Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus family is doing everything they can to support their eight-year-old boy as he recovers from a brutal dog attack.

The boy is Oscar Koon, and he's soon to be nine years old and has a younger sister. Loved ones say they have their moments like most siblings, but Oscar is a great big brother.

“They have a really, really sweet relationship and love each other very much, and she's been talking about him non-stop, can't wait to see him," said Rebecca Hook Katona, Oscar's aunt.

The kids were playing outside earlier this month in their North Linden neighborhood when two dogs from another house attacked Oscar.

“He loves animals, and I think that's been something that's just made this situation even harder is to think that his love for animals could be jeopardized in any way," Hook Katona said.

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Police shot both dogs, and an officer rushed Oscar to the hospital. At the time, he was in "extremely critical condition." Hook Katona said the eight-year-old has traumatic injuries to his face. She also said he is still heavily sedated.

Her sister and brother-in-law, Oscar's parents, have been playing his favorite playlist in the ICU room at Nationwide Children's Hospital. 

“The way they live their lives is so altruistic, and they genuinely just live to serve other people and people around them, no one, no one deserves to have this happen to them, but they deserve it least of all," Hook Katona said. 

She said the plan is to decorate the hospital room with cards and messages of support that have been received. Messages can be shared with Oscar and his family through the hospital's website. The family has also set up a CaringBridge which includes ways to support Oscar's family.

"Neighbors, community members, everybody at the hospital has been amazing. The officer who made just a lifesaving decision to put Oscar in his cruiser and take him to the hospital, all of these people are the reason he is going to live and he’s going to thrive. It's just going to be really different," Hook Katona said.

Oscar has shown some positive signs recently, and the family is hopeful for more, according to Hook Katona. She said they're also hoping to be able to communicate with him through touch in the coming days.

“He’s so beautiful and I think that he is going to thrive, we really believe that, he just has like such a light in his spirit, it's infectious and people want to be around him, kids and adults want to be around him and nothing about this can change that," she said. 

The owner of the dogs will face several charges, including failure to confine a previously designated dangerous dog, according to the Columbus City Attorney's Office. Franklin County Animal Care and Control told NBC4 that because the investigation into the March 2 attack is still going on, charges have not been filed yet.

Records show this is not the first incident involving the owner of the dogs. Criminal charges were filed against him for a dog bite in 2024, according to animal control. Animal control said that the incident involved a different dog than the ones from the recent attack.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As threats to end the Department of Education continue, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) discussed the importance of literacy and public education Friday in a reading event for local elementary schoolers.

Beatty visited Woodcrest Elementary School as part of Read Across America week where she read stories aloud to students and celebrated learning. She spoke with NBC4 after the event, where she said she loved seeing the excitement among students.

She also said the Department of Education is crucial for schools like the one she spoke in today, and she hopes the administration backtracks threats to cut the department. Beatty said Congress -- not the White House -- has the power to fund and sustain the Department of Education. She said she is certain the effort to close the department will end up in court.

"I think it's important to say to little children, and especially little Black children, that we will not let this administration illegally do away with the Department of Education," Beatty said. "We will not let him cut veterans' programs and housing programs, and so we wanted to stand in solidarity."

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As part of that solidarity Beatty also stood by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), saying his actions were appropriate. Green was censured this week for his protest during President Donald Trump's address to Congress this week, marking a formal condemnation of his actions. Beatty was not one of the 10 Democrats who joined Republicans in favor of the censure.

Beatty also said Democrats in Congress are learning about federal office closures and layoffs at the same time as their constituents -- after the notices have already gone out. She said federal workers are swarming Congressional phones about the flurry of layoffs.

"The phones are ringing off the hook, people are scared, people want to know if they are going to get paid, they want to know what happens to them next," Beatty said. "When you look at these offices and the individuals that are working in these offices, they are the lifeline to many of these programs."

Beatty also condemned Republican colleagues as "childish" for not standing up against calls to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS Act or Elon Musk-backed DOGE cuts. She said Musk is not elected and not confirmed, and she feels the administration is not putting people first.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Division of Police is setting an example about growing community relationships to police departments across the continent. 

This week Columbus police (CPD) hosted a training about its new and improved strategies to respond to protests, developed through the division's dialogue team. Police say there were officers from 15 departments nationwide and even some from Canada.

Columbus residents may have seen CPD officers at a protest or community event wearing a light blue vest, which designates them as dialogue officers. Columbus Police Sgt. Kolin Straub said he is excited to hear officers' positive feedback from the training and eager to see how they implement the knowledge in their city.

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“We're humbled that people want to come to Columbus, Ohio, and learn what we've been doing,” Straub said.

Straub said the division formed the state's first dialogue team in response to protests in the summer of 2020 centering around police brutality and reform.

"Dialogue has been our city’s 'how we have moved forward from 2020, how we're trying to move forward from 2020.' We looked critically at what we did. We got a lot of feedback about what we did," Straub said.

Straub said the team is not doing enforcement action. Instead, these officers are having genuine conversations with people at these protests.

“We hope that these officers that are working with different crowds, different protests, we stress honest dialogue requires honest intent. And they need to come into those conversations with protesters genuinely trying to facilitate their First Amendment Rights," Straub said.

CPD said officers started by teaching the science behind why genuine communication is important, then moved to scenario-based training.

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“We just built out this program and it's done very well in the sciences, and guided us very well. And we're happy to share that knowledge," Straub said.

Commander Lawrence Davis oversees community engagement and homeless operations for the Austin Police Department in Texas. He said he was impressed by the training.

“I think that the Columbus Division of Police has been so bold, so daring to say that not only are we going to find value in the voices of all of our community members, we're going to take it a step further," Davis said. "We're going to go out there, find them great and small, and we're going to give them a voice, a seat at the table. In fact, we're going to find them where they are and meet them at their level. So, that was kind of impressive to me."

Davis said he can think of many situations in his career where this training could have bettered the situation. He said he is looking forward to exploring what he has learned and bringing this back to his department.

“I just think that having the courage to touch this thing gives us access to the very thing that communities across the country have already been asking for. And it gives the police departments a pathway to three things: public trust, public confidence and police legitimacy," Davis said.

Straub said this team has given the division a better picture of what is actually happening during a protest. He said they better understand the dynamics and are building relationships with the crowd rather than just sitting back and watching.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a house fire in south Columbus, Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter said.

Geitter said crews responded to the 700 block of Stewart Avenue where they found a fire in a two-story, two family home. Geitter said the fire also extended to the house next door, and police have taped off part of the block so firefighters can work.

Geitter was able to confirm the fatality happened in the home that originally caught fire. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police are working to correct a decade of crime data that was reported incorrectly to the state and to the FBI.

We first told you about this in December; CPD flagged an issue with its reporting system. Now, three months later, NBC4 Investigates is checking on how recovery efforts are going and has found the fix is taking longer than expected.

165,000 cases were not reported to the state, as they should have been, because of an issue with the CPD’s record management system. That impacts data that is then sent to the FBI. It does not impact locally reported data, or any investigations and casework.

It matters because it impacts a number that shows how many cases are actually solved, which could impact grant money the division receives. So NBC4 Investigates is tracking the recovery process.

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"Cases were still reported, they were still investigated. People were charged with crimes, people went to jail," CPD Deputy Chief Time Myers said in December 2024. 

The issue started in 2013 with a switch to a more in-depth crime reporting system. When Columbus police shared the error in December, NBC4 Investigates downloaded the state data. This week we did again and analyzed it to see where recovery efforts stand.

3,674 violent crime offenses have been added to the data from 2013-2023. That’s a little more than a third of the violent offenses CPD says it needs to update. There are now 898 more rape offenses counted in the data.

Of the 32,711 property crime reports that fell through 3,525 have been updated as of Wednesday, with larceny-theft offenses increasing by 1,792. A spokesperson for CPD said there is no estimated timeline for the correction to be completed. You can find a breakdown of where the recovery efforts stand as of March 5 below.

Again, Columbus police have access to every case. This is a statistical issue that impacts things like clearance, or solve rate, and could impact grant money the division receives.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The City of Columbus launched some big plans for the Eastland neighborhood Thursday night. 

The Department of Neighborhoods is spearheading the Eastland for Everyone Community Plan that outlines projects to spur community growth and development. 

The plan spans six square miles of southeast Columbus and outlines what the department calls "8 Big Ideas." Some of which include creating more housing, community and educational spaces, retail developments and job opportunities. 

Some efforts are already underway to revitalize the community. The Eastland Mall, for example, is now in the process of being torn down to renovate the space into use for future developments. Additionally, the Vista Village tiny home subdivision now housing residents.

Noelle Britt, Eastland Neighborhood Program Specialist, said a part of the vision is to make sure everyone in Eastland has equitable access to recourses. 

"What we heard a lot during this process is that so many folks have to leave to do so many things, to meet so many basic needs and that is something we need to address," she said "And you will see that moving throughout the plan. A higher quality of life, a place where everyone can belong or call home and a strong sense of community which I hope you all feel that tonight."

Britt said they received a lot of community input that helped build this plan and Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther said the city is fully committed. 

"We want to strengthen our neighborhoods, build a stronger community and ensure we're creating a healthy space where everyone can thrive," said Ginther.

The Eastland Advisory Committee will reconvene in the spring with community partners to keep the ball rolling toward a promising future for eastside residents.

To view the full Eastland For Everyone Plan, click here.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

Clouds will thicken ahead of a system tracking from the central Plains to the lower Ohio Valley. Temperatures will reach the low to mid-40s in a light southerly flow, with a few light showers developing along a warm front.

A few periods of light rain, mixed with snow, will fall overnight, as the weak storm tracks south of the Ohio River, ending before daybreak Saturday. Only light accumulations are expected, but the northern counties could see a coating near and north of U.S. 30.

High pressure will bring clearing skies later in the weekend, with seasonably chilly weather. Temperatures will reach the low 40s Saturday, after a chilly start in the upper 20s. Sunday will be milder, with afternoon readings approaching 50.

A return flow from the southwest as high pressure shifts east will allow temperatures to warm up rapidly early next week into the 60s. The next chance for showers will not arrive until Thursday.

Forecast

• Friday: Clouds, light rain at times. High 43
• Tonight: Light rain, wintry mix. Low 30
• Saturday: Early clouds, clearing. High 42
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 49 (28)
• Monday: Sunny, mild. High 60 (32)
• Tuesday: Sunny, warmer. High 67 (42)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny. High 68 (46)
• Thursday: Showers. High 58 (47)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- They say you barely have time to eat on your wedding day, but a local giveaway will make sure one lucky couple maintains the munchies when they say "I do."

Stargazer Cannabis Festival partnered with Cleveland company Weeding Out to sponsor a dream cannabis wedding giveaway, and you're invited to apply. The winners will enjoy a dream wedding officiated by rapper Afroman and a Jamaican honeymoon.

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Chad Thompson, the organizer behind Ohio's Stargazer Cannabis Festival, said applications for Afroman's dream cannabis wedding opened March 4. The ceremony will take place during Stargazer Fest, which will return for its second annual celebration July 25-27.

The lucky winners will get married on the festival grounds, which moved from Pomeroy to Waverly's Adventure on the River location this year for more space. The decor will reflect the cannabis theme, and Thompson said the wedding cake will be infused. There will also be an open dab and bud bar for guests after the ceremony.

"The cannabis industry is exploding, and it’s creating once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like this," Thompson said. "Imagine telling your grandkids that Afroman married you at a cannabis festival — it doesn’t get better than that.”

Thompson said Grammy-nominated Afroman is registering with the state to ensure he can legally officiate. The "Because I Got High" singer will also perform a mini-concert of his most popular songs during the ceremony.

As they tie the knot, the couple will take part in a Cannabis Unity Ceremony on the main stage of the festival. Thompson said it will mirror wedding traditions where couples light candles or pour sand to symbolize togetherness.

"This is similar, but involves a ceremonial smoke from a special cannabis decorated bong symbolizing their unity and shared journey," Thompson said.

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To apply, couples can submit their information and a one-minute video explaining why they should be chosen for the high-energy -- or at the very least high -- celebration. Thompson said they are looking primarily for candidates seeking a marriage celebration, but won't rule out vow renewals.

"If it pulls on the heartstrings enough it possibly could be a wedding renewal, a vow renewal. We're very excited," Thompson said.

The festival sold out on its first day its inaugural year, and tickets are on sale now. Thompson encouraged those wanting to attend a cannabis wedding and the festival's many other activities -- including attempting to bake the world's largest brownie and a blunt rolling workshop with Snoop Dogg's personal blunt roller -- to get tickets soon.

Any couples interested in a something borrowed, something green ceremony can apply online until April 20.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- When Ohio State alumna Destiny Brown heard her alma mater was getting rid of the diversity, equity and inclusion offices that molded her campus experience, she said her first feeling was grief.

She was not alone. In addition to the students and faculty speaking out against the university's actions, Ohio State alumni are organizing to make the university understand they have no interest in supporting these decisions. See previous coverage of Ohio State's decision in the video player above.

"We don't want students being indoctrinated. We don't want professors to be silenced," said Sam Shim, past president of OSU's Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Society. "We like the university the way it is, and we don't want it to change. And if the university wants our donations as alumni, they need to maintain the programs that they had in place."

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According to the university's fiscal year 2025 financial plan, the university anticipated nearly $600 million in donations this year. Shim said many alumni are calling for a full boycott of the university, halting donations, purchases and any other financial support until the DEI efforts are restored.

"For some alumni, they're not even willing to watch the games right now. I mean, it means that much," Shim said.

Nearly 1,000 Ohio State students and professors marched on Tuesday against the university's decision to dissolve some DEI programs and offices. The night before, Brown said she and more than 70 other alumni met on a mass call to strategize a response and plan to support current students.

Instead of supporting Ohio State, she said many alumni are planning to only donate to affinity-based alumni groups. She said this funding is separate from the university, so any donations to alumni groups can support students without propping up the administration.

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On Feb. 28 -- the day OSU closed its DEI offices -- the university's Black Alumni Society put out a statement condemning the university's actions. The organization encouraged donations to the alumni society instead of the university so it can fund programs for students directly, particularly a cherished tradition celebrating Black students on their graduation.

The Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Association followed suit, declaring solidarity with the Black Alumni Society and promoting Tuesday's on-campus protest. Ohio State's D.C.-based alumni group posted similarly, and 3,415 students, staff and alumni have signed a petition to reinstate the offices.

Shim said he believes OSU's decision will also have long-term financial consequences. He said alumni will continue to cut donations, and this will drive students away from Ohio State.

"DEI programs are still there in Michigan," Shim said. "They're still there in Illinois and so many other places, ... and it's going to cause so many students to leave and then not come back to Ohio when they graduate. And we're concerned that this is going to hurt the university in the long run."

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Brown said many alumni agreed with her that their experiences with the now-shuttered Office of Diversity and Inclusion were paramount in shaping their time at OSU. She said she and other alumni are fearful and overwhelmed that current and future students won't have the support they had, and agreed this will likely deter prestigious candidates from attending.

Brown said those she met at ODI were frequently top of their classes, winning competitive scholarships and fellowships. She believes driving these students away will make Ohio State lose a crucial edge on other universities.

She said it was particularly disheartening to see a university go from supporting, promoting and tokenizing diversity on campus after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests to eliminating safe spaces for minority communities. She said many of her friends were used for promotional photos to amplify campus diversity, and it feels like it was only performative.

Brown said those communities she found in spaces like ODI are what Ohio State means to her. Both Shim and Brown said alumni do not plan on standing by, whether they begin joining on-campus protests or withholding donations.

"People are strategizing," Brown said. "We are doing everything we can to reverse this decision, to make sure that students are safe on campus, that the legacy of ODI continues and that Ohio State continues to have a competitive edge by investing and recruiting in the top students of the country, whether they come from a diverse background or not."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While clocks are springing forward an hour this weekend, federal lawmakers say the U.S. should abandon the biannual tradition and observe daylight saving time permanently.

Daylight saving begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, beginning the annual period when U.S. clocks "spring forward" an hour in March and "fall back" in November. Yes, this means we lose an hour of sleep when the clock skips from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

While Ohio is among more than two dozen states that have previously pushed to observe daylight saving permanently, the Buckeye State's effort is curtailed until federal law changes. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can change to standard time but not daylight saving, which requires a change to federal law to transition to perpetual daylight saving.

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That's why Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation earlier this year to keep time permanently "forward," meaning clocks would not be set back at the end of fall. Named the "Sunshine Protection Act," the bill's passage would mean later sunsets in the winter but also later sunrises. For example, the sun rises around 7:15 a.m. and sets around 4:30 p.m. on the first day of winter in New York. The act would change sunrise to 8:15 a.m. and sunset to 5:30 p.m.

"I hear from Americans constantly that they are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year -- it's an unnecessary, decades-old practice that's more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them," said Scott in a release. "I'm excited to have President Trump back in the White House and fully on board to lock the clock so we can get this good bill passed and make this common-sense change."

Ohio's House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill in December 2023 to urge the U.S. Congress to pass a previous version of the Sunshine Protection Act. The measure was under consideration in Ohio's Senate, but only received one hearing last June and never passed out of the General Government Committee.

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Reps. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina), the bill's primary sponsors, had argued the U.S. no longer needs the biannual tradition of changing clocks, pointing to studies that say moving clocks in the spring and fall causes a number of work, school, safety and sleep-related issues.

"Continuing to change the time results in a higher number of cardiac issues and strokes and prolonged seasonal depression," Creech said. "A recent study revealed that sleep loss, even for as little as one hour, can decrease a child's quality of life, showing significant negative impacts on the children’s physical well-being as well as their ability to cope with the school environment."

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – One man is dead and another person is in custody after an early Friday morning shooting in Pickerington.

The Pickerington Police Department said it received a 911 call at 3:43 a.m. on a reported shooting that took place on Montmorency Drive in the Cherry Hill subdivision. The 911 caller stated the victim had been shot multiple times and the suspected shooter fled the scene.

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Officers located a vehicle matching the description on Hill Road, just north of Diley Road and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect complied with police and was arrested without incident. Police recovered two firearms in the vehicle.

Responding medics attempted life-saving measures on the victim and took him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

No other injuries were reported and police said that because the suspect and the victim were acquaintances, there is no other danger to the public.

Police continue to investigate the shooting and said the names of both parties will be released once all of next of kin are notified.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State's first steps toward trying to win back-to-back national championships begins a week from Monday.

"Feel like we just got done with the season," coach Ryan Day said.

The Buckeyes will start the spring football season March 17 and will conclude it with the spring showcase on April 12 at Ohio Stadium. Day addressed the media to discuss preparations for the spring season. You can watch Day's comments in the video player above.

The spring season will begin nearly two months after Ohio State won its ninth national championship, defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in Atlanta on Jan. 20. Ohio State’s title game win concluded the first 12-team playoff, with the Buckeyes also defeating Tennessee at Ohio Stadium, Oregon in the Rose Bowl and Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

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"As you look at our team, there's a lot of guys who played a lot of football," Day said. "Those guys will be treated a little differently than other guys."

Since the final whistle blew in Atlanta, the team has gone through numerous roster and coaching changes. Fifteen former Buckeyes are off to the NFL draft, and star receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs headline the players returning.

Day says the focus this spring season will be on replacing the players who have left.

"That's the biggest key is replacing those guys," Day said. "We have holes that we need to fill."

Day will have a new-look coaching staff that includes two-time Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who replaced Jim Knowles, now at Penn State.

"I think we have to look at how we can continually evolve with the defense," Day said. "When you look at his defense, they've always utilized his players."

The offense will be led by co-coordinators Brian Hartline and Keenan Bailey, who both were promoted after winning the national title and due to Chip Kelly's departure to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. Hartline will take over play-calling duties from Kelly.

"I believe Brian is going to do a great job as offensive coordinator. He's grown in a lot of areas," Day said. "He's ready to call it now."

The Buckeyes begin their national title defense on Aug. 30 when they play Texas at Ohio Stadium in a Cotton Bowl rematch. They are aiming to join Georgia as the only program to repeat as champions in the playoff era.

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) – A woman accused of fatally abusing her nine-month-old daughter pleaded guilty on two of seven charges Thursday.

According to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas documents, 21-year-old Charity Dreyer, arrested in September after the death of her infant child, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.

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Dreyer was arrested after officers responded to reports of a nonbreathing child on Beechbank Road in Whitehall. Police found the 9-month-old as well as a 23-month-old who appeared to be injured. Both were taken to a hospital.

Whitehall Deputy Chief Dan Kelso said officers suspected child abuse and court documents stated Dryer may have abused or even tortured the 23-month-old, which resulted in a possible broken arm, head and neck injuries.

A warrant was issued after hospital personnel issued a statement about the child’s injuries. Kelso said that while the report did not initially contain information on the 9-month-old, additional charges were anticipated.

Charity Dreyer (Courtesy/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)

Dreyer was eventually charged with second-degree felony endangering children, felonious assault, murder, third-degree felony endangering children, involuntary manslaughter and two misdemeanor counts of endangering children.

The guilty plea included a joint sentence recommendation of 4-to-6 years for endangering children and 11-to-16.5 years for involuntary manslaughter. The plea agreement sentences are to run consecutively with a total aggregate prison term of 15-to-20.5 years.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 12.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The most expensive home sold in Franklin County for February was $1,725,000, and the most expensive home in Delaware County sold for $1,179,800.

NBC4 analyzed property sale records from the Franklin and Delaware county auditors’ offices, filtering for “one family dwellings” to avoid sales of apartments, duplexes or other unrelated land purchases. See previous coverage of creative solutions to central Ohio's housing shortage in the video player above.

Franklin County

10. This home at 560 Fox Lane in Worthington sold for $995,000 on Feb. 20.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

9. This home at 5808 Levin Links Court in Dublin sold for $1,000,000 on Feb. 24.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

8. This home at 6685 Oddi Place in Dublin sold for $1,069,900 on Feb. 10.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

7. This home at 7265 Southfield Road in New Albany sold for $1,100,000 on Feb. 7.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

6. This home at 866 Cambridge Court in Worthington sold for $1,135,000 on Feb. 27.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

5. This home at 7315 Southfield Road in New Albany sold for $1,185,000 on Feb. 26.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

4. This home at 693 Lindsey Marie Lane in Columbus sold for $1,200,000 on Feb. 11.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

3. This home at 2645 Haverford Road in Upper Arlington sold for $1,250,000 on Feb. 21.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

2. This home at 2783 Brandon Road in Upper Arlington sold for $1,697,000 on Feb. 11.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor

1. This home at 158 Buttles Ave. in Columbus sold for $1,725,000 on Feb. 3.

Courtesy photo / Franklin County Auditor Delaware County

10. This home at 4536 Village Club Drive in Powell sold for $836,200 on Feb. 12.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

9. This home at 2270 Woodland Hall Drive in Powell sold for $943,500 on Feb. 12.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

8. This home at 1159 Bean-Oller Road in Delaware sold for $975,700 on Feb. 19.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

7. This home at 9196 McDowall Drive in Powell sold for $1,111,200 on Feb. 14.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

6. This home at 2818 Bean-Oller Road in Delaware sold for $1,147,000 on Feb. 6.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

5. This home at 4511 Tavistock Circle in Powell sold for $1,248,400 on Feb. 18.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

4. This home at 1988 Woodland Hall Drive in Delaware sold for $1,144,000 on Feb. 14.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

3. This home at 1701 Woodland Hall Drive in Delaware sold for $1,298,100 on Feb. 27.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

2. This home at 2315 Wildcat Run Court in Powell sold for $1,334,800 on Feb. 3.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

1. This home at 5249 Schuette Drive in Powell sold for $1,179,800 on Feb. 21.

Courtesy photo / Delaware County Auditor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While an increasing number of Ohio cities are banning anti-LGBTQ+ practices known as conversion therapy, Statehouse lawmakers have revived a bill to prohibit the practices statewide.

Senate Bill 71, proposed in February by Sens. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin), would prohibit healthcare professionals in Ohio from engaging in conversion therapy with minors. The practices falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and have been discredited by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.

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Practitioners of conversion therapy often employ "aversive conditioning," which includes the use of electric shock, deprivation of food and liquid, smelling salts and chemical-induced nausea, according to the American Medical Association. A 2021 The Trevor Project survey found that 13% of LGBTQ+ youth nationwide reported being subjected to conversion therapy, with 83% saying it occurred when they were under the age of 18.

If passed, S.B. 71 would require state licensing boards to suspend, revoke or refuse to issue or renew the license of the healthcare professional who was practicing conversion therapy with a minor.

Antonio and Liston reintroduced the bill after Westerville voted in February to become the 13th city in Ohio to can conversion therapy. While some argued the measure infringes on parental rights, many residents spoke in support of the ban, including a former Presbyterian pastor who said during the ordinance's second hearing that her daughter was a victim of conversion therapy. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Westerville's ban in the video player above.

Westerville joined 12 other Ohio municipalities, including Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Reynoldsburg, that have banned the practices. Brandon West, a 23-year-old Lorain resident, championed his home city last year to become the 12th to ban conversion therapy, and has since begun advocating for Cuyahoga County to do the same.

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Those Ohio cities passed conversion therapy ordinances because the Statehouse didn't advance previous proposals to implement a statewide ban. Although former Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) introduced the "Anti-Conversion Therapy Act" last year in the General Assembly, which would make law in Ohio the same parameters as S.B. 71, the legislation didn't receive a committee hearing.

While Lightbody's proposal, then House Bill 220, received bipartisan allyship, Antonio's and Liston's S.B. 71 has yet to gain Republican support and is only co-sponsored by other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Antonio, who was Ohio's first openly gay Statehouse lawmaker, also lost Republican support earlier this year for a bill to ban discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. Named the "Ohio Fairness Act," the legislation was reintroduced for the 12th time and would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The act has also never passed the Statehouse to be signed into law, but has traditionally garnered bipartisan support. Every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus and two Republican senators co-sponsored the bill when it was reintroduced for the 11th time during the summer of 2023. Now, the Fairness Act is also only co-sponsored by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

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Along with failing to ban conversion therapy, Ohio lawmakers have yet to repeal Ohio's dormant same-sex marriage ban and remove antiquated HIV criminalization laws passed in the 1980s. Instead, the Statehouse has passed a bill to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth and education legislation that opponents say will result in the "outing" of students, which caused an increased number of LGBTQ+ youth to call a crisis hotline.

S.B. 71 has been assigned to the Senate Health Committee, where it could receive hearings open for public testimony.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio Senators have introduced legislation that would eliminate sales tax for guns and ammunition, while establishing a tax credit for firearm manufacturers in the state.

The sponsors of Senate Bill 59, Sens. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), claim Ohio is losing out on gun sales due to buyers traveling to neighboring tax-free states.

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“In 2021, similar language was adopted into law in the state of West Virginia, highlighting the necessity of this legislation; to ensure that Ohioans support Ohio businesses,” Schaffer said at an introductory hearing for the bill.

Currently, West Virginia is the only state neighboring Ohio that has adopted a sales tax exemption for gun and ammunition purchases. Guns in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon are also sales tax free since these states do not collect sales tax at all. It is legal to buy a gun in one state and take it to another, as long as the transaction is legal in both states, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

If the bill were to pass, Ohio’s sales tax exemption would specifically apply to any non-shotgun firearm that is .50 caliber or smaller, and any shotgun that is 10 gauge or smaller, according to Schaffer. Ammunition for such firearms would also qualify. 

The measure, introduced in January, would also establish a tax credit capped at $10 million per fiscal year for firearms and ammunition manufacturers that either plan on moving to Ohio or are expanding an existing facility.

"The intent behind this bill is to protect our Second Amendment and remove the burdensome nature of taxes," Cutrona said. "Additionally, this is a jobs bill and will create more opportunities for Ohioans. Ohio is open for business and I look forward to the positive impact this legislation will have on our economy." 

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The tax credit, called the "Constitutional Commerce Credit,” would be administered by the state Department of Development, and awarded to businesses that make a capital investment of at least $2 million.

Companies would be eligible to receive the refundable tax credit for up to 15 years. Businesses receiving tax incentives would have to maintain operations in the state for the greater part of seven years or the term of the credit plus three years. If a business fails to comply with the rules, the Department of Development could intervene and recapture up to the full amount of the credit awarded, Cutrona said. 

The pair introduced a similar bill in the last General Assembly, but it only received one hearing and did not pass by the end of the legislative session. 

A spokesperson with the Ohio Council of Churches, a Christian organization fighting against gun violence, told NBC4 the group is against the bill, calling it "morally and ethically" irresponsible.

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"According to the New England Journal of Medicine, firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in America," a spokesperson said. "Yet our state legislature apparently is bent on not only removing the tax on firearms sales ... but actually seeks to encourage the manufacture and distribution of firearms, by bestowing tax incentives on the manufacturers."

SB 59 was assigned to the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee. It has had one introductory hearing and awaits proponent and opponent testimony.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A three-year-old boy has been hospitalized after being shot in what police say is under suspicious circumstances.

According to Columbus Division of Police Sgt. Joe Albert, a three-year-old was shot once in the 700 block of Walnut Grove Court in the far east side of the city, near Blacklick. The child was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in stable condition at around 2 a.m.

Police reported that the child’s mother said the boy shot himself and that a man was also at the residence at the time but left the scene. Police could not find a firearm and have not yet confirmed the nature of the shooting.

No other injuries were reported and no one has been named a suspect at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Law enforcement agencies in Ohio would be banned from requiring officers to meet arrest and ticket quotas under a bipartisan Statehouse bill.

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) reintroduced the legislation last week in the Ohio House as House Bill 131 alongside Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark), a former State Highway Patrol officer of 20 years. The bill, which defines a quota as a certain number of arrests made or citations issued for any offense that a police officer must meet in a time period, aims to enhance public safety.

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"Law enforcement officers' primary job is to protect and serve our community -- they can't do that if they are expected to meet arbitrary quotas that don't reflect the safety needs of the community," said Sweeney, who also introduced the measure last General Assembly. "We want our law enforcement officers to be evaluated based upon the quality of their police work, not the quantity of tickets they can write."

Similar legislation banning quotas has been enacted in 25 other states, including Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the pair said. They also touted support from the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (OPBA) and the Fraternal Order of Police.

George Sakellakis, OPBA director of organization, argued that when agencies arbitrarily dictate a certain number of arrests or citations that an officer must issue to keep their job, the trust between the public and law enforcement, as well as the very nature of constitutional policing, is needlessly tested.

"Ohioans must be assured that any citation or arrest is valid, legitimate, and necessary. Police officers, sheriff's deputies and troopers are true professionals who risk their lives to serve our communities, not revenue generators," said Sakellakis. "They got into this business to protect our neighborhoods, not occupy them. We are thankful that the legislature is tackling this important issue."

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State Senator Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) also supports the legislation, and has introduced a sister bill in the Ohio Senate, Senate Bill 114. The measure would also prohibit law enforcement from requiring officers to meet quotas, and ban agencies from offering a financial reward or other benefits for meeting quotas.

"Law enforcement officers already have the difficult task of keeping us all safe, and should not be saddled with the additional and unreasonable burden of generating revenue for the bureaucracies they serve," said Patton. "Quotas make officers' jobs even harder by undermining public trust in law enforcement. Filling quotas also encourage unnecessary encounters between the public and officers, further hindering our primary goal of maintaining public safety."

H.B. 131 has been referred to the House Public Safety Committee for further consideration and awaits sponsor testimony. S.B. 114 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for sponsor testimony on Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus travelers now have more options when it comes to faster and more convenient flights. 

American Airlines re-launched its nonstop flights to Los Angeles from John Glenn International Airport, the first time a major airline has flown this route out of Columbus since the COVID-19 pandemic.

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According to representatives with John Glenn International Airport, LAX has been Columbus’ largest underserved market and a top need of the business community. 

"Columbus is one of our largest and most important communities, so we're proud to be here," American Airlines Director of Domestic Network Planning Jordan Pack said. 

Travelers were quick to take advantage of the nonstop option. 

"I don't want to have a whole day taken out of my life, so I saw this and I thought 'Oh wow, finally a nonstop flight,'" Lauren Bogorad, who was flying to Los Angeles, said.  

Dean Oblonsky was also on the flight. He said this speaks to the growth we're seeing in central Ohio and serves as a step forward for travel since the pandemic. 

"During COVID, it was three stops, minimum two, so it just shaves hours out," Oblonsky said.  

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"It's fantastic,” Roger Cooper, another LA traveler, said. “It says a lot about where people are going to and coming from, and that will help the industry in Ohio because there's enough market to have a nonstop flight every day.” 

Pack said it's also important for the business and economic community of central Ohio and southern California, calling it a critical piece that was missing.  

"The hour they announced this flight, I booked," Oblonsky said. "I'm so happy about it and it ups the game for travel out of Columbus in a big way."  

Oblonsky, who works out of Palm Springs, travels to California about 12 times a month.  

"The ease to get west and the two-hour drive beats whatever layovers there are, and to be able to do work direct in LA, too, for a lot of businesses here in Columbus," Oblonsky said. 

Meantime, Kathy Simms lives in L.A. but has a son in Columbus. She's a frequent flyer.  

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"We used to fly three or four times a year out here to see him and then COVID hit and it all of a sudden put a little damper with the non-direct flights," Simms said. 

Simms already has another direct flight back to Columbus booked for April. 

American Airlines representatives said Los Angeles joins a lineup of 11 other nonstop destinations offered at John Glenn International Airport. 

"Not to have to worry about what happens to my luggage, and to get there a little more direct is absolutely so convenient," Douglas Worthington, who was flying to Los Angeles, said. 

According to officials, these flights will be offered daily. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio is finally debuting its version of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fat Ham.”  

Cast and crew have been preparing for this day for a year. What was supposed to be a happy time has left the theater wondering if they’ll be getting funding.  

At the beginning of the year, The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio found out their production of “Fat Ham” had been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Now, officials with the theater said they don’t know if they’ll ever see that money.  

“A year ago, we decided we wanted to do it, put together the director and the creative team and we've been working on what this is going to look like for a year ending in tonight's performance,” Leda Hoffmann, the artistic director at Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, said. 

“Fat Ham” describes itself as a Black and queer adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” 

“This play is such a beautiful, funny and heartfelt story about figuring out who you are,” Hoffmann said. “Inside of it is this beautiful coming of age story of how the young people in this play figure out who they want to be.”  

To put this play on, the theater was awarded a $10,000 “Challenge America” grant from the NEA. Winning an NEA grant has been a goal for the theater for a while. Hoffmann said the money would have been used to pay actors and designers, and cover the cost to build the scenery, and more.   

“We were so excited,” Hoffmann said. “All of us on staff, all of the artists working on this production. We're just so honored to have been chosen by this grant review panel to honor our work and let us celebrate this play in Columbus.” 

Weeks before opening night, the theater learned that the grant funds from the NEA had been frozen.  

“We really don't know if it's ever going to come,” Hoffmann said. “There's just a lot of uncertainty about what's going to happen next.”  

In January, President Trump signed an executive order that says, in part, “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.” The Trump Administration said the order is meant to protect people from what it calls “Gender Ideology Extremism.” Now, the Challenge America grant money has been reallocated to programs honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States. The executive order has sparked a First Amendment lawsuit from the ACLU. 

“I think it's really concerning when funds for the arts and for artists are cut, especially when there's a component to it that says you can't do work about certain topics,” said Hoffmann said. 

The Challenge America grant is meant for groups raising awareness of underserved and low-income communities. Hoffmann said the grant currently does not exist anymore.  

“We decided to do this play no matter what; even though we don't have those $10,000 that we were counting on, we're going to figure it out,” Hoffmann said. 

Even though the grant may never come, the theater is celebrating 40 years of bringing the community together for plays like “Fat Ham.” 

The play runs throughout the month; for showtimes and pricing, click here.