Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Saturday night was the inaugural Healing Heroes Ball, an event designed to recognize and show gratitude towards first responders, veterans and active duty members.

The event emulated a typical Military Ball. There was a cocktail hour, dinner, and the night ended with live music on the roof of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

It was a chance for people to get out and have fun with friends and family, but also it was an opportunity to bring attention to the struggles first responders and veterans face.

“We're kind of in the middle of the largest mental health crisis, I think, that we've ever kind of come across, and our veterans and our first responders are so very affected by that with the work that they do,” Angie Mack, the director of development for Stockhands Horses for Healing, said.

Stockhands offers a veterans and first responders program that works with them on mental health. Mack said the ball was all about raising awareness for those in need.

“You talk a little bit about the issues that you're dealing with and then have a wonderful night to go dancing and have some live music and really kind of celebrate those people that are in our lives that do so much for us,” she said. “So we wanted to have this night be that moment for them.”

One thing that Stephen Corvi, a trustee with the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, said isn’t talked about enough is the spouses to the first responders and veterans.

“They're the ones who don't hold the medals and they don't have the stigma of being in the battlefield, but the battlefield is really sometimes at home,” Corvi said. “So we're there to support them as well as the veterans and the first responders themselves who are on the front lines every day.”

Nearly 200 people attended the event, happy to be around familiar faces.

“The military exists for these reasons right here, so that we can enjoy our lives and have the freedoms we have and come to events like this and feel safe,” Corvi said.

Organizers said the night was truly about appreciation. Their goal is to host this event every year and hope more and more people continue to attend.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – College graduation is right around the corner, and for many, that means getting a job in their chosen careers. But what does that job market look like?

Jeff Reep, the director of career services at Cedarville University, said that right now, the job market is looking pretty good, adding that well over 1/3 of the school’s graduates have jobs lined up.

Last year, Reep said, 98 percent of graduates were employed or in grad school by the time commencement happened, and the school is on track to hit that number again this year.

For those who are still on the job hunt, Reep said building up a network is important, and utilizing resources like LinkedIn, career events, and just talking with people in the community can help a recent grad find a full-time job.

“If they can help, they'll normally help,” Reep said. “And if they know somebody that can, they'll probably give you that contact. And so, I think building a network is something that's very important. And then just doing the diligence of applying, searching, trying to find somebody on the inside.”

As far as what employers look for, Reep said besides having the skill in a certain career, employers often look for individuals who know how to communicate well and how to be a team player.

The commencement schedule for a number of central Ohio colleges and universities is below.

• Otterbein University -- April 28 
• Cedarville University -- May 4
• Ohio Dominican University -- May 4
• Ohio State University -- May 5
• Columbus State Community College-Columbus Campus -- May 10
• Capital University -- May 11
• Ohio Wesleyan University -- May 11
• Columbus College of Art & Design -- May 11
• Denison University -- May 11
• Franklin University -- June 2

DETROIT (WCMH) -- On the final day of the NFL Draft in Detroit, one Buckeye got the chance to reunite with his former teammate.

Tight end Cade Stover was chosen as the 123rd overall pick by the Houston Texans, putting the Mansfield, Ohio native on the same roster as quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stover was last season's Big Ten conference tight end of the year and was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in the country. He started in 11 of the 12 games he played in 2023 and in his career, he caught 82 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Elsewhere on Day 3, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 148th overall pick. The Cleveland-native was the Big Ten linebacker of the year and started ten games last season, recording 82 tackles and a sack.

Earlier in the draft, defensive tackle Mike Hall was taken in the second round by the Cleveland Browns while wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was a first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals.

High pressure near the Atlantic East Coast will prompt a southerly flow of warm and humid air into the region through early next week.

The weekend will bring a mix of clouds and a fair amount of sunshine, with a small chance for a stray shower or storm across the northwestern part of the state Temperatures will continue to warm, reaching the upper 70s Saturday afternoon and low 80s Sunday and Monday.

A storm coming out of central Plains, where thunderstorms will be focused this weekend and across the Midwest, will reach the Upper Midwest Monday, introducing a greater chance for showers and storms, diminishing with the passage of a cold front that will bring slightly cooler weather Tuesday.

The weather will stay on the warm side later in the week with some sunshine. However, additional scattered showers and storms could develop Thursday through Friday before another weak cold front arrives toward the weekend.

• Saturday: Partly sunny, breezy. High 80
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, warm. High 82 (62)
• Monday: Some sun, late-day, storm. High 83 (63)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, few showers p.m. High 75 (62)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, scattered storms. High 79 (57)
• Thursday: Partly sunny, showers, storms p.m. High 80 (62)
• Friday: Showers, cooler. High 75 (62)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) –  A 2-year-old child was severely injured during an assault that took place Tuesday night on the south side of the city.

According to a police complaint report, a woman living in an apartment on Ship Mill Street in the Far South neighborhood heard her door being kicked in at 9:49 p.m. Tuesday. She told police that a man forced his way into her residence and demanded her phone.

The victim refused and the man told her he was not leaving without taking something. After the man attempted to remove a television mounted to the wall, he went to a bedroom and picked up a flat screen television and began to leave the residence.

The woman, who was holding her 2-year-old, told the man, later identified as Andre Sallee, that she was going to call police. Sallee reportedly came back inside the apartment and punched the woman multiple times.

After the woman fell onto a couch, Sallee, 25, allegedly kicked her in the leg and fled the scene in what she believed to be a white car.

During the alleged assault the child was injured and taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Neurosurgeons treated the child for a skull fracture and brain bleeding. The child’s condition was not immediately known.

Sallee was arrested Wednesday, charged with aggravated robbery. A Franklin County Municipal judge issued him a $1 million bond and ordered him to next appear in court on May 3 for a preliminary hearing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus Division of Police is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in the homicide of a 61-year-old woman.

On Friday, police discovered the remains of Li-Chu Lin, who suffered a “brutal attack”, on the 6000 block of Zumstein Drive in north Columbus, according to police. Lin was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Police are asking the public for help in identifying a person of interest in the homicide. They advise the public to not approach the man if they see him, but to call 911 immediately.

• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Division of Police)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Division of Police)

Anyone with information regarding the incident may call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man was sentenced to at least eight years in prison after pornographic images of children were found on his phone.

Charles E. Cawley, 43, was given the sentence this week in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, convicted of pandering obscenity involving a minor. In addition to his sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender after his release.

In September, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified a children's crimes taskforce abuse material downloaded to a phone registered to Cawley's mother. She was contacted by investigators and said her son was using the phone.

Three months later, law enforcement officers searched Cawley's home. He admitted to the officers that he had downloaded the materials, Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said in a news release.

The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey.

Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a list of projects casting right now in Ohio, and which roles they're looking to fill.

'The Pelican'
- Project type: scripted show
- Roles:
--- Brandon (lead, male, 18-25)
--- Victor (supporting, 18-45)
--- Shawn (lead, male, 18-25)
- Average hourly rate: $93
- Casting locations: Alliance
- Learn more about the scripted show here

'Galactic'
- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Tammy (supporting, female, 18-45)
--- Earl (supporting, male, 25-55)
--- Annie Jane (lead, female, 40-70)
- Average hourly rate: $93
- Casting locations: Columbus
- Learn more about the feature film here

'A Violent World'
- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Jax (supporting, male, 30-50)
--- Scratch (supporting, female, 21-35)
--- Callum (supporting, male, 25-35)
- Average hourly rate: $31
- Casting locations: Blacklick
- Learn more about the feature film here

'The Inheritance' (Working Title)'
- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Kelly (lead, female, 35-55)
--- Kat (lead, gender-nonconforming, genderqueer, 30-45)
- Average hourly rate: $12
- Casting locations: Athens
- Learn more about the short film here

'Saving Ava'
- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Younger Versions of Leads (lead, 7-12)
--- Randy Brando (supporting, male, 27-60)
--- Officer Toby (supporting, male, 26-60)
- Average hourly rate: $12
- Casting locations: Columbus
- Learn more about the feature film here

'71 South'
- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Ana (lead, female, gender-nonconforming, trans female, 18-25)
--- Henry (lead, male, gender-nonconforming, trans male, 18-25)
--- Julia (lead, female, gender-nonconforming, trans female, 18-25)
- Average hourly rate: $18
- Casting locations: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati
- Learn more about the feature film here

'The Lost Healer'
- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Kiva (lead, female, 18-25)
--- General Graeme (supporting, male, 40-55)
--- Rian (lead, male, 18-25)
- Average hourly rate: $31
- Casting locations: Cincinnati
- Learn more about the short film here

'Drive Inside'
- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Video Editor (crew)
--- Sound Designer (crew)
- Average hourly rate: not available
- Casting locations: Beachwood
- Learn more about the short film here

'Self-Defense'
- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Harley (other, 18-50)
--- Cody (lead, male, 10-14)
--- Henchwoman (other, female, 18-100)
- Average hourly rate: $25
- Casting locations: Columbus, Cleveland
- Learn more about the short film here

'American Nightmare'
- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Marshal DeMore (supporting, male, 40-70)
--- Lila (supporting, female, 18-32)
- Average hourly rate: $18
- Casting locations: Columbus
- Learn more about the feature film here

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - First Amendment rights are under a microscope after Ohio State University police arrested two students Tuesday, detained three more Thursday morning, then arrested three dozen pro-Palestine protesters Thursday night.

"The First Amendment rules apply to state and federal governments. The Ohio State University is a state university and therefore is subject to the First Amendment," explained Constitutional law professor Dan Kobil of Capital University.

Kobil has taught "Con Law" at Capital for 37 years.

"Most speech is protected. So, does it matter if someone is saying Palestine should be destroyed or Israel should be destroyed? That kind of speech is protected by the First Amendment as long as someone is not advocating imminent, unlawful conduct," he explained of how the First Amendment applies to protests.

He added, "Speech that angers people is typically protected. Speech that is going to directly harm another physically is not."

Thursday night's protest was peaceful in nature and according to Kobil's assessment did not violate the First Amendment based off of what was being said by protesters.

However, there are restrictions of "time, place, and manner" that may require or allow for a governing body like Ohio State University to intervene.

"A time place or manner restriction says you can only speak within certain hours. It means that you can only speak within certain areas or it means you can only speak in a certain way, a certain. You can't use a bullhorn. That would be a manner restriction," Kobil explained.

Thursday's arrests were made by university police alongside Ohio State Highway Patrol on the basis of 'criminal trespass.' The Ohio State "university space" rules allow for police intervention when those rules are being broken. The rules do not allow "encampment" on school grounds. The protesters Thursday night had set up at least five tents and were planning to remain on the grounds until "mass arrests" forced them off, according to one protester.

"If this is an even-handed policy that would be described typically in the courts as something that's called reasonably a 'time, place, and manner' restriction," explained Kobil.

"When the university says we're not going to allow you to camp out overnight, that would seem to be a regulation of conduct. Unless they have allowed others to do it with whom they agree," Kobil added.

Protesters Thursday evening formed a circle around the "encampment" and locked arms in an attempt to prevent the police from gaining entry. Protesters also gave instructions to the crowd to "surround police arresting someone and lock arms so they must let them free. "That's when the arrests became forceful. 

Kobil explained. "They have a duty to obey a lawful order, orders of police officers and not to interfere with them doing their job."

NBC4 reached out to the ACLU of Ohio for an interview in regard to the First Amendment rights of protesters and the actions of Ohio State University police. They sent a statement that reads:
      “Institutions of higher learning – whether public or private – ought to be strong defenders of free speech. It is incumbent on the OSU administration to ensure that its students’ First Amendment free speech rights are zealously protected on campus. Universities have a long-standing tradition of student advocacy, where viewpoints are tested, and debate is encouraged.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A person is in critical condition after a shooting in northeast Columbus Friday night.

According to Columbus Police dispatchers, police were called to the 1800 block of Schrock Road around 8:12 p.m. on reports of a shooting. One person was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital in critical condition.

Police say there is no suspect information at this time.

DETROIT (WCMH) -- A second Buckeye has come off the board at the NFL draft in Detroit following the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. in the opening round.

Defensive tackle Michael Hall, Jr. was taken in the second round by the Cleveland Browns as the 54th overall pick.

The 6-2 junior from Streetsboro, Ohio played three seasons with Ohio State, making 11 starts and appearing in a total of 28 games. Hall recorded 45 career tackles with ten tackles for losses totaling 64 yards. His 24 tackles last season earned him a spot on the all-Big Ten third-team. He's also credited with six quarterback sacks.

Hall's preparations for the NFL draft were hampered by a hamstring injury, which prevented him from doing drills during Ohio State's pro day workouts.

"Some teams say I'm undersized, or some teams I'd say I'm just right. But I feel like the biggest thing to me is just that's how I separate myself, just my explosiveness and just how I get off the ball," Hall said in March.

The NFL draft continues thru Saturday in downtown Detroit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Capital City Half & Quarter Marathon will take place Downtown on Saturday morning.

Many athletes’ goals are to get their best times, but for one OhioHealth employee, just being a part of the race is an achievement in itself. In 2022, Katie Foster was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her second child. Two weeks after delivering her son, she began chemotherapy.

“It was very hard having a one-and-a-half year old and a newborn. I felt like I wasn’t fully there for them,” said Katie Foster, OhioHealth physician assistant.

During chemotherapy, she was introduced to scalp cooling therapy. It includes wearing a cold cap during treatments to keep your hair.

“Cold capping is a way to have control in a situation that is so out of your control. It was a way for me to take back some of what was going to be taken from me,” Foster said.

Last July, she completed her final round of chemotherapy. To celebrate her strength, Foster is running a quarter marathon.

“My body just went through so much this last year and a half. Running six-and-a-half miles is not painless but now I get to put my body through something that’s my own choice,” Foster said.

This is also an opportunity for her to give back. A portion of each race registration will go to the OhioHealth Foundation. It provides patients with the same scalp therapy that Foster got.

“They pay for about two thirds of it for patients so I benefited from that myself," Foster said. "So, when I saw that this is what the race was benefitting, I just knew that I had to get involved because how cool is that to be able to be on this side of things."

Foster will be running with her coworkers and family right beside her.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Authorities are investigating after a gunshot wound victim was found dead in southeast Columbus on Thursday.

Investigators responded to Noe Bixby Road and Carbondale Drive at 2:22 p.m. on Thursday after report of a suspicious death, according to the Columbus Division of Police. A female victim, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy performed on Friday determined the victim was killed by a gunshot wound.

Investigators are working to identify the victim and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4730.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- From day one of the Blue Jackets, Aaron Portzline has been there writing and reporting: first with the Columbus Dispatch and for the past six years as part of The Athletic.

So as a hockey writer, Porty, as he’s affectionately called, has seen plenty of fights in those 23 seasons; but this season, he’s been in his own fight battling kidney failure.

“My mom has had a kidney transplant, my brother has had a kidney transplant so I’m familiar with the process,” Porty said and then shared he’s been getting dialysis multiple times a week since August.

“So I’ve been going in at 5 a.m. to get out of the chair by 9, because the Blue Jackets are on the ice at 10, 10:30,” he said with a chuckle.

In October, Porty put a post on social media that began with four simple words: “I am not well.” He then went on to tell the chapter of his story that he was in kidney failure and he quickly turned the page and the focus away from himself and towards others.

“I’ve always been trained to not be the story and so we've tried to keep this toward encouraging people to donate,” he said. “It's one of the few things we agree on right now in society is that organ donation is a good thing but you have to express that. It has to be on your driver’s license, in your will: some way that makes it known."

The outpouring of support was immediate and immense. Porty said he was fortunate to have may friends step up and go through the process to see if they could be his donor. A couple even made it to the final testing stage; but then, sadly, were ruled out.

"I was kind of in a dark place after I heard,” Portzline said, “because dialysis is not fun."

The thing is, Porty had no idea that someone he saw every day behind the scenes with the Blue Jackets was also working behind the scenes in the donor testing process.

Lindy Noel with the Blue Jackets communications team had been one of many to see Porty’s social media post and she responded by writing, “Porty, I'm so sorry to read this. I will do whatever I can to help. Your CBJ family is here for you!”

That help began with filling out the donation questionnaire.

“I lost my father in 2018 to cancer,” Lindy explained through tears. “There was no donation that could save his life. So this felt like something I could do to make a difference in someone else's life."

A questionnaire led to lab work which then led to tests, and in March, Lindy got the news: She was a match for Aaron Portzline.

Lindy knew she wanted to have a video of her telling Porty the good news, so a few weeks later, she invited Porty to Nationwide Arena under the guise of an interview about organ donation and the support he’s received from the 5th Line.

In the interview, Porty said, "There is a match. I don't know who the match is. I'm hoping to find out sometime this week."

Lindy replied, “I'm glad that you mentioned that you don't know who the donor is, because that's actually the real reason why you're here.”

“I wondered if there was something afoot,” Portzline said with a wry smile.

Lindy paused, smiled, and said, “I am your donor.”

"No way. No way!" Porty exclaimed as he reached for and grabbed Lindy’s hand.

And for a man who works in words, Porty found himself without many.

"I think our language is limited. It doesn't seem like 'thank you' is enough,” he shared with NBC4 the day before the surgery sitting next to Lindy. “This team has always sort of transcended wins and losses is what I would say."

"It's doing what I would hope someone else would do for me,” Lindy said. "The sense of family the hockey community has -- Porty is family. He may write for The Athletic, and he can write some nasty things about the team if he wants to!"

“Critiques!” Porty said with a laugh.

"He can write some critiques if he wants to,” Lindy said with a smile and eyeroll, “But that doesn't change the fact that he's family."

Lindy’s family lives in Illinois, but since coming to Columbus three years ago to join the Blue Jackets team she has made another family with her fiancée, Chris, and now with the Portzlines – who will absolutely be at the wedding in June 2025.

"I keep thinking what's the appropriate wedding gift for someone who gave you a kidney?” Porty said. “It's not on any registry anywhere! Thanks to you and thanks to everybody who is willing to do this. It's incredible. It's a lifesaver."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A pro-Palestine encampment at the Ohio State University the led to three dozen arrests comes after state lawmakers passed a bill in 2022 aimed at protecting free speech on college campuses.

Senate Bill 135 passed "to ensure that our campuses and school districts are not only beacons of free speech and individual expression but that the focus is on critical thinking skills to ensure students can thoughtfully develop their own opinions and make their own decisions," Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said of the bill in June 2021.

The law states that, in addition to complying with other laws regarding the regulation of free speech on campuses, each state institution must adopt a policy that affirms several free speech principles.

"Although a state institution should greatly value civility and mutual respect, concerns about civility and respect must not be used by an institution as a justification for closing off the discussion of ideas, however offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical, or wrong-headed those ideas may be to some students or faculty," the bill states.

Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) said she was at Thursday’s protest, and argues the arrests were out of line with the law.

"The right to free speech applies to everyone, even if you don’t like them," she said. "The hypocrisy is very laughable and it’s a detriment to the people of Ohio and to our students.”"

However, lawmakers like Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) have pushed back against the protesters on social media, writing that student violated campus rules like camping on the South Oval. Still, Abdullahi said she thinks the encampment is being unjustly enforced.

"Of course, OSU has the right to enact whatever policies they want to but inherently I think it's unfair and discriminatory to these students," she said.

Stewart cited time, place, and manner restrictions, which he said, “are as old as the first amendment itself.” The state does allow institutions to impose measures and guidelines about where and when protests can occur.

"I don’t see that argument being made when there are certain other protestors on campus and the South Oval is a public community space designated for protesting. It has been that way historically” Abdullahi said. “It is very important for us to allow [students] to have that space. A safe space for them to speak up, a safe space for them to share their ideas.”

The law has five other guidelines for when public universities can enact their own rules, aside from "time, place, and manner." Those other provisions include one that says that free speech “must not be construed to grant students the right to disrupt previously scheduled or reserved activities occurring in a traditional public forum.”

Abdullahi said right now she does not see the need for legislative action.

NBC4 reached out to several Republican lawmakers for an interview, as well as the Speaker of the House and the Senate President for a statement. They said they have no comment at this time. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Prevent Blindness Ohio has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. That’s because 112 million more women than men are living with vision loss and blindness.

Amy Pulles, the president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio, said women are more affected by eye issues for a few reasons.

“Women live longer, then allowing them the opportunity for aging eye diseases to impact them more severely, as well as hormonal changes that women as they age, as well as during pregnancy,” said Pulles.

Aging eye diseases that are common among women include cataracts, glaucoma, thyroid eye disease and dry eyes. On top of being painful and uncomfortable, you may not realize that dry eyes can also lead to eye ulcers that cause vision loss.

And as you age, you may notice it’s harder to see thighs close up.

“That tends to go starting at around age 40 so again being mindful of that and telling your eye doctor when you start having trouble seeing up close because that can be corrected with lenses,” said Pulles.

The best way to prevent any of these issues is regular visits to the eye doctor.

“Regardless of whether or not you are experiencing any symptoms or not, you really want to make sure that you are getting a regular eye exam because those aging eye diseases will impact your eyes and cause permanent vision loss before you even realize you are experiencing vision loss,” said Pulles.

How often you visit the eye doctor depends on your age, family history and other health conditions and Pulles said you should ask your doctor about what will work best for you.

People who do not have insurance and meet the current 200 percent federal poverty guidelines qualify for Ohio’s Vision Care Outreach program.

High pressure will slide to the East Coast, prompting a return flow of milder southerly winds. Temperatures rebounded to 70 degrees this afternoon, with some high clouds arriving from the southwest.

A warm front will lift north across the region tonight, bringing some widely scattered showers and a possible rumble of thunder. Temperatures will be considerably milder, only dropping to the upper 50s by morning.

The weekend will bring a mix of clouds and a fair amount of sunshine, with a small chance for a stray shower or storm across the northwestern part of the state. Temperatures will continue to warm, reaching the upper 70s Saturday afternoon and low 80s on Sunday.

A storm coming out of central Plains, where thunderstorms will be focused this weekend and across the Midwest, will reach the Upper Midwest Monday, introducing a greater chance for showers and storms later on Monday, ending early Tuesday with the passage of a cold front and seasonably cool air. A showers could develop Wednesday and Thursday in an unstable air mass.

• Friday: Partly cloudy, milder. High 74
• Tonight: Scattered showers, mostly cloudy. Low 59
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, breezy, scattered showers/storm. High 76
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, warm. High 83 (62)
• Monday: Some sun, late day shower, storm. High 84 (63)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, few showers. High 77 (64)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, pop-shower, storm. High 79 (58)
• Thursday: Partly sunny, shower or storm possible. High 76 (59)

See an earlier report on Jason Dawson in the player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A former girls basketball coach at Worthington Christian was told to stay away from the school as part of the conditions for him to be released from jail.

Jason Dawson, 35, faces 10 felony charges of sexual battery related to sexual contact with two underage girls in 2020 and '21. After being extradited from North Carolina, where he has lived since 2022, he was scheduled to face a judge Friday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Instead, Dawson did not appear in court, with him on "safety watch." A judge ordered bonds totaling $105,000 and for Dawson to stay away from victims and witnesses, in addition to the school, which has campuses in Worthington and Westerville.

One victim said she and Dawson engaged in sexual activity about 100 times, according to court records, including instances that were recorded. The second victim said she and Dawson engaged in activity while at school.

Court records showed that Dawson posted his bonds. A follow-up court date was not immediately available.

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) – A Jewish organization is demanding the president of Hilliard City Council step down after the council passed a resolution calling for a “mutual end to hostilities in Gaza” on the first day of Passover. 

The Jewish Community Relations Council is calling for the resignation of Cynthia Vermillion and an apology from the council after it said the religious observance was disregarded and the city sent the message that Jewish voices are “unwelcome in city government.”

On Monday night, Hilliard City Council passed a resolution 4-2, with one abstention, calling for "an immediate, sustained and mutual end to hostilities in Gaza, the release of hostages and detainees, and the urgent expansion of humanitarian assistance."

During council discussion, Vermillion apologized for the group taking so long to pass a resolution, coming after weeks of community comment.

"I know we're not going to affect Washington, D.C., policy, but at least they can note that many communities throughout the country are calling for an end to these hostilities, these horrific hostilities," she said.

The resolution read that council "reaffirms its commitment to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli bigotry." But before the meeting, the Jewish Community Relations Council said Vermillion was warned by the city attorney and manager to not vote on it that night, which marked the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover.

“Despite objections from Council Members Peggy Hale and Les Carrier, as well as City Manager Michelle Crandall and her staff, who clearly articulated that such action on the first night of Passover was wholly inappropriate, the decision was championed by City Council President Cynthia Vermillion,” a statement from the Jewish council read. 

The group said Vermillion was told she would be "intentionally excluding" Jewish voices who would be unavailable to speak that night.

“The deliberate timing of this resolution on such a sacred night as the first night of Passover constitutes a blatant act of antisemitism,” the organization said in a statement. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio State University police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested three dozen people Thursday night for staging a pro-Palestine encampment on campus – carrying out what is likely the highest number of protest-related arrests there since the Vietnam War. 

After hours of peaceful protest on the South Oval behind the Ohio Union, dozens of officers clad in riot gear descended on the crowd, handcuffing protesters and carrying them to Franklin County sheriff’s buses parked nearby. Several protesters were arrested earlier in the day for pitching tents on campus, but police watched for hours – occasionally issuing threats of arrest – when hundreds of protesters returned in the evening.

The protesters, led by student activist groups, staged the encampment as both a solidarity measure with other pro-Palestinian campus encampments across the country and as a call on the university to disclose – and divest – its investments in Israeli companies amid Israel’s war in Gaza. Ohio State has repeatedly said state law prevents it from divesting in Israeli assets and has declined to disclose its level of investments. 

Both Ohio State police and President Ted Carter requested the state patrol’s assistance Thursday night, university spokesperson Ben Johnson said. University police had been coordinating with state police before Carter requested the reinforcements.

Since Tuesday, about 40 people, including students and faculty, have been arrested on Ohio State’s campus while participating in pro-Palestine protests. Ohio State has cited rules prohibiting camping, overnight events, and disruption to university business as reasons for the arrests. The university released a statement shortly after midnight saying that protesters “exercised their First Amendment rights for several hours” before being told to leave. 

“Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass,” the statement read. “Arrests are not an action that we take lightly, and we appreciate the support of all of our law enforcement partners to disperse the encampment for the safety of our university community. We have always, and always will, take the action that is in the best interest of our community.”

Thirty-six people -- including 16 students -- were charged related to the Thursday night protest, Johnson confirmed Friday afternoon. Franklin County Municipal Court personnel said they will be released without needing to post bail and arraigned in the coming days.

Between chants to “Free Palestine” and demands that Ohio State divest from Israeli assets, many protesters took to the middle of the group to pray. Videos from reporters and protest attendees showed officers close in on the crowd, struggling to break through layers of protesters to get to rip apart the tents in the middle.

Saphia Abdelsalam is an Ohio State student whose family is in Gaza. She told NBC4 that the protest was peaceful and did not warrant the level of law enforcement response.

“We just wanted to be peaceful and stand our ground, and then they made it not peaceful,” Abdelsalam said. “They started attacking and started arresting.”

As Johnson acknowledged on behalf of the university on Wednesday, protests happen regularly at Ohio State. He said protests happening amid finals and close to academic spaces are treated differently than other protests on campus.

But Jill Galvan, an associate professor of English at Ohio State, said it was shocking all the same to see protesters arrested on university grounds.

“I've been here for a very long time,” Galvan said. “This is more horrifying than anything I've ever seen here."

A handful of protesters have been arrested on Ohio State’s campus in recent decades, according to an archival review of The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, and other university publications. But the last time protesters were arrested en masse appears to have happened more than 50 years ago.

In 1968, about two dozen anti-Vietnam War protesters were arrested at two on-campus Navy recruitment events days apart. Nearly all were charged with criminal trespass. 

After the arrests, then-President Novice Fawcett released a statement that said the police action was appropriate and in line with university policy.

“Numerous times during the past year the University has announced that whereas peaceful and orderly demonstrating on the campus would be permitted, under no circumstances would interference with the operation of the University be tolerated,” Fawcett’s statement read, according to a March 1968 edition of Ohio State University Monthly magazine.

Bern Anderson was a graduate student in philosophy when he and 10 others were arrested for protesting military recruiters in Hitchcock Hall. In May 1968, he told The Lantern the arrests were “A clear-cut case of the University acting in bad faith.”

“An Administration which claims to be sensitive to the needs and desires of the students and then cries student irresponsibility after students protest is not setting a good example and does not speak well for future student-administration relations,” Anderson said.