Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio can resume enforcing a law banning certain healthcare for transgender youth while litigation continues, the state's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.

The court announced Tuesday it's granting a request from Attorney General Dave Yost to pause an appellate court decision that said House Bill 68, Ohio's law banning gender-affirming care for minors, is unconstitutional. The appeals court overturned H.B. 68 in March, arguing an injunction should be imposed against the law's provision banning certain prescriptions. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the appellate court decision in the video player above.

Yost has yet to release a statement on Tuesday's decision. The legal battle follows an August ruling from Franklin County Commons Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook that said H.B. 68 could go into effect after being on hold for several months. The ACLU then appealed Holbrook's decision on behalf of two families whose children are at risk of losing access to their healthcare. 

Freda Levenson, legal director at the ACLU of Ohio, said it's "a terrible shame that the Supreme Court of Ohio is permitting the state to evade compliance with the Ohio Constitution."

"Our clients have suffered tangible and irreparable harm during the eight months that HB 68 has been in place, including being denied essential health care in their home state," said Levenson. "The court of appeals was correct that H.B. 68 violates at least two separate provisions of the Ohio Constitution."

Yost had said in a statement at the time of the appellate court decision in March that he would seek an immediate stay, promising "there is no way I'll stop fighting to protect these unprotected children."

"Ohio's elected representatives properly passed legislation protecting children from irreversible chemical sex change procedures, and the trial court upheld the law," Yost said. "But now the 10th district court of appeals has just greenlighted these permanent medical interventions against minors."

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio University announced Tuesday that it is sunsetting its diversity, equity and inclusion offices, including the Multicultural Center, Pride Center and Women's Center.

In a message to students, Ohio University President Lori Gonzalez said the university is closing its diversity offices as required by Senate Bill 1, which will go into effect in late June. Gonzalez said OHIO is eliminating all of its Diversity and Inclusion staff positions, and impacted staff have the opportunity to apply for other positions within the university or receive separation benefits. See previous coverage of Senate Bill 1 in the video player above.

"I hope you will all join me in recognizing and celebrating the lasting impact that the Division of Diversity and Inclusion – as well as all the staff members who have dedicated their time and talent to diversity and inclusion work at OHIO – will forever have on our University, on the students we serve, and on each of us," Gonzalez said. "We must work collectively to preserve the legacy of their work and carry it forever forward."

The university is not removing any scholarships, as it already examined its diverse scholarships last year and ensured all were within compliance. The identity-relevant Templeton, Urban, Appalachian and Margaret Boyd Scholars programs are now moving to the Honors Tutorial College. Ohio University's LINKS program -- a first year support program for students of cultural, social and location-based diverse backgrounds -- will move to University College.

The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine's Office of Inclusion will also be retired, with the college's Office of Student Affairs taking on additional responsibilities. The Office of Accessibility Services, Veterans and Military Students Service Center and Office of Civil Rights Compliance will not be affected.

Gonzalez said the university will need input from students, faculty and staff who are passionate about inclusion and belonging as they go forward. She said the university hopes to build new support systems for students that are compliant with the law and still make students feel welcome.

"I want to be clear that the task ahead for all of us is not to look for ways to recreate the same approaches under a different name," Gonzalez said. "Rather, the charge is to invent something new that meets the moment and delivers results for our students."

The change is required under Senate Bill 1, which bars public universities from having any diversity, equity or inclusion programs on campus.

MARION, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ray Ray's Hog Pit, a fleet of barbecue eateries featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," is expanding with their first full-service restaurant in central Ohio.

Named "Ray Ray's Ohio Style," the new brick-and-mortar location is opening inside a historic building at 138 S. Main St. in Marion. While Ray Ray's is known for food trucks and walk-up eateries, the Marion restaurant will mark the brand's first foray into full-service dining.

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Ray Ray's site boasts the upcoming restaurant as a "brand new concept" with an expanded menu, including beef brisket, pulled pork and rib entrees with two sides, like baked beans and mac and cheese. Sandwiches and burgers with pub fries, wings, salads, appetizers and dessert round out the offerings.

The barbecue fleet is currently home to six central Ohio eateries, like the food truck parked outside Aardvark Wine & Beer in Linworth. The brand also operates a food truck at Ace of Cups in Clintonville, a walk-up window at Land-Grant Brewing in Franklinton, a drive-thru in Westerville, and a casual dine-in and pick-up location in Granville.

Ray Ray's Reload, one of the brand's renovated food trucks, was parked outside The Bottle Shop in Victorian Village for most of 2024 before moving in November to Hoof Hearted Brewery in the Short North.

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Chef and Ray Ray's owner James Anderson was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" in 2017, praised for his "succulent smoked offerings" at the "one-of-a-kind" barbecue truck. During the episode, Guy Fieri tried Ray Ray's Mangalitsa Brat Burger and St. Louis Spare Ribs.

While the brand has yet to announce an opening date for the Marion restaurant, the location is now hiring.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It has been a whirlwind of a month for Ohio State football, and coach Ryan Day plans to discuss it.

Day is scheduled to address the media for an offseason update at noon on Tuesday. You can watch his comments as they happen in the video player above.

Day is expected to talk about the 14 former Buckeyes who were drafted into the NFL over the weekend, tying an Ohio State record set in 2004. Ohio State had more draft picks than any other school in this year's draft, with the Buckeyes sending four defensive linemen to the NFL for the first time.

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Ohio State completed spring practice on April 12 with the spring game, which saw the quarterback competition play out among Lincoln Keinholz, Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair.

The Buckeyes also celebrated their most recent national championship with a visit to the White House on April 14.

The season is set to begin on Aug. 30 against Texas at Ohio Stadium in a rematch last season's Cotton Bowl semifinal.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - As we get closer to warmer temperatures and the summer season kicking off, Grove City has announced the list of bands and performers for its concert series.

Starting in May, residents can check out and listen to a variety of live entertainment at Town Center Park, located at 3359 Park St. The concerts will take place each Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. from May through August and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in September.

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Visitors are allowed to bring a chair or blankets to grab a spot and enjoy the performances. All concerts in the series are free and open to the public. Below is the full summer concert lineup.

• May 23: Grove City Community Winds
• June 6: The Conspiracy Band
• June 13: Cedar Brothers at Wine & Arts Festival
• June 20: These Guys Live
• July 18: The Usual Suspects
• Aug. 1: Long Play
• Aug. 15: Lee Gantt Band
• Aug. 29: The Twylights
•  Sept. 12: Blues Therapy
• Sept. 19: Rezes-Hall Band at Arts in the Alley

For any updates on the summer concert series including weather-related cancellations, visit the Grove City social media pages or website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus City Council has approved over $8 million in funding for a variety of summer programs that aim to serve vulnerable youth.

Last week, the council passed a series of ordinances that will provide grants to nonprofits for their summer programs. The acts, sponsored by Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, designated $8.6 million to 112 organizations. 

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“Recreation programming [allows] kids across the city to have an opportunity to not be sitting home with nothing to do but to be engaged in activities that bring about health and wellness and improve academic performance, so that's really our goal,” Day-Archauer said. “It gives our youth something positive that they can be engaged in with other youth under supervision.”

An open application process for the funding was held from Jan. 13 to Feb. 14, when 220 nonprofits filled out forms requesting an amount of money and sharing how they would use the funds. The applicants also provided documents such as finance reports and budgets so the council could confirm they are “stable” organizations, Day-Achauer said.

The funding proposals were evaluated by a review board consisting of council members from different committees. Funding was prioritized for programs serving “vulnerable, at-risk and underserved youth, particularly those disproportionately impacted by crime, violence and other related challenges,” a news release from the City of Columbus said. 

Many of the grants will benefit “opportunity neighborhoods," such as Linden and the Hilltop, where there are “fewer resources" available for young people and “more socioeconomic challenges,” Day-Achauer said. 

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Multiple of the selected nonprofits also help “historically underserved demographic groups,” according to Day-Achauer, including individuals with special needs and immigrants. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Kaleidoscope Youth Center for LGBTQ+ residents and Homeless Families Foundation were among those that received grants.  

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, an organization that offers out of school programming and youth mentorship, received $150,000. A spokesperson with the nonprofit said the funding will allow them to deliver a nine-week summer program for K–12 students.

“We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our young people," said chief program officer Jermaine Kennedy. "This funding allows us to expand access to high-quality programs that support academic success, career readiness and social-emotional growth for our members across Columbus and Franklin County."

The $8.6 million in funding will come from the city's operating budget, which is primarily funded through Columbus income taxes. The grants join an additional $19.6 million that has already been approved for a number of city-sponsored summer programs, including police and fire cadet classes, as well as youth sports.

“We owe it to our kids to give them every chance to succeed,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement. “By providing them with structure and stability, and helping them to develop new skills, we are building a brighter tomorrow while ensuring the kind of growth that is both dynamic and inclusive.”

In January 2024, Day-Achauer began serving in city council's District 2 seat, which encompasses areas of west Columbus. She is the chair of the neighborhoods, recreation and parks committee, and the vice chair of the public service and transportation committee. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- President Donald Trump is working to overhaul American higher education through accreditors, calling out three that are responsible for approving Ohio universities and colleges for federal funding.

In one of seven executive orders signed April 23, Trump directed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to hold collegiate accreditors accountable by suspending or terminating their certification if they require colleges to incorporate diversity, equity or inclusion. McMahon is to reform the accreditation system by:

• Recognizing new accreditors for more competition
• Requiring universities to submit program-level student data without referencing sex or race
• Prioritizing intellectual diversity
• Beginning an experimental site for new accreditation pathways
• Making accreditation more efficient

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To be eligible for federal resources -- including Pell Grants and student loans -- all colleges and universities must be accredited by a Department of Education-approved private accrediting company. In Ohio, most universities are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, including Ohio State and Ohio universities. The Higher Learning Commission was not included by name in the executive order, but still falls under its umbrella.

“While we firmly reject President Trump’s mischaracterization of accreditors’ role in the nation’s postsecondary education system, we stand ready to work with the Secretary of Education on policies that will advance our shared mission of enhancing quality, innovation, integrity and accountability,” the Higher Learning Commission said in a statement.

The commission does have a standard about diversity of society, but it does not say institutions are required to have diversity, equity and inclusion programs, saying: “The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.”

According to the commission, campus definitions of DEI and strategies for access and inclusion can be used as evidence that an institution is meeting this standard, but they are not required. 

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Some programs undergo separate accreditation, including law schools at Capital University and Ohio State, which are accredited by the American Bar Association. The ABA was called out by name in Trump’s executive order for requiring law schools to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

In February, the ABA suspended its diversity and inclusion standard until Aug. 31 to ensure it can be updated to comply with federal law. Nevertheless, Trump quoted from the suspended diversity and inclusion standard in his executive order, saying the “discriminatory requirement blatantly violates” the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision on affirmative action. 

The ABA told NBC4 it has no comment at this time about the executive order and its inclusion in it. Ohio State also chose not to comment at this time, directing questions to accreditors.

The executive order also called out the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which addressed its concerns on Monday. Established in 1981, ACGME accredits 677 programs in Ohio alone, including specialty programs at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State's hospitals and Riverside Hospital. 

“The ACGME takes this very seriously and is evaluating the executive order and its implications for the accreditation standards and processes as a high priority,” representatives said.

ACGME said it will share more updates once it has examined what this means for the team. It does require a "diverse and inclusive workforce" for programs to be accredited and prioritizes diverse education. ACGME said patients come from diverse backgrounds, and understanding diversity in gender, age, sex, religion, etc. is crucial to providing appropriate patient care.

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The third accreditor named in the executive order is the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the only federally approved accreditor of Doctor of Medicine programs. It serves as the accreditor for MD programs at Wright State, Case Western, Northeast Ohio Medical University, OSU, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Toledo. The LCME has been recognized by the federal government as an MD program accreditor since the 1950s.

LCME does have one policy requiring each university to prioritize achieving diversity among its students. It did not respond to NBC4's request for comment by publication.

Trump has long promised action toward accreditors, calling the accreditation system his "secret weapon" for minimizing liberal influence on college campuses.

“When I return to the White House I will fire the radical left accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics,” Trump promised in a campaign video from May 2023.

Full surveys of universities typically happen every ten years. Ohio University was accredited this past March, and Ohio State will need its accreditation reaffirmed in the 2026-2027 school year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Plans to build apartments where Spaghetti Warehouse once stood are gaining support from Columbus development officials, including a commissioner who praised the design as "one of the best I've seen."

The downtown commission's April 22 meeting included a review of the proposal, which calls for two seven-story buildings with 250 apartments to be constructed at 397 W. Broad St., the property home to Spaghetti Warehouse before it was demolished in February. Commissioners lauded the plans as "an amazing step forward," and said they're likely to be supportive moving forward. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the Spaghetti Warehouse in the video player above.

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Designed by Columbus architecture firm Moody Nolan, the complex will be named "The Macklin" in honor of a 19th-century hotel that operated on the site until the 1950s. Once completed, the two buildings are meant to mimic two halves of a geode crystal that has been split.

"We have this brick outside, we pulled the building apart to kind of create an interior that's a little more industrial, like to have a subtle nod to the idea of crystals," said Jon Guldenzopf, a Moody Nolan design leader. "So, the outside's wrapped with brick and then exposes a sort of industrial inside that's both metal [and] industrial, but also has this crystallin undulating façade."

The development is also set to include a first-floor bar called Crystal, named after an ice manufacturing company built in 1891 that operated on the property for several decades. The first two floors will house the complex's 277-space parking garage and some amenities, like a fitness center and a co-working space.

The third floor of each building will feature an "amenity deck," with the north building's deck home to an "Ice Cube Amenity Lounge" and the south building's deck including a pool. The Macklin's upper residential floors will house 35 studio units at 465 square feet, 153 one-bedroom units at 596 square feet, and 62 two-bedroom units at 896 square feet.

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"We obviously want this to be special, so we worked with the Moody Nolan team for over a year and different iterations of this building and we're very pleased with the work they've done," said Patrick Kelley, co-owner of the project and president of real estate company Falco, Smith & Kelley.

• Plans call for two seven-story buildings to be constructed at the former Spaghetti Warehouse property. (Courtesy Photo/Moody Nolan, City of Columbus)
• Plans call for two seven-story buildings to be constructed at the former Spaghetti Warehouse property. (Courtesy Photo/Moody Nolan, City of Columbus)
• Plans call for two seven-story buildings to be constructed at the former Spaghetti Warehouse property. (Courtesy Photo/Moody Nolan, City of Columbus)
• Plans call for two seven-story buildings to be constructed at the former Spaghetti Warehouse property. (Courtesy Photo/Moody Nolan, City of Columbus)
• Plans call for two seven-story buildings to be constructed at the former Spaghetti Warehouse property. (Courtesy Photo/Moody Nolan, City of Columbus)

Developers introduced plans in January 2024 to demolish the Spaghetti Warehouse building to make way for an apartment development, which at the time called for 534 units and a 577-space parking garage. Last October, the Ohio Department of Development awarded $52 million for demolition projects across the state, including the Spaghetti Warehouse.

Doug Pak, another co-owner of the project and CEO of the Spaghetti Warehouse chain, noted during the April meeting that the project is much smaller than first imagined because "of the reality of the market conditions." Pak argued the team is doing "the best we can with a smaller scope," while promising to still deliver on components like affordability.

Kelley emphasized that effort, and said the development is aiming "to do as much affordability here as is practically possible." The team will be deciding how many units are dedicated to affordable housing and how many to market-rate in the coming months.

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"We have a very strong interest in the affordability factor; we recognize the need is tremendous in central Ohio, and our goal is to do as much affordability as we can, above and beyond what's typically required," Kelley said.

The project is also owned Robert Weiler of the Robert Weiler Company, who joined Kelley and Pak in calling for the Spaghetti Warehouse's demolition in 2022 given the building was "simply too old and unsafe." Known for its historic trolley that was saved from demolition to become a learning tool honoring a central Ohio transportation inventor, Spaghetti Warehouse has since reopened Downtown.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One person is dead after a shooting in South Side of Columbus early Tuesday morning.

According to Columbus police one person was shot at around 2:43 a.m. just south of the intersection of South Champion Avenue and Reinhard Avenue in the Karns Park area.

The victim was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead at 3:08 a.m. Several CPD units were canvasing the area sidewalks and two-block portion of South Champion Avenue was closed while officers investigated.

No other information is currently available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio school districts are hoping to find success at the ballot Tuesday, when voters will decide the fate of several school bond issues or levies.

Many funding requests stem from increasing enrollment as central Ohio's population grows. Funds would help districts afford building renovations and expansions, or just allow them keep operating. Ohio public schools are facing potential funding cuts from the state, making ballot requests all the more crucial.

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Here are the levy and bond issues you can expect on your ballot May 6.

Groveport Madison -- Issue 24

Just six months after voters rejected a district levy, Groveport residents will vote on school funding once more. If passed, Issue 24 would generate $77.2 million for the district, which it would use to construct three new middle schools and expand Groveport Madison High School. See previous coverage of Issue 24 in the video player above.

The district said the bond issue would help fund crucial improvements to district facilities. The district fears its current facilities will not suffice as enrollment increases, with the student body predicted to increase by more than 620 students over the next 10 years.

Further, the district said new middle schools are needed to replace the current open floor plan buildings, which raise safety concerns and are often distracting.

The issue would cost taxpayers $81.55 per $100,000 of their home value annually, a less than $3 decrease from the levy that failed last November. Residents against the levy told NBC4 they worry the district is not spending money responsibly and that they cannot afford higher taxes. Residents in favor of the levy said it is important to support students.

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For the third time, Marysville is requesting community help with an emergency levy, a last chance to avoid major budget cuts. The 5.5 mills emergency operating levy would generate $6.8 million and allow the district to keep up with day-to-day operations.

The last two levies Marysville put on the ballot failed, and the district will have to cut 30 teachers and a number of classes if this one fails as well.

The district has not passed a levy in 17 years and is now entering a deficit, so it is spending more than it is bringing in. The district said it has already cut spending by more than $2 million, and any further cuts will dramatically change the district's makeup.

The emergency levy would cost taxpayers $192.50 per $100,000 of their home's value each year. Parents in favor of the levy told NBC4 their children are devastated about possible cuts impacting their favorite students and teachers. Other residents said they simply can't afford higher property taxes.

Jonathan Alder -- Bond issue, 5.12 mills

Jonathan Alder Local Schools are requesting a 5.12 mills bond issue that would generate around $70.6 million for the district. If passed, the district would use the money to fund its facilities master plan.

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The plan involves renovating district buildings and constructing a new high school and junior high. Jonathan Alder leadership said enrollment is increasing, with its 2,300 total enrollment predicted to grow by 385 students over the next ten years. The district is hoping to bring each school building to 80% capacity in order to prepare for growth and better distribute district resources.

The bond issue would cost most residents $179 per $100,000 of their home value per year. However, residents on land that qualifies for current agricultural use valuation (CAUV) will pay less on their land. CAUV residents will owe $5.22 per acre. If the issue does not pass, the Board of Education will consider another bond issue request, although costs will likely increase the longer it takes to pass.

Southwest Licking -- Bond issue, 4.2 mills

Southwest Licking has a $115 million bond issue on the ballot this May. If passed, it would fund a new fifth- and sixth-grade middle school, a high school expansion and The Spear, a training facility and aquatic center.

The renovations were developed by a team of parents, community members and district representatives and would cost about $115 million in total. Although the district has new buildings thanks to a 2017 partnership with the state, district representatives said state officials did not consider Southwest Licking's enrollment projections, so the schools are ill-equipped to handle increasing enrollment. The Spear training facility will be built in collaboration with the YMCA and offer amenities for students and community members.

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The bond issue would cost taxpayers $12.25 per $100,000 of their home's value each year. Parents in favor of the bond issue said costs will only increase overtime, and the funding is needed to address growing enrollment. Those against the issue said the cost of the taxes would be especially difficult for retired community members, and they don't feel the cost is worth it.

Teays Valley -- Bond issue, 3.26 mills

Teays Valley Local Schools are requesting a 3.26 mills bond issue to help build new schools. If passed, the issue would generate $64.39 million over 37 years to fund two new intermediate schools.

The district projects enrollment will increase by 1,000 students over the next 10 years, a significant increase to its current 4,420-member student body. The district said three elementary or middle schools are already at or over capacity, and the district has already spend $650,000 on overflow classrooms. The expansion would allow them to reconfigure their schools to address enrollment.

If voters approve the bond issue, it will cost taxpayers $52.50 annually per $100,000 of their home's value. The district said without bond issue funds, overflow classrooms costs could total more than $20 million over the next 10 years, and overcrowding will put pressure on the district's resources and learning environment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Wesley Moore and his brothers grew up homeless, struggling just to survive. Now, the non-profit organization they built from the ground up is hanging by a thread. 

"The goal is to keep them alive more than anything, keep them off the street,” Wesley Moore, director and co-founder of Our Brothers Keepers, said. "A lot of what we've been doing it out of our own pockets. For the last three years - three years - was getting $300,000. So now I'm a zero." 

That $300,000 in federal funding paid the youth for summer jobs and built apartments for teens kicked out of foster care on their 18th birthday. 

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"People always say, ‘I know how you feel,’” said Jaylen Bro, an Our Brothers Keepers resident for the last ten months. “No, you don't. They understand what feelings can be brought up from the situation that we were put in, or had to have had to have a fight and gone through.” 

Bro is learning real skills remodeling a space for the organization. The leaders said the program works because of who they are. 

“A couple words can stop a kids’ doing something really crazy and just having, like, a safe space and a mentor,” Our Brothers Keepers co-founder Markey Moore said. 

"We're seeing so many young people not have an outlet and a positive outlet that actually looks like them,” mental health specialist Lance Sullivan said. “They can understand where they're coming from." 

When Kentrell Rinehart leaves the program, he'll head to college to play football at Central State. 

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"I got good mentors, good, great men I got to be able to talk to, you know what I mean, about personal problems and all that,” he said. 

A sudden lack of federal funding dampens the outlook for the group, so City of Grace Church stepped in to provide resources, manpower, and funding. 

"With their backs against the wall, they can turn to other things like violence and, and crime, so it's important that we have these things in place so they can have somewhere to turn to,” City of Grace Church Executive Pastor Rick Jones said. 

Our Brothers Keepers believe the partnership can be a model for other organizations in the city, and the proof it works is in the young men whose lives are changed. 

"There's always somebody in a worse situation than you,” Bro said. "You can get up and go, go find a job, you can get up and go do something that can be productive and make your life better." 

Another young man living at the apartments for the last two years has raised his GPA from the 2s to a 4.0. He is going to college in the fall and joining the United States Marines Reserves. After that, he wants to come back to Our Brothers Keepers to help youth like himself. 

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- For so many women, midlife not only brings hormonal changes but all too often, the search for a health care provider that can help them navigate those changes with empathy and care. 

OhioHealth saw the gap in care and opened a clinic with a specific patient in mind. 

“As we are approaching this midlife change and all the changes that are happening to our body due to aging due to hormone shifts,” Dr. Pregna Patel, physician with the OhioHealth Menopause and Midlife Clinic, said. “It’s really not brought to the forefront, so there’s lots of options, lots of things we can do. It’s just about knowledge, education and empowerment.” 

Patel said that many of the women have experienced a void in not just care but also education as it relates to menopause after having children. She said the symptoms are wide-ranging – everything from weight gain and hair loss to emotional changes. The clinic specializes in treatments that address those concerns. 

Nancy Thompson said that for months, she knew something was not right with her body and knew she needed to get answers. After trying several suggestions and not seeing much success from her gynecologist, she reached out to her primary physician hoping something would work. 

“When she asked me how I was doing, I just started sobbing again, and in the conversation, she happened to mention that there was a new menopause clinic that had opened up through OhioHealth,” Thompson said. 

The now 45-year-old was able to secure a cancelled appointment the next day, and the Ashtabula resident said she made the 90-minute drive to New Albany to the Menopause and Midlife Clinic. 

 “It was just life-changing,” Thompson said. “From that moment on, I walked out with hormone replacement therapy, which is what I was looking for, and life has been good since then. Find someone who will listen, and if someone's not helping you or listening to you, you don't feel heard, find someone who will.” 

For more on the OhioHealth Menopause and Midlife Clinic, located inside the OhioHealth New Albany Medical Campus, click here. 

FREDERICKTOWN, Ohio (WCMH) — A weekend fire destroyed a decades-old, family-owned butcher shop in a Knox County community.  

“Was my wife and my office, and then the rest of it, the front there was our retail," Mike Jessee, owner of Dee Jay's Custom Butchering, said as he pointed at what's left of the business. 

For almost 32 years, the building and business have been Jessee and his family's livelihood. The butcher shop opened in Fredericktown in 1978. The Jessees have owned it since 1993.

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The fire happened Saturday. Jessee showed NBC4 around on Monday morning. 

“It just kind of really set in this morning, especially when I got up to go to work, which I couldn’t go to work," Jessee said. 

Someone driving by the shop noticed the fire and called 911. Pictures from the Fredericktown Community Fire District showed flames throughout most of the building. Jessee said nothing inside can be saved. 

“Kind of was not in belief until we got down here," he said. "Really affected my daughter, she grew up here.”

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The fire department got the call around 2:15 a.m. Nine different departments helped put the fire out, according to Chief Scott Mast.  

As much as Dee Jay's is known for their product, Mast said the business has also been a great community supporter. A fundraising effort has now been started to help the beloved business owners. 

“It’s heartbreaking, it really is, and you feel for Mike and Jenny and for their employees and the effect it will have on our community, so it was heartbreaking -- that was the best word I could describe when it all started," Mast said. 

Jessee said there will be a comeback. 

"This is not the end of Dee Jay's, no, we’ll just have to rebuild it and, hopefully, better," he said. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohio school districts have been speaking out against the state budget, or House Bill 96, for months, but a so-called claw-back provision from the Ohio House-passed version of the bill is causing concern. 

Public school districts have cash reserves that serve as their savings account or rainy-day fund. This money is carried over each year. But if the budget is approved as is, school treasurers said it could be detrimental to some districts. 

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The claw-back provision would only allow 30% of a district’s cash reserve to be carried over. The rest would go back to the taxpayers, which proponents said is a form of property tax relief. 

Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said this is a short-term solution for property tax relief. 

“You could see districts that are otherwise in a healthy fiscal shape be forced into a really negative path that could lead ultimately to fiscal watch or fiscal emergency,” DiMauro said. 

Olentangy and Westerville are among the districts that would be impacted by this claw-back provision in House Bill 96. 

Olentangy Treasurer and CFO Ryan Jenkins said the money in the cash reserve right now is being saved for the future as the district continues to grow. 

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“Over the next three to five years, we will grow as a district and we will absorb that carryover as we fund new staff and new schools,” Jenkins said. “So we believe we have a plan for every dollar in the reserve.” 

Jenkins said Olentangy could lose up to $100 million. The money would go back to the taxpayers, but the district would then have to go back to the voters almost every year. 

“We understand and want tax relief for our community members,” Jenkins said. “We value that. We also know as a district that we prioritize every dollar that we get from our community.” 

This could put Olentangy, Westerville and other districts in the fiscal emergency territory. This means the state would appoint a commission that controls all aspects of a district’s finances. The commission is in charge of saving money, which could mean programming or staff cuts and larger class sizes. 

Westerville Treasurer Nicole Marshall said the district would lose around $110 million. 

“For us, we’d be looking at fiscal watch,” Marshall said. “We would have to eliminate a lot of programs and services to students, likely down to state and federal minimum requirements.” 

ODOT approves $82 million to widen U.S. 33 in southeastern Franklin County

Marshall said this could also result in Westerville putting levies on the ballot almost yearly. 

“There’s lots of needs that our school district has overall and for the state to just take everything away that we have, they would just be putting the district and the community in a really tough spot,” Marshall said. 

The state budget was passed in the Ohio House and is currently in the Senate. Both school treasurers said they are hopeful the claw-back provision will be changed and that public schools will be fully funded in the final budget. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Council is voting on a variety of ordinances to fund programs that support an array of Columbus residents.  

More than $500,000 left over from COVID-19 relief funding was approved to help low-income residents pay utility bills.  

"It speaks to the stewarding of public dollars that the city has really taken into account, but also speaks to the fact that we want to be supportive of our residents at a time of need and trying to do our best to support them when they need support from the city," Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche said.

ODOT approves $82 million to widen U.S. 33 in southeastern Franklin County

This is just for City of Columbus utility customers. Those who qualify for the low-income program will receive a 25% discount on water and sewer usage charges and a one-time credit of $65. City of Columbus Power customers can also receive that same discount off their energy usage and a one-time $50 credit. 

More people now qualify for this assistance as well because the city raised the income limit. For those breakdowns as well as how to apply, click here.  

There are also special discounts for seniors. Those age 60 and older who qualify for the program will have their service charges waived, which is a little over $11 a month. 

That's not the only support older residents are getting from the council. Funding was approved to support nonprofits that help seniors age in place. 

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Four organizations are receiving money to help more than 700 people navigate aging in their homes. They say this is extremely important because many people cannot afford assisted living. 

These nonprofits provide older adults with meal delivery, grocery support, transportation and home maintenance. 

At Home by High in the Weinland Park area is one of the organizations receiving this funding. They are a small grassroots non-profit with two staff members and a few interns. They said the funding is essential for their work to continue. 

"Keeping us going with funding from the city is huge,” At Home By High Executive Director Katie Beaumont said. “It's just, you know, very few opportunities for us come around and we've been so thrilled that this is the second year that we've received funding through our (Columbus City) Councilmember (Nancy) Day-Achauer." 

"We can't build enough places in the city to take care of the population," Village Connections Executive Director Donald Wiggins said. "We have a real obligation to figure out how we can keep people in their homes." 

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Village Connections is another organization that received funding, as well as Village in the Ville and Village Central. 

"It's very difficult for programs that help our older adults get funding, and so this was a way that I could help them get the kind of funding that helps with socializing,” Day-Achauer said. “A lot of times you can't get funding to pay for parties, fun stuff, things like that. But that fun stuff is actually critically important to our older adults.” 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Legislation to change Ohio’s recreational marijuana laws and regulate Delta-8 are likely to move forward in the Ohio Statehouse this week.  

Right now, there are two bills being heard in the same Ohio House committee to regulate recreational marijuana and change what voters approved a year and a half ago.

“As a cannabis industry as a whole, we are continuing to fight this stigma,” said Emilie Ramach, vice president of business and government affairs for BeneLeaves.  

“It's going to improve the marijuana industry,” Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) said.  

Huffman is sponsoring Senate Bill 56. His bill passed the Senate and now awaits action in the House. House Bill 160 is a similar bill that is also being worked on in the House. They both, for example, decrease legal THC extract levels from 90% to 70%. That change would impact products like gummies or brownies.  

“When you do that, you have to have a filler,” said Tim Johnson, president and founder of Cannabis Safety First. “You have to have an additive in there. So instead of having 90% of a purity, now you have 70%.”  

The bills each make dozens of changes to recreational marijuana laws, like capping the number of dispensaries at 350. But Huffman said that is not a main priority in the bill.  

“The public consumption -- not smoking and in a moving vehicle -- are really important things in the advertising towards children,” Huffman said.  

While the bills are similar, there are differences.

Senate Bill 56 cuts the number of plants that can be grown in a house with two adults from 12 to six. House Bill 160 keeps it at 12. But Huffman said he is willing to compromise.  

“If we get to 12, that's OK,” he said.  

While each bill makes dozens of changes, Johnson said he thinks each one misses the mark.  

“What we continually leave out is the criminal justice reform factor,” Johnson said. “We need to have housing rights, we need to have employment rights, child custody.”  

“We can always look at things going further,” Huffman said.

Right now, in both bills, the application for records expungement costs $50, then there must be at least one court hearing.

Huffman said that process is “better than what it is now.”  

“It certainly gives the path for people to expunge things that are not criminal now,” Huffman said.  

Meanwhile, there are related bills to regulate what is sometimes known as “diet weed,” or Delta-8, also moving forward.  

“I think hemp is probably more important than marijuana,” Huffman said.  

Right now, the product is fully available for anyone to buy at convenient stores, with no age restriction and gives a similar high as marijuana does. Last year, the bill stalled when the House and Senate couldn’t decide whether to ban it completely, or just regulate those products. Now, lawmakers seek to require those products be sold in a dispensary.  

Huffman said he is confident both marijuana and Delta-8 regulations will pass the statehouse by July 1.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man charged with reckless homicide in connection to the fatal beating of a man in Grandview Heights has pleaded guilty.

According to court records, Jacob Laurence, who was facing felony charges of reckless homicide and two counts of tampering with evidence, pleaded guilty to the former charge Monday afternoon. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

Two jailed in death of 4-year-old Reynoldsburg boy facing 24 charges, including murder

Laurence, 34, was arrested in the November 13, 2023, assault of Stephen Albright, who was found unresponsive near the intersection of West 5th Avenue and Dublin Road in the Marble Cliff area. Albright, 57, died from “severe head injuries” four days later.

An investigation led the police to Laurence one week later after receiving a tip. Laurence was one of two people named of interest after surveillance video images from the area of Albright’s death were released.

Jacob Laurence

A SWAT unit tracked Laurence to the 1300 block of Dublin Road after a home search warrant in the 100 block of Columbian Avenue was issued. He was charged in Nov. 2023 with parole violations related to a burglary investigation, but in March 2024 was officially indicted in Albright’s death.

Police also took a woman connected with Laurence into custody and questioned her but never identified her or filed any charges against her. Albright's brother, James, said the night of the incident, Stephen had dropped his daughter off at a class and decided to go for a run.

A sentence hearing for Laurence is scheduled for May 20 and he could face a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A FedEx truck crashed into the side of a Westerville-area home on Monday.

The crash happened in the 5600 block of Godetia Street, officials said.

Photos taken by an NBC4 photographer show the front of the truck completely inside the home.

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Police said the driver of the FedEx truck is "alert and conscious," adding that no one has been transported to a hospital as of about 2 p.m.

No other details were immediately available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Weather Alert Day will go into effect Tuesday as Storm Team 4 tracks a round of strong to severe thunderstorms. This system is going to make its way through the upper Midwest.

Between Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, it is predicted to cause widespread issues.

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

By the time it arrives locally, this storm is still expected to weaken; however, there will be enough ingredients in our environment to sustain some of its steam. The strongest activity is expected to arrive some time between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Storm Prediction Center has already placed most of central Ohio at an Enhanced Risk for severe weather. This is level 3 out of 5 on the risk scale. An enhanced risk means that numerous storms are possible and that they may be more persistent and/or widespread. 

The biggest threat with these storms will be for large hail. Chances for strong wind gusts over 60 mph are also most likely to occur north of I-70. This is the same case for the tornado threat which again leans on the lower end risk.

Storm Team 4 will continue to monitor this system and provide any updates to changes in the forecast.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three central Ohio used-car dealerships described by the attorney general's office as "shady" are being sued by the state.

The office of Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday that six lawsuits have been filed against used-car dealerships in the state, alleging failure to provide vehicle titles to dozens of customers. Payments have been issued to those who bought used cars from these dealerships totaling over $300,000 combined from the Title Defect Recission fund.

The TDR fund is used to pay Ohioans who do not receive a vehicle title within 40 days of purchasing the vehicle. Among the dealerships being sued are one each in Fairfield, Fayette, and Licking counties.

Two jailed in death of 4-year-old Reynoldsburg boy facing 24 charges, including murder

Located in Lancaster, Highway 22 Auto Sales and its owner Debra Jeffers have been sued by the attorney general's office. 10 title-related complaints are listed which account for over $39,000 from the TDR fund.

Fayette County's Robinson Auto in Jeffersonville and its owner Shawn Robinson were sued for allegedly not filing 10 vehicle titles, costing more than $62,000 from the TDR fund. The last central Ohio dealer sued is Ohio Luxury Imports in Reynoldsburg. The owner Renato Jovanovski has also been named as a defendant with 15 title-related complaints that resulted in the state paying consumers over $71,000 back.

The other three dealers sued were Sirius Motors in Butler County, Automax of Canton in Stark County, and Prestige Family Cars in Wood County.