COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- President Donald Trump will halt federal funding for K-12 schools that teach gender ideology and "discriminatory equity ideology."
Under a new executive order to stop "radical indoctrination" in public schools, the secretary of education is mandated to present a strategy to eliminate ideologies that treat individuals as members of preferred or disfavored groups and radical gender ideology in school lessons within 90 days. Preferred or disfavored groups include teachings about a race, sex, nationality or other identity making someone privileged or oppressed.
How Ohio lawmakers are trying to change marijuana rulesSchools will also be asked to ensure education is patriotic, which Trump defines as a history of America grounded in celebrating the nation. Education should present American history under this executive order as inspiring, admirable and in pursuit of its founding goals.
Under the executive order, the Attorney General is also asked to coordinate with state attorneys general to pursue legal action against any K-12 staff who help a minor student adopt a new gender identity. This includes offering counseling to students, changing a students name or pronouns, calling a child nonbinary and allowing students to participate in sports or use facilities that do not align with their sex at birth.
"Parents trust America’s schools to provide their children with a rigorous education and to instill a patriotic admiration for our incredible Nation and the values for which we stand," the executive order reads. "In recent years, however, parents have witnessed schools indoctrinate their children in radical, anti-American ideologies while deliberately blocking parental oversight."
Ohio's educational curriculum is codified. Districts are required to learn about the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions and the documents' "original context." Each district is invited to created its own curriculum so long as it satisfies state requirements.
Nine-year-old Powell girl battles rare cancer, inspires othersCentral Ohio school districts do teach about race, but most say they do not teach critical race theory, including New Albany-Plain, Hilliard and South-Western schools.
"What we have seen this week and last is the Trump administration's strategy at work: push out a slew of confusing and vague executive orders to exhaust Americans by inducing panic and distracting from real issues, such as the economy," Honesty for Ohio Education Executive Director Christina Collins said. "If Trump resurrects his arguments around the fictional boogeyman of CRT from 2020 through an executive order, we will be interested in how he attempts to define CRT considering his previous attempts were unclear."
However, the executive order does not list critical race theory as a banned topic. Many local school districts do prioritize understanding race. Bexley, for instance, said it teaches its students to be aware of race and to learn about racial inequality. Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools teach that race is a social construct and that racism unfairly disadvantages some students. When Ohio lawmakers considered banning critical race theory in 2021, many local districts spoke out against the bill despite not teaching CRT.
"To be clear, Critical Race Theory is not taught in Worthington Schools or anywhere in Ohio’s K-12 education system," Worthington Schools said at the time. "As a public school district, it is our responsibility to provide a comprehensive and honest depiction of our history in an open, supportive, culturally responsive, and psychologically safe environment for ALL students to learn and grow."
Pickerington teachers speak out about voyeurism incidentPublic schools in Ohio have three main sources of funding: state funding, federal funding and local tax revenue, usually through property taxes. The federal government allocates funding to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which then distributes this funding to Ohio's public schools.
Federal funding is the smallest contributor to public school budgets; Olentangy Schools said it receives less than 5% of its funding federally. If federal funding was pulled from any local schools, it would largely affect programs for special education, economically disadvantaged students and English Learners. Typically these funds cannot be used for day-to-day operations.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers are working to rewrite the recreational marijuana law voters approved two years ago with a bill that proposes at least 44 major changes.
Senate Bill 56, sponsored by state Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), closely mirrors an effort that failed to pass last year.
“This is just another slap in the face,” state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said.
Dublin City Schools cancels plan to buy Cardinal Health building for $37 million“The voters passed Issue Two and that is clear, but I do believe it is incumbent upon us as a General Assembly to make sure that we put some common-sense guidelines and guardrails in place,” state Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), chairperson of the General Government Committee, said. Her committee is where the bill is being heard.
Among provisions in the proposed bill is decreasing the legal maximum THC level for marijuana extracts from 90% to 70%.
“It's like concentrated orange juice,” Huffman said. “You don't drink concentrated orange juice; you're going to dilute it down so that it's a reasonable amount.”
The bill not only makes direct changes to marijuana content, but it also changes many things around it, like tax laws. Right now, the excise tax on recreational marijuana is 10%, this bill would increase it to 50%.
Current law divides the collected money this way:
Under SB 56, all the tax revenue would go to the state government, giving lawmakers control of how it is spent.
Nine-year-old Powell girl battles rare cancer, inspires others“We should spend the money now and be fluid in the future on where the money is going to end up going,” Huffman said when asked if it would be spent in the state operating budget.
“There's no way that I'm going to let all this money go to general funds when voters clearly didn't want that,” DeMora said.
Not only does the bill defund the Social Equity and Jobs Program – it abolishes it. Huffman said he is open to some discussion.
“With social equity, what's the best way to achieve that,” he said.
The bill also prohibits any person from owning more than eight dispensaries, prohibits the possession of marijuana other than homegrown or from an Ohio dispensary, does not allow anyone to receive unemployment benefits if they are fired for using marijuana, and bans any public smoking.
Hundreds of foxes, wolf-dog hybrids, other animals rescued from NE Ohio ‘fur farm’“It is focused on the combustibles for because you can smell it and people find that offensive,” Huffman said.
“If you could smoke a cigarette walking down the street, you should be able to smoke marijuana walking down the street as far as I’m concerned,” DeMora said.
The legislation also removes protections from “adverse actions” against marijuana users.
SB 56 would limit the number of dispensaries allowed in Ohio to 350. Right now, there are 128 certificates of operation.
“Supply and demand will increase the number going forward,” Huffman said. “And I don't think 350 is set in stone and that we can change that going forward.”
Overall, opposition to the bill says it goes too far and ignores the will of the voters; backers of the bill said they want to add common-sense guidelines to existing law and keep Ohio from going down a bad path.
Pickerington teachers speak out about voyeurism incident“I've seen, I saw Denver before marijuana was legalized and I've seen what's happened to it slowly over time after the legalization,” Roegner said. “And it really is sad. I mean, Denver used to be such a beautiful city.”
“I'm going to try to be nice when one of my colleagues makes a statement like that, that I think is, that is not correct,” DeMora said. “Making marijuana legal had nothing to do with people becoming homeless. I mean, that's ludicrous and I don't understand why someone would say that.”
Even though the bill is so extensive, DeMora said it is missing a key piece, which he said brought Democrats on board last General Assembly: expungement.
“There ought to be a mechanism to have these people's records expunged and not to have to go through hoops,” DeMora said. “They're trying to make it tougher to have people that have this on their record get it expunged. It should be automatic. It should be state paying for it.”
Huffman said he is open to an expungement addition but did not specify what he wants it to look like.
“Does everybody get an automatic expungement? Do they have to have an active role? Are they just petitioning the court to be able to do that,” Huffman said.
After classroom brawl, Hilliard councilman pushes for safety increaseThe bill also cuts the number of plants that can be grown in one house from 12 to six.
The bill had both sponsor and proponent hearings on Wednesday, so now it awaits opponent hearing.
The legislation does not have any provision concerning Delta-8 and other hemp products but Huffman said he will be introducing that soon, saying he plans to introduce a bill requiring those products only be sold to Ohioans 21 years of age and older and only through dispensaries. DeMora said he is agreeable to that measure.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Around 200 community leaders, advocates and survivors came together for the 2025 Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness Statehouse Advocacy Day.
“Human trafficking is an issue in Ohio. We believe it's a serious crime and a serious public health issue that affects the people in Ohio more than you might think. It’s an issue that lives in the shadows,” said Kirsti Mouncey, President and CEO of Collaborative to End Human Trafficking.
Organizers discussed recent efforts to combat human trafficking like the initiative to provide truck drivers and truck stop workers with training to recognize it. Ohio’s human trafficking hotline also launched at the end of 2024.
“The hotline is an outlet for places in the state that might not have a task force or might not have regional local resources,” Mouncey said.
According to the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Summary, the amount of human trafficking survivors went up from 422 in 2023, to 527 last year.
“Human trafficking is highly underreported and highly underrecognized and the numbers we currently have only scratch the surface. We know there are many many more survivors out there that are not identified that are not ready to speak up. As you see the number climb, you see that awareness is raising in Ohio while more people are equipped to identify it. In a sense it’s good news that the numbers rise because we need people to get the help that they deserve,” Mouncey said.
The hotline is active now with the phone number 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448).
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A mother who was detained by police after her three-year old son died from hot-water burns was indicted Tuesday afternoon.
According to court documents, Laronda Mims is charged with involuntary manslaughter, and one count each of felony endangering children and misdemeanor endangering children. Those charges stem from the Jan. 6 death of Emmanuel Mims, 3, who died after police responded to reports of a non-responsive juvenile.
Police: North Central Columbus shooting victim in life-threatening conditionEmmanuel Mims reportedly died after suffering burns from hot water at a residence on Eaton Avenue in South Franklinton. The child was pronounced dead at 8:18 a.m. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.
Police said due to circumstances surrounding the child’s death, the Columbus Police Homicide Unit was called to investigate.
On Tuesday, Laronda Mims, who was detained but not arrested after Emmanuel’s death, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Per NCAA rules, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for student athletes are not supposed to be used as recruiting inducements. That sentence alone reflects how out-of-touch the NCAA currently is.
The modern NCAA is as weak as it's ever been, consistently hoping for Congressional intervention to save it from antitrust lawsuits that would threaten to bankrupt the exceptionally profitable non-profit organization.
For Michigan football and its infractions case involving the "sign-stealing" operation, the NCAA's weakness will likely be Michigan's strength. And if I were Michigan, I would fight back, too.
The NCAA used to bully schools that violated rules into confessions and then hammer them with punishments. Many of us remember the so-called "Death Penalty" handed down to Southern Methodist football in 1987. It took SMU off the field for two seasons and shattered the program for decades. Since then, the NCAA has never issued a punishment as severe, but it still swung a heavy hammer in infractions cases.
However, in recent years, schools seem far more willing to take on the NCAA. The organization still has an active enforcement wing, but investigations drag on for months and years, and quite often when an eventual punishment for an infraction is announced, the people who actually broke rules are no longer at the institution. The NCAA has no subpoena power, so often times investigations are incomplete at best and will not stand up to legal scrutiny.
Buckeyes react to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ departure to Penn StateThese days, the NCAA is overwhelmed with former athletes filing antitrust claims. Just this week, former Kansas star Mario Chalmers led a group of 15 former basketball players filing suit over the NCAA's continued use of their likenesses well after their careers. The NCAA's key argument seems to be the players' statute of limitations has expired, not that it was wrong to continue to use people's likeness well after their careers.
It's important to note that antitrust cases and infractions cases clearly are not the same, but they tell the story of the constant scrutiny the NCAA now faces.
And that brings us back to Michigan football. It was the scandal that rocked college football: An elaborate, orchestrated plan to bypass NCAA rules and give Michigan football a real, on-field advantage. If you watched the Connor Stalions "documentary" on Netflix, you learned about Stalions' obsession with Michigan returning to the top of college football and finally overcoming their chief rival.
His commitment to study opponents' hand signals was perhaps the most elaborate operation of its kind ever. On the surface, some of the operation was completely within NCAA rules. Pretty much all teams study TV coverage and their own game video to crack the code of their opponents.
The problems became Stalions' own appearance on the sideline of a Michigan State game, and how he provided game tickets to people across the country to shoot video of opposing teams' sideline communications.
On Tuesday, Yahoo Sports reported on Michigan's plans to push back on NCAA allegations of rule-breaking. Michigan issued a lengthy response to the NCAA's notice of allegations, insisting that the NCAA "overreached" in its accusations without credible evidence. Michigan goes on to say the alleged infractions do not rise to a "major" case level but rather more of a minor level.
Michigan aims to make the NCAA prove that any rules were broken, aiming to unveil unnamed sources. Allegedly, the main source of the information came from the Michigan campus, which certainly perked up some ears in old Columbus town. Even in the Netflix documentary, Stalions seemed to subscribe to the theory that he was just smarter than the opposition, and that former head coach Jim Harbaugh was not a party in any rule breaking.
MLS adjusts cup qualifying criteria, sending Crew to Leagues Cup and Crew 2 to U.S. Open CupWhen you dig into the Michigan case, at least what we know from the outside, there's a medley of actions that reek of impropriety. Several assistants were fired, including linebackers coach Chris Partridge. According to the Yahoo report, current head coach Sherrone Moore deleted a series of 4 dozen text messages sent on the day in 2023 that the original Stalions story was published.
Most Ohio State fans know the public details of the case, and it can be thoroughly debated whether that scheme had anything to do with Michigan beating Ohio State in 2021 and 2022. Because the case became public before the 2023 game, it's hard to argue that it had much of an effect on the result in Ann Arbor. And of course, in 2024, Ohio State was mostly responsible itself for its fourth straight loss to the Wolverines.
Did it really matter on the field? Well ... I don't know that it made Michigan better. But it certainly did not make them worse, and opponents are angry about it. Illinois coach Bret Bielema fired off a response to Harbaugh Tuesday on X.
And this, to me, is the argument that Michigan should follow with the NCAA. Michigan has admitted in its response to the NCAA that some minor rules were violated. The program did respond with terminations, including Stalions, and Harbaugh served suspensions.
By no means is the NCAA going to drop the hammer on Michigan, even if they hold firm that all of the alleged violations actually happened. But Michigan appears willing to fight this case legally as long as it can and force the NCAA to continue to pay billable hours to its ever-growing legal team.
Deny and delay appears to be the strategy, and Michigan is betting on it as a winning strategy. And there's no "sign" that the NCAA will ultimately win the fight.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- U.S. tech companies have been left scrambling since DeepSeek debuted, and Intel has already been playing catch up.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, has been swamping headlines since its release of an artificial intelligence program that is seemingly comparable to American competitors like ChatGPT but with far less computing power required. DeepSeek is the latest development in the global race for AI dominance, and central Ohio is playing its own role.
Intel’s $28 billion investment into central Ohio is intended to establish a state-of-the-art semiconductor chip manufacturing facility. In March, then-Lt. Gov. John Husted spoke with then-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger about Ohio’s Intel project. Gelsinger told the Columbus audience that Ohio’s complex would become “the AI systems hub for America.”
According to a Congressional report, semiconductors are tiny electronic devices used for processing, storage, sensing and moving data, signals or information. Artificial intelligence innovation uses different types of chips to train AI programs and help them function.
Semiconductors don’t just power AI, they power essential technologies like smartphones, computers, cars and medical devices, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. First debuted under former President Joe Biden, the CHIPS and Science Act gave the Department of Commerce $50 billion to fund and revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry to help stay competitive in the global market. See previous coverage of CHIPS Act funding in Ohio in the video player above.
“The CHIPS for America program will supercharge American technology and innovation and make our country more secure – and Intel is expected to play an important role in the revitalization of the U.S. semiconductor industry,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.
Intel, once America’s poster child for U.S. semiconductor chip manufacturing, has since been plagued by financial woes, layoffs and the surprise retirement of Gelsinger in December. According to a report from the University of Cincinnati, Intel has lagged behind foreign companies in AI development and strategy. It joined other U.S. tech companies in a stock decrease after DeepSeek debuted at number one in the app store.
“The release of DeepSeek AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing,” President Donald Trump said on Monday.
There have been few announcements of late regarding the Intel plant in Ohio, although super loads continue to arrive at the New Albany site and construction continues. Despite initial concerns of funding under Trump, signs point toward Intel’s construction continuing on its new schedule.
On Jan. 21, Intel leaders and Ohio representatives – including Husted, former Senator and current Vice President JD Vance and Gov. Mike DeWine – connected at the Ohio Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. On social media, Intel wrote that the company was excited to have discussed Intel’s progress in Ohio thus far, and looked forward to future collaboration this year.
Although Intel received its CHIPS Act funding, members of CHIPS Communities United (CCU) have been vocal about community concerns of Intel’s development. CCU is a coalition of unions, nonprofits and advocacy groups asking for increased transparency from Intel. According to CCU, Ohio is perhaps best situated among states receiving Intel CHIPS Act funds to have Intel live up to its promises. CCU said Ohio has stronger public reporting and metrics that Intel must live up to for its funding than the federal government’s contract.
Intel will announce its fourth quarter financial results this Friday, which will offer key insight into the company's standing going forward.
CINCINNATI, Ohio (WCMH) — Two Ohio food companies are combining products to bring an unusual dessert to fans of the brands.
Skyline Chili, a fast-food establishment known for its chili cheese coneys and “3-ways” that include spaghetti, meat sauce and cheese, along with Graeter’s Ice Cream, maker of traditional “French Pot” ice cream, have collaborated to make the “ultimate sweet and savory combination.”
In a news release, the pair announced that a limited-edition ice cream flavor called Graeter’s Skyline Chili Spice is now available to customers. The treat does not contain meat, spaghetti noodles, or cheese. Rather, the invention is made with Skyline Chili’s signature spice mix and oyster crackers, combined with Graeter's French pot ice cream.
“This is the first time Skyline has done a dessert collaboration, so we knew it needed to be worth it,” Skyline CEO Dick Williams said. “Graeter’s Skyline Spice ice cream has the heart and soul of both beloved Midwest-born brands in every bite.”
Richard Graeter, the fourth-generation president and CEO of Graeter’s, addressed last year's online buzz over its unusual alliance.
“We spent months perfecting the recipe – and we know that the flavor will surprise you,” Graeter said.
Skyline Chili restaurants and Graeter's Ice Cream locations will offer the mix in five-ounce scoops. Shoppers can find it in pints at select Kroger stores throughout Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky. Graeter's will also sell it online, offering nationwide shipping on pints.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Franklin County authorities are seeking help from the public in identifying a man's body found in southwest Columbus last month.
The man was found on Dec. 19 behind a home near the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Clarendon Avenue in the Central Hilltop neighborhood, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The body was found in a shed with authorities saying the man is estimated to be around the age of 50.
Suspect remains at large after Columbus woman stabbed in eye socketA post-mortem image of the man was released by the AG's Office Wednesday with a forensic artist completing the picture for the purpose of the investigation. Law enforcement said he was known by some as "Pedro" but his full identity remains unknown.
Anyone with details is asked to call BCI at 855-224-6446 or call the Franklin County Coroner's Office at 614-525-5290.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man has been arrested while a woman remains at large after one person was stabbed in the face late last month in East Columbus.
According to a criminal complaint, Columbus police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 2900 block of East 11th Avenue, near Cassady Avenue, on Dec. 30 just before 7 a.m.
Woman accuses Westerville police of intimidation, harassment in federal lawsuitOfficers found a woman who had been stabbed in her left eye socket, with the knife still lodged in her head. Before being taken to a hospital, the victim told police she was attacked by Derrick Ellison and “Candy” Ellison.
Police said the victim suffered a stroke while in the hospital where she currently remains unresponsive and has yet to be able to provide further information.
Derrick Ellison, 69, was detained and told police during an interview that he had nothing to do with the alleged attack, but did admit that he, “Candy” and the victim had all previously done drugs together.
Derrick was eventually released later that day, but a warrant was issued for his arrest on Jan. 7. He was placed in custody on Monday and a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $250,000 bond on a felonious assault charge.
Police also received an anonymous tip, describing “Candy” as 44-year-old Cassandra Ellison, who police believe is known to frequent the Gateway Apartment Homes on East Seventh Avenue. A warrant for her arrest was also issued on Jan. 7, but she is not currently in custody.
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hot Chicken Takeover's new owner has closed one of the chain's central Ohio locations after two years of business.
The Columbus-founded chain's Delaware County storefront at 8715 Owenfield Drive in Lewis Center permanently shuttered on Sunday, parent company Craveworthy Brands confirmed to NBC4. Craveworthy, which acquired Hot Chicken Takeover last year, said the decision "was incredibly difficult but necessary as we evaluated the brand's impact and made strategic choices that support our long-term vision." Watch a previous NBC4 report on Hot Chicken Takeover in Lewis Center in the video player above.
Pandemic-era Wizard of Za closes in Clintonville"This reflects our renewed commitment to operational excellence and delivering exceptional hospitality that Hot Chicken Takeover is known for," a Craveworthy spokesperson said. "We are focusing on running profitable restaurants that allow us to grow sustainably across the country while staying true to what makes Hot Chicken Takeover so special right here in Columbus."
The Lewis Center location opened in November 2022, and its closure dwindles Hot Chicken Takeover to six central Ohio restaurants in Clintonville, Easton, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, the North Market and Westerville. Craveworthy said it "remains committed to creating a space where every visit feels like home, a gathering place to enjoy delicious southern-inspired food."
Untamed Brands, Hot Chicken Takeover's former parent company, was purchased in May by Craveworthy, which also owns BD's Mongolian Grill, Dirty Dough, Flat Top Grill, Genghis Grill and more. Craveworthy then announced plans to fold Chicago-based chicken concept Budlong into Hot Chicken Takeover.
Since then, Budlong and Hot Chicken Takeover have merged to create a refreshed brand called "HCT: Southern Chicken," Gregg Majewski, founder of Craveworthy and the former CEO of Jimmy Johns, told NBC4 at the time.
Columbus chef, bakery, bar among James Beard Awards semifinalistsHowever, the chain is remaining as Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, though customers may see the "Southern Chicken" branding used in certain parts of the restaurants and in advertising. Majewski explained Budlong's Chicago locations will soon bear the HCT: Southern Chicken name, as will new eateries outside of central Ohio.
Hot Chicken Takeover then rolled out a new menu in October for central Ohio storefronts that features hand-breaded chicken prepared using a recipe that is similar to how the chicken was made when the brand first launched 10 years ago. Other menu additions include chicken-fried steak, homemade hushpuppies, crispy fried cornbread and sweet hand pies.
COLUMUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is one of the most difficult places to own exotic animals in the U.S., with a comprehensive ban on many animals. Although Ohioans cannot own lions, tigers or bears, there are some exotic pets permitted in the Buckeye state.
Although nearly all pets require licensing, there are exotic pets that are strictly off-limits in Ohio. Nondomestic animals are not allowed to be imported into Ohio unless the animal has a permit, is free of any diseases and parasites, and is in full compliance with state and federal regulations. Some animals also have other permit restrictions.
It has been difficult to own wild animals since the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was signed into law in June 2012. After an incident known as the Zanesville zoo massacre, Ohio cracked down on the possession of wild animals.
Grove City man pardoned in Capitol riots remains in prisonAccording to NBC, Terry Thompson set his elaborate exotic animal farm free before killing himself in 2011. Thompson, 62, released tigers, lions, bears and more from his home menagerie, all of which had to be killed or caught by local law enforcement. After just six animals were captured alive – three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys – and the remaining 48 animals were killed, exotic pet laws in Ohio understandably tightened.
Animals that are not allowedIn Ohio, people are barred from possessing any "dangerous wild animal," as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. Below are the animals banned from ownership under any circumstances.
These animals are not allowed even as hybrids, or animals where one parent was on that list and another was a more domestic animal. Other animals that are not allowed include penguins, dolphins and koalas, as these animals are protected against ownership at the national level.
Are ICE raids happening in central Ohio? Animals that are allowedAnimals that are not listed in the Ohio Revised Code as dangerous animals allow a little more flexibility, although possession of these animals typically requires a lot of paperwork, at a minimum.
For example, Bovidae like antelope, wild cattle, free-roaming buffalo and wild goats are permitted, but only under proper circumstances. Ohio law says nothing about antelope, but it does say Bovidae must originate from proper herds and have appropriate medical examinations completed, especially regarding tuberculosis.
Many animals not listed under the dangerous wild animal list live in a gray area. In 2023, a Pickaway County man was attacked by his zebra and nearly lost his arm. As zebras are not dangerous wild animals, he was able to own the animal, who ended up being killed after the incident.
Although the following animals are generally permitted, owners must do research into the proper procedures for owning and caring for them, as each animal may be subject to different restrictions.
Some animals are permitted in some cases, but not in others. Gray wolves, for instance, are strictly prohibited. However, wolf hybrid dogs are allowed in Ohio. Caimans are not allowed, but dwarf caimans are not considered dangerous wild animals. Servals, a type of wild cat, are prohibited, but the hybrid Savannah cat is allowed as a pet.
Monkeys are perhaps the best example. The following monkeys are not permitted as pets and are classified as dangerous wild animals.
However, some monkeys are permitted, including marmosets, capuchins, lemurs and squirrel monkeys. Service spider monkeys trained by non-profits are also permitted, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Above all, it is important to check federal, state and local level regulations before taking home any pet, especially a wild animal.
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Schools is withdrawing from an agreement to buy Cardinal Health's headquarters for $37 million to serve as a high school.
Superintendent John Marschhausen's announcement came during a Monday board of education meeting, six months after the district said it was pausing the agreement to buy Cardinal's 250,000-square-foot west campus at 7200 Cardinal Place. Marschhausen said the decision "was made in collaboration with the city of Dublin and our friends at Cardinal Health." Watch a previous NBC4 report on the district's Cardinal Health agreement in the video player above.
Dublin plan to revamp Metro Center office district could include this mixed-use project"The Cardinal Health west building is a valuable asset to the Dublin community as a whole," the superintendent said Monday. "We continue to have ongoing meetings and collaboration and there's continued dialogue about potential future uses, but the opportunity to purchase that building in May is no longer on the table."
Now, the district is forging ahead with a 60,000-square-foot expansion to Dublin Scioto High School that will allow for 500 to 600 additional students. Set to break ground on May 22, the expansion will balance enrollment to about 2,000 students at each of the district's three high schools, as Scioto is currently home to about 1,400 students while Dublin Coffman serves 2,000 and Dublin Jerome has 2,400.
Scioto's addition announcement came last August after Marschhausen paused the Cardinal agreement. Earlier that month, the city's planning commission signaled they were unsupportive of the zoning changes needed to repurpose Cardinal's building. Dublin schools had entered into the purchase agreement in spring 2024, which allowed the district more than a year to determine if the building could be configured to serve as a school.
Dublin’s Bogey Inn to reopen as ‘entertainment campus’ with putting course"Our enrollment projections indicate, by moderate projection, that we'll have 2,000 new high school students by 2034. We're still going to need room for about 1,500 additional students by 2034. But, this is the short-term solution," Marschhausen said of the Scioto expansion in August.
Also in December, the district unveiled the redrawn neighborhood boundaries for its elementary and middle schools for the 2025-2026 school year. The superintendent has long said redistricting was needed given Dublin is one of the fastest-growing districts and the upcoming Bishop Elementary will be overcapacity when the building opens this fall.
Dublin schools will also be redrawing the boundaries for the district's high schools this year, with the expectation the boundaries will take effect at the start of the 2026-2027 year. That process is the first redistricting of Dublin's high schools in about two decades.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A U.S. Supreme Court case will determine what should be legally considered when deciding if a police officer's use of force is justified. Upcoming trials in central Ohio could be largely impacted by the decision.
The pending Supreme Court case, Barnes v. Felix, specifically looks at whether courts should apply the “moment of threat doctrine” when evaluating lawsuits filed under the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from excessive force by law enforcement.
After classroom brawl, Hilliard councilman pushes for safety increaseThe moment of threat doctrine is a legal concept that has been adopted in certain regions of the country. It asserts officers should be judged only based on the precise moment they perceive an immediate threat, and disregards their previous actions.
Four of the country’s court of appeals, out of 12, use the moment of threat doctrine. The other eight look at the “totality of the circumstances,” which allows the examination of the officer’s actions proceeding the threat. Different circuits, or jurisdictions, have different standards since there is no nationwide definition regarding what counts as “reasonable force” under federal law, leading to varying interpretations. In central Ohio, the totality of the circumstances approach is currently used.
While Barnes v. Felix focuses on civil matters, the legal reasoning in the ruling could provide guidance for criminal cases. This month, defense attorneys for Jason Meade, a former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Casey Goodson Jr., successfully requested a delay for his criminal trial to await direction from the Barnes v. Felix decision.
“The Supreme Court's decision will have an effect on basically every use of force case, whether it's lethal or nonlethal,” said Mark Collins, one of Meade’s defense attorneys. “We know some guidance is coming. So the best course of action for all parties is to wait to see what the new guidance is so that we do it properly.”
Grove City man pardoned in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection remains in prisonWalton and Brown, LLP, a law firm representing Goodson’s family, condemned the postponement.
“These delays are not merely procedural; they inflict profound emotional trauma and deny the family the closure they deserve,” the firm said in a statement. “While justice has been delayed, it cannot and will not be denied.”
Collins said he also expects the Supreme Court case to delay other upcoming use of force trials he is involved with in Franklin County. This includes the trial for Connor Grubb, an officer who fatally shot Ta’Kiya Young in the parking lot of a Kroger, and Ricky Anderson, a former officer who fatally shot Donovan Lewis while serving him with an arrest warrant.
Barnes v. Felix stems from a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 28, 2016. Roberto Felix Jr., an officer for the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office in Texas, pulled over Ashtian Barnes after the vehicle he was driving – which was rented by his girlfriend – was flagged for toll violations.
When Felix asked for Barnes's license and registration, Barnes could not immediately locate them. Felix asked Barnes to step out of the car, but instead, Barnes began to pull away with the driver-side car door still open. Felix then drew his gun, jumped onto the moving car’s door sill and shot Barnes twice, resulting in his death.
How potential federal grant pause could impact central Ohio organizationsThe Harris County District Attorney’s Office did not indict Felix for killing Barnes, after a grand jury ruled there was no probable cause. Barnes’ mother then filed a lawsuit in 2017, arguing that Felix violated her son’s Fourth Amendment constitutional right to be free from excessive force. A trial court and appeals court both have since dismissed her case, ruling the shooting was justified under the moment of threat doctrine, since Felix could have reasonably feared for his life while hanging from the vehicle.
However, Barnes’ family has argued that Felix was not in danger until he jumped on the vehicle, and that courts should focus on the totality of the events leading up to the shooting, rather than just the split second where the officer perceives the threat.
The nonprofit Constitutional Accountability Center filed a brief in the Supreme Court in support of Barnes’ mother. The group is asking the Supreme Court to reject the moment of threat doctrine, which could lead to a nationwide ruling that sets a universal standard on what courts should consider in Fourth Amendment excessive force claims.
In October, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case and it began hearing arguments last week. The high court’s decision should be handed down by the end of June, before the court goes on recess, or break, for the summer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police are investigating after three people were reportedly shot in the North Central section of Columbus Tuesday night.
According to a police dispatcher, officers responded to the 1200 block of Brookcliff Avenue at approximately 10:50 p.m.
One of the victims was reported as a walk-in shooting to a local hospital. That victim is listed in a life-threatening condition. The conditions or locations of the other two victims is not known.
There is no further information at this time.
This is the first of two shootings reported in the eastern part of the city. The second shooting was reported at approximately 10:52 p.m. on Morse Creek Commons Drive; one victim was listed in critical condition.
Anyone with information about either shooting is asked to contact Columbus police.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's federal funding freeze just before it was set to go into effect Tuesday. The temporary pause comes after Trump issued a funding freeze for federal grants and loans overnight in a vaguely worded memo from the Office of Management and Budget.
More than $3 trilllion in federal funding is at stake, but organizations across the country will have to wait until at least Monday to see if they will be impacted. The judge who placed a temporary pause on the funding freeze has called a hearing for 11 a.m. Monday.
While no federal funding has been pulled yet, chaos has stormed through organizations around the country, including in central Ohio.
How potential federal grant pause could impact central Ohio organizations"I got the first notification from a group that sends us some news last night about 1 a.m.,” LifeCare Alliance President and CEO Chuck Gehring said. “When I saw that, my stomach dropped. You know, it just scared me horribly.”
LifeCare Alliance provides many programs for central Ohioans in need but is known mostly for Meals on Wheels.
"Our Meals on Wheels are up over 90% from pre-COVID numbers and we, through our partnerships with our counties, especially Franklin County, have continued to take everybody that qualifies,” Gehring said. “You got to qualify. But, you know, we've been able to service people and we are probably, I can't tell you this for sure, but I'm pretty close that in the top 100 markets in the United States of America, we're probably the only ones without waiting lists for Meals on Wheels.”
Meals on Wheels relies heavily on federal funding, which led to Gehring’s concern.
"It's critical funding for our programming, especially the Meals on Wheels program,” he said. “For this year, that'd be $3 million to us. What that does, it pays for literally hundreds of thousands of meals. We do about 1.8 million Meals on Wheels a year out of here. And it would, it would affect if that money went away for a year, it would easily affect a couple thousand consumers.”
Since the initial memo was sent from the White House, further clarification was given this afternoon. An afternoon memo from the White House said, "Programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, small business funds, farmer funding, Pell Grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused."
"I was very concerned about it last night at 1 a.m. when I first saw the news, because I didn't know what it was going to do to us, but I'm less concerned now," Gehring said.
In the midst of all the uncertainty surrounding if they would have funding or not, Gehring said the one constant was the organization’s dedication to serving thousands of people in central Ohio
"Whether the funding was frozen or not, we'll keeping going,” he said. “We're going to keep serving and if anybody's watching me talk here, don't worry about your meals. They will continue to come tomorrow and every day. We would never abandon our people.”
The White House gave reasoning for the funding freeze during a press briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“It is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Leavitt said.
The target of the funding freeze are issues like gender ideology, foreign aid, and environmental agreements. This leads Gehring to believe his agency will be OK. He understands the importance of ensuring taxpayer money is going to good use, and his organization knows they are under a microscope.
"I've counted seven different audits we get a year here, so some of this money is highly protected by the federal government," he said.
Gehring also knows the value of the service they provide. Providing meals, transportation, deliveries, and other services for the elderly who cannot do those things on their own is vital.
"For each person we keep independent and in their own home, where they want to be one person for one year, we save Ohio taxpayers and federal taxpayers $90,000 on average,” he said. “We probably saved the state and the feds at least $3 billion with a B versus Medicaid, paying for all our people to go to assisted living here and so there's a huge return on this investment.”
The federal judge who paused the funding freeze will hear arguments next Monday and decide on a temporary restraining order at that time. Meanwhile, organizations across the country will be seeking clear guidance on if they are impacted by the funding freeze.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is hospitalized after a shooting Tuesday night on the northeast side of Columbus.
According to a Columbus police dispatcher, officers responded to the 4000 block of Morse Creek Commons Drive at approximately 10:52 p.m. for a report of a shooting.
One victim was listed in critical condition at a local hospital.
This is the second of two shootings reported within minutes of each other on the east side of Columbus. The first shooting happened at approximately 10:50 p.m. on the 1200 block of Brookcliff Avenue; three people were reportedly injured.
There is no further information available at this time.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- In the wake of a near riot at Hilliard Darby High School on Monday, a member of Hilliard City Council is calling for a joint meeting of council, the school board, and Hilliard police.
Councilmember Les Carrier said he wants to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of resource officers at all three city high schools.
In addition, Hilliard police are carefully studying a video from inside the class of the fight.
Five Hilliard Darby students involved in classroom altercation“Well, normally, Colleen, this is really the board's purview, right, but when you get to that level of violence and you just I just saw that teacher get jacked and I immediately said, ‘Hey, we got to start taking a look at this from a public safety perspective.’”
Carrier watched the entire video and Hilliard police confirmed a team of detectives is taking it apart frame by frame.
“It was a pretty big fight,” Carrier said. “It lasted a long time so that was another concern I had. You know, it's 1:30 before you got the interdiction of an SRO [school resource officer] because they were out doing other duties, so I'm waiting for the police report. Going to ask some questions. Um, I've reached out to a school board member and said, ‘Hey, is there an opportunity? What can we do? What do you want us to do?’”
Carrier said each high school has one resource officer but may need to double that so there is one on each floor. He asked the department for statistics and said there were 300 runs to the high schools in the first six months of the school year, five percent of them were for acts of violence.
Pickerington teachers speak out about voyeurism incidentCarrier wants to keep the conversation going after hearing from concerned parents.
“If we share, we talk about it, we have a dialog, we debate it,” he said. “I'm calling for a joint school board, city council meeting to sit down and talk to and have HPD give us a presentation, have the administration talk, and then, you know, we're all should be on the same page. Public safety should be number one so let's figure it out and solve it.”
Hilliard Chief of Police Mike Woods said the department initially considered inciting riot charges against five students, but after seeing the video, more charges are under consideration. He added the department is going to take its time to make sure investigators get it right.
NBC4 reached out to the district to ask if the school board is considering a request for more resource officers, but the district has yet to respond.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) — Teachers in Pickerington are voicing frustration about how district leaders have handled the situation surrounding a school custodian being charged with crimes that allegedly happened in an elementary school.
“In October, our school community was thrown into an unthinkable crisis,” a teacher said during public participation at the latest school board meeting Monday night. “That immediately threatened our safety and security. We were victimized by a trusted coworker and the personal toll of that day is something that's hard to put into words.”
Five Hilliard Darby students involved in classroom altercationThe Fairfield County Sheriff's Office arrested Edward Dorst in October 2024 on several voyeurism charges. The 63-year-old was a custodian at Toll Gate Elementary, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege Dorst hid a cell phone in the staff bathroom with the intent of recording other employees.
Brad Harris, president of the Pickerington Education Association, shared at Monday's school board meeting that one-third of the Toll Gate staff were allegedly recorded while using the bathroom.
“The crime committed against me and my colleagues has left me disheartened and shaken,” a teacher said during public participation. “The betrayal by someone we trusted for nine years, a colleague we called our friend, turned our world upside down. The emotional impact on our staff has been overwhelming.”
Most of the teachers who talked at the meeting said they are directly affected by what Dorst is accused of doing.
Westerville school board votes to not put levy vote on May ballot“Us victims are hurting, from the crime made against us and from the lack of support from the leaders of this district," a teacher said.
They said they are upset with how the district treated them when information of the alleged crimes first came out and with how time off for court hearings has been handled.
“The lack of empathy and communication during this process was deeply hurtful,” another teacher said. “Coming to work every day remains a struggle. Walking into the building where I was violated, where trust was shattered, is incredibly difficult, but what's harder is knowing in a moment when we needed support, the district offices failed to provide it.”
NBC4 has reached out to district leaders for comment on the situation, but those requests have not been returned.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There is once again a renewed push to abolish the death penalty in Ohio but this time, with a bit of a twist.
The legislation, which has yet to be officially introduced, will both abolish the death penalty and ensure no state or taxpayer dollars are ever used to carry it out.
“It's always a good day to be the time when we look at abolishing the death penalty in the state of Ohio,” Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. “To take the moral, pragmatic and economically prudent step.”
Woman accuses Westerville police of intimidation, harassment in federal lawsuit“It should be rare, but it should be preserved and it should be available,” Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said.
Not only would the new bill replace the death penalty sentence with life without parole and ensure no state or tax dollars are used to carry out an execution, but it also emphasizes that state dollars must also not be used for physician-assisted suicide and abortion, something already in Ohio law.
“Ohio will not fund death,” Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) said. “This is about more than policy. It is about the affirmation that where there is human life, there is dignity, and there is hope. It is about affirming that the state should not be subsidizing death. It should not be subsidizing ending human life, no matter the form, no matter the circumstance.”
“Life is sacred and the death penalty fails to treat human lives as such,” state Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) said.
“To be consistent with our pro-life principles, we must uphold all three,” Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) said. “That is why we prepared a bill which makes it clear that the state of Ohio is not just fiscally responsible but committed to the dignity of every human life by prohibiting state-funded death.”
Westerville school board votes to not put levy vote on May ballotCraig said part of his issue with the death penalty is that it is applied unevenly. He said he would expect the makeup of the more than 100 inmates on Ohio’s death row to reflect the state’s overall demographics.
“When we look at the numbers, it is extremely transparent that not all Ohioans are treated equally and the death penalty sentencing of over half of Ohio's death row is Black while Black people make up only 13% of the total population in Ohio,” he said. “This change does not ignore the importance of retribution and punishment but advances a fairer and more equitable criminal justice system in Ohio.”
Antonio said the justice system does not always get it right.
“We cannot tolerate errors in the system when life is on the line,” she said. “Abolishing the death penalty is compassionate for families. Studies show that the death penalty has failed as a deterrent to crime and has prolonged the victimization of murder victims’ families and loved ones through the lengthy appeal process.”
Not everyone sees it that way.
Ohio among states with highest rate of seniors facing food insecurity, study finds“Abolishment? It’s never going to happen,” Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) said. “There’s got to be a consequence to people’s actions.”
Plummer introduced -- and plans to reintroduce -- a bill with Stewart to authorize the use of nitrogen hypoxia to carry our executions in Ohio. Plummer said he “absolutely” believes the death penalty works as a deterrent for criminals.
Plummer said that while the Ohio Senate may move forward on the bill, he is not sure about its chances in the House.
“It has always been hot in the Senate,” he said. “I mean we’ve never had an appetite for it over [in the House]. Of course, we have a lot of new members, so who knows where they’re going to be, but I’ll take our odds over here.”
“I believe having a strong showing here of bipartisan support, leaders in both chambers, will definitely push that forward,” Mathews said.
Grove City man pardoned in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection remains in prisonWhile the issue is motivating for several lawmakers, it is also personal for Ohioans like Rachel Muha, whose son, Brian, was murdered 25 years ago when he was 18. Muha said she spent hours in a courthouse listening to her son’s murderers explain what happened.
“Usually thinking: How did this happen? What am I doing here? I just want Brian back,” she said.
Muha said even though some told her the death penalty would bring her peace, she did not think so, and that’s why she backs abolishing the practice.
“True justice does not mask suffering with more violence,” she said. “This bill ensures that our state will always choose love over violence, compassion over convenience, and dignity over despair.”
The bill’s sponsors said it will be officially introduced, in both the House and Senate, within the next few days. While there is bipartisan support in the Senate, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said no Democrats are part of the conversation in the House right now. Russo said the devil will be in the detail, and anything that claws back reproductive rights will be a non-starter.
“We are going to oppose anything that undermines access to reproductive choice and freedom, while we support, many of us, support eliminating the death penalty, we have to do it while also maintaining those reproductive freedoms,” she said.
Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has previously said he does not support eliminating the death penalty. Gov. Mike DeWine has not allowed any executions during his time as governor.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Trump Administration planned to begin a pause on federal grants and loans Monday before a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze from going into effect.
U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action minutes before it would have gone into effect. A pause on grant and loans could impact hundreds of organizations across the country, including several in central Ohio.
Multiple organizations rely on federal funding to stay afloat and to help people in the community. Leaders of local nonprofits said at this point, any effects that could go through are still unclear.
Trump administration defends federal funding freezeMichael Corey is the executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, which represents more than 200 health and human service nonprofits. Corey said he is working with these organizations to understand the depth of this decision.
“We’re looking at nonprofits not being able to provide services, a whole host of services, that are funded through federal grants, housing, healthcare, education in school, after school, so on and so forth,” Corey said.
He said this proposal is unprecedented and trying to put a dollar figure on a pause is impossible.
“We are very much experiencing something, just with the attempt to suspend federal grants universally, that no one’s dealt with before, and we’re all unsure of how this will transpire,” Corey said.
Five Hilliard Darby students charged after classroom altercationAnother organization that relies on federal funding is the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Mike Hochron with the Collective said that amid this uncertainty, he wants people to know that the group's work will not stop.
“It’s too early to know what the impacts of any of this stuff happening at the federal level is going to be. We’re hopeful that nothing will truly impact the work that we do and we’re going to keep doing the work we do with the resources that we have,” Hochron said.
Ohio Humanities is another nonprofit relying on federal money. Executive Director Rebecca Asmo said the organization awards grants to local museums and historical societies.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty and that uncertainty is definitely going to impact the cultural organizations that this community and this state and that Ohioans care so much about,” Asmo said.
Corey said this pause is something that every Ohioan – even those who don’t directly get federal assistance – will notice if the pause goes on long enough.
Woman accuses Westerville police of intimidation, harassment in federal lawsuit“Everyone would be affected by this directly or indirectly. You can’t sever the operation of a huge chunk of the economy and not feel the ripple effects of that,” he said.
Several states and nonprofits have already sued the Trump Administration over the federal grant pause, arguing this action is illegal.