Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Workers at a gas station in Columbus' Lincoln Village neighborhood narrowly escaped Friday when a suspect tried to rob and shoot them.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said around 11 a.m. that a man wearing a red and black covering over his face walked into the Speedway store at 4555 W. Broad St. It also shared photos of the suspect captured on the gas station's security camera.

Inside, he pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. The sheriff's office didn't share other details on the employees' exchange with the suspect after he made it clear that he was robbing them.

The suspect then tried to fire his gun, but it didn't go off, according to the sheriff's office. When the workers heard the click of the suspect's gun dry firing, they ran out of the store.

The sheriff's office did not specify the number of workers that ran away, but said they fled in different directions. The robbery suspect followed them outside, and when he tried to shoot one of them, he successfully fired his gun twice but missed.

• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)
• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)
• (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)

The suspect then left the scene, heading toward Hilton Avenue. When deputies arrived, they found two 9mm bullet casings at the Speedway.

The sheriff's office asked anyone with information on the robbery or suspect to call its detective bureau at 614-525-3351.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – There's a money mystery in Marysville after tens of thousands of dollars have been found around the city.

The money was found in a couple publicly accessible bathrooms, according to the Marysville Police Division (MPD). Capt. Nate Sachs said more than $20,000 was found in a bathroom at the Avalon Theater last weekend. Then on Thursday night, more than $10,000 was found in a bathroom at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Delaware Avenue.

Multi-million dollar bond for Ohio man charged in lethal Benadryl murder of 3-year-old

“They were hidden in a way that you would have to know where to look to find them. Wasn't like you walk in and they were behind a trash can or anything like that. It was hidden," Sachs said.

Employees at both of the establishments found the cash, according to Sachs.

“Truly bizarre, just weird, especially two times in one week in our town," he said. “It’s disbelief. It’s disbelief and honestly they’re just curious as to why the money would be there in the first place.”

In his 18-year career, Sachs said a situation with this much money being found in public places is a first for him. Investigators are trying to figure out where the cash came, who put it in the bathrooms and who it was meant for.

“We’re looking at the avenues that they’re probably connected. At this point with an open investigation, we have not linked it up yet but anything's possible at this point. We’re just looking at everything," Sachs said.

Sachs said MPD does not believe there are any more large amounts of cash out there. If anyone does find more, they are urged to call police, he added. He also said MPD does not want people just going around town looking for money.

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) – A child was hit by a car shortly after exiting a school bus and was life-flighted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital on Friday afternoon.

A child was exiting a school bus on United States Route 62 North between Harrison Road and Post Road when a truck going southbound struck two stationary cars from behind, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. 

The middle car that was hit by the truck was pushed into the child and continued for another 150 feet before coming to a stop. The child was flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital – their condition has not been released. 

Multi-million dollar bond for Ohio man charged in lethal Benadryl murder of 3-year-old

The female driver of the car that was struck and pushed into the child was transported to a local hospital. She was then taken to a trauma center in Columbus. Her car faced severe damage, with the truck being shoved into the front seat, the sheriff’s office said.  The driver of the truck who struck the other vehicles was treated on the scene. 

The school bus itself was not struck in the crash. Police have not released any further information as of 6:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Reproductive rights have been enshrined in the state’s constitution for nearly five months now, but there are still old laws in the books being challenged in courts here in Columbus and new ideas being proposed.   

When voters approved the constitutional amendment back in November, they legalized abortion to the point of fetal viability, along with several other reproductive rights.

Owners of Latitude Five25 fined $20 million for asbestos contamination

But some groups like the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) said every abortion is a “child's life lost.”

“We cannot abandon this issue and run away from the importance of protecting life,” CCV President Aaron Baer said. 

Baer said more can be done to shift the culture in the state from what he called a “pro-abortion” mentality. He said some of that work can be done in public schools. 

“These are taxpayer funded schools, our lawmakers have no requirement to just close their eyes and sent their money off to Columbus public and say do with it what you want,” he said. 

He suggested lawmakers outlining to schools what types of sex-education can be taught, as not to “indoctrinate” students. The state releases an annual report about the number of abortions that happen throughout the year. Baer also said that information should be more readily available. 

“We were able to get COVID test data the next day, I think we should be able to have a sense of how many children are losing their lives in the state faster than a year out,” Baer said. 

“They’re doing that as a way to try and complicate the doctors and nurses, the medical professionals who offer that care,” Gabriel Mann, communications for Pro-Choice Ohio said. “If they were pushing those government restrictions on any other form of healthcare, the medical community would be up in arms about that idea. No one actually needs that.” 

Mann said he thinks the state’s annual “comprehensive” report is sufficient enough.   

“Anything more than that would essentially be creating red tape on abortion providers,” Mann said. “Voters have said they don’t want to see government interference.” 

Mann said his group’s focus moving forward is removing barriers that are currently in state law. He said for example, the one that requires a woman to wait 24-hours between her first doctor’s appointment and abortion.  

“The 24-hour waiting period is actually an obstacle that prevents people from being able to access care,” Mann said. “When they need to get a second visits worth of transportation, maybe they have kids at home, and they need to get childcare, or they need to get time off of work. Those are the broad implications.”
 

Technically, the constitutional amendment does not address the 24-hour waiting period, it rather creates broad protections. 

In this court filing, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost argues that the 24-hour still stands because it does not prevent doctors from performing abortions, but rather adds requirements that “ensure that the woman is acting voluntarily after sufficient consideration.” 

24hour-waiting-period_1416316982Download

“He’s flat out wrong,” Mann said. “Ohio voters understood that when they went to the polls in November of 2023, they were protecting abortion rights.”
 

Although laws are being challenged, the only way to fully overturn the state’s abortion amendment is through another ballot initiative, or if federal law changes in a way that contradicts what Ohio has in the state constitution.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The owners and property manager of an uninhabitable pair of apartment towers on Columbus' East Side will likely be fined nearly $20 million for improperly handling asbestos.

A Franklin County magistrate has recommended a $19.8 million fine for the owners and property manager of Latitude Five25, a 400-unit apartment complex on Sawyer Boulevard. The apartments have been vacant since tenants were evacuated in December 2022, but the asbestos contamination happened after, when the owners attempted to renovate the property.

On Christmas Day 2022, the city ordered residents to vacate the property due to burst water pipes and a lack of heat. Paxe Latitude, the company that owns the towers, and management company Aloft Management failed to have an asbestos survey completed for the work area before contractors started renovating, according to court filings.

The owners ignored their own plans that advised against making water damage repairs without assessing for asbestos first, the court found. Workers were not provided with proper protective equipment and did not establish an asbestos containment procedure before removing drywall, tearing up carpet and tearing down ceiling tiles.

Changes that are coming soon to Downtown Columbus

"Photos admitted into evidence showed that debris was often dumped on the floor during the work, with no care taken to avoid dropping or limiting the spread of the asbestos-containing material," the magistrate's recommendation read.

For eight days, workers handled asbestos without proper equipment, discarded asbestos debris in open-air dumpsters, and used fans that circulated the asbestos throughout the buildings. An Ohio EPA inspector, who came at the request of city code enforcement, ordered an immediate stop to work.

But after a licensed asbestos hazard abatement contractor decontaminated the site, the building was contaminated again by workers who, at the owners' direction, tore through barriers to enter still-contaminated areas, the court found. A lack of proper security meant the complex was burglarized and trespassed multiple times, meaning more asbestos spread throughout the site and surrounding area.

The failure to limit asbestos spread means that former tenants of Latitude Five25 will never be able to return to their apartments and retrieve remaining belongings, Magistrate Jennifer Hunt wrote in her recommendation. Further, cloth and porous material -- including clothes, mattresses, linens, and some furniture -- cannot be decontaminated.

Medical license reinstated for doctor who made false claims against COVID-19 vaccines

"As a direct result of Defendants’ failure to limit the spread of asbestos, over 160 tenants must now rebuild their lives in a new location with new clothes, furniture, and other possessions," Hunt wrote.

In addition to fining Paxe Latitude and Aloft, the magistrate fined Boruch Drillman, the majority owner of Paxe Latitude. Hunt noted that Drillman was a "wealthy man" who was the principal investor in the company's purchase of the property -- and personally secured a $16 million loan to do so.

"Mr. Drillman and Paxe, the company he controlled, both had the means to avoid these violations but chose not to comply with the law," Hunt wrote. "Given the severity of the violations and the consequences of those violations, the facts of this case warrant the maximum penalty allowed by law."

Hunt's recommendation awaits final approval by a judge.

Multi-million dollar bond for Ohio man charged in lethal Benadryl overdose of 3-year-old

The pair of towers, visible from Interstates 670 and 71, had been under the city’s scrutiny long before that for repeated bug infestations, feces-contaminated stairwells and other unsanitary conditions.

Last February, a judge ordered the Paxe Latitude to pay nearly $4.4 million in fines and outstanding utility fees, including $2.5 million to compensate the former tenants. The court also found that in trying to rehabilitate the building, the owners hired contractors who didn’t comply with law or industry standards when handling asbestos, leaving many residents’ belongings contaminated with the cancerous fibers.

The owners, who launched a failed bankruptcy claim in New Jersey, never paid the $2.5 million contempt fee. In January, the lender financing the owners of the Latitude Five25 apartments entered into a $1.5 million settlement with the city in lieu of paying the $2.5 million. That money is intended for former tenants.

The complex is currently for sale to an experienced renovator.

View a previous report on the investigation into the doctor's magnetism claim in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A doctor who falsely claimed in a legislative hearing that COVID-19 vaccines connected to 5G cell towers has had her medical license reinstated.

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a Cleveland-area osteopathic physician and outspoken anti-vaccine advocate, was indefinitely suspended from practicing medicine last August after the state medical board found she repeatedly failed to cooperate with the board’s investigation into her. On April 10, the medical board voted to reinstate her license on a probationary basis, according to state licensing records.

On Thursday evening, Tenpenny took to social media to announce her license was reinstated, posting on X that she was "thrilled" to share the news.

Changes that are coming soon to Downtown Columbus

"Thank you all for your unwavering love and support but most importantly for your prayers during these challenging times," Tenpenny wrote.

Tenpenny made national headlines in 2021 when she testified in support of a ban on vaccine mandates before an Ohio House committee without evidence that COVID-19 vaccines "magnetized" people and connected them to 5G towers.

“I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures all over the internet of people who have had these shots and now they’re magnetized," she testified. "They can put a key on their forehead. It sticks. They can put spoons and forks all over them and they can stick, because now we think that there’s a metal piece to that."

It is not clear what originally prompted the investigation into Tenpenny, but last August the board said she evaded multiple requests for an interview, ignored letters detailing the accusations against her, and never submitted required responses. Months after the investigation was initially launched, according to a letter sent to Tenpenny in September 2022, she replied through her attorney that she "did not believe the Board had a lawful basis" for the investigation.

Tenpenny also ignored an investigative subpoena for a deposition, reiterating that she did not believe the investigation was lawful. She declined to attend an investigative conference after for the same reason.

Tenpenny, who was first licensed in 1984, unsuccessfully appealed her suspension. To be reinstated, she had to submit a statement from the board's enforcement division that she complied with all subpoenas and other investigatory requests from the board, according to the board's suspension order.

The medical board found that Tenpenny satisfied its requirements, a spokesperson for the medical board said.

Tenpenny operates a "health restoration center" in Cleveland that offers external counter pulsation, commonly used to treat chest pain but which Tenpenny claims can treat erectile dysfunction, kidney failure, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's. She also runs a multidisciplinary health center in Middleburg Heights that advertises itself as "known for getting people well and symptom-free without pharmaceutical drugs," according to its website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A highway closure will impact drivers traveling eastbound through Downtown this weekend.

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced the eastbound lanes of Interstate 670 will be shut down from State Route 315 to Interstate 71. The road is being resurfaced and traffic will be diverted starting 9 p.m. Friday. Drivers will gain access again just before the morning rush on Monday.

The work will also cut off several ramps along the highway.

Changes that are coming soon to Downtown Columbus

ODOT suggests the following detours:

• I-670 eastbound between State Route 315 and I-71 starting at 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday for resurfacing.
Detour: I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 eastbound.

• The State Route 315 southbound ramp to Neil Avenue will close starting at 7 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: State Route 315 southbound to Goodale Street, to Vine Street, to Neil Avenue. 

• The State Route 315 southbound ramp to I-670 eastbound will close starting at 7 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: State Route 315 southbound to I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 eastbound.

• The State Route 315 northbound ramp to I-670 eastbound will close starting at 7 p.m. May 3 through 5 a.m Monday.
Detour: I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound to I-670.

• The I-670 eastbound ramp to Neil Avenue will close starting at 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: I-670 eastbound to U.S. 33 eastbound to West Long Street eastbound to Neil Avenue to Vine Street

• The Neil Avenue ramp to I-670 eastbound will close starting 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: Neil Avenue to Long Street to Fourth Street to I-670 eastbound

• The I-670 eastbound ramp to Third Street will close starting at 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: I-670 eastbound to I-71 northbound to 11th Avenue to Third Street

• The I-670 eastbound ramp to Fourth Street/Goodale Street will close starting 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Detour: I-670 eastbound to I-71 southbound to Main Street to Fourth Street to Goodale Street

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man who served eight years in prison for child endangerment was given a $2 million bond on Friday for his alleged role in the death of a three-year-old child.

Randy Mollett, 35, was issued the bond while arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court on Friday on a murder charge after a child in his care reportedly suffered a seizure and died. Friday's arraignment brings Mollett's bond total to $3 million, after he was also arraigned on Thursday on reckless homicide and child endangerment charges.

A criminal complaint report stated that Mollett called 911 at 6:18 p.m. on April 13 to report a juvenile had stopped breathing at his home on London-Groveport Road, near Grove City. Medics took the three-year-old child to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The toxicology report revealed that the child had ingested a lethal dosage of Diphenhydramine, which is commonly referred to as Benadryl. Parents told police that their child was in Mollett’s custody for a period of three days, but that they did not authorize the use of Benadryl.

"I don't understand, I don't and I want to know why because he was such a wonderful boy," a woman who claimed she was the child's grandmother said in court. "He was great and he loved this man. I don't understand why this could happen to such a sweet baby. He didn't deserve it."

Two bottles of Benadryl were found in Mollett’s home. During an interview, police said Mollett admitted to giving the medicine to the child.

It is the second time Mollett has been arrested on similar charges. In 2008 he received three counts each of felonious assault and endangering children from an incident in which a 23-month-old suffered broken bones in both hands. He later pleaded guilty to one count of endangering children and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Eateries in central Ohio are offering Cinco de Mayo deals this weekend, like waved delivery fees at Chipotle and Sheetz, along with specials at Condado Tacos, Dos Hermanos, EL Vaquero and more.

Budd Dairy Food Hall

• The food hall is hosting El Mercadito Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. where customers can shop from local Latine artists and small businesses. Budd Dairy will also have chef partner specials and bar features throughout the day as well.

(Courtesy Photo/Budd Dairy Food Hall) Cazuela's Grill

• All three locations on North High and East Broad streets will be celebrating all day with specials and deals on food, drinks and more.

Chile Verde

• Patrons can celebrate at Chile Verde with choosing an item from the restaurants new brunch menu. The eatery is also offering drink specials including $1 off draft, $7 house margaritas and $24 marg pitchers.

Chipotle

• Through Sunday, participating Chipotle locations are offering a $0 delivery fee on orders of $10 or more when customers use the promo code "CINCO24" at checkout.

(Courtesy Photo/Chipotle) Chuy's

• The Tex-Mex restaurant is offering a Regular House margarita for $6 or a Grande House 'Rita for $10. You can also level up your drink with a $1 tequila floater all day long. Customers can also enjoy chips and dips for $5 all day.

Condado Tacos

• The entire weekend of Cinco de Mayo, Condado will feature a $6 shot of Teremana Blanco Tequila, which can be an enhanced mixer in any margarita of your choosing.

(Courtesy Photo/Condado Tacos) Dos Hermanos

• Join the Easton location on Sunday for the "Ultimate Cinco de Mayo" party with margarita specials, $2 domestic beers and a live DJ.

Hooters

• Hooters is offering $5 Dos Equis "Big Daddy" beers, Legendary Ritas or Patron shots at all participating locations. Customers belonging to the HootsClub Rewards program can also take advantage of a $5 appetizer special.

Moe's Southwest Grill

• Members of the Moe Rewards Club can redeem an offer for a $5.55 burrito or bowl at participating Moe’s Southwest Grill locations on Sunday.

(Adobe Stock) Sheetz

• All Sheetz locations will be waiving the delivery fee on orders of tacos, taco salads or burritos on Sunday and Monday.

El Vaquero

• Starting Sunday through May 9, El Vaquero is celebrating Cinco de Mayo at all locations with drink specials.

Los Guachos Taqueria

• All locations are celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Sunday with chip and bar specials.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A student-centered high-rise apartment building proposed for the site of a decades-old dive bar just south of Ohio State University is closer to coming to fruition.

The University Impact District Review Board approved zoning variances last week for a 13-story, 183-unit apartment building on the corner of North High Street and West Ninth Avenue. Still in its early design stages – and awaiting city council approval – the project would require the demolition of Bier Stube and several other buildings occupied by local businesses.

• The Bier Stube at 1479 N. High St. (NBC4 Photo/Sarah Szilagy)
• Portofino's Pizza at 1497 N. High St. The restaurant would be demolished under a proposal for a high-rise apartment complex. (NBC4 Photo/Sarah Szilagy)
• 14-0 Express, a longtime corner market on North High Street. The store would be demolished under a proposal for a high-rise apartment complex. (NBC4 Photo/Sarah Szilagy)

Illinois-based developer Harbor Bay Ventures presented a slightly smaller proposal than its last plan for the site, shrinking the tower to 13 stories from 15, and eliminating the few dozen on-site parking spaces it originally allotted. The developer is still eyeing a nearby, mostly vacant parking garage for use by future tenants.

Preliminary renderings show a row of connected three-bedroom townhomes on West Ninth Avenue and studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units in the rest of the tower, with a rideshare lobby and bike storage on the ground level. On the second floor, Harbor Bay and local architecture firm DLR Group envision a gym, “listening room,” study rooms and an outside courtyard fitted with a “Block O” hot tub.

• Rendering of a row of townhome-style residences as part of a high-rise apartment building proposed for North High Street and West Ninth Avenue. (Courtesy Photo/Harbor Bay Ventures and DLR Group)
• Rendering of a high-rise apartment building proposed for North High Street and West Ninth Avenue. (Courtesy Photo/Harbor Bay Ventures and DLR Group)
• Rendering of a high-rise apartment building proposed for North High Street and West Ninth Avenue. (Courtesy Photo/Harbor Bay Ventures and DLR Group)

There is no planned commercial space on the first floor, which Steve Willobee with Harbor Bay Ventures said was a decision that came after extensive community conversations. As designed, Harbor Bay Ventures says fitting as many units into the tower as possible will ensure the preservation of a slate of affordable rental properties next to the site.

“The way we got to the building we got today, it wasn’t just Harbor Bay and DLR sitting in a room with our architects to ourselves, saying ‘This is the most optimal massing, this is the building that we want,’” Willobee told the review board. “It really has been a building that’s been designed by us and the [University Area Commission] neighborhood to get to where we got.”

The proposal would be the latest of Harbor Bay’s developments made of mass timber, which is a heartier alternative to light-frame wood but weighs less than steel or concrete. Harbor Bay claims mass timber is more sustainable and environmentally than traditional building materials.

And it’s typically quicker to build with; large segments of mass timber are constructed off-site and fitted together. Mass timber can make for a cleaner and quieter construction zone, noted Columbus resident William Wells, who spoke in favor of the development.

While some University Area Commission members gave pause to the lack of parking before the commission ultimately approved the variances in April, Wells said deprioritizing parking for such housing makes sense, given the city’s planned move away from parking requirements in its zoning code update. 

“This is certainly the way that the city is going, to reduce the parking requirements, and it certainly makes sense for a student housing project,” Wells said. 

Still, he recommended that the developer be required to have at least one handicapped parking spot available before the plan receives final approval.

Harbor Bay will need to return to the University Impact District Review Board to get approval for its project design. And no ground can be broken – or dive bar demolished – until final approval by city council.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Spring commencement ceremonies around central Ohio begin in May.

Check out our list of graduation details around the community.

Central Ohio high school graduations Columbus City Schools Graduations Bexley High School Graduation

Bexley High School graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Canal Winchester High School Graduation

Canal Winchester graduation will be held at World Harvest Church, 4595 Gender Road, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110 on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Ohio bill seeks to stop property tax hikes Dublin City Schools Graduation

Dublin City Schools Graduations will be at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on Sunday, May 28, 2024, at the following times:

• Dublin Coffman High School - 1:30 p.m.
• Dublin Jerome High School - 4:30 p.m.
• Dublin Scioto High School - 7:30 p.m.

Parking is $10 (cashless - credit/debit card or mobile payment).

Gahanna Lincoln High School Graduation

Gahanna Lincoln High School Graduation will be at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on Saturday, May 27, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Parking is $10 (cashless - credit/debit card or mobile payment).

Grandview Heights High School Graduation

The Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the Grandview Heights High School Auditorium, 1587 W. Third Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43212.

Hilliard City Schools Graduation

High school commencement ceremonies will be held at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on the dates and times below:

• Hilliard Darby High School,  Wednesday, May 24, 2024 - 7 p.m.
• Hilliard Bradley High School, Thursday, May 25, 2024 - 7 p.m.
• Hilliard Davidson High School, Friday, May 26, 2024 - 7 p.m.

Parking is $10 (cashless - credit/debit card or mobile payment).

Ohio Connections Academy Graduation

Ohio Connections Academy Graduation will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the Celeste Center, Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211, at Noon.

New Albany High School Graduation

New Albany will hold its graduation at Huntington Park, 330 Huntington Park Lane
Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 10 a.m.

Pay to Park is available at several locations in the Arena District. 

Olentangy Local School Graduations

Olentangy Schools will host all four high school commencement ceremonies at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at the following times:

• Olentangy Liberty High School - 9 a.m.
• Olentangy Orange High School - Noon
• Olentangy Berlin High School - 3 p.m.
• Olentangy High School - 6 p.m.

Each graduate will receive two parking passes. Event day parking will be $10 (cashless) per additional vehicle.

Pickerington Local School District Graduations

Both high schools will hold graduation on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

• Pickerington High School North
• Pickerington High School Central

$180 million parking garage at John Glenn airport to be built on site of McDonald’s Reynoldsburg High School Graduation

Reynoldsburg High School will hold its graduation ceremony at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on Tuesday, May 23, 2024, at 7 p.m.

Parking is $10 (cashless - credit/debit card or mobile payment).

South-Western City School District Graduations

The 2024 South-Western City School District graduating class will be honored on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Celeste Center, Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211, at the following times:

• Westland High School - 9 a.m.
• Central Crossing High School - Noon
• Franklin Heights High School - 3 p.m.
• Grove City High School - 6 p.m.

Parking will be $7 per vehicle on the day of graduation.

Upper Arlington High School Graduation

Upper Arlington High School will hold its graduation ceremony at the Jerome Schottenstein Center (555 Borror Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210) on Sunday, May 28, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Parking is $10 (cashless - credit/debit card or mobile payment).

Westerville City Schools Graduations

High school graduates will be honored on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Celeste Center, Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211.

• Westerville South High School - 10 a.m.
• Westerville North High School - 2 p.m.
• Westerville Central High School - 6 p.m.

Parking will be $7 per vehicle on the day of graduation.

West Jefferson High School Graduation

West Jefferson High School's commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 2024, at 7 p.m. 

Whitehall-Yearling High School Graduation

Whitehall-Yearling High School will hold its commencement exercises on Friday, May 24, 2024. The time and location are TBD.

Worthington City Schools Graduations

The Class of 2024's traditional high school graduations will be held at Battelle Hall in the Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215, on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

• Thomas Worthington High School - 4 p.m.
• Worthington Kilbourne High School - Noon

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus is a rapidly developing city and with that growth a variety of projects are coming soon to Downtown.

A February study released by the Bank of America Institute showed Columbus is the fastest growing city in the country. Keeping up with that rapid growth, multiple projects throughout the city will help facilitate its increasing population.

Here are recent and incoming developments in Downtown Columbus.

Capital Line

A two-mile bike and pedestrian path through the heart of Downtown called The Capital Line is coming to Columbus. The trail will go from the Gay Street District, over the Broad Street Bridge to The Peninsula, to Belle Street, over the Rich Street Bridge, to Rich Street and along Fourth Street, connecting back with Gay Street.

• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)
• (Photo Courtesy/Columbus Downtown Development Corporation)

The design stage for the project is set to happen over the next year. Construction will begin in 2025, according to the City of Columbus.

More tenants, including KeyBank, moving out of namesake Downtown tower Downtown and Franklinton DORA

A way for adults to get their alcoholic drinks to go is coming soon to Downtown and Franklinton. The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, will allow those 21 and older to walk around the area with alcoholic beverages served by participating businesses and sold in designated cups.

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It will go in effect in late May, pending state approval.

Center for Creative Collaboration

Columbus College of Art and Design is in the conceptual stages of a project called The Center for Creative Collaboration. The $15 million project would renovate Battelle Hall at 101 N. Washington Ave. -- a former Chrysler dealership converted into art and design studio spaces in the 1970s -- into the building that will house CCAD's digital fabrication and design innovation labs.

The renovation project is expected to be completed by 2026, according to CCAD.

Scioto Mile Fountain reopening

The Scioto Mile Fountain has been a part of summers in Columbus for more than 12 years. Currently undergoing construction, it is set to re-open in late May.

A rendering of proposed renovations to the Scioto Mile Fountain. (Courtesy Photo/CDDC)

The construction, which started in 2023, is a $15 million makeover project. Among other changes, the fountain will now look different depending on the season.

Library Park apartments

The Pizzuti Companies is continuing to expand its Library Park apartments with a fourth phase. A two-story apartment building will be removed for the construction of a seven-story, 160,000-square-foot building on South Ninth Street, which will feature 149 units, a 30-space parking garage, and more.

A rendering of a new apartment building coming with phase four of the Library Park project. (Courtesy Photo/The Pizzuti Cos.)

Earlier phases featured nearly 300 units. With the 149 coming from the fourth phase, the Library Park apartments will top 400 in total.

Demolition on the two-story building is set for later this year.

Center of Music Innovation and Education

Columbus Symphony Orchestra is planning a $275 million project it has called the Center of Music Innovation and Education. The 200,000-square-foot facility would have nine spaces to be used for performances and educational opportunities.

The new venue would give opportunities for local music acts to perform, as well as more nationally known acts.

200-plus unit apartment building

A Downtown parking lot is expected to be turned into a 12-story building with 221 apartment units. The high-rise multi-family building is expected to sit over a three-story parking garage, according to preliminary building plans.

Because the Columbus Dispatch's printing plant was once on the site, the building is set to be called Dispatch Tower.

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The City of Columbus is seeking public opinion on significant proposed changes to the zoning code, which it has been said could reshape the city for "generations." The 60-day period for public comment began in April.

Eighty-eight thousand homes are expected to be built in the next 10 years because of the plan. The proposed changes would create six zoning districts, prioritize taller buildings and focus less on parking.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The most expensive Franklin County home sold in April went for $2.2 million, while the top Delaware County home was sold for $1.6 million.

NBC4 analyzed daily property sale records from the Franklin and Delaware county auditor’s offices and filtered for "one-family dwellings" to not include apartments, duplexes, or unrelated land purchases.

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Excluding transfers for $0, 1,166 single-family home purchases were made in Franklin County in December. The average price was $321,597 and the median price was $280,000. In Delaware County, 221 single-family home purchases were made. The average price was $515,849 and the median price was $469,800.

The 10 most expensive homes sold in Franklin County in April

10. This home at 3450 Mann Rd. in Jefferson Township for $1,250,000 on April 22.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

9. This home at 3501 Redding Rd. in Upper Arlington for $1,250,000 on April 19.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

8. This home at 4162 S. Squires Lane in Upper Arlington for $1,310,000 on April 12.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

7. This home at 8553 Stonechat Loop in Dublin sold for $1,415,000 on April 19.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

6. This home at 236 N. Columbia Ave. in Bexley sold for $1,402,360 on April 19.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

5. This home at 4611 Goodheart Court in New Albany sold for $1,500,000 on April 8.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

4. This home at 2501 Middlesex Road in Upper Arlington sold for $1,646,155 on April 3.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

3. This home at 83 S. Columbia Ave. in Bexley sold for $1,695,000 on April 25.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

2. This home at 15 S. Ealy Crossing in New Albany sold for $22,125,000 on April 19.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office)

1. This home at 7101 Armscote End in New Albany sold for $2,200,000 on April 3.

(Franklin County Auditor's Office) The 10 most expensive homes sold in Delaware County in April

10. This home at 2067 Shale Run Drive in Delaware sold for $950,000 on April 22.

9. This home at 2497 Shepherd Court in Powell sold for $970,000 on April 26.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

8. This home at 6300 Jaycox Road in Galena sold for $989,000 on April 16.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

7. This home at 5437 Sheffield Ave. in Powell sold for $1,054,650 on April 9.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

6. This home at 8219 Tillinghast Drive in Dublin sold for $1,250,000 on April 17.

5. This home at 4636 Smothers Road in Westerville sold for $1,250,000 on April 22.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

4. This home at 8361 Meadowlark Lane in Delaware sold for $1,295,000 on April 17.

3. This home at 1988 Woodland Hall Drive in Delaware sold for $1,483,400 on April 19.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

2. This home at 2739 E. Orange Road in Lewis Center sold for $1,610,000 on April 2.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

1. This home at 8480 Concord Road in Delaware sold for $1,680,000 on April 5.

(Delaware County Auditor's Office)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A bipartisan bill introduced in the Ohio statehouse aims to crack down on the sale of dogs from puppy mills in pet stores. 

House Bill 443, sponsored by Reps. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), would change the Ohio Revised Code to allow local municipalities to prohibit the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores.

“I think this is really that first step in stopping that pet store to puppy mill pipeline,” Grim said. “Because we do have a large amount of puppy mills here in Ohio and making sure that we stop that puppy mill to pet store pipeline, we’re kind of cutting off that revenue source for the puppy mills and then promoting adoptions.”

The bill aims to reverse a preemption law passed in 2016 that replaced local regulations on Ohio pet stores with statewide regulations, allowing puppy sales in retail stores across the state. Grim said the preemption takes away municipalities’ home rule rights. Before the law’s passage, in 2013, Toledo was the first municipality to prohibit puppy sales in pet stores, according to Grim. 

“In 2016, Grove City tried to do the same thing with a Petland,” Grim said. “Petland quickly filed a lawsuit then went to the legislature and said ‘hey could you put a preemption on this’ basically, so [the legislature] passed a preemption in 2016.”

Seven states and nearly 500 localities across the nation prohibit the sale of commercially raised puppies in pet stores, according to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Grim claims retailers like Petland sell dogs from puppy mills, which are often brought up in inhumane conditions and live short lives, to unsuspecting Ohioans.

An annual HSUS report called “The Horrible Hundred” listed Ohio as the state with the second highest number of documented puppy mills in the country. 12 of the included “problematic” breeders in the 2023 report allegedly sold dogs to Petland. Additionally, in January, three families who bought puppies from central Ohio Petland stores sued the chain, claiming it sold them sick puppies from puppy mills. 

Petland denies allegations that the chain sells dogs from puppy mills. A spokesperson for the company said since Petland opened in 1967, the chain has never sourced pets from puppy mills, and that the company’s breeder partners operate at levels exceeding USDA federal care standards. 

“Here in Ohio, Petland works with professional breeders who are regulated and inspected by the USDA and the Ohio Department of Agriculture,” the spokesperson said. “All breeders working with Petland, in Ohio and elsewhere, must be USDA regulated and regularly inspected, without a single direct violation for the past two years.”

The proposal is in the House Government Oversight Committee, where it awaits proponent and opponent testimony.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

High pressure southeast of the region will bring a southerly of warm and more humid air, raising temperatures into the low 80s for the third straight day.

Clouds will increase, with scattered showers in the northern part of the state. As the day goes on, showers and storms will develop into central Ohio, as a weak wave of low pressure moves northward along a cold front.

The trailing front will keep showers in the forecast to start the weekend, with a slight cooldown, as highs fall back into the 70s. Another system will bring showers and a few rumbles Saturday night into early Sunday.

That boundary will hang around through much of next week, keeping rain in the forecast at times with passing disturbances in an unseasonably humid pattern.

Forecast

• Friday: Clouds increase, humid, scattered showers, storms p.m. High 80
• Tonight: Showers, rumbles. Low 63
• Saturday: Showers continue, cooler. High 76
• Sunday: Early showers, mostly cloudy. High 79 (62)
• Monday: Partly sunny, scattered showers, storms p.m. High 76 (59)
• Tuesday: Scattered showers, storms. High 80 (62)
• Wednesday: Showers, storms. High 82 (65)
• Thursday: More rain, rumbles. High 78 (65)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The much maligned 'Latitude Five25' apartment complex is getting closer to a potential buyer. First, however, the Near East Area Commission is listening to concerns of the people living in the neighborhood.

The commission held a public forum Thursday night where residents asked questions and gave concerns to Assistant City Attorney Steve Dunbar.

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Julialynne Walker was one of those residents with concerns. Her heritage goes back generations in central Ohio.

"My first home was Jefferson and Mount Vernon destroyed. And now part of Ft. Hayes. It was destroyed by the freeway," she said. 

The 'Sawyer Towers' were built in 1963 and named for Captain Harold E. Sawyer, a member of the legendary Tuskegee airmen who joined World War II from Columbus. In the last 60 years, the towers have seen multiple renovations and reuses. The city claims former owners let the building run down, and residents paid the price.

Both buildings were evacuated on Christmas Day in 2022 after a severe winter storm hit the city. Those residents were never allowed to return to the building after it was deemed riddled with issues, including asbestos.

"Here in this community, we've had a long history of a lot of decisions being made without neighbors being at the table," explained Kate Curry-Da-Souza, the Chair of the Near East Area Commission.

The meeting Thursday featured several speakers including Steve Dunbar, who is representing the City Attorney's office as they battle in court over the property. 

The buildings contain 392 units, many of which are one bedroom and one bathroom apartments. Dunbar addressed the crowded room by saying the structure of the building is rock solid. However, he added, "every single thing inside is obsolete.”

Dunbar said the estimate the city received for tearing the buildings down and disposing of the waste was around $6.5 million. The city is now taking proposals from developers. Since the property is being sold under a receivership, Dunbar said the city has more of a voice in the demands for a potential buyer.

Dunbar said the developer must be a reputable company and have a specific plan for both towers. The buyer must also agree to take on pending litigation against the towers. The city has a list of “must haves” for a buyer which includes experience, reputable, and competent management. One of the things that isn't a must have but would give a buyer added consideration is the promise of affordable housing.

Residents like Walker want to see the history of the neighborhood preserved while bringing functionality for everyone in the neighborhood.

"Stability as a way to make sure that there is a physical structure to current trends in society. That is reflective or takes into account the community as a whole," she said. 

Another lifelong resident, Tom Dillard, spoke several times during the hour and a half meeting. 

"It's a good example of citizen participation, which is the foundation of a great city,” he said.

Dillard, however, has bigger ideas for what a "near east area" could become.

"The whole notion here is to think big. I think what you saw with the Sawyer towers – we're thinking too small. When you think bigger for the whole area around that, what can we do to make it nice, as Mrs. Walker was saying, making it more functional for everybody," he said.

Dunbar promised the residents another meeting once the city receives all proposals from developers. The deadline for submitting a proposal is May 31.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Several months after an east side apartment complex with a history of issues was evacuated, hundreds of its former residents still have not found permanent housing.

“This is an enormous project, it’s a crisis," said Steve Skovensky, Chief Programs Officer with Community Shelter Board (CSB).

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CSB helped former Colonial Village residents get into hotels. More than 1,300 people were impacted by the situation and 391 families are still in hotels, according to Skovensky.

“I can only imagine how traumatic and stressful this has been," Skovensky said. "So many of them linked with legal aid or CRIS, have different levels of residency status or asylum status but just extremely stressful and traumatic for everybody.”

Colonial Village was evacuated in late 2023. Before that, about 800 Haitian immigrants were found living in units which were deemed unsafe. More than $4.5 million has gone towards supporting the displaced residents while work to find permanent housing is done, according to Columbus' Development Department.

"The City of Columbus remains committed to ensuring that families are given a safe sheltering option and an opportunity to recover from a situation where they were exploited and taken advantage of," Hannah Jones, Development Deputy Director, wrote in a statement. "We continue to work with the City Attorney's office to hold the property owners accountable and work with our partners to connect families with resources and services to address their needs."

City council recently approved another $700,000 to help with the situation. More funding is being worked on, according to the Department of Development.

“Every crisis like this magnifies the affordable housing crisis we currently have,” Skovensky said. “The scope of folks that came from Colonial Village it's over three times the number of families we currently have in emergency shelters so it is a crisis.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus city leaders are coming up with a plan to make sure a violent event does not occur again at a Waffle House located just steps away from Ohio State's campus. 

This as the search for answers continues in a deadly early morning shooting outside of the restaurant. 

Columbus Police are searching for 19-year-old Jaquan Curry,  who's charged with murder. Police also released pictures of three persons of interest -- who they haven't identified. This is the second time in a little more than a year someone has been killed near the location. 

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“Looking at what has happened over that past year, it's enough that I think certainly warrants our attention,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. 

Klein said his office and the Columbus Division of Police are working together to come up with a safety plan for the restaurant.

“The long term and medium term goal here is figuring out what are the permanent solutions from a security standpoint that need to happen,” Klein said. 

38-year-old Ronald Diggs was shot and killed outside the restaurant early Monday. His friends say he was a well known entertainer and a kind soul. They said he was in town from Atlanta for a performance.  

Police said this started with a fight between 20 people – Diggs was not involved. Sarah Johnson, a senior at Ohio State University, said hearing about this was alarming. 

“It's definitely something we’ve thought about especially because we live right around the corner from here,” Johnson said.  

She and her roommates say they are always careful when walking past that area at night and  they often hear the sound of sirens around Columbus. Johnson hopes these safety plans will change things.  

“Just because it doesn’t always directly involve the OSU students. I don't know about you guys but never feel personally that unsafe," Johnson said. 

Klein said Waffle House is being cooperative. He said they have already looked into adding more lighting. His office and the division of police are making recommendations like adding more cameras and security officers. Klein said the biggest change would be potentially limiting hours of operation. Right now, the Waffle House is open 24 hours.  

“I think we have the benefit of being in the city attorney's offices like what are we going to do about it moving forward? Whether it's an after hours clubs or a late a restaurant that's open late or a bar that's a danger to the community is that we have tools that we're able to use to make places safer so we can use the data and the evidence and the unfortunate events and tragic events that do happen to craft plans to prevent that from happening in the future,” Klein said. 

Klein said he hopes to have a concrete plan by next week. He said if Waffle House stops cooperating he will bring them to court. NBC4 reached out to their corporate office and they said they had no comment. 

Klein said there are dozens of businesses around the City of Columbus that are on their radar for being potential problem businesses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man who had a gun pointed at him on a COTA bus nearly two weeks ago is speaking out. Columbus police now need the public’s help in identifying the man responsible. 

The bus route it happened on is one Sonny James is familiar with. He said he takes it every single day. James said he’s still shaken up about it, but wants to share his story and get this man caught.

“He pointed a gun directly to my face, an inch from my face, and stated, ‘You know, I'm a bad man. I will kill you,’” said James, “I want to see him go to the penitentiary, and for a long time, he could have cost me my life.”

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It happened on the 5300 block of East Livingston Avenue on April 20. James hopped on the COTA bus, just like he does every day. What started as a normal day took a turn shortly before 3 p.m., when a man wearing a tan-colored hoodie got on the bus and began arguing with the driver. 

“So he started harassing her. He paid his fare, went back and sat down, and when he was getting up, he was calling all kinds of names and harassing her real bad,” said James. 

That’s when James got involved, telling the man to leave her alone. The suspect got off the bus but quickly turned back around and that’s when he pointed the gun at James and threatened to shoot him. 

• Police are searching for a suspect believed to have threatened a COTA bus passenger in east Columbus, April, 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Columbus Division of Police)
• Police are searching for a suspect believed to have threatened a COTA bus passenger in east Columbus, April, 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Columbus Division of Police)

“I took a chance, a serious chance on my life. I said it’s either going to be me or him. I maced him in his face. He got off the bus, he fell, he dropped the gun about three or four times walking away,” he said. 

James tells NBC4 that he’s never seen that man before, but he’ll never forget him. He realizes that this situation could have had a different outcome, but he’s thankful to be alive.

“I have a family that loves me,” he said, “I don’t only think about myself. I think about other people in my life as well.”

NBC4 reached out to COTA regarding this incident. A spokesperson replied with:

“We are grateful no one was harmed, but this incident is an important reminder that no weapons of any kind are permitted on any COTA transit vehicle. We are incredibly shocked and disturbed by this incident and are working with the Columbus Division of Police to apprehend a suspect. If anyone has any information about the suspect, we urge them to contact the authorities. Public transportation must remain a safe place for our operators, our customers, and our community.”

According to CPD, the suspect is approximately 50 to 60 years old, six feet tall and approximately 200 pounds. If anyone has any information about this man, they’re asked to contact Det. Kerr at KKerr@ColumbusPolice.org or 614-645-4035.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A letter showing up in mailboxes across the country is triggering alarm bells for many consumers, including some central Ohioans.

It appears to come from the U.S. Department of Justice, and claims that the healthcare information of hundreds of thousands of people is now in the hands of hackers. But is it real?

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According to the Better Business Bureau, the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Federal Trade Commission -- and as seen on Better Call 4 -- scams that impersonate government agencies are consistently among the top frauds reported year after year.

"By volume, we're really trying to prevent a lot of different types of scams, especially government and business imposter scams,” said Ryan Lippe, Consumer Educator with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

So, it only makes sense that a viewer reached out to Better Call 4 about a letter her mother got in the mail from a top government agency. The message reads in part:

"I'm trying to find a resource to verify if a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice is legit. My elderly mother received it regarding a security breach from an outside contractor involving personal and Medicare information... My instincts tell me this is fake, but I don't want to leave my mom unprotected if it's not."

NBC4 looked up some articles about the breach, citing the same letter NBC4’s viewer received. 

The letter states that a U.S. consulting firm -- Greylock McKinnon Associates (GMA) -- was the victim of a "sophisticated cyberattack" involving the personal information of the letter recipient. The firm was working with the Justice Department as part of a "civil litigation matter," and that personal information -- including names, birth dates, Medicare and Social Security numbers -- was provided to GMA as part of that case, and was likely affected in the hack.

Still concerned about its legitimacy, NBC4 did some more digging, discovering a data breach notification on the Maine Attorney General's website. A letter, sent by a law firm representing GMA, was sent to attorneys general in several states, alerting them to the "ransomware attack" and "breach of personal information" of 341,650 people.

In summary -- the letter is not a scam. It is legitimate.

For those affected, GMA said it's removed all Justice Department data from its systems, and is providing free identity theft protection and credit tracking services for two years.