Ohio News

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.

Man dead after Guernsey County motorcycle crash

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.

Baby’s death yields few leads one year after body found in Plain City garbage truck

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.

Two Ohio women arrested after 8-year-old’s body found hidden in attic

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.

Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later

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.

Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later

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.

This morning's forecast can be seen in the player above.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

TORNADO WATCH IN EASTERN OHIO UNTIL 8 P.M.

A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for Coshocton, Muskingum, Guernsey and Noble counties.

Low pressure will track eastward into southeastern Canada. Bands of showers and a few strong storms will move through the region this afternoon and early evening in a warm, muggy environment. Cloudy skies will hold temperatures to the mid-80s.

Skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy tonight, with a final round of showers and a few storms with the trailing cold front ending before daybreak. Temperatures will only dip down to near 70.

The second half of the weekend will be cooler and drier, noticeable as the humidity falls by Sunday afternoon in a northwesterly flow of air. An area of high pressure will build south from Canada across the region.

High temperatures Sunday and Monday will only reach the upper 70s, with morning lows on Monday and Tuesday in the mid- to upper 50s.

Warmer conditions return by midweek, with a chance for a few showers and storms on Wednesday.

Forecast

• Saturday: Clouds, muggy, showers, storms. High 85 
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, few showers, storms. Low 72
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, cooler, less humid. High 80
• Monday: Sunny, pleasant. High 78 (56)
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy, warmer. High 86 (58)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, hot and humid, scattered storms. High 92 (71)
• Independence Day: Scattered showers, storms. High 86 (74)
• Friday: Showers, storms. High 85 (71)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Weeks after police identified the victim of a shooting on the far east side of Columbus, police continue to ask for the public’s assistance.

According to a recent incident report, investigators are still attempting to obtain additional information regarding the death of Danyaze Evans-Kourouma, who was shot and killed near the intersection of Noe-Bixby Road and Carbondale Drive.

Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later

On April 25, officers responded to the Walnut Hills neighborhood on reports of a suspicious death near a construction site at 2:05 p.m. Evans-Kourouma was found by workers in the area, and 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 the victim had suffered from a gunshot wound resulting in her death, although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unknown.

Evans-Kourouma, 33, was officially identified on May 10 after next of kin was notified. She went by “Dany” and was known to frequent the area of Lilley Avenue, Berkeley Road and East Livingston Avenue.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Brandt at 614-645-4077 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Scattered t-storms, high 89
• Tonight: Showers linger, low 71
• Sunday: Skies clearing, high 81 (54)
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high 78 (58)
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 91 (71)
• Wednesday (Boom): Chance of t-storms, high 93 (73)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

It's a Weather Alert Day for central Ohio as we are tracking increasing chances for strong thunderstorms. The entire area will see a slight risk for severe weather with strong gusty winds being the primary threat. Heavy rain is also a pretty good possibility. That rain would be much needed since parts of central Ohio are under a moderate drought.

The best chance for the strongest storms will be in the early to mid afternoon hours. The main line will exit central Ohio by the evening, but a few leftover showers will still pop up. Highs will reach the upper 80s.

Tonight skies will calm down and clouds will clear out. Lows will fall to close to the 70 degree mark. The cold front will move through tomorrow morning and cooler drier air will settle in.

Sunday will see near perfect weather with more sunshine and calm conditions. Highs will be in the low 80s. Everything will stay quiet until we get closer to the Fourth of July holiday.

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 ours.

EUGENE, Ore. (WCMH) -- Dublin native Abby Steiner and Pickerington Central grad McKenzie Long will race for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team after running top four times in the semifinal heats of the women's 200m dash on Friday at Hayward Field.

Steiner ran the fourth fastest time in the semifinals with a season's best 22.03, finishing second in her semifinal heat behind Gabby Thomas, who ran 21.78, the fastest time in the world this season. Women's 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson (21.92) and Long (22.01) ran the second and third fastest times in the semifinals respectively.

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The 24-year-old Dublin Coffman graduate, who has overcome injuries, looks to make her first Olympic appearance. Steiner won world championship gold medals in 2022 as part of the women's 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams and finished fifth in the individual 200m race that year.

Long, a 2018 graduate from Pick Central, won three NCAA titles this season in her senior season for Ole Miss in the 100 and 200 meter sprints and as a member of the 4x100m relay.

Ohio State's Anavia Battle was also looking to advance in the competition but just missed out on qualifying, finishing with the tenth fastest time in the semifinals despite running a season's best 22.33 seconds.

The top three finishers will automatically qualify for Paris. The final is set to be run at 8:27 p.m. on Saturday.

Elsewhere at the Trials, Ohio State's Adelaide Aquilla qualified for the next round of the women's shot put. The Buckeyes graduate student recorded a throw of 19.25 meters in her first attempt. Aquilla is looking to make her second Olympic team and will compete in the final on Saturday night.

Lakewood, Ohio native Katie Moon moved on to the final of the women's pole vault after clearing a height of 4.50 meters. The final will take place on Sunday.