Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Pop songwriters Charli XCX and Troye Sivan are teaming up to co-headline an arena tour coming to central Ohio this fall.

(Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)

The duo's 21-city "Sweat" tour is performing at Nationwide Arena on Sept. 20 with special guest Shygirl, Live Nation announced on Wednesday. Advance presale registration is available now at sweat-tour.com, with the artist presale beginning April 25 at 10 a.m. The general on-sale will begin on April 26 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com.

"Charli XCX & Troye Sivan present: Sweat is not only a celebration of their individual successes, but it is also a testament to their commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the music industry," said Live Nation. "Fans can expect an electrifying show filled with exhilarating performances, stunning visuals, and infectious beats."

100 days until the Paris Olympics: What to know about athletes, teams, schedule

XCX is fresh off the announcement of her sold-out "Brat 2024" tour in the UK, and is gearing up for the release of her sixth album, "Brat." The album, set to feature 15 tracks, includes the hit single "Von dutch," alongside recent releases "Club classics" and "B2b."

• Sivan will be coming off the heels of his European arena tour in support of his third album, "Something to Give Each Other." (Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)
• XCX is fresh off the announcement of her sold-out "Brat 2024" tour in the UK. (Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)

Sivan will be coming off the heels of his European arena tour in support of his third album, "Something to Give Each Other." His single "Rush," which earned two Grammy nominations and amassed over 180 million combined global streams to date, and "Got Me Started," the second single from his 2023 album, have gained worldwide recognition.

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Troye Sivan and Charli XCX are no strangers to collaboration, having previously worked together on hits such as "1999" and "2099."

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A national steakhouse known for preparing hand-cut, aged meats is opening a central Ohio location for the first time in more than a decade.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is opening at 6036 N. Hamilton Road west of New Albany, according to a permit under review by the city of Columbus. The location will add to the chain's more than 60 restaurants across 20 states, including Firebirds' Polaris Fashion Place grill at 8760 Sancus Blvd. that opened in 2014 and eateries near Cincinnati, Cleveland and Youngstown.

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The grill's permit calls from the construction of 6,000 square-foot restaurant with a patio on a more than two-acre site. The Westerville location will span about the same size as the Polaris restaurant, which can seat more than 200 patrons.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill at 8760 Sancus Blvd. near Polaris Fashion Place. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware County Auditor's Office)

Firebirds is known for 21-day-aged steaks butchered in house, hand-trimmed and then hardwood grilled. The restaurant also features of selection of seafood offerings, chicken dishes and pork chops. Half-pound burgers and signature salads with house-made dressings round of the menu.

The brand is one of several steakhouses expanding in central Ohio, along with international chain Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse with locations across the globe, including in Dubai, Toronto and Istanbul. Fogo de Chão will open at a former O'Charley's at 1425 Polaris Parkway after the building undergoes at $1.5 million renovation.

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Cameron Mitchell's new downtown steakhouse Butcher and Rose is set to open this year on the ground floor of 155 E. Broad St. at Preston Centre, the building previously known as the PNC Plaza. Columbus developer Edwards Cos. is transforming the building, one of several high-profile efforts underway to convert downtown towers for new uses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — It's been 100 years since the Olympics were held in Paris, and they are now 100 days away. The 2024 summer games open on July 26 as the world fixes its eyes on the City of Light.

Among the thousands of athletes heading to Paris will be several Ohio natives, current and former Buckeyes, and some of the biggest names in sports. As the Olympics approach, we catch up on the athletes and teams that are starting to form.

Notable Ohio athletes

Abby Steiner (track and field): The Dublin track star burst onto the professional scene in 2022 after winning multiple world championships. Her 2023 season was cut short after nationals due to a heel injury. Steiner returned to the track earlier in April and will be among the stars to watch at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

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Hunter Armstrong (swimming): Armstrong, a former Buckeye from Dover, Ohio, has cemented himself as one of the best male swimmers for Team USA. At February's world championships in Qatar, Armstrong won more medals than any swimmer with seven. The 23-year-old is expected to have a busy schedule in Paris.

Simone Biles (gymnastics): One of the top gymnastics stars ever, Biles was born in Columbus and looks likely to make her third Olympics team this summer. Biles withdrew from a majority of events in Tokyo but will enter the Olympic trials coming off a World all-around championship last year.

Katie Moon (track and field): The 32-year-old from Lakewood is the current Olympic and world pole vaulting champion. Moon will be among the favorites for the finals in Paris on Aug. 7.

Central Ohioans/Buckeyes qualified for Paris: Katelyn Abeln (Ohio State, shooting, USA), Lena Hentschel (Ohio State, diving, Germany), Maycey Vieta (Gahanna, diving, Puerto Rico)

U.S. teams and trials

Basketball: USA basketball will be favored for all four gold medals available in Paris, which includes the 3x3 tournaments. The men's roster spots are finalized, but the women's roster has yet to be decided.

Soccer: Both USA soccer teams are expected to have an Ohio flavor to them. The women's team could include Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle while the men's team could feature three Columbus Crew players: goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and midfielders Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki.

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Track and field: Eugene, Oregon, will host the U.S. Olympic trials from June 21 to 30. Among those joining Steiner will be 100-meter favorite Noah Lyles and superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Swimming: The American team will be decided at the Olympic trials in Indianapolis from June 15 to 23. Armstrong and other stars like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel are expected to feature.

Other key trials: wrestling (April 19-20), diving (June 16-23), gymnastics (June 27-30)

Events to watch at the start of the Olympics

July 24: Action for the Olympics kicks off two days before the opening ceremony. Known as Day minus-2, the first day of competition will include multiple rugby matches and the start of the men's soccer tournament. The soccer game to watch will be when the hosts France face Team USA.

July 25: The day before the opening ceremony will have action in four different sports: archery, handball, rugby, and soccer. Women's soccer headlines Day -1 with the U.S. team opening against Zambia.

July 26: The one-of-a-kind opening ceremony across the Seine River will take place in 100 days. NBC4's coverage of the opening ceremony will be hosted by Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning.

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July 27: Notable events for Day 1 include the first diving final, the men's rugby final, USA men's soccer match vs. New Zealand, and the first four swimming finals.

July 28: Among the events to watch on the first Sunday are: women's gymnastics qualifying, USA men's basketball's first game vs. Serbia, USA women's soccer game vs. Germany, and three more swimming finals.

How to watch on NBC4

The Paris games will offer the most live coverage and programming on NBC4 than any other Olympics before. With a six-hour time difference between the City of Light and Ohio’s capital, NBC4 will be showing at least nine hours of daytime coverage every day of the Olympics, including live finals coverage of swimming, gymnastics, track & field, and much more.

NBC4 Today morning anchor Matt Barnes will be reporting live from Paris throughout the games.

NBC4’s primetime Olympic coverage will consist of three hours of the best highlights of the day’s competition. More wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympics will be available on Peacock and NBC Universal cable channels.

For an earlier report on this story view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Police have identified and are searching for a third suspect in connection to a north-central Columbus murder that occurred one week ago.

According to court documents, an investigation revealed that Sheleeah Foggie, 32, was allegedly involved in the murder of 24-year-old Dedrick Robinson, who was gunned down on the morning of April 9 in the Arlington Park neighborhood.

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According to Columbus police, Robinson was taken to Grant Medical Center a little after midnight in critical condition after being struck by gunfire at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Brentnell Avenue. There, police said, officers found Robinson lying outside an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at 2:38 a.m.

Multiple witnesses reported that Robinson fired a shot from a handgun into an apartment before Kiante Lee, 27, and Terrell Thomas, 29, reportedly came outside where the three exchanged gunfire. Video evidence of the shooting as well as shell casings and handguns were recovered from the scene.

Court documents now say that Foggie and Thomas were in possession of handguns and exchanged gunfire with Robinson and another male.

Police said several apartment units were also struck by gunfire soon after 1 a.m. and officers detained Lee and Thomas from a nearby apartment complex on Genessee Avenue, a few blocks away from the shooting. They were each issued $2 million bonds in Franklin County Municipal Court.

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Foggie, who is believed to be armed and dangerous, according to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, is wanted for murder after a warrant was issued on April 12. Police said she is known to frequent the south side of Columbus.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and e-mail your tip.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A developer suing the city of Dublin, alleging private property rights were violated when its shopping district overhaul was rejected, is proposing a new mixed-use development to be built in the Ballantrae neighborhood.

Stavroff Land and Development aims to transform a 12-acre site southwest of the intersection of Avery and Woerner Temple roads into a mixed-use district named "Irish Village." The village would sit next to the Ballantrae Community Park and the Dublin Community Pool, sporting the Ballantrae neighborhood's Irish countryside-inspired aesthetic.

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The development company's Irish Village proposal submitted to the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission outlines four possible layouts, featuring various combinations of apartment buildings, senior living facilities, restaurants, shops, office spaces and more. The planning commission is set to provide an informal review of the layouts on Thursday.

• Stavroff Land and Development is aiming to transform a 12-acre site into a mixed-use district named "Irish Village." (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)

Stavroff's new proposal comes after the company filed a lawsuit earlier this year against the city, claiming Dublin's Bridge Street District code hinders the ability to redevelop Dublin Village Center, a shopping area owned by Stavroff since 2009. The complaint argues the city’s “illegitimate restrictions” violate equal protection and due process law.

"The City took complete control over the use and development of private property within the [Bridge Street District] by adopting unlawful and overbearing development restrictions," the lawsuit states. "In doing so, Dublin "unilaterally rezoned hundreds of acres of land and anointed its officials with unfettered and arbitrary discretion over private property."

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Stavroff is seeking compensatory damages "to recoup the millions of dollars in damages, costs, and expenses it has incurred as a result of the City's misconduct." The complaint also demands a declaration that the Bridge Street code is unconstitutional, a declaration that Stavroff's proposal is constitutional, and an injunction requiring Dublin to refrain from preventing the site's development.

However, Dublin denies the allegations and said Stavroff's claims are "moot" and "barred by applicable statutes of limitation." The city provided line-by-line acknowledgements in a March response to more than 160 of Stavroff's claims, admitting to some allegations but denying many or stating the city is "without knowledge to admit the allegations." Now, Dublin is asking the court to dismiss the company's suit.

Dublin said in the filing that Stavroff has yet "to set forth allegations sufficient to support a claim for compensatory damages." In addition, the city said in a statement to NBC4 in January that since the 1,100-acre Bridge Street District was created, dozens of projects have been approved and built.

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"The City's development approval process in the Bridge Street Code provides a fair and collaborative method to achieve high-quality development for the benefit of property owners and the community," a Dublin spokesperson said. "The City stands by its process and standards."

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) – Nearly a year and a half after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state could evict a golf club from the site of 2,000-year-old American Indian earthworks, the parties will finally go to trial to determine just how much money the golf club’s lease is worth. 

The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a procedural appeal from the Moundbuilders Country Club, meaning the previously delayed jury trial to determine leaseholder value will soon be underway. The members-only club, which sits in the middle of the Octagon Earthworks, asked the court to allow its appeal of the exclusion of its expert witnesses’ testimony about the lease's value.

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The Ohio History Connection, which has leased the land to the country club for 90 years, has sought control of the property for years to fully open the Octagon Earthworks to the public. The earthworks, one of three earthworks in Newark, were ceremonial and spiritual meeting grounds for many American Indian groups and were built 2,000 years ago to track the lunar cycle, according to the Ohio History Connection. The Newark Earthworks are the largest earthworks in existence and are one of eight in Ohio built by indigenous groups who were part of the Hopewell Culture. 

Moundbuilders Country Club, whose lease is slated to end in 2078, fought the appropriation of the land. The Ohio Supreme Court sided with the Ohio History Connection in December 2022, sending the case back to Licking County for a jury trial to determine the value of the remainder of the lease. The state cannot take the land from the country club until the leaseholder value is determined.

That trial was supposed to happen in October, but the club appealed to higher courts after, at the request of the Ohio History Connection, the Licking County judge threw out expert testimony from two of the country club’s witnesses. The witnesses had estimated the value of the remaining lease to be between $9.8 million and $22.7 million, basing their estimates on how much it would cost to build another golf course and the “historical, scientific and cultural significance of the mounds themselves,” according to the lower court ruling.

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The judge ruled those estimations improper and inadmissible, saying case law is clear that just compensation does not require the Ohio History Connection to fund the construction of a new golf course. Further, the club provided no evidence demonstrating that the value of the earthworks contributed meaningfully to their club membership rates.

“The Country Club is not entitled to the value of the mounds,” Judge David Branstool wrote in his October order. “The inclusion of that speculative value in some sort of cost reproduction method is completely unreliable when determining the fair market value of the Country Club’s lease.”

As a result, the jury would only hear testimony from the Ohio History Connection’s experts, who valued the lease to be between $1.18 million and $2 million. After an appellate court rejected the country club’s appeal, it took its case to the Supreme Court in February.

Allowing the trial to proceed without the country club’s expert witness testimony would make it a “trial in name only,” the club argued in its merit brief to the high court. The club further argued that not being able to appeal until after a jury determines the leaseholder value – at which point the state can immediately seize the land – would cause irreparable harm.

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“It is true that a jury will determine the amount of compensation MCC is to receive. But that jury-trial right is hollow and empty if the jury is making a determination based solely on evidence presented by the appropriating governmental agency,” the club’s merit brief to the Supreme Court read. 

Joe Fraley, attorney for the country club, said he plans to ask the Licking County judge to reconsider the exclusion of the club's witnesses before the case goes to trial.

"It puts us in the position that we're going to have to do a trial with essentially no witnesses," Fraley said. "That's not really a fair trial."

Octagon Earthworks of Newark (Courtesy Photo/Ohio History Connection)

In September, the state’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, including the Octagon Earthworks, were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, making them the first sites in Ohio to receive the global designation. Neil Thompson, spokesperson for the Ohio History Connection, said it was a process two decades in the making.

The legal fight between the state and the country club didn’t help with that timeline. But Thompson said the Ohio History Connection is appreciative of the legal process and pleased that the case will – hopefully – soon be resolved.

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“Our guiding principles throughout this process remain the same: to enable full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring the country club receives fair market value for the lease,” Thompson said.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – In Durham, North Carolina, there is a famous railroad overpass called The Can Opener Bridge.

Standing at 12-feet-4 inches (up from 11-feet, 8-inches since 2020), it is periodically the site where trucks get stuck under or crash into the top of the overpass, 178 times since 2008. Late Monday night in north Columbus, a semi-truck experienced the same fate.

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According to Columbus police a crash occurred at 11:31 p.m. when a semi-truck got stuck under the railroad overpass at East 17th Avenue, near Dora Road and just west of the Ohio Expo Center. The crash caused the road to close between North 4th Street and Korbel Avenue.

An out of state semi-truck got stuck under the bridge overpass at East 17th Avenue near the Ohio Expo Center, April 16, 2024. (NBC4/Ronald Clark)

The man, who is not from Ohio, but Wyoming, told police he was able to get under a bridge earlier in the day on East 11th Avenue, which stands at 14 feet tall. He then was leaving town on East 17th Ave. and thought the overpass was the same height, but the bridge stands at 12-feet-9-inches. The trailer rises 13-feet and 1-inch.

No one was injured during the crash and about an hour after the trailer was wedged underneath the overpass, the driver let the air out of all 18 wheels of the truck and was able to pull it out from under the bridge. Authorities were called to assess any damage and East 17th Ave. reopened just after 12:30 p.m.

View the player above to watch previous coverage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio has approved the $78,000 purchase of two mobile homes for training public school staff with firearms in the event of an active shooter. 

The Ohio Controlling Board, which handles making adjustments to the state budget, approved public safety officials’ request for $78,028 in March to purchase two "mobile modular shoot houses" to train public school staff who are permitted to carry firearms. 

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House Bill 99, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in June 2022, allows school boards to arm specific staff members and mandates training requirements for those individuals. The law does not mandate the arming of school staff members but leaves the decision to local school boards. 

Armed staff members are required to complete at least 24 hours of initial training and eight hours of annual requalification training, according to Ohio Department of Public Safety spokesperson Jay Carey. Under the law, the training must include four hours of scenario-based training, which Carey said the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) strives to make “as close to the real thing as possible.”

“Currently, we have movable canvas walls that can be configured to simulate responding to an active shooter in a school, like walking down a hallway, but there are limits,” Carey said. “The modular mobile shoot houses offer several advantages like doors and windows so armed school staff can practice opening doors and looking through windows just like they would find in a school.”

Carey said the OSSC is in the early stages of procuring the custom shoot houses from Kontek Industries, a North Carolina-based security service company, and hopes to have them incorporated into training this summer. 

• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)
• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)
• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)

Kontek has over 40 systems across the country used in training efforts of law enforcement and civilians in response to an active shooter threat. The mobile modular shoot houses debuted in 2019. 

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The shoot houses can be set up in a large outdoor space at schools for training (without the use of lethal ammunition), and if there is inclement weather, the units can be moved into a large indoor space such as a gymnasium, according to Carey. The shoot houses will also be used for live-fire training courses at a firing range.

Currently, there are 67 schools and districts in 36 counties that have submitted rosters of staff that are permitted to be armed, but not everyone is on board with arming teachers and other staff. 

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“We have very serious concerns about asking educators who already have a lot on their plate, and who have a primary responsibility of educating children to take on the dual role of serving as armed security guards,” said president of the Ohio Education Association Scott DiMauro. 

DiMauro said the OEA would “rather not” see teachers or any school employee carrying weapons except trained security professionals, such as school resource officers. But when it comes to the state's purchase of shoot houses, he said if schools are going to have armed staff anyway, it’s better that they complete simulated training.

“If you compare Ohio to other states that do that, I don’t think there’s another state in the country that has training standards as weak as Ohio’s,” DiMauro said. “Given the incredibly high life and death stakes we’re talking about here, if any teachers are going to be authorized to carry weapons they need to be trained in way more than 24 hours.”

Joe Eaton is the program director for FASTER Saves Lives – a Buckeye Firearms Foundation program that has worked alongside around 3,000 different staff members across 23 states who have chosen to arm themselves at school. He called 24 hours an “adequate” training requirement and said the decision should be up to each school. In his experience, he said about 5% to 15% of staff members in a given school are interested in firearms training.

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“[Many teachers] will willingly go stand between someone with a rifle and the school kids and they’ll give up the last few minutes of their lives to buy the kids a few more minutes,” Eaton said. “We owe it to them to give them every opportunity they want to take to be able to go home to their families at the end of the night.”

A large amount of the staff that enters his firearms training program are already concealed carry license holders, according to Eaton. He said armed staff members do not replace law enforcement or school resource officers, but rather add an additional safety layer.  

“Most of the studies on these past events, especially in schools, has determined that the killers are looking for a place where they assume they will meet no resistance to carry out their crimes,” Eaton said.

Armed school staff will complete training through the Ohio Department of Public Safety or an alternate training provider whose courses meet the requirements of OSSC's curriculum.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: AM rain, PM storms, windy, high 76
• Tonight: Rain tapers, breezy, low 55
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 75
• Friday: AM showers, clearing, high 65
• Saturday: Clearing, breezy, high 59
• Sunday: Few clouds, high 58

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Wednesday!

We start the day with rain and a few rumbles for portions of the region. That will all taper by about mid-morning, then we'll see several dry hours, allowing temperatures to warm into the middle 70s, with a strong gusty wind. The more clearing we get during this timeframe, the greater our threat for strong storms later, so this is a timeframe we'll be watching closely.

Currently the Storm Prediction Center has our entire area under a 2-out-of-5 risk for strong to severe storms this afternoon and evening.

This is a very conditional threat, based on the amount of clearing. With that said, the primary timeframe we will be watching will be between about 3-9 PM, with strong gusty winds and heavy rain being the higher risks, with an isolated large hail and/or tornado threat.

That all clears in time for Thursday, leading to mainly sunny skies, with highs sticking in the middle 70s.

Overnight into Friday, we'll be looking at scattered rain showers. Those showers will clear up early Friday, then we'll be dry into the afternoon, with highs falling back to the middle 60s.

This weekend will be dry, just a lot cooler. Expect highs in the upper 50s, with just a few clouds out.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It was somehow fitting that all the stars aligned for a Blue Jackets victory to end what was an otherwise forgetful 2023-24 campaign.

On a night that saw the franchise's longtime television announcer enter retirement, and five years to the day when Columbus upset the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, CBJ headed into an uncertain offseason with a 6-3 win over the playoff-bound Carolina Hurricanes.

There were 17,289 fans that witnessed the season finale for the Blue Jackets. And the number of individual storylines that unfolded Tuesday evening at Nationwide Arena gave the faithful fanbase some hope about the future.

Luca Del Bel Belluz scores in NHL debut

Luca Del Bel Belluz woke up this morning in Cleveland not knowing he'd end up scoring his first NHL goal hours later. The 20-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario was in the middle of watching film when he got the call that he'd be on the ice for the Blue Jackets on emergency recall with forward Dimitri Voronkov out due to illness.

"There were so many thoughts going through my head. I had a lot of people calling me on the way down," Del Bel Belluz said.

The forward made an immediate impact in his NHL debut, scoring his first career goal on his first shot of the game. He became the eighth player in club history to score in his debut and fifth to do it at home.

"It's definitely going to be one to remember. It was just kind of a whirlwind of a day. Not expecting to get called up. Just going to practice in the morning. Regular day and then just like that it switches and you're on your way to Columbus," Del Bel Belluz said. "Playing my first NHL game is something that you dream of as a kid and something I'll always remember.

It's just too bad his parents didn't get to see it, even though they were at Nationwide Arena to see him play.

"He was called up this afternoon and I believe somebody told me that his parents were in the elevator when he scored that goal," head coach Pascal Vincent said. "Just too bad. But that's a good story in 20 years."

Zach Werenski sets a franchise record in season finale

Zach Werenski was on the Blue Jackets when they pulled off that memorable sweep of the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning five years ago, which marked the first playoff series win in franchise history.

Five years later, he's in the record books for an individual achievement. Werenski's assist on Del Bel Belluz's opening goal set a new franchise record for most assists in a single season by a defenseman. By the end of the night, Werenski had four points with two goals and two assists and became the sixth player in Blue Jackets history to reach 300 career points.

"I owe it to a lot of guys obviously, but it was really cool to finish that way," Werenski said. "I think it was really huge for us. It was a fun hockey game in a fun atmosphere. It's good to end on a high note."

Jeff Rimer heads into retirement on a high note

For one last time, Jeff Rimer provided the soundtrack to a Blue Jackets telecast, concluding a 20-year run in the broadcast booth for Columbus. And the Blue Jackets made sure he headed into retirement with a victory.

Earlier in the day, Rimer was in the locker room to provide the team's starting lineup.

"He said I expect a win. And nothing less. There's no way you guys are going to let me retire on a loss," Vincent said. "It was a great speech."

There's no question Rimer was part of the motivation for the Blue Jackets' season finale. In the final period of Rimer's broadcast, a montage commemorating his career played on the video board, with appearances from the likes of Michael Buble and Wayne Gretzky who provided messages of gratitude for his decades of service.

"He's such a character. He's such a good man. He's been in the NHL for 47 years," Vincent said. "And there's a reason for it. You don't last that long if you're not a special man."

And so ends the 2023-24 season. One that saw more than 40 losses for the second straight year. Yet the fanbase remains strong. The club's average attendance of 17,016 over 41 games marks the highest average at Nationwide Arena in 20 years.

As the players get ready to clean out their lockers for an offseason that will see a new general manager take over, the fans can enjoy this win until the Blue Jackets get on the ice again.

Watch a previous report of Cayon Drake appearing in court in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was sentenced to as much as 18 years in prison for a fatal double-shooting tied to a drug deal gone wrong in 2023.

Cayon Drake, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, one carrying a mandatory three-year firearms specification. He was sentenced to 15 to 18 years in prison with two to five years of post-release control when released.

In exchange for his plea, charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premise, and improper handling of a firearm were all dropped.

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According to police, officers responded to the 2000 block of East 10th Avenue on April 18, 2023, and found Antonie Moss Jr., 19, and Jeremy Heglar, 16, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene while Heglar later died at the hospital.

Heglar and his girlfriend met Moss and Drake to buy drugs, court records show. Moss and Drake then got into the back seat of Heglar’s car, pulled out guns and shot Heglar. Helger then returned fire, killing Moss and shooting Drake in the arm. Drake ran from the car, shooting it several more times before running away.

Drake received six to nine years in prison plus an additional three years for the firearms specification for the first involuntary manslaughter charge, plus an additional six to nine years for the second involuntary manslaughter charge, all to be served consecutively.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Dozens of people enjoying time out and about on Saturday afternoon came back to find their car windows smashed. The crimes took place in Clintonville and western parts of the city. 

According to Columbus Police, nearly 20 people had their cars vandalized at the Rusty Bucket on North High Street. 

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“Be safe, be aware and keep your eyes open,” said Paige Postlewaite, a Columbus resident. 

That’s the message one Columbus resident is spreading after a smash-and-grab incident happened not too far from where she lives. 

“I always thought Clintonville was more of a safer area. It's not too close to the city, so I don't really expect a lot of break-ins or anything like that. But, I was definitely surprised to hear about The Rusty Bucket. Yeah, I'll definitely be keeping valuables in my home,” said Postlewaite. 

Over the weekend, dozens of cars had their windows smashed out. Cars were also targeted at Hayden Falls and Tuttle Crossing Mall.

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The recent string of break-ins has led the Rusty Bucket to add its own portable surveillance system, just to make sure its customers and employees feel protected. 

At Hayden Falls, you can still see large amounts of glass in a couple parking spots. People we spoke with told NBC4 they were shocked that it happened in the middle of the day. They said it makes them more concerned but they try to not leave anything valuable in their cars. 

“The people that we live with, like, advise us not to leave anything. So, other than a few blankets, like nothing is left in the car,” said Isabelle Smith, a student at Ohio State University. 

Eric Delbert, owner of L.E.P.D Firearms, said one thing these vandals could be looking for is firearms. 

“They're looking for that firearm that is stored in the center console, in the glove box, under the seat, those obvious places. When they don't find it, they're off to the next one,” he said. 

Man sentenced for fatal 2023 North Linden shooting

According to data from Columbus police, in 2023, 770 guns were stolen out of vehicles. In January of this year, 69 guns were stolen from vehicles. If you have to leave your firearms in your vehicle, Delbert recommends a lock box. 

“There's always an occasion to maybe need to secure your firearm when you're out. It doesn't take much just to have one of these safes sitting in the car, sitting in the trunk, and be prepared for those days when you're going to have to lock it up and make sure it's secured,” said Delbert. 

As always, if someone witnesses a car break-in, contact law enforcement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Have you ever considered that being able to check the mailbox is a privilege most of us take for granted? It's something Kieauna Fuqua's considered after she moved into an apartment complex in north Columbus last September.

"I picked up my key to get into my apartment and then I asked the landlord, 'Hey, what about my mailbox key?' And she told me, 'Oh, you'll go to the local post office to get your mailbox key.' So, that's what I did," Fuqua said. "Showed them all of my information, they stamped it, told me to come back in seven to 10 business days and they'll have my mailbox key for me."

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When that time passed, Fuqua returned to the post office to get her mailbox key.

"But, they said, 'No, you were told the wrong information. We don't have a key for you. You have to get your key from the rental property, where you're renting from,'" she said.

So, Fuqua said she went back to her landlord.

"Explained everything that was going on," Fuqua said. "She said, 'Oh, nope. That's not our issue. That's a USPS issue.'"

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The back-and-forth with the post office and the property management continued, and Fuqua was right in the middle.

"Someone has to be responsible," Fuqua said. "I'm not responsible, I'm just the tenant."

But Fuqua said she became more and more frustrated and confused, especially after she took another look at her lease agreement.

"It even stated that I'm supposed to have one mailbox key and one key to my apartment," Fuqua said.

That's when she called Better Call 4 in February. She'd gone nearly five months without mail.

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After speaking with Fuqua on Feb. 5, we were also confused about who was responsible. I even asked a mail carrier, who just happened to be outside of Fuqua's apartment the day we spoke. She told me it was the rental property's responsibility.

And a USPS representative echoed that, telling me in a statement, "We apologize for the miscommunication, but USPS does not own these boxes. Since they are considered ‘privately owned,’ the building management is responsible for maintaining the box including issuing keys."

I then reached out to property management, who told me Fuqua's "mailbox is a USPS mailbox," but added that they made the decision "to replace all of our mailboxes from USPS to our own to avoid this issue happening to anyone else." And went on to say Fuqua's mailbox was replaced on Feb. 12, and she was finally provided with a key on Feb. 21.

I checked back with both the property management and with USPS, but never got a clear answer as to why there was so much confusion about who was responsible for the key.

Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’

I also confirmed with Fuqua that she got her key. She did, it works, and she's officially able to get her mail.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) said distracted driving causes thousands of crashes each year, but that number is going down, and they are crediting a lot of that to the state's distracted driving law.

The law has been in place for a little more than a year and is making an impact on the roads.

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Data from the OHSP shows a 45% decrease in serious injury crashes involving distracted driving year to date. Officials credit much of this to the state’s year-old distracted driving law.

“We know that that law is actually saving lives,” said Andy Wilson with the Ohio Department of Public Safety Director.

The Phones Down law allows law enforcement to pull over drivers if they are seen swiping on their phones while moving on the roads.  

Some people said it has made them more aware.

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“I definitely have been more cautious of how I drive,” Columbus resident Sarah Grose said.

In the past year, highway patrol has given out more than 12,000 distracted driving-related violations.

Some people said the threat of being pulled over is not stopping some drivers.

“Just coming down here to Columbus today, you had at least two people who were slow in the passing lane and you look over and they’re on their phone. So it hasn’t changed. People still do what they want to do,” Toledo resident Aaron Koehl said.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety said that this year, it has been able to track phone use on the roads through insurance apps.

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“We know from the information that we have from those companies that since our distracted driving law went into effect, we've had about an 8.6% reduction in the number of people who are using their phones on the road,” Wilson said.

Highway Patrol said Franklin County ranked second in the state for the most distracted driving-related crashes over the last five years, but OSHP said the crashes are down by around 19% statewide.

People on the roads still think there is still improvement to be made.

“Social media is so big, kids on TikTok, Instagram. I know I've been a victim of falling into social media distractedness, but I think it is good to kind of push the standards moving forward,” Grose said.

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If you are pulled over for using your phone while driving there are fines. For a first offense, drivers will get two points on their license and a $150 fine. This could be waived by taking a distracted driving course. If a driver has another offense within two years, they will receive three points and up to $250 fine. Any offense after that within two years is four points, up to a $500 fine, and a possible 90-day suspension of your license. 

The Highway Patrol said if you see someone driving unsafe, you can call #677 to report it.

Watch a previous report on the fatal shooting in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to murder in connection with a 2023 North Linden double shooting.

Paul A. Banks, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to at least 18 years with the possibility of life in prison after pleading guilty to murder with a firearm specification and felonious assault charges on Monday.

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With his plea, Banks admitted to shooting and killing Ronald Price, 60, just before midnight on Jan. 31, 2023, on the 2800 block of Atwood Terrace. Banks also shot a 37-year-old man in the same incident.

The surviving victim told police that he was inside the home when he heard the shooting. When he went to help Price, Banks shot him, police said.

Banks received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 18 years for the murder charge -- 15 years plus an additional three years mandatory for a firearm specification. He also received a concurrent four-year sentence for the felonious assault plea. Should Banks be released from prison, he would receive 18 months to three years of post-release control.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As Ohio families continue to face challenges when it comes to accessing affordable childcare, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is trying to help find solutions.

The chamber Tuesday hosted its first Access and Affordability to Childcare Summit. Dave Smith, Executive Director of Horizon Education Centers, was an attendee and panelist. “A lot of families have to decide do I want to deal with that career loss or am I going to have to figure out some way to pony up the money to pay for quality childcare," he said.

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Often times, one parent in a household decides to leave their job rather than pay for childcare. With about thirty years of experience in the early childcare and education industry, Smith recognized the situation families are in. “Quality childcare in most situations, a family is going to pay more for childcare than they’re going to pay for their mortgage," he said.

He said paying childcare workers enough and staffing levels on the provider side are other big challenges. He described as a tricky situation to be in because enrollment needs to be up to support staffing but many families can't afford enrolling.

“If we can't get enough people to staff and become childcare caregivers, how do we expect to grow the number of options, how do we expect to grow supply and drive down the price," said Rick Carfagna, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

The summit brought together national, local, and state partners. “We have to be very three dimensional in how we address this problem, there’s not going to be a one size fits all approach so we’re going to have to attack it from many different levels," Carfagna said.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on H.B. 68 in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth cannot go into effect as planned next week while a legal challenge moves forward in court, a Franklin County judge ruled Tuesday. 

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook issued a two-week temporary restraining order on Tuesday to block House Bill 68. The legislation would prohibit Ohio’s children’s hospitals from providing treatment like hormone therapy to trans minors, and was set to take effect on April 24.

Tuesday’s ruling follows a lawsuit by the ACLU against the measure filed in March on behalf of two families whose children are at risk of losing access to their healthcare. The temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days or until the hearing of the ACLU's motion for a preliminary injunction.

"We are thrilled and relieved that Ohio’s ban on gender-affirming health care has been halted and that transgender youth can continue, for the near term at least, to access medically necessary healthcare," said Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio. "Our legal battle will continue until, we hope, this cruel restriction is permanently blocked."

The ACLU argues the legislation violates the Ohio Constitution’s single-subject rule, requiring bills to only be about one topic, given the measure addresses trans healthcare and also bans transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. The two provisions had been separate bills before Ohio House legislators combined them in June last year.

H.B. 68 also goes against a constitutional amendment that says no law or rule “shall prohibit the purchase or sale of Health Care or health insurance,” the ACLU said. The amendment led by Ohio Republicans passed in 2011 and aimed to limit the effects of the Affordable Care Act.

The legal challenge came after the Statehouse voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the legislation. DeWine decided to reject the bill after visiting several children’s hospitals, arguing “parents should make these decisions and not the government.”

Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the primary sponsor of H.B. 68, said the complaint is “not surprising” and “par for the course,” and argued H.B. 68 was written “to be bulletproof when it came to lawsuits.” Click said he has the “utmost confidence in our attorney general who is capable of defending such commonsense legislation.” 

“It is going to be a frivolous lawsuit because there is not constitutional right to sterilize children or to harm or to mutilate them,” Click said. “I believe that science and the law is on our side and we will prevail.”

Gender-affirming care is backed by every major medical association in the nation, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association. To override medical consensus is “government overreach,” the ACLU said and promised it will “reinstate Ohio families’ right to make personal medical decisions with healthcare providers -- not politicians.” 

Ohio’s children’s hospitals have served about 3,300 individuals throughout the past 10 years whose first appointment at a gender clinic took place when they were under the age of 18, according to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association president. Of those 3,300 individuals, 7% were prescribed a puberty blocker and 35% were prescribed hormones.

A previous report can be seen in the player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man who has been charged with murder in connection to a fatal shooting of a 21-year-old made his first court appearance on Tuesday.

Kristion Gresham appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court and was given a $1 million bond after being arrested on Saturday and charged with the shooting death of Delvon Wilkerson Jr.

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Gresham, 21, was arrested in connection to a shooting Thursday at the 100 block of East 21st Avenue. Just after 5:15 p.m., Columbus police officers found Gresham with a gunshot wound.

Roughly 30 minutes later, officers went to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and found Wilkerson inside a car that had numerous bullet holes. Wilkerson was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. while Gresham, who had non-life threatening injuries, was arrested at the hospital.

Police believe a fight between Gresham and Wilkerson took place at the East 21st Avenue location, resulting in both men being shot.

Among the conditions of Gresham's bond include no possession of firearms of ammunition. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 25.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Isolated showers, high 78
• Tonight: Scattered showers, low 61
• Wednesday: Showers & t-storms, high 75 (55)
• Thursday: Partly sunny, high 70 (52)
• Friday: Chance rain showers, high 66 (45)
• Saturday: Clearing and cooler, high 61 (41)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

As the afternoon progresses, clouds will begin to build across the area. Temperatures will stay well above normal for this time of year. Highs will reach the upper 70s across central Ohio. By the evening hours a few isolated showers and a couple rumbles of thunder will move over. Portions of the area will be under a marginal risk for severe weather, which is on the lowest end of the threat scale.

Overnight there will be a few more chances for scattered rain chances. On and off rain starts some time after midnight and will linger into the morning commute on Wednesday. Lows overnight will fall into the lower 60s. Wind gusts will begin to pick up a little bit. Once the morning rain chances taper off there will be a few breaks in the clouds allowing for peaks of sunshine.

Wednesday afternoon will bring better chances for strong to severe thunderstorms. Most of these storms will push though around the mid to late afternoon hours. The primary severe weather threat will be for large hail. There is also the chance for some damaging winds. Flooding and tornado chances will be very low. Highs tomorrow will be in the mid 70s.

The rest of the work week will start a cooling trend in out temperatures. Thursday will be dry, but Friday will bring a few more rain chances. Expect drier conditions by this weekend with temps topping off right around 60 degrees. Lows by the weekend will be in the lower 40s.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – An Indian restaurant will open its doors in Pickerington this spring.

Indian Spice, at 1111 Hill Road North, will have a “huge menu” filled with authentic Indian dishes, according to co-owner Bhim Dulal.

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Among the restaurant's offerings are chicken marsala, butter chicken, lamb chops, chicken biryani and vegetarian meals. The eatery will also serve Indian beers and cocktails. Dulal said he chose to open his restaurant in Pickerington because of the growth the city is seeing and the lack of Indian food in the area.

“I am a real estate salesperson, so I see the demand that Indian food is needed in this area,” Dulal said. 

Indian Spice’s opening date will likely fall in the second or third week of May, Dulal said.