COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Artificial intelligence isn't new, but there are renewed concerns about cybercriminals using the technology to trick unsuspecting individuals.
"We call it SAP -- scale, accuracy and plausibility," Neal O'Farrell, founder of the Center for AI Crime, said. "So you imagine every kind of cybercrime, scam or fraud that you've ever seen before, it’s going to be at a much greater scale, it will be much more accurate, and it'll claim more victims because they'll be much more plausible.”
What to do if your Facebook account is hackedO'Farrell called Better Call 4 nearly one year ago to share those concerns. Now, the FBI has issued a similar warning to consumers:
"...criminals exploit generative artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud on a larger scale which increases the believability of their schemes," adding that it assists "with content creation" and "reduces the time and effort criminals must expend to deceive their targets."
In total, the FBI identified 17 common tactics scammers use -- with the help of AI -- to con consumers, including deepfakes -- images, videos, even phone calls.
"When we first started seeing these scams come out, you needed about five minutes of a person's voice," O'Farrell said. "In fact, some of the original ones were 15 minutes. Now, it's down to three seconds. So, bop, bop, bop, might be enough for a scammer to replicate your voice."
How to avoid burst pipes during cold weatherThen, O'Farrell said, scammers use your voice to manipulate others in order to make money. They may also create fake social media profiles, send phishing emails, create misinformation campaigns around politics, or exploit a crisis, like hurricanes or wildfires.
No matter the tactic, the goal is always the same -- to get your personal and financial information. If you encounter a text message, phone call, email or social media message -- even from someone you think you know -- O'Farrell suggested asking yourself a few questions first.
Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’"Has that ever happened before?” he said. “Is it quite typical? Does the personality feel the same? The voice in the image might, might look familiar, but does the personality? Do they, do they normally greet you with that particular name or have they left out something? So, it has to be all about the context and typically with these scams, a key telltale is urgency. Take a breath. Take a moment. Double check."
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new law passed quietly at the Ohio Statehouse earlier this month has some people saying it hurts police and government transparency.
The law allows law enforcement agencies to potentially charge hundreds of dollars for body camera footage.
Families with loved ones who were victims of police brutality held a news conference Thursday to raise their voices against the law.
Will flags fly at full-staff on Inauguration Day in Ohio?The new law was a last-minute amendment to House Bill 315, a bill primarily sponsored by Republicans Rep. Bill Seitz and Rep. Thomas Hall.
After signing the bill into law, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the policy would help law enforcement agencies manage time-consuming labor-intensive work. However, the families who spoke Thursday said the law feels like a step backward for police transparency.
“Honestly, I feel like it damages the public's trust,” Shawna Barnett said. Barnett is the sister of Andre Hill, who was shot and killed by former Columbus Police officer Adam Coy in December 2020.
Coy was found guilty of murder and reckless homicide in November. Barnett said body camera footage was a focal point in the trial.
“Yes, it was an invaluable thing in Andre's case,” Barnett said. “Had that footage not been there, it could have been a whole different scenario because it could have been his word against ours and not what you see.”
Fugitive’s arrest leads to body being found in east Columbus basementShe said that following Andre's death, the City of Columbus even implemented Andre's Law, which requires officers to turn on their body cameras before any enforcement to avoid a “he-said-she-said" situation.
Barnett is one of several people in similar situations from across the states raising their voices about the law.
“I felt like it is a step backwards for transparency and accountability,” Barnett said.
The law states agencies can charge $75 per hour of video produced, capping fees at $750.
“I do think the lack of clarity in the statute undermines it,” said Susan Gilles, a professor of law at Capital University Law School. Gilles said this law changes a Supreme Court precedent which said agencies could charge for paper but not for labor.
Gilles said people are concerned about the charge, but she thinks the bigger issue will soon be the delays.
Culinary excellence: Central Ohio’s award-winning restaurants and chefs“What the statute, the Senate bill does is now, if they elect to charge, they can take five days to work out how much they're going to charge you and it's only when you pay the amount that the clock starts running,” Gilles said.
We asked her if she thinks this law will backfire in any way.
“So this was passed late,” Giles said. “It was passed without any consultation or any evidence of what the problem is, so I think when you pass something not knowing what problem you're trying to fix, you often create a whole set of new problems.”
When asked what they want to see done about this law, the attorneys representing these families said they want to see it repealed.
NBC4 has reached out to many law enforcement agencies in central Ohio including the Columbus Division of Police to see if they plan to charge. All of them tell us they have not made any decisions yet.
The law is set to take effect April 2.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Six months after a ransomware attack hit Columbus, the city is still working to recover.
A breach report that should show how the attack happened and what exactly was accessed should be released soon.
Columbus isn’t alone; each week, there seems to be another cyberattack and more data at risk.
NBC4 Investigates is looking into where accountability comes into play when it comes to these attacks because sometimes, it’s not just the criminals who are at fault.
Last October, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 49 other attorney generals reached a settlement with Marriott International following a multiyear data breach; more than $1.5 million went to Ohio.
How far does this accountability reach and what will future cybersecurity efforts look like across the state?
When the ransomware attack hit Columbus, the city did not have cyber insurance, something that would cover liability for a data breach. This puts the cost of the breach on the taxpayers.
"Are there any plans to pursue accountability or legal action against the city for this breach?" NBC4 investigative reporter Isabel Cleary asked.
"So my staff is staying in contact with the city and learning about this at a relatively slow pace,” Yost said. “Whether there's any action to be taken is a decision for the future. We're watching it and this was a pretty significant breach. I am very hopeful that Mayor Ginther is going to spend the money and make the effort to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.”
As cyberattacks continue to happen, cybersecurity conversations are becoming more common between Ohio leaders.
"It ought to be a bigger conversation, but I hope the outcome of that conversation is not lawsuits,” Yost said. “I hope it's better cybersecurity.”
It’s also a topic at the Ohio Statehouse.
"The issue that happened in Columbus not too recently has definitely sparked conversations about what we can do to strengthen our cybersecurity systems across the state," Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) said.
Jarrells said that 2025 will be an opportunity to explore ways to educate the community and invest in cybersecurity support for Ohio cities.
"The biggest thing is just, we got to invest in our infrastructure, we have to, and so when we have an aging infrastructure in a rapidly growing city such as Columbus, you can see these issues begin to occur, unfortunately," Jarrells said.
Jarrells believes this is an issue that crosses both sides of the aisle.
"There is a bipartisan opportunity, with protecting our constituents,” he said. “I think how we get there is what’s really important, right? Because we are looking at a budget that we don't have excess, a lot of funds, right, and so we have to think creatively about what can be possible."
You can find information about how to protect your data or what to do if you’ve been a victim of a cyberattack here.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — While flags are set to be flown across the county until sunset on Jan. 28 in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who died at 100 on Dec. 29, some states will raise the flag to observe Inauguration Day.
Governors of at least nine states have ordered flags to be flown at full-staff on Jan. 20, before the end of a customary 30-day mourning period following the death of a president. Under a 1954 proclamation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. flags fly at half-staff for 30 days from the death of a sitting or former president.
The list of governors includes Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, as well as Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The governors, all Republicans, announced this week that flags at state buildings, initially lowered to half-staff following Carter’s death, would fly at full height on Jan. 20.
Six of the nine state leaders said flags will be lowered the following day to continue honoring Carter. Little and Pillen announced that flags would be lowered at sunset on Inauguration Day, and Abbott did not indicate whether flags would be lowered back to half-staff after Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20.
Previously in Ohio, DeWine ordered flags at half-staff beginning on Dec. 30, after the death of the 39th President of the United States. In a news release, the governor announced that U.S. and State of Ohio flags would be lowered on public buildings and grounds throughout the state for 30 days. DeWine placed the command following orders issued by President Joe Biden to pay tribute to the “life and service of former President James Earl Carter, Jr.”
On Thursday, DeWine announced the flags of the United States and the state to be raised to full-staff upon all public buildings and grounds in Ohio on Jan. 20. The order was issued “in honor of the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.” After returning to half-staff on Jan. 21, flags will remain lowered until sunset on Jan. 28.
American flags at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida were raised from half-staff on Monday, The Associated Press reported.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced that flags would fly at full-staff at the Capitol on the day of Trump’s inauguration and lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring Carter.
“On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump,” Johnson said in a statement.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A fugitive’s arrest on the east side of Columbus led to law enforcement finding a body in a basement Thursday.
According to the U.S. Marshals office, Darrell Carter Jr., 33, was arrested for a warrant out of Stark County for failure to appear in court for an assault charge.
Car windows smashed in string of suspected break-ins at Upper Arlington, Grandview schoolsMembers of the Marshals’ Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) found and arrested Carter at a home on the 5900 block of Levi Kramer Boulevard near Canal Winchester. While searching the home, task force members found a woman’s body in the home’s basement.
"When our team apprehended him, he said that he... he was being pretty cooperative but identified that there was a female dead in his basement,” U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio Michael Black said.
The woman’s identity is not known at this time and police are investigating.
Arrest made in connection to woman found shot dead at Columbus construction siteBlack said he is confident law enforcement officials will determine the woman’s identity and cause of death.
There is no indication right now if Carter was involved in the woman’s death.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A west Columbus home that has been the site of several arrests in connection to drug sales is getting shut down.
According to the Columbus City Attorney’s office, the Property Action Team secured a court order to shutter a North Hilltop home after police and the city received numerous complaints about drug activity.
Truck driver dies after being struck twice by separate vehicles on Fisher RoadAccording to Court documents, police gathered significant evidence of drug sales at 94 Orel Avenue, near the Camp Chase hiking trail, including nine occasions where officers stopped vehicles leaving the property and found drugs or drug paraphernalia inside. On at least four occasions over the past two months, police directly observed heavy foot traffic indicative of drug sales.
The investigation came on the heels of an overdose at the property in 2023, and City officials directly observing drug paraphernalia inside the property’s garage in May of 2024. By May of 2024, investigators had received a number of community complaints of nuisance activity occurring at the property.
The property is the second home on the same street to suffer the same fate within six months. In June 2024, 91 Orel Ave. was boarded up via a court order after receiving dozens of complaints since 2021.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Police are investigating reports of multiple vehicle break-ins after several car windows were smashed in while parked at Upper Arlington High School and multiple schools in Grandview Heights.
The Upper Arlington Police Division received reports of the break-ins Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. Officers discovered several vehicles in the school parking lot with broken windows, which police believe were targeted by a group of unknown individuals.
Arrest made in connection to woman found shot dead at Columbus construction siteThe high school announced a lockdown, and a representative for Upper Arlington Schools confirmed that the perimeter of the building was secured for a brief period, which prevented anyone from entering or exiting the school.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Upper Arlington Police Division at 614-459-2800.
A letter Thursday was sent to families of Grandview Heights Schools reporting similar smash-and-grab thefts. Cars parked at Grandview Heights High School, Larson Middle School, and Stevenson Elementary were broken into as well.
There were no reports of injuries or any indication of any threat to students in these incidents, and police continue to investigate while reviewing surveillance footage related to the incident.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Central Ohio has emerged as a culinary powerhouse and with Columbus at its heart, it is widely recognized as a burgeoning foodie town, home to chefs and restaurants with national acclaim.
The James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating food culture, has recognized several chefs in the area. BJ Lieberman, co-owner of Chapman's Eat Market has been a James Beard Award semifinalist two years in a row, since 2023. Additionally, Avishar Barua owner of Joya's was also a 2024 semifinalist.
Previous central Ohio semifinalists include Pistacia Vera co-owner Spencer Budros, in the 2020 Outstanding Baker category, Refectory chef Richard Blondin, who was recognized in 2012 and James Anderson, founder of Ray Ray's Hog Pit in 2020.
Two other culinary giants no longer working in the city were also Beard semifinalists. Retired chef and owner of the former Rigsby's Kitchen, Kent Rigsby, was a three-time semifinalist in 2012, 2011 and 2010. Magdiale Wolmark, who operated the now-shuttered Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine, received the honor in 2011 and 2010.
Beyond its lauded chef, Refectory, which combines contemporary American and classic French cuisine, has a long history of acclaim. AAA has awarded the restaurant its coveted Four Diamond designation for 29 consecutive years.
The Infatuation, a website that is the latest incarnation of the Zagat Guide, a dining directory once considered the “restaurant bible,” published its list of the best restaurants in Columbus in December. The list reflects the wide range of dining styles and experiences that make Columbus a food-lover destination.
Here are its recommendations:
Agni
• 716 S High St., Columbus
• Creative Bengali-inspired tasting menus with Midwestern twists.
Veritas
• 11 W Gay St., Columbus
• Upscale New American cuisine with an ever-evolving tasting menu.
Comune
• 677 Parsons Ave., Columbus
• Vegetarian dishes such as sunchoke bisque drizzled over cabbage, breaded lion's mane mushroom, or ten-layer lasagna packed with mushroom bolognese.
Pistacia Vera
• 541 S 3rd. St., Columbus
• French-style pâtisserie, known for its pastries and desserts.
Chapman's Eat Market
• 739 S 3rd St., Columbus
• Globally inspired comfort food in a welcoming space.
Speck Italian Eatery
• 89 N High St., Columbus
• Pasta made in its very own “pasta room,” overlooking the dining room.
Refectory
• 1092 Bethel Rd., Columbus
• French-inspired fine dining with a renowned wine list.
Lindey's
• 169 E Beck St., Columbus
• Elegant American dining in the historic German Village.
Rooh
• 685 N High St., Columbus
• Elevated Indian cuisine.
Wolf's Ridge Brewing
• 215 N 4th St., Columbus
• Locally sourced dishes paired with craft beers.
Joya's
• 657 High St., Worthington
• Bengali American café.
Wario's Beef & Pork
• 111 W Nationwide Blvd., Columbus
• Generous Sandwiches is a relaxed window-serve spot.
Modern Southern Table
• 1086 N 4th St., Columbus
• Budd Dairy Food Hall vendor with Cajun, Lowcountry, and soul food classics.
Bonifacio
• 1577 King Ave., Columbus
• Contemporary Filipino dishes served in a low-key setting.
Ray Ray's Hog Pit
• 424 W Town St., Columbus
• Specializes in smoked beef brisket, wet or dry-rubbed spare ribs, and sides like baked beans and collard greens.
Hoyo's kitchen
• 59 Spruce St., Columbus
• Somali build-your-own bowls or wraps.
Xi Xia Western Chinese Cuisine
• 1140 Kenny Centre Mall, Columbus
• Chinese, chewy noodles made by hand are its specialty.
Riziki Swahili Grill
• 1872 Tamarack Cir. S., Columbus
• Casual East African spot with chapati fried in ghee, curry dishes, sambusas, mishkaki skewers, and cassava chips.
The Lox Bagel Shop
• 772 N High St. #106, Columbus
• Café and bagel shop that offers sandwiches and lunch fare.
While the Michelin Guide has yet to include any city in Ohio among its covered areas, focusing instead on cities within seven states and Washington, D.C., Columbus could possibly rise into its orbit.
“To publish the Michelin Guide [in a specific area], we need first and foremost culinary potential,” Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide, told Bon Appetit in 2024. “Today, I have inspectors scouting about 20 destinations where we do not yet have a restaurant selection, but that we are considering for future years. It’s always a several-year process because we must see the openings and the consistency.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Nearly nine months after a gunshot victim’s body was found at an east Columbus construction site, police released new information which led to an arrest Wednesday.
According to the Columbus Division of Police homicide investigators executed several search warrants in connection to the death of Danyaze Evans-Kourouma, who was found dead on April 25, near the intersection of Noe-Bixby Road and Carbondale Drive in the Walnut Hills neighborhood.
Truck driver dies after being struck twice by separate vehicles on Fisher RoadOfficers responded to reports of a suspicious death near a construction site at 2:05 p.m., where Evans-Kourouma was found by workers in the area. She was pronounced dead at 2:18 p.m. by the Columbus Fire Department.
An autopsy was performed the following day, and it was determined that Evans-Kourouma had suffered from a gunshot wound resulting in her death, although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained unknown. Witnesses told police that the victim's body was not at the construction site when they left around 5 p.m. the previous evening.
Almost nine months later, police identified Dayshawn McCrary, 23, as a suspect. Detectives were able to obtain phone records tying McCrary to Evans-Kourouma after a phone call was placed at 11:07 p.m. on April 24. A digital forensic mapping of the phone call placed Evans-Kourouma near the intersection of Lilley Avenue and East Livingston Avenue.
One hour later, police said the phone was traced to the location where her body was found. The phone was then traced to a home on Brinwood Place, McCrary's listed address, located just over a mile from the crime scene.
Police said McCrary, 23, declined to provide a statement to CPD, which recovered at least one handgun and several other firearm parts inside his residence.
McCrary was arrested Wednesday and taken to Franklin County Jail. He is charged with murder and was issued a $1.5 million bond in Franklin County Municipal Court during an arraignment hearing.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is giving tech companies generous tax breaks, often amounting to millions more than the corporations are planning to invest toward Ohio workers.
Ohio's "Silicon Heartland" has brought in billions of dollars in investments from major names in the tech industry, but a new report from Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit state policy research institute, calls the state's investments back into these companies into question. The report alleges these generous tax breaks for large corporations will harm Ohioans, especially when compared to the number of jobs companies will create and the resources they will use.
Top central Ohio development projects to watch in 2025“The Ohio General Assembly needs to rein in this huge giveaway,” Zach Schiller, report author and Policy Matters Ohio research director, said. “That’s urgent, since these data centers are also giant users of electricity, so they could drive up electric rates for Ohioans and threaten progress fighting climate change. Why do we want to provide massive subsidies to some of the wealthiest corporations when the result could be higher costs for Ohioans and Ohio businesses?”
According to Policy Matters Ohio, tax breaks for 13 companies investing in Ohio are estimated to total $281.88 million, nearly nine times the payroll these companies have pledged to Ohio workers. Policy Matters Ohio argues between state investments and tax breaks, incentives for corporations will cost the state nearly $1 million for each Ohio job created. See previous coverage of tax breaks for modest job creation in the video player above.
Specifically, the organization draws attention to the state's data center tax exemption. Between Amazon, Google and Microsoft alone, Policy Matters Ohio estimates Ohio could lose out on almost $1.6 billion in sales tax revenue if all investments announced by those three companies in the last two years are covered in the exemption.
The exemption requires a company to invest at least $100 million in a three-year period and have an Ohio payroll of more than $1.5 million annually. Corporations that meet those requirements can be approved for a partial or total sales tax exemption on construction materials, computer equipment and other infrastructure needs. Policy Matters Ohio points out those are the only requirements for these companies, so once a project is approved, it has an open-ended invitation to use the tax exemption.
Unsolved Ohio: Father pushes for answers eight years after son's suspicious deathAccording to Ohio’s Department of Development, nine companies investing in Ohio are currently approved or serviced for the data center tax exemption. However, not all of the projects approved for data center tax exemptions are listed on the state's website. Quality Technology Services was approved for a 100% sales tax exemption spanning 15 years in December 2023, according to documents from the Governor's office. That company is not named online, although it is included in the Policy Matters Ohio report.
Policy Matters Ohio's report focuses on the 13 approved tax exemption agreements underway as of September 2024, which included breaks for major corporations like Meta, Amazon and AEP. Together, these 13 companies have promised nearly $5.1 billion in investments, but only 356 jobs and $31.6 million in annual payroll. According to Policy Matters Ohio, estimates for lost local and state sales tax funds hit more than $343 million, or more than $960,000 lost in taxes for each job created.
Generally, data centers are not major employers. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a typical data center employs 1,688 local workers during construction. Once it's operating, the Chamber estimates the average data center will employ 157 local employees. Ohio's estimates are even fewer, with only 307 new jobs promised across the nine tax-exempt companies published by the Ohio Department of Development.
Policy Matters Ohio argues the tax incentives are not crucial to attracting data centers, pointing to comments made by Microsoft executive Bo Williams, who said, "I can’t think of a site selection or placement decision that was decided on a set of tax incentives.”
Ohio’s EdChoice program: What is ‘parents’ choice’ in education?Instead, Meta said it considers site access, fiber and renewable energy resources, talent pool for staff and community partners when picking data center sites. Google said it chose central Ohio for data center construction because it employs the necessary combination of energy infrastructure, developable land, and available workforce.
To combat this, Policy Matters Ohio recommended several pathways for state legislators to maintain some tax incentives while increasing accountability. The nonprofit suggested limiting how much of the tax break can be cashed in each year depending on how many jobs are created, such as $50,000 per job. Other options offered include requiring 60-day notice before sales tax exemption decisions, regularly auditing electric use, legislature protecting Ohioans from increased electric rates and publicizing all exemption reports, including resource use.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Meet Kennedy! She is a German Shepard mix who's up for adoption at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.
Kennedy was brought to the shelter around Christmas and is looking for her "retirement home," according to the shelter. She is 14 years old and would be good in a home where she can relax.
"She's good with children, small animals and she seems to do okay with dogs that are probably more her speed," Brandy Trott, behavior coordinator at the shelter, said. "She's an older gal."
Nurkl toy inventor Tim Holmes finds unexpected success in Christmas 2024Trott said Kennedy has been nothing but sweet at the shelter, noting she loves attention and even knows commands like sit and down. Kennedy isn't into toys but she enjoys treats and a lot of cuddles.
"I'm drawn towards the seniors, they already know the ropes and it would just be an easier transition," Trott said. "She's just wonderful."
Kennedy is available for meet and greets at the Franklin County Dog Shelter, which is located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. Below are some additional adoptable dogs at the shelter:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Monday's national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame is fast approaching. A title drought will end for one of these programs.
The Buckeyes could bring fans a national title in the first year of the 12-team playoff format. Ohio State's last title a decade ago was in the first four-team playoff. The Fighting Irish aim for an upset to break a 36-year streak without a championship, having last won it all when poll voters selected the champion.
Ohio State’s Will Howard explains what happened to his hand at Cotton BowlAlthough Ohio State's 2014 championship team and Notre Dame's 1988 championship team were in vastly different eras, both had legendary coaches and monumental wins over legendary programs.
Let's compare the most recent title-winning teams of Ohio State and Notre Dame:
CoachesBoth these squads had Hall of Fame coaches entering their third seasons with their respective schools. Urban Meyer, who had won two national titles with Florida, was looking for postseason improvements for Ohio State in 2014 after the 2013 season ended with back-to-back postseason losses.
Leading on the sideline for the 1988 Fighting Irish was Lou Holtz, who Meyer worked under as a receivers coach in 1996. Holtz was rebuilding Notre Dame after a 5-6 record in his first year in 1986 and an 8-4 record in 1987. To continue the path upward, he added coordinators Jim Strong for offense and Barry Alvarez for defense.
Holtz, now 88 and a pregame show analyst, critiqued current Ohio State coach Ryan Day for his team lacking physicality before the 2023 regular season game against the Irish. After Ohio State won 17-14 on a last-second touchdown, Day exclaimed, "I'd like to know where Lou Holtz is right now."
Ohio State's 2014 roster was among the greatest it has ever assembled. Senior quarterback Braxton Miller led a deep quarterback room, but he suffered a season-ending injury in August to put freshman J.T. Barrett in as the starter.
Surrounding Barrett on offense were playmakers including Ezekiel Elliott, Curtis Samuel, Devin Smith and Michael Thomas. Leading the offensive line was tackle Taylor Decker, now a starter for the Detroit Lions.
Ex-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer inducted into College Football Hall of FameOn defense was Joey Bosa, one of Ohio State's best pass rushers ever, alongside a secondary that included Eli Apple and Vonn Bell. All three are now in the NFL.
Notre Dame's 1988 team had over a dozen future NFL draft picks, but the main attraction was quarterback Tony Rice and running backs Raghib Ismail and Ricky Watters. Linebacker Michael Stonebreaker and defensive end Frank Stams led a defense with multiple All-Americans.
Together, they formed a talented Notre Dame roster that received the No. 13 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll, while Ohio State was ranked No. 5 going into week one.
Regular seasonThe Buckeyes suffered a shock with a Week 2 loss to Virginia Tech 35-21 in their home opener. Barrett threw three interceptions, and the doubt this team could win a title crept in.
Ohio State then rattled off four straight dominant wins where the offense averaged 56 points. Wins over Penn State and Illinois still weren't enough to put Ohio State in the top 10 -- until an upset at No. 7 Michigan State 49-37 when Barrett accounted for five touchdowns.
Looking back at Ohio State’s national championship-winning teamsOhio State met Michigan on a 10-game winning streak and won comfortably 42-28. The win was soured when Barrett suffered a leg injury early in the fourth quarter. This meant third-stringer Cardale Jones was pinned to start the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin with playoff hopes in doubt.
What the 1988 Fighting Irish did in the regular season rivals any in college football history. It began with a 19-17 win over No. 9 Michigan to firmly put Notre Dame in the top 10. The team was 5-0 before meeting No. 1 Miami in the "Catholics vs. Convicts" game. The Irish won 31-30 to snap Miami's 36-game regular-season winning streak.
Holtz's now No. 1-ranked team faced an even bigger game to end the regular season against No. 2 USC in Los Angeles, beating the Trojans 27-10 to leave them one win away from the championship.
PostseasonNo one knew what to expect going into the Big Ten championship in regards to both Ohio State's play and how the playoff committee would pick the first four-team bracket.
Jones entered the game in Indianapolis with big questions, and he answered all of them in a 59-0 win over Wisconsin. The Buckeyes entered the game ranked fifth in the playoff poll but jumped into fourth for the final playoff spot, sending them to the Sugar Bowl against No. 1 Alabama.
Atlanta working to keep College Playoff championship game safeThe Crimson Tide were heavily favored with a roster that had tons of NFL talent, including Derrick Henry, Amari Cooper and Jonathan Allen. But Ohio State won 42-35, capped by an 85-yard touchdown run from Elliott. The running back then scored four touchdowns in the national title win over No. 2 Oregon 42-20 in Arlington, Texas.
Times were simpler in 1988 as Notre Dame needed one Fiesta Bowl win over No. 3 West Virginia to be the consensus champion. They beat the Mountaineers 34-21 to end the season with wins over teams ranked No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 for the program's 11th national championship.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - From the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Columbus Fury playing home matchups, to Downtown light displays and the production of Peter Pan at the Ohio Theatre, here are things to see and do this weekend in central Ohio.
Blue Jackets vs. SharksNationwide Arena, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
Ohio Theatre, through Jan. 19
Downtown Columbus, now through Feb. 16
Value City Arena, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m.
Scioto Audubon Metro Park, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nationwide Arena, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
Columbus Funny Bone, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m.
Cinemark Theatres, Jan. 19
480 E. Broad St., every Sunday
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- From a $2 billion John Glenn International expansion and Intel's $20 billion New Albany plant to a proposed new Columbus Symphony music hall, several central Ohio development projects are advancing in 2025.
The projects span across the Columbus area and also include an expansion for Bridge Park in Dublin, a proposed "Capitol Square Renaissance" that calls for five Downtown structures to be redeveloped, Wexner Medical Center's 1.9 million-square-foot inpatient hospital, and a second phase to the Scioto Peninsula.
Gov. DeWine announces Pickaway County home of new defense manufacturing facilityLearn more about each below.
Bridge Park expansionBridge Park could receive another major expansion that would span 5.4 acres and include office space, two condominium buildings and public green space. Crawford Hoying filed a proposal to build the expansion along Dale Drive and Bridge Park Avenue. The proposal would represent one of the final phases in the original build-up of Bridge Park.
Crawford Hoying has also shared new details on how the development company will build Cameron Mitchell's first boutique hotel in Bridge Park. The proposal said the hotel will house about 130 guestrooms with amenities including a fitness center, pool and spa within a seven-story tower. The complex will be located southeast of the State Route 161 roundabout at Riverside Drive and West Granville Road.
Edwards Companies proposed $573 million "Capitol Square Renaissance" calls for five structures to be redeveloped or built on Downtown's Broad, Third and Fourth streets. To complete the project, Edwards has applied for a $33 million tax credit from the Ohio Transformational Mixed-Use Development Program.
Unsolved Ohio: Father pushes for answers eight years after son's suspicious deathWhile one of the development's buildings already underwent several modernization efforts and the second is under construction, Edwards could begin work on the other three should they be awarded the requested tax credit. The company is aiming to complete construction on the entire Renaissance Project by June 2030.
The symphony announced plans early last year for a $275 million project it has called the Center of Music Innovation and Education. Site plans outlined a 200,000-square-foot facility that would develop West Bank Park for a new building, access walks and more.
The venue is planned to be located at 181 Washington Boulevard, near COSI. Construction was previously projected to begin in September 2025 with doors set to open in September 2028.
While construction is moving forward, it's unclear how the co-replacements of former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will proceed with Intel's $20 billion "Ohio One" computer chip manufacturing facility in New Albany. One week after the federal government approved CHIPS Act funding for Intel's New Albany plant, Gelsinger announced his surprise and abrupt retirement. Gelsinger was at the helm of the tech giant's expansion into central Ohio, as well as its financial turmoil and significant layoffs.
Ohio State’s off-campus crime map back onlineFew hints have been given as to how plans will proceed for the New Albany plant, which was already facing uncertainty amid Intel's financial woes and political complications in both the incoming and outgoing presidential administrations.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority broke ground on a $2 billion terminal in December that will centralize security, add gates and allow the airport to serve more customers. The project is expected to be completed by 2029 and has resulted in changes to the airport's parking options.
The Blue Lot closest to the existing terminal has permanently closed to make way for construction. As part of the new terminal project, a parking garage will be constructed next to the rental car center, with an elevated walkway connecting both to the terminal.
Construction continues on the 1.9 million-square-foot inpatient hospital, the largest single facilities project ever undertaken at Ohio State with up to 820 beds in private-room settings to elevate patient-centered care, safety and training for the next generation of healthcare providers. The expansion is scheduled to open in early 2026.
A seven-story building with more than 100 apartments on the Scioto Peninsula is part of a $290 million mixed-use development called The Peninsula Phase II. Once finished, it will occupy the vacant 336 Rush Alley lot at Capital Street and Highwater Alley.
Still no Ohio Senate announcement, another name rumoredThe proposal calls for a mixed-use building with 135 residential units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the first two floors. Residential units include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. A deck on the third floor with a pool and co-working space for tenants is also planned.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Monday, Jan. 20 has a full schedule, especially for those in central Ohio.
Schools and other organizations will close Monday to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, former Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio will be sworn in as vice president, and Ohio State will play Notre Dame in Atlanta for college football's national championship.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., so the game isn't expected to end until sometime after 11. Among the fans sacrificing their Tuesday mornings to cheer on their team, enthusiastic young Buckeyes may be asking to stay up late and see if Ohio State will clinch its ninth national championship.
Luckily for some students, classes on Tuesday have already been canceled in some central Ohio districts, and the cold weather could play a factor in letting students catch up on sleep the next morning.
Looking back at Ohio State's national championship-winning teams Central Ohio school districts without school Jan. 21Although the following school districts in Franklin County will be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they are not scheduled to be closed on Tuesday.
Tuesday will be cold. With a high of 10 degrees, young OSU fans may be following superstition and sleeping with spoons under their pillows or placing crayons in the freezer, hoping the weather will help them convince their parents that they can stay up late.
School districts generally said they base closures due to cold weather on the National Weather Service's wind chill chart. Districts frequently said there is no set temperature for closures, as different outlets may report different temperatures, but ambient temperature and wind chill are factors in considering if students can walk or wait for a bus to attend school.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. As wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin and, eventually, internal temperatures. Wind can make it feel much colder; the National Weather Service said if the temperature is zero degrees but winds are blowing at 15 mph, the wind chill is -19. At this temperature, skin can freeze in 30 minutes.
This goes both ways, and many schools said depending on wind chill, temperatures can be below zero and schools can remain open. The following districts do not give a temperature as guidance for when to be aware, although most direct to the chart above.
Other districts give some guidance for temperature and wind chill closures, although these temperatures do not guarantee a closure. Rather, districts publish them as insight into when families should be looking out for possible closures.
NBC4 will publish up-to-date school closures and weather information. Follow along on channel 4 or here on NBC4i.com.
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Pickaway County will be the home of a new advanced defense technology manufacturing facility as early as next summer.
Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and JobsOhio announced Thursday that Anduril Industries, a leader in defense technology, will build an advanced manufacturing facility in Pickaway County and is expected to bring more than 4,000 new production and service jobs to Ohio by 2035.
The facility will be located on 500 acres in Pickaway County near Rickenbacker International Airport, with room for future growth. The company plans to invest over $900 million in capital in the surrounding area.
The Governor’s office said the 5 million-square-foot facility, named Arsenal-1, represents the largest single job creation and new payroll project in Ohio’s history and is projected to add nearly $1 billion to Ohio’s gross domestic product.
Central Ohio Jewish, Muslim leaders applaud ceasefireConstruction of the facility is expected to begin immediately after state and local approvals, and the first products are targeted to be manufactured beginning in July 2026.
“Ohio’s history of advancing aviation, aerospace, and national defense runs deep, but what sets this state apart is our readiness to embrace the future,” said DeWine. “At this critical moment in time, our country needs rapid technological innovation, which Anduril will deliver using Ohio’s skilled, hardworking labor force. The future of American air power will be made in Ohio!”
In addition to the 4,000 direct jobs at Arsenal-1, the project is anticipated to create a total of 4,500 indirect and induced jobs over the next ten years and more than $2 billion in annual economic output. Over $1 billion in in-state labor income will be generated, and projected tax revenues are estimated to be roughly $800 million.
View NBC4’s previous coverage in the video player above.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Eight years after Joey LaBute vanished from a Columbus bar and was later found dead, his father is revealing new information surrounding the case in hopes of finding answers.
Joseph Labute Jr., who mostly went by Joey, was 26 when he disappeared on March 5, 2016. At the time, he was working at Morgan Stanley and lived in a Gahanna apartment. Joey was from Cincinnati but had moved to Columbus to go to Ohio State University, graduating in 2011, and had stayed in the area ever since.
Unsolved Ohio: Loved ones push for justice in young woman’s 1998 homicide“Everybody loved Joey,” said Joe Labute, Joey’s father. “He was fun, he was interesting, very smart, very intelligent. Quick wit, sarcastic; kind of like his dad.”
On the evening of Friday, March 4, 2016, Joey had plans in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood. He met some coworkers at the now-closed restaurant Fabian’s. After dinner, he met his cousin Stacey Reigle and her then-husband Kyle at Union Cafe, which was about a three-minute walk from the eatery, at some point after 9 p.m.
Joey had parked at the Thurber Apartments, where he used to live, before or after dinner, making the approximately 20-minute walk to the Short North strip.
“He doesn't usually like to go out, and he sort of got talked into going that night, apparently,” LaBute said.
While the Short North is already a popular spot on a Friday night, the first weekend of March also coincided with the Arnold Sports Festival, making the Downtown area even more crowded. The multiday convention draws more than 100,000 attendees annually, numerous of which come from out of town. Many of its events are held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, which is about a seven-minute walk from the Union.
Ohio State’s off-campus crime map back onlineWhile out at the bar, the trio hung out together at a table, with Joey “floating around” and talking to different people, LaBute said. At some point, he went to get a drink from the bar, and the Reigles lost track of him. They repeatedly attempted to contact him, calling him and sending him texts, but he did not answer. Grainy surveillance footage captured Joey walking out of the Union alone about 12:30 a.m. The Reigles left without Joey at some point after, according to LaBute.
“There’s video of [Joey] leaving the bathroom to go outside, and from there, nobody really knows where he went or who he was with,” LaBute said.
However, he was in contact with a few people after leaving the bar, in what LaBute has called “strange” interactions over the phone. At some point after leaving, a friend called Joey, to which he briefly answered and said, “I’m driving,” according to LaBute. Joey sent his last-ever text to a different friend at 1:22 a.m., which said “Jnhstioj."
The next morning, panic began to set in as family members had not heard from Joey since the night before. LaBute said in the following days, he went out looking for Joey, finding his car still parked at the Thurber Apartments. He also handed out flyers and completed media interviews. The hope of finding his son alive came to a halt on March 28, about three weeks after Joey first went missing, when LaBute received a phone call on his way home from work.
“I was sitting at a light intersection and got a call that was from the Columbus area code and I was like I should answer this,” LaBute, who lives in Cincinnati, said. “It was the detective telling me that they'd found a body that they thought was Joey.”
LaBute said he met with Columbus detectives the following day, when they confirmed the body was Joey’s. His remains were found partially submerged in the Scioto River, south of Downtown near Scioto Audubon Metro Park, about three miles away from the Union.
An autopsy performed revealed he had died at least three weeks prior to when he was discovered. The examination also revealed there was no external trauma on his body, such as gunshot or stab wounds.
Ohio State’s Will Howard explains what happened to his hand at Cotton BowlA Franklin County coroner said in 2016 that she believed he had died prior to being put in the river, since there was no water in his lungs. A toxicology report states the only substances found in his system were alcohol and caffeine. His blood alcohol content was 0.15%; however, this may be misleading since ethanol levels can rise during decomposition.
The cause of his death, and the manner – which determines if it was the result of an accident, suicide or homicide – were both ruled to be “undetermined.” However, the coroner’s report listed the Columbus Division of Police’s Homicide Unit as the agency handling the case.
LaBute believes Joey’s death was a homicide and has come up with his own theories on what may have happened. He said three days after Joey went missing, a man who he did not know reached out to him through a direct message on Facebook. He noted the individual was not one of Joey’s Facebook friends.
The man started off a conversation by saying LaBute did not know him, but he wanted to check in and see how he was doing. LaBute responded saying he was doing as good as he could be under the circumstances.
Two years later, in 2018, the man began repeatedly messaging him again without a reply, asking what the “circumstances are” and claiming he wanted to help.
“I got another message from him and he said ‘Where are you?’” Labute said. “I thought, why on earth would that matter to you? That seems a little creepy to me. … After that, he tried to call me and I didn't answer.”
LaBute said the man matched a general description of someone who was seen dancing with Joey the night he vanished, although he cannot confirm it was the man who messaged him. He also said he later realized there is a chilling resemblance between the man’s name and the last message Joey ever sent: “Jnhstioj."
Three Ohio cities significantly drop in Zillow’s 2025 most competitive markets list“A friend of mine pointed that out and said, ‘You know what, this guy's name is practically in this message,’” LaBute said. “It’s one heck of a coincidence. … It did cross my mind that perhaps perpetrators sometimes want to integrate themselves into the conversation, into the action, try to ascertain what's going on with the case and all that sort of thing.”
In another strange instance, LaBute revealed to NBC4 that an unknown individual filed for unemployment benefits in Joey’s name shortly before he disappeared.
LaBute has suspicions about a different man who knew Joey and was also at Union that night, who he claims has given conflicting accounts on what time he left the bar. He has also considered other theories that have swirled online, including that Joey met up with someone from the dating app Grindr, or that a visitor from the convention may have “picked on” Joey, resulting in his death.
Online sleuths have theorized the case may be connected to Brian Shaffer’s disappearance in 2006, who also disappeared from a now-closed Columbus bar that was about a five-minute drive from the Union. However, police have never stated they have any reason to believe the cases are connected. Shaffer was never found.
LaBute claimed he sent all these potential leads to Columbus police, including the odd messages and unemployment fraud, and never received a reply. NBC4 reached out to the department, asking them if they would like to address LaBute’s claims and to see if the case is still being investigated.
The police department did not answer whether they received LaBute's leads or replied to him but did say the case is not an active investigation at this time “pending new evidence.” LaBute also said he was unaware the investigation was no longer active.
LaBute is no stranger to grief; his first wife died of cancer in her 40s, and his stepson died in his 20s. But with Joey’s death, LaBute never got an answer on what happened to him. He said nothing is more important to him than solving his son’s case.
Arrest made in fatal north Columbus shooting“Never knowing if he was frightened, or if he thought something was going to happen to him or that kind of thing, that’s painful,” LaBute said. “I'm a different person than I was then, for sure.”
LaBute asked anyone with information about the death of his son to email him at labute@msn.com. People may also contact the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477.
If you’re a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@wcmh.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A truck driver is dead after being struck twice by separate vehicles Wednesday evening in the far west side of the city.
According to Columbus police, a white tractor trailer was traveling west on Fisher Road at 6:21 p.m. when it stopped in the left turn lane, in front of the Eddie Bauer warehouse. For reasons yet unknown, the driver exited the truck and stepped into the left travel lane of westbound traffic.
What health risks to watch for during frigid temperaturesAt that time, a white Honda CRV was heading west in the left lane and struck the truck driver. While lying in the right lane of the westbound lanes, a maroon Lexus RX350 struck the truck driver again.
The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:28 p.m. The Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and continues to investigate the incident.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Both Jewish and Muslim leaders in central Ohio are applauding the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, saying it is long overdue.
Organizers with JewishColumbus and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that this is something they’ve wanted since Oct. 7, 2023, but they want to be clear that they’re still awaiting real results.
“Until the hostages are actually returned, it's not over,” Julie Tilson Stanley, the CEO of JewishColumbus, said.
“I'm glad the hostages, the 10,000 Palestinians and the hundreds of Israelis, are going to be getting out very soon, hopefully,” Khalid Turaani, the executive director for CAIR-Ohio, said.
Over the past 15 months, Jewish and Palestinian community members across Ohio and the United States have come together and held rallies, protests and vigils, all calling for a ceasefire.
“We've lost many, many, many friends in Gaza: doctors, teachers, civilians, civil servants. So our prayers, of course, [are] with their families,” Turaani said.
“While we can't imagine again what they are going through, we offer support in many different ways. We offer support through advocacy and making sure we're educating the community on what is happening and that there are still hostages and we want to bring them home now,” Tilson Stanley said.
Turaani said that while he’s hopeful a deal will be finalized, officially ending the war, it doesn’t stop there. He said that a lot of rebuilding will need to take place in the Middle East.
“I think the fact that about 80% of the houses in Gaza are inhabitable is a very sad reality,” Turaani said.
In October of 2026, JewishColumbus is planning to send nearly 300 locals to Israel. Tilson Stanley said the trip is nearly sold out already.
“You can tell that there is a need for us to be with our family and friends and colleagues in Israel. And there is a real commitment in Columbus to the only Jewish state,” she said.
Both JewishColumbus and CAIR leaders say that they hope this ceasefire deal will lead to permanent peace. If all of the details are approved, we could have a deal cemented by this weekend.
GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) -- Voters in the Groveport Madison School District will once again be asked to vote on Issue 38.
This comes after a vote Monday to place a bond levy back on the ballot in May. The funds raised by the bond defeated in November would have been used to build three new middle schools and an addition to the high school.
May's bond issue is a 2.33 mills levy which would cost about $81.55 per $100,000 of assessed property value. That is less than a $3 decrease from the 2.44 mills levy voters rejected in November.
Amy Shropshirre, a longtime Groveport resident, said she needs more answers from the district.
"I'm hesitant to say that I support it," Shropshirre said. "I would need to see more concrete evidence of what are the plans and how are we going to make sure that what is being planned for actually gets done and makes a difference."
Shropshirre has a five-year-old daughter she plans to put through the district. She wants more communication from the district before she decides her vote.
Meantime, Eric Kaltenborn has three children in the school district. He said he plans to vote no.
"Frankly, I can't justify giving them any more money when they gave the superintendent a significant pay raise over the last year or so, and we're not getting any more service for the money that we've given them," Kaltenborn said.
One of Kalentborn's main concerns is school safety.
"The school safety in all the schools is lacking," Kaltenborn said. "The fights seemed to have curbed themselves some lately, but they still have some significant problems there and they need to solve some of those problems before I'll validate giving them any more money."
"I don't want to say we shouldn't put resources into combating those things, but what is that going to solve," Shropshirre said. "What are the resources? What is more space or another school? There's just so many questions that I'm not seeing being answered. I would like to see more thought put into those things before doing something where we're just going to say, yeah we're going to put more money into the issue."
According to other voters, they used to vote yes on all school issues, but in today's economy, they can't afford to pay more in taxes. Others say they're concerned because they have yet to see a comprehensive plan from the district on how they plan to reduce violence in schools.
According to the district, two of the current middle schools have an open classroom concept which has led to distracting learning environments and safety and security concerns.
"You got to provide a value for me if I'm going to spend more money," Kaltenborn said. "My kids are getting a good education. That's a that's a foregone conclusion. They do a relatively good job there. But I do have some significant concerns as it relates to safety."
Other voters said they plan to vote in favor of the levy, saying it’s important to invest in future generations.
"I'm a Groveport graduate, all that," Shropshirre said. "I want to support the schools, but I have also seen how some of the funds have not been used maybe in a way that are well or it's always coming back and asking for more when there should have been a little bit more insight."
We've reached out to the school district for new comment but have yet to hear back.