Ohio News

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Sultan, who is from India, believes his visa was revoked because he was arrested in April 2024 at a pro-Palestine protest.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.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Nearly 70 apartments inside Downtown's historic Leveque Tower are set to be converted into for-sale condominiums.

Kaufman Development announced in April it's planning to sell the 69 units inside the Leveque throughout the next 18 months. The company developed the apartments in 2015 as part of the tower's nearly $30 million renovation that also included the launch of Hotel Leveque, the building's 149-room boutique hotel.

Ground broken at Astor Park’s residential development surrounding Lower.com Field

"Leveque is truly very unique. There's nothing like it. It's the height. It's the prestige. It's the history, the nostalgia," said Brett Kaufman, the development company's CEO. "People now have an opportunity to own part of the city's most iconic skyscraper."

The Leveque Tower at 50 W. Broad St. in Columbus. (Adobe Stock)

Located at 50 W. Broad St., the Leveque stands 47 stories tall and was the tallest building between Chicago and New York when construction completed in 1927.

The 69 apartments can be found on floors 19 through 33, ranging from 750 to 1,750 square feet. The units are expected to be sold for $240,000 to $650,000. Zillow shows that several have already been listed, like a one-bedroom, 1,150-square-foot unit on the market for $379,900, and a two-bedroom, 1,266-square-foot unit for $425,000.

Capital City Half Marathon will cause road closures, COTA delays

Once sold, the rental units will join the Leveque's existing eight condos on floors 34 through 36. One of those is also currently on the market, a two-bedroom, three-bathroom unit spanning 1,751 square feet for $599,900.

Leveque residents have access to an expansive list of amenities, like the 24-hour fitness center, dry-cleaning, emergency maintenance, on-site security, a covered parking garage and more. Residents can also utilize The Keep, the restaurant and bar on the mezzanine level, along with the tower's Starbucks locations.

(NewsNation) — The funeral of Pope Francis took place Saturday in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, drawing around 200,000 people who bid farewell, according to the Vatican. The service started at 4 a.m. EDT Saturday, beginning with prayer and song.

Francis' body laid in state for three days at St. Peter's Basilica since Wednesday.

Proceedings and plans for his final resting place were simpler than those of previous popes.

You can watch the funeral on this page, or on NewsNation's cable channel and NewsNation’s site and app. Not sure how to watch NewsNation? Find your channel here.

Farewell to Francis Clergy arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Crowds gathered outside in St. Peter's Square for the funeral Mass where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, delivered the "Liturgy of the Word," or readings from Scripture.

"Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us," said Re, who presided over the ceremony. "We ask you from heaven, may you bless the church. May you bless Rome and bless the whole world as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this Basilica."

Re led the funeral Mass.

"War always leaves the world worse than it was before," Re said as he detailed Francis' life and moral values, saying he always maintained his temperament.

How is Pope Francis’ funeral different from other popes'?

Francis’ 2024 changes to burial rites for pontiffs paved the way for his more humble funeral and particular burial site, the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. Located outside the Vatican, the basilica is home to Francis’ favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.

The first images of Francis’ body were released earlier this week after his death Monday. He was 88. Francis was placed in a wooden casket, in red vestments and with his bishop’s miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived and died.

What is Pope Francis’ legacy? 5 lessons from the Argentine pope

Typically, popes have three coffins — made of cypress wood, lead and elm — that are ultimately stacked together and buried in the Vatican grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis, under the renewed rite, opted to be buried in just one coffin: a wooden casket lined with zinc. Francis’ singular coffin was not placed on an elevated bier, as is custom; his coffin, instead, simply faced the basilica’s pews.

Who will attend Pope Francis’ funeral?

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the funeral shortly before the service began at 10 a.m. local time.

Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were present at the start, as well.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, center, arrive for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Argentine President Javier Milei and Prince William were among the mourners. The 42-year-old member of Britain’s royal family attended the Vatican City funeral on behalf of King Charles III, multiple outlets reported.

William, heir to the British throne, has traditionally represented the monarch at funerals, according to Vanity Fair. 

The office of Polish President Andrzej Duda said Duda planned to attend the ceremony. Poland has also declared a day of national mourning on Saturday for the funeral.

Pope Francis’ legacy of serving the poor and marginalized

Reuters has reported the following world leaders also attended the funeral:

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula de Silva
• French President Emmanuel Macron
• German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz
• Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok
• Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
• Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics
• Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda
• Romania's interim President Ilie Bolojan
• Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia
• Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter
• Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, Parliament President Roberta Metsola
• East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito Freitas
• Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prime Minister Bart De Wever

Vice President JD Vance will not attend, a White House official told NewsNation. Vance visited Francis during a brief meeting on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died.

How and when did Pope Francis die?

Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, died one day after Easter and nearly a month after his release from a hospital.

His cause of death was a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, according to the Vatican. Francis was hospitalized in February, staying five weeks with double pneumonia that required high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions.

What happens after Pope Francis’ funeral?

The pope’s death sets off the formal process to select his successor, known as a conclave.

The word conclave is derived from the Latin words “com,” meaning “with,” and “clavis,” meaning “key.” It refers to the practice of Catholic cardinals gathering in a closed room or hall to vote on who should be the next pope.

White smoke billows from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating the College of Cardinals has elected a new pope on March 13, 2013, in Vatican City. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Per the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the conclave usually occurs around 15 to 20 days following the death or resignation of a pope.

Due to political turmoil, it took more than two years to elect Pope Gregory X in 1271. To ensure the papal election was not dragged out in the future, Gregory X ensured cardinals would remain together until a new pontiff was decided.

Only cardinals younger than 80 are allowed to participate in the secretive, anonymous conclave vote.

In terms of a successor for Francis, there are several frontrunners — or “papabile” — including Cardinals Peter Erdo, Reinhard Marx, Luis Tagle, Marc Ouellet and Robert Sarah, among others.

NewsNation’s Anna Kutz, Ashley N. Soriano, Patrick Djordjevic and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – A rapidly expanding South Korea-based bakery café recently opened the doors to its newest central Ohio location.

Paris Baguette began welcoming customers last week at 1369 W. Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington, and will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday. The café, open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, allows visitors to dine in, pick up takeout and order catering services. 

The Upper Arlington café is run by franchisee John Hong, who frequently visited Paris Baguette as he grew up in South Korea. Hong opened his first Paris Baguette location in Cincinnati earlier this year and has plans to open three more in the state, a spokesperson with the brand said. The locations have yet to be determined.

Look inside: Elegant $2.5 million home for sale near Wolfe Park

Just last year, the chain debuted its first central Ohio location at Easton Town Center in July, before opening another storefront near Polaris Fashion Place in December. Before launching the Easton restaurant, the chain had only one store in the state, which opened in Cincinnati in 2022.

The chain is aggressively growing in North America, opening 51 cafés last year. The company said it is on track to surpass 100 new locations on the continent by the end of 2025, according to a press release. 

The brand serves a variety of cakes, breads, donuts, sandwiches, salads, smoothies and coffees. Pastries are also on the menu, with sweet options such as a raspberry almond croissant, and savory options including a broccoli cheddar quiche.

Paris Baguette started in South Korea in 1986 before coming to the United States in 2005. Paris Baguette now has more than 4,000 locations across the globe, including more than 200 stores in America.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One man is dead after a shooting Thursday night, with the person accused saying that he was trying to prevent his car from being stolen.

Franklin County sheriff's deputies responded at about 8:10 p.m. to a gas station at the Northern Lights Shopping Center in the 3300 block of Cleveland Avenue -- which is in a section of Clinton Township surrounded by Columbus' North Linden neighborhood.

Deputies found a man who had been shot in the chest. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:55.

Vehicle located that struck 2-year-old in rural Ohio

Deputies detained a man identified as Demetrius Ransom Jr., who told them that the victim had attempted to steal Ransom's vehicle, 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, where he is facing a murder charge as the investigation continues. Court records show that Ransom lives in Columbus and that he will face a judge for an arraignment hearing on Saturday morning.

The name of the victim has yet to be released. Deputies said he was 30 years old.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, where people all across the country can dispose of their unwanted prescription medications at drop-off locations.

Held by the Drug Enforcement Administration, National Drug Take Back Day is held twice a year. Collection areas will be open to help community members dispose of their unwanted medication in a safe way, while preventing the misuse and addiction of prescription drugs.

Ground broken at development next to Lower.com Field

Several agencies and organizations are holding drop off spots across central Ohio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The collection areas are free and anonymous. The last National Drug Take Back Day was held in October, when there were 4,644 total collection sites, with 629,953 pounds collected, according to the DEA website.

All prescription medications will be accepted including liquids, as long as they are sealed in the original containers. Sharps or needles will not be accepted at drop-off locations.

Below is a list of drop-off locations across Franklin County. To search for a drop-off near you, visit the DEA's website.

Franklin county collection sites

• Columbus Public Health: 240 Parsons Ave.
• Kroger: 1375 Chambers Rd.
• Bexley Police Department: 559 N. Cassingham Rd.
• Columbus Division of Fire: 3639 Parsons Ave.
• Worthington Division of Police: 6555 Worthington Galena Rd.
• Sharon Township Police Department: 95 E. Wilson Bridge Rd.
• Upper Arlington Fire Station: 3861 Reed Rd.
• Kroger: 300 S. Hamilton Rd.
• Hilliard Division of Police: 5171 Northwest Pkwy
• Kroger: 4656 Cemetery Rd.
• Kroger: 5965 Hoover Rd.
• Jackson Township Fire Station: 3650 Hoover Rd.
• Perry Township Police Department: 7125 Sawmill Rd.
• New Albany Police Department: 9500 Johnstown Rd.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The City of Columbus has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its cuts to infectious disease funding during a rise in measles outbreaks across the country, including in Ohio.

City Attorney Zach Klein said Columbus Public Health has already had to terminate 11 infectious disease workers due to cuts in the funding, leaving only 11 employees left.

"The Trump administration's termination of billions of dollars in infectious disease funding is both dangerous and unconstitutional," Klein said in a statement. "The City cannot stay quiet on the sidelines as extremists within this administration continue to defy the Constitution and recklessly endanger the health and safety of our children and the public."

Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

The city claims that the funding cuts are unconstitutional because the money was already approved by Congress.

The city is asking for a judge to order the Trump administration to reinstate the grant programs and congressionally appropriated funding.

Kansas City and Nashville also joined the lawsuit, along with Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston.

Read the full lawsuit below Dkt.-1-ComplaintDownload

Several states also previously sued the administration over the funding cuts.

U.S. Health and Human Services Department spokesperson Andrew Nixon told the Associated Press earlier this month that it doesn't comment on pending litigation, but said the HHS "will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago."

JACKSON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State Highway Patrol located a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run on Tuesday night in Jackson County that left a 2-year-old injured.

Troopers said someone was driving a red Dodge Dakota on State Route 93 at about 8 p.m. when they hit the 2-year-old boy in the roadway in front of a home.

Five potential legal changes included in the Ohio budget passed by the House

The driver pulled over, but as the boy's father was providing aid to the child, the driver left.

Troopers did not say if the driver of the vehicle has been identified or located.

Anyone with information is asked to call 740-286-4141.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Intel debuted a streamlined company plan Thursday, including major cuts and a somewhat bleak outlook for the rest of the year.

Intel announced its first-quarter financial earnings on Thursday, the first glimpse into the company’s finances under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. The financial results examine efforts through March 29, and Tan was honest about some difficult decisions going forward. A plant under construction in New Albany, the largest private investment in Ohio's history, received no attention in the Q1 report and company conference call, but the call offered insight into Intel's changes in the near future.

Total revenue for the first quarter of this year was better than many expected at $12.7 billion, flat year over year and higher than Intel had anticipated. Intel's operating expenses were down significantly, the first step toward an ambitious reduction in expenditures.

Ohio State students in limbo after visa issues

However, it anticipated lower revenue in the coming quarters due to tariffs and "uncertainty regarding timing of the U.S. government fulfilling their obligations in our CHIPS agreement," the billions in federal funding set to help Ohio's plant.

Rumors that Intel will cut 20% of its workforce have not been fully confirmed by the company, but Tan said significant layoffs are coming, especially among management. Tan is removing as much internal administrative work as he can, dramatically limiting meetings and internal processes. He said difficult decisions will begin in Q2 and will happen quickly. The rumored cuts are on top of the 15,000 employees who were laid off last year.

"I’m a big believer in the philosophy that the best leaders get the most done with the fewest people," Tan said. "We will embrace this mindset across the company, which will include empowering our top talent to make decisions and take greater ownership of key priorities. There is no way around the fact that these critical changes will reduce the size of our workforce."

Construction continues on Ohio's $28 billion plant, which falls under Intel's Foundry division. Among several worrisome years for Intel, the Foundry division has been hit particularly hard. Intel Foundry had its best quarter in more than a year in Q1, down less than 50% for the first time in five quarters. Foundry was still the company's worst-performing division; however, it is up 7% from Q1 2024.

Also relevant to Ohio, Tan and Intel CFO David Zinsner voiced concerns about the promised $7.8 billion CHIPS Act funding from the federal government. Intel confirmed Thursday it had not received any new CHIPS Act funding, with the last payment occurring in January under former President Joe Biden.

Intel intends to sell off portions of its "non-core" divisions, as it already has with its Altera business. Tan is also asking all Intel employees to work at least four days per week in the office by Sept. 1. Already, he has adjusted leadership so more administrators report directly to him.

Ohio State University faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

Intel’s earnings are further complicated by tariff tensions, with 145% tariffs on China in a trade war that complicates Intel’s manufacturing. Although President Donald Trump hinted on Wednesday that China and the U.S. are “actively” discussing an agreement, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told NBC News that was far from the case.

Intel warned these tariffs and other geopolitical concerns are likely to lower profits for Q2, predicting revenue between $11.2 billion and $12.4 billion. Although they acknowledged tariffs may have helped boost Q1 sales, they were not optimistic about the role of tariffs going forward. Zinsner said they believe uncertainty in the economy with contribute to fewer sales and increase operating costs, and the company is bracing for a possible recession.

"It’s going to be hard. It will require painful decisions," Tan said. "But we will make them knowing it’s what we must do to serve our customers better as we build a new Intel for the future – and I have great confidence in the power of our team and our people to make it happen."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A former Ohio State football player turned filmmaker is celebrating his role in bringing a new animated Hollywood comedy to the big screen.

Leonard Hartman, a native of Leavittsburg in northeast Ohio and graduate of Ohio State and the American Film Institute, is one of four producers behind the feature film “SNEAKS.” According to a news release from Irvin Public Relations, Hartman's Columbus-based company, Lengi Studios, played a key role in the film’s animation. The team recently celebrated their work with a private screening at the Gateway Film Center.

“SNEAKS” follows a brother-sister duo of high-end sneakers who get separated when the sister, Maxine, is stolen before a big high school game. The adventure kicks off as her brother, Ty, voiced by Anthony Mackie, sets off across New York to find her. The character Maxine is voiced by Chloe Bailey, and Laurence Fishburne lends his voice to the film’s villain, an unscrupulous sneaker collector. The voice cast also includes Martin Lawrence and Keith David.

Round 1 of 2025 NFL Draft: What happened with Buckeyes, Browns, Bengals?

Directed by Rob Edwards and Christopher Jenkins, the movie is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Lengi Studios, part of the Ohio Film Group, is based on the Columbus College of Art and Design campus. The company specializes in animation and visual effects for films, TV, video games, music videos, and advertising, according to its LinkedIn profile.

Before launching his film career, Hartman earned a master’s degree in English Education from Ohio State, went on to AFI in Los Angeles, and became a Hollywood screenwriter. His credits include co-writing “Free State of Jones,” the 2016 Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey.

As a Buckeye, Hartman was an Academic All-American and a two-time member of the Big Ten’s All-Academic team. OSU’s 1992 media guide described him as a “hard-working, very intense athlete.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A lavish 2.5-story home with history near Wolfe Park is on the market, complete with an indoor gym and a large second-story balcony.

The more than 6,500-square-foot home has preserved architectural charm in every room. Located at 57 Preston Road just outside of Bexley, the house has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a three-car garage, outdoor and indoor fireplaces and enhancements in every room that set it apart.

The house was built in 1939 and has maintained its charm. Walking in, residents enjoy a center hall entry perfect for entertaining. The first floor offers plenty of living and dining spaces brought to life with ornate wooden details and drapery. Natural light floods the home and beckons residents to sit in several cozy bay windows.

Active, young pup looking for his forever home

The highlight of the first floor is the great room, a large space perfect for entertaining that wraps around several rooms in an open floor plan. The space is brightened by wooden beams and a pale blue ceiling and can host a welcome gathering.

The kitchen offers state-of-the-art appliances centered by a marble kitchen island with built-in appliances for seamless cooking. The home also has a dining room, powder room, laundry and mud room, music room, living room and library. Built-in shelving colors the library for cozy reading, and both the library and dining room have fireplaces.

Upstairs, a second laundry room and small bathroom make life easy. There is a second-story office with deep wood details overlooking the backyard. There is plenty of space for family; the six bedrooms include a guest suite for hosting comfortably.

A lavish primary bedroom suite enjoys a beautiful marble bathroom. Two sinks with plenty of counter and cabinet space face one another through a wall of mirrors, giving multiple occupants a private space for toiletries. One side expands into a vanity, and warm windows and window seats frame a marble tub. A spacious shower offers privacy, and the entire room is lit by a skylight.

• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty
• Courtesy photo / Sheila M. Straub Coldwell Banker Realty

Upstairs, a stone hosting room is characterized by rustic wooden beams along the pointed ceiling. The room has space to entertain, complete with a bar, kitchen and pool table. The home also has another kitchen in the full basement and offers a home gym with floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Ground broken at development next to Lower.com Field

At nearly 90 years old, the house embraces timeless character without compromising amenities. The master bathroom, second-floor bathroom and kitchen all have heated floors for cold winter months, and multiple AC and heating systems provide customizable temperature control.

Outside, a stone patio and fireplace leaves plenty of space for outdoor entertaining. A spiral staircase connects a brick first-floor landing with spacious upstairs balconies. The fenced yard embraces privacy, echoed by the quiet neighborhood just a short walk from Wolfe Park.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio House passed an over 5,000-page biennial budget bill this month that includes not only $61 billion in state spending but also law changes on topics ranging from abortion to adult websites and driver's ed. 

On April 9, after two months of testimony and negotiations, lawmakers in the House passed a proposed state budget for the next two years by a 60-39 vote. The legislation will now be reviewed by state senators, who will have the opportunity to make changes before it heads to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for final approval. 

Ohio Supreme Court to decide same-sex parental rights case

The version of the budget passed by the House included multiple controversial provisions, many of which do not make spending appropriations but rather create or update state laws. Five of those provisions can be found below.  

Age verification for adult websites

The budget bill would require pornography websites or any site that hosts content that is “obscene or harmful to juveniles” to verify visitors are over 18 years old through photo identification or other documentation. 

Specifically, users would confirm their age through a copy of a government-issued photo ID or another personal document, such as proof of a mortgage or employment. Companies would be required to “immediately” delete such documents after the age verification is complete. 

However, websites would be able to store the documents if an individual has an account. If a resident has a profile, they would have to go through age verification every two years after its creation. If a user does not renew their account within two years, all age-verifying documents would be deleted. 

Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

Adult websites would be responsible for using a system to monitor the location of their visitors to ensure Ohioans’ ages are verified. If an adult website fails to verify a user's age and a minor gains access to its content, the Ohio attorney general may bring a civil lawsuit against the company. No other person or entity would be permitted to file a civil action, the provision says. 

Lawmakers introduced similar bills pushing for this change in both this General Assembly and the past legislative session. 

Driver’s license requirements

The House-passed version of the state budget would require all individuals under 21 years old to complete driver’s education to obtain their license, while the current law only requires the training for those under 18. 

Ohio drivers under 18 who are obtaining their license for the first time must have a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction, eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and 50 hours of in-car supervised practice before they can take the road test. Currently, legal adults do not need to complete these requirements to get a license; they just need to pass the road test. 

LGBTQ+ issues

The budget bill would codify that the state recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and that these sexes are “not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”  

The bill defines gender identity as an individual’s “internal and subjective” sense of self that is “disconnected from biological reality” and cannot be recognized as a replacement for sex. It further specifies that the state recognizes women as individuals who belong, at conception, to the sex that produces egg cells, while men belong to the sex that produces sperm cells.

The bill would also require public libraries to place material “related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression” in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of minors. 

Ohio University attempts to include student, faculty input in anti-DEI requirements

Furthermore, it would prohibit state agencies from displaying any flag, like a pride flag or other political symbols. Only the United States, Ohio and POW/MIA (Prisoners of War/Missing in Action) flags would be permitted at government buildings. 

Eliminating elections for county coroners

If the budget bill were to pass as is, Ohioans would no longer see county coroners on the ballot, as boards of commissioners would begin appointing the position instead.

Coroners investigate and certify the causes of death for people who die within their jurisdiction, primarily under unnatural or suspicious circumstances. The job is elected in almost all of the state’s counties. Summit and Cuyahoga counties alternatively have appointed medical examiners, who typically have more extensive forensic pathology training.

Numerous coroners have come out against the provision, expressing concern that appointments could invite political influence into death investigations.

Judge dismisses parent lawsuit against Hilliard schools over LGBTQ+ policies

“We feel the best system for the state of Ohio and for all Ohioans is to elect the coroner to preserve the impartiality, the integrity and the independence of death investigation in the state,” David Corey, executive director of the Ohio State Coroners Association, recently told NBC4. “By being appointed corner, you’re beholden to the people or the person that appoints you, versus trying to just find out the truth and serving the county electorate.”

The County Commissioners Association of Ohio has long lobbied for the change, claiming many counties have problems recruiting candidates for the role. The group also believes the change would allow for commissioners to “share, combine or reorganize” the duties of the coroner across a larger geographic area for a more efficient system. 

Changes to abortion reporting 

Ohio law requires certain information about abortions performed in the state to be reported to the Department of Health through a confidential form given to patients. The document includes medical history and demographic information. The data from the forms is summarized into annual reports that are publicly released, detailing abortion statistics in the state. Patients' names are not included. 

The budget bill would require the department to develop a public electronic dashboard and publish abortion data from these forms every month. The continuously updating dashboard would include similar data as the annual reports, including the total number of abortions, patients’ ages, if they are Ohio or out-of-state residents, and marital status. The monthly dashboard would also add a new statistic, listing the number of abortions performed on minors by each facility. This would not replace the annual report but supplement it.

The Senate will send a completed version of the bill to DeWine’s desk by June 30. As with all spending bills, DeWine can reject certain provisions within the legislation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a case deciding how parentage laws apply to same-sex couples who raised children but separated before same-sex marriage became legal.

The Ohio couple in the case, Priya Shahani and Carmen Edmonds, were together from 2003 to 2015 and had three children together through artificial insemination. Though Shahani was the biological mother, the two gave each child the last name of "Edmonds-Shahani" and completed legal documents recognizing the other as an equal co-parent.

Shahani and Edmonds never legally married, as their relationship deteriorated in 2015 before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage bans, like prohibitions still on the books in Ohio, are unconstitutional. In the breakup, the couple entered into a formal agreement that divided their property and set a parenting schedule for their children.

Judge dismisses parent lawsuit against Hilliard schools over LGBTQ+ policies

However, Shahani later removed "Edmonds" from the children's last name and filed legal motions to terminate their agreement. Edmonds then filed a petition in 2017 "to establish her parental rights," but the Hamilton County Juvenile Court held that a same-sex partner does not fall within the definition of a "parent" under Ohio law. This is because Edmonds was neither biologically related to the children nor married to their birthmother.

A trial court ruled against terminating the agreement and ordered that Edmonds could have "companionship time" with the children but did not grant her a "parentage" request. Both Shahani and Edmonds appealed to the First District Appellate Court, which decided that the trial court needed to hold a hearing to determine if the couple "would have been married" if Ohio had already allowed same-sex marriage.

Appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court, Shahani said a state court "does not have the authority to disregard Ohio's statute banning common-law marriage and order a person into an unlicensed and manufactured marriage."

Paul Kerridge, Shahani's lawyer, said before the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday that Shahani doesn't believe in the institution of marriage and never planned to marry Edmonds. The lawyer noted the couple didn't attempt to get a marriage license and that Shahani also isn't planning to marry her current partner.

"What we're kind of getting is one person saying, 'Well, I want a marriage to be retroactively created,' and another person saying, 'Well, I don't want a marriage to be retroactively created because I never wanted to enter into one in the first place,'" Kerridge said.

Ohio University attempts to include student, faculty input in anti-DEI requirements

However, Jonathan Hilton, Edmonds' lawyer, said there is proof the couple planned to marry. Hilton claimed that Edmonds is only allowed to see the children about 30% of the time, struggles to obtain their school and medical records, and that she didn't receive notice when Shahani removed "Edmonds" from the children's last name.

"You have children who have hyphenated names, their very identity being changed, and my client has no more rights in that situation than a babysitter," Hilton said, also noting that Edmonds would have further restricted rights if Shahani's partner wanted to adopt the children.

Justices discussed back and forth whether Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case legalizing same-sex marriage, applied to a couple that was never married. Justice Patrick DeWine argued to Hilton that it seemed like he was "advocating for a really impossible standard."

"You have one parent who says, 'I wouldn't have got married.' You've got one parent who says, 'I would've gotten married.' How can a court really sort that out?" DeWine said. "Because no one actually knows what someone would have done, and if they would have been married, the rights would have been different."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Plans for the redevelopment of a troubled east Columbus apartment complex are in the works.  

The Near East Area Commission held a special meeting for the community Thursday on the future of the now-closed Latitude Five25 apartment complex.  

Diane McCall and her husband Sonny have lived right across from the site for 22 years. She said that right now, the property is a headache and thorn in their side. 

"I knew what the neighborhood looked like back in the day," Diane McCall said. "It was well kept, it was clean, we didn't have all these problems. Of course, times change, people change, so it went downhill from there." 

Latitude Five25 residents were forced to move from the building on Christmas day of 2022 when the pipes burst in the 400-unit twin apartment towers, leaving tenants with no potable water, heat or fire systems. 

At Thursday's meeting, residents heard from leaders with Nuveen Real Estate, Simmons Corporation and S. Cain Development, who made it clear they will not only invest, but operate the property. They said their mission is to create a high-quality development that reflects the goals of the community, reconnects the site with the neighborhood and provides opportunities for financial stability for hundreds of families.  

"We don't come into anybody's community and tell them what to do, how we're going to build," Nadir Settles, global head of impact investing at Nuveen Real Estate, said. "We think it's a reciprocal process, a mutual process, and we wanted to hear the feedback, and we can incorporate that feedback. We can consider that feedback."  

The stakeholders have proposed nearly 400 long-term affordable housing units for tenants who may otherwise be rent burdened. Around half of the units will be reserved for families with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income.  

"We think that our model of vertical integration, where we will develop the site, we will build the site, we will manage the site for many years to come is so well-suited to this unique challenge where the community is really seeking accountability and stewardship for this site which has been lacking in the past," Max Zarin, director of development for Paths Development, said.  

Residents raised concerns about keeping the history of the site alive and not repeating the same mistakes.  

"My opinion, we'll see," Diane McCall said. "Proof is in the pudding. Show me." 

Stakeholders are hoping to welcome their first residents in the fall of 2028.  

To provide feedback directly to the stakeholders, email sawyertowers@pathsco.com.    

BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s been nearly two years since Ta’Kiya Young was shot and killed in Blendon Township by a police officer. 

Almost every month, Young’s family gathers at the Blendon Township Kroger parking lot where it happened, and Thursday was one of those days. 

Young was shot on Aug. 24, 2023, and since then, on the 24th day of each month, family and friends have shown up at that Kroger, wearing shirts with her face on them. Her family said they can feel her spirit when they are there. 

These central Ohio Walmart locations set for remodel

Nearly two years ago, the 21-year-old pregnant woman was shot by Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb. 

At the time of her death, Young had two children and was expecting another child. Her children are now four and seven years old; they were three and six when it happened. 

“They miss her and they talk good about her, but you can tell by their hearts that they miss her,” Ta’Kiya Young’s grandmother Nadine Young said. 

Young said these past two years have been like a roller coaster of emotions, but coming back to this spot is important to her.   

“I feel her here, I feel the spirit, and when we send the balloons off, it's like she's saying something to us every time,” she said. “We feel it.” 

Troopers hunting for pickup truck that struck 2-year-old boy in Jackson County

Young was suspected of shoplifting from the Kroger on South Sunbury Road. Grubb and another officer approached her vehicle. Grubb stood in front of the car and shot Young as the car moved forward.  

Grubb has been charged with killing Young and her unborn child. As of Thursday, he remains on paid administrative leave. His case is next scheduled for a status hearing on May 21 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court; a trial date is currently scheduled for July 14. 

“Over the past few years, we've seen four central Ohio police officers charged with murder,” Sean Walton, the Young family’s attorney, said. “Each of those cases has moved at a snail's pace.”  

Walton said he would not be surprised if Grubb’s July 14 trial date was postponed. 

Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

“There's likely to be a long fight in the criminal justice system,” he said. “Our hope is that, in the civil justice system, Blendon Township will come to the table and have a serious conversation with this family about what it looks like to heal.”  

Both Walton and Young’s family said they’d like to see accountability from the police department, but for now, Nadine Young said she will continue to show up at the Kroger as a way to connect with her granddaughter so that her name is never forgotten. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is injured after a shooting near a gas station on the northeast side of Columbus Thursday night.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the shooting happened on the 3300 block of Cleveland Avenue at approximately 8:10 p.m.

One victim was taken to a local hospital. Their condition is not known.

Law enforcement officials taped off the Sunoco station and parking lot at 3317 Cleveland Avenue as the scene was investigated.

There is no further information available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- When someone reports abuse -- whether it’s sexual, domestic, or involves a vulnerable person -- how evidence is collected can make all the difference.  

At 26 OhioHealth emergency rooms, new technology is helping forensic nurses document injuries more accurately -- even ones invisible to the naked eye.

Those first few hours are critical, and this imaging tool is strengthening investigations and helping survivors on their path to justice.  

NBC4 got a firsthand look at new technology making a big impact in forensic care. It’s called the Cortexflo, a high-tech camera now used by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or the SANE team.

Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

The camera captures high-resolution images and uses features like contrast filtering to highlight micro-injuries. It also has an alternative light source that can detect dried bodily fluids, all of which is critical for building a strong forensic case.  

“When we aren’t finding injuries a lot of times these cases won’t make it to court, so people don’t get the chance to tell their story,” said Sheree Ford, Associate Manager of Forensics at Ohio Health.

The devices are available at 26 care sites and the images are typically taken in private settings without the need of a referral.  

PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) -- Southwest Licking School District has a $115 million bond issue on the May 6 ballot.  

The money would be used to build a new middle school, an addition to the high school, and a new training facility in partnership with the YMCA.  

The bond issue would cost homeowners $12.25 per $100,000 of their home’s value.

Ohio University composts nearly 100% of campus food waste

Southwest Licking Superintendent Dr. Kasey Perkins said current district buildings are already near capacity, and more space is needed.  

The district did pass a bond issue back in 2017, but Perkins said the new schools still aren’t enough.  

“At that time, they predicted our enrollment next year to be at 4,200 kids,” Perkins said. “We are currently at 5,120.” 

If the bond issue passes, the superintendent said Southwest Licking won’t have to go back to voters to build more schools ever again.  

Ground broken at Astor Park’s residential development surrounding Lower.com Field

“We have projected growth for 30 years and beyond, and these buildings will be built to cover that growth, so at no time will we need additional spacing for our kids,” Perkins said. 

Ross Musick, a father of four Southwest Licking students and the president of SWL for Kids, said the bond money is needed. He said the cost to build the schools will only increase over time.  

“If we kick the can down the road because we think there's some magic potion or some big answer that's going to come from somewhere else or the kids aren't going to show up, that's just not a realistic scenario,” Musick said.  

On top of building a new middle school for fifth and sixth-grade students and an addition to the high school, 20 percent of the bond money would go toward constructing a training facility called The Spear. It would be a private-public partnership between the school district and the YMCA, complete with an indoor pool, pickleball courts, an indoor track, and a playground.  

Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump

Voter Christine Boles said this is too much for Southwest Licking to ask of community members.

“I’m retired, so I mean, you're going to have to force retired people just about out of their homes because they can't afford to pay the taxes,” Boles said. “We have two pools in the neighborhood that are having trouble keeping their memberships up and that kind of thing. And I don't think the schools need to be involved in that.”  

For more information about the bond issue, including a tax calculator, click here. 

(WCMH) -- Friday morning, the waning crescent moon, Venus, and Saturn will be aligned in a way to create a basic sideways smiley face in the eastern sky before sunrise.

Venus will rise first in the eastern sky, just before 5 a.m. About 20 minutes later, the moon and Saturn will both rise. Venus, if the sky were clear, would be very easy to spot, as it's a very bright planet in the sky. However, Saturn is very dimly lit on a clear night and challenging to see in the night sky.

Complicating matters, Astronomical twilight begins around 5 a.m. This is the period when some of the light from the sun starts to make the night sky less dark. Nautical twilight, or the period when the horizon may be distinguishable, is around 530 a.m. Civil twilight, or the period where the sun is still below the horizon, but is clearly lighting the sky, starts just after 6 a.m. with the actual sunrise around 6:40 a.m.

The light will likely wash out quickly any chance of seeing a very dimly lit Saturn. On top of the light from the sun, it is more likely than not that the sky will be mostly cloudy to overcast in the morning, so this would make it very challenging to impossible to see the smiley face.

But if you are up early around 5:20-5:30 a.m., and you get a break in the clouds, look out to the eastern sky, you may be lucky enough to sneak a peek. If not, at least it will be a warm morning to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.

THORNVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — It's important to have a safe place to go when there's a tornado warning, and there's a new structure in Fairfield County for that very reason.  

“I think it's awesome, good place for people to go in a storm, a bad storm," Lori Foor said about a new tornado shelter in her neighborhood.

Jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket worth $112M sold in Ohio

Inside the shelter is a mostly empty space with power outlets, bathrooms, and access to water. It's located near the Farfield Beach area by Buckeye Lake. Foor can walk to the building from her house. 

“I think it's a good addition, it's something that Thornville has needed for a while," Foor said.  

The cost of the shelter was about $1.6 million. 75% of the money came from federal grants, 12.5% from state grants, and 12.5% was taxpayer-funded, according to Garrett Blevins, deputy director of the Fairfield County Emergency Management Agency (FCEMA). He said during an emergency like a tornado warning, 733 people can fit inside.   

“It makes us feel better that our citizens have somewhere to go," Blevins said.  

The building is made of steel and concrete. Blevins said it'll be especially helpful because most of the homes around it do not have basements since they're so close to Buckeye Lake.

These central Ohio Walmart locations set for remodel

“Can withstand winds up to an EF4 tornado, so just the style and shape, the wind wraps around it and doesn't really catch on anything," he said. 

The shelter is the fourth of its kind in the state, according to Blevins. There are also tables and chairs inside. The space is not just for emergencies; it can be used for community events and meetings as well. 

“We would love to only see it used for community events,” Blevins said. “We know that’s probably not realistic, so we hope it never gets used, but if it does, we know it’ll do the job and help protect the residents.” 

The shelter doors automatically unlock when the tornado warning siren sounds, according to FCEME. Blevins said they are looking at making that happen for tornado watches as well so people would have more time to get to the building. 

The shelter is located at 5056 Beaver Drive NE, Thornville, Ohio.