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Vice President Harris on Sunday said she intends to earn and win the Democratic presidential nomination after President Biden stunningly dropped out of the race and endorsed her as his successor.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said in a statement.

“Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” she added.

Biden withdrew from the 2024 race earlier on Sunday, announcing he will no longer seek another four years in office. He then endorsed Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee after not initially endorsing her in his letter announcing he was dropping out.

The vice president thanked Biden for his decades of service and said his “remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history.” She called his decision to back out of the race a “selfless and patriotic act” and she recalled first getting to know Biden through his late son, Beau, who was an attorney general with Harris.

“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win,” Harris said.

Allies of former President Trump went on the attack against Harris immediately on Sunday after Biden endorsed her.

“Kamala Harris is just as much of a joke as Biden is. Harris will be even WORSE for the people of our Nation than Joe Biden,” Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote in a memo. 

Biden’s full support for Harris to be at the top of the ticket gives Democrats a clear successor with weeks to go before the convention, but her becoming the nominee is not inevitable.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison on Sunday said that the party will go forward this week with selecting a nominee, not mentioning Harris specifically in his statement.

“In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” he said. “This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”

Harris has been a staunch supporter of Biden amid the political fallout since his dismal debate performance last month that led to calls from around 30 Democrats for him to step aside. She continued on the campaign trail, most recently campaigning in North Carolina, and has been a leading voice out of the Biden administration on reproductive rights issues this campaign cycle.

Updated 4:24 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Politicians, some with races of their own in November's election, are sounding off on President Joe Biden stepping out of the Presidential race.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote in a letter posted to X.

Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican looking to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown, said Brown and Vice President Kamala Harris were “the chief conspirators and enablers of the Biden mental decline cover up.”

“Kamala Harris is even more extreme than Joe Biden,” Moreno wrote in a statement. “Together with Sherrod Brown, they will stop at nothing to finish their radical agenda. The Democrats will scramble to change faces, but the American people know all too well the results of their policies. That's why we will defeat Sherrod Brown and Kamala Harris in November."

After announcing he was stepping away from the presidential contest, Biden endorsed Harris to become the Democratic nominee. The Democrats will hold their national convention starting on Aug. 19.

Harris, in a statement released later Sunday afternoon, thanked the President for his leadership and "decades of service to our country."

On Friday, Brown called for Biden to step out of the presidential race.

“I agree with the many Ohioans who have reached out to me,” he said in a statement. “At this critical time, our full attention must return to these important issues. I think the President should end his campaign."

On X, formerly Twitter, Brown posted the following Sunday afternoon:

"I thank President Biden for his years of committed service to the country we love — as Senator, as Vice President, and as President."

Ohio's other Senator, JD Vance, now Trump's running mate, continued the rhetoric coming out of last week's Republican convention, calling Biden "the worst president in my lifetime."

"Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way." Vance posted to X. "Over the last four years she co-signed Biden's open border and green scam policies that drove up the cost of housing and groceries. She owns all of these failures, and she lied for nearly four years about Biden's mental capacity--saddling the nation with a president who can't do the job."

In a statement posted to X, Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wished Biden and his family well.

“I have known President Biden since 1995, when I entered the U.S. Senate and served with him on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” DeWine posted. “Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady all the best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.”

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee who will now face whoever is the Democratic nominee in November, posted the following statement on Truth Social:

“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve - And never was! He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving his Basement. All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t - And now, look what he’s done to our Country, with millions of people coming across our Border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons, mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Calls for Biden to drop out of his reelection bid started after his June 27 debate against Trump, where, at times, the 81-year-old president trailed off, gave nonsensical answers, and failed to call out many of the lies Trump told on the debate stage.

Biden said he intends to serve the remainder of his term, until Jan. 20, 2025.

High pressure will stay over the Great Lakes, ensuring comfortable humidity and a light northeasterly flow. Temperatures will be a little cooler, in the low to mid-80s.

High clouds will continue to stream in from the west and filter the sun, as a weak upper-level wave moves across Kentucky. Isolated showers will remain south of the Ohio River. Skies will be partly cloudy tonight, with morning readings in the mid-60s.

A southerly flow will develop on Monday, as high pressure shifts farther east, resulting in an increase in moisture ahead of a disturbance in the middle of the country. Scattered showers and storms are possible across the southern half of the state.

Seasonably warm and humid conditions will prevail through midweek, with opportunities for scattered showers and storms increasing. A frontal boundary will stall north of the Ohio River, acting as a focus for a series of low pressure ripples.

High temperatures will generally peak in the mid-80s due to persistent cloud cover and scattered rain chances, with drier conditions by the start of the weekend.

• Sunday: Partly sunny. High 84
• Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 66
• Monday: Partly sunny, shower south. High 83
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, stray storm p.m. High 86 (68)
• Wednesday: Showers, storms. High 83 (69)
• Thursday: Some sun, few storms. High 85 (68)
• Friday: Partly sunny, storms possible. High 85 (66)

(NEXSTAR) – With President Biden dropping out of the 2024 race, he becomes one of only a few past presidents who decided to end their campaign for reelection.

Biden’s withdrawal, though, comes later than any previous incumbent candidate’s.

In recent weeks, Biden had insisted he would continue his campaign despite concerns over his age and mental acuity. But after calls from former supporters and high-ranking Democrats, the president dropped out on Sunday, July 21 — less than four months from the election.

No other president seeking reelection has dropped out so late. President Harry S. Truman, after serving the better part of two terms (and being eligible for another), pulled out of the 1952 race in late March, after failing to win over a majority of voters at the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary earlier that month. President Lyndon B. Johnson later dropped out of the 1968 election also in late March, amid low approval ratings.

There have been several other presidents who decided against running for a second term, though they all announced it before launching a reelection campaign. James K. Polk, James Buchanon, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge all made it known in advance of the next election cycle that they would not seek reelection, with some announcing their decision very early on, or during their campaigns for a first term.

Those who didn’t immediately announce their intentions not to run again — Roosevelt and Coolidge — had also both succeeded to the presidency after the death of the previous president and then won reelection on their own (much like Truman and Johnson). In Roosevelt’s case, he pledged not to run for a third term while campaigning for his second — but he did indeed run again in 1912, ultimately losing to Woodrow Wilson. Coolidge announced in August 1927 that he didn’t want to participate in the 1928 election, claiming a second term was “too long” to be president.

In addition to the names above, there were also presidents who had already served two full terms (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) but declined to run for a third time, despite being eligible to do so. (The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, put term limits on the presidency.)Biden, despite dropping out much later than the aforementioned presidents, has still afforded time for the Democratic party to rally around, and formally name, a new nominee. That, however, is a whole process in and of itself.

(WFLA/NEXSTAR) — President Joe Biden has announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 race following calls from former supporters and high-ranking Democrats that he step aside to allow another candidate to challenge former President Donald Trump for the White House.

Biden, in previous weeks, had insisted he would continue his campaign, despite concerns over his age and mental acuity. Primary ballots around the nation have already been cast, too, and the Democratic National Convention is just around the corner.

So what happens now that Biden has dropped out?

Since President Biden withdrew ahead of the formal nomination, scheduled to take place during a virtual roll call in early August ahead of the Democratic National Convention, it means that the 3,900 or so pledged delegates would meet at the convention to cast their ballots for a new nominee.

Biden has formally endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to become the Democratic Party’s nominee as he announced he would not seek reelection.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he wrote in part on X.

If a candidate wins a simple majority, that person becomes the new Democratic nominee. If one candidate is not agreed on, then the “superdelegates” will also vote.

Under party rules, pledged delegates are basically required to vote for the candidate chosen by voters. Unpledged delegates, or “superdelegates,” are free to support the candidate of their choosing.

There are nearly 740 such superdelegates, according to Ballotpedia.

The superdelegates plus the pledged delegates will all continue to hold votes until a candidate receives a winning majority.

More information on the delegation selection process is available at the Democratic Party website.

The Democratic National Convention will take place Aug. 19–22 in Chicago, Illinois.

“This summer, Democrats will come together to build on our progress, lay out what’s at stake in this election, and unite around our shared values of democracy and freedom to create a future for all Americans,” reads a message that was posted to the DNC’s website.

President Biden has dropped out of the 2024 race, a stunning end to a 50-year-long political career that culminated in caving to pressure from fellow Democrats to end his bid for reelection, which never fully recovered from an abysmal debate performance on June 27.

Biden, 81, announced Sunday he will no longer seek another four years in office after his physical and mental acuity were called into question following a prime-time debate in which he struggled to finish sentences, gave confused looks and fumbled through his answers.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote in a letter posted to social media.

The president said he would address the nation later in the week about his decision. He did not immediately endorse Vice President Harris or any other candidate to be the party's nominee in November.

"For now let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected," Biden wrote. "I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me."

Biden withstood weeks of mounting pressure from his party, vowing to stay in the race so strongly that at one point he suggested only "the Lord Almighty" could convince him otherwise. 

But the barrage of Democrats calling for his exit ramped up in the last week, both publicly and privately. More than 30 Democratic lawmakers had called on Biden to stand down as the nominee and pass the torch to another candidate, arguing he could not win in November and risked tanking the party’s chances down the ballot.

Privately, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) had bluntly told Biden of their concerns about his chances in November against former President Trump.

The president acknowledged multiple times after the June debate that he had a bad night, where his aides said he had a cold. He had just returned from a foreign trip, which was blamed for his sickness despite his being out of the public eye while staying at Camp David for nearly one week before he went head-to-head with Trump. 

Biden’s campaign had pressed for an early debate date because he thought it might turn into a moment that could change polls, but it did anything but.

Trump, meanwhile, found a new wind in his sails in scoring major legal and political wins recently, particularly after an attempted assassination that reinforced Republicans behind his campaign right before what turned out to be a jubilant and unified coronation at the Republican National Convention.

Republicans in Milwaukee for the convention last week were confident about their chances against any candidate, but they acknowledged their preference was to face Biden, whom they viewed as a weakened opponent under attack by members of his own party.

Some GOP lawmakers and Trump campaign officials have previewed how they are likely to respond to the news: by seeking to sow chaos and discord among Democrats.

Some Republicans have indicated they could look to file legal challenges if Democrats try to switch Biden off the ballot, though there is no law that prevents a change from being made ahead of filing deadlines.

And top Trump allies have already argued that removing Biden after he won millions of primary votes would be undemocratic, with some equating it to a “coup.”

Others have argued if Biden is unable to run for reelection, he should not be able to remain on as president, suggesting it means he’s not up to the job.

“If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?” Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), the GOP's vice-presidential candidate, posted Sunday on the social platform X. “Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief. There is no middle ground.”

Updated: 2:11 p.m.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – A Zanesville man pleaded guilty after he was caught on camera committing acts of domestic violence. 

Gunner D. Lent, 18, pleaded guilty to one count each of felony strangulation, felony abduction and misdemeanor domestic violence. 

On March 7, Lent and the victim drank alcohol and got into several arguments, during which Lent struck the victim, according to a release from the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office. The release said he then also grabbed her by her throat, restricting her breathing, and pinned her down.

On May 9, the two argued again. During the argument, Lent unplugged a security camera inside the house and struck the victim, according to the prosecutor. Afterward, Lent left the home and the victim alerted law enforcement. She provided them with the video footage of Lent striking her and pinning her down. 

“While this domestic violence incident was caught on video, too many times domestic violence goes unseen and reported,” Muskingum County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John C. Denver said. “Reporting ensures that violent offenders like Lent face real consequences.”

Denver also said he believes Lent’s prison sentence of 14 months reflects his violence while considering his youth. 

NBC affiliate WHIZ reported he was temporarily at large in March before he was apprehended. The guilty plea did not mention an additional charge of tampering with evidence, which Lent was also facing at the time of his arrest.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One man was taken to a hospital in "extremely critical" condition after being shot Sunday morning in northeast Columbus.

A police dispatcher said officers were sent to the 2400 block of Timber Trail Drive South just after 10:30 a.m. A man was found shot with medics taking the victim to a hospital with his condition described as "extremely critical", per a police dispatcher.

One man was taken into custody by police. Officers are continuing to investigate the shooting.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The family of a man who was killed while housed with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction won a settlement with the prison system after accusations of violence and neglect.

According to the law firm Friedman, Gilbert and Gerhardstein (FG+G), the family of Dewey McVay Jr. will receive $225,000 to settle claims against the ODRC of violence and neglect.

The McVay estate filed the lawsuit in April 2022 to investigate his death, which was believed to have been due to treatment from prison guards and medical staff, the law firm said.

FG+G stated that McVay was imprisoned at a state facility in Orient in December 2019. During a prison transfer on Dec. 2, McVay reportedly resisted the transport. The law firm said prison guards improperly entered the cell and assaulted McVay, even after he was handcuffed.

A release from the law firm said that both officers involved and those that witnessed the incident filed false reports and misleading information about the source of McVay’s injuries. It also stated medical staff did not seek accurate information about the injuries and did not follow through on a recommended CT scan to assess a head injury.

Two weeks later, McVay was found unresponsive in his cell. He was pronounced dead on Dec. 20 due to blunt force trauma.

Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.

The typical home value in the United States was $360,310 in May, 3.9% higher than the year before.

High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of July 3, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at 6.95%.

Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in Ohio using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of May 2024. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib.

Metros with the most cities in the top 30 in Ohio
#1. Columbus, OH: 11
#2. Cleveland-Elyria, OH: 8
#3. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: 7
#4. Akron, OH: 2
#5. Canton-Massillon, OH: 1
#5. Dayton-Kettering, OH: 1

• Today: Partly cloudy, high 87
• Tonight: Chance of sprinkles, low 63
• Monday: Isolated rain, high 82 (66)
• Tuesday: Scattered showers, high 85 (68)
• Wednesday: Rain & rumbles, high 86 (67)
• Thursday: Spotty storms, high 83 (65)

Today we will see a few more clouds along with slightly warmer temperatures. Highs will reach the upper 80s. Dew points staying in the mid-upper 50s. The lower humidity levels will make it feel fairly comfortable. Winds will remain fairly light from the north.

Tonight for the majority of central Ohio skies will stay mostly cloudy. There will be the chance for a few isolated sprinkles. The best chance for these sprinkles will be closer to the early morning hours. Temperatures will fall once again to the low 60s

Monday will bring a few spotty rain chances, mainly to the south of the city. Mainly cloudy skies will stick around. Temperatures will also cool down a little bit. Highs will only reach the low 80s.

During the work week there will be a few more chances rain and rumbles. Even with these rain chances there will be very little accumulation expected. Most of central Ohio will remain in a precipitation deficit for both the month and the season for the foreseeable future.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s officially the start of the MLS All-Star week here in Columbus. It began with the MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration, a free event for fans of all ages. 

Soccer fans made their way to McFerson Commons Park to kick off MLS All-Star week. There were a lot of excited fans out Saturday afternoon. 

“I love events like this just being able to go out and be amongst other fans and of course I also love the little games and all the merchandise,” said Sage Jordan, a soccer fan.

Day one of MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration began with a ribbon cutting ceremony. From there, fans got to enjoy everything from music to giveaways to soccer-based games and more. There was something here for everyone, so NBC4 asked fans what their favorite part was. 

"I’d say all the interactive activities, you can kick a soccer ball, do some fun challenges,” said Sebastian Lindamood, a soccer fan.

“The one with the goalie,” Colson Sevin said. 

Sunday is the concert at Nationwide Arena and Monday is all about giving back to the community. Tuesday is the skills challenge at Lower.com Field, where players will face off in shooting challenges, goalie wars and more.

“I know the community is very proud to be hosting,” Linda Logan, the CEO and President of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, said.

This isn’t the first time Columbus has hosted the All-Star game, but it is the first time it’ll be played at Lower.com Field. 

“Columbus is a great market to host this game. You can tell that everybody is really excited to be here. But what's really fun about it is the rivalry that's on the field,” Jen Maurillo, Chief Events Officer for MLS, said.

Linda Logan, with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, said we have something to be proud of.

“We’ve hosted two of Major League Soccer's biggest events in a seven month period," Logan said. "And we are hoping to get a third when the crew repeats this December. Wouldn't that be amazing? So I'm very proud of the fact that our community gets to see the best and the brightest in the sport."

She said Columbus residents get to see some of the best athletes in the world right in their own backyard. As for the impact the MLS All-Star game will have here, Logan is estimating that this week will bring in roughly $20 million dollars of direct spending to the community, which is huge for local businesses.

“So the fact that we get to host these events means a lot, not only for those that have invested in our future, but also for our residents, because they get to see some of the best athletes in the world right in their own backyard," Logan said. "So I know we're very proud of that, and I think the best is yet to come."

The All-Star Soccer Celebration picks back up again Sunday at 3 p.m., and the big game is Wednesday night at 8 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman is in custody following a shooting death in northeast Columbus Saturday morning.

Shirldenna Featherstone, 19, is charged with reckless homicide after police found Tahvon Ford dead from a gunshot wound.

According to court documents, Featherstone told police she accidentally shot Ford while the two were looking at a rifle. Featherstone, who was identified as Ford's girlfriend in court documents, called 911 and attempted CPR until officers arrived.

Shawno, a friend of Ford's who did not give his last name, described Ford as his "best friend, brother, left hand, twin flame and dice twin" and said Ford would be missed dearly.

"Tahvon had a real genuine soul and lit every room he stepped in," he said.

Featherstone is scheduled for an arraignment this Monday.

High pressure will build east across the region, ensuring dry air and sunny skies in a light northerly flow. Temperatures will warm to the mid-80s. Skies will be partly cloudy tonight, with morning readings in the low 60s.

High clouds will filter the sunshine on Sunday, as a weak upper-level wave passes by to the south. Showers will remain south of the Ohio River.

A southerly flow will develop on Monday, resulting in an increase in humidity, coupled with a disturbance and frontal boundary forming. Scattered showers and a few storms are possible across the southern half of the state.

Seasonably warm and humid conditions will prevail next week, with opportunities for scattered showers and storms, with a frontal boundary in the vicinity stalling out. High temperatures will generally peak in the mid-80s due to persistent cloud cover and scattered rain chances.

• Saturday: Sunshine. High 85
• Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 63
• Sunday: Partly sunny. High 87
• Monday: Partly sunny, shower south. High 87 (67)
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, stray storm p.m. High 85 (68)
• Wednesday: Showers, storms. High 83 (69)
• Thursday: Some sun, few storms. High 85 (69)
• Friday: Partly sunny, storms possible. High 86 (67)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after being shot Saturday morning in northeast Columbus.

A police dispatcher said that Columbus police officers were called to the 1700 block of Genessee Avenue near the neighborhood of East Linden at 10:38 a.m. Officers arrived two minutes later and found one person who had been shot.

Medics at the scene pronounced the victim dead at 10:46 a.m. Officers are continuing to investigate the shooting, per a police dispatcher.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The owner of a home healthcare agency has been sentenced after being convicted of falsely billing the state’s Medicaid system.

Dorreetha Irby, owner of Loving Hearts LLC of Columbus, was sentenced Thursday to five years of probation, a suspended 10-month prison sentence and $13,261.06 in restitution, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.

Irby was found guilty in May of Medicaid fraud and forgery, both fifth-degree felonies, after a week-long trial.

According to Yost, Loving Hearts contracted with the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to provide in-home care for Medicaid patients living with developmental disabilities. Irby would then file false time sheets, billing Medicaid for the maximum number of hours regardless of the services Loving Hearts actually provided.

“Facilitating fraud under the guise of a business named ‘Loving Hearts’ is a sick and twisted irony,” Yost said in a news release. “Those who rely on Medicaid – and the taxpayers that fund Medicaid – deserve honest providers with kind hearts, not thieves in the night.”

LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 64-year-old man from Columbus is dead after a motorcycle crash Friday evening in Fairfield County.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Warren Brewer Jr. was driving a Harley Davidson south on State Route 159 in Clearcreek Township just after 7:15 p.m. The motorcycle drove off the right side of the road, hit a guardrail and overturned on its side.

Brewer Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene, per the OSHP. The crash remains under investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated murder in the death of a four-month-old.

Melissa R. Thorp pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2022 murder of Aaron M. Thorp, her four-month-old son, according to court documents.

On Sept. 12, 2022, police responded to a 911 call about a baby not breathing at the 100 block of Jefferson Avenue. Upon arriving to the scene, paramedics pronounced the child dead, according to police. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, and ruled the death a homicide.

After Thorp initially entered a not guilty plea, she was given a not guilty plea by reason of insanity, according to court documents.

Watch previous coverage of this story in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus man has pleaded guilty to robbing a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint. 

A.J. Williams, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday to counts of brandishing a firearm in a violent crime, aggravated robbery of U.S. property and conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S.

According to court documents, Williams committed an armed robbery against a postal worker who was delivering mail on Michigan Avenue in November, 2022. He threatened the mail carrier with a borrowed Glock19 and demanded his postal keys.

According to a release from Kenneth Parker, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Williams then stole the keys directly from the victim's belt and sent photos of them to a co-conspirator.

According to court documents, Williams robbed another postal worker on Christmas eve of 2022, allegedly punching the mail carrier in the face and threatening to kill him if he did not surrender his postal keys.

Williams was also accused of using the keys to rob a series of locked mail receptacles, which he did with several co-conspirators. He is also accused of altering stolen checks and using third parties to deposit them into personal accounts.

He was indicted by a grand jury and arrested in Pittsburgh in January. 

Williams’ plea includes a recommended sentence of 84 to 108 months in prison, or between seven and nine years.

During the past five decades, the U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees, making it one of the leading countries for finding new homes for people fleeing violence, persecution, and war.

In 2021, then-President Donald Trump lowered the annual cap of refugees that could be admitted into the country to 15,000. Even as the Biden administration has raised the ceiling to 125,000, the annual number of refugees arriving in the U.S. didn't immediately bounce back to pre-Trump administration levels. The numbers are increasing though, with over 25,000 refugees arriving in the U.S. in the 2022 fiscal year, twice the 2021 total.

Refugee arrivals during the 2023 fiscal year dramatically outpaced the prior two years, reaching over 60,000 from October 2022 to September 2023.

In June 2024, the greatest number of refugees admitted by the U.S. came from Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Congo. Each nation faces a unique set of circumstances that can make their citizens unsafe if they stay in their home country.

In Venezuela, over 7.5 million people have left the country due to extreme inflation, violence, food and medicine scarcity, and other factors. Most have resettled in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Afghan refugees have been fleeing to neighboring countries for decades, especially to Pakistan and Iran, which combined host over 8 million Afghans. For the last three decades, Congo, also called the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been struggling with a series of civil wars and internal battles that have left millions of people displaced, both internally and externally, with many people fleeing to neighboring countries.

Stacker referenced data from the Refugee Processing Center to compile statistics on the number of refugees and their countries of origin resettled in Ohio in June 2024. Countries with only one refugee since October 2023 are not included.

June refugee statistics
Countries where refugees arrived from in June
To Ohio:
#1. Congo: 42
#2. Venezuela: 34
#3. Somalia: 25
#4. Sudan: 24
#5. Afghanistan: 16
#6. Syria: 11
#7. Iraq: 5
#8. Guatemala: 4
#9. Ethiopia: 2
#9. Honduras: 2
#11. Nepal: 1
#11. Senegal: 1

To the U.S. as a whole:
#1. Venezuela: 1,163
#2. Afghanistan: 1,093
#3. Congo: 615
#4. Syria: 422
#5. Somalia: 403

States that accepted the most refugees in June:
#1. Texas: 619
#2. California: 370
#3. New York: 355
#4. Florida: 339
#5. Arizona: 243

Read on to see the countries that Ohio has accepted the most refugees from since the start of the fiscal year in October 2023.