Ohio News

WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio community is celebrating after months of fighting against a big project. 

That project is a biodigester, a system that converts cow manure and food waste to renewable natural gas, which was proposed for West Jefferson in Madison County. Now, after months of neighborhood effort, the company has pulled out. 

NBC4 Investigates first reported the story in December.

Indoor slide park’s first Ohio location eyes May opening

The outcry against the project involved neighbors, area commissioners, and state legislators who, while celebrating, are not stopping their work just yet. 

A zoning law technicality would have let the biodigester project move forward and now the group is working to make sure that can’t happen in your neighborhood, either. 

"I am totally thrilled," Steve Dersom, a West Jefferson resident for 25 years, said. 

"Almost disbelief at first, shock and awe because our group has worked, not just our group, that our whole community has worked so hard to just be heard," Angie Carpenter, who has lived in the area for 57 years, said.  

Vanguard Renewables, a Massachusetts natural resources company, planned to build a biodigester in Madison County, just about 20 miles from Columbus. A biodigester makes renewable energy by taking food and animal waste, breaking it down, and turning it into biogas, which is filled with methane. 

Ohio marijuana festival wants to pay five random people $1,000 each to judge products

"Before this even started, I did not even know what a biodigester was, and so to learn more and more about the process and to learn how we could protect our community," Carpenter said.  

Many disagreed with how close it would be to homes and were worried about prior environmental violations committed by the company. Two hundred people came together for a February meeting to voice these concerns. 

"That was the final thing that put the pressure on Vanguard to say they were going to stop the project," Dersom said.  

State representatives got involved and introduced amendments to address the lack of regulation when it came to biodigesters. 

"I actually received a phone call from our State Senator Michele Reynolds, who has been such a huge help, she and our State Representative Brian Stewart," Madison County Commissioner Brendan Shea said.

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Reynolds introduced an amendment with strong language to give local input more power on proposed projects. She said this caught the attention of Vanguard, which agreed to stop the project if the Ohio Senate amendment did not move forward. 

"It felt like it had been building toward this for a number of months, but just seeing it crystallize in that letter was just... words can't describe how happy I was," Shea said.  

The residents want biodigester projects regulated like solar projects, which have a variety of laws including giving local governments more power through restrictions. 

In a statement, Reynolds said: 

“The withdrawal of the proposed biodigester project reflects the strength of community advocacy and strategic legislative engagement. After hearing concerns from Commissioner Brendan Shea, Madison County residents and local leaders, I met directly with representatives from Vanguard Renewables to communicate the serious environmental and quality-of-life implications of the project. Representative Brian Stewart and I both took legislative action. While Rep. Stewart introduced an amendment in House Bill 15, while I pursued a separate, Senate-based amendment in SB 2 that addressed the broader consequences of siting industrial-scale digesters near residential areas without direct local involvement. As the House version advanced toward concurrence with the Senate, I engaged with Vanguard in a direct meeting to discuss our mutual concerns. In the course of those discussions, Vanguard agreed to withdraw the project and write a letter pulling their permits from the Ohio EPA—avoiding the impact of the Senate’s stronger language moving forward. This was a collaborative win grounded in local advocacy, legislative leverage, and productive dialogue. I was proud to play a key role in protecting our community and ensuring that state policy remains responsive to the people we serve.” 

Vanguard Renewables did not comment for this story.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The local non-profit Central Ohio's Programs for Animal Welfare (COPAW) provides affordable veterinary care and shelter to animals throughout Columbus and now the organization is going global.

COPAW is taking their mission to improve the welfare of animals and communities they live in to Mexico. “Mexico is considered to be rabies free for cases transmitted to humans, from dogs, just from public initiatives that have been vaccinating them,” said Breona Baines, CEO of COPAW. “There are still a lot of gaps to be filled in that regard." 

COPAW has been providing veterinary care and shelter for animals in the city since 2020. Baines notes the work they do is essential, which is why she launched a new program “Global outreach programs for animal welfare” or GOPAW. They’re starting by providing services to at-risk communities in Mexico.   

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“It just kind of really gives me perspective and lets me know how privileged I am to be here,” Baines said. “And after doing the research, I found that just, you know, with the cost differences of supplies and labor in Mexico, we can provide the sterilization for vaccinations, heartworm testing, giving, if necessary, parasite screenings and treatment for just shy of $20.” 

Baines explained she’s always been passionate about volunteering internationally since she was young. She also shared that data from one of their target areas in Mexico show 25% of the human population is testing positive for intestinal parasites every year. She attributes this to the overwhelming population of unaddressed strays. The goal is to service over 12,000 animals per year for free.   

“I think that we all have a responsibility to help out where we can,” Baines said. “I think that this work is very important, I think that it's an extension of what we're doing here now. You know after these five years of success that we've seen here, you know, we're ready to help other communities as well.” 

They also hope to help educate the community and help build a healthier future. For more information on the new initiative by COPAW, click here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A non-profit social services organization located in the west Columbus neighborhood of Franklinton is being sued by the city for "attracting criminal activity."

Sanctuary Night, which is located on 1195 Sullivant Avenue, is facing a nuisance lawsuit filed by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. The lawsuit details more than 200 calls received by Columbus police and fire to the property for alleged criminal activity that took place between June 2022 and January 2025.

On its website, Sanctuary Night describes its mission as "serving vulnerable womxn who are at risk for sexual exploitation," with the Sullivant Avenue location providing a "place to rest, eat, connect and get desired resources."

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Court documents said that large groups would gather outside the facility when it first opened in 2022, with some people in those groups allegedly using drugs. Other nuisance activity began to increase over time, with neighbors reporting porch pirate thefts and people bathing, urinating, defecating, or engaging in sex acts near the property.

Over the span of two years, Columbus Fire was called 40 times for "substance-abuse events" including 16 overdoses. Police surveilled the area early in 2025 and determined traffic patterns mimicked those regularly seen with prostitution, which court documents allege happened outside the property after it closed at night.

A staff member told police that other staff members at Sanctuary Night allowed drug use inside the property, according to the city attorney's office.

This February, the city's property action team sent the organization a letter demanding it mitigate nuisance activities. The city states Sanctuary Night did not agree to the letter, leading to the lawsuit.

Sanctuary Night issued a statement in response to the lawsuit, calling it an "unnecessary escalation that will negatively impact a vulnerable community of women in central Ohio."

“Over the past few months, we have made progress in addressing issues and will continue working toward solutions that meet the needs of our community, neighbors and most importantly, the women we support," said company representatives in the statement. “We are committed to continuing to improve and hope to resolve this situation swiftly for the good of the women in need.”

You can read the full lawsuit below.

Filed-ComplaintDownload

COLUMBUS (WCMH) -- Powerful thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening brought pockets of strong winds that knocked out power to more than 88,000 customers in Ohio, with gusts of up to 60 mph. Most of the power has been restored 24 hours after the storms moved across the state.

Columbus and central Ohio Weather Radar

Despite an extensive pattern of wind damage covering hundreds of miles across the Ohio Valley and western sections of New York and Pennsylvania, this will not likely meet the criteria for a derecho -- a long-lasting straight-line wind event -- because the strongest gusts stayed below 75 mph (with the exception one reported gust in the Pittsburgh area).

Keep up to date on the go with the Storm Team 4 weather app. Click here to download.

The back-to-back two-weather systems about six hours apart -- called mesoscale convective complexes -- that spawned the clusters of strong storms pushed a cold front south of the Ohio River Wednesday morning. The boundary will return north as a warm front on Thursday, with renewed chances for a few locally strong-to-severe storms.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed a large swath of Ohio in a Level 2-of-5 risk for damaging winds Thursday.

The risk of large hail and an isolated tornado are lower compared to Tuesday's storms, due to winds aloft flowing in the same direction, reducing the risk of spin developing with stronger, taller cells that will be less organized.

The timing of storms on Thursday is a little trickier due to a more strung-out and scattered nature of the lift, or forcing. Any showers and storms that develop Wednesday night and early Thursday will not be severe, associated with a warm front lifting north.

However, strong daytime heating (80 degrees) will drive up the instability later in the day, leading to isolated storms toward evening. However, the greater risk of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail will occur with a broken line approaching the I-71 corridor around sunset, weakening by midnight over eastern Ohio.

After a cold front crosses Ohio Thursday night, the severe threat will end, although an upper-air system will hang around Friday, triggering scattered showers and a few non-severe storms, accompanied by cooler air, with temperatures in the low 70s.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some things really are as good as they sound: Stargazer Cannabis Festival wants to pay five randomly selected judges $1,000 each to smoke weed.

Stargazer Cannabis Festival organizer Chad Thompson is seeking applicants to judge the first Stargazer Cannabis Cup. Cannabis cups are competitions that pit different marijuana products against one another in different categories to find the best of the best. Thompson said the Stargazer Cup -- Ohio's first cannabis cup -- is working a little differently.

"We're opening this up to everyday people that are cannabis lovers," Thompson said. "Traditionally you have to be an industry insider and have connections to become a cannabis cup judge, and we really want to open this up and have a broader appeal, and you know, no experience necessary."

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Applications open this week for judges, who will be selected by a random drawing. Judges were initially set to be paid $420, but Thompson said they wanted to really commit and raised the salary. Judges will also receive a curated judges’ kit full of cannabis products and free admission to the festival. 

Judges will sample products across multiple categories throughout the festival, an event in itself. Judges will award first place in each category, and then an overall best of show winner. The best of show champion will win the Stargazer Cannabis Cup and a $2,500 cash prize.

Competitors in the cup can apply online at $50 per entry. Thompson said cultivators have been able to grow for a little while, and he hopes Ohio's emerging cannabis market brings elite competition.

"We're really excited about what we're going to find," Thompson said. "And we're also hoping that we can get some out of state entries as well, and kind of put Ohio growers and producers up against other states and really just have a very competitive cup."

Stargazer is partnering with Big Cloud Presents for Ohio's first-ever cannabis competition. Big Cloud is a big name in cannabis cups, planning five between June and September this year. In March, they hosted an organic marijuana cup in Barcelona, their third organic competition abroad.

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"We are not really putting a lot of weight into the credentials. Last year, when we did our joint rolling judges, we really looked at having very credentialed judges," Thompson said. "But this year, we're looking to open it up. And that's kind of the exciting thing about it is no experience necessary."

Thompson and his team are hiring joint rolling judges once more at $100 per hour, a rate that brought in Snoop Dogg’s personal blunt roller Ranagade PerRana as a judge last year. That application is also available online, promising new hires will be “subject to having an amazing time.” PerRana will also return this year to lead a blunt rolling workshop. 

Thompson said the festival, which will take place in Waverly from July 25 to 27, is likely to sell out quickly. He encourages any potential competitors or weed enthusiasts to get their tickets now as to not miss out on events like rolling workshops or the giveaway dream cannabis wedding officiated by Afroman.

Applications opened Tuesday night for the dope experience. Anyone over the age of 21 is invited to apply.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An indoor slide park will soon begin welcoming thrill seekers to their first Ohio location in Columbus.

Named Slick City Action Park, the chain is aiming to open at 1170 Polaris Parkway near Polaris Fashion Place by early to mid May. The 35,000-square-foot Ohio park is one of several locations Slick City is developing across the nation, with parks already open in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin.

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"We're incredibly proud to open our first Ohio location in north Columbus and introduce families, teens and thrill-seekers of all ages to our one-of-a-kind waterless slides and engaging attractions," said Bron Launsby, Slick City's CEO. "This is a new kind of entertainment park built to move, inspire and wow guests time and time again."

The Ohio park is one of several locations Slick City is developing across the nation. (Courtesy Photo/Slick City Action Park)

Each Slick City park features slides from the "slick slide" portfolio, a series of indoor slides that leverage "proprietary slide surface technology in order to generate an experience like that of a water slide in their speed and performance," according to the company's site.

"We're dedicated to constant innovation -- unveiling new slides frequently and focusing on in-house development processes," Slick City's site states. "Thirty-four patents have already been filed or granted for our proprietary slides and technology."

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The slide park is opening inside a former Bed, Bath and Beyond. A permit application to the city of Columbus last fall revealed Slick City's renovation cost $500,000 to build out "space for indoor recreation," including "modification of existing restrooms, expansion of mezzanine, new managers office, kitchen and concessions area, vendor installed activities, and seating areas."

Bed, Bath and Beyond announced the closure of the Polaris location in fall of 2020, along with the chain's store at 1750 Hill Road North in Pickerington. The chain then filed for bankruptcy last year and shuttered additional central Ohio stores, including the location at 3750 Easton Market near Easton Town Center and at 1717 W. Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The deadline for Ohio travelers to have the proper identification to board U.S. domestic flights is just one week away.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, on May 7, 2025, the TSA will begin enforcement of Real IDs at airports nationwide, including John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport. U.S. air passengers without a Real ID-compliant driver’s license will need another form of identification, such as a passport, to clear TSA security checkpoints.

“All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck members, must present Real ID-compliant identification or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints,” a spokesperson for the TSA told NBC4. “Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not Real ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,”

In anticipation of the deadline, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which issues the Real ID, announced on social media that locations across the state will extend service hours until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

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Ohio began issuing Real IDs in July 2018, and currently, 56% of Ohioans have one, so some people might not realize their ID is already Real ID-compliant. Real ID cards are typically marked with a star in the upper portion of the card, per the TSA.

An Ohio Real ID. (Courtesy Photo/Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles) A standard Ohio driver's license. (Courtesy Photo/Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles) How to get a Real ID in Ohio

To obtain a Real ID, an in-person visit to an Ohio BMV office is required. The BMV allows people to “get in line online” with remote queueing available through its website to reduce wait times, which the agency highly recommends.

According to the BMV, obtaining a Real ID-compliant card requires more identity documents than the standard card. Drivers need to bring documents that prove their:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
• Social Security number
• Ohio street address – two documents, from sources
• Legal name change (if applicable)

The BMV website lists acceptable documents.

Once the paperwork at the BMV is complete, the official Real ID will be delivered by mail. In the meantime, clients will have their current ID perforated to show that a new ID is being processed.

Courtesy Photo/Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Additionally, a paper document from the deputy registrar's location will show that a person's Real ID application is pending.

Courtesy Photo/Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

In a news release, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority confirmed that the perforated ID and interim document paper for a Real ID are acceptable forms of identification to board a U.S. domestic flight.

“The number one Real ID question we get via social media, at our TSA lines and through our Customer Experience team is, 'I went to the BMV to update my ID, but it hasn’t come in the mail yet. All I have is this piece of paper and my old ID. Can I still fly?'” the Fly Columbus website notes. “In a word, YES! Just bring the current ID that the Ohio BMV perforated along with the temporary identification — both documents will be needed when flying until your Real ID comes in the mail.”

What is a Real ID?

Passed by Congress in 2005, the Real ID Act was a response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The program is designed to improve U.S. travel requirements and set minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards.

According to Homeland Security, all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories, are issuing Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and IDs.

Real IDs cannot be used to cross into Mexico or Canada. Passengers will still need a passport for international travel, plus any relevant visas or other travel documents.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Four people were hospitalized Wednesday morning after a crash on the northeast side of Columbus.

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A police dispatcher said the crash occurred at 8:13 a.m. at the intersection of Morse Road and Chesford Road. The crash involved three vehicles and resulted in four people sustaining injuries.

Three were transported to the hospital in stable condition while one was taken in critical condition. Police could not confirm if all the hospitalized victims were in the same vehicle.

• Police tape off Morse Road on April 30, 2025 after three vehicles crash. (NBC4 Photo / Karien Graf)
• Police tape off Morse Road on April 30, 2025 after three vehicles crash. (NBC4 Photo / Karien Graf)

Columbus police's accident investigation unit is leading the investigation into the crash. Morse Road is currently closed at Chesford Road.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) –  As warmer temperatures arrive in central Ohio, a list by Yelp outlines what the platform considers to be the best restaurants with outdoor seating in the Columbus area.

Yelp develops its rankings based on a variety of factors, including restaurants' average star ratings, number of reviews and how recent reviews are.

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Taking the No. 1 spot is High Bank Distillery, located at 1051 Goodale Blvd. in Grandview Heights. The eatery, which describes itself as an “elevated yet casual” pub, serves menu items such as a spicy chicken sandwich, chorizo meatloaf and blackened shrimp pasta. Reviews compliment the restaurant’s “delicious” cocktails and “wonderful” service.

“Excellent food and service,” one Yelp-user wrote. “Patio was spacious and comfortable. Plenty of indoor space as well. Will definitely come back.”

Coming in second place is Kitchen Social, located at 6791 Longshore St. in Dublin. The restaurant serves dishes inspired by a variety of cuisines, including fish and chips, a Thai chicken bowl and pimento cheese burger. Yelp-users praise the restaurant’s “fresh” and “flavorful” food.

Ranked in third place is Local Roots, located at 15 E. Olentangy St. in Powell. The eatery, which focuses on fresh produce and locally-raised meat, features seasonal dishes on its menu. The restaurant currently offers items including a mushroom ravioli dish, jalapeno black bean burger and barbecue ribs.  

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“The food is very fresh,” one review reads. “The food and drinks are excellent. The service is phenomenal. The patio is very nice for [a] warm evening. They have a band playing on many evenings.”

In fourth place is Northstar Café, located at 951 N. High St. in the Short North. The casual American eatery serves a variety of salads, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches.  Reviews highlight the restaurant’s “delicious” food and “friendly” staff. 

The fifth-best eatery based on Yelp’s analysis is Sycamore, located at 262 E. Sycamore St. in German Village. The restaurant, inspired by European all-day cafes, serves salad, burgers, sandwiches and meat dishes.

“The food was fantastic!” one Yelp-user wrote. “High quality ingredients, lots of vegetables, so delicious. Also had a superb latte.”

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Completing Yelp's top 10 best restaurants with patios in the Columbus area are: 

• Marcella’s, located at 1319 Polaris Pkwy. near Polaris Fashion Place 
• Cobra, located at 684 S. High St. in the Brewery District
• El Carajillo, located at 851 N. Fourth St. in Italian Village
• Cento, located at 595 S. Third St. in German Village
• TownHall, located at 792 N. High St. in the Short North

This list is accurate as of Tuesday. Yelp ratings and rankings frequently fluctuate.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Schools is facing a packed race of 10 school board candidates hoping to advance in the May 6 primary.

All three board members whose terms expire this year are not seeking re-election after a tumultuous post-pandemic tenure. In January, board member Christina Vera stepped down from the presidency, with longtime board member Michael Cole filling in. Vera, Cole and member Ramona Reyes are not seeking re-election.

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On May 6, voters will eliminate four of 10 candidates, with the remaining six vying for the open seats in the November election. It's a big job; in just this past year, board member Brandon Simmons has been censured twice, community members were heavily critical of school closures, and the state of Ohio pursued legal action toward the district over not busing private school students. See previous coverage in the video player above.

The board considered shuttering 10 buildings, including seven schools. The fight over which schools would close persevered for months, with the final closures approved in December. The board is closing Broadleigh, Moler and West Broad Street elementaries, Buckeye Middle School and Columbus Alternative High School beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Simmons was first censured after a memo regarding school closures was leaked and revealed plans to take control of the narrative around shuttering schools. His fellow board members said Simmons was the sole memo writer, but Simmons maintains the document was a collaboration, which uncovered recorded conversations later supported.

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Board member Sarah Ingles leaked the “Controlling the Task Force Narrative” document after receiving it from fellow board member Jennifer Adair. The memo suggested dividing the teacher union from other staff, moving meeting locations at the last minute and rewarding “good” media outlets that did not report on “false statements” from the union. 

Simmons was censured again in September after audio recordings between Simmons and other board members were uncovered, which acknowledged that other board members were involved in the leaked memo. The board alleged Simmons entered school buildings without permission, threatened other board members and was generally unprofessional.

This censure resolution restricted Simmons from going onto district property without permission from the board president and that he’d be escorted by security in and out of board meetings. Although board members asked him to resign, Simmons continues to serve his term, which will end Dec. 31, 2027.

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In 2022, Columbus City School teachers went on strike after contract negotiations dissolved. The three-day strike over wages, class sizes and a lack of air conditioning hit right as students were about to start the school year, with more than 50,000 students beginning the year virtually. After three days, they struck a deal. The district is currently negotiating a new contract with the teachers’ union, which it hopes to complete before next fall semester begins.

Here are the candidates interested in taking on the board, many of whom said they hope to improve the relationship between the board and the community.

Liz Caslin-Turner

Caslin-Turner has worked in education for the last nine years, following her graduation from Capital University. She has worked for the Ohio Department of Education and is currently a regional director for Sylvan Learning, overseeing central Ohio learning centers.

She is campaigning on a platform that public education is a right, not a privilege. She said she wants to increase transparency and strengthen connections with the community. Caslin-Turner is endorsed by Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio and the Columbus Building Trades Council.

Teresa Hannah

Hannah is a former state employee, including time spent with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. She now runs her own educational consulting firm, pulling from work experience with public, private and charter schools.

She is campaigning to increase graduation rates, expand career and technical education opportunities, and increase connections between the community and early childhood education. 

Columbus Education PAC

Candidates Patrick Katzenmeyer, Jermaine Kennedy and Antionette Miranda have joined forces under the Columbus Education PAC. The Columbus Education PAC is endorsed by the Franklin County Democratic Party, the Central Ohio Labor Council, Equity Now Coalition and OAPSE/AFSCME, the Ohio public school employees union. The trio said they hope to help students and workers alike.

Patrick Katzenmeyer: Katzenmeyer is a senior project manager for a real estate company. He is a district parent who was heavily involved in the school closure debates.

Jermaine Kennedy: Kennedy is a chief program officer at the Boys & Girls Club and previously worked as a teacher and principal. A district parent, he said he wants to fight for equity in student success.

Antionette Miranda: Miranda is a nationally recognized school psychologist and a professor at OSU. Formerly on the state school board, she is running to protect public education students.

Janeece Keyes

Keyes is the director of provider experience at Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the mother of four district graduates. Keyes said her success as a single mother raising her children while working makes her an excellent candidate.

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Keyes said she is advocating for student-centric policies and believes public schools are necessary for a thriving community. She is against political policies that limit public schools. Keyes is endorsed by the Matriots PAC, The Columbus Dispatch and the Columbus Education Association.

Karrie Lumpkin

Lumpkin had a 34-year career working at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office helping develop state programs to address crime. She is also a volunteer for multiple Christian and education-centric organizations, including working as a court-appointed advocate for the Franklin County Children Services Agency.

She is campaigning for responsible spending and wants the district to be a place that creates a good future workforce and good future citizens. Lumpkin is endorsed by The Columbus Dispatch.

Mounir Lynch

Lynch is a health educator who visited many district middle and high schools in his work with Planned Parenthood. Lynch said he wants to fight against legislative attacks on students, staff and families. He is campaigning to improve learning outcomes by increasing community input in decision making, investing in teachers and staff, and embracing underrepresented student groups and courses to be more equitable. 

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Lynch has garnered a number of endorsements, including the Asian American Midwest Progressives of Ohio, Stonewall Democrats of Columbus and the Ohio Working Families Party.

Kimberly Mason

Mason is a higher education partnership manager with the Ohio Bankers League. She formerly worked across organizations to help marginalized and urban communities in Ohio.

Mason is campaigning to create more workforce-ready opportunities for students and support special education. Her focus is “community, conversation and success,” a mission she first tried to achieve with a school board run in 2019. She is endorsed by the Matriots PAC.

Julie Trabold

Trablod is a district parent with a full resume, including work as a nurse, counselor and financial advisor. She said she is a “passionate advocate” for public education, labor unions and diversity, equity and inclusion.

She is campaigning to bring in investors to build a new financial operating system that would support free universal childcare for district residents, teachers and employees’ children. Trabold is endorsed by Run For Something, a national organization that recruits and supports progressives to build the Democratic Party.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A nationwide transgender advocacy group is convening at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to reject "anti-trans" provisions in the state's budget proposal.

The Trans Unity Coalition, a Michigan-based organization, is lobbying legislators on Wednesday against measures in House Bill 96, an expansive proposal passed by the Ohio House in April outlining the state's next two-year budget. Bree Taylor, executive director of the coalition, argues the legislation sneaks in several pieces that are harmful to the LGBTQ+ community.

Taylor pointed to provisions in H.B. 96 that would bar funding to mental health facilities and youth homeless shelters "that promote or affirm social gender transition." Watch a previous NBC4 report on the budget proposal in the video player above.

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"Those are unhoused children who many times statistically are more likely to be queer themselves, so to deprive shelters of funding because they are seen as supporting kids who are already going through a transitional process, to me that's just despicable," said Taylor. "I don't know how anyone with a conscious could say that is something that is appropriate."

Another is a policy recognizing two sexes, male and female, which states "these sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality." Taylor noted the policy, which is modeled after a Trump administration order, could violate the Ohio Constitution's single-subject rule given it doesn't pertain to funding.

House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) argued in early April that it's admissible for the fiscal document to include a sex provision given "it's accepted science that there are two genders." Huffman said, "This simply ends the discussion in the state of Ohio which I think most voters, most citizens of Ohio agree with, and it also prevents us from having months and months and weeks of arguments if we do it in a bill or otherwise."

H.B. 96 would also require public libraries to place material "related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of the persons under the age of 18." Taylor argued the measure could ostracize LGBTQ+ youth.

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Another provision would prohibit state agencies from displaying any flag, like a Pride flag or other political symbols, except for Ohio, U.S. and POW/MIA flags. While Taylor argued the measure could make marginalized communities feel unwelcome, Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said in early April the flag rule removes "some of this divisiveness out of our discourse."

"Whether it's a conservative-coded flag or a liberal-coded flag, let's just go back to our public buildings [being] for everybody," Stewart said. "The flags that fly outside should be symbols that are broadly accepted by everybody rather than sort of inserting government into these more divisive ideas."

Taylor said the coalition is planning to meet with various lawmakers on Wednesday to raise their concerns. While she doesn't have faith that legislators will remove these provisions, Taylor is hoping the coalition's efforts will create awareness and persuade Gov. Mike DeWine to line item veto these measures.

"Some of these provisions quite literally do not impact the state expenditure in any manner whatsoever," Taylor said. "These are provisions that are in bad faith, purely being snuck in because legislators know that having this massive bill that pertains to money and state funding, they really just want to get that through."

H.B. 95 is currently under consideration in several Ohio Senate committees.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A 19-year-old shooting victim has been identified, and police have arrested a juvenile in connection to the crime.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, one person was shot at around 2:43 a.m. in the Karns Park area, near the intersection of South Champion Avenue and Reinhard Avenue.

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Officers arrived and found 19-year-old Kewhyon Hartwell suffering unresponsive while suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics took Hartwell to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:08 p.m.

Early Wednesday morning investigators announced a 15-year-old boy has been charged with Hartwell’s death and are holding him at the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility. Police believe the incident began as a robbery before the shooting.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus Police at (614) 645-4503, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Reviewing major weather events that have affected central Ohio in the past 150 years, choosing the 11 most impactful in honor of Storm Team 4 being the "Most Accurate" in central Ohio for the 11th straight year required evaluating both human and financial losses.

Ohio sits in the path of weather systems tracking from the southwest, tapping ample Gulf moisture, while drawing cold air southward in a potentially volatile mix. In 2024, a record 74 tornadoes were confirmed in Ohio, establishing a new record (the old mark was 62 in 1992).

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The clash of seasons, placing cold and warm air in proximity, is responsible for severe weather outbreaks of all kinds. The science factor is density: cold air is heavier and undercuts warm air. The overlap of strong winds aloft feeding off the temperature contrast often sets the stage for the development of a major storm system.

There have certainly been many more that I considered for this list, but the primary focus was on the degree of impact on central Ohio.

The top 11 weather events that I selected for a daylong look at extreme weather events in Ohio brought widespread property destruction and/or extreme hardship, and in most cases, loss of life.

• March 25-26, 1913: Great Ohio Flood
• June 29, 2012: Derecho
• January 26, 1978: Blizzard of 1978
• April 3, 1974: Xenia Tornado Outbreak
• November 25, 1950: The Blizzard Bowl
• April 11-12, 165: Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak
• March 7-8, 2008: Greatest Columbus Snowstorm
• May 27-28, 2019: Memorial Day Tornado Outbreak
• February 28 and March 14, 2024: Late Winter Tornado Outbreak
• June 2019: Agricultural Floods

Storm Team 4 is certified 'Most Accurate' 11 years in a row

It's official, Storm Team 4 continues to deliver the “Most Accurate” forecast, now 11 years in a row.

According to WeatheRate, an independent weather research company, NBC4's Storm Team 4 led central Ohio television stations in forecast accuracy.

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WeatheRate uses patented software to compare the forecast of local stations with actual observed conditions. TV stations with the best daily, weekly and monthly accuracy are determined mathematically. Every March, a seal of approval is awarded to the TV station that provides the most accurate weather forecasts in each WeatheRate City.

Viewers who want central Ohio’s Most Accurate forecast in the palm of their hand can download the Storm Team 4 Weather App.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Individuals who are caught stealing from Ohio stores as part of an organized crime ring will now face increased penalties, thanks to a new law that went into effect this month. 

House Bill 336, named the Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement (FORCE) Act, created a felony offense of organized retail theft in Ohio. The crime involves people coordinating the theft of merchandise with the intent of reselling it or otherwise using it for financial gain. Watch a previous report on organized crime rings' effects on central Ohio in the video player above.

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“Organized retail crime represents an economic challenge for Ohio, amounting to billions of dollars in losses,” said Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-75th District), the bill's sponsor, at an introductory hearing last year. “The repercussions of such crime extend beyond financial losses. Increased criminal activity disrupts businesses and threatens the safety of consumers and employees alike.”

The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants estimates that organized retail theft costs businesses in the state $2 billion to $3 billion annually. To offset the losses, some retailers may raise prices.  

The statute, which went into effect on April 9, classifies organized retail theft of a value less than $750,000 as a third-degree felony, a value between $750,000 and $1.5 million as a second-degree felony, and a value more than $1.5 million as a first-degree felony. When determining the retail value, the cost of all property stolen from one or more establishments by a person or group within any 12-month period may be considered. 

“These criminals rely on safety in numbers, but it’s a false sense of security,”  said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, whose office worked on the legislation. “We now can charge them as a group, making it easier to convict and imprison thieves who target retailers as part of a crime ring.”

The law established a task force under Yost’s office to investigate retail theft across the state, assisting local law enforcement and prosecutors. In Ohio, any person making retail sales subject to sales tax must obtain a vendor’s license, which has a fee of $25. The law raised that fee to $50 to help fund the task force. 

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Throughout the legislation’s hearings last year, multiple retailers, including Walgreens, Target, JCPenney, Walmart and Meijer, testified in support of the bill.  

“Walgreens has experienced a significant increase in product loss in Ohio and across the country over the last several years,” Walgreens major crimes investigations manager Bryan Lindsay said. “Organized Retail Crime not only results in substantial financial losses for businesses, but also jeopardizes the safety of employees and customers.”

The statute also attempts to crack down on porch pirates by creating the offense of mail theft, which is generally a fifth-degree felony but can escalate to a first-degree felony depending on the value of the stolen mail. 

It additionally targets repeat theft offenders, setting a minimum fourth-degree felony charge for thefts committed by residents who have a felony theft conviction within the previous three years.  

Zachary Miller, with Ohio’s Office of the Public Defender, was the only person to testify against the bill. He expressed concern about how the legislation may impact those who struggle with substance use and commit theft, but are not part of an organized crime ring. 

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“As the provider of legal representation for indigent Ohioans accused of a crime, we believe HB 366 will disproportionately impose unduly harsh sentences on those accused of low-level theft, especially those struggling with substance use disorders,” Miller said in December testimony. 

As of January, 28 states have established criminal laws focusing on organized retail crime or enhanced penalties for those who steal repeatedly for the purpose of reselling stolen goods, according to the National Retail Federation. 

HB 336 was introduced in December 2023 and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in January. It passed the House 83-6 and the Senate 30-0.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A training program started in Ohio focused on addressing substance abuse is going national.  

The program, Recovery Within Reach, works to train financial professionals to identify potential instances of substance use disorders.   

The course for financial advisors serves as continuing education training and consists of three short modules and can be done online. The goal is to help not just identify, but also navigate the financial impacts of substance abuse disorder and mental illness by using clues like requests for frequent or larger withdrawals, missed appointments or even hygiene.

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Advisors are also taught how to help connect their clients with critical information regarding treatment options and funding sources. 

“We want our Ohio advisors to be able to spot a client family in need because you can’t help them if you don’t know what they are going through,” Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt said. “Once they make that connection, then they can connect those families with resources in their area.”  

For more information on the training, click here. 

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- The city of Powell is working to enhance safety along the Sawmill Parkway corridor by launching a high-visibility traffic enforcement initiative called the S.A.F.E. (Sawmill Parkway Awareness and Focused Enforcement) Passage Initiative to increase visibility and build a culture of traffic safety. 

Powell Police Chief Ron Sallows said community awareness and public education is one of the main focuses behind the proactive approach. He wants the community to know the police department is responsive and listening to their complaints.  

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The effort is being led by the Powell Police Department, which will target the stretch of Sawmill Parkway between Seldom Seen Road and Home Road. At 45 miles per hour, the area has the highest speed limit in the city and a history of serious traffic incidents.  

"Through a community attitude survey last year, our community told us that they were they were concerned about this particular roadway," Sallows said. 

According to Sallows, there have been two serious fatalities along the stretch within the last three years. 

"The initiative is just not focused solely on speeding," Sallows said. "It's aggressive driving. It is distracted driving. It is making sure that we're out there and engaging our community to let them know when they're doing something or when their behavior is unsafe." 

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Sallows said the department will be stepping up its enforcement and visibility. Officers will proactively conduct traffic stops for speed and reckless driving violations. 

"About a little over a year ago, we were about 25% of our patrol staff was out, had retired and left the force," Sallows said. "We have recently hired eight people over the last year. So, we have some additional resources that we haven't had in the past to dedicate to this." 

The S.A.F.E. Passage Initiative will run over the next four months, beginning May 1. Focused operations will take place during major holiday weekends, including Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day to address seatbelt use, general traffic safety and impaired driving. 

"We've got a Stealthstat device that actually measures the speed and the amount of traffic along this roadway," Sallows said. "So, we've done an assessment of that already and then periodically through this campaign, we'll reassess that roadway and will determine if we're having an effect on it."

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According to Sallows, data from citations and speed monitoring devices will be collected and analyzed, with monthly updates shared publicly to maintain transparency and accountability. 

"We want you to get through the city of Powell safe," Sallows said.  

The S.A.F.E. Passage Initiative will last through Labor Day. Powell police officers will work with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol to extend enforcement along the full length of Sawmill Parkway. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Scammers have gone "smishing" and apparently made quite the catch. That term is used to describe scams sent to cell phones through text messages. 

According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, in 2024, consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages. 

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While there are several varieties of tactics, there are a handful that account for about half of all text frauds reported. 

"I still get the 'Your UPS package is delayed. Click here,'" said Sammi Nachtigal, an attorney for the FTC.  

She said messages about package deliveries were the most reported text scam last year; those messages claim there's a problem with a delivery and include a link to a website that looks like the real deal but isn't. 

"There are also scams that target young folks," Nachtigal said. "There are job search scams that are going to target those young folks because there's big money to move there and they're going to be predators in that space." 

Those phony job opportunities often offer work without specifics. At some point, people are told to send money to finish their tasks and withdraw their supposed earnings. But people who sent money said they never saw it again. 

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"A lot of times, it's really hard to get your money back," Nachtigal said. "The reason being, scammers want you to pay in a certain way and they'll direct you to pay with a gift card, with a wire transfer, and they're doing that because those are hard methods to get your money back. But moving quickly is your best bet if you're going to have any chance of recouping some of that loss or stopping that transfer." 

The other top tactics are: 

• Fake fraud alerts that appear to come from legitimate banks or businesses. 
• Those pesky "unpaid toll" texts. 
• "Wrong number" texts, that aren't. 

"So, we all encounter these scams," Nachtigal said. "What makes the difference is how do we respond to them." 

The best way to respond, according to the FTC: 

• Ignore the original message. 
• If you have a concern, reach out to the business or entity on your own. 
• Then report it to an established agency. 

The agency offers more information about text scams and how to report them here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers are working to ban police quotas.  

“Our law enforcement officers should not be used as revenue generators,” Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) said. “That’s rule number one.”  

“Ohio has become synonymous with high police ticket quotas,” Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) said. 

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Miller and Sweeny are behind House Bill 131; Senate Bill 114 is identical and both would prohibit law enforcement agencies from using citation quotas.  

“They’re out there to protect the public and they shouldn’t be given some arbitrary number of citations that have no correlation to public safety,” Miller said.  

Miller formerly worked for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, where the union prohibits the use of quotas for that agency already. He said given that fact, no other police department should have an issue with a ban.  

“If our Ohio State Highway Patrol, who is arguably the most proactive law enforcement agency in the state, can operate under a system that prohibits quotas, there’s no reason other agencies can’t do the same,” Miller said.  

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“This is by no means to demonize anyone; there are real struggles to fill budget holes,” Sweeney said. “It just should not be on the backs of Ohioans.” 

The bill passed a House committee during the last general assembly with no votes against it. The Senate bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee also with no votes against it on April 17.  

The legislation also creates an anonymous reporting system for officers to use if leaders are still requiring quotas or using them for things like promotions or evaluations.  

So far, between last year and this year, only one opponent has testified. That is Mike Crispen, president of the Central Ohio Chiefs Association. He was not available for an interview on Tuesday, but in a March post on his organization’s website, he said the definition of quota is too broad in the bill and said it will lead to less accountability within departments. 

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“And all of this sends the wrong message, especially now,” Crispen’s statement said. “When crime is rising and repeat offenders are cycling through the system, the last thing Ohio needs is a law that makes it harder for officers to act — or harder for supervisors to expect action.” 

Crispen said the memo outlines the organization’s official position on the bill. 

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Pickaway County commissioners denied annexing hundreds of acres of farmland for a new development. 

It comes after residents had been sounding the alarm over the proposal. The meeting was filled with community members who had voiced concerns about this project and the Pickaway County commissioners seem to have agreed, denying the annexation 3-0. 

This all stems from a proposal to develop about 1,200 homes on over 300 acres of farmland. The project would be built along Gibson Road and State Route 762. Many residents in the community say this project would cause significant issues, such as increased traffic flow, overcrowded schools, and increased property taxes. 

After careful review of the proposal, the county commissioners voted against the approval of the annexation into commercial point. Citing the fact that all seven points of the criteria were not met, specifically the code for sanitary-sewer capacity.

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“We’re not exactly sure what’s going on there, in one recent one, they couldn’t do it, but on this one, they said they could do it,” said Jay Wippel, president of Pickaway County commissioners. “So that kind of threw up a red flag for us because those are the main things that we look at.” 

Residents expressed after the meeting that it felt like a small victory in a big battle. But remain hopeful for the future of their community.

“It shows me know everybody doesn’t always talk with each other and everybody seems like you just see people online, but we do have a strong community,” Cory Wasmus said. “People do care about each other and the place we share in common. That’s a place we love, where we live, and work.”

The attorney for the developer noted that they believed they did meet the bar in the code for sanitary-sewer capacity.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than 13,000 central Ohioians are without power due to strong storms that moved through the region Tuesday afternoon.

According to the AEP outage map, 24,504 customers are without power as of 3:30 p.m. The majority of those outages are in Franklin (8,106), Fairfield (6,579), and Delaware (5,584) counties. Perry and Licking counties are reporting more than 1,000 outages each.

For most of those outages, AEP is estimating that power will be restored by 6:30 p.m.

Track your outages in the map below.

Further south, South Central Power is reporting 1,212 customers, the bulk of which are in Fairfield (703) and Franklin (442) counties.

South Central outages can be tracked by clicking here.