Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to rise tremendously in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.
The typical home value in the United States was $358,461 in December, 2.6% higher than the year before.
High mortgage rates also make monthly payments more expensive; as of January 16, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at 7.04%.
Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., some cities command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition contribute to home value.
Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in Ohio using data from Zillow. The Zillow Home Values Index ranks cities for all homes as of December 2024. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib.
Metros with the most cities in the top 30 in Ohio
#1. Columbus, OH: 11
#2. Cleveland-Elyria, OH: 8
#3. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: 7
#4. Akron, OH: 3
#5. Dayton-Kettering, OH: 1
- Typical home value: $481,686
- 1-year price change: +6.3%
- 5-year price change: +46.9%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $483,845
- 1-year price change: +4.4%
- 5-year price change: +47.3%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $483,920
- 1-year price change: +3.5%
- 5-year price change: +36.2%
- Metro area: Akron, OH
- Typical home value: $488,866
- 1-year price change: +4.8%
- 5-year price change: +43.2%
- Metro area: Akron, OH
- Typical home value: $489,255
- 1-year price change: +4.2%
- 5-year price change: +38.3%
- Metro area: Dayton-Kettering, OH
- Typical home value: $491,574
- 1-year price change: +3.9%
- 5-year price change: +53.8%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $498,355
- 1-year price change: +4.6%
- 5-year price change: +43.2%
- Metro area: Akron, OH
- Typical home value: $499,625
- 1-year price change: +2.2%
- 5-year price change: +28.1%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $501,954
- 1-year price change: +4.2%
- 5-year price change: +45.3%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $509,187
- 1-year price change: +6.3%
- 5-year price change: +39.5%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $521,020
- 1-year price change: +3.5%
- 5-year price change: +46.2%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $534,977
- 1-year price change: +5.8%
- 5-year price change: +55.0%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $537,907
- 1-year price change: +4.6%
- 5-year price change: +48.8%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $541,235
- 1-year price change: +4.1%
- 5-year price change: +39.9%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $543,450
- 1-year price change: +3.2%
- 5-year price change: +43.3%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $545,542
- 1-year price change: +4.8%
- 5-year price change: +44.5%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $590,969
- 1-year price change: +3.8%
- 5-year price change: +42.6%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $595,568
- 1-year price change: +5.3%
- 5-year price change: +52.8%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $602,757
- 1-year price change: +4.3%
- 5-year price change: +47.0%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $612,268
- 1-year price change: +7.3%
- 5-year price change: +47.3%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $640,555
- 1-year price change: +6.7%
- 5-year price change: +41.7%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $653,437
- 1-year price change: +6.9%
- 5-year price change: +47.2%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $696,850
- 1-year price change: +5.8%
- 5-year price change: +45.1%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Typical home value: $709,502
- 1-year price change: +6.2%
- 5-year price change: +42.2%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $730,095
- 1-year price change: +7.1%
- 5-year price change: +40.3%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $747,298
- 1-year price change: +7.5%
- 5-year price change: +49.7%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $753,057
- 1-year price change: +1.8%
- 5-year price change: +33.5%
- Metro area: Columbus, OH
- Typical home value: $797,655
- 1-year price change: +5.5%
- 5-year price change: +40.5%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $1,520,101
- 1-year price change: +10.1%
- 5-year price change: +41.8%
- Metro area: Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Typical home value: $1,527,693
- 1-year price change: +7.1%
- 5-year price change: +53.9%
- Metro area: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man with a history of theft charges and who has been previously banned from all Walmart retail locations was arrested on theft charges related to an incident at a West Side Walmart.
According to court documents, police responded to reports of a theft issued by a Walmart asset protection official at the Georgesville Road location, just off Interstate 270. Police said that on Jan. 14, 33-year-old Seth Stires took two duffle bags and stuffed them with additional merchandise.
Columbus landlord sued after tenants left without heat amid deep freezeStires then allegedly carried the full bags out of the rear fire exit without paying. Police said the value of the bags was $34.95, though it was not known the value of the items inside the bags.
An investigation revealed that Stires had been issued a formal trespass notice on Dec. 10, 2023. The notice, which Stires signed and acknowledged, stipulates that he is banned from all Walmart retail locations.
In addition, Stires has been previously charged in several other related crimes in Franklin County Municipal Court. Those charges include, but are not limited to, theft and criminal mischief at a Dublin Kroger in May 2024, theft at a Hilltop Dollar General in Jan. 2024, falsification at a Hilltop UDF in November 2017, receiving stolen property at a Holly Hill residence in August 2017, aggravated menacing at a Hilltop residence in May 2016 and theft at the previously mentioned Walmart in June 2015.
Stires was arrested on Wednesday and the case was dismissed Thursday in municipal court but could be picked up in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where Stires also has a lengthy history.
Cases there include guilty pleas for receiving stolen property (2010), attempted theft (2010), receiving stolen property and burglary (2017), assault (2024), and theft and vandalism in 2024.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A month of amazing memories for the Ohio State football team and its fans culminates on Sunday afternoon with a celebration.
And you can watch it here on NBC4i.com.
The Buckeyes ran through the first 12-team College Football Playoff, with a December home win over Tennessee, revenge against No. 1 Oregon, Jack Sawyer's 83-yard touchdown return after a sack against Texas, and Jeremiah Smith's 56-yard fourth-quarter catch against Notre Dame. On Monday night, the Buckeyes became national champions for the first time since 2014, when the first four-team playoff was staged.
The celebrating began immediately after the game, both on the field in Atlanta and back in Columbus at Ohio Stadium, where fans gained access and stormed the field.
Which Ohio State players from the title-winning roster are returningFans are being allowed back in on Sunday, this time for a rally. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m., with the event beginning at noon. Coach Ryan Day will speak, joined by several players. Also scheduled to speak are Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Ohio State President Ted Carter.
If you don't go in person, NBC4 will offer a two-hour special starting at noon that will include the rally. It will be broadcast on air and streamed live on NBC4i.com. You can watch in the video player above.
WATCH: Fans line up early to celebrate with the BuckeyesIn addition to the rally, the special will also include an analysis of the season and a lookahead to 2025. Hosting it will be NBC4 anchors Kerry Charles and Colleen Marshall, joined by sports director Joe Nugent, anchor Jerod Smalley and others.
The rally is open to the public, with Storm Team 4 saying temperatures should run in the upper 20s and low 30s under a cloudy sky. Ohio State opened several lots starting at 8 a.m. for free parking, including around the stadium, Value City Arena and St. John Arena.
ETNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- Since he was elected in November 2021, Etna Township trustee Mark Evans has had a tumultuous tenure.
Evans said he has had threatening notes left on his truck, had people swerve their vehicles toward him and had people dig through his trash. He was recently granted a civil protective order against the live-in boyfriend of Etna Township's fiscal officer after the boyfriend allegedly said, "I want to ------- jump him, kill him," a threat caught on camera during a livestream of a public meeting.
Evans said it stems from a small group of people who want power in Etna Township, including the town's fiscal officer. The township is led by three trustees, and Evans believes people are aiming to take his seat, especially as he is up for reelection this year. Although leading the community of some 19,000 people may be reward enough, Evans thinks the infighting comes from the development affecting many parts of Licking County.
"There's a lot going on, and there's hundreds of millions, if not a billion dollars of development at stake," Evans said.
Etna Township is south of much of the tech development in Licking County, but it is not immune. One of 25 county townships, it straddles the Interstate 70 and U.S. 40 corridors from the county line to just west of Kirkersville. It has become an anchor for large distribution centers, with brands like Kohl's, FedEx and Amazon constructing and operating large-scale warehouses there. See previous coverage of Amazon's facilities in the video player above.
But infighting among township employees could stall opportunities for development, and contention has been plentiful from all parties. Evans himself is no bystander; he was cited in two court cases that required Etna Township to pay more than $100,000 collectively to former city employee Nita Hanson.
Hanson quit her role as town administrator in January 2024, citing a hostile work environment and personal attacks from Evans. According to Licking County court documents, Hanson alleged Evans spoke publicly about firing her, posted derogatory comments toward her on Facebook, created unnecessary busy work for her and accused her and other township officials of lying.
In March, the city agreed to a $80,000 payment to Hanson, with $40,000 coming from the city and the remaining $40,000 covered by insurance. According to trustee meeting minutes, Evans maintained he did not harass her; however, a Licking County judge thought her claims were substantial enough to grant her relief in another case months later.
The second case saw the Board of Trustees sue the Etna Board of Zoning Appeals over a zoning variance that allowed for a billboard to appear closer to a road and nearby homes. A judge dismissed case because the trustees failed to file paperwork and the judge suspected the case may have had ulterior motives.
The case named only the Board of Zoning Appeals and 8900 National Road as appellees but not Richard Kennedy, who was the applicant behind the zoning variance. Although Kennedy later moved to join the case, a Licking County judge said they believed the lawsuit intended to hurt Hanson, who owns 8900 National Road. The court concluded the lawsuit was only intended to harass Hanson, and the city was ordered to pay $27,000 in court fees.
Now, Etna officials are sparring over four unauthorized log-ins into the Etna Township bank account. According to an incident report from the Licking County Sheriff, all four log-ins occurred on Nov. 1 through a username connected to the previous city financial officer, Julie Varian. The current fiscal officer, Jacqueline Cotugno, reported the incident and said she believed Evans, not the previous officer, improperly accessed the account.
Cotugno said she was suspicious of Evans because of an email he sent her asking about Varian's credentials. Evans said he has proof through photos he was not the one who logged in and said Varian told board of trustees President Gary Burkholder she was the one who accessed the report, which Burkholder denies.
As it stands, no funds appear to be missing from the account. After Evans voted against an investigation, saying it was unnecessary, Burkholder said at a trustee meeting that he has been working with the township administrator to look into the incident further.
Online, at-odds Facebook groups back different township politicians, but many township residents comment that they are simply tired of the drama. One resident wrote: "I am so sick of watching this I could puke. Ineffective people were elected and need to be removed. Please remember all this nastiness and unprofessionalism come time to vote."
The next board of trustees meeting will be on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.
Buckeye Nation has had a lot to celebrate this season. It will all come to a head Sunday as fans gather for a championship rally at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State police are expecting fans to come out in large numbers for the team's first stadium appearance as national champions. Ohio State freshman Owen Finkler said he's also expecting a good turnout.
"The campus has been hopping since we won, so I'm expecting people to be very excited," Owen said. "I'm expecting a good turnout, there's a lot of not even just students, a lot of Buckeye fans around Columbus. There's Buckeye fans everywhere. It's great to see, so I expect a good time."
Wyatt Fleming said he wouldn't miss it for the world. "I know it's cold out but that's not going to stop us," Fleming said. We're going to be there and we're going to bring the energy."
Buckeye fan and Ohio State freshman, Caleb Finkler said he's anticipating an electric atmosphere. "You gotta be there and celebrate the big moment," Caleb said.
According to Ohio State Police Chief Dennis Jeffrey, they're treating the championship celebration much like a football game.
"We have traffic control," Chief Jeffrey said. "All of those free parking, we still have officers directing traffic. We have individuals in the stadium. We are utilizing our camera system. So, many of the things we typically do to kind of monitor the situation will be in play."
Chief Jeffrey said while it's not a ticketed event, fans will still need to walk through metal detectors for entry. Ohio Stadium's no bag policy will also remain in place.
"What we don't want is people to come and then have to go back to their car with items they can't bring into the stadium, so really just bringing as little as possible is probably the best policy," Chief Jeffrey said.
When the football team last won the national championship in 2015, a similar celebration was held at the Shoe. Chief Jeffrey said that event played a role in this year's security planning.
"We've married a lot of those things and added a few things too," Chief Jeffrey said. "Really, we're looking at traffic. We always want to get folks in and out in the best way possible, but we always ask for patience."
Chief Jeffrey said they'll be well-staffed with officers inside and outside Ohio Stadium. They'll also have help from other local agencies. "We just want folks to act accordingly, be good fans and enjoy really celebrating the team," Chief Jeffrey said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio colleges and universities received $7.5 million collectively, and universities are preparing to use the funds to improve campus safety.
“One of the things that is kind of missing in the campus safety space is funding for physical security enhancements and really looking at physical security improvements for our schools,” Emily Torok, executive director of Ohio School Safety Center, said.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced 28 schools will receive funding as part of Ohio’s Campus Safety Grant program. Ohio State received $257,000, which will be dispersed across all six campuses. At the main campus, OSU plans on trying something new.
Central Ohio student sues PowerSchool over data breach“A drone will be one of those and that will help us both on and off campus here in Columbus to respond to crime more in real time,” said Monica Moll, associate vice president for public safety at Ohio State.
Moll said the university already has a drone for indoor use, but this will be its first outdoor drone. She said they have been looking at different vendors and haven’t yet set a date for the debut of this technology.
Moll said OSU will also invest in smaller upgrades across regional campuses.
“We have classroom locks, surveillance cameras and those types of security enhancements that we're going to be using that grant for,” Moll said.
The Ohio School Safety Center is tasked with deciding which schools get funding. Each school that applied had to undergo a security and vulnerability assessment.
Ohio lawmakers discuss immigration following Trump executive order“They have to look at what crimes have occurred on and off their campuses and any sort of threats that they've received and how they've handled them,” said Torok.
She said the most popular request this year was access control.
“Public campuses are hard to lock down, if you think about it. I mean, if you've ever been to you could probably walk into a lot of the places. So that's a big focus for this year, is really making sure that the people that are on the campus are supposed to be there,” Torok said.
She said while requests are now closed for these grants, the Ohio School Safety Center offers free security assessments to campuses year round.
Other schools receiving funding include:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One person was critically injured Saturday afternoon in what Columbus police are calling an accidental shooting on the city's West Side.
Officers were called to the 1000 block of Sullivant Avenue just after 3:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
Police say an investigation determined the shooting was a result of a self-inflicted, accidental discharge of the gun.
The Senate on Saturday approved the nomination of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), putting her at the center of an administration focused heavily on immigration.
The 59-34 vote to confirm Noem capped off a relatively smooth process even as other nominees face more intense scrutiny.
Six Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm Noem: Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Andy Kim (N.J.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Elissa Slotkin (Mich.).
Noem will lead one of the most sprawling agencies in government and one of particular importance in a Trump administration determined to crack down on immigration.
During his first week in office, President Trump signed a number of orders on immigration, taking steps to militarize the border and crack down on many legal pathways for immigrating to the U.S.
That included suspending refugee admissions and working to limit asylum — another pathway for those fleeing danger and persecution.
He also sought to end birthright citizenship for children not born to U.S. citizens. While the order would apply to children of those unlawfully present, it could also impact those born to non-immigrant visas, such as those legally in the U.S. on work visas. It has already been challenged in court.
The nomination is a major win for Noem, a four-term congresswoman with little national security experience but who had been vocal on border issues as governor, sending the South Dakota National Guard to the southern border. She is slated to work closely with Tom Homan, who Trump tapped as his border czar.
It also solidifies her standing in MAGA circles after chatter about her serving as a potential running mate to Trump faltered amid the release of her book, in which she wrote about shooting a young dog she described as untrainable.
Noem earned the backing of those on both sides of the aisle despite the role she will play in a controversial policy area.
“Kristi brings experience and commitment to her new role,” Senate Majority John Thune (R-S.D.) said on the Senate floor on Friday. “One of the biggest challenges facing the Department of Homeland Security right now is securing our nation’s border. Four years of record breaking illegal immigration at our southern border has left our country vulnerable to a whole host of security concerns.”
“Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities, and it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security,” Thune continued. “I believe Kristi has everything it takes to undertake this task.”
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the top Democrat of the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee, said he was willing to back Noem due to her commitment to handling issues on a bipartisan basis.
“During her confirmation hearing, I pressed Governor Noem to set aside partisan ideologies and to follow the facts when it comes to the threats our communities face – whether we’re talking about securing our borders, foreign and domestic terrorism, or even increasingly devastating natural disasters,” he said in a statement when Noem advanced out of committee.
“Given her openness to working on a bipartisan basis to address these and other threats to our homeland security, I voted to advance her nomination out of committee and send it to the Senate floor for consideration.”
The South Dakota governor was on track for a bipartisan confirmation after the panel approved her in a 13-2 tally on Monday.
Noem’s role will not just be limited to immigration. She will also oversee the numerous national security functions DHS controls, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and DHS’s Office of Intelligence Analysis.
DHS also oversees the Secret Service, which has come under increasing scrutiny following two attempts on Trump’s life.
The department also plays a key role in responding to cyberattacks through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Trump has also recently spoken about siphoning off another key DHS agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has come under fire as it has responded to a series of back-to-back natural disasters.
The confirmation marks the fourth national security nominee the Senate has green-lighted in Trump’s first week. The upper chamber unanimously and quickly approved Marco Rubio to lead the State Department before Democrats forced Republicans to run out the clock in order to confirm John Ratcliffe and Pete Hegseth to lead the CIA and Pentagon, respectively.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Three defendants identified in connection to multiple cocaine conspiracy cases, including a trafficking organization leader, were sentenced in federal court.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, lead defendant Herminio Gonzalez-Quintana was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that shipped tens of kilograms of cocaine into Columbus from Puerto Rico.
Gonzalez-Quintana, along with several coconspirators, was indicted in November 2023 and charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute bulk amounts of cocaine. The U.S. District Court handed down its sentence last week.
Incoming Ohio law to raise penalties for driving under the influenceCourt documents state that the Drug Enforcement Agency began investigating the organization in 2021, when large volumes of cocaine were transported into Ohio. The defendants sourced cocaine through Puerto Rico and shipped the drugs in two- or three-kilogram increments via the postal service and into the Columbus area.
The shipments were received at the homes of friends or family members, who were using fictitious recipient names. The coconspirators then redistributed the cocaine from central Ohio. In total, nearly 20 kilograms of cocaine was seized from the organization.
Two others were sentenced last week, including Josaias Vazques-Pinero, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison, and Anthony Miranda-Gonzalez, who received a one year and one day prison sentence. The three defendants were among eight total arrested, charged and convicted within the organization.
NameSentence Herminio Gonzalez-Quintana120 months in prisonAbdel Padilla-Montero108 months in prisonJosaias Vazquez-Pinero60 months in prisonJonathan Vega-Iglesias66 months in prisonJesus Maldonado-Ortiz60 months in prisonRafael Alicea-Ruiz60 months in prisonAnthony Miranda-Gonzalez12 months and one day in prisonPablo Joel Velazquez-TorruellaTime servedCOLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Police are searching for a car crash early Saturday morning that killed an 18-year-old.
Columbus police responded to a crash scene shortly after 2:30 a.m. on High Street after an unidentified driver drifted off the road into a snowbank, causing the 2015 Infinity Q50 they were driving to destabilize. Police said the Infinity left the road and struck a pole on the southwest corner of the intersection, tearing the right back door from the vehicle and causing the car to spin.
As it rotated, police said 18-year-old Vincent Baggatta was thrown from the vehicle into the road. He was transported to a nearby hospital where police said he was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m.
Police said two adults fled the scene and took themselves to receive medical treatment. The adult driver has yet to be identified, and police are not yet sure of why the car drifted. The crash took place near the intersection of High Street and Fornof Road.
The Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and is currently investigating. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 614-645-4767, or report information anonymously at 614-461-8477.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man accused of a fatal shooting in King-Lincoln Bronzeville and was arrested in Virginia has received his prison sentence.
Charles Calaway, who was accused in the death of Javon Tucker, has been sentenced to serve at least 25 years in prison. A Franklin County judge ruled that his maximum sentence could be as long as 30 years and six months. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm at a prohibited premises.
Officers found Tucker and another man shot near a Dollar Plus store on Mount Vernon Avenue on May 12, 2023. Tucker was pronounced dead at a hospital while the second victim was only grazed by a bullet, per police.
Girl, 4, shot dead while sleeping in home east of ColumbusAccording to court documents, Calaway and Davon Robinson were seen on video retrieving guns from Robinson’s vehicle and driving to the rear of a store, where they shot multiple times at Tucker and another man, who were leaving the store around 1:30 p.m. They crossed the street into a parking lot of an apartment complex on Atcheson Street, where a security camera showed Robinson firing a handgun from each hand.
Robinson was arrested five days after the shooting, and Calaway was arrested one month later in Norton, Virginia.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio’s film festival scene celebrates the art of cinema with events spanning every genre, style, and perspective.
From showcasing local talent to hosting international filmmakers, these festivals provide opportunities for creators to share their work and for audiences to immerse themselves in diverse storytelling. This guide highlights must-attend festivals across Ohio for film buffs and submission opportunities for filmmakers.
FEBRUARY
• Feb. 1-27
• Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival
• Location: 8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236
• Details: A diverse, inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming. Twelve in-person film showings and select companion special features. Four virtual film showings will have a 48-hour watch availability window.
• Feb. 20-25
• Cinema Revival: A Festival of Film Restoration
• Location: The Wex, 1871 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
• Details: Annual festival celebrating the art and practice of film restoration. Hear from experts working to revive historically overlooked films and filmmakers, meet visiting directors, and see newly restored classics and forgotten treasures.
Feb. 23 – March 2
• Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
• Location: Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square, 613116 Shaker Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44120
• Details: A short film-only film festival created by filmmakers.
• Submissions: Begin in September for 2026.
MARCH
March 6-8
• Over-The-Rhine International Film Festival
• Location: Various venues in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Details: Organized by leading disability services and advocacy organization LADD, the festival includes films that tell stories about communities whose voices are marginalized.
March 21-22
• Picture Lock
• Location: The Wex, 1871 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
• Details: Screenings of recent projects and works from the archive by filmmakers in the Wex's Film/Video Studio residency program.
March 21-23
• HorrorHound Film Fest
• Location: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
• Details: An award-winning weekend convention and international film festival hosted by the HorrorHound bi-monthly periodical.
March 27 – April 5
• Cleveland International Film Festival
• Location: Playhouse Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
• Details: CIFF49 will showcase hundreds of films, accompanying post-film Q&As, as well as audience and juried awards with more than $130,000 in cash prizes for feature and short films.
• Submissions: CIFF50 (2026) Call for Entries will open in July 2025.
APRIL
April 7-13
• Athens International Film + Video Festival
• Location: The Athena Cinema, 20 South Court Street, Athens, Ohio, 45701
• Details: A premier platform for showcasing international cinema for over 50 years.
• Submissions: Begin in August for 2026.
April 19
• Ohio Shorts
• Location: The Wex, 1871 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
• Details: Celebrate local and regional filmmaking with the center’s annual festival of Ohio-made short films. All entries are produced in the Buckeye State and span documentary, animation, dramatic narrative, and everything in between.
• Submissions: The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025.
April 26
• Columbus International Film and Animation Festival
• Location: Phoenix Theatres Lennox Town Center 24, 777 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212
• Details: The Columbus International Film & Animation Festival is the oldest film festival in the United States.
• Submissions: Open in April for 2026.
April 30 – May 4
• Cinema Columbus Film Festival
• Location: Various venues in Columbus, Ohio
• Details: The festival includes narrative feature films, documentary feature films, and short films.
• Submissions: Begin in August for 2026.
MAY
May 17
• Golden Lion Film Festival
• Location: Academy of Cinematic Arts, 6049 Yankee Rd., Liberty Township, Ohio 45044
• Details: Produced and directed by the Academy of Cinematic Arts, a Christian, arts/education nonprofit committed to helping students discover their stories with educational programming, competition, award recognition, social experiences, and a sense of community.
• Submissions: Entries for the 2025 Golden Lion Awards will be accepted until March 14, 2025, the late submission deadline is April 4, 2025, and includes a fee of $25.
May 22-25
• Columbus Moving Picture Show
• Location: Crowne Plaza North, 6500 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43229
• Details: Vintage 16 mm movies, including silent-era pictures, accompanied by live piano. Experts share their expertise before selected screenings.
TBA
• Hilliard Short Film Festival
• Location: Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center, 5235 Center Street, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
• Details: Celebrates independent filmmaking and showcases local film and film-makers.
• Submissions: TBA
JUNE
June 19-22
• International Horror Hotel Film Festival
• Location: Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport, 7230 Engle Rd., Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130
• Details: Annual competition for films, scripts and music videos in the following genres: fantasy, horror, horror-comedy, slasher, sci-fi, martial arts, lgbtq+ and suspense-thriller, and experimental, as well as a yearly horror film scoring competition.
• Submissions: For 2025, the regular deadline is March 5, 2025. The final/late deadline is April 1, 2025.
AUGUST
Aug. 15-17
• The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
• Location: Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport, 7230 Engle Rd., Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130
• Details: The weekend-long film festival is a gathering for filmmakers young, old, student, amateur, or professional.
• Submissions: For 2025, the regular deadline is May 10, 2025. The final/late deadline is June 6, 2025.
Aug. 25
• F3 Queen City Film Festival
• Location: RJ Cinema Distillery & Taproom, 4450 Eastgate South Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
• Details: A monthly film competition with a virtual audience award competition four times a year and annual in-person screenings in Cincinnati.
• Submissions: Check for details.
SEPTEMBER
• Sept. 4-14
• Cleveland Jewish FilmFest
• Location: Cedar Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
• Details: Eleven-day festival that brings the best of international Jewish and Israeli cinema to Northeast Ohio theaters.
• Submissions: The deadline for 2025 is May 31, 2025.
Sept. 10-14
• Cleveland Silent Film Festival
• Location: Various venues in Cleveland, Ohio
• Details: Showcases the best films of the silent era combined with the creative talents of noted specialists in silent film musical accompaniment.
Sept. 12-14
• HorrorHound Film Fest
• Location: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
• Details: An award-winning weekend convention and international film festival hosted by the HorrorHound bi-monthly periodical.
Sept. 18-20
• Cindependent Film Festival
• Location: Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
• Details: Three days of indie film programming, live screenplay readings, masterclasses, networking and parties.
• Submissions: Open, the early bird deadline is Feb. 28, 2025, and the extended deadline is June 30, 2025.
Sept. 18-26
• Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival
• Location: Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square, 13116 Shaker Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44120
• Details: A platform for independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors from the African Diaspora to showcase their talents to a diverse and enthusiastic audience in Greater Cleveland.
• Submissions: Opens Feb. 1, 2025, the late deadline is May 31, 2025.
Sept. 18, 25, Oct. 2
• Cleveland Italian Film Festival
• Location: Strosacker Auditorium, Case Western Reserve University, 2125 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
• Details: The local premieres of three recent Italian films and one short film program.
Sept. 20
• Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival
• Location: Akron Civic Theatre, 182 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308
• Details: A celebration of Ohio filmmakers spotlighting the horror genre.
• Submissions: Open, final look deadline, July 1, 2025
Sept. 26-28
• Maumee Film Festival
• Location: Maumee Indoor Theater, 601 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio 43537
• Details: Celebrates the art of creativity, filmmaking and storytelling and allows aspiring filmmakers to see their work in the iconic and beautiful Maumee Indoor Theater.
TBA
• Brood X Film Showcase Toledo
• Location: Downtown Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43604
• Details: Brood X, provides a platform for visual storytellers to share their work in front of an audience of other movie-makers, creatives, producers, enthusiasts, and storytellers.
TBA
• Dayton Independent Film Festival
• Location: Roger Glass Center at the University of Dayton, 29 Creative Way, Dayton, Ohio 45479
• Details: Celebrates regional filmmaking and stories from Midwestern filmmakers who offer their DIFFerent and unique vision.
TBA
• ReelAbilities Film Festival
• Location: Cleveland and Akron
• Details: The largest festival in the US dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.
OCTOBER
Oct. 2-5
• Yellow Springs Film Festival
• Location: Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387 and The Foundry Theater at Antioch College, 920 Corry St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387
• Details: A celebration of creativity, connection and innovative performances exhibiting narrative and documentary feature films, shorts of all genres, stand-up comedy and live music.
• Submissions: Open, the earlybird deadline is Feb. 24, 2025, and the regular deadline is May 2, 2025.
Oct. 7-12
• Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
• Location: Various venues in Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
• Details: A celebration of documentary storytelling and filmmakers.
Submissions: Open, the earlybird deadline is March 21, 2025, and June 30, 2025, is the extended deadline.
Oct. 16-19
• Nightmares Film Festival
• Location: Gateway Film Center, 1550 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201
• Details: Audiences and filmmakers discover their new favorite genre films at the world’s premier program of horrific, dreadful and weird movies.
• Submissions: Open, May 13, 2025, is the midterm deadline and Aug. 31, 2025, is the final deadline.
Oct. 25
• Youngstown Film Festival
• Location: The Vault, 6 West Federal Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503
• Details: Provides a platform to filmmakers who think creatively, differently and outside the box in the form of shorts and features to help make their vision come to life.
• Submissions: Open, March 1, 2025, is the early bird deadline and Aug. 31, 2025, is the final deadline.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 20
• Suds & Cinema Short Film Festival
• Location: Crooked Can Brewing Co., 5354 Center Street Hilliard, Ohio 43026
• Details: The event promises an incredible lineup of short films from talented filmmakers across Ohio and beyond. From thrilling microfilms to inspiring trailers and imaginative stories.
• Submissions: Open Jan. 31, 2025, the late deadline is Oct. 24, 2025.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A new study found Ohio is one of the least motivated states when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, with a large number of residents headed toward giving up on their goals by late January.
Action Network, a sports media company, set out to find which states have the least motivated residents when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.
In November 2024, the platform surveyed 2,000 Americans aged 21 and older, asking them how motivated they typically feel regarding their resolutions on the third Monday of January. Participants ranked their response on a scale of one to 10, with one being the most motivated and 10 the least. Action Network then found the average number reported by residents of each state.
When it comes to America’s least motivated states, Ohio took the No. 15 spot, with residents reporting an average motivation score of 6.43.
“While some states are crushing their 2025 goals, residents of The Buckeye State are taking a more laid-back approach,” the study said.
The least motivated state in the country was Wyoming, with an average score of 7.50. Completing the top five was Mississippi (7.16), New Mexico (6.94), Idaho (6.88) and Kentucky (6.82).
The study found the most motivated spots were New Hampshire (4.29), Delaware (5.13), Washington, D.C. (5.25), South Dakota (5.67) and Maryland (5.31).
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Six local luge athletes' Olympic dreams may soon become reality.
When you think of central Ohio, you usually don’t think of luge. Even when NBC4 sat down and spoke with the Team USA luge local athletes, they even said they weren’t familiar with the sport at first.
“This is my first year so far, and I like, like, the thrill of just going down and, like, feeling the wind,” said Colin Peterson, a member of USA Luge Junior Development team.
“I like the adrenaline rush of all of it. Like as you're finishing, I try to sit up and look at my time as I look at the board, and if it's a good one, I'll be proud of myself,” said Alexis Mason, a member of USA Luge Junior Development team.
There are no training centers in the Buckeye State, so these local teens travel 10 hours to Lake Placid, New York, just to practice. This may seem to be quite the challenge, but the athletes see a different perspective.
“It is definitely worth the long drive. It is so fun,” said Kaitlynn Mauch, a member of the USA Luge Development team.
We caught up with four out of the six local athletes who are part of USA Luge. The team includes Alexis Mason, Stephanie Hoylman, Colin Peterson, Kaitlynn Mauck, Sophia Etheridge, and Jonathan Sigg. All are local to the central Ohio area.
The teens were chosen for the team through the White Castle Slider Search, which is held in Columbus each year. They found out they made Team USA Luge in May 2024, and they say it’s been a dream come true ever since.
Three detained after police pursuit near Nationwide Children's Hospital“I was like overly excited. Like I couldn't sleep because I was just so excited to go and train and just so excited to go faster,” said Stephanie Hoylman, a member of the USA Luge Junior Development team.
“I was just amazed that I could get the chance to train in the sport of luge more and hopefully advance,” said Kaitlynn Mauck, a member of the USA Luge Junior Development team.
These young lugers have traveled to Lake Placid several times to train and to be surrounded by Olympic Lugers.
“They're very like, inspirational. I mean, they give us really good tips about like what to do,” said Petersen.
The group has also been preparing for their very first competition. They’re making yet another trip to Lake Placid soon to compete in the Empire State Winter Games. Their competition is set for February 1st.
“I'm absolutely thrilled. Like, if I would have told my younger self I would be here, I wouldn't have believed myself,” said Mason.
All four of the athletes we spoke with say their ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympics one day and win a gold medal.
The parents also wanted the community to know that they’re thankful for all the support their children have been given since joining USA Luge. If you’d like to check out more of their work, we have their socials linked above.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three people have been detained after a police pursuit ended near Nationwide Children's Hospital Friday night.
Columbus police dispatchers said officers were called to the area of Tracy Circle around 8:19 p.m. Friday on reports of shots fired. When officers arrived it was determined one house was struck by gunfire.
OSU alum helps support recovery in Pacific PalisadesAccording to police dispatchers, the suspect vehicle was spotted getting onto the freeway. During the pursuit, the suspects tried to exit off the highway and crashed near Nationwide Children's Hospital. The suspects abandoned the car and a foot pursuit ensued.
Police say three suspects have been detained and no major injuries have been reported.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio State alumnus from the Pacific Palisades started an organization that is helping the area recover from a devastating wildfire.
"Our main goal is to get the Palisades back to what it was and that's the biggest motivating factor is we want it to go back to the lives we know and loved so much," Justin Howard, a former captain of Ohio State's men's volleyball team and founder of Palisades Forever, said.
Howard graduated in 2023 and then received his master's in 2024. He moved back to California, where he now works. When the Palisades fire started earlier this month, he was at his office.
Columbus blessing boxes in need of donations during colder months“I was just watching it literally out of this window, you're just watching the mountainside just burn," he said.
The fire was spreading quickly and Howard's home was in its path. He and his parents went to a relative's that evening. When he went back in the morning, the house was destroyed.
"It was just utter devastation, like it was like a wasteland, looked like a bomb had been dropped, and got up there, was able to see the house was gone and I think just wanting to get that sort of closure for myself and get an understanding of what happened," he said.
Howard said he grieved for one or two days. Then, with his brother and a couple close friends who also lost their home, he decided they needed to do something to help. They started Palisades Forever. Through fundraising and merchandise, they are partnering with organizations to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Macy's announces store closures, including in Ohio"I think as far as motivation goes, when you lose something that's so near and dear to your heart and it just goes away at the snap of a finger, it's like you almost don't need a lot of motivation," Howard said.
Howard said the athletic department at Ohio State has already started spreading awareness about Palisades Forever.
“By the time we’re 30, or maybe 35, we’re hoping that the Palisades is back to what we know and love," he said. "One dollar is incredible and so is a donation of $5,000, so everything counts, and its awesome for us to get together and try and restore what we know and love so much."
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of an Olentangy Liberty High School student against PowerSchool just weeks after multiple central Ohio school districts were part of a data breach.
Millions of students and teachers had their personal information stolen in the breach, including the 18-year-old student who filed the suit. Attorney Mark Troutman’s firm Gibbs Law Group filed the suit against PowerSchool on the student’s behalf. Troutman said hackers access private information from over 62 million students, including dates of birth, home addresses and medical records.
“Data companies make tons of money holding your information. The fact that people’s information is out is worth something alone, let alone the fact that we’re dealing with children here,” Troutman said.
Columbus NAACP president oustedThe complaint alleges the hackers could sell students’ information to the dark web and it could be used to open bank accounts and take out loans in students’ names. Children are especially vulnerable, Troutman said.
“Children don’t typically have credit reports,” said Troutman. “Credit monitoring doesn’t work as well with children and parents aren’t typically checking to see whether children’s credit is being affected.”
Troutman said the data breach shows that PowerSchool’s cyber security was not up to industry standards.
“One of the most common things that we all experience in our lives with our credit cards, bank accounts is two-factor authentication. We have reason to believe that many of the aspects and many of the systems within PowerSchool didn’t use two-factor authentication,” said Troutman.
Landlord sued after tenants left without heatAlthough initial reports from PowerSchool said they had reason to believe the data was deleted, recent reports imply student information may already be out there. Troutman said parents should get a credit report for their child and make sure it is blank. If there is something you can’t identify, that’s a big red flag.
In response to the lawsuit, PowerSchool sent NBC4 a statement that read in part, "PowerSchool is focused on working through this matter directly with our customers. We care deeply about the students, teachers and families we serve and are wholeheartedly committed to supporting them.”
Troutman said he is hoping to get compensation for all of the people affected by the data breach.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Linden-McKinley STEM Academy students took a trip to the Ohio State College of Nursing on Friday, both to learn and to see their art hang in a new exhibit.
The event took place through Linden McKinley's "Be The One" program, which included a curriculum focused on the different dimensions of wellness. Students learned about social-emotional learning, and worked through different mechanisms to combat childhood traumas.
Students were then tasked with creating emotion-filled art answering the question, "What does wellness mean to you?" Their collections now hang on the walls of Jane E. Heminger Hall on OSU's campus.
Ohio State RB Judkins leaving the Buckeyes for NFLOn Friday, the students toured the nursing college's simulation centers, including its Technology Learning Complex and Virtual Reality Lab. As the students spotlighted their creations, they were also able to learn about the opportunities in nursing careers.
"It was a really great project not only for them but also for our community health students because they really got to see the perspective of those students," Chris Fortney, associate professor in OSU's college of nursing, said. "It's very much experiential learning and learning how to take care of adolescence in our community."
The event also included a check presentation ceremony gifting funds to Linden-McKinley for more programming like this.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) --Republicans across the country campaigned on immigration and border issues and President Donald Trump is putting promises to paper in a slew of executive orders.
“The president is attempting to rewrite more than 125 years of citizenship law,” immigration law expert and professor at Ohio State Cesar Garcia Hernandez said.
One of President Trump’s executive orders, to end birthright citizenship, is already held up in the courts. Birthright citizenship is part of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and it allows anyone born here to be a citizen, even if their mother is not.
If the federal judge decides to allow it to go into effect, it is scheduled for February 19th. Even then, Hernandez said it will not be easy to enforce.
“The federal government has absolutely nothing to do with birth certificates,” he said. “That is entirely up to the states and that means there are fifty different sets of procedures, fifty different sets of requirements.”
He said if the burden does not fall on the states, it could fall on the State Department, which issues social security cards and passports.
“Are they going to start asking for proof of citizenship and immigration status of the parents before giving out a passport or a Social Security card or Social Security number to a newborn child,” Hernandez said.
Trump is also calling for the quote “expedited removal,” of undocumented immigrants who have crossed the border within the last two years. This allows court precedents to be skipped.
Landlord sued after tenants left without heatSenator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said several times throughout his campaign, and after the election, he thinks mass deportation is possible.
“If it's feasible to get 13 million people into the country, it's feasible to get 13 million people out of the country,” Moreno said in November.
Moreno just introduced a bill to “amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the eligibility requirements for asylum.” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/200/text?s=1&r=1) The legislation he proposed would do four key things:
"If you want to live in this country, you have to respect our laws, and that starts at our borders,” Moreno said in a statement after introducing the bill.
Governor Mike DeWine agreed something has to be done about immigration policy by the federal government, but he said it can only happen once things “get settled down at the southern border.” He said he is confident Trump can accomplish that.
“We have had a long tradition in this country going back decades for my entire life of letting people into this country who want to work and also people who were fleeing a country that was very dangerous to them or they were being politically or religiously oppressed,” DeWine said. “It should be a bipartisan discussion where we can actually get down to who should come into the United States and who do we really want here.”
DeWine, though, warns against ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants who are living in Ohio. Right now, there is a large population in Springfield (https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/ohio-statehouse-leaders-address-unfounded-springfield-claims/), and DeWine said their sudden removal would hurt their economy.
“They're helping to drive the economy of Springfield,” DeWine said. “They were being hired because there were no other people to fill those jobs. So that is the stark reality of this.”
TPS for Haitian migrants is set to expire in February 2026. Moreno said that gives businesses ample time to adjust.
“The companies who are employing them need to make plans as they should have when they hired them in the first place, knowing that their TPS will only last till February of 26,” Moreno said. “It absolutely doesn't crush the economy. What it does do is it provides opportunities for the Ohioans that aren't employed today, who are not in the workforce today.”
One of Trump’s orders directs a review of Temporary Protected Status designated by the Biden administration. However, it is not always easy to put an end to TPS.
“When it comes to Haiti, the Trump administration tried to end TPS the first time around. They failed for the same reason that TPS can only be granted to citizens of countries where the conditions are so dangerous that it would be unsafe to send people back to those,” Hernandez said. “For the federal government to end that TPS, they also need to show that the conditions in that country have changed sufficiently so that it is no longer unsafe.”
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A mom and her two-year-old have been hospitalized and an infant has died in a fire in Cannelville, officials said.
South Zanesville Fire Department Chief Russell Taylor said two different helicopters life-lifted the mother and two-year-old to different hospitals after a fire broke out on East Street in Cannelville. Taylor said the mother has first and second degree burns, and the two-year-old has second and third degree burns.
An eight-month-old baby boy could not be located for some time during the chaos, but Taylor said he was informed around 5:45 p.m. that the baby died. A coroner has been called to retrieve the baby from the scene.
Taylor said the home was a "total loss," and that it will take time to uncover the cause of the fire.