Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The mother and girlfriend who police believe are connected to the death of an 8-year-old Columbus boy had their cases heard in court for the first time Monday morning.

Lashanda Wilder and her girlfriend, Johnna Lowe, had arraignment hearings in Franklin County Municipal Court, with Wilder, 32 receiving a high bond. She is charged with murder and obstruction of justice after the death of Martonio Wilder was ruled a homicide.

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A judge issued Wilder, who did not appear in person, $2 million in total bonds: $1.5 million for the murder charge and $500,000 for obstruction of justice.  Lowe, 33, was issued a $500,000 bond after being charged with obstruction of justice.

Wilder was found inside a trash bag in the attic of the family’s Milo-Grogan home. Court records showed the coroner’s office determined Wilder died from “deep neck compression”.

Martonio Wilder

Columbus police were called to the house around noon Friday by Wilder, records showed. They spoke with her and Lowe, with Wilder saying she last saw Martonio on Thursday night at bedtime.

Police issued a missing person’s advisory for Martonio but did not elevate it to an Amber Alert. They began a K-9 search of the neighborhood, after which Wilder and Lowe left without telling police where they were going, while also taking two of Wilder's other children, ages 9 and 3.

Martonio’s body was found Friday and a medic pronounced his dead about 6:30 p.m. An Amber Alert was briefly issued for the brothers, who were found safe and placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.

Arrest warrants followed Saturday for Wilder and Lowe. They turned themselves in by 5 p.m.

Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police ‘Breach of contract:’ Why the Ohio Cannabis Festival has been canceled

Franklin County Children Services said it had been involved with Wilder and her family since May 2022 but did not specify how.

Wilder and Lowe are scheduled to next appear in court July 9.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will soon hold its first-ever lantern festival, illuminating the zoo with animal figures.

The display will feature 60 sets of multicolored LED animal lanterns placed throughout the zoo. Along with the lanterns, guests can explore various aspects of Asian culture by viewing shows each evening, which may include acrobats, kung fu demonstrations, puppetry shows, or folk music performances. 

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• (Photo Courtesy/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)
• (Photo Courtesy/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)
• (Photo Courtesy/Hanart)
• (Photo Courtesy/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)
• (Photo Courtesy/Hanart)
• (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)
• (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

Guests can attend the festival beginning Aug. 1 until Sept. 29, every Thursday through Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. The festival, produced by Hanart Culture, will take place rain or shine. 

“We are excited to bring this extraordinary event to our community,” Columbus Zoo and Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid said. “The Lantern Festival is a modern take on an ancient tradition, and we are honored to showcase the incredible artistry and cultural richness of Asia. Our guests will have the unique opportunity to see these lanterns and enjoy the vibrant entertainment and cultural experiences.”

The event is not included with regular zoo admission. Admission rates for nonmembers are $25.99 for adults and $22.99 for children. Columbus Zoo members receive a discounted admission rate of $18.99 for adults and $15.99 for children.

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Twenty artists from China will handcraft each of the scenes featuring animals from around the world. The festival highlights the evolution of lantern-making from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) to the present day. Modern technology brings the figures to life with LED light bulbs, musical enhancements, sound effects and visual moving parts. 

The zoo said the lanterns will be the star of the show, as zoo animals “take a rest” during evening hours. Tickets to the lantern festival can be purchased here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The clergy at a 108-year-old church said that thanks to a notable funding boost and support from locals, its front lawn is becoming a University District staple.

At just under one-third of an acre, the “pocket park” suggests new public green spaces do not have to be vast, just community-oriented. The developing Iuka and Waldeck Pocket Park is a renovation of Indianola Presbyterian Church’s front lawn. Near the center of University District, the park is intended to serve and celebrate the 13 neighborhoods that make up the area. 

Wawa breaks ground on first Ohio location, part of 60-store expansion

“We realized it's one of the few green spaces immediately in our neighborhood,” Rev. Trip Porch, Indianola Presbyterian’s pastor, said. “We wanted to share it and help it be a place that all people, regardless of faith tradition, feel a bit of rest and experience, a bit of beauty.” 

The University District "pocket park" is midway through renovations. (Courtesy Photo/Nora Gerber)

Church officials contacted the University District Organization about sharing their land after noticing heavy foot traffic, including students who were using the space for picnics and frisbee. As luck would have it, they called UDO Executive Director Nora Gerber mid-transit to a meeting about optimizing neighborhood green spaces.

“All of these stars were aligning within these conversations we were having,” Gerber said.

The church and UDO began hosting community workshops alongside a co-designer to gather input for the park’s design. From the church’s congregation to nearby fraternity houses, Gerber said these meetings tried to check in with as many University District community members as possible.

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Participants used Play-Doh to demonstrate concepts that reminded them of the University District and built ever tinier pocket park models out of building blocks, pipe cleaners and paper. From there, the team looked at popular responses and ideas to finalize the design.

Community assistance continued to pour in. Alongside a $15,000 grant awarded by the Neighborhood Design Center, Porch said local groups donated tools and soil. Gerber mentioned carpenters who gave their time to convert old pews into park benches, and eight volunteer days throughout June brought together locals to help with construction and landscaping. 

The project also employed local artist Adam Hernandez, who is building a “totem-inspired” sculpture to reflect the University District’s 13 neighborhoods.

“There’s been a huge outpouring of support from young adults, adults and kids to volunteer in the community and it's been really cool to see everyone show up to support the park,” Porch said. 

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The final volunteer date was scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Gerber said most of the work should be finished by the end of Sunday’s session, including installing saucer swings and priming and painting the benches.

Gerber and Porch hope to host an official park opening ceremony when students return to Ohio State in late summer. However, the park will likely be functional before than, and they hope it continually improves. The pair is even considering eventually adding a pocket-park-sized stage for performances. 

“It’s starting to look more like a little park oasis every day,” Gerber said.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on Wawa's Ohio expansion in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Convenience store and gas station chain Wawa has broken ground on the company's first Ohio location, one of 60 stores the company plans to open in the Buckeye State.

Construction has begun on the chain's upcoming location at 5308 Fields Ertel Road in Cincinnati, marking the company's first Ohio store that is projected to open in the second quarter of 2025. Wawa is also beginning construction this year on the following other Ohio locations, all aiming to open in 2025:

• 5308 Fields Ertel Road in Cincinnati
• 7198 Cincinnati Dayton Road in Liberty Township
• 4577 Dixie Highway in Fairfield
• 5248 Courseview Drive in Mason
• 370 Glensprings Drive in Cincinnati

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"We are excited to begin construction on our stores in Ohio as we get closer to bringing the unique Wawa experience to new customers in more markets," said Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa. "We look forward to continuing to spread our wings in Ohio and can’t wait to get started serving our new friends and neighbors."

A rendering of Wawa's first Ohio store at 5308 Fields Ertel Road in Cincinnati. (Courtesy Photo/Wawa)

In 2025, Wawa is planning to open 11 stores in Ohio. Over the next five to eight years, the company aims to build and open 6 to 10 stores per year, with plans to open 60 stores in the state.

The company said it currently has more than 20 sites under contract across Ohio counties. Those sites are undergoing local land development and permitting processes, and include locations in Allen, Butler, Clermont, Greene, Hamilton, Miami, Montgomery and Warren counties.

To build each store, Wawa said it will invest more than $7.5 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates, with Wawa expecting to create 2,500 new, long-term new jobs as a result of expansion in Ohio.

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Wawa's construction in Ohio comes after the chain announced in late 2022 it was planning to launch its first stores in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The chain has said they wanted to expand after receiving "thousands of requests over the years."

"These markets are the perfect places for Wawa to expand based on their strong business communities, their family-like atmosphere, and the confidence that our unique offer and amazing associates will be welcomed by these communities," said Chris Gheysens, Wawa's President and CEO, at the time of the announcement.

Competition chain Sheetz has already begun rapidly expanding in Ohio, including plans to bulldoze a Max and Erma's restaurant in Dublin to make way for a new location. The gas station also purchased the site of Woody’s Wing House in Worthington to build a new store.

Georgia-based convenience store and gas station chain RaceTrac is also readying its first Ohio location in Delaware.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the Columbus area spiked for the second time in three weeks, this time by nearly 20 cents a gallon.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in the Columbus area, the average gas price jumped by 18.6 cents per gallon to an average of $3.58. The recent increase follows a one-week drop of 9.7 cents, but also an increase of 22 cents per gallon two weeks ago.

The current price is 15.8 cents per gallon higher than one month ago and 17.1  cents per gallon higher than this time one year ago. In Ohio, the average price of gas also jumped by 18.2 cents per gallon, from $3.34 per gallon to $3.52 per gallon.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $3.15 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.79, a difference of 64 cents per gallon. Nationally, gas prices also rose, but by only a nickel to $3.46 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said the increase is due to “price cycling”, a common practice among several mid-western states in which prices at the pump rise in bulk every few weeks, instead of daily with incremental prices fluctuations.

"While the increases have been fairly tame, with oil continuing to hold above $80 per barrel, we could continue to see the national average climb slightly,” De Haan said. “Other areas that see price cycling saw prices shoot up early in the week, but those areas are now starting to see prices fall back down.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One person is dead after their vehicle crashed on a Downtown, Columbus interstate exit interchange late Sunday night.

According to the Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit, an adult was operating a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer on the westbound ramp of I-70 to I-71 North when the vehicle veered to the left side of the roadway and into the median wall.

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Police said the impact of the collision caused the Chevrolet to flip and land on its driver’s side. The SUV slid back across the ramp to the right side of the road and struck a curb before coming to a stop.

Columbus Fire EMS arrived at around 10:20 p.m. and found the driver pinned under the SUV. The person was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The crash caused the exit ramp to be closed for a few hours while the AIU continued its investigation, which remains ongoing.

View a Yellow Springs growing facility's inaugural crop of recreational marijuana in the video player above.

TALLMADGE, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of two marijuana festivals planned on the eve of recreational marijuana sales in Ohio has been canceled, part of a dispute between organizers and local officials.

A Pennsylvania-based company, Zick Productions, said its team spent six months preparing to launch the Ohio Cannabis Festival at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge. The event was set to run from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, but by June 11 its website had been locked down to a solitary message.

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"Summit County Agricultural Society has decided to cancel the upcoming Ohio Cannabis Festival contracted to be held Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 in a statement received by mail to organizers," Zick Productions wrote. "This breach of contract was in accordance with city and county officials' direction who cited ownership of the land, our commercial speech and state law."

NBC4 reached out to SCAS, which maintains the fairgrounds, with questions about the cancellation on Thursday. An employee said over the phone that management was working on a response on Friday, but the group had not sent any statement as of Monday.

Tallmadge Mayor Carol Kilway said that while the city doesn't serve as a legal adviser for the agricultural society or have authority over them, her team was in the loop on the decision SCAS made about the Ohio Cannabis Festival.

"Based on the event's promotional materials, the city raised concerns regarding how the event would comply with state law," Kilway said. "The event organizer was invited to address those concerns and did not respond."

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Jeff Zick, the owner of Zick Productions, gave his perspective to NBC4 on how this exchange played out. He called the city's actions "governmental pressure" on SCAS and mentioned a "lease issue" with Summit County, the owner of the fairgrounds over the agricultural society.

"The City of Tallmadge invited Summit County and SCAS to a meeting about the scheduled event on June 3 at city hall," Zick said. "The SCAS cancellation letter was dated June 4."

An earlier copy of Ohio Cannabis Festival's website preserved by the Wayback Machine shows promotional materials the city officials may have looked at. On the homepage, the festival showed the three sponsors it racked up were either cannabis dispensaries or marijuana product makers:

• Sauce, a cannabis brand selling vapes, gummies and pre-wrapped smoking products in multiple states
• Paper And Leaf Co., a Kent dispensary claiming no prescription card is needed for orders
• Supergood Cannabis Store, a dispensary chain with one in-state medical location in Ravenna

In a frequently asked questions section further down the page, however, the organizers addressed whether cannabis products would be sold at the event with the response: "Vendors will only be permitted to sell products in accordance with state laws."

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After getting no response from Zick, Kilway said the agricultural society made the call to cancel the Ohio Cannabis Festival. Zick Productions' law firm, Thomas A. Will and Associates, told NBC4 that this was a breach of contract.

"Our client did their due diligence, contracted with the appropriate authorities, invested countless hours into securing vendors, and invested substantial time, effort and resources in the preparation of the festival pursuant to the contract our client had with SCAS," the attorneys wrote. "Our client intends to pursue all possible claims against SCAS, and any and all appropriate parties, for this breach."

Stargazer Cannabis Festival, organized separately by Chad Thompson, is going ahead as planned in July in Meigs County. He also had to clarify recreational marijuana's role after the event website advertised a farmer's market with video of adult cannabis plants. While the festival will allow attendees to bring recreational marijuana and even allow them to use it in a joint rolling contest, the vendors will only be allowed to sell cannabis seeds and hemp-derived products.

Ohio Cannabis Festival's website said it would be issuing refunds and "offering remedies," but did not specify if those would go to both ticket holders and vendors that signed on. It isn't Zick's only event, and two others remained greenlit as of Monday. His Pennsylvania Cannabis Fall Marketplace has been running annually since 2017 and will go for another round Oct. 5-6. The state neighboring Ohio only allows medical marijuana since legalizing it in a 2016 vote.

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Zick's Florida Cannabis Festival has run since 2020 in yet another medical-only state. But Florida voters will decide on a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational use, similar to Ohio's Issue 2, in November.

In Ohio, the state's Division of Cannabis Control plans to let medical dispensaries convert to "dual-use" to facilitate recreational sales. In June, the agency began letting the companies apply for provisional licenses to do so. While these don't immediately let them begin sales, the dispensaries essentially reserved a spot in line for DCC to chronologically issue a license back. DCC Public Information Officer Jamie Crawford hinted "over the summer" for an estimate when they could start going out, with September being named as the absolute latest sales could begin.

Some of the businesses anticipate sales will start sooner rather than later. Cresco Labs, which owns dispensaries in Ohio as well as its own Yellow Springs cannabis growing greenhouse, planted its first crop of recreational marijuana in May.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Clear sky, high 79
• Tonight: Mainly clear, low 57
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high 88
• Wednesday: Sct'd PM storms, high 93
• Thursday: Rain & rumbles, high 86
• Friday: Spotty storms, high 85

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Monday!

We are off to a fantastic start to the week! Highs will be cooler than average, topping out in the upper 70s to near 80 this afternoon, with clear skies, and very comfortable humidity.

Tuesday is also nice, just warmer, with mainly sunny skies, and highs warming into the upper 80s. Humidity still remains fairly pleasant, and we'll feel just a slight breeze.

By Wednesday, heat and humidity start to build. As a result, highs warm into the lower 90s, but it will feel hotter as a result of the humidity. In addition, we'll be looking at scattered storm chances, mainly during the afternoon and evening. Not a washout, but something we'll be keeping a close eye on for Red, White and BOOM!

For the July 4th holiday, we are looking at additional thunderstorm activity, with the bulk of it during that afternoon and evening, with the daytime heating. Highs will be in the middle 80s, with a very muggy feel to the air.

A few spotty storm chances linger into Friday, as temperatures slowly fall. By the weekend, we are looking more comfortable, with drier conditions.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The gun violence plaguing major metropolitan cities and small towns in the United States has officially been declared a national public health crisis by the U.S. Surgeon General.

A 40-page advisory outlined the statistics around deaths related to firearms as well as proposals for lawmakers on how to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths.

Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said the data and deaths associated with gun violence are alarming. To learn that the nation’s doctor, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, has declared gun violence a public health crisis is no surprise to Roberts, but adds that it is a designation long overdue.

“My initial reactions were, ‘I think my mayor had said that several years ago,’ so I kind of felt like the Surgeon General was late to the party,” Roberts said. “We've been recognizing that gun violence and all violence is a public health issue for several years here in Columbus.”

The surgeon general’s 40-page report calls for the banning of assault weapons, more regulation on the gun industry, and universal background checks.

Roberts said the department will also review the recommendations to see how they can add to the work her office already has in place.

“I think it can open the doors in the future for more funding, particularly at the federal level,” Roberts said.  “If we could get more support, whether it be from the state or from the feds on that work, that would be great. That would allow us to expand that work.”

There has been pushback to the surgeon general’s report on gun violence as a public health crisis. On X, formerly Twitter, the NRA criticized the report, calling it “an extension of the Biden Administration's war on law-abiding gun owners.”

Watch a previous report in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The 8-year-old boy whose body was found before an Amber Alert was issued for his siblings Friday night died from "deep neck compression," according to court records.

The boy's mother, Lashanda Wilder, 32, and her girlfriend Johnna Lowe, 33, are due in Franklin County Municipal Court on Monday morning; Wilder is facing murder and obstruction of justice charges while Lowe is facing an obstruction of justice charge.

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Court records state the Franklin County Coroner's office ruled on Saturday that the boy's death was a homicide.

According to police, Wilder and two of her children were the subject of an Amber Alert issued Friday night. While investigating the case, Columbus police found the body of Wilder’s son, Martonio Wilder, in a trash bag hidden in the attic of the family’s house, according to police.

Wilder’s two other children were found safe with one of Lowe's acquaintances later Friday night after the alert was issued. They were placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.

Columbus police were first called to the Wilder home at noon on Friday, where Wilder said she last saw Martonio on Thursday night, according to court records.

Police issued a missing person’s advisory for Martonio but did not elevate it to an Amber Alert. They began a K-9 search of the neighborhood, after which Wilder and Lowe left without telling police where they were going. With them were the other two children, ages 9 and 3.

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When police couldn’t locate Wilder, officers got a search warrant for the home, which led to the discovery of the boy’s body.

Arrest warrants for both Wilder and Lowe were issued early Saturday; both were in police custody by 5 p.m.

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- One man is dead after a crash involving a motorcycle in Madison Township, Guernsey County, Sunday afternoon.

According to the Cambridge Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), the crash happened at approximately 3:07 p.m. on U.S. Route 22.

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Dylan J. Berry, 23, of Lore City, was driving a 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle east on US-22 when he crossed the center line and hit the left side of a 2012 Kia Sorento, which was traveling west, police said.

Berry was flown to Zanesville Genesis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:08 p.m.

The driver of the Sorento, identified as a Pickerington woman, and the passengers in the vehicle were not injured.

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Police said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash. Berry was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, OSHP said.

Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Antrim Fire Department and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The crash remains under investigation.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

A muggy early morning transitioned into a beautiful day, with a northwest breeze bringing in cooler and much less humid weather behind a cold front. Temperatures hovered around 80 degrees, with bright sunshine.

Enjoy a couple of cool mornings to open July, in the 50s, with more sunshine, as high pressure builds down across the Great Lakes into the Northeast.

Warm and sticky weather will return behind high pressure in a return flow from the south.
For Red, White & Boom! on Wednesday, temperatures will reach the low 90s, as the humidity builds. Scattered showers and storms will develop ahead of a cold front approaching the state from the northwest.

Temperatures will cool off a little later in the week, due to more clouds and periods of showers and storms, as a broad storm system lingers over the Ohio Valley.

Forecast

• Sunday: Partly cloudy, breezy, less humid. Near 80
• Tonight: Clear, cooler. Low 55
• Monday: Sunny, pleasant. High 78
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, warmer. High 88 (57)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, hot, scattered storms. High 91 (71)
• Independence Day: Scattered showers, storms. High 84 (74)
• Friday: Showers, storms. High 85 (71)
• Saturday: Showers end, some clearing, cooler. High 75 (67)

View a previous report on the highest rated restaurants in Columbus in the video player above.

Whether you've waited in line for soft-shell crabs in the Chesapeake Bay or savored sushi in New York City, you know there's something special about finding the right spot to enjoy seafood. From ceviche to grilled salmon and towers of shellfish, the top-rated seafood restaurants in the United States serve up mouthwatering dishes across diverse cuisines like Japanese, Latin American, and Mediterranean to suit every palate.

Of course, certain areas of the country are known for particular delicacies. California's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, for example, makes it one of the best states for seafood. The Los Angeles area serves up everything from caviar to Santa Barbara spot prawns while San Francisco is a mecca for fish tacos, ceviche, and sushi. Further north, Seattle is legendary for its shellfish, showcased at the famed fish counter at Pike Place Market.

While Chicago may be best known as a pizza capital, many flock to the city for its king crab dishes; a bit further south and east, you have Miami and its sought-after stone crab season. Southern locales like New Orleans boast fresh crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico and the two noncontiguous states have their own signature offerings, too: Alaska is known for its pollock and salmon, while Hawai'i is known for its poke.

Dining at a seafood restaurant can be one of the most memorable parts of your trip to a new city or offer comfort food in your own hometown. To celebrate the best options near you, Stacker used insights from Yelp to compile a list of the highest-rated seafood restaurants in Columbus.

Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only restaurants with at least 10 reviews were considered. In an effort to highlight independent restaurants and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included. Data is as of June 14, 2024.

Keep reading to discover your highest-rated local seafood restaurants for your next special meal out!

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.

#29. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.9/5 (399 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 569 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: steakhouses, seafood, cocktail bars
- Read more on Yelp

#28. Golden House Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3518 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: chinese, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#27. Marino's Seafood

- Rating: 3.9/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1216 West 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood, fish & chips
- Read more on Yelp

#26. Coco Hot Pot

- Rating: 3.9/5 (88 reviews)
- Address: 743 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: chinese, seafood, hot pot
- Read more on Yelp

#25. Shrimp Lips Seafood and Chicken

- Rating: 3.9/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1622 Parsons Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: food trucks, seafood, cajun/creole
- Read more on Yelp

#24. Hank's Low Country Seafood & Raw Bar

- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 6 West Gay St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#23. The Guild House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (643 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 624 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: new american, seafood, steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

#22. Seafood Shake Boil

- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 3860 Morse Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood, cocktail bars, cajun/creole
- Read more on Yelp

#21. El Tacoriendo

- Rating: 4.1/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3892 Refugee Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: mexican, seafood, breakfast & brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#20. Windward Passage Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4739 Reed Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood, steakhouses, wine bars
- Read more on Yelp

#19. SoCal Kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (336 reviews)
- Address: 705 North High St. Floor 1 Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: new american, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#18. Sharky's Fish & Chicken

- Rating: 4.1/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 4049 East Livingston Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: chicken wings, seafood, sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#17. La Glory's

- Rating: 4.1/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3350 Allegheny Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: soul food, southern, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Mr. Hibachi

- Rating: 4.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 3761 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: japanese, seafood, steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

#15. Creole Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1052 Mt Vernon Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood, breakfast & brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#14. JD's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 3728 Agler Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: soul food, seafood, southern
- Read more on Yelp

#13. 3 Amigos Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 4182 West Broad St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: mexican, seafood, breakfast & brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#12. The Mad Greek

- Rating: 4.2/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4210 East Broad St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: greek, mediterranean, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#11. The Pearl

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 641 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: new american, seafood, breakfast & brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#10. Poke Bros

- Rating: 4.2/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1065 Gemini Place Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: poke, hawaiian, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Fish & Chicken Inn

- Rating: 4.3/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 1828 East Hudson St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: southern, soul food, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Akai Hana

- Rating: 4.3/5 (755 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1173 Old Henderson Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: japanese, sushi bars, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#7. Adelaide's Gin Joint

- Rating: 4.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 2333 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: jazz & blues, seafood, cocktail bars
- Read more on Yelp

#6. Mitchell's Ocean Club

- Rating: 4.4/5 (645 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4002 Easton Station Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: steakhouses, seafood, new american
- Read more on Yelp

#5. Colo Market & Oyster Bar-Downtown

- Rating: 4.4/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 59 Spruce St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#4. South Village Grille

- Rating: 4.4/5 (338 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 197 Thurman Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: new american, seafood, wine bars
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Kai's Crab Boil

- Rating: 4.4/5 (511 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 839 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: seafood, cajun/creole, new american
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Lucky Hawaiian BBQ

- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 4330 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: hawaiian, barbeque, seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#1. Do2 Sabores

- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 6042 Huntley Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: mexican, seafood, cocktail bars
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zeynep Guler Tuck, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 282 metros.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum:

• President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off for the first time in nearly four years.

What were the biggest moments and biggest clashes from the first presidential debate.

• A legislative blitz during the last Ohio Statehouse session of the summer with lawmakers voting on dozens of bills.

"The language in the bill is over verbose and is unclear,” said Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna).

Key marijuana legislation fails to pass in marathon Statehouse session

 "This is easy, this is simple,” Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) said. “This should not be complicated, period.”

Hear what high-priority legislation passed and what will have to wait until lawmakers return in the fall.

• Bombshell allegations of discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas from one of its judges.

“I said, ‘You don't have the right in all of your paternalism and privilege to come to my office, and give me a list of Black women whom I shouldn't be more like,’” Judge Kimberly Cocroft said.

New attention drawn to gun legislation at Ohio Statehouse following shooting

Hear what she said forced her to resign from a position she was elected to by her fellow judges.

• The first presidential debate is behind us, but were President Biden or Donald Trump able to sway Ohio voters? Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis and Democratic strategist Greg Haas weigh in.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Fourth of July is almost here which means fireworks displays will be popping up all over central Ohio, including at Red, White & BOOM! on Wednesday night.

In this week's “Connecting with COSI”, Joe Wood shows NBC4's Monica Day the science behind the vibrant colors we see in those fireworks. Head to COSI's website to learn more.

For previous reports on this story view the video player above.

PLAIN CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – The search for evidence continues one year after an infant baby was found in a garbage truck in Plain City.

According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, leads as to what happened to the newborn baby have been hard to come by and investigators remain active in seeking more information on a baby girl's death.

On June 15, 2023, Plain City police officers responded to a call from the villages’ contracted refuse company. Upon arrival at the 100 block of Bluestem Lane, a full-term newborn baby girl was found in the rear collection point of the garbage truck.

Medical personnel from the Pleasant Valley Joint Fire District pronounced the infant dead at 2:33 p.m. The body was removed from the scene and was taken for an autopsy to be performed by the Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office, which was assisting in the case.

Police initially believed the girl, later named "Madison", was between zero days to one month old. A release from Plain City police said a preliminary autopsy showed the newborn was female and that her umbilical cord was still attached.

In December, a Madison County Coroner’s Office report stated the baby had multiple fractures and had blunt force trauma to areas of the head, neck, torso, pelvis and extremities, but the report did not determine the actual cause of death, or whether the death was natural, an accident, or a homicide.

Madison County Coroner James Kaehr released a statement that read in part, "Madison's body demonstrated many injuries and abnormalities.  Several of these could be lethal in isolation, i.e., they could cause death even if they were the only abnormality present. Without having more information regarding when and how each abnormality developed, we are unable to determine with reasonable certainty which one (or combination) ultimately resulted in Madison's death."

Area camera footage, including doorbell cameras and other surveillance footage, has been reviewed by police, but no suspects have been named at this time.

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Residents of Plain City came together the following weekend to mourn the loss of Madison. Services were organized by Plain City first responders, who surrounded the hearse as the casket was being place and offered a salute. Hundreds of cars followed the hearse towards Forest Grove Cemetery while many residents gathered on the sidewalk to offer flowers to passing cars.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Skies clearing, high 80
• Tonight: Mostly clear, low 54
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high 77 (58)
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 86 (71)
• Wednesday (Boom): Chance of t-storms, high 92 (74)
• Independence Day: Scattered Showers, high 86 (71)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Thanks to the cold front moving through central Ohio today will see near perfect weather. Expect more sunshine as the day progresses and calm conditions. Highs will be near the 80 degree marks for most of us.

Tonight skies will stay mostly clear and winds will stay mainly calms. Lows are going to drop a lot more falling to the mid 50s. Overall it will be a pleasant night.

A high pressure center will move over the region for the start of the holiday week. With it comes stable air and sunny skies. Below average temperatures in the upper 70s will also stick around.

Some clouds will begin to build up ahead of out next weather system. Tuesday will be partly cloudy with high in the mid to upper 80s. Humidity will also stay relatively low.

Wednesday for Red, White, & Boom as well as Thursday the 4th there will be chances for scattered showers and storms. On both day rain chances will be best in the late evening to early night hours.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A change in leadership is here for Ohio State. Ross Bjork is set to take over on Monday as the school's director of athletics. And in Gene Smith's final days, he's looking forward to seeing his own next chapter play out in the near future.

"Spending time with my family and my grandkids and redefining what my life will be like," Smith said. "But also in the athletic industry. Ross is going to do a great job as the athletic director here."

Bjork was hired from Texas A&M in January and has already made an impact at Ohio State, elevating Jake Diebler to the head coaching role in men's basketball and hiring new coaches for the school's baseball and softball teams.

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But he comes in as the Buckeyes grapple with a changing landscape in college athletics, which is a transition that Smith hopes he's helped ease as he departs.

"Having my teammates work with the conference and the national scene and help redefine a new model that intercollegiate athletics will operate under with the revenue sharing and things of that nature," Smith said. "And it will shake itself out. It'll be something different that we'll all have to get used to and embrace."

While the contests will stay the same, Smith says what will change is how Ohio State will manage the money. And he said it was important to work alongside Bjork to ensure a smooth transition.

"It was cool. You normally don't get that opportunity," Smith said. "To have basically four months to spend time with Ross and help him learn the environment, learn the culture, learn the operations, it was great. He's smart, he's experienced. He's a good human being."

Now as he begins retirement, Smith looks forward to growing out his beard, playing more golf and wearing Hawaiian shirts more often.

"I'm looking forward to see if I can change my biological clock to sleep in," Smith said. "I work out early in the morning. Sometimes it's 4:45 in the morning. I'm trying to find out if I can actually sleep longer and workout when I want to."

The end of his tenure is something Smith has been anticipating for awhile. But he acknowledges that the moment feels different now that it's finally here.

"It's been unbelievable. Having the opportunity to spend some quality time with people that, you know, help invest in a vision. I've spent a lot of time with some donors and then also spend some time with staff and the department and, you know, saw some athletes a couple of times this week," Smith said. "So this has been emotional, but it's been good."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A proposed downtown project would demolish a former jail and turn it into a childcare center.

It isn't the transition most would think of when considering the future of a former downtown jail, but for Franklin County commissioner Erika Crawley, this is about helping another generation improve their future.

"We are providing funding for our residents, subsidies when it comes to childcare, but we should be doing something for our own staff and our own employees to make it accessible," Crawley said.

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The availability of safe, quality affordable childcare is often considered a crisis. But Crawley says the solution is right under our noses.

"No where else in the country do we see something like this -- a county demolishing a jail and building a learning center," Crawley said.

A recent vote by the commissioners is the first step to making the concept a reality. Earlier this week, the Franklin County Commissioners approved a nearly $1.4 million design contract. The project is a unique undertaking and would require the demolition of the former south jail, which is connected to several county buildings.

Commissioner Crawley says a new childcare facility, which could accommodate up to 400 children, would be constructed in its place.

"This type of childcare center doesn't exist anywhere," Crawley said. "We're talking about social and emotional needs. We are looking at everything from color on the wall to flooring."

The building would house childcare for the children of county and city employees, potentially on a sliding pay scale. The center would also offer drop-in care for guardians needing to make court appearances.

"If you're missing court dates, there's sometimes you can get a bench warrant issued, you will get picked up by the police, and then you'll sit in our jail, right?" Crawley said.

It's an idea that not only addresses an immediate issue, but one that looks to address a broader concern: a gap of childcare accessibility and equity, specifically in the Black community.

"Only 40 percent of our children county wide are ready for Kindergarten and when it comes to black children only 28 percent are ready for kindergarten," Crawley said. "If we invest early that tends to decrease the likelihood of someone going into the criminal justice system or even being involved in criminal activity in the first place."

Crawley said it's too early to put a price tag on the project but she tells NBC4 that with the intricacies of demolishing a building connected to several others, she expects the project will be completed by the middle of 2028.

EUGENE, Ore. (WCMH) -- Pickerington Central graduate McKenzie Long earned her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team headed to Paris after finishing third in the final of the women's 200 meter dash.

Long started out of the blocks in lane seven and ran a time of 21.91 seconds, while Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas took first with a time of 21.81 and Brittany Brown, a silver medalist at the 2019 world championships, placed second after a personal best time of 21.90. Dublin native Abby Steiner finished sixth with a time of 22.24 and did not qualify for Paris.

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Sha'Carri Richardson, who is already qualified in the 100 meter dash, finished fourth with a time of 22.16.

This will mark the first Olympic appearance for Long, who won three NCAA outdoor titles this year with Ole Miss, including the 200m. She's a native of Ironton, Ohio and won an OHSAA state title in the indoor 60-meter dash in 2017. Long earned her undergraduate degree from NC State before transferring to Ole Miss as a graduate student.

Elsewhere on the penultimate day of the meet, Adelaide Aquilla came up short in her bid to make the team after she finished fourth in the women's shot put.

The Westlake, Ohio native and Buckeyes graduate student was looking to make her second Olympic appearance and her best throw came in her third attempt when she threw for 62 feet and an inch. Chase Jackson, Tokyo silver medalist Raven Saunders and Jaida Ross qualified for Paris.