COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two people on trial for their part in a large-scale drug and sex trafficking ring that operated near a Columbus elementary school have been found guilty.
On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced the two were convicted for their roles in a narcotics distribution ring involving mass amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs.
The jury found 56-year-old David Price guilty on 11 charges and 25-year-old Tavaryyuan Johnson guilty on four.
Report: New Albany suspect ‘intoxicated’ at time of shootingProsecutors said a multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 people for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a school.
A superseding indictment returned in October 2022 charged additional people with distributing those drugs, plus methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone.
Price, also known as “DP,” was charged in a third superseding indictment in December. His conviction includes a minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison. Johnson is also known as “Gucci” and “TJ” was also charged in the third superseding indictment and faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The two were part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as marijuana, oxycodone and alprazolam. The drug trafficking organization operated from January 2008 until it was dismantled in 2022.
One person dead after wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on I-71 in north ColumbusThe crimes took place at residences near Burroughs Elementary School in the Hilltop neighborhood.
In July 2021, Price distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine that resulted in the overdose death of a woman, and testimony at his trial indicated he purposefully killed her after she began talking to the police about his drug business.
The case against Price also proved that he conspired to commit sex trafficking from 2016 until 2022. Price and other members of the conspiracy would force and/or coerce adult female drug addicts into performing commercial sex acts by providing, withholding or threatening to withhold controlled substances and housing.
Law enforcement’s investigation showed that various women engaged in a “rinse and repeat” cycle where they would be allowed to stay at a drug residence associated with Price, receive a front of drugs so they were not in active drug withdrawal, go to Sullivant Avenue, have sex for money, pay the debt from the front drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house.
Trial testimony also indicated that Price, who was also found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking, would lock the women inside his residence for days or weeks at a time and refuse to let them leave, forcing them to engage in sex acts. One victim was locked in a dog cage, shot and stabbed by Price. He would refuse to provide them drugs unless or until they engaged in the sex acts, forcing them into withdrawal if they did not comply.
The top 10 best pizzerias in the Columbus area according to YelpNBC4 previously reported that federal officers arrested eight men and three women who were all charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs over two years. In total agents seized $1.5 million in cash, 44 firearms, seven vehicles and a motorcycle.
The original indictment included the following defendants:
NameAgeCity of ResidenceCordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro35ColumbusPatrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat44ColumbusDavid E. Price, aka DP53ColumbusAllison E. Smith, aka Alli27ColumbusTavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci22ColumbusTyler N. Bourdo28ColumbusAlexis C. Lewis30ColumbusMichael Fowler45CantonCarmela Brooks48CantonDustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg32ColumbusDanny G. Mullins53ColumbusDefendants added in the superseding indictment unsealed in October of 2022 include:
NameAgeCity of ResidenceRobert E. Tinsley, III, aka Cam22ColumbusPriscilla L. Washington58ColumbusLauren E. Brezney29Shallotte, N.C./ColumbusBrittany A. Williams36ColumbusGabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe34Canal WinchesterRobert L. Pyles, aka Pork45ColumbusMitchell A. Powers33ColumbusVincent T. Griffin50ReynoldsburgCaitlin R. Duff27ColumbusMichael D. Burton39ColumbusBrian K. Long, II32ColumbusAnthony B. Frierson, aka Royal31ColumbusCOLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The final Intel super load departed Friday, marking the end of an 11-month transportation project.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the 37th super load is the last one scheduled. These massive transports unload from a barge along the Ohio River in Adams County before traveling over several days to their new home in New Albany. The contents are used to build the multi-billion dollar Intel manufacturing project.
Super load 37 weighs in at 366,422 pounds, equivalent to the weight of approximately 30 adult elephants. It departed around 8:15 a.m. Friday and is scheduled to travel throughout the weekend, arriving in Licking County on Sunday. See coverage of the first super load in the video player above.
The transport is carrying pipe rack modules, or structures built in advance and shipped. These structures support multiple pipes and are often used to run petroleum or natural gas pipelines, according to Bridge Brothers engineering.
Frustration mounts over lack of property tax reliefOn Friday, the load is set to travel through Adams, Scioto, Pike and Ross counties. It will travel the wrong way in the westbound lanes of U.S. 52 before going north on the State Route 239 southbound ramp toward State Route 73/State Route 852. It will then travel south in the northbound lanes of 73/852, then head east in the westbound lanes of U.S. 52. It will take U.S. 23 the rest of its journey Friday before stopping overnight at the Ross County Fairgrounds.
The load will depart around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, traveling through Ross, Pickaway and Franklin counties. It will travel north on State Route 104 before turning to State Route 762 near Commercial Point. From there, the transport will travel east on 762 before spending the night at Rickenbacker.
The super load will depart around 7:30 a.m. Sunday for its last day of travel, starting in Franklin County, traveling through Fairfield County and ending in Licking County. This day involves many different roads for travel, starting on Rickenbacker Parkway North before turning on Alum Creek Drive. Several times it will travel the wrong direction, including traveling east in the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 and taking the wrong way on the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A list outlined by Yelp reveals what the company considers to be the best pizzerias in the Columbus area as of early 2025.
Taking the No. 1 spot is Fibonacci’s Pizzeria, located at 3055 Indianola Ave. in South Clintonville. The restaurant offers Neapolitan-style and pan pizzas with garnishes such as hot honey and balsamic glaze, as well as a variety of vegan toppings. The pizzeria also serves appetizers, sandwiches and salad. Reviews praise its “creative” and “delicious” pizzas.
Coming in second place is Pizza Nerds, located at 1376 Cherry Bottom Road in Gahanna. The eatery’s pies feature edge-to-edge cheese, sauce drizzled on top of the cheese and toppings. Along with pizza, the restaurant serves garlic bread, salad and cookies.
“Highly recommend Pizza Nerds: the pan pizza is so delicious, with crispy crust and perfectly thick dough, covered with exciting flavor combinations of toppings,” one Yelp-user wrote. “We will be ordering from here often and telling our friends!”
Ranked in third place is East Coast Pizzeria, located at 5060 N. High St. in the Sharon Heights neighborhood. The eatery serves brick-fired pizza and flatbreads, along with appetizers, subs, Stromboli, calzones, salad and dessert. Yelp-users compliment its customer service and “flavorful” pizza.
!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rIn fourth place is Paulie Gee’s, located at 1195 N. High St. in Victorian Village. Along with wood-fired pizzas including multiple vegan options, the eatery serves soup, salad and bread.
“Paulie Gee's is officially my favorite pizza in Columbus,” one review reads. “Both the wood fired round and deep dish are phenomenal - crust is flavorful, perfect texture with some nice chew, and all the pizzas seem to be topped with hot honey and/or a pile of arugula.”
The fifth highest-rated eatery is Adriatico's New York Style Pizza, located at 1618 Neil Ave. on Ohio State University’s campus. Along with thin and Sicilian pizzas, the restaurant offers appetizers, wings, subs, salad, calzones, pasta and dessert. Reviews praise the pizzeria’s “excellent” service and “huge” pies.
Completing the top 10 best pizzerias in the Columbus area according to Yelp are:
Yelp develops its rankings based on a variety of factors, including the average star rating, number of reviews and how recent reviews are.
This list is accurate as of Wednesday. Yelp reviews and rankings frequently fluctuate.
POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) — Celebrating a loved one — or seeking revenge on an ex — has never been cuter, or ickier, than with a special Valentine's offer from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The special holiday zoo campaign, featuring cute penguin couples, slimy superworms and fascinating sloth bears is designed to raise funds and awareness for wildlife conservation and is available on the zoo's website.
For romantics, the zoo's “Penguin-tine” experience allows gift-givers to purchase a heart made of felt that a pair of penguins will use to build their nest. The recipient will receive a personalized 30-45-second video featuring the penguins receiving the heart, inscribed with their name. The recorded message costs $30, with orders due by Sunday for Valentine’s Day delivery.
Alternatively, people not in the mood for love can name a superworm after someone, or “romance in general,” and watch a video of it being devoured by one of the zoo's sloth bears, Randhir or Heiderose. The cost per worm is $15 for a Valentine’s Day video and an update on how much money was raised for the zoo’s animal care and conservation programs.
In addition to the Valentine’s Day offerings, the Columbus Zoo provides year-round personalized video messages featuring animals for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and work achievements. These 30- to 45-second custom videos start at $40 and include personalized messages from the zoo’s animal care team. Orders require a two-week processing time, allowing guests to send a unique and memorable gift for any celebration.
HEATH, Ohio (WCMH) -- A $218 million project tasking with building a downtown district for the city of Heath can move forward with a second phase after receiving a tax credit from the state of Ohio.
New Albany-based Wallick Communities earned a $5.8 million tax credit on Jan. 27 from Ohio's Transformational Mixed-Use Development Program to build the $66 million second phase of Heath's "Central Park" development. The project's first phase was also awarded by the program, receiving an $8.5 million tax credit in January 2024.
Butcher shop known for wine bar, Ohio-raised beef closes after one yearCentral Park is one of nine Ohio projects that the mixed-use program decided to support last month, like a development being built on the former Germain Amphitheater site near Polaris Fashion Place. Tax credits were also provided to a new Columbus tower and a project aiming to revitalize Capital Square around the Statehouse.
The Heath project's first phase is being built this year on 48 acres near Indian Mound Mall, spanning 500,000 square feet of development and including four mixed-use buildings, a community center and eight multi-family residential buildings.
Amenities will include a clubhouse with a community pool, volleyball courts, green space and recreational trail access. In addition, the mixed-use buildings will be home to 42,000 square feet of commercial retail space expected to be occupied by shops, offices, restaurants and breweries.
Bexley honors local Black leaders through annual banner programCentral Park's second phase will develop more than 729,000 square feet and include additional multi-family residential buildings and assisted living facilities. A public plaza and a 410,000-square-foot sports complex with soccer fields and an ice skating rink are also planned for this phase.
The Heath development is expected to create about 575 construction jobs and 376 permanent jobs at the site once completed.
Fischer Homes announced last summer it will construct 21 single-family homes off State Route 13 in Heath as part of a development named "Linnview Crossing," marking the first time the company has built in the city. Linnview will be a few miles away from Central Park, and will offer 10 floor plans from Fischer's "Maple Street Collection," which range from 1,700 to 3,000 square feet.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) - A shop featuring barbeque style food is open for business in Hilliard.
Smoked Lick BBQ is welcoming customers at 4333 Cosgray Road. The eatery recently opened in January and is located in Patch Plaza, according to the city of Hilliard.
Using ingredients made with bold flavors from Tennessee and Texas, the BBQ restaurant features a selection of menu items from smoked meats including ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage, to several sides customers can choose from.
Smoked Lick BBQ is taking over the former space of Zuko's Pizza, which permanently closed. Along with dining in, the eatery also offers large scale catering for events and carryout for individual meals as well.
Get out and do something this weekend, Feb. 6-9According to the city of Hilliard, the BBQ joint sits next to OverTime Sports Pub and also allows patrons at the bar to order from Smoked Lick and pick it up inside at a window that connects the businesses.
Smoked Lick BBQ is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The most expensive home sale in Franklin County for January was previously featured on NBC4 and sold for $2.3 million. The most expensive home sold during January in Delaware County was $2.6 million.
NBC4 analyzed property sale records from the Franklin and Delaware county auditors’ offices, filtering for “one family dwellings” to avoid sales of apartments, duplexes or other unrelated land purchases. See previous coverage of how local groups are helping families find affordable housing in the video player above.
John Glenn airport adding direct flight to Maine this spring Franklin County10. This home at 3973 Farber Court in New Albany sold for $1,100,000 on Jan. 30.
9. This home at 1105 Ormsby Place in Grandview Heights sold for $1,105,000 on Jan. 10.
8. This home at 2032 Scioto Pointe Drive in Upper Arlington sold for $1,177,000 on Jan. 3.
7. This home at 1200 Jackson Hole Drive in Jefferson Township sold for $1,219,00 on Jan. 13.
6. This home at 325 Dawson Ave. in Bexley sold for $1,375,000 on Jan. 7.
5. This home at 7660 N. Goodrich Square in New Albany sold for $1,400,000 on Jan. 17.
4. This home at 1050 Broadview Ave. in Grandview Heights sold for $1,550,000 on Jan. 27.
2. (tie) This home at 320 N. Parkview Ave. in Bexley sold for $1,600,000 on Jan. 3.
2. (tie) This home at 1189 Glenn Ave. in Grandview Heights sold for $1,600,000 on Jan. 13.
1. This home at 4615 Yantis Drive in New Albany sold for $2,300,000 on Jan. 21. This house was featured in NBC4's look inside series.
10. This home at 5288 Stratford Ave. in Powell sold for $921,000 on Jan. 9.
9. This home at 8433 Gosling Way in Powell sold for $928,100 on Jan. 10.
8. This home at 9044 Advocet Drive in Powell sold for $964,000 on Jan. 22.
7. This home at 10189 Widdington Cls in Powell sold for $990,000 on Jan. 14.
6. This home at 2382 Miller-Paul Road in Galena sold for $1,004,000 on Jan. 16.
5. This home at 1684 Liberty Bluff Drive in Delaware sold for $1,250,000 on Jan. 30.
4. This home at 7760 Lindell Lane in Powell sold for $1,308,800 on Jan. 2.
3. This home at 5177 Rosalind Blvd. in Powell sold for $1,347,000 on Jan. 30.
2. This home at 1547 Kearney Way in Delaware sold for $1,419,000 on Jan. 23.
This 56-acre home at 6328 Moore Road in Delaware sold for $2,625,700 on Jan. 6.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As the 97th Academy Awards approach, movie fans in Columbus have multiple opportunities to experience this year’s Best Picture nominees and short films on the big screen.
Several theater chains are hosting special screenings and festival events leading up to the Oscars. Here is a breakdown of where audiences can catch these prestigious films:
2025 Best Picture Events in Columbus AMC Theatres Best Picture ShowcaseAMC Theatres is hosting a “Best Picture Showcase,” giving movie lovers two ways to watch nine of the 2025 Oscar-nominated films:
• Location: AMC Easton Town Center 30, 275 Easton Town Center, Columbus, Ohio 43219
• Two-day event details: Feb. 22 and March 1, featuring nine Best Picture nominees split across two days, ticket prices vary per day.
• Tickets and showtimes: AMC Easton Town Center 30
Day One:
• I'm Still Here
• Conclave
• Nickel Boys
• Anora
• The Substance
Day Two:
• Wicked
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Dune: Part TwoThe Brutalist
Cinemark is bringing back its annual Oscar Movie Week Festival, allowing moviegoers to see the Best Picture nominees and Live Action and Animated Short Film nominees in an immersive theater experience.
• Location: Cinemark Polaris 18 and XD, 1071 Gemini Pl., Columbus, Ohio 43240
• Movie week festival details: Feb. 24 to March 2, $40 for a pass that includes all participating films, single tickets are also available at standard pricing.
• Short Film Package: Feb. 28 to March 2, $10 for all Live Action and Animated Short Film nominees.
• Tickets and showtimes: Cinemark.com/movieweek.
• Special Offer: 50% off any size popcorn for festival attendees.
The Best Picture films include:
• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Perez
• I'm Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked
The Film Center presents the 2025 Oscar-nominated short films, in all three categories: Animation, Documentary, and Live Action.
• Location: 1550 North High St., Columbus, Ohio 43201
• Details: Feb. 14 and 15, ticket prices vary.
• Tickets and showtimes: Festival perspectives.
Live Action Short Films:
• A Lien
• Anuja
• I’m Not a Robot
• The Last Ranger
• The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Animated Short Films:
• Beautiful Men
• In the Shadow of the Cypress
• Magic Candies
• Wander to Wonder
• Yuck!
Documentary Short Films:
• Death by Numbers
• I Am Ready, Warden
• Incident
• Instruments of a Beating Heart
• The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Marcus Theatres and Movie Tavern are celebrating the 2025 Best Picture and Short Film nominees with multiple viewing options for most of the Best Picture nominees with both animated and live-action shorts.
• Locations: Crosswoods Cinema, 200 Hutchinson Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43235,
Pickerington Cinema, 1776 Hill Road North, Pickerington, Ohio 43147
• Best Picture passport details: Feb. 19 to March 2, $70 for an all-access passport that grants access to every film in the showcase, not valid for the Best Picture marathon showings.
• Pick 4 Passport: $28, choose any four films.
• Best Picture marathons: Feb. 22 and March 1, $35 per marathon day, featuring five films per day. Includes a 20% concession discount and collectible lanyard.
• Magical Movie Rewards Members: 20% off concessions during screenings.
• Tickets and showtimes: Passports, Best Picture Marathons
Best Picture passport films:
• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked
• Live Action Shorts
• Animated Shorts
Feb. 22 marathon movies:
• I'm Still Here
• A Complete Unknown
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Dune: Part Two
March 1 marathon movies:
• Animated Shorts
• Anora
• Conclave
• Wicked
• The Brutalist
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Typically, establishing a new Ohio State University center would require approval from the University Senate, but the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society will open to students next fall despite the Senate voting against it.
The Chase Center drew criticism from University Senate members, who voiced concerns about its long-term costs and unorthodox establishment. Senate voted on a measure to establish the Chase Center as a permanent university center with tenure-track professors. The measure failed 64-57 at a Jan. 23 meeting, with four abstaining.
University Senate is the governing body for Ohio State, and is composed of students, faculty and staff. Jared Gardner, Ohio State professor and secretary for University Senate, said the center posed an unprecedented challenge from the start.
How Ohio State’s Ryan Day earned every penny of his annual $12.6 million“As a rule (and always in my 25 years at the university), new programs are developed by faculty and academic leaders within the university,” Gardner said. “The Chase Center, on the other hand, had been established by a legislative requirement imposed on the university.”
The center was established in 2023 under Senate Bill 117, which was folded into the biennial budget bill. This legally required the university to establish the Salmon P. Chase Center to teach about historical ideas, traditions and texts that have shaped the U.S. in order to further campus "intellectual diversity."
The bill established similar centers at Miami University, Cleveland State University, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Toledo, and legislators said the goal was to combat "groupthink" on college campuses. See previous coverage of the bill in the video player above.
"University Senate is an important part of Ohio State’s shared governance model, and while we respect the voice of the senate, we are disappointed in the vote," OSU chief spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said. "The Chase Center was established in 2023 by the state of Ohio via statute, and Ohio State must develop and operate the center in line with those legal requirements. Ohio State will move forward and structure the center in accordance with the enabling legislation to serve its statutory mission of educating for citizenship."
Bill would restrict minors' use of tanning bedsGardner said the law that established the center did not require any of the traditional senate processes to approve it and said he was grateful the appointed director of the center, Lee Strang, was willing to work with the Senate despite not being obligated to. Now that it was voted down, he said, he could not imagine Strang will be interested in subjecting the center to further Senate approval.
The center received $5 million per year from the state for this year and last and will also be supported by student tuition and donor support. According to a recording of the Jan. 23 Senate meeting, senate body members said they must act to make sure the center doesn’t divert resources from other campus priorities, especially as it only has two years of confirmed funding from the state.
A primary concern is the center's statute-mandated hiring of at least 15 tenure track professors, who will be faculty from varying departments and seniority levels and will be hired over the course of two years. Tenure professors essentially have guaranteed employment through retirement, and senators said they worried these salaries would have to be supplemented by increasing tuition costs or diverting funds from other programs.
Some senators worried about a lack of oversight and accountability within the center proposal. Strang, along with future directors, hold full control over the curriculum, courses, degrees and employment within the center, according to the proposal.
People protest President Donald Trump, Project 2025 at Ohio StatehouseAccording to university bylaws, academic center directors should report to the dean, vice president(s) or deans of their relevant colleges. However, the Chase Center director reports directly to the university president and provost. Although the center's proposal includes an oversight committee, the proposal establishes the committee as an advisory board, not an entity to hold the center accountable.
“I believe the state legislature’s mandate will harm our campus, and set a dangerous precedent of government overreach in higher education by circumventing the governing structures already in place,” alternate senator Christopher K. said at the Jan. 23 meeting, to applause.
"Here I am taking off my 'Secretary of the Senate' hat and putting on my Professor of early American literature hat," Gardner said. "Much will be determined of course by the faculty hired in the next couple of years and the kinds of courses and programs the Chase Center offers."
On Jan. 9, OSU's Association of University Professors also voted against establishing the center. Still, Gardner said, the Board of Trustees' Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee met on Jan. 29 and moved the center forward, and Strang has begun hiring faculty. The center is set to open in fall 2025.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – All lanes are now open after a deadly crash occurred in north Columbus early Friday morning.
According to Columbus police, one person is dead and two others have been hospitalized in stable condition after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 South near Historic Crew Stadium.
Report: New Albany suspect ‘intoxicated’ at time of shootingEmergency crews responded to the scene just after midnight Friday when two cars and a semi-truck were involved in the deadly crash, between the Huston Street and 17th Street exits. One person was pronounced dead at 12:14 a.m.
The crash caused I-71 to close for several miles, as far north as Interstate 270 interchange, before the northbound lanes were cleared a few hours later. Crews were able to clear all lanes from debris from the crash just after 5 a.m., when all lanes were declared open.
Police do not yet know what led to the crash, which remains under investigation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Several central Ohio Big Lots stores are among at least 200 locations nationwide that might remain open under a North Carolina retail chain owner.
Gordon Brothers Retail Partners' acquisition of Columbus-based Big Lots in January included a deal to transfer the ownership of 200 to 400 storefronts to Variety Wholesalers, a Henderson, North Carolina, company that operates several hundred discount stores. Court documents filed on Monday show that Variety will run 27 Ohio Big Lots locations, including the following Columbus-area stores:
Variety is also set to acquire two Big Lots distribution centers thanks to the deal. It remains unknown what will become of the other hundreds of locations that are now under Gordon Brothers, which has since listed the leases of more than 500 stores for sale. That for-sale list includes more than 20 Ohio locations, including six Columbus-area storefronts.
Gordon Brothers supported the transaction with Variety by securing a $200 million delayed draw term loan and a $150 million debtor-in-possession term loan. The North Carolina company is also allowed to employ Big Lots associates at the acquired stores and distribution centers, as well as certain corporate associates.
It's also unclear how Big Lots' previously announced mass layoffs will continue. The retailer said in a December city notice that employees based at the company's northeast Columbus headquarters at 4900 E. Dublin Granville Rd. will be terminated. The letter said the "mass layoffs" are expected to conclude by April of this year.
Things to do this weekend in Columbus and central OhioThat notice followed another announcement that Big Lots would begin "going out of business" sales at all of its remaining locations after failing to complete a previously announced $765 million sale to Nexus Capital Management, a private equity firm.
Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 proceedings in September. At the time, the chain entered into the sales agreement with Nexus, which was set to acquire all of the company's assets and business operations. Since filing for bankruptcy, more than 500 Big Lots stores have shuttered, shrinking the chain's footprint to less than 900 locations.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- New Albany police have released their police report from Tuesday night’s mass shooting at a warehouse that killed two people and wounded four others.
According to the report, responding officers said a worker at the scene said she believed the suspect – Bruce Foster III – arrived at work intoxicated and smelling of marijuana.
The report said workers saw Foster firing a handgun at people along a production line, including one victim who was shot point-blank in the head. The report said one of the shooting victims was able to get the handgun away from Foster, prompting Foster to then flee the building.
Second victim dies from New Albany warehouse shooting, suspect receives massive bondSurveillance footage from security cameras allegedly showed Foster running out of the building and into a gray SUV, which authorities have said was a ride share.
Co-workers have said Foster didn’t own a car and relied on ride-shares to get to and from work.
Another coworker told police they heard a rumor that Foster was going to be fired because he was “not in the right state of mind,” the report said.
The full report as released is below.
NAPD-Incident-Report-25-01775-1DownloadWHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Whitehall Police Department unveiled its new facility Thursday, funded through money raised by the Safer Whitehall levy.
In 2022, voters approved a 2.822 mil property tax levy to hire six additional police officers and overhaul the aging police station.
The facility is nearly double its original space, adding close to 20,000 square feet.
The renovated building includes upgrades to the emergency dispatch room, firing range, and training facilities.
Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen said the building represents the faith the community has in the police department.
"It's our duty to keep them safe and give them a return on investment,” he said. “The crime rates got to stay down low. We've got to do our job. We've got to be doing things professionally. We have to treat the citizens properly. We have to be held accountable."
Fraternal Order of Police local president Brian Steel said Whitehall officers deserve a facility like this, but claims the city still has not fulfilled its obligation to add six additional officers to the department.
Crispen said the department has hired about 19 officers since the levy passed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Have you received an unexpected call or a text message offering to buy your home? If so, the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing has a warning for you.
"So, we've had a couple of calls from individuals who own property," division superintendent Daphne Hawk said, adding that those property owners have reported receiving unsolicited offers -- through the mail, over the phone, text messages or emails -- to buy their properties.
It's something Better Call 4 has told you about before, and the division said there's been an increase in such contact in central Ohio recently. After hearing from concerned consumers, Hawk called attention to and educate consumers about it, saying:
"Often times, these offers include a specific dollar amount that the owner might find appealing... While the dollar amount might look attractive to a property owner, if they agree to it, they might unknowingly agree to sell their property for well below market value."
Frustration mounts as Ohio statehouse tackles property tax relief"Many of the consumers may think that they're being contacted by real estate agents, when in fact, many times the individuals contacting them may be out of state investors, they may be local investors... They may be large corporations from out of state," Hawk said.
Those investors or corporations may not have your best interest at heart.
"In central Ohio, the median sale price is $320,000," Hawk said. "And that's median. That's not the high end. So, we just want to caution people that their property may be worth a lot more than the offer that they're getting through a text or a phone call."
So, how should homeowners respond?
"The first thing I say back to them, if it's a text, is I'll say, 'Are you a licensed real estate agent in the state of Ohio?' because your local real estate agent knows the value of the property," Hawk said. "And we want to make sure that people aren't letting go of their property for a lot less than what it's worth. Don't agree to anything over the phone. Ask for a face-to-face meeting and written documentation and then they should also ask for time to review that with an attorney or local real estate agent. Don't be in a hurry. If somebody is rushing you, that's probably not in your best interest.”
Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’The division also said that "given the low inventory in the housing market and high demand for housing," they anticipate more homeowners may receive these types of offers in the coming months.
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of an offer, you can verify the status of a real estate license on the division's website.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More than two dozen members of the Columbus Division of Police are going through training about preventing and responding to mass casualty and active shooter incidents.
The training has been going on all week and was scheduled well before the shooting at a warehouse in New Albany that killed two. Instructors said it's an unfortunate reminder about why the training is necessary.
Columbus schools, state clash on Ohio ‘bathroom ban’“It has given us a good opportunity to discuss, ‘Hey, this is why we’re here’ when this happens and sometimes it's not a matter of if but when it happens, sadly,” Director of Training for the International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA) David Eddy said. “When it happens, we want you to be as ready as you can be."
The IHIA along with the FBI have been leading the weeklong training at the Columbus Police Academy.
“The average police officer, average public servant, across their career is going to see a lot of bad things, and when there’s one victim, it's bad enough; when there’s multiple victims, even more tragic," Eddy said.
The training is focused on working at large scenes with multiple victims, like the shooting in New Albany, and prevention.
“The idea is to educate investigators on how to recognize that stuff and how to teach other people to recognize that stuff and try and off-ramp them before one of these things happens," Eddy said.
Frustration mounts as Ohio statehouse tackles property tax reliefTwenty-six members of Columbus police, police from other states, and Canda have all been at the training. Columbus Division of Police Deputy Chief Smith Weir said since mass casualty incidents often involve more than one agency and several hospitals, the work also includes collaboration.
“These situations, while they’re relatively rare, they are so unique in the challenges they bring," Weir said. “These are really traumatic scenes, they’re traumatic not only for the people involved but they’re traumatic for the community, they’re traumatic for the nation.”
Weir and Eddy said their hearts go out to all affected by the shooting in New Albany.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The start of another year means lawmakers lay out their priorities and like the last two years, which yielded little relief, leaders said property tax relief is at the top of their lists, but some Ohioans are growing frustrated and worried.
“I just wanted to stay in my house in a quiet way,” central Ohio homeowner Janice Beaty said.
Beaty, 86, has owned her home for 45 years. Her husband died 10 years ago, so now she is living on a single fixed income of about $3,700 a month.
Columbus schools, state clash on Ohio ‘bathroom ban’“I am on Social Security,” she said. “And they gave me an increase this year; $50 didn't go very far.”
With a fixed income, a combination of her pension and social security, her rising property taxes are a point of stress.
“I think it has gone up two or three times in the past few years,” she said. “I managed to pay the taxes, the last taxes it got. But it's going to come up again.”
And that’s not all she has to pay: she said things like car payments, new glasses, utilities, and everyday necessities stack up.
“I'm over 80 and not in a good position to go out and work anymore,” she said.
Ohio lawmakers not likely to consider gun reform after New Albany shootingBeaty said that like many of her friends, she gets offers to sell her home; sometimes, she even gets badgered.
“I’d get some money out of it, but I’d lose my house,” she said. “Pictures on the wall of my kids, my grandkids, and other things that are family possessions.”
Even if Beaty sold, she said renting a place in a retirement community is out of her budget, so she is looking to state leaders, like Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) for help.
“We've got kind of a big a la carte menu on property taxes,” Stewart said.
People protest President Donald Trump, Project 2025 at Ohio StatehouseRight now, the Ohio House Finance Committee is hearing testimony on the state’s two-year, multi-billion-dollar budget, but the version they are looking at as introduced by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, which is subject to change, does not have any property tax relief.
“I think the governor’s budget probably assumes that we’re going to take the lead in doing that,” Stewart said. “Part of that for this process will be determining what can we what can we afford in the financial situation that we have, a lot of these proposals cost quite a bit of money, but I think there is an appetite to look at property taxes.”
Stewart said he “expect(s) multiple members will prepare and offer amendments relating to property taxes, and if they do, we will give them a lot of consideration.”
Meanwhile, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has a different idea. When Huffman was asked if he wanted to include relief in the budget, he said, “I hope not.”
“Because often when everything gets shoved into a budget, we figure out later how it’s interacting with each other,” Huffman said.
What taxes are increased in proposed Ohio budget?Huffman also does not want one big bill. Lawmakers plan to introduce a series of bills, each one targeting a specific area that needs to be addressed.
“A giant bill has so many complex problems in it, there will be something in it that everybody dislikes,” he said. “So, let’s look at this problem and have people understand why it is a difficult question.”
Huffman said it is a “preferred method” to keep property taxes both separate from the budget, which has a July 1 deadline to pass, and tackle each issue one by one.
“This problem with property taxes has been created over decades,” Huffman said. “The concept is we are going to peel the onion a little bit at a time is single issue single bill.”
The series of property tax bills that Huffman is talking about will be introduced within the next several weeks.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Board of Education must decide whether to comply with an Ohio Senate bill that states students must use the bathroom for the sex they were assigned at birth or keep their current gender-affirming policy.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is now threatening legal action.
The district’s current policy allows students and staff to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, but that policy is now against the law because of Senate Bill 104, also known as the bathroom ban.
The law, signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, states that students at Ohio schools and universities must use the bathroom that matches their sex assigned at birth. Columbus City Schools is one of the only districts in the state with a gender-affirming policy.
Kaleidoscope Youth Center serves transgender and nonbinary youth. Amanda Erickson with Kaleidoscope said the CCS policy makes the kids she serves much more comfortable at school.
“That’s one of the most important things to think about with this kind of legislation is we have students that are actively trying to not eat and not drink all day so they don’t have to use the restroom,” Erickson said.
Right now, the Columbus school board is trying to decide whether to change the distict’s transgender bathroom policy to comply with state law. At a meeting on Tuesday, members tabled the policy so they could discuss it further.
“There was struggle at the table about other considerations, further considerations of punitive action that could possibly occur, but at the end of the day, for Michael Cole, for me, I felt it was important to deliver a very clear message to our community,” board president Michael Cole said after Tuesday’s meeting.
Board members said that they want all students to feel safe and included, and that the consequences of not following the bathroom ban are unclear.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost disagreed, sending a letter to Cole that said, in part, “I will swiftly bring legal action against the Board to obtain a court order forcing the Board to take all actions necessary to immediately comply with all applicable mandates of Senate Bill 104.”
Erickson said she understands that the board is facing a difficult decision.
“I think there is concern about how any kind of violation would impact both individuals on the school board and the school board itself and how that impact might trickle down to the families that are members of CCS,” Erickson said.
Yost’s letter to Cole said this is not a decision for the school board to make and said, “Compliance with Senate Bill 104 is not optional, and time is of the essence as the effective date is quickly approaching.”
In a statement responding to Yost, Cole wrote, in part, “Our commitment is to find a balanced path that complies with the law while honoring the identity and dignity of every student we serve.”
Ohio’s bathroom ban takes effect on Feb. 25. The Columbus Board of Education has another meeting on Feb. 18 where it will decide how to move forward with the policy.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Travelers booking trips out of John Glenn International Airport will soon have more choices when flying to three U.S. destinations.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced that Southwest Airlines will expand service to San Diego. The airline, which previously only offered weekly flights to the Southern California city during the summer months, will move to near-daily departures. The schedule is set to change in October.
“San Diego has proven to be a popular destination, and this increased frequency addresses the strong demand since the route launched last year,” said Joseph R. Nardone, President and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Columbus airport adding direct flight to Maine this springOther locations getting a boost in service from Southwest include Dallas Love Field, which will offer passengers a second daily departure, and Orlando service will increase to five flights per day.
Last month, the airline added launched a new route to Miami.
“We appreciate Southwest's commitment to expanding service at John Glenn International and meeting the needs of our growing passenger base,” said Nardone.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In most American states, the highest-paid public employee is a college football (or in a few cases, basketball) coach.
In Ohio, it's not even close.
Ryan Day is here to stay at Ohio State, after the school announced a new seven-year contract for Day on Wednesday morning. His $12.5 million in annual compensation ranks him behind only Georgia's Kirby Smart in national college salaries.
Stability at the top is the most critical element to success in college sports, and now Ohio State has secured that. Day's recent national championship resets the standards by which he is judged. Winning is the world's strongest deodorant, and now Day carries a mountain musk of confidence in one of the highest-pressure jobs in American sports.
24-story Columbus tower with grocer receives $4.5 million Ohio tax creditDay joins Smart and Clemson's Dabo Swinney as the only active coaches with a national championship. That cache goes a long way in recruiting ... not that any of those three programs needed much help in recruiting.
Even Ohio State's leadership accepts Day is not infallible as a coach. The 0-4 mark vs. Michigan remains, serving as an annoying anvil weighing on the program. Nobody wants this.
But what everybody would want is Day's coaching record (6 seasons at OSU):
Let's compare that with the modern version of the coaching GOAT, Nick Saban (30 seasons at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama):
Stability at the top is so critical in college football, because the only constant in the sport is change.
Assistants and staffers, players and support personnel are constantly changing. Every year you take the Etch-a-Sketch, shake it up and try to build it again. This coming season is another example. OSU will have its fourth offensive coordinator in three years, although Brian Hartline is clearly a familiar voice in the building. A new defensive coordinator will soon replace Jim Knowles. Day is well-accustomed to making calls and reading resumes every offseason. It's one of the biggest compliments to OSU's consistency of winning that its coaches quickly become among the most coveted anywhere.
When you think about it, if other programs don't want your coaches, soon enough ... you won't want them either.
Those annual coaching searches add to the stress of just the basic, nonstop chaos of recruiting. After Tuesday's signing day, OSU finished this 2025 recruiting season with the fifth-ranked incoming class, according to 247Sports. By OSU standards, it's another strong, but not extraordinary, showing. Other programs like Texas, Oregon, Texas A&M and even that school up north continue to bolster their NIL offerings to recruits, forcing Ohio State to continue to compete in the football arms race. That means more fundraising chicken dinners, donor phone calls and speaking engagements for Day.
It's an insanely stressful, consuming job long before you get to gameday. With the wildly high standards of excellence at Ohio State, it takes a unique person to fill that role.
Is Day handsomely compensated for that stress? You bet.
Maybe former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was right that Day was "born on third base"... whatever that really means. Even so, to get from third base to home plate takes talent.
Day's now reached home ... and home to stay.
BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Driving down Main Street this month, those passing through Bexley will be greeted by banners up and down the road honoring local Black trailblazers.
The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance, in partnership with the city of Bexley, is honoring African American residents who have a difference. This is the second year of the annual tradition, which celebrates influential individuals with connections to Bexley, honoring them with banners up and down Main Street throughout Black History Month.
Nine 2025 honorees were selected, adding to the 23 honorees from 2024. Among them were Bexley City Schools employees, doctors and trailblazers. Parent alliance member Bryan Drewry said the alliance held an event recognizing the winners, four of whom were able to attend. View coverage of last year's honorees in the video player above.
Upscale steakhouse to open first Ohio location this weekDrewry said those honored this year are integral members of the community. All honorees were nominated by fellow community members.
"It serves as a powerful reminder of how much these individuals, from unsung heroes and prominent historical figures to current-day teachers and coaches, contribute to the vibrancy and growth of the Bexley community and beyond," Drewry said.
Five of the nine honorees are Bexley City Schools employees: Nyesha Clayton, Carleton McGrady, Heath Goolsby, Ken Stewart and Lisa Viney. Clayton has been the principal at Montrose Elementary School since 2021, and was the first African American principal in Bexley.
"The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance and Bexley Schools are important parts of the Bexley community and we’re very excited for our faculty and staff members to be recognized so prominently within the community – both this year and last year!" Bexley Superintendent Jason Fine said. "Thank you to the BMPA and the City of Bexley for recognizing the hard work and positive impact of our teachers and celebrating them in this year’s Black History Month Main Street banners."
McGrady and Goolsby are both coaches at Bexley. McGrady began at Bexley coaching high school track in 2012, and became a high school paraprofessional in 2020. McGrady also serves as a defensive coordinator for the football team, according to his LinkedIn. Goolsby is head varsity tennis coach at the high school, and is the assistant varsity coach for high school girls' basketball. He previously served as the middle school girls' tennis coach and works as an intervention specialist, per his LinkedIn.
Central Ohio nonprofit among DOGE targets"Since coming to Bexley, I have felt nothing but love from peers, parents and athletes. Because of this love, it has helped make Bexley feel like home for me," McGrady said. "Since becoming a paraprofessional at the High School, I have wanted to give back by showing that same love and support that so many have shown me, to students and peers every day they walk into the building."
Viney is the art teacher at Maryland Elementary and is a previous Bexley Educator of the Year winner. She was the first African American teacher hired at Maryland when she joined the district in 2002. Stewart, also an author, said many of his assignments for his middle school students became permanent installations in the school, including a Black History Quilt and Holocaust Shadow Boxes installed at the entrance of the middle school library and the American Flag 9/11/2001 project in a hallway between Cassingham Elementary and the district middle school.
Stewart also served as an adjunct professor at Capital University, joining honoree Douglas Wells in serving as Capital faculty. Wells died in 2004 and had such a profound impact on the university that the law school holds the Annual Wells Conference on Child Welfare & Adoption Law in his name. Wells was also a journalist, working as a sportswriter, columnist and editor over his career.
How an Ohio writers group's new book tackles censorshipHonorees Sylvia Jones and William (BJ) Hicks are both doctors with Bexley connections. Jones has seen national recognition for her research to improve communication within diabetic health care teams. She also founded Violet Eyeware, which allows customers to give underserved individuals access to vision case through her Buy One, Bless One program.
Hicks is a neurologist specializing in stroke care. He is a key leader in stroke care and Co-Director of Riverside Hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center. He was elected President of Medical Staff at Riverside and OhioHealth asked him to become Vice President of Neurosciences.
The ninth honoree is Jawana Smith, a former Bexley police officer and the first Black officer in the department's 64-year history. She has been active in law enforcement and the entertainment business in both central Ohio and Los Angeles, at one point working as an actor in L.A. She has previously been recognized for her contributions to the city of Bexley when Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler proclaimed Feb. 16 Jawana Smith Day.
The full bios for each of the honorees, including those honored in 2024, can be found online. The parent alliance will also hold a minority teacher and staff reception on Feb. 27 from 4-6 p.m. at the Bexley Library. Drewry said all are welcome to celebrate minority staff members.