, 35, was initially charged with two counts of sexual battery of a minor and one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, third-degree and second-degree felonies, respectively.

Dawson was a teacher and coach at Worthington Christian in Westerville when he reportedly met one of the victims during her sophomore year. The victim told police that her relationship with Dawson turned sexual in January 2021 when she was 16 years old and ended in September 2023.

The victim said she and Dawson engaged in sexual activity approximately 100 times, court records state.

Two students arrested during Palestine protest at Ohio State Jason Paul Dawson (MECKLENBURG COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

The victim told police that Dawson recorded the two having intercourse multiple times and would then send the videos to her. According to court records, police found three of those videos on the victim’s cell phone.

According to the Franklin County Municipal Court complaint, the second victim alleges the sexual conduct took place on school property in November 2020.

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Dawson was the girls’ basketball coach at Worthington Christian School for three seasons until 2022, when he left for a job in North Carolina. He was arrested in Cornelius, N.C. and was being held in Mecklenburg County Jail on a $1 million bond before being extradited to Columbus on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the case was transferred from municipal court to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where records state he is being charged with 10 counts of sexual battery. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Friday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two Ohio State University students were arrested during a pro-Palestine protest on campus Tuesday afternoon.

Nearly seven months into the Israel-Hamas war, students gathered on Ohio State's medical campus to call for the university to disclose its investments in Israeli companies and assets. Videos posted to social media showed a peaceful group of students on the steps of Meiling Hall chanting "Free Palestine."

University spokesperson Ben Johnson said the students were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing after ignoring multiple warnings and after the protest became "disruptive to the students, faculty and staff in Meiling Hall."

"Well established university policy prohibits disrupting the university’s mission, administrative functions and campus-life activities," Johnson said. "This includes demonstrations that disrupt classroom and administrative buildings."

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The students are 20 and 21 years old, according to court documents. Criminal trespassing is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Johnson said the students will be referred to Student Conduct for academic sanctions.

Students and protesters at multiple universities across the U.S. have been arrested during pro-Palestine protests on their campuses. Nearly 50 students at Yale University and more than 130 protesters at New York University were arrested Monday. Last week, more than 100 protesters were arrested at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University, according to the Associated Press.

Since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in about 1,200 Israelis killed and more than 200 taken hostage, more than 34,000 Palestinians have died, according to the Associated Press. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Many students, including at Ohio State, are demanding their universities divest from Israeli companies or disclose their investments as Israel's war in Gaza continues.

"We want immediate divestment from Israeli companies, from international companies on the [boycott, divestment and sanction] list and from fossil fuels, full stop," said Cat Adams, an Ohio State student and member of Ohio Youth for Climate Justice. "It is past time for the university to take a stand for justice and invest in the people that makes this university what it is."

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Ohio Youth for Climate Justice has called for greater investment transparency from Ohio State for years, staging multiple protests on campus demanding the university divest from fossil fuel companies. Ohio State has previously declined to disclose specific investment funds, saying it does not invest in individual stocks but rather outsources to external capital managers.

The arrests come two weeks after Ohio State President Ted Carter, in his State of the University Address, vowed to protect free speech except when it veers into violence or harassment. In a statement, Johnson said Ohio State continues to value freedom of speech.

"Ohio State has an unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and took this action in alignment with our space use rules to provide for the orderly conduct of university business," Johnson said. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Casting dates in Ohio have been announced for the highly anticipated filming of the latest “Superman” movie.

Casting dates were posted on social media for the DC Studios movie titled simply “Superman” filming in Cincinnati and Cleveland this summer by northeast Ohio agency Angela Boehm Casting.

In an update posted Tuesday, Angela Boehm provided more details on casting Stand-Ins and Extras for the Feature Film “Genesis” in Cleveland. “Genesis” is the movie’s code name listed in an Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit application, which is expected to receive $11,091,686 in tax credits.

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The updated information said that the Warner Brothers Feature Film will shoot in Cleveland from June 17 through July 16 and in Cincinnati on July 17 and July 18.

Background Rates will be $12 per hour, with a guarantee of eight hours paid, even if you are let out prior to the end of the shift. Stand-In Rate is $13 per hour, also with a guarantee of eight hours.

The post said Stand-Ins will be working with the director and main cast. Overtime pay for both roles begin after eight hours.

Additionally, Angela Boehm announced there will be background roles for kids, who will need a separate form from parents. A parent or guardian must be always on the set.

DC’s Ohio-related expenses are projected to exceed $36 million, which makes up about 10% of the movie’s total budget of more than $363 million. The movie is directed and written by American filmmaker James Gunn and started filming on Feb. 29.

The last possible production date in Ohio is marked for Aug. 23, according to the film’s tax credit application. Broken down, the application says the production in Ohio accounts for 133 days for preparation, 37 for shooting and 31 for wrap. That means 25% of Gunn’s movie is being filmed in Ohio.

A general interest form can be filled out here, but Angela Boehm notes that the form is only for general information. When specific dates are announced for specific roles, separate forms will be made available.

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission also announced earlier this month that “Superman” is now accepting applications for those wishing to work as a member of the crew. Prospective candidates should submit their resume to genesisproductionohio@gmail.com.

Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster created Superman while attending Cleveland’s Glenville High School in 1933, according to Case Western Reserve University’s Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

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Union Terminal in Cincinnati was the inspiration for the Justice League’s headquarters, the Hall of Justice, featured in the 1970s animated “Super Friends” series, the Cincinnati Museum Center boasts. Artist Al Gmuer drew the Hall of Justice and based his creation on the façade of Union Terminal, earning the building a permanent place in popular culture. 

Gunn, also the director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, is relaunching DC’s cinematic franchise with American actor David Corenswet as Clark Kent, replacing British actor Henry Cavill who first starred as Superman in 2013’s “Man of Steel.” Rachel Brosnahan from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult from “The Great” as Lex Luthor round out Gunn’s cast.

“Superman” is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two Columbus businesses -- a bakery and a coffee and bubble tea shop -- are partnering up for a Downtown location due to a city initiative promoting minority- and women-owned businesses.

Three Bites Bakery and Little Cat Boba will be under one roof at the former Jack and Benny's location at 12 E. Broad St. Three Bites will move out of its current location at 999 Mt. Vernon Ave. while Little Cat will continue to operate out of its East Market location in addition to the new space.

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Isabella Bonello, owner of Three Bites, and Raymond Kim, owner of Little Cat, said the partnership was made possible because of the Downtown Ground Floor Growth Initiative -- a program passed by Columbus City Council in October to help small minority- and women-owned businesses locate Downtown.

"Thankfully, we were accepted into this Downtown program," Bonello said. "They really created an opportunity for some small businesses to maybe take the next step, or like for us we're definitely moving to a better location."

"We're first and foremost very thankful for the city for really taking the initiative," Kim said. "Besides the whole plan to bring in a higher population density into Downtown but also taking actual tangible steps, and their overall vision to make the city more inclusive and diverse."

Both businesses will bring their own flare to the location, but the owners said they couldn't pair together any better.

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"Given the relationship between baked goods, coffee and boba, it's almost a marriage of sorts," Kim said.

At Three Bites, Bonello specializes in Filipino- and Italian-inspired baked goods. She also sells cakes, offers catering and more. She said she started the business out of her home in 2019, before ramping up operations after losing her job because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, she was able to move into a brick-and-mortar location of her own.

Kim said he started Little Cat because he always had an affinity for coffee. Due to his roots in the West Coast, where he said boba is popular, he also wanted to bring some of the area's "fantastic" bubble tea to Columbus. As for the name, Kim said he got it from a nickname his mother had given him as a child.

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"When I was a little child, I had a penchant for snacks, which my mom would hide in high cupboards," Kim said. "I would just crawl over whatever appliance I could, and she likened that behavior to a stray cat, hence the name Little Cat."

While the two businesses will operate in the same spot, they will remain independent.

"We're keeping separate but meshing ourselves with each other," Bonello said.

Despite this, the duo will be able to do new things with both businesses. For Three Bites, Bonello said the new location would allow her to expand her cake program and add a breakfast menu. Meanwhile, Kim expressed his excitement to operate Little Cat out of a bigger space.

Bonello and Kim said there will be room for the two to collaborate, which could include an evening concept, tapas-style options and teaming up with other local businesses.

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"I feel like the opportunities are kind of endless for what we can provide in the early evenings," Bonello said. "And we both know so many people in the industry, collaborations are a very real possibility."

The two said they hope the partnership between Three Bites and Little Cat will be open for business in early July.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Larger-than-life orange snails have popped up in central Ohio as part of a traveling art exhibit from Milan, Italy.

The three snails have been placed on the front lawn of the Dublin Arts Council at 7125 Riverside Drive to serve as a public art exhibit named "Dwelling: A Snail's Journey," open from May 11 through June 28. The sculptures traveled from Milan, where they were created by a group of six Italian-based artists known as "Cracking Art."

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Along with an opening reception from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 11, the council will unveil a temporary exhibition in coordination with the three giant orange snails. The public artworks "will spark conversation about human connection and our relationship with natural and artificial environments," the council said.

• The three snails have been placed on the front lawn of the Dublin Arts Council at 7125 Riverside Drive. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Arts Council)
• The three snails have been placed on the front lawn of the Dublin Arts Council at 7125 Riverside Drive. (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Arts Council)

While the Dublin Arts Council is serving as the initial home for the nails, the intention is that the artworks will travel to additional sites in the community. Through programming inspired by the concept of the snail, the council is inviting the community to meet the snails in person and "help build the snails' story and journey."

During the exhibition, the council gallery will be activated with creative prompts, sensory activities and contemplative practices inspired by the nature of snails.

Cracking Art choose to feature snails because the snail moves slowly and patiently, representing moving gradually toward a target. The council noted its shell is also associated with mass communication in Italy, as the Italian word for snail -- "Chiocciola" -- is also the name used for the "@" symbol.

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"The helix of its shell, which allows the snail to both hear and move, emphasizes the importance of the ability to listen and the utility of the upward movement that regulates the universe," the council said.

The artists picked to adorn the snails with orange because of the color's association with the changing of seasons, representing movement. Orange is also associated with creativity, health and vitality, the council said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The network of nonprofits that run Ohio’s victim service programs faces a funding cliff – and if it’s left unaddressed, some won’t survive the fall.

Over 300 organizations across the state help crime victims access housing and healthcare, navigate the courts and recover from violence. From rape crisis shelters to mental health programs and court-appointed advocates, these agencies rely on federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act, funding that has been cut nearly in half after several years of significant decline.

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In fiscal year 2018, Ohio received more than $118 million for its assistance programs from the Crime Victims Fund, which is not financed by taxpayers but rather through fines, penalties, and forfeited bail bonds in federal cases. Last year, the state received $46.6 million. In fiscal year 2024, Ohio has been awarded $26.7 million, a 42.8% decrease from 2023 and a 77% decrease from 2018.

VOCA awards aren’t the only funding source for victim assistance programs, but they’re often a significant portion of agencies’ budgets. Some organizations rely wholly on VOCA grants to sustain their operations, said Rosa Beltré, president and CEO of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV).

OAESV and other agencies are calling for action at the local, state and federal level to bridge the funding gap. The statewide sexual violence prevention organization, which oversees nearly three dozen local rape crisis centers, could face devastating impacts to service, Beltré said.

“It would mean layoffs, service reductions. Programs will continue to go ahead and reduce staffing. It would be a crisis,” Beltré said. 

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Local rape crisis centers run their own hospital advocate programs, meaning they send advocates to emergency rooms to meet victims and survivors. But OAESV provides hospital accompaniment and legal help in 12 rural communities without local crisis centers – and those services are also at risk.

Court-appointed special advocate programs in Appalachian counties are also likely to bear the greatest weight of VOCA funding cuts, said Doug Stephens, executive director of Ohio CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which oversees CASA programs in 60 counties. Court-appointed special advocates are volunteers who look out for children’s best interests when navigating the court system. 

Advocates make up what Stephens called the third leg of a three-legged stool: Lawyers figure out what’s legally required for a child, social workers determine what’s physically safe for a child, and court-appointed special advocates make recommendations as to what is emotionally and socially best for a child. That might mean advocating for a child to live with a family member who lives in the same school district or ensuring proximity to mental health care providers.

Stephens said it’s hard to secure local funding for CASA programs because they’re not required by law. While programs in large counties will likely be able to weather the storm, Stephens said up to 10 programs, mainly in Appalachian counties, face closure due to the funding cut.

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“Judges, they’re making these life and death decisions for these children. And the lawyers do their part, and the social workers do their part, but the judges can always use more information,” Stephens said. “It’s the judges that asked for this, but it’s not mandatory.”

In February, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and more than 40 state attorneys general urged Congress to provide funds to bridge the VOCA award gap. Beltré said state lawmakers can help make up the lost funds, too, without necessarily making taxpayers foot the bill.

Spokespersons for the Ohio House and Senate majority caucuses did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the Attorney General’s office.

The funding decrease comes amid rising demand for services. LSS Choices, Franklin County’s sole domestic violence shelter, is frequently at capacity, said Rachel Lustig, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. The funding cliff is particularly worrisome as domestic violence homicides in the area rise; a record number of domestic violence homicides happened in Columbus last year.

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“It's happening just when people are needing us the most,” Lustig said. “So here we are, our primary funding source no longer there, providing us with something that we can count on when people need a safe place to go.”

Beltré said OAESV, meanwhile, has seen a 93% increase in care requests since the start of the pandemic. A one-time funding boost from the federal government would help stave off imminent threats, but it won’t solve the long-term problem. Ohioans need to understand the breadth of services at risk without buy-in from their communities, Beltré said.

“It really takes a village to actually eradicate violence of any type within our communities of practice,” Beltré said. “We need the alliance of our communities to step forward.”

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Slow clearing, breezy, high 55
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, frost, low 33
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 62
• Friday: More clouds, showers late, high 73
• Saturday: Sct'd storms, breezy, high 77
• Sunday: Some sun, iso. storm, high 82

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Wednesday!

Rain has cleared the region, and drier, albeit colder air is settling in. Expect cloud coverage most of the morning, before clouds slowly begin to break into the afternoon and evening. Highs drop back to the middle 50s this afternoon, with a slight breeze.

Freeze alerts then take effect tonight, as clearer skies allow for a steep temperature drop, back near freezing into Thursday morning. If you have outdoor plants, you'll want to cover them or bring them inside.

For Thursday afternoon, we'll see mainly sunny skies, with highs back into the lower 60s, with less of a breeze.

We really heat up on Friday, with highs into the lower 70s, and partly cloudy skies. We'll be dry most of Friday, before scattered showers move in Friday night into Saturday.

We will see some shower chances this weekend, but it's far from a washout, and not a weekend everyone will see rain or storms. It will be very pop-up type activity, and very scattered, as our southerly flow kicks in. That warms us up, but also increases our moisture. Highs will be in the upper 70s Saturday, low 80s Sunday, with a strong wind both days.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- ADAMH, a mental health service in Franklin County, said post-pandemic, alcohol use disorder affects about 1 in 9 adults in the county.

Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health also shows a troubling trend: more adults and young adults are binge drinking in Franklin County than compared with the national average.

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However, ADAMH said alcohol use disorder goes beyond statistics. It’s also about spreading awareness and creating a space where people feel comfortable asking for help.

It’s a message one Columbus man is emphasizing as he nears the end of his time at an addiction treatment center.

In January 2023, Ronald Lockhart woke up in a hospital bed.

"There was a doctor next to my bed, flipping through this clipboard and he told me I wasn't going to make it. 'You're going to die.'" Lockhart, currently a Maryhave client, said.

This wasn’t the first time.

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"That was the 10th time that had happened to me and I had pretty much just given up," he said. "But this time, I don't know, I could change. I had changed, I didn't want to die."

Lockhart admits he struggles with addiction.

"If I take a drink of liquor, I can't stop drinking," he said. "And I know there's people that can understand that."

Now he’s sharing his story in the hope it can inspire others to get the help they need.

"I made up my mind that I was going to stay clean and sober no matter what, and my sobriety date is actually today of last year," Lockhart said. 

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He credits Maryhaven with his progress. Maryhaven, an ADAMH partner, offers addiction counseling, in-patient stays, and much more to help those with substance use disorders live better lives.

"The other problem with alcohol and other substances is that once you start to use them, your body develops that tolerance to it," ADAMH System Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Delaney Smith said. "You get psychological dependence on it as well. So it can be very, very hard to stop."

ADAMH and its partner organizations are working to make sure people feel comfortable asking for help, no matter if they just realized they are struggling or are at rock bottom.

"What we're really wanting to do is open up conversations so people feel comfortable getting help, reaching out to loved ones, maybe starting a conversation with someone that they're concerned about the pattern of their alcohol use," Smith said. 

Former Hocking County prosecutor blames alcohol, mental health for actions

Data sent by ADAMH shows binge drinking in adults and young adults in cental Ohio is higher than both the national and state average by about three percent. They said not only is the area seeing the increasing problematic use of alcohol but also the negative health consequences that come along with it. These can include liver impairment, withdrawal symptoms and even death.

"I hope if anybody sees this, you can learn from my mistakes because you don't need to go through all that. It's not necessary. You can get the help you need," Lockhart said. "Alcohol is a lot more silent to get addicted to because you don't realize it until it's too late."

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, ADAMH encourages you to reach out. More information can be found here. 

LOGAN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Facing disbarment and a sexual harassment lawsuit, Hocking County's former prosecutor said alcohol use and mental health disorders contributed to his conduct.

In response to a filing with the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Professional Conduct, former Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan R. Black denied all allegations levied against him by the state disciplinary board.

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One of those allegations includes coercing a woman who worked in the office into a sexual relationship, which is the subject of a civil lawsuit filed in February.

The response also denies that Black engaged in a sexual relationship with then-Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken in August 2023, when Dicken, as a commissioner, was a client of Black, who served as the commission's legal counsel.

In addition to denying all the accusations against him, the response, filed Tuesday, also claims alcohol and a mental health issue led to Black's alleged behaviors.

"... at times relevant to the allegations in the Complaint, Respondent [Black] suffered from a mental health disorder and an alcohol use disorder (for which Respondent is seeking ongoing treatment), which contributed to cause any conduct for which Respondent is responsible," the response states.

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In addition, Black is accused of trying to intimidate the county's IT director Mark Stout into putting his office's computer system issues above the director's other county responsibilities, threatening to have Stout arrested.

The complaint also accuses Black of "erratic" behavior often consisting of "screaming outbursts" and "refus[ing] to speak to staff members for several days," and of making sexually charged comments to women working in his office.

Black is facing three counts in the misconduct complaint: inappropriate sexual conduct with employees, inappropriate sexual conduct with client, and inappropriate use of public office.

Two judges and a mediator -- none of whom live in Black's district -- were appointed to the panel that will hear his case. A date for that hearing hasn't been scheduled as of Tuesday.

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Should the panel find against Black, he faces sanctions up to and including disbarment.

Black, who was on the primary election ballot in March and finished last, resigned in March, with the resignation taking effect on April 19.

Black received his license to practice law in Ohio in November 2018 and was elected Hocking County prosecutor in November 2020.

The complaint as well as Black's response can be read below.

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE IN THE DOCUMENTS BELOW. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Complaint-against-Ryan-BlackDownload Answer-to-Complaint-Download

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – More than a year after it was declared over, Columbus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to learn from the central Ohio measles outbreak which spanned from late 2022 to early 2023.

“It certainly was concerning, worrisome, brought with fear for families and patients," Dr. Akua Amponsah, a primary care physician with Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), said. 

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Thirty-six of the 85 cases led to hospitalizations, according to numbers from Columbus Public Health (CPH); 94% of the cases hadn't received any dose of the MMR vaccine. Amponsah is one of many healthcare professionals hoping to increase vaccine coverage and confidence.

“It really did sort of highlight how important vaccinations are for children's health and how much of a responsibility it is for all of us, particularly in the medical profession, in our settings, to make sure that we are educating our families," she said.

A team from the CDC visited CPH last week to follow up on the outbreak and discuss ways to increase vaccine confidence.

“We’d been working with them remotely for several months now and they really wanted to come to our community to meet us face to face and meet with some of our community partners to see how we’re working collectively together to improve vaccine confidence and reduce vaccine hesitancy," CPH Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.

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She said CPH works closely with schools, NCH, and other community partners. Roberts said part of the goal is using what was learned last week and over the past year to help other communities. Amponsah, who also met with the CDC, shared a similar message.

“It’s more than just our city," Amponsah said. "Yes we’ve had this recent outbreak and so we certainly want to focus on some of the lessons learned here and hopefully those can be extrapolated to other communities around the country."

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A member of the Ohio National Guard is facing rape charges in Delaware County.

According to online court records, Steven Vicario, 39, of Delaware, was arrested by Delaware police on Friday. He is charged with three counts of rape and one count each of gross sexual imposition and tampering with evidence. Court records show the charges stem from two separate incidents in October and November of 2023.

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A grand jury indicted Vicario on April 18.

Vicario is a lieutenant colonel currently serving as the Mobilization, Plans and Readiness Division Chief with the Ohio National Guard, according to his social media account.

Vicario is being held in Delaware County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Delaware County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – It is lining up to be a busy day at the Statehouse on Wednesday, with both the House and Senate in session, and some high-profile bills will get sent to the governor’s desk. 

House Bill 161 would make spousal rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, gross sexual imposition, and sexual imposition all punishable by law, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the offense. 

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“If it had passed in 1970 it would’ve been overdue,” citizen lobbyist Chris Graham said. “This is perhaps the most overdue thing in the Statehouse.” 

As it stands, if force or threat of force was used, then someone can act against their spouse for sexual assault. But if there was any type of intoxication, like alcohol or drugs, that spousal rape case is thrown out. House Bill 161 passed the House back in November. 

If it does pass the Senate on Wednesday, it will then head to the governor’s desk. If he does sign it, it will become 90 days later.   

“There are coming of age moments, and in Ohio, this is one of them,” Graham said. “Removing the spousal exemption and recognizing that men and women are equal and women are not the property of men is a really big deal.” 

The senate is also going to vote on House Bill 250, a bill originally about state diploma seals for military enlistment, that was amended to require the Department of Education and Workforce to also create policies for cellphone use in K-12 schools. 

House Bill 8, known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” is legislation to allow parents to opt their students out of certain lessons in school, passed the House on party-lines back in June. 

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On Tuesday, the bill was scheduled to get a Senate committee vote, but that did not ultimately happen. The chair of the committee said they are still working on the legislation. The bill will not be on the senate floor on Wednesday.  If the senate does end up passing HB8, the House would have to agree with changes the Senate made before it goes to the governor’s desk.  

“The purpose of the Parents’ Bill of Rights is for parents to know what's going on in schools. That's really the heart of that bill,” Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said. “I have to see what the changes actually come out from the Senate and then we'll discuss it as a caucus from there.”

“The title sounds nice and innocuous, but the reality is this bill has provisions in it that force the outing of students,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “And I think put students at risk of potential safety of students.” 

A few weeks ago, Stephens said he wants 10 to 12 bills to be voted on every session. Six will be voted on in the House session Wednesday.  

“We have an appointment for a new member, we also will be appointing a new minority whip, plus the recognizing the former Speaker of the House,” Stephens said. “So, we will have several other things beside bills.” 

‘Corrections’ course puts Ohio State University students inside prison

House Republicans will be filling former Rep. Bob Young’s seat on Wednesday. That seat has been vacant since October. 

Among the bills is also one to add state regulations to where drones can be flown, legislation to increase penalties for drug trafficking, and a bill to create a penalty for the grooming of minors. If those bills do pass the House floor, they will head to the Senate for consideration.

Other high-profile bills like Senate Bill 83, known as the “Higher Education Enhancement Act,” will not be getting a House floor vote. Stephens said it does not have support. 

House Bill 51, or the “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” and House Bill 183, known as the “Bathroom Bill,” will also not be getting house floor votes. 

“We're still talking about that along with several other bills,” Stephens said. 

The Senate session is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the House session at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – What a journey it's been for Eric and Brenda Nickolas.

Better Call 4 first spoke with the Pataskala couple months after they noticed some unusual activity in their bank account -- nearly $24,000 was withdrawn from their home equity line of credit.

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The couple insisted they had nothing to do with that transaction. So, they took the issue to investigators and their bank.

"They're very sympathetic when you're talking to them, but, pretty much the bottom line is they said once money is wired out, they can't do anything about it," Nickolas said.

Meaning the couple was on the hook for that cash.

Seeking a solution, the couple submitted a fraud claim twice and was denied twice because, according to the bank's investigation, the withdrawals were approved from Brenda's personal device.

"We'll both take a polygraph exam if that's what it takes to say, 'We didn't do this,'" Nickolas said.

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That's when they called Better Call 4. I called the bank, the FDIC, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Then, connected the Nickolases with the OCC's Customer Assistance Group. Not long after, Eric sent me a message, which said, in part:

"Thanks to you for providing the information about the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller, which we contacted. As a result, we have received restitution from them."

Meaning the couple was no longer responsible for repaying the nearly $24,000.

At that time, though, Eric said they were still responsible for the interest, which he estimated to be around $750.

The couple had been working to sort that out. And their perseverance paid off, as Eric sent another message in mid-April, that said the bank agreed to "refund the overpaid interest" on the money.

Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’

He added, "We won thanks to you. A check for over $1,400 is in the mail on the way."

After the story aired, several viewers reached out with similar experiences. Every situation is different, but you can reach out to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to find out if the Customer Assistance Group can help: Call 1-800-613-6743 or visit https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Monday marked the official end of the semester at Ohio State University, 15 campus students spent it studying in a prison through the Ohio Prison Education Exchange project.

The students met with 15 inmates for a class called, "Corrections," which is focused on understanding the judicial system and preparing all 30 students for the future.

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What has the look and feel of a traditional classroom sits inside a prison — the London Correctional Institution.

"So really what we're doing is we're looking at there are corrections system, but we're looking at together," said Dr. Terrance Hinton, who teaches "Corrections" at Ohio State University.

For two years now, Hinton's classroom has been inside correctional facilities. Campus students spend a semester alongside, who Hinton calls "incarcerated students." The incarcerated students are serving time for various offenses. The focus is restorative justice.

"The question I always ask myself is, 'What does that look like for individuals when they are coming out?' and that kind of led me down a different path of looking at public safety from the other end of the spectrum and really assisting individuals when they come out of prison," said Hinton.

Once a week, the students work on the same assignments, engage in conversation and learn about life from another person's perspective.

"From that understanding, comes empathy, comes humanizing," said Hinton. "And that's what I like about this classroom. It's really humanization — these individuals are talking. We find out we have a lot in common and once we have that bond, we can learn about the corrections system together."

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"One of our major goals as a department is to bring hope back to the correctional facilities and drive that into not only our population but the community as well," said Warden Michael DeMartino.

"Roughly 90% of the individuals that are incarcerated are coming back to our communities and we want them to come back better when they came here. We want them to have more resources, more tools and better cognitive behavior. So, we really try to drive that here at this facility.

"You paid for your crime. And when you get out, there's stuff that's available to you. You have a purpose. That's a huge part of rehabilitation is making sure someone has hope and purpose to be successful when they reach the community."

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Licking County man was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing his mother and then burying her body in the backyard of their home.

David A. Perrine, 41, was found guilty last week of aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and two counts of theft.

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In addition to the mandatory life in prison without parole sentence for the aggravated murder charge, Perrine was also given six additional years in prison for the other charges; those sentences will be served concurrently with the life sentence.

On Dec. 23, 2022, Licking County Sheriff's deputies performed a wellness check for 67-year-old Debra Perrine at her home on Darlene Drive in Newark after family members said they hadn't heard from her in over a week.

When deputies entered the house, they found Debra's son David inside with another man. Deputies found no sign of the woman but did see evidence of foul play and an attempt to remove evidence. Perrine was then arrested for a pretrial bond violation, based on charges of grand theft of a vehicle, robbery, and felony theft.

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Less than a week later, on Dec. 29, sheriff's detectives and investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation found Debra Perrine's body buried in the backyard of the home; the sheriff's office said the body had "obvious signs of trauma."

Perrine was indicted in his mother's death by a grand jury in May 2023.