Ohio News

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – NBC4’s Puppy with a Purpose has arrived in Columbus!

Paris arrived just before 6 p.m. Thursday night after a cross country flight from California.

The labrador-golden retriever mix -- born on February 2nd – is a ball of energy with a curious mind. He will be NBC4’s fourth puppy with a purpose in partnership with Canine Companions -- a non-profit that trains assistance dogs to help children, adults, and veterans with disabilities — free of charge. 

Upon arrival Paris wasted no time getting comfortable with his new puppy raiser, Elaine May, who he will be staying with during his journey of becoming a full-service assistance dog.

May says the job of a puppy raiser is to work on the basics so when he goes off to professional training he'll know about 30 commands.

"We set the groundwork for when they go off to professional training and then they'll learn to open and close doors, turn lights on and off, pick up dropped items, but it all starts with a puppy raiser,” May said.

• Elaine May and Paris, NBC4s new Puppy with a Purpose. (NBC4)
• Parris, NBC4's fourth puppy with a purpose, arrived in Columbus, March 28, 2024. (NBC4)

There are also many volunteer opportunities with Canine Companions.

"Canine Companions is in need of more puppy raisers. If you'd like to get a little fella like Paris here and help raise him, contact Canine Companions and we'll get you fixed up!"

Paris, like his predecessors Brutus, Scarlet and Buckeye, will join the NBC4 studio every Friday beginning April 12 during the 6 a.m. broadcast of NBC4 Today.

Be sure to follow Paris’ journey by following NBC4pups on Facebook and Instagram! For more information on how you can support or assist Canine Companions’ cause, visit https://canine.org/get-involved/.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus has set its sights on a historic part of town to become the city's first neighborhood with net-zero emissions, and the project could lower electric bills for its residents.

American Addition is one of the oldest African American communities in Columbus, dating to May 1898. Soon, it could become the first neighborhood in the city to completely eliminate emissions, reducing its carbon footprint and dependence on nonrenewable energy sources.

A solar plant, solar panels, efficient insulation, and smart design are among the changes to minimize the neighborhood's energy waste, according to IMPACT Community Action Director of Climate Justice Initiatives Katie Devlin. Residents of American Addition will also be provided with information and education on how to reduce their overall energy usage.

"We're trying to strike a balance between the amount of energy that buildings in the neighborhood are producing, and then using energy efficiency mechanisms to offset that energy, and ultimately, those emissions," Devlin said.

While some Columbus residents are facing their largest electric bills in the decade, this project could actually lower costs for American Addition residents. Devlin said that the installation of solar panels and batteries will come at no cost to the homeowners, and that residents could expect to pay less for their electricity.

"Depending on the home’s utility provider, most homes are AEP, the cost of the bill will depend on how much energy their solar panel produces," Devlin said. "But we are confident that the majority of residents will see a decrease on their electric bill with the installation of solar panels."

Columbus was recently selected as one of 25 U.S. cities to join Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, a three-year initiative leveraging federal funding to implement local solutions that build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities. Because of its participation in the initiative, the city will receive an innovation team with up to three dedicated staff members, a multi-year, in-depth, customized policy, and technical assistance.

Assistant Director of Sustainable Columbus Erin Beck said the American Addition project was a major reason for the city's inclusion on the list. She said they worked closely with IMPACT Community Action to be awarded the funding.

"A big part of our application that we worked with IMPACT and the community on was that we really wanted to use these supports to help support the American Addition neighborhood, and a commitment to creating a net-zero neighborhood and working collaboratively toward that," Beck said.

While a plan is clearly already in place to reach the net-zero goal, Beck said there will still be some trial and error.

"What is this going to look like? I think all of us still aren't entirely sure what this might look like," Beck said. "We're on a journey together to figure out what is going to work best for American Addition."

Lisa Ghee-Brown, Community Advocate for IMPACT and American Addition resident, said her family has lived in the neighborhood for generations. She said members of the community are eager to see the changes coming with the project.

"They're happy, they're waiting, they're no-nonsense people because they're an older generation and they tell you exactly what they feel," Ghee-Brown said. "They're happy that they're getting some help with their homes, because it's a couple of families out there still buying oil to heat their homes. So, they're patiently waiting."

American Addition isn't the only solar project coming to central Ohio, the Ohio Power Siting Board recently approved a much larger, 800-megawatt solar-powered generating facility to be built in Madison County.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus-area distillery has been accused of diluting Ohio State University’s brand with its Buckeyes-themed vodka.

Ohio State is opposing Noble Cut Distillery’s trademark application for its VOHIO vodka, claiming its use of “VOHIO” and Ohio State’s colors falsely suggest to consumers that the vodka is affiliated with the university. In an opposition filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the university highlighted the distillery’s social media posts and the vodka label’s colors as “uniquely and unmistakably pointing to Ohio State.”

Noble Cut, opened in 2014 in Gahanna, has sold VOHIO well vodka since at least September 2021, according to its trademark application. In Ohio State’s March 11 opposition to the application, the university said its “Ohio State” trademark, granted in 1981 and used since 1878, takes precedence. 

So, too, do the marks Ohio State has licensed for use by approved third-party sellers, including “Buckeyes,” “OSU,” “Ohio Stadium” and “the beloved fan chants of ‘OH-IO,’ ‘O-HI-O’ and ‘O-H-I-O,’” the university argues. It claims the “V” in VOHIO doesn’t sufficiently distinguish the vodka from Ohio State.

“The element most likely to be remembered by consumers in such mark is the known and recognizable term ‘OHIO,’” the opposition filing reads.

Noble Cut Distillery declined to comment.

Considering the vast number and types of products sold with licensed Ohio State marks, including Buckeyes beer koozies and shot glasses, the university argues any reasonable consumer would think VOHIO vodka is also connected to Ohio State. It also argues that Noble Cut Distillery’s advertising for the vodka further implies such a relationship.

In several Instagram posts, Noble Cut poses VOHIO vodka alongside licensed Ohio State products, including Ohio State-branded plastic cups and an Ohio State cooler, or otherwise associates the vodka with Ohio State football games. Multiple post captions mention Ohio State game day, urging consumers to drink VOHIO vodka at tailgates. 

In an Instagram post from September 2023, which Ohio State included in its opposition filing, Noble Cut showcases a banner at a football tailgate featuring an image of its VOHIO vodka with a football and Buckeyes necklace. The banner reads, “Tailgate Vodka Made in Ohio.”

The design of the VOHIO label is itself problematic, according to Ohio State. It features the same colors as “the signature athletic stripe pattern” on the Buckeyes football uniform.

In a statement, Ohio State spokesperson Chris Booker said the university’s trademark and licensing program rakes in about $17 million in revenue each year. It’s important to protect the brand and trademarks, he said. 

“These assets hold significant value and support our core academic mission of teaching and research,” Booker said.

Noble Cut has successfully trademarked similar vodka marks using the same “V” theme. In November 2023, it was awarded trademarks for “VOPENN” and “VOTENN,” which it has used to sell bottles of well vodka bearing the colors of Penn State University and the University of Tennessee, respectively. Neither university opposed the trademark applications.

Noble Cut originally had until April 20 to respond to Ohio State’s opposition, but on Thursday, it requested a 60-day pause in court proceedings because it has entered into settlement negotiations with the university. Proceedings will resume May 28.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio school with an exclusive focus on coursework for the marijuana industry has become the first of its kind to receive academic accreditation.

The Cleveland School of Cannabis received its accredited status from the Middle States Association's Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Kevin Greene, vice president for the school, called it the "highest level of education accreditation that there is." He explained his team went through an intensive process that lasted nearly three years to earn a unanimous yes vote from MSA's board.

"You actually get audited in person," Greene said. "There's an audit team, that comes out and visits the campus. They spend three days on campus, they interview all staff, they interview students … and then from those interviews and their assessments from on campus, they then make a determination of your status of accreditation."

When the school first launched, it had brick-and-mortar campuses in Columbus and Independence, Ohio. The facility in the Cleveland area includes cooking and scientific labs, as well as cannabis growing facilities where students cultivate their own plants. It also includes a mock dispensary with a full point-of-sale system, where the students can participate in a simulation to help medical patients find the right products.

• The Cleveland School of Cannabis logo is visible on a wall of the school's grow facility. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• Students at the Cleveland School of Cannabis harvest marijuana flowers from plants they grew. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• Marijuana plants line the grow facility at the Cleveland School of Cannabis. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• Marijuana plants line the grow facility at the Cleveland School of Cannabis. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)

Greene broke down the Cleveland School of Cannabis' 16 classes into three main categories.

• Cultivation: the growing of cannabis on a commercial level.
• Extraction: creating the wide range of edible products and everything outside of cannabis flowers.
• Dispensary operations: working in commercial marijuana shops and patient interaction.

With the legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio, elective coursework involving legal practices and business at CSC will adjust, Greene said. However, the core education on cannabis products will see little impact.

"The cannabis plant, the properties of it … that doesn't change," Greene said. "What actually is going to happen is an expansion of the products in the marketplace. When you're in the medical market, they only approve certain types of products to be on the market. Now we'll be in more of a commercial space for products."

• Students at the Cleveland School of Cannabis participate in lab work trimming marijuana plants. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• A student at Cleveland School of Cannabis collects rosin from a marijuana plant. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• A student at the Cleveland School of Cannabis harvests marijuana flowers from a plant they grew. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)

The lack of legal recreational marijuana vendors as of March means the state's residents are left only with legal home growing and possession. But for this reason, the vice president said he sees cannabis hobbyists enroll for growing lessons even without business pursuits. The most popular class, by far, is "Cooking with Cannabis."

"It's the elective everyone is taking, all the time," Greene said. "The class is always filled. The school always smells good on cooking days. It's by far the students' favorite, the staff favorite all the way."

• Students participate in a cooking class where they imbue products with cannabis extract. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)
• Students participate in a simulation where they work in a mock dispensary for medical marijuana. (Courtesy Photo/Cleveland School of Cannabis)

While Greene said they have since closed the Columbus campus for in-person classes, it still offers online coursework for students in the city. CSC also invites all of its class members to the Cleveland-area facility for projects called enrichment days. And regardless of class, one such event known as "harvest day" is another favorite for everyone.

"When students get to go ahead and see what they've been growing for the last 16 weeks or so," Greene said. "They get to go ahead and trim their buds down and that sort of thing."

The vice president invited anyone interested in learning more about cannabis to enroll in a class with CSC. The school is available by phone at 216-465-4161, and by email as well.

• Today: AM sprinkle, partly cloudy, high 61
• Tonight: Showers arrive, low 46
• Saturday: Sct'd rain, breezy, high 66
• Sunday: Iso. AM shower, rain later, high 61
• Monday: Rain & storms, high 64
• Tuesday: Rain & storms, high 65

Happy Friday!

We start the day with just a few isolated sprinkles across the region, but that will gradually clear by about daybreak, and we'll have a dry rest of the day ahead. Expect highs to warm to the lower 60s, with just a light breeze. We'll see partly cloudy skies this afternoon.

Rain then moves in tonight and into Saturday. Expect scattered showers Saturday morning that clear up by about early afternoon. We'll then see several dry hours during the afternoon, with highs warming into the middle 60s, and a strong breeze. More scattered rain then moves in during the evening.

For Sunday, we start the early morning with just an isolated, light shower or two. Then we'll see lots of dry time during the daytime hours, which is good news for outdoor Easter plans! We'll see highs in the lower 60s. Rain then moves back in Sunday evening and overnight into Monday.

We've got several rounds of rain and thunderstorms on tap for both Monday and Tuesday as a cold front starts to near the area. Temperatures hold steady in the middle 60s. These are both days we will be watching for the potential for a few stronger storms, and flood prone areas will want to be mindful, as we will see a decent amount of rain the next few days.

-McKenna

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – NBC4 is working to learn more about the path forward for the Circleville Police Department, as three people in city leadership roles have been fired or placed on administrative leave in three weeks. 

NBC4 requested the personnel files for the former director of public safety who was hired and fired in one week, as well as the personnel file of the acting police chief, who was put on administrative leave on March 25.

In the pages of documents NBC4 received there were a lot of redactions and very few specific reasons for the turnover.

Documents show that Steven Wilkinson, the former director of public safety resigned under investigation from his role as a Circleville reserve police officer on March 8. That same day he took the oath of office for the public safety director role.

The documents show he was fired on March 15, just one week later. In the documents NBC4 received there is no reason given.

Last week, Wilkinson gave an 8-minute speech in front of council alleging misconduct in the police department, and with then-acting police chief Douglas Davis.

About a week later Davis was placed on administrative leave, for what a statement from the mayor said is an investigation into alleged misconduct.

That statement said in full: "On March 25, Acting Chief Doug Davis was placed on paid administrative leave from the Circleville Police Department due to an investigation into alleged employee misconduct. In the meantime, the Circleville Police Department is in the capable hands of experienced leaders within the Agency. The City took this action in order to protect the integrity of the department while the investigation is ongoing."

Documents NBC4 requested about Davis show he alleged to city staff and former Chief Shawn Baer ongoing instances of retaliation and a hostile work environment due to what he believes is his disability.

This isn’t the first time Davis has been placed on administrative leave. In April of 2022 he wrote a letter to Chief Baer saying “There are many things happening in this city and here in this department that I am no longer willing to accept.”

A few days later he was placed on administrative leave with pay. Other documents point to previous investigations into him as well.

This all comes almost three weeks after Circleville police chief Shawn Baer was put on administrative leave.

He is being investigated for potential misconduct. The allegations include harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and threats of discipline.

Circleville police confirm Sergeant Kenny Fisher was sworn in as acting police chief on March 26. When NBC4 asked for an interview,  the police department said it had no comment. 

In the request, NBC4 asked for: 

• Steven Wilkinson's personnel file including any complaints against him, investigations and disciplinary action.
• Deputy Chief Douglas Davis's personnel file including any complaints against him, investigations and disciplinary action.
• Records of Circleville police state firearm standards training completion.
• Any and all reports of civil rights violations by any Circleville police staff.

These are the documents NBC4 received: 

• Steven Wilkinson Personnel File
• Notice of Charge of Discrimination
• EOCC form
• Signed Form 5 charge
• EEOC document
• Determination and Notice of Rights
• Acting Chief of Police promotion
• Douglas Davis Personnel File
• Davis 3/25 Administrative Leave
• EEOC respondent portal
• Affidavits - McIlroy, Baer, Dilley
• Employee job descriptions
• Davis Documents 1
• Davis Documents 2
• Davis Documents 3
• Davis Documents 4
• Davis Documents 5
• Davis Documents 6
• Davis Documents 7
• Davis Documents 8
• Davis Documents 9
• EEOC response documents
• CPD Impact Munitions Qualification and Less Lethal Impact Weapons Test
• Range Proficiency Record Shotgun
• Range Proficiency Record Submachine Gun Select Fire
• Range Proficiency Record Patrol Rifle Carbine

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A juvenile is in critical condition following a shooting in west Columbus on Thursday afternoon. 

At about 12:28 p.m., Columbus police officers were called to the 100 block of North Burgess Avenue in the Highland West neighborhood on the report of a shooting. 

When officers arrived, they found a juvenile victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital in life threatening condition but was later upgraded to critical condition, according to the Columbus Division of Police. 

Police said the investigation is ongoing and have not released any further information as of 9:40 p.m. CPD asks anyone with information to contact Felony Assault Unit Detective Thomas Armentrout at 614-645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

View the player above for previous coverage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Michigan court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former physician Dr. William Husel against Mount Carmel's parent company, which alleged malicious prosecution.

In April 2023, attorneys for Husel filed a complaint against Trinity Health Corporation, Mount Carmel's parent company, seeking $20 million in damages. The lawsuit alleged the healthcare giant maliciously prosecuted the ousted ICU doctor as part of an orchestrated effort to protect the company’s reputation. 

The lawsuit claimed that Trinity "actively sought [Husel’s] indictment and prosecution" and provided the Franklin County Prosecutor's office with knowingly inaccurate and misleading information while withholding exculpatory evidence. The lawsuit also claimed Trinity instituted a public outreach campaign, including influencing local media, designed to prosecute Husel.

The United States District Court for the Eastern Michigan District sided with Trinity and dismissed the case, finding that Husel failed to argue against the presumption that probable cause existed for his prosecution.

From 2015 to 2018, critically ill patients in Columbus ICU physician Husel’s care died from a potentially excess amount of painkillers. In 2019, Husel faced murder charges in relation to his patient’s deaths. A jury ultimately found him not guilty of 14 counts of murder in 2022. Husel  surrendered his medical license in the aftermath of his trial.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As the much anticipated solar eclipse gets closer, experts are reminding communities about the proper eyewear needed to safely view the rare event.

“Eclipse glasses are not the same as sunglasses, they’re more than 1,000 times darker than sunglasses," said Susanna Kohler, Press Officer with the American Astronomical Society (AAS). 

The AAS recently shared a warning about counterfeit or fake eclipse glasses. Kohler said most of the eclipse glasses out there are safe.

"Leading up to this solar eclipse initially the ones we were seeing, the ones that were counterfeit, still when we went and tested them were showing that they were safe so the vast majority of the glasses on the market are safe, it's only in recent weeks we’ve seen a couple instances of ones that aren't in fact safe," she said.

The organization identifies counterfeit glasses as ones manufactured by one manufacturer, but printing the name of another manufacturer. It's the ones deemed unsafe which AAS calls fake. 

"Anybody can say their glasses are safe and print that standard on the glasses and we have unfortunately seen a few cases of glasses in the market that have that standard printed on them and are not in fact safe, they aren't any darker than normal sunglasses," Kohler said.

The standard she referred to is ISO 12312-2, which experts said should be on eclipse glasses. 

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Thursday also discussed the necessity of proper eclipse glasses. A spokesperson for ODH said the department is not aware of any reports of fake or counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold or distributed in Ohio.

“It is very important that you are obtaining any eyewear that you're going to use from a trusted source," he said.

To see a list of places to get eclipse glasses, click here. As April 8 gets closer, it's a good idea to check to make sure they are in stock. The AAS has more information on how to spot fake or counterfeit eclipse glasses here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of people will be traveling to Ohio for the solar eclipse, and the state has set aside money in anticipation.  

Last July, Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget with a $1 million allocation of taxpayer dollars for eclipse safety cost reimbursements. State officials said they are expecting more than a half million people to travel to Ohio to see the eclipse, and Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery) said it's going to strain the state's resources.

“This literally is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Click said.

Click advocated for solar eclipse safety money in the budget. But he said agencies were anticipating a bigger price tag.

“When I talked to DPS, I talked to some folks in the EMA, they actually thought we needed 10 million,” he said. Click said not everyone was on board with that dollar amount.

Now, with $1 million secured in the budget, the rest is now up to the state controlling board, which is authorized to approve and reimburse more funds. Budget experts said the money the controlling board uses will likely come from the state’s emergency purposes fund.

That emergency fund is typically used for things like disaster relief, instances the East Palestine train derailment, or paying the Ohio National Guard when its services are needed.

“Ultimately, we got the 10 million, we just got it shaped a little differently,” Click said. “We have the money, and we have the authorization to spend more as necessary.”

Click said the money will be used for things like extra law enforcement, traffic control and overtime pay. But he said there are other things being done to prepare that people may not think of.

“We’re going to have to put up extra cell towers because the number of people coming in is going to be an overburden to the cell towers,” Click said. “We have to prepare for Life Flight services in case there are any medical emergencies because the roads are going to be jam-packed.”

The Department of Public Safety said reimbursements for solar eclipse safety planning will be coordinated through county EMAs. DeWine has also signed an executive order to ensure all agencies are ready to utilize their personnel.