Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio elementary school janitor was arrested and charged on Friday for pandering child sexual abuse material.

Rick Andermatt, 41, was arrested by Columbus Police in the 6900 block of Weurful Drive on Friday. Police said Andermatt engaged in a sexual conversation with a minor that resulted in the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Records obtained from Franklin County municipal court stated Andermatt was a janitor at Indian Trail Elementary School. Court documents said the 16-year-old victim and Andermatt exchanged explicit photos, and Andermatt had arranged plans to meet with the victim.

According to Columbus Police, the victim did not attend the school where Andermatt was working. NBC4 reached out to Canal Winchester Local Schools, which said they took immediate action when learning of Andermatt's arrest.

"The district placed a second-shift custodian on administrative leave effective immediately on Friday, April 25, after learning that the employee was arrested on charges of pandering sexually oriented material to a minor. The employee has been notified that they are not allowed to be on school property or attend any district events while on administrative leave."

The district also emphasized the importance of student safety in its statement.

"While we understand that this matter does not involve any of our students, we take the safety and well-being of all children seriously. We will continue to cooperate fully with the Columbus Police Department in their investigation and follow state law and our district policies to take the appropriate and necessary steps."

Andermatt has been charged with one count of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor. He is scheduled to be arraigned in the Franklin County municipal court on April 26.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three people are injured after a Columbus crash on Saturday morning involving a bus.

Authorities responded to the intersection of East Fifth Avenue and North 20th Street at 11:11 a.m. on Saturday after report of a crash, according to the Columbus Division of Police. Three vehicles were involved in the collision, including a COTA bus.

Police said three people were taken to a local hospital in stable condition. A COTA spokesperson said one of those transported was the bus operator.

No other details are available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A $1.5 million bond has been set for a Columbus man accused in a fatal shooting, who said he was trying to prevent his car from being stolen.

The suspect, Demetrius Ransom Jr., was arraigned at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Franklin County Municipal Court on a murder charge. In addition to the bond, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 5.

Saturday's arraignment came after Franklin County sheriff's deputies responded at about 8:10 p.m. on Thursday to a gas station at the Northern Lights Shopping Center in the 3300 block of Cleveland Avenue -- in a section of Clinton Township surrounded by Columbus' North Linden neighborhood. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the shooting in the video player above.

Licking County man sentenced for child sexual abuse material

Deputies found a man, later identified as Ahmed Abdirahman, 30, who had been shot in the chest. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m.

Authorities later detained Ransom Jr., who told them that the victim had attempted to steal his car, which he had left running unattended in the station parking lot. A firearm believed to be used in the shooting was seized.

Ransom, who is 24 years old, was taken to the Franklin County Jail. Court records show that he lives in Columbus.

(NEXSTAR) – Need a socially acceptable excuse to start drinking champagne at 11 a.m.? Sounds like you’re in the mood for brunch.

Where to get brunch, however, remains the ultimate question. Sure, you could pick the nearest brunchy restaurant (or the one with bottomless mimosas, if that’s your thing). But for the best dining experience, it’s worth seeking out a top-notch eatery with stellar reviews, lovely ambiance, and, ideally, something edible to go with your peach bellini.

Columbus’ Leveque Tower to covert apartments into for-sale condos

To that end, OpenTable has released its 2025 list of the “Top 100 Brunch Restaurants" in the country. This year, restaurants in 24 states and Washington D.C. made the cut, each having earned very respectable reviews among OpenTable diners using the online platform.

California

• Baltaire — Los Angeles
• Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove — Newport Coast
• Cesarina — San Diego
• Dalida — San Francisco
• Elena's — San Francisco
• Farmhouse at Rogers Gardens — Corona Del Mar
• Foreign Cinema — San Francisco
• Girl & the Goat L.A. — Los Angeles
• insideOUT — San Diego
• Mister A's — San Diego
• Mustards Grill — Yountville
• Nick's on State — Carlsbad
• Original Joe's Westlake — Daly City
• Republique — Los Angeles
• Scala Osteria – Napa
• Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch — Santa Barbara
• Summit House — Fullerton
• The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil — Rutherford
• The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus — San Francisco
• The Tea House on Los Rios — San Juan Capistrano
• The Village Pub — Woodside
• Zuni Cafe — San Francisco

District of Columbia

• Chez Billy Sud
• dLeña
• Filomena Ristorante 
• Old Ebbitt Grill

Florida

• La Nouvelle — St. Augustine
• Latitudes — Key West
• MILA — Miami Beach
• Sails Restaurant — Naples
• Ulele — Tampa

Georgia

• Canoe — Atlanta
• Casi Cielo Mexican Cuisine — Atlanta
• Lips — Atlanta
• Poor Calvin's — Atlanta
• Rumi's Kitchen — Atlanta

Hawaii

• Duke's Beach House Maui — Lahaina
• Mala Ocean Tavern — Lahaina
• Merriman's - Waimea - Big Island — Kamuela

Idaho

• Ten/6 — Coeur d' Alene

Illinois

• 3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago — Chicago
• Café Ba-Ba-Reeba — Chicago
• Duck Duck Goat — Chicago
• Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse — Chicago
• Gibsons Italia — Chicago
• Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab — Chicago
• Mon Ami Gabi — Chicago
• North Pond — Chicago
• Petite Vie — Western Springs
• Pizzeria Portofino — Chicago
• RL Restaurant — Chicago

Indiana

• The Cake Bake Shop — Caramel

Kentucky

• Carson's on Main — Lexington

Louisiana

• Atchafalaya Restaurant — New Orleans
• Brennan's — New Orleans
• La Petite Grocery — New Orleans
• St Francisville Inn & Restaurant — St Francisville

Massachusetts

• Bar Vlaha — Brookline
• Brassica Kitchen — Boston
• Comfort Kitchen — Boston
• Krasi — Boston
• Prima — Boston
• Silver Dove Afternoon Tea — Boston

Minnesota

• Baldamar — Roseville

Missouri

• Annie Gunn's — Chesterfield

North Carolina

• Afternoon Tea at the O.Henry Hotel — Greensboro
• Herons — Cary

New Jersey

• Tops Diner — East Newark

Nevada

• Eiffel Tower — Las Vegas
• Esther's Kitchen — Las Vegas
• Ocean Prime — Las Vegas

New York

• BG - Bergdorf Goodman — New York
• Cafe Luxembourg — New York
• Carmine's - 44th Street — New York
• Del Vino Vineyards — Northport
• Gallagher's Steakhouse - Manhattan — New York
• Little Owl — New York
• Nubeluz — New York
• Palma — New York
• Tavern on the Green — New York
• The Farm Italy Restaurant + Bar — Huntington
• The Odeon — New York
• Tony's Di Napoli - Midtown — New York

Ohio

• Forno Kitchen and Bar — Columbus
• Lindey's — Columbus
• Pier W — Cleveland

Oklahoma

• FRIDA southwest — Oklahoma City

Pennsylvania

• Parc — Philadelphia
• Talula's Garden — Philadelphia

Rhode Island

• The Lawn Terrace at Castle Hill — Newport

Tennessee

• Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro — Townsend
• Noko — Nashville

Texas

• Aba — Austin
• Al Biernat's - Oak Lawn — Dallas
• Cafe Pacific — Dallas
• Kenny's Wood Fired Grill — Dallas
• Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar — Austin

Virginia

• L'Auberge Chez Francois — Great Falls
• Le Yaca — Williamsburg

Washington

• Tilikum Place Cafe — Seattle

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To determine this year’s lists, the analysts at OpenTable weighed a number of factors including user reviews, ratings, demand, and reservation and search data. A representative for OpenTable told Nexstar that only restaurants with “a minimum number of brunch reviews and Sunday lunch availability” were considered for the list.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WCMH) -- The final day of the NFL Draft has arrived as the class of Buckeyes look to set a record.

The final four rounds will take place Saturday afternoon in Green Bay beginning at noon. Despite the lack of emphasis on these later rounds, plenty of players picked this late have become NFL legends. None is more notable than Tom Brady, who was the 199th overall selection 25 years ago.

Going into day three, seven Ohio State players from the 2024 national championship team have been taken and eight are available going into round four. Four Buckeyes were drafted on Thursday night in the first round for the first time in nine years while three were taken on Friday in the second round.

If the remaining eight players are drafted on Saturday, this Buckeyes class will tie the 2022 Georgia class for the most selections from one school in a single NFL Draft with 15.

The other story to watch is quarterback Shedeur Sanders' continued slide. Despite being projected to be among the top picks, the Colorado QB still has yet to be drafted with five quarterbacks already taken before him.

Ohio State players drafted

• R1: P19 - WR Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• R1: P24 - OG Donovan Jackson (Minnesota Vikings)
• R1: P28 - DT Tyleik Williams (Detroit Lions)
• R1: P32 - OT Josh Simmons (Kansas City Chiefs)
• R2: P36 - RB Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns)
• R2: P38 - RB TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots)
• R2: P45 - DE JT Tuimoloau (Indianapolis Colts)

Ohio State players available

• LB Jack Sawyer
• CB Denzel Burke
• QB Will Howard
• SAF Lathan Ransom
• CB Jordan Hancock
• LB Cody Simon
• DT Ty Hamilton
• OC Seth McLaughlin

Follow below for live updates throughout day three of the 2025 NFL Draft

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• Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during a visit to the Meijer Performance Center on April 25, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- After two years without one, Ohio Wesleyan University unveiled plans for a new university library on Friday.

The university raised more than $50 million in just three months to build the new library after mold concerns forced a closure in the summer of 2023. The university ambitiously plans to open the completed library in January 2027, and construction will begin this summer.

Just days into Ohio Wesleyan President Matt vandenBerg's tenure, he made the emergency decision to close Beeghly Library on campus due to moisture and mold. Ohio Wesleyan spokesperson Cole Hatcher said they decided to close the library over the summer to avoid midterm complications. However, it left Ohio Wesleyan without its formal library for several years.

Perkins Eastman and Ohio-based Levin Porter Architects are overseeing the project, which involves renovating the existing library. Once completed, it will also house the Department of Fine Arts with studios, classrooms and gallery spaces.

“Imagine heading to the library to study for a biology final and seeing an art student diligently turning a new piece on a ceramic wheel or watching digital content being created in a state-of-the-art studio,” Levin Porter President Matt Franklin said. “We hope these collisions encourage OWU students to embrace the many benefits of a liberal arts education.”

The library could not be possible without namesake John F. Milligan and his wife Kathryn, who are both 1983 graduates of Ohio Wesleyan. The pair donated $20 million to the project, the largest gift in the university's 183-year history. The Milligans joined five other donors who contributed seven- or eight-figure gifts to their alma mater to help fund the library.

"We know that today’s students need learning facilities vastly different from the libraries of 60 years ago," John Milligan said. "We are thrilled to be able to support the dramatic redesign of the library to create a place for students and faculty to gather, learn, and constructively discuss ideas right in the heart of the campus.”

Also on Friday, Ohio Wesleyan announced it will enter a partnership to provide solar power to the university, the largest carbon reduction and onsite solar energy project in Ohio collegiate history. OWU is partnering with GRP|WEGMAN to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 82% with new solar panels.

A campus committee is currently working to identify the best sites on campus for the solar panels, with the 18-month project expected to begin before fall. The project will generate 8.2 million kilowatt hours of clear energy annually, and will also serve as a hands-on learning opportunity. Students will be able to work with the solar panels as a laboratory, working with renewable energy, sustainability and engineering.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Licking County man will spend the next 24 years in prison for child sexual abuse material.

David Hamilton, 27, of Heath, was sentenced Tuesday to 24 years, five months in prison after pleading guilty in August 2024 to making a notice for and possessing child sexual abuse material. 

According to the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, Hamilton and a co-defendant talked “extensively and graphically” via the Telegram app about intending to sexually abuse children, including Hamilton’s plans to babysit a 6-year-old, drug the child and then abuse them. Court records also state that Hamilton and the co-defendant talked about starting a family of all the children they could then abuse together. 

When a search warrant was executed on Hamilton’s home, they found a bag with two types of drugs, children’s overnight diapers in several sizes, stuffed animals and other items used in intercourse, according to court records. 

Hamilton was also involved in online groups that sexually abused and injured children, court records state. A minor reported Hamilton for coercing the child into creating images of child sexual abuse material, threatening the child if they did not comply, according to court records. Hamilton had thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse on his electronics, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Target's semiannual trade-in event offers parents a great opportunity to exchange old, expired or damaged safety equipment and receive a bonus.

Target has announced that its spring Car Seat Trade-in Event will be held in stores Sunday through May 10. Shoppers can bring in any baby or booster seat and earn a 20% Target Circle Bonus toward a new car seat or baby gear purchase. Eligible baby gear includes play yards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers and jumpers.

Shoppers participating in Target’s car seat trade-in program will find a large drop-off box near Guest Services at the front of the store, where they can easily deposit their used car seat. Target accepts all types of car seats for recycling, including infant, convertible, booster, harness seats, and car seat bases, even if they are expired or damaged.

To receive the 20% off discount, customers must have a Target Circle account accessible via a mobile device. A sign near the drop-off box will feature a scannable code that unlocks the coupon. Each Target Circle account is eligible for one coupon, which will appear in the user’s Target Wallet and can be used twice before it expires on Oct. 12.

In addition to the trade-in promotion, Target is expanding its 20% off offer to include other baby-related.

The chain began its trade-in program in 2016. Target's website notes that partner companies recycle the materials, making new products like pallets, plastic buckets, and construction materials such as steel beams and carpet padding, as well as select Target items.

Target operates more than 20 stores in the Columbus area.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but at the Supreme Court of Ohio, a portrait might be worth even more.

The portrait of retired Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor was removed from the first floor Grand Concourse and placed in the basement. O'Connor was the first woman to serve as Chief Justice and the longest serving woman ever in a statewide office.

The League of Women Voters said O'Connor earned her place in history and her portrait should remain on the first floor.  

"They moved her gorgeous portrait to the ground floor, saying they're going to build a Women-In-Law exhibit," League Executive Director Jen Miller said. "But we think her portrait as the first woman Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court should stay in that main hallway where most visitors visit."

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The former chief justice is a life-long Republican who was at odds with much of her party's leadership in the final years of her term on the Court. O'Connor believed citizens should have the right to amend their constitution and also opposed gerrymandered political districts that unfairly favored one party over the other.

Republicans who controlled the Statehouse were outraged when she voted with Democrats on the Court to find the gerrymandered districts to be unconstitutional. Some in the GOP threatened to impeach her and her portrait was removed entirely from the headquarters of the state party.

In a statement to NBC4, the Court said the portrait was "recently moved to a new exhibit space" that is currently under development that will celebrate the "trailblazing contributions of women to Ohio's legal history."  

The statement goes on to say, "At the heart of the new exhibit is the portrait of retired Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Ohio's first elected female Chief Justice. The portrait will serve as the centerpiece, reflecting a deep commitment to honoring Chief Justice O'Connor's legacy in a meaningful and lasting way."  

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The statement said the exhibit will open in the spring, but a visit to the O'Connor portrait shows there is no construction underway for a new exhibit. An angry visitor sent a video to NBC4 showing the planned exhibit space is a closet filled with chairs.  

The League of Women Voters said it would welcome the addition of an exhibit that celebrates women in the law.

"I worry that this is about politics, rather than honoring the history of the highest court here in Ohio," Miller said.  

O'Connor's portrait was placed on the main floor back in 2022 -- although the current Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy and fellow Republican Justices Patrick DeWine and Patrick Fischer, all opposed it.  

In the statement to NBC4, the Court said the current justices voted unanimously to move the portrait to the ground floor level.  

NBC4 learned, however, that is not strictly correct. The vote was made on a routine administrative day and the Court's lone Democrat, Justice Jennifer Brunner, was absent for personal reasons.

Because of the routine nature of the agenda, Brunner said she gave her proxy to Chief Justice Kennedy for voting purposes.

Removing the O'Connor portrait was not on the agenda. When reached by NBC4's Colleen Marshall, Brunner said it was the first time she was questioned about the vote and that she did not believe she could properly object because she willingly gave Kennedy proxy power. But, Brunner said if she had been present, she would have opposed the removal of the portrait from the Grand Concourse.

The League is asking Ohioans to contact the Court and lobby for a return of the portrait to the main floor and for a duplicate to be included in the new exhibit. Miller said it's especially important for little girls who visit the Court to see representation of women.

"It's critical that when folks are walking through that beautiful hallway, that they see a woman. You know, we can't be it if we don't see it. And my concern is that young ladies especially will think that the field of law and courtrooms are not a place for them, and we know it is," she said.

Full statement from the Supreme Court of Ohio

Thank you for your inquiry. The portrait of former Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor was first unveiled on December 9, 2022, and was recently moved to a new exhibit space in the Visitor Education Center (VEC). The Court is currently in development of a new exhibit, Women in the Law, which celebrates the trailblazing contributions of women to Ohio's legal history. The Court voted to add this new addition next to the recently unveiled Careers in the Law display at the VEC, located on the historic ground floor of the Thomas J. Moyer Judicial Center where both exhibits can serve to inspire future generations. In fact, the ground floor is the main entrance where over 11,000 tour visitors arrive annually to begin their exploration of our exhibits.

At the heart of the new exhibit is the portrait of retired Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Ohio's first elected female Chief Justice. The portrait will serve as the centerpiece, reflecting a deep commitment to honoring Chief Justice O'Connor's legacy in a meaningful and lasting way. It is an elevation of her legacy to inspire future generations of visitors, students, and aspiring professionals. Construction of the Women in the Law exhibit is scheduled to begin this spring.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people were indicted and received two different murder charges Friday in the "suspicious" death of a four-year-old in Reynoldsburg.

Kailee Smith-Parks, 19, and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Linwood Allison Jr, were indicted by a Franklin County grand jury. Both were charged with aggravated murder, murder, and at least twenty charges of endangering children.

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Smith-Parks and Allison Jr. turned themselves in to the Franklin County jail last week after Reynoldsburg police ruled the death of Smith-Parks' 4-year-old son, Ja'Kai Smith, a homicide.

According to court records, Allison Jr. was allegedly seen on camera causing fatal injuries to Ja'Kai at a residence on Steinway Drive. Police say Smith-Parks had reason to believe that the child needed immediate medical attention but failed to do so.

Both Smith-Parks and Allison Jr. will be arraigned in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court on April 30.

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Knox County doctor is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct involving a patient, according to a notice from the State Medical Board of Ohio.

The board notified Dr. Frederick Carroll on March 12 that it was considering whether or not to suspend or revoke his license due to the allegations.

Carroll, who is listed as a doctor at Knox Community Hospital, allegedly made inappropriate physical contact with a patient "without the purpose of an appropriate health care service" during an exam in July 2024, according to the board. He's also accused of making sexual comments to the patient and giving him his personal cell phone number.

Carroll allegedly made comments regarding "sexual preferences including a nipple fetish and preference for unprotected sex and prostate massage," along with sexual history and pornography preferences, according to the notice.

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Carroll is accused of sending the patient more than 130 messages during the week of the Fourth of July, and asked him more than 10 times to see him during the long weekend, according to the notice. The patient didn't accept any of the invitations.

The board said Carroll is entitled to a hearing on the matter. He could face a penalty that includes having his license suspended or revoked.

NBC4 has reached out to Knox Community Hospital for a statement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As the weather warms up, more people will be out in the sun, and the Skin Cancer Foundation wants to make sure everyone stays healthy.

They partnered with the James Cancer Center at The Ohio State University to provide free skin cancer screenings at the Hilltop YMCA on Friday.

Dr. David Lambert with the center said many people will develop skin lesions in their lifetime. While most aren't cancerous, they should be checked out by a doctor.

The Skin Cancer Foundation said if caught early, most forms of skin cancer are curable.

Lambert said education is an important part of what they do, and protection is key to prevention.

"Protection from the sun with hats and sunscreens, at least a sun protection factor of 30," Lambert said. "Sunscreens are safe and effective. They should be used for kids and adults."

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone visit a dermatologist once a year for an exam, in addition to doing a monthly self-exam for any new, changing or unusual lesions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman was found guilty Friday in the deaths of two sisters after a fight at a nightclub in 2022, according to the Franklin County prosecutor's office.

Amara Battle, 30, was found guilty on four counts of murder with three-year firearm specifications, prosecutors said.

Police were called Sept. 25, 2022, to Queen of Hearts Pub on East Livingston Avenue, which has since closed, and found Shamira Rhodes, 30, and Kha'Terra 'BeBe' Griffin, 17, with gunshot wounds. Watch previous coverage in the video player above.

Rhodes, who was a mother of three, died at the pub. Her sister, Griffin, died days later after multiple surgeries.

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Battle was seen on surveillance video walking up to and attacking Rhodes as she and Griffin were at an after-hours party at the club, prosecutors said. She was arrested on Oct. 6, 2022.

"My heart goes out to Nichole Rhodes, who lost two daughters to such senseless violence, and to all those who knew and love Shamira and Kha'Terra," Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor said in a statement. "While a guilty verdict doesn't alleviate the pain of that September morning, I hope those affected are able to rest a bit easier knowing that justice was served."

Battle will be sentenced at a later date.

Prosecutors David Zeyen and John Cornely worked on the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- New tariffs placed on China by President Donald Trump could impact customers the next time they sit in a salon chair.

While the exact percentage still remains to be seen, the uncertainty is rippling across industries, including the beauty world.

Leanna Tribune owns Tame Hair Studio. She relies mainly on imported hair products.

"A lot of our products come from overseas, we depend on them to bring it in," Tribune said. "There are so many stylists and barbers in the city, there are so many products we depend on them to bring things in."

Tribune isn't the only one. Christina Anderson owns The Masters Touch hair salon and also buys products from overseas. She said right now it's a waiting game. 

"Are we willing to wait and see how this whole thing folds out?" Anderson said. "This nation has been in the hole for a long, long time and a lot of money has been going places it should not be, going into the wrong people's hands."

Tribune said products coming from China are more expensive these days after the 145% tariff was placed on certain goods. Central Ohio hair salons like hers are feeling the impact from hair extensions to stylist necessities like gloves and foil.

"We buy things in bulk, so some things where the average person may buy one thing, we buy twenty or we may buy 10," Tribune said. "So each individual thing may go up $3, $4 a piece which can be $30 to $40 each order we put in."

While Tribune hasn't had to raise her prices yet, she said she'll need to if prices continue to increase.

"That's just the way the cookie crumbles," Tribune said. "Unfortunately, that's how things work in the industry. When things go up for me, they go up for my customers. Not the best feeling. Not the best thing I want to report or have to say to my clients, but it is real life today."

But to many, the hair salon goes beyond the blow dryers and combs. It's sanctuary. Tribune said even in these uncertain economic times, she doesn't anticipate people will stop getting their hair done.

"That's one thing about, especially African American hair salons, we are coming to get our hair done," Tribune said. "So, it's just a matter of keeping my clients happy and keeping their pockets happy, and mine too at the same time without having to rock the boat with the prices."

For now, Tribune is bracing for what comes next, hoping to continue meeting her bottom line while keeping her clients happy.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WCMH) -- We have hit the second night of the NFL Draft where more Ohio State players are expected to be selected.

Fans are back at Lambeau Field Friday night for rounds two and three, which begin at 7 p.m. Notable Hall of Famers and superstars like Drew Brees, Thurman Thomas, Rob Gronkowski, Michael Strahan, Travis Kelce, Art Shell, Joe Montana, and Mel Blount were taken in either the second or third round.

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Plenty of players on the draft board hope to put their names on that list and a few of them are Buckeyes. After four were taken in the first round on Thursday, more Ohio State players from the national championship team are expected to be selected Friday night.

The first Buckeye player taken on day two was running back Quinshon Judkins, who will stay in Ohio and pair with Nick Chubb at the Cleveland Browns.

Among those available include the running back TreVeyon Henderson Judkins, quarterback Will Howard, and Pickerington's Jack Sawyer.

Follow below for live updates throughout day two of the 2025 NFL Draft

2025 NFL Draft day 2

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A program created in 2019 for Ohio’s water health, called H2Ohio, could face a dramatic cut in funding.  

H2Ohio was created by Gov. Mike DeWine. The program is run by three state agencies to achieve one goal: ensuring Ohioans have access to clean and safe water.

“We’ve got a lot of water,” Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture Brian Baldridge said. “But we need to make sure we have quality.”

Baldridge works alongside the directors of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to keep H2Ohio effective. But right now, the state budget slashes its funding.  

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“In many ways, they’ve already achieved a lot of the things they wanted to do,” Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.  

“Not at all,” Baldridge said in response to Huffman’s comment. “This is a continuation.”  

The past two fiscal years, H2Ohio received a combined $53 million to continue its work.

DeWine wanted a slight increase of about $1 million for the next two. But Ohio House members cut it by about 46%, funding it at about $14 million for fiscal year’s 26 and 27 each.  

In a statement, the Ohio EPA said in fiscal years 24 and 25, 400 H2Ohio grants were awarded statewide to support things like water, infrastructure, dam removal and chloride reduction. With the funding cut the EPA spokesperson tells me only 20-30 grants will be issued the next two years. They say H2Ohio has been “instrumental in helping communities, especially small and disadvantaged ones.”  

Huffman said not only does he think H2Ohio could go without all of that money, but he said the state has other priorities.  

“I think there’s money I that fund that we could use for many of the other programs, so it’s really just a balancing,” he said.    

“This is a long-term program, this is a long term vision,” Baldridge said. “It’s just all about water quality here in our state because it is so important in our state.”  

The budget does still need to go through the Ohio Senate before it passes the Statehouse. Baldridge and the Ohio EPA said they are going to continue pushing for the programs funding to come back up.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A leaked federal budget draft outlines drastic cuts to mental health services, and if it’s passed, experts say the impact here in Ohio could be deadly.

Those we spoke with say the money that goes into services, like the 988 crisis hotline, is saving lives. Every day, five Ohioans die by suicide, and organizations we spoke with say that number would grow if critical funding needs are not met.

The federal budget proposes cuts impacting some of the most vulnerable groups; potential cuts at the state level could impact everyone.

The federal Health and Human Services draft budget recommends eliminating the money set aside within 988 for support specifically for LGBTQIA+ youth.

"It's a place of disappointment, and it's more of the same. Like, what do we do now? Because the hits just keep coming. I find the decision to be very cruel and obviously discriminatory and very, very, very irresponsible," Kaleidoscope Youth Center Executive Director Erin Upchurch said. 

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It’s not just this group that faces the impact.

"The cuts that have been proposed at the federal level and in this draft that we've been seeing could be devastating to communities, especially populations that are really struggling with suicide, whether that's LGBTQ or African American or whatever marginalized community," Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Executive Director Tony Coder said. 

Ohio has nineteen call centers across the state to help those in crisis, receiving almost half a million texts, calls, and chats since it started.

"We know that 988 is saving lives. In addition to saving lives, we are also reducing burdens on many local resources, like law enforcement and 911. We know that we can handle the vast majority of calls and de-escalate them right over the phone so that they don't need any follow-up support. So that means that those individuals aren't going to the emergency department," Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director LeeAnne Cornyn said.

Proposed cuts are not just at the federal level.

"Our focus is to continue to serve Ohioans every single day with 988," Cornyn said. "But we also continue to have conversations with members of the general assembly about the importance of this, the value that it brings to the state of Ohio.

Governor Mike DeWine proposed $31 million for the 988 help line in the coming fiscal year, $41 million for the year after. The Ohio House proposed budget cuts that number to $20 million each fiscal year.

"These are not wants. These are needs of communities to save lives. I would challenge any state or federal, or administration member to come and face the families that we deal with. Because every day we see loss and we see hurt, but we also see healing. And we don't want to lose that healing part," Coder said.

Both of these budgets are drafts right now. The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation says they are hopeful they can continue having conversations with the legislature about what this funding does.

"It can feel hopeless at times, and I think I would invite folks to not be absorbed by that hopelessness. There is so much we can do together," Upchurch said. 

"We need every voice because a lot of folks who are struggling don't have a voice. They're trying to make it every day. So if you have even a tiny inkling of care for mental health, call your legislator today," Coder said. 

We reached out to Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted for comment, but have not yet received a response.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, you can find resources here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A felony charge against a Franklin County deputy who was accused of fleeing a Pataskala officer at speeds over 100 mph has been dismissed and he will return to duty, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

Robert A. Lampkin, 32, was allegedly spotted by a Pataskala police officer April 16 in the area of Mink Street driving at a high speed, according to an arrest warrant. The officer reported seeing Lampkin run a red light and fail to use a turn signal.

The Pataskala officer turned on his siren in an attempt to pull Lampkin over, but he turned onto Etna Parkway and reached speeds “well over” 100 mph, authorities said. The speed limit in that area is 45 mph.

Lampkin was charged with failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, according to arrest records. That charge has been dismissed, but misdemeanor charges are still pending, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

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His unpaid administrative leave ended on Friday, and Lampkin will return to duty on Sunday. An internal investigation remains open.

After being read his Miranda rights, Lampkin reportedly said he worked for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, but denied that he was responding to a call. A Franklin County Sheriff’s Office vest was seen in the back left passenger area and an unloaded gun was also found, authorities said.

While the officer was getting Lampkin’s driver’s license out of his wallet, Lampkin said, “I apologize, I didn’t know that you guys were following me until the last minute and then I panicked,” according to the responding officer.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man who was riding a farm tractor in Fayette County was electrocuted after one of the sprayer arms hit a power line, according to authorities.

911 callers reported on Thursday morning that there was a tractor on fire in the 9000 block of Simmons Road in southern Fayette County and an unresponsive man next to it.

The tractor fire was put out by a passerby.

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Matthew L. Stoll, 45, of Leesburg, was operating the tractor, which was pulling an agricultural sprayer, in a field on Simmons Road, officials said. One of the boom arms, which was raised up, hit a power line, which energized the tractor.

Stoll was exiting the tractor and was electrocuted, according to the sheriff's office. The coroner's office ruled the cause of death accidental by electrocution.

The sheriff's office expressed condolences to Stoll's family.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio State University student's legal status has been reinstated by a federal judge, who ruled on Friday that his arrest at a pro-Palestine protest was not grounds to revoke his visa.

Graduate student Ahwar Sultan sued President Donald Trump and federal immigration officials when his visa was abruptly revoked two weeks ago. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Sultan's lawful status as a student to be reinstated as the lawsuit continues and said federal immigration services will need to prove why they believe his visa should be terminated.

Sultan, who is from India, believes his visa was revoked because he was arrested in April 2024 at a pro-Palestine protest. The charges associated with that arrest were dismissed and later expunged from his record, and Chutkan said they were not grounds for visa termination.

Under the ruling, Sultan's status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) has been returned to "active" from "terminated." The change means Sultan's student record is considered valid once more, and indicates he is in good standing.

Chutkan said U.S. immigration services should be prepared to explain Sultan's visa status and whether they still intend to initiate removal procedures against him at the next court proceeding. She said his arrest alone would not be considered grounds for removal.

According to a court transcript provided by Sultan's lawyers, Chutkan told the lawyer representing the U.S. government this week that Sultan was put in an impossible situation. Further, she questioned immigration officials' defense, saying not only was it unclear for Sultan, it was unclear to her.

The decision was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia around the same time the Trump administration announced a turnaround to reinstate many student's SEVIS statuses as "active." Sultan's lawyer, Jana Al-Akras, said she was told that ICE is currently developing a policy to revoke SEVIS status for students, but until they finalize the policy, students' statuses will be returned to "active" status.

Sultan is one of at least 12 Ohio State students who have had their visas revoked. It is not yet known if the Department of Justice's announcement will reinstate their visas.