Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Though Cucho Hernandez's return to the field for Columbus lasted less than 75 minutes, the Crew found a way to be resilient again thanks to Aidan Morris.

Morris delivered a thrilling equalizer in the 87th minute with a long-range shot to the back of the net, tying the match at 1-1 against D.C. United and lifting the spirit of more than 20,000 fans at Lower.com Field who were worried they might witness the Crew's first loss at home this season.

Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber to have season-ending surgery

The draw marks the Crew's second straight in MLS competition and third overall after a tie with Nashville last week and a 1-1 result against Tigres on Tuesday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.

After missing the last two matches for what head coach Wilfried Nancy called "team policy", Hernandez was back in the starting lineup Saturday night. But his return was cut short when he received a red card in the 75th minute for violent conduct.

Christian Benteke scored the game's first goal in the 61st minute on a right-footed shot from the center of the box thanks to a feed from Jared Stroud. D.C. United held the 1-0 lead until Morris' equalizer 26 minutes later.

For Morris, the goal was redemption after he was shown a red card in last Tuesday's match against Tigres. It was the second straight contest where Morris found the back of the net.

The Crew will be without Morris when they return to the field on Tuesday night for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Tigres in Monterrey, Mexico. A win would earn a spot in the semifinals against either Monterrey or Miami. The Crew can also advance with a draw if they score at least two goals. A 1-1 draw would force extra time while a scoreless draw would see Tigres advance.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was arrested Saturday after allegedly assaulting a woman more than one week ago.

According to Columbus police, Jesse Wayne Walters Jr., 33, was arrested after a standoff with police and SWAT officers on the 100 block of South Eureka Avenue on the city's west side.

Hocking County prosecutor facing disbarment after sexual misconduct complaint

Police said that on March 27, officers responded to a city hospital to take a report on an assault victim. When officers arrived, they were told that the female victim suffered "significant injuries," which prompted the department's homicide unit to investigate the incident.

Walters was booked into Franklin County Jail on a felonious assault charge.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse event just days away, one local folk singer wanted to take the event and turn it into a song. 

Columbus folk singer Bill Cohen said there’s a bigger meaning behind his song “Eclipse.” For those who listen to it, he hopes that it will remind people that this eclipse can be so much more than a three-minute adventure. 

Mix of clouds and sun forecasted for central Ohio Monday during eclipse

Bill and his wife Randi work as a team. Bill has been doing music for nearly 60 years while Randi has always loved technology -- she put together the music video for Bill's song.

As you listen to the lyrics, Bill said he wanted to make the point that this once-in-a-lifetime eclipse is an opportunity for everyone to not only be inspired but to also reflect on their own lives.

“The fact that millions of people are going to be gathering together at the eclipse, that shows what an opportunity it is,” Bill said. “We know there’s going to be a feeling of community and we’re all hungering for more communities and that’s a step in the right direction, but hopefully it can be even more than that. Hopefully, it can be a time when we think about a better world.”

The music video consists of pictures that Randi has taken over the years. She said she created a couple different versions but is happy with the final product. 

Tasty total solar eclipse deals you can eat and drink

She said there are pockets of darkness throughout the music video because they wanted to inspire people to use their imaginations as well. 

The song came together relatively quickly. Bill said it starts with a description of an eclipse, then it describes shadows moving over the sun, but then he wanted to make it more than just a physical description of an eclipse. 

“I wanted to make the point that this is an opportunity for us, not just to be wowed and inspired by this cosmic miracle, but also it’s an opportunity for us to think about our own lives, our personal lives,” he said.

The couple said they just want people to feel inspired. 

Photographer gives tips to capture solar eclipse

“The last verse of the song is talking about, let’s pull back and let’s imagine, decades and centuries in the future, perhaps would it be that future generations look back on this as a very dark time?” Bill said. “We know we’ve got big divisions and big problems. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they looked back on this time and saw how bad it was but also saw that this was the start of new generations of new thinking, of new togetherness in the world.”

The music video was posted to Facebook and can be viewed here.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT

Clouds developed this afternoon, with a cool northerly breeze. Temperatures barely reached the low 50s.

Tonight will be quite chilly again as skies clear, with morning readings near freezing. Freeze warning/frost advisory will be up again later tonight through the early morning hours.

Sunshine will give way to clouds Sunday afternoon Sunday, as a disturbance moves develops in the central Plains.

Moisture will spread northward Sunday night, with a round of showers that will end Monday morning. Clouds should part in the afternoon, providing a partial view of the total solar eclipse in Ohio, with brighter skies favored in the western part of the state and lingering cloud over in the east being more problematic.

Temperatures will warm up into the 60s next week. More widespread rain is likely midweek with the next in a series of western storm systems.

Forecast

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, patchy frost. Low 32
• Sunday: Partly sunny, showers at night. High 59
• Monday: Mix clouds and sun, warmer. High 72 (47)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, showers p.m.. High 70 (51)
• Wednesday: Showers, storms. High 65 (54)
• Thursday: Showers, windy. High 63 (57)
• Friday: Showers, breezy, cooler. High 51 (39)

Watch a previous report on the sexual harassment lawsuit againt Ryan Black in the video player above.

LOGAN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hocking County's outgoing top prosecutor is facing new allegations of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, according to documents filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan R. Black, who resigned the seat effective April 19, is already the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in February.

Mix of clouds and sun forecasted for central Ohio Monday during eclipse

The new allegations, filedon April 3 with the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Professional Conduct, come from people not mentioned in the sexual harassment lawsuit; one of those complaints involves a then-Hocking County Commissioner.

In the complaint, Black is accused of "erratic" behavior often consisting of "screaming outbursts" and "refus[ing] to speak to staff members for several days," and of making sexually charged comments to women working in his office.

The first count of the new complaint, inappropriate sexual conduct with employees, details an assistant prosceutor alleging Black "frequently made inappropriate sexual comments" to her and about her to others; once, in March 2021, those comments ventured into lewd territory about her dress and how it made him want to perform sexual acts to her. Another instance detailed in the complaint alleges Black said the woman's phone number was written inside a bathroom stall at the Hocking County Sheriff's office and that everyone at the office should have it. The woman resigned her position in November 2021.

As part of this count, the new complaint includes details from one of the plaintiffs who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit and how she felt coerced by Black into a sexual relationship due to his position as her boss.

Latest super load on the move: Intel’s first shipment to cause delays Saturday

Another accusation in the complaint, inappropriate sexual relationship with client, states Black was engaged in a sexual act with then-Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken in August 2023 when the two were caught by Black's fiance. As the legal advisor for the board of commissioners, it is a violation of Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and the Ohio bar association to engage in such a sexual relationship. Dicken is still being paid by the county, but is no longer serving as commissioner after being indicted on several theft, fraud and money laundering felonies in September 2023.

A third count, inappropriate use of office, alledge Black tried to use his power of office to force the county's IT director to respond to his office after Black moved several of the computers and cuased them not to work. Black allegedly threatend the IT director with arrest for obstructing official business.

Black faces sanctions up to and including disbarrment should the disciplinary board rule against him. He has until April 23 to file his answer to the complaint.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The southbound lanes of Interstate 71 are closed after a fatal car crash Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened at approximately 2:05 p.m. on I-71 South between Morse Road and East Hudson Street on the city's north side, according to a Columbus Police dispatcher.

Latest super load on the move: Intel’s first shipment to cause delays Saturday

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, I-71 South is closed starting at Interstate 270 West, and there is no timeframe for when it will reopen.

Details about the crash are not available at this time.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

Storm Team 4 continues to fine tune the forecast for central Ohio as we approach the total solar eclipse on Monday. Overnight rain shower chances will move through the area on Sunday night, and clouds will linger from Monday morning and into the afternoon.

List: Solar eclipse viewing events, watch parties in central Ohio

A few areas across central Ohio will see clouds clearing as the day goes on. Cities under the path of totality can expect a mix of clouds and sun during the eclipse and through totality. Columbus will see more clouds than sunshine later in the afternoon. Viewing the eclipse in the city will require dodging a few clouds.

The amount of clouds that we are tracking would be typical for this time of year. Historically speaking in an El Niño year, central Ohio would see anywhere from 60%-80% cloud cover between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. in early April.

Storm Team 4 will continue to update the most accurate forecast for April 8.

View a previous report on the plan for super loads to travel across Ohio in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The fourth of nearly two dozen super loads is on its way to Intel in New Albany and could cause traffic delays on Saturday.

The super load left from a dock on the Ohio River near Manchester in Adams County on Wednesday. Earlier shipments had gone to the Freepoint Eco-Systems recycling facility near Hebron, but this one is headed toward Intel's Ohio One plant.

Report confirms delayed timeline for Intel facility in New Albany

This load carries an air processor, weighs 378,400 pounds, and is over 19 feet tall, 20 feet wide and 128 feet long.

On Saturday, the load will travel along the following route:

• The convoy will leave Rickenbacker at 7 a.m. (or as soon as daylight permits the crews to see overhead obstructions)
• Travel North on Rickenbacker Parkway North to Alum Creek Drive
• Travel North on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road
• Travel East on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive
• Travel North on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive South 
• Travel East on Green Point Drive South to Saltzgaber Road
• Travel South on Saltzgaber Road to State Route 317
• Travel North in the Southbound Lanes on State Route 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road East
• Travel East on Bixby Road to U.S. Route 33 
• Travel East in the Westbound lanes of U.S. Route 33 to the Gender Road Southbound to U.S. Route 33 Westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
• Travel the wrong way on the Gender Road Southbound to U.S. Route 33 Westbound ramp
• Take State Route 674/Gender Road North to Brice Road
• Take Brice Road North to the intersection with Tussing Road/State Route 204 in Columbus
• Travel East on Tussing Road/State Route 204 to Freedom Way

The super load will stop in Pickerington near the intersection of State Route 204 and 256. ODOT said drivers in the area should expect delays.

Originally intended to arrive Tuesday, the super load's delivery date has changed to Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Four tornadoes touched down in central Ohio counties as a result of Tuesday's severe thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS in Pittsburgh posted its damage survey report Saturday morning where they confirmed that three tornadoes touched down in Muskingum County on Tuesday night while another touched down in Guernsey County.

In addition to the confirmed EF0 tornado in Licking County, Tuesday's severe storms resulted in at least five confirmed tornadoes in central Ohio and eight total in the state. The NWS did not report if any people were injured as a result of these tornadoes.

Calm start to the weekend, tracking return of rain

Guernsey County's tornado was ruled as an EF1 with an estimated wind peak of 100 mph and a track of 1.3 miles in the north central portion of the county. That tornado touched down at 8:57 p.m. and caused minor damage to a barn and partial roof damage to a mobile home.

The first of three tornadoes in Muskingum County touched down at 8:32 p.m. in north Zanesville and was ruled an EF1 with a track longer than eight miles. The tornado's path began at the Parr Airport where a hangar collapsed. Additional damage reported by the NWS included the destruction of a small shed and damage to multiple barns.

At 8:49 p.m., an EF0 tornado hit the county in Highland Township with high winds at 85 mph, a storm track of 1.21 miles, and weak damage to trees and roofs. The NWS also reported an EF1 tornado with 105 mph winds that touched down in Chandlersville at 9:20 p.m., where metal roofing panels of a barn were lost.

Tuesday began with a strong line of storms that affected the morning commute. After the midday sun, scattered showers and storms came again during the late afternoon. But then came the double rainbow. Dave Mazza, chief meteorologist of Storm Team 4, said the timing was perfect for a double rainbow, which is more common than a single rainbow when the conditions are right just before sunset.

Stay weather aware with Storm Team 4 through live radar, weather alerts, closings and delays, live road conditions and push notifications from our apps.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In celebration of the April 8 solar eclipse, several food and beverage brands are presenting customers with some unique deals for the rare event.

From new flavors to special offers and limited edition items, companies are getting creative to mark the occasion. Check out our list below.

Jeni's: Punk Stargonaut ice cream collection

Central Ohio-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is serving up its new Punk Stargonaut Collection of ice creams that come in four different flavors, according to a news release from the company.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Punk Stargonaut Collection (Photo: Jeni's)

The assortment includes three new flavors, Nebula Berry, Cosmic Bloom and Purple Star Born. The fourth flavor in the group is Supermoon, a customer favorite Jeni's is bringing back for the occasion. A fizzy popping candy topping called Space Dust rounds out the compilation.

Jeni's explains that the Punk Stargonaut collection is "inspired by a fictional flight through the galaxy where Jeni's gathered all the alien fruit they could find, brought it back to Earth, and turned it into colorful cosmic ice creams."

The special topping and four ice cream flavors are available online and in scoop shops nationwide. Additionally, Jeni's is including eclipse glasses with purchases on the internet and at its retail locations, while supplies last.

Ohio eclipse: Will cellphone signals be affected? Pizza Hut: Total Eclipse of the Hut (Photo: Pizza Hut) Pizza Hut: Total Eclipse of the Hut

Pizza Hut has announced that on April 8 customers can purchase large pizzas for just $12.

The chain notes that the "promotion applies to create-your-own (up to 10 toppings) or recipe pizzas and includes Thin ‘N Crispy, Hand Tossed Pizza and Original Pan Pizza." Customers can get the deal with carryout, dine-in and delivery.

MoonPie: Solar Eclipse Survival Kits MoonPie Solar Eclipse Survival Kit (Photo: MoonPie)

MoonPie, the "self-proclaimed official sponsor of the total solar eclipse on April 8," is commemorating the day with custom blackout boxes of mini MoonPies dubbed "Solar Eclipse Survival Kits," the company said in a news release.

In addition to the boxes, MoonPie shared a humorous video on its YouTube channel called “Sun vs. Moon '24: Brutality in the Totality," which features the sun and moon as professional wrestlers engaged in a match. MoonPie is calling it "the ultimate smackdown."

Photographer gives tips to capture solar eclipse Krispy Kreme: Total Solar Eclipse Doughnut Krispy Kreme's Total Solar Eclipse Doughnut (Photo: Krispy Kreme)

Krispy Kreme has created a special doughnut concoction that combines its Original Glazed doughnut with black chocolate icing, buttercream piping, silver sprinkles and an Oreo cookie on top, according to its website.

The doughnuts will be available from Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8, at participating Krispy Kreme locations while supplies last.

Sonic Drive-In: Blackout Slush Float

Sonic is marking the event with the Blackout Slush Float. The limited-edition drink is made with vanilla soft serve, blackout slush flavor and galaxy sprinkles according to the chain's website.

The company describes the float as "an innovative concoction that symbolizes the eclipse’s darkness with its all-black slush, made from a mix of cotton candy and dragon fruit flavors."

Customers who buy the float will get a free pair of eclipse viewing glasses. The offer is valid through May 5.

Applebee's: Perfect Eclipse Margarita

Applebee's is offering its Perfect Eclipse Margarita at select locations through April 14, according to a news release.

“Eclipse experts agree the total solar eclipse taking place in April will be one for the history books,” said Dan Krebsbach, President of Flynn Applebee’s. “It’s expected to be the most watched in North America and one of the best we’ll see for hundreds of years. At Applebee’s, we think that’s something worth celebrating, and we’re excited by what our mixologists have created to help our guests mark the occasion – though they can rest assured that our Perfect Eclipse will last a little longer. We encourage eclipse lovers to get them while they’re here as the next one doesn’t take place until 2044.”

The Patron-based cocktail is made with Citrónge Orange Liqueur, Monin Blue Raspberry and several syrups including passion fruit, lemon and lime.

View a previous report from the initial installation of “Current” in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 229-foot floating sculpture built from 78 miles of twine will return to the downtown area this weekend.

"Current" by Janet Echelman -- the longest public artwork in Columbus history -- is coming back to Gay and High Streets, where it will hang 126 feet in the air above people passing through. The Columbus Museum of Art announced the red and blue art piece will be reinstalled on Saturday.

The sculpture was taken down for a seasonal "hibernation" at the end of 2023.

(Courtesy Photo/Infinite Impact)

The art piece will be illuminated each night and change shape with wind currents. Echelman designed Current with close consideration for wildlife, working with a bio-engineering firm to ensure its safety for birds and other animals.

Gateway Film Center spring series to celebrate Studio Ghibli, Martin Scorsese and more

Installation of the floating sculpture will be dependent on weather conditions.

View a related report on an Ohio private college being the most expensive in the U.S. in the video player above.

Almost all the oldest universities in the United States are private colleges. Harvard and St. John's College, for example, were founded before the 18th century and boast alumni and founders, respectively, who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private colleges in Ohio, using data from Niche released in 2024. Niche ranks schools based on a variety of factors including academics, value for money, professors, campus, and diversity.

Private institutions today remain distinguished from other types of institutions by their source of funding. While public colleges and universities are at least partially subsidized by state government funding, private institutions are funded by tuition dollars, endowments, grants, and donations. As a result, private schools tend to be more expensive: The average tuition for full-time in-state undergraduate students at public four-year colleges was $11,260, and $29,150 for out-of-state students in 2023, while average tuition for students attending private four-year institutions was $41,540, according to the College Board's 2023 Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid report.

Private and public schools play important roles in the postsecondary landscape, offering top-tier education and valuable opportunities outside the classroom. But some characteristics of private institutions—namely size, reputation, and flexibility—make them more appealing to prospective students.

Private colleges, which tend to be more selective, generally offer smaller class sizes and, by extension, more direct instruction and support. Large lectures with around 100 students are more of an exception at private schools when compared to public colleges. Private colleges may also attract more distinguished faculty based on prestige.

While the quality of education received at private institutions is not necessarily better than what students receive at public schools, graduates from more selective colleges with name recognition generally tend to have higher earnings, according to a study on earnings outcomes by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

The study also notes, however, that within specific majors, the institution that a student attends can have a significant effect on earnings outcomes. For students entering college without a well-defined idea of what discipline they want to pursue, the flexibility to explore various subjects at a liberal arts institution often makes private colleges an appealing option.

Read on to see the highest-ranked private colleges in Ohio.

1 / 10 Motortion Films // Shutterstock

#10. Walsh University

- Location: North Canton, OH
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $20,350
- SAT range: 990-1220
- Niche grade:  B

2 / 10 mangpor2004 // Shutterstock

#9. Baldwin Wallace University

- Location: Berea, OH
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Net price: $26,577
- SAT range: 1040-1250
- Niche grade:  B

3 / 10 Sean Locke Photography // Shutterstock

#8. Oberlin College

- Location: Oberlin, OH
- Acceptance rate: 34%
- Net price: $44,689
- SAT range: 1300-1460
- Niche grade:  B+

4 / 10 DavidPinoPhotography // Shutterstock

#7. Cedarville University

- Location: Cedarville, OH
- Acceptance rate: 62%
- Net price: $25,380
- SAT range: 1120-1350
- Niche grade:  B+

5 / 10 Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#6. Ohio Northern University

- Location: Ada, OH
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Net price: $25,006
- SAT range: 1090-1300
- Niche grade:  B+

6 / 10 Canva

#5. College of Wooster

- Location: Wooster, OH
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Net price: $24,934
- SAT range: 1220-1430
- Niche grade:  A-

7 / 10 Canva

#4. Denison University

- Location: Granville, OH
- Acceptance rate: 28%
- Net price: $38,833
- SAT range: 1230-1430
- Niche grade:  A-

8 / 10 Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#3. University of Dayton

- Location: Dayton, OH
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $29,933
- SAT range: 1130-1330
- Niche grade:  A

9 / 10 Canva

#2. Kenyon College

- Location: Gambier, OH
- Acceptance rate: 37%
- Net price: $38,927
- SAT range: 1340-1500
- Niche grade:  A

10 / 10 Canva

#1. Case Western Reserve University

- Location: Cleveland, OH
- Acceptance rate: 30%
- Net price: $38,166
- SAT range: 1410-1530
- Niche grade:  A+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin, additional writing by Lauren Liebhaber, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Partly cloudy, high 53
• Tonight: Mostly clear, low 34
• Sunday: Clouds building, high 61 (44)
• Monday: Some clearing, high 72 (51)
• Tuesday: Chance of showers, high 70 (52)
• Wednesday: Chance rain showers, high 69 (55)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Temperatures start of chilly on Saturday, but will warm up as the morning goes on. A Freeze Warning is in effect for portions of Central Ohio until 10am. Later today temperatures will be in the low 50s for the daytime highs. Skies will be partly cloudy, but a few extra clouds will build in during the afternoon. Except north winds moving at 10-15 mph.

Overnight skies will clear out a little bit. Temperatures will fall close to the freezing point once again. Lows will be in the low to mid 30s. Winds will be light and variable.

Sunday will bring more clouds by the afternoon as our next system approaches Central Ohio. Daytime highs will will closer to normal for this time of year reaching the low 60s. As the day goes on clouds will increase in the afternoon. Light rain chances start up late in the evening. More chances for scattered rain arrive overnight into Monday morning.

Monday's Eclipsecast continues to show clouds clearing again as we move into the afternoon. Temps will top off in the low 70s. Generally speaking, it's going to be a beautiful day. That beauty won't last long. Rain chances and a few thunderstorms roll in as the week goes on. Temperatures through the work week are expected to stay above normal.

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) - The temporary bridge on Wolford Road near Newark in Licking County is back open as of about 7 p.m. Friday night. 

The bridge was put in place as a temporary passage over Rocky Fork Creek while a new permanent bridge is being built. The temporary bridge nearly floated away after heavy rains flooded the area Monday and Tuesday.

Former Buckeye sentenced for selling guns, drugs to undercover agent

"On Monday, we were out here, spent the night. We had some crews out here overnight watching it, worrying about whether or not the temporary bridge may float, although it was sitting on an abutment and hopefully, we were hopeful that it wasn't going to. But on Tuesday, as the waters began to rise, it lifted off of one of the abutments," said Kim Christian the Deputy Administrator for the Licking County Engineer's Office.

The county had eyes on the bridge and knew it could be a potential problem. 

"We've had some bridges that's gone out unexpectedly, although we and you know, I was watching this one, so we knew it potentially was going to go out," Christian said. 

Beginning after Monday's rain, excavators were put in place to hold the bridge down with a chain connecting the bridge to a tree as well. But Tuesday, the ground surrounding the bridge started to give way.

"We were out here all-day Tuesday. We've been out there all day every day since the rain. Today, we've been out here since about 7 a.m. They've worked nonstop and we're hopeful that hopefully that it'll be open by 6 or 7 tonight," said Christian. 

The estimate was accurate as the bridge was back open Friday night.

"I mean, as you can see, we've got a bridge. And I'm on the other side of it," Wolford Road resident Vito Rosato joked Friday evening after the road was reopened.

NBC4 first talked to Rosato Thursday evening when he walked across the collapsed bridge to go to the grocery store with his mother. 

"You have news team showing up, you know, you do get a quick response, especially when people hear that, you know, you got people on a dead end road that's been stuck, you know, without being able to get out there off the road for five days straight, you know, being able to get to the doctors or to the grocery store," he said Friday night.

Christian and the County Engineer's office have been monitoring the situation. They've also been hearing from residents.

"There's been some negative, of course, because they feel stranded. The unfortunate thing is that the one way in, one way out, it's been a flood plain. So it makes it somewhat difficult for us," she said.

NBC4 asked Christian how long it takes to get a crane and contractors to do the work. 

"They were able to get it the next day, but we wasn't able to do anything until the water receded to where they can actually get down in there," she said.

Rosato was impressed that the crew was able to get the bridge back up and operable in a single day. 

"They showed up with, you know, Cranes, you know, a ton of people," he said.

The new permanent bridge is set to be complete by May or June of this year, according to Christian and the County Engineer's office. 

Rosato is still concerned about the height of the new bridge not leaving enough room underneath for the water to pass.

"Really surprised at how low it is. Its water was hitting this bridge before it was hitting this bridge. We're going to run into problems with it. So, every time it floods, it may not move this massive bridge, but it's just going to dig the road out around it. So we'll get stuck again," he said.

Other residents who spoke to NBC4 Thursday and Friday had similar concerns for future flooding. Debris and tree branches stacked up at the bridge Tuesday after the water rose. The debris remained several days later even as water subsided.

NBC4 asked Christian, "Being on a flood plain, does that change how you approach putting a bridge in? Do you have to put the bridge in higher?"

"It certainly does, yeah,” she said. “So, the new structure that's going in now is slightly above the previous structure. But we do have to watch the elevation."

Construction on the permanent structure is set to resume on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes will spend seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to firearms charges. 

Raymond Small, 38, of Westerville admitted to possessing a fully automatic weapon as a previously convicted felon, according to United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth Parker.

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Federal prosecutors said from August to December 2022, Small was involved in numerous drug and gun deals with an undercover agent, and recruited others to participate in firearms trafficking.

In August 2022, Small and a friend met up with the undercover agent and brought with them oxycodone pills and a machine gun that had no serial numbers. In October 2022, Small accompanied a second individual and met again with the undercover agent to sell the agent two pistols, according to Parker. 

The crimes occurred while Small was on probation for prior drug and weapons convictions. Small pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possessing a machine gun and possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

Small played for the Buckeyes from 2006 to 2009, scoring three touchdowns in his career at Ohio State. In 2011, Small admitted to selling a Big Ten championship ring in an interview with Ohio State's student-run paper, The Lantern.

The interview happened the same year the NCAA vacated the Buckeyes' 2010 season wins after it came to light that players were trading championship rings and other memorabilia in exchange for tattoos and cash.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Simply stated, Columbus loves sports. We've watched Columbus grow from a college town into a professional, championship city.

The story of NBC4's sports department starts simply with one man: Jimmy Crum.

Nothing about James W. Crum was subtle. He joined WLWC-TV in 1954, just a few years after this station became the first to broadcast an Ohio State football game live from Ohio Stadium.

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Crum did it all, from his boisterous sport coats to his bold commentaries. As the sports director at WLWC, which later became WCMH, Crum personified the golden era of local television. He called Ohio State basketball games during the 1960 national championship run and interviewed virtually every sports star of note, including Bobby Knight.

Most importantly, Crum helped raise more than $20 million for Easter seals and other charities. In the 1960s, he co-founded Recreation Unlimited, a summer camp for people with developmental disabilities.

After more than 40 years in his role, Crum retired in 1994, paving the way for award-winning broadcasters like Doug Lessells and Dave Maetzold to take the reins.

"Much like you don't replace a Woody Hayes, you follow Woody Hayes," Lessells said. "You don't replace a Jimmy Crum, you follow him. But I was very excited and I look back on it and it was one of my greatest memories in this business."

NBC4 was there for stories like the rise of Columbus native and world boxing champion Buster Douglas. We tracked the remarkable career of Columbus' own Jack Nicklaus, including the growth of his Memorial Tournament into a PGA Tour staple. Logan's Katie Smith became the all-time scoring leader in women's professional basketball history.

The city's growth is also reflected in the rise of the Columbus Crew in 1996, followed soon after by the Blue Jackets. While the Jackets have struggled over a quarter century, the Crew has been a mainstay in American soccer, winning their third MLS Cup last December.

With its familiar music, Football Friday Nite and NBC4's passion for high school sports has produced cutting-edge coverage for decades.

"I mean that theme song. It took a life of its own," Lessells said.

"Bands wanted to play it. It was really an iconic part of central Ohio Friday nights," Maetzold added.

Perhaps the biggest star of FFN was Athens' Joe Burrow, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2019 and is now the Bengals' prized quarterback.

"If you ask anybody about Columbus, Ohio and sports, with all due respect to the Blue Jackets and the Columbus Crew, it's still Ohio State football," Maetzold said.

Hopalong, Woddy, Archie, Eddie. Their names lead the hundreds of stars who've graced Ohio Stadium and our airwaves. NBC4 has covered the championship highs and the high-profile setbacks. Every fall, it's one of the most followed storylines of the year in Central Ohio.

And today, the NBC4 sports team is as strong as ever. In fact, current sports director Joe Nugent might have been destined for this. When he was seven years old, he met the man whose job he'd later occupy.

"We hope that you'll continue to enjoy Channel 4. I've been blessed to be in the right spot at the right spot," Crum said in his final sign-off. "A great station and a great staff and to be in one of the greatest cities in the United States - Columbus, Ohio. Thank you Columbus. We love you."

You can watch Jerod Smalley's look back at NBC4's 75-year history of covering sports in Central Ohio below:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohioans and visitors around the state will soon be using their special eclipse glasses and the Columbus Metropolitan Library is hoping community members will help ensure those glasses serve a purpose after the eclipse.

CML gave out 100,000 pairs of the glasses. It did not have any left until COSI donated 10,000 more pairs.

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“It’s just a couple days away, we can't wait," said Dorcas Taylor Jones, Communications Manager at CML.

CML encouraged community members to bring their glasses back after the eclipse. Blue boxes normally used for books will be used to collect the glasses. CML has partnered the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. SWACO is working with a company to then send the glasses to Latin America where there will be an annular eclipse in October.

“Children are one of the core tenants of the work we do here at the library so to be able to say we allowed our community to celebrate and then we want to be able to help another community of children celebrate, it's part of what we do," Jones said.

Glasses can be dropped off at any CML location starting after the eclipse until April 18. They can also be dropped off at the locations below before April 30.

• SWACO Recycling Convenience Center, 2566 Jackson Pike, Columbus
• Columbus Waste & Reuse Center, 2100 Alum Creek, Columbus
• Participating Columbus & Franklin County Metro Park Nature Centers at:
  • Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway
  • Blacklick Woods, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg
  • Blendon Woods, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus
  • Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As Columbus continues to grow, so does the need for more affordable housing.

On Thursday, city leaders announced a proposal to address the housing crisis. It involves making significant changes to the city’s 70-year-old zoning code. 

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Michael J. Roebuck is a former radio jockey. He said his story is proof that having the right housing can make all the difference.

“It took a while to get on my feet to get stable and things," Roebuck said. "And so, you know, staying with friends along the way and then a few places that were substandard, you know, and things like mold and things like that came into play and affected my voice and actually took my speaking voice away from me for years."

He said it wasn’t until moving to Hamilton Crossing, a proper affordable senior living community, that his health improved.

“I feel like myself again,” Roebuck said.

Leah Evans is the President and CEO of Homeport, an affordable housing development group. She described the housing crisis as an inflection point in Columbus. She said they run into issues with the current city zoning code every day.

“How tall can the building be? How close to the street does it need to be? What are some of the window sizes,” Evans said. “Think of where Columbus was 70 years ago. There is nothing else that we really have that we have maintained and still abide by from 70 years ago.”

The city’s proposal includes creating six zoning districts. There will be clearer design standards for developers. It also includes incentives to bring more affordable housing units to areas that currently are not offering that option.

Evans said this will allow them to increase density. She said updating the code will influence affordability for more than just the agencies like homeport.

Evans is glad Columbus is getting ahead of the issue. She said she has seen other cities go through this kind of growth and get stuck in the crisis.

“So, as much as our community has changed, this new zoning code, I'm excited that it's providing transparency and accessibility,” Evans said. “I would have to say this takes a long tail on things we're talking about today. We won't see out of the ground for three, four or five years. So, the work we're doing right now is really preparing us to be able to serve the market in the future."

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Roebuck said it is a dream come true to hear the city’s plans.

“To have this change after all of these years is going to impact so many lives," Roebuck said. "And folks like myself who needed this kind of situation, more of them will get to experience what I've, you know, come to experience the last almost four years."

Columbus City Council is expected to adopt a resolution sending this into a discussion period on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse are laying out their plans for the next few months, now that they are back in session after a month-long break. 

“When we have a session, we want to have 10 to 12 bills that we can get through,” Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said. 

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The “capital budget,” also known as House Bill 2, spends millions of dollars on projects for things like jails, schools, and infrastructure. It includes a one-time fund for local projects on things like the pro-football hall of fame. The House passed its version back in February and the Senate passed some spending in a different bill a few weeks later. 

“We haven’t had a chance to look at that yet,” Stephens said. “We’re waiting to see what comes back from the capital budget from the Senate.” 

Though this is a priority for leadership in both chambers, nothing has been agreed upon between the two chambers yet, partly due to Republican infighting. 

“There are very real consequences for that. In this case we’ve got real projects that can’t get started or may not get the re-appropriated funds necessary,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “Those are jobs, those are services for communities and that is ultimately who suffers from this dysfunction.” 

“I am optimistic we’ll get something back to the House,” Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. “Memorial Day might be a little optimistic, but I think it could get done by Memorial Day but certainly by the end of June.” 

The Senate is taking spending requests until April 8. Aside from the capital budget Stephens said he wants to pass legislation like House Bill 7. That legislation is a spending bill to help ensure the wellbeing of mothers and children. 

“That’s one of our higher priorities,” Stephens said. “We put a lot of that into the budget but I think it’s good for us to do that.” 

House Bill 51, or the “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” which would make federal gun laws unenforceable in Ohio if they contradict with the state’s laws, has been stalled, but Stephens said talks on that will start back up soon. 

“I like that bill a lot,” Stephens said. “We’ll be having those discussions and see where everybody is on that bill.” 

Stephens said members are also working on energy policy, with the goal that the House can “unify around” a proposal. He said this is an important piece of economic development.

“As we look at our challenges from an economic standpoint, whenever we have all these economic development opportunities but yet don’t have the electricity,” he said. 

Stephens said energy policy also means making sure the lights can stay on at home, and considering the energy that Ohio is “sitting on” with natural gas. 

“We have to be smart about the legislation, but we want to try to do those things,” he said. 
 

As for marijuana-related legislation, House leadership agrees that they won’t be moving anything forward right now, despite the Senate’s actions.

“Getting a consensus on what that action will be in the House is probably not going to happen,” Stephens said. “I’m sure as time progresses and we have an idea of what things are going to look like well into the future, there is going to be some tweaking of the rules around recreational marijuana.”

“I think that the window of reforming what the voters passed, or making changes, rather, to what was passed in Issue 2 is closing,” Russo said. “But [the new law] will move forward.” 

The House and Senate will have several committee hearings next week. Neither chamber will be meeting in full for session next week. They will likely be in session until the end of June before going on a break.

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Circleville Police Department has been facing public scrutiny after three people in city leadership roles were fired or placed on administrative leave over a three week span, and on Friday a whistleblower came forward.

On March 11, former Chief of Police Shawn Baer was escorted off police department property after being placed on administrative leave. In the following weeks, former director of public safety Steven Wilkinson was hired and fired in one week, and new Acting Chief of Police Doug Davis was placed on administrative leave, with pay, due to alleged employee misconduct.

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NBC4 obtained personnel files for Wilkinson and Davis, which revealed a hostile work environment within the department. Now, Wilkinson is coming forward with his story.

Wilkinson resigned from his role as a Circleville reserve police officer on March 8 and took the oath of office for the public safety director role that day. Just one week later, on March 15, he was fired. In the documents received by NBC4, no reason was given for his firing.

Before getting into the wrongdoing, Wilkinson made one thing clear.

"This has never been about the officers of the Circleville Police Department," Wilkinson said. "I've never witnessed anything that would lead me to believe there's misconduct in the rights of the police officer. This is solely in the right from their leadership. It's a very toxic culture that needs to be changed, and that's what I'm attempting to do."

One of Wilkinson's concerns questioned the training process officers go through to carry a firearm. He said he observed an October incident that left him wondering whether trainees were being passed in their firearm training without actually meeting the requirements.

"There are time limits, there are distance limits, holster limits, when rounds are being counted after the time goes off, that's improper," Wilkinson said. "There was three different occasions that day on the range where a person was unable to get their gun out of the holster in the prescribed time limit."

Wilkinson didn't want to blame any individual officer, but raised concerns about leadership's approach to training.

"I don't believe that the rank and file in the city of Circleville are technically qualified to carry a firearm," Wilkinson said. "Just because a box is checked on a piece of paper does not mean that you are qualified, and the instructors that are doing that, that needs to be addressed."

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Wilkinson said he tried to approach Davis about his concerns, but was never able to get through to him. That's where his main issue lies: the department's leadership. He said that city leadership lives in fear of its police department.

"My personal belief for me being fired is that the mayor and the legal director, and they both said this to me, they are terrified of the police department," Wilkinson said. "They are terrified of assault, which we can see allegedly occurred. They're terrified of other actions that the police might take against them."

The assault Wilkinson is referencing was allegedly against Mayor Michelle Blanton by Davis during a meeting. He said Davis gave her a list of demands regarding how the city should handle its relationship with him. Now, he's apologizing to Blanton for his initial response.

"She's a victim of a crime now and we shouldn't be discussing her actions after she was allegedly assaulted," Wilkinson said. "I didn't have that information at the time, which leads to a whole other avenue of questions. But no, I do want to apologize for putting that out there like I did."

Wilkinson said there is no documentation proving the assault, but that the mayor is clearly afraid of the department.

"When I put all the pieces together now, I know she's afraid of the police department," Wilkinson said.

Circleville City Councilmember Zack Brooks joined the short-lived public safety director in speaking out.

"It's obviously concerning to me as a councilman, to me as a private citizen," Brooks said. "I know it's concerning to everybody that lives in the community to hear that, you know, we're down leadership and pretty much all aspects of the police department at this point."

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Brooks said that he had been advised not to speak to the media.

"But my response to that is, next time they come to me and ask council to hand over $50,000 for more investigations, next time they ask for more money for a legal settlement or litigation, whatever it might be, how am I supposed to make that decision if I'm not purviewed to all the details of this evolving discussion?" Brooks said.