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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lawmakers are calling for Ohio native Tracy Chapman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after the musician's viral "Fast Car" performance earlier this year at the Grammy Awards.

House Resolution 376 has been introduced at the Statehouse to urge the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation to nominate Cleveland-born Chapman for induction. Among her musical accolades, Chapman is celebrated for her human rights advocacy and philanthropic work with Cleveland elementary schools, where she created educational videos highlighting African American history.

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"Tracy Chapman, an Ohio native, has broken records in the music industry while advocating for humanitarian and civil rights," Rep. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus), the resolution's primary sponsor, said. "I am proud to be a joint sponsor of this resolution congratulating Ms. Chapman on her achievements, particularly her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

Tracy Chapman performs onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

The effort to cement Chapman's legacy comes after she joined county singer Luke Combs on the Grammy stage on Feb. 4 to perform "Fast Car," a song that earned Chapman a Grammy in 1989. Combs' cover of the track went on to earn both artists a best country solo performance nomination at this year's Grammys.

Following the performance, both renditions of "Fast Car" were ranked in the top 50 in the Billboard Hot 100. The original version topped the digital sales chart for the first time, and sales of Chapman's entire catalogue surged nearly 6,000% in the week after the Grammys, Billboard reported.

Chapman's collaboration with Combs also propelled her in 2023 to become the first Black artist to win the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year. Humphrey also cites the musician's other awards as reason for induction, including her additional Grammy wins: best contemporary folk album and best new artist in 1989, and best rock song for "Give Me One Reason" in 1997.

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"My district appreciates Ms. Chapman for giving back to the community she comes from and the advances she has made for Black people in the country, rock and indie music genres and she
undeniably should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," said Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), the resolution's other primary sponsor.

The resolution has been referred to the Government Oversight committee, where it could receive additional public hearings before receiving a floor vote in the Ohio House.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A plan allowing adults to get their drinks to go Downtown and in Franklinton is moving forward after being approved Monday night by Columbus City Council.

Council spent April discussing the Center City DORA proposal. The plan creates a designated area where those 21 and older can walk around with alcoholic beverages through an exception to open container laws by purchasing drinks sold by participating businesses in designated cups. The district includes parts of Downtown and Franklinton.

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With its passage, the zone is expected to launch in late May and operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, pending state approval.

"Since being established by the state in 2015, DORAs have been used by municipalities across the state to increase pedestrian activity, local commercial activity, enhanced outdoor dining and activating areas that have walkability and green space," Councilmember Nicholas Bankston said.

Earlier in April, council members discussed the proposal during a public forum at Land-Grant Brewing in Franklinton. At the event, Bankston and Councilmember Chris Wyche, Downtown Columbus Inc., and Land-Grant explained the plan, expressed support and listened to community input.

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"For myself as an operator, to be able to be part of developing this DORA, I think it’s a great opportunity to really connect the city," Adam Benner of Land-Grant Brewing Company said at the event.

There is one other DORA in Columbus, located in the Arena District.

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus firefighter charged in the 2023 death of a motorist on an interstate in Gahanna received his sentence Monday.

On Monday, 25-year-old Tyler Conners pleaded no contest in Franklin County Municipal Court. Originally charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, Conners received a sentence on an amended charge of negligent, vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

That sentence was suspended, however, and replaced with two years of probation. His license was also suspended for two years and must perform 180 hours of community service and pay a $500 plus court fees.

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The court decision is tied to a crash in July of 2023 when Conners operated a fire engine in a negligent manner, causing the death of 63-year-old Timothy Wiggins, according to a Gahanna Division of Police detective. The crash occurred on Interstate 270 and Hamilton Road, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.

Fatal crash in the area of Interstate 270 and Hamilton Road near Gahanna involving a Columbus Fire engine Sunday, July 23, 2023. (OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)

In a civil case against Conners, the Columbus Division of Fire and the Columbus Department of Public Safety, the prosecution asserts that Conners partially pulled the fire engine into an emergency turnaround, with the rear of the ending projecting into the northbound lane. Wiggins then reportedly collided with the back of the fire engine. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The division had previously named Conners as part of its 116th Recruit Class in an October 2022 Facebook post. He was placed on administrative leave after the crash.

A representative for the CFD said that at the conclusion of the trial an internal investigation would be conducted to determine if Conners violated any of its policies.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Former President Donald Trump holds a slight edge over President Joe Biden in seven key swing states, according to a new Emerson College/NBC4 poll.

The survey polled voters in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

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The results are listed below:

• Arizona: Trump 48%, Biden 44% with 8% undecided
• Georgia: Trump 47%, Biden 44% with 9% undecided
• Michigan: Trump 45%, Biden 44% with 11% undecided
• Nevada: Trump 45%, Biden 44% with 11% undecided
• North Carolina: Trump 47%, Biden 42% with 10% undecided
• Pennsylvania: Trump 47%, Biden 45% with 8% undecided
• Wisconsin: Trump 47%, Biden 45% with 8% undecided

The results for each poll are within that state’s margin of error.

When third-party candidates including Robert Kennedy Jr. are thrown into the mix, support is pulled more from Biden than Trump in Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. That support is pulled evenly from both candidates in Arizona and Michigan.

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The poll also asked about Trump’s ongoing criminal trial in New York. More of those polled in all states said the trial was appropriate as opposed to it being a "witch hunt:"

• Arizona: 47% say trial is appropriate, 43% say it is a witch hunt, 10% are unsure
• Georgia: 48% say trial is appropriate, 41% say it is a witch hunt, 11% are unsure
• Michigan: 50% say trial is appropriate, 43% say it is a witch hunt, 7% are unsure
• Nevada: 51% say trial is appropriate, 40% say it is a witch hunt, 9% are unsure
• North Carolina: 46% say trial is appropriate, 45% say it is a witch hunt, 9% are unsure
• Pennsylvania: 50% say trial is appropriate, 43% say it is a witch hunt, 7% are unsure
• Wisconsin: 49% say trial is appropriate, 43% say it is a witch hunt, 8% are unsure

And while the trial was deemed appropriate by voters in the seven states, Republicans in those states said a guilty verdict in the trial would have no impact or make them more likely to support Trump in the November election.

• Arizona: 32% more likely, 25% less likely, 43% no impact
• Georgia: 26% more likely, 32% less likely, 42% no impact
• Michigan: 26% more likely, 30% less likely, 45% no impact
• North Carolina: 32% more likely, 25% less likely, 43% no impact
• Nevada: 25% more likely, 32% less likely, 43% no impact
• Pennsylvania: 31% more likely, 24% less likely, 45% no impact
• Wisconsin: 24% more likely, 30% less likely, 47% no impact

Of the seven states polled, Biden won all but North Carolina, which went for Trump in 2020; Trump won Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in 2016.

“The state of the presidential election in swing states has remained relatively consistent since Emerson and The Hill started tracking them last November,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a press release. “The share of undecided voters has reduced and Biden gained ground in Georgia and Nevada, narrowing the gap, while Trump has maintained a slight edge on Biden in the swing states.”

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Thirty-nine years ago, Barbara Frame vanished after telling her kids she would be right back and leaving for an appointment with a divorce attorney – a meeting her daughter would later discover never existed. 

At the time of her disappearance, Frame was 38 years old and the mother of a 14-year-old daughter, as well as two sons aged 13 and 7.

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“She was a very sociable person, girl next door,” Frame's daughter Kathy Huber said. “Talked to everyone, the friendly type.”

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Six weeks before she vanished, she got a divorce from her husband of four-and-a-half years. Frame was “trying to get her life on track” and had recently moved into a home with her children on the 1000 block of Alice Street, according to Huber. 

On Jan. 30, 1985, Frame was running late for work, which Huber said was unlike her. She did not have time to get her kids ready for school, so they ended up missing their bus and stayed home. 

While Frame was at work, a piece of ice fell off the roof of the home next to hers and crashed through a bedroom window, Huber said. Frame arrived home from work around 4:30 p.m., when Huber told her about the broken window. Frame planned to tell her landlord about the window later that evening and began to make dinner when there was a knock at the door. 

“She started to make dinner then her ex-husband came over to the house and told her she had to go to a meeting with a lawyer, something about the house is all I know and all she told us,” Huber said. 

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Frame’s ex-husband told her she needed to go to the meeting right then, according to Huber. At about 5 p.m., she grabbed her coat and her purse and told her children she was going to go sign papers at the lawyer’s office, stop at a store to grab an ingredient for dinner and contact her landlord about the window – then she would be right back. Frame left in her car but did not return that evening.

The next day when Frame did not show up for work, Huber reported her missing. The same day, her car was found abandoned in a parking lot on Linden Avenue across the street from Frame’s place of work. It was later revealed there was never an appointment with the attorney scheduled for that day, nor did the pair go to his office. The landlord was also never contacted by Frame to report the broken window. 

Just four days after Frame was reported missing, her mother died of cancer, not knowing what happened to her daughter. Frame did not come to her funeral and no one heard from her in the days surrounding her mother’s passing. Huber lost her grandmother and mother within days, and called living without her mom “one of the hardest things” she has gone through.

“We didn’t have our mother in our life for the rest of our childhood and you know, it was hard because the not knowing is the worst part,” Huber said. “It just brings anxiety like you wouldn’t believe.”

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Nearly four decades later, no one has seen or heard from Frame. Twenty-nine years after her disappearance, Huber Googled her mother’s name – nothing came up. In that moment, Huber decided she wanted to bring more attention to Frame’s case and work toward getting answers. She contacted several missing persons organizations online, submitted DNA to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, teamed up with a private investigator, and started a Facebook group dedicated to finding her mom. 

An age-progressed photo of Frame (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney General's Office).

“I absolutely believe foul play was involved,” Huber said. “I have since the first day.”

At the time of her disappearance, Barbara Frame was 5 feet 6, 130 pounds and had brown hair and green eyes. She had a cesarean section scar on her stomach. She was last seen wearing long pants, a coat and tennis shoes. As of Thursday, she would be 77 years old. 

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Barbara Frame can contact the Zanesville Police Department at 740-455-0700.

If you’re a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@wcmh.com.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: AM showers, slow clearing, high 74
• Tonight: Mainly clear, low 53
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, iso. sprinkle, high 80
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, iso. sprinkle, high 84
• Friday: PM showers, storms, high 82
• Saturday: AM showers, high 77

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Tuesday!

We start the day off with rain showers moving through, but they're not long-lasting. Expect rain to clear by mid-morning in the city, lingering just a bit longer for our southeastern areas, where rain tapers by early to mid-afternoon. We'll be a bit cooler today, but still mild, with highs in the middle 70s. Clouds eventually break this evening.

For Wednesday, our warm weather returns! The first day of May, and we've got above-average temperatures, once again. Expect highs to warm back near 80, under mainly sunny skies. We'll feel a slight breeze at times, and see the chance for just an isolated sprinkle. Mainly dry overall.

That isolated sprinkle chance lasts through Thursday, but still mainly dry. Highs continue to warm, into the middle 80s, under mainly sunny skies.

Our next cold front arrives on Friday. We top out in the lower 80s, and then scattered rain and thunderstorms arrive during the afternoon and evening.

Those showers continue overnight, and through about the first half of Saturday.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people were seriously injured in a crash in east Columbus Monday afternoon.

The crash happened at approximately 3:08 p.m. at the intersection of Haddon Road and College Avenue, Columbus police said.

Police said a Chevrolet Camaro was turning left from Haddon Road onto southbound College Avenue while a Volkswagen Jetta was driving north on College Avenue, hitting the Camaro on the driver's side.

The driver of the Camaro was taken to Grant Medical Center in life-threatening condition while the driver of the Volkswagen was also taken to Grant Medical Center and listed in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation.

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) – Many who work locally in the television industry got their training at Ohio University, home to one of the top-ranked journalism schools in the nation.

But over the last ten years or so, Athens has also become a pathway to a far more expansive industry: outer space. Later this year, a group of Ohio University students will send an experiment to the International Space Station.

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It’s become a tradition in Athens, and it starts with one woman.

“This is what I do for a living,” Ohio University professor of environmental and plant biology Dr. Sarah Wyatt said. “Science is nothing but toys that you play with and you see what happens. And that's what I like.”

Few people enjoy their job more than Wyatt.

Inside Porter Hall on Ohio University’s campus is Wyatt’s laboratory, which is kind of named for her, and with the results at the lab, you’ll see why. Past students have sent four experiments to the International Space Station.

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“It's not just a pretend activity; it's a real activity with real potential results,” Wyatt said.

Most of Wyatt’s work focuses on gravity, but more specifically, how plant growth is affected if gravity is removed. And there’s no better laboratory to test the lack of gravity than in space.

Nathan Smith and Victoria Swiler are among the students who created a new experiment for this year’s student spaceflight experiments program. That experiment focuses on a rare strain of bacteria originally discovered on the space station.

“Does this bacteria actually promote plant growth and also, does it do that in spaceflight?” Swiler, a senior, said.

"And so it's a large topic in science right now,” Smith, a sophomore, said. “So you can apply it to Earth, you can apply it to microgravity, and it just has a large range of benefits for everyone.”

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Their experiment is scheduled to launch into space in September. For everyone involved, it's a massive achievement and a reminder that with the right direction, careers can truly take off.

“It's just awesome to be able to watch a rocket launch to the International Space Station and know something that I worked on will be flying up there,” Ohio University grad student Nicholas Witticar said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Back in December, recreational marijuana became legal in the state, but as of now, the first recreational sale won’t happen until September.

Lawmakers have considered passing a bill to change that, but Republican leadership is struggling to see eye-to-eye on the passage of related legislation. 

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“I am, I would not say optimistic, but I am reasonably hopeful, if you need words, that we can get something done by June,” Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. 

“It depends on what it looks like, right,” Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said. “A lot of members have certain things that they think are important, others don’t think they are as important. It’s about building a consensus.” 

Huffman said he wants to look at things like scaling back the home-grow provision, and where the tax revenue will go. 

“With greater access to marijuana, there will be more visits to poison control centers,” he said. “That’s really important that we fund that, now that’s part of redoing the package of how the taxes are passed.” 

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Stephens agreed – he thinks the money piece is important. He said it is the biggest issue from a legislative standpoint, but he said first they must know how much money the state will make. 

“There’s estimates,” Stephens said. “But we’ve seen estimates before whether it's gambling or other revenue services that were going to be X and turned out they would be Y.” 

Stephens said he thinks it is important to be sure local governments are getting money to invest directly back into their communities. 

“What is the exact amount of taxes, what does that add up to, how does that compare, how much flexibility do local communities have,” Stephens said. 

But Huffman said he thinks there is one issue that is most important to address before recreational sales become available. 

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“I think what’s most pressing is people smoking marijuana when they’re walking down the street,” Huffman said. 

Back in December, the Senate did pass a bill to add guardrails and offer immediate home grow, but the House has yet to have a single hearing on the Senate's proposal, though representatives have worked on their own bill. 

“As we go into the future there will continually be changes and tweaks to recreational marijuana in Ohio,” Stephens said. 

“I think most reasonable people, including people in the industry, believe that it would be better to have it clarified in law,” Huffman said. 

The House is also working on a bill to expunge marijuana records. 

In the past, Gov. Mike DeWine has urged the passage of a marijuana-related bill while keeping what the voters passed intact. Most recently he said he is “not going to get into that,” as Republican leadership fails to come to an agreement. 

Instead, DeWine said he wants to see delta-8, or low-level THC, become less accessible as soon as possible. 

“This is time for the legislature to move,” DeWine said. “We can’t do it ourselves.” 

Right now, there are no age restrictions on delta-8 products, and anyone can buy them at a gas station or convenience store. The governor called regulations in this area an “emergency.” 

Legislation to regulate delta-8 is in the works at the statehouse, but no bill has been formally introduced yet.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Council is set to vote on a new contract for the Fraternal Order of Police.

The last contract approval between the city and FOP for the Columbus Division of Police was in 2021. That one focused a lot on reform; this time, police and city leadership said there was a lot of attention on wages. If approved, officers will see a significant pay bump.

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“There's a fierce competition among divisions of police all over the nation, recruiting folks to go into law enforcement,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said.

Ginther and Columbus Division of Police First Assistant Chief LaShanna Potts said these investments are both for retention and recruiting.

It would raise the base salary for a first-year officer from $61,804 to around $70,692, with a 5% raise each year for the next three years. Officers with higher ranks and seniority will be able to make more than $200,000 annually.

According to a letter from the city, the raises plus shift differentials and establishment of a field training officer stipend program will cost around $80 million over the next three years.

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“We've redoubled our efforts with respect to recruiting and seeing some promising signs because we know we need to add more officers,” Ginther said.

Potts said recruiting is going well for the division, averaging more than the national standard.

Potts said the division currently has around 1,800 officers. When we asked how many more the division needs, she did not give us an exact number.

“We're looking at as many as we can,” Potts said. “The mayor has set a goal. We're trying to get 50 a class, three classes a year, and we're doing really well in that department.”

She said this contract opens doors for lateral transfers from other agencies.

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There is also a new clause that negates seniority for special units like gang enforcement, counter-terrorism unit, and criminal intelligence unit. The contract allows the police chief to select and assign officers to one out of every four job postings for the special units. Potts said these selections can be based on talent and training rather than how many years they have on the force.

“What it allows us to do is those senior officers, that five-year officer that has specialized training, maybe in technology or has been a sniper or things like that, we can bring them on to the division and they don't have to wait multiple years before they can get into those specialized units,” Potts said. “So what it does is just create another way for us to become the safest big city in the country.”

The contract also builds on police reforms set in 2020 including improving community policing and disciplinary actions.

The FOP passed this contract with an 85% vote.

Watch a previous report on the task force in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The leader of the Columbus City Schools teachers' union has stepped down from the group planning the future of the district's buildings.

In a letter released on Monday, Columbus Education Association President John Coneglio wrote that the direction the district's Community Facilities Task Force is taking does not align with the goals of the union.

"I anticipated that our discussions would include transformation and growth of our District to meet these needs," Coneglio wrote. "Instead, through the course of six full meetings, it has become apparent that the focus of the committee is solely on the mass closure of neighborhood schools and the further managed decline of our District."

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Among the complaints levied in Coneglio's letter are:

• The totality of community input has consisted of a short, multiple choice, online survey that did not even have the option of providing comments.
• Members of the task force have been instructed not to submit questions for upcoming meetings.
• Data provided to the task force was incomplete and failed to account for factors such as state caseload requirements, and building use by community partners.
• There have been no discussions regarding Columbus’ recently announced plan to add tens of thousands of new housing units within the city’s urban core.
• There have been no discussions regarding two years of increasing enrollment in Columbus City Schools, or any plans to restore trust with families who have left the district.
• There have been no discussions about the litany of research showing the disproportionate impact of school closures on disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities of color, in direct contrast to the district’s publicly stated equity goals.

The task force will recommend which of the district's school and administrative buildings could be closed or consolidated as part of the district's plan to address growth in Columbus.

In response to Coneglio's letter, a district spokesperson said that despite the passage of a $99 million levy last November, CCS must consider some schools for consolidation and/or closure.

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"We were transparent in the CCS board's adopted statement of facts for the recent levy, stating that, regardless of the levy outcomes, the district must focus on consolidating buildings to reduce overall building cost," a district statement read.

The task force, made up of district and community leaders, is expected to release a report of its recommendations in June. Meetings are scheduled for:

• Tuesday, April 30, Linden Recreation Center, 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 14, Marion Franklin High School, 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 28, Whetstone High School, 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 11, Barnett Library, 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 25, East High School, 1:30 p.m.

Conligo's full letter can be read below.

Coneglio-Task-Force-Resignation-4.29.24Download

A previous report can be seen in the player above.

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) -- Seven central Ohio counties will soon see low-flying yellow aircrafts that will help to control an invasive species.

Spongy moth treatments are set to begin on May 6 and continue throughout May until mid-June, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced Monday. Licking County will be the first to receive the application while Fairfield, Hardin, Hocking, Knox, Logan, and Vinton counties will see the airplanes at a later date, weather permitting. Auglaize and Washington counties are also set to receive spongy moth treatments.

These moths are invasive for 300 species of trees and shrubs with caterpillars feeding on leaves. A tree can withstand two years before it either dies or is permanently damaged.

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The aerial treatment method involves the yellow planes flying about 100 feet above treetops and disperse a formula called SPLAT GM-O. The biodegradable mixture will help to disrupt the spongy moths mating process by confusing male moths as they search for female moths, thus preventing caterpillars.

It is also completely harmless to humans and animals, per the ODA. According to the ODA, Licking County will also receive a second product, Foray 48B, to target the moth's larval stage. Foray 48B disrupts the moth caterpillars' feeding process by ingesting the protein from the mixture.

If you come into contact with either mixture from the planes, wash the affected area with soap and water. The ODA says clothing should be cleaned with hot water and laundry detergent. Click here for more information on the spongy moths program.

Watch a previous report on the protest arrests in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As about 20 people facing criminal charges after protesting Israel's war in Gaza on Ohio State University's campus were due in court Monday morning, Ohio State's president stood behind the arrests and the city attorney's office said it was still deciding whether to move forward with prosecutions.

More than half of the three dozen pro-Palestine protesters arrested for staging an encampment on Ohio State's South Oval were slated for arraignments Monday morning. Attorneys for the protesters, each charged with criminal trespassing, asked that the arraignments be continued until June, according to the Columbus city attorney's office.

In his first public statement about the arrests published Monday morning, Ohio State President Ted Carter again referred to his decades-long military career and commitment to free speech, as he has repeatedly when asked about on-campus protests. But the university's decision to arrest protesters -- and Carter's decision to request the state police's assistance -- was "not about limiting free speech," he wrote in an email to students and staff, but rather to avoid "significant safety issues" he said arose at anti-war encampments at other universities.

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The university previously explained that the protest encampments, which called for Ohio State to disclose, and ultimately divest, its investments in companies tied to Israel's war in Gaza, violated the university's rules regarding space use and noise restrictions during exam week. Carter reiterated the rules and said protesters were "repeatedly" notified of them before and during Thursday's protests.

"Encampments are not allowed on campus regardless of the reason for them," Carter's email read. "They create the need for around-the-clock safety and security resources, which takes these resources away from the rest of our community. They also create undue pressure on proximate buildings, in this case the Ohio Union, for restrooms and personal hygiene."

Carter further justified the arrests by explaining that the Ohio Union is an exam space, particularly for students with disabilities, and the encampment would have created a "disturbance" to a nearby dorm building. Denying claims that the university authorized police action against protesters because they were protesting Israel and Ohio State's ties to it, Carter said the university's rules are "content neutral and are enforced uniformly."

Thursday's arrests marked the most arrests of protesters on Ohio State's campus in more than 50 years. More than 40 people have been arrested for protesting there since last Tuesday, when two students were arrested outside an academic building.

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Like at encampments at other universities across the country, the pro-Palestine protesters at Ohio State had several goals. At the top of the list is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where incomplete counts estimate more than 30,000 Palestinians have died since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack in Israel resulted in about 1,200 deaths. Protesters have also demanded Ohio State disclose its investments in companies tied to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, and to ultimately divest from those.

For years, students have called for Ohio State to divest from Israel-affiliated companies, as well as fossil fuel companies. The university has cited a state law forbidding targeted boycotting of Israel as an explanation for its inability to divest.

What happened last Thursday?

After hours of peaceful protest on the South Oval behind the Ohio Union, dozens of Ohio State officers clad in riot gear descended on the crowd, handcuffing protesters and carrying them to Franklin County sheriff’s buses parked nearby. Several protesters were arrested earlier in the day for pitching tents on campus, but police watched for hours – occasionally issuing threats of arrest – when hundreds of protesters returned in the evening.

Between chants to “Free Palestine” and demands that Ohio State divest from Israeli assets, many protesters took to the middle of the group to pray. Videos from reporters and protest attendees showed officers close in on the crowd, struggling to break through layers of protesters to rip apart the tents in the middle as protesters yelled to "Let them pray." State troopers on the roof of the Ohio Union had rifles ready "reactively to protect the safety of all present, including demonstrators," an Ohio State spokesperson confirmed.

"Arrests are not an action that I or any member of the administration take lightly," Carter's email read. "I have stated since the first day I was announced as president that safety will not be compromised."

All arrested protesters, including 16 students, were charged with criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Faculty groups, students, academic departments and outside groups have called for all charges to be dropped against protesters.

A spokesperson for Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said Monday that the office is "conducting a full review of the facts, including footage of the events" to determine whether to proceed with the charges.

Watch earlier coverage in the video player above.

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) – After Hilliard City Council received backlash for passing a resolution calling for the “mutual end to hostilities in Gaza” on the first night of Passover, the council president issued an apology to the Jewish community but did not specify if she would resign. 

The Jewish Community Relations Council released a statement on Friday calling for the resignation of President Cynthia Vermillion and an apology from the council after they passed a war resolution on April 22, which marked the first night of the Passover holiday.

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The Jewish organization said passing the resolution then disregarded the community’s religious observance and that the city sent the message that Jewish voices are “unwelcome in city government.”

Vermillion said when council placed the resolution on the council agenda, they did not know it would coincide with Passover. She said the council was made aware of the timing through an email from the city manager late Thursday, prior to the meeting on Monday. Vermillion said she took the city manager’s email into consideration, along with input from other councilmembers. 

“I read the email on Friday morning,” Vermillion said. “I spoke with a few council members about whether we should postpone the resolution as it had already been published. We made the decision to go forward.”

Vermillion apologized to the Jewish residents of Hilliard, saying she never intended to exclude Jewish community members from participating in the passage of the resolution. 

“I am deeply sorry for not understanding the gravity of holding the vote on the first night of Passover,” Vermillion said. “As you may know, the first piece of legislation I helped to enact was to broaden our protection of community members by passing a non-discrimination ordinance. I strive to make everyone welcome in the Hilliard community and in our council chambers.”

When NBC4 asked how she is responding to demands for her resignation, Vermillion replied, “I will be taking some time to reflect upon how I handled this sensitive issue.”

A statement from Vermillion regarding the incident is expected in the next few days, she said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction crews have leveled a former office that housed Goodwill, making way for a grocery store built from the ground up.

The property at 1393 Edgehill has moved between a few owners since 2000, finally settling on one called MPCBus that bulldozed the existing building to make way for a new business. Photos captured Wednesday at the property showed metal infrastructure in place, as well as a wide swath of land reduced to dirt for a potential parking lot.

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A sign at the property has also revealed the company that it will house. The banner advertises Aldi is "coming soon," but does not share any hint of a possible opening date.

• Construction in progress April 24, 2024 at an Aldi on 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• A sign advertises a coming Aldi store in front of a construction site at 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• Construction in progress April 24, 2024 at an Aldi on 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• A sign advertises a coming Aldi store in front of a construction site at 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• Construction in progress April 24, 2024 at an Aldi on 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• A building frame stands April 24, 2024, in place of a former Goodwill office. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• Construction in progress April 24, 2024 at an Aldi on 1393 Edgehill Rd. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Goodwill Industries of Central Ohio bought the property from Fifth Ave Associates for $1,325,000 in 2010. They held the property for nearly 13 years before selling it in August 2023 to WC ECP Edgehill for $11.3 million.

In a series of apparent rebrands, the property traded hands again for $0 leading up to March 6, 2024. From WC ECP Edgehill, it went to WC ECP Edgehill Apartments, then MCPBus.

• Signage in front of the building advertises for Organized Home Remodeling in 2014. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)
• Signage in front of the building advertises Goodwill offices in 2022. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)
• A building frame stands April 24, 2024, in place of a former Goodwill office. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Photos from the Franklin County Auditor's Office showed signage at the building for Organized Home Remodeling in 2014, even after Goodwill bought it. More photos shot in 2022 saw that sign altered to advertise offices for Goodwill.

Aldi said in March that it would add 800 stores to its fleet by the end of 2028 as part of a $9 billion expansion. While it vaguely said some of those new locations would arrive in the Midwest, it did not specify Ohio. The chain of grocery stores also expanded to New Albany in December 2022.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man arrested and accused of a “brutal attack”, which caused the death of a woman in a north Columbus hotel received a hefty bond from a judge Monday morning.

Arthur Scott Jr., 36, charged with kidnapping, rape and the murder of 61-year-old Li-Chu Lin, faced a Franklin County Municipal Court judge and was issued a $2 million bond for the alleged crimes.

Police say that on April 26 at around 7:15 p.m., a woman was found dead at the Double Ten Hotel on Zumstein Drive, off of the Interstate 71, State Route 161 exit, west of the highway. There, police said a Digital Forensic Detective processed video surveillance throughout the hotel and saw Scott Jr. walking down the hallway of the hotel, checking hotel room doors.

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The suspect reportedly entered a room while in possession of a baseball bat, before the victim entered the same room a short time later. Video evidence then showed Scott Jr. leaving the room.

Lin was found in her room without any clothes on. Detectives at the scene found a hat the suspect wore in the video and blood on the bed. Evidence indicated other crimes occurred, including rape.

On April 27, Scott Jr. was located a short distance from the hotel, according to police. He was taken to Columbus Police headquarters, where he admitted to the murder and other crimes.

Scott Jr. is scheduled for a preliminary hearing the morning of May 7.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - A business with several locations across Ohio offering services for pets is open in Grove City.

PetSuites is welcoming the community and furry friends after holding its grand opening in April. The center, located at 1280 Stringtown Rd., offers a variety of services for both dogs and cats including boarding, where you can choose suite types, and playtime and interaction for your pet while you're away. The center also offers daycare services and its "puppy preschool" program.

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Along with pet sitting, there's options for grooming and training for dogs where your pet can get a bath, haircut, ear cleaning, nail trimming and more. Patrons can also choose from a list of add-on options like dental hygiene treatment, deep conditioning and a deluxe "pawdicure."

• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)

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The location in Grove City joins other PetSuites across central Ohio including its Worthington spot at 8678 N. High St. and 5495 N. Hamilton Rd. in Gahanna.

PetSuites Grove City is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone interested in services can visit its website, call 380-230-1475 or text 833-845-7514.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus bakery is just one of six family-owned businesses that make up a local marketplace offering all things Japanese.

Takashi Takenaka grew up in a small village in Japan before immigrating to America in 1972. Since then, he's opened up the six businesses that make up Japan Marketplace at Kenny Centre Mall off Henderson Road. Those businesses include Akai Hana, J Avenue Japanese Collections, Sushi Ten, Tensuke Market, Tensuke Ramen, and Belle's Bread -- a French-inspired Japanese bakery managed by his daughter Mika Lecklider.

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"He didn't start out with that idea," Lecklider said. "He just wanted to open a restaurant at first, that's all he really had on his mind. But I think his nature is to always expand, that's his passion and his expertise. He's really good at seeing the big picture."

Belle's Bread, opened in 2011, is the most recent addition to the Japan Marketplace lineup, which also includes a cultural center. In a recent story on Food & Wine magazine's website about the top ten U.S. cities for bakeries, the Japanese bakery was given a shoutout.

"And you won't just find Midwestern classics: head to Belle's Bread for a loaf of house-made Japanese sweet bread," the story said.

Lecklider said that Belle's top menu items are its cakes and breads. Other favorites include authentic French croissants, curry donuts, sweet red bean rolls and sugar strawberry cake. All baked goods on the menu are baked fresh and in-house by a team of 20 bakers. The menu also features drinks, ice cream, parfaits, shaved ice and more.

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The bakery's customer base is a diverse crowd, Lecklider said, which she was proud to say her staff reflects.

"We have people from all parts of the world because they like the European style, and the Asian style, less sweat treats," Lecklider said. "We have a lot of different nationalities within our employees, which I think is really cool. At one point, I had a map of the world and everyone put a tag on where they were from. … Being international is really interesting."

The family-run operation goes beyond just the father-daughter pair, Takenaka's wife and Lecklider's mother Francoise handles the accounting at Belle's.

"My parents always say they're going to work together as long as they can," Lecklider said. "They will both retire together because they like working together. My dad does not want to be here without her. She's kind of like his soundingboard."

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Running a business together as a family gives Belle's an advantage, according to Lecklider.

"My dad can really trust that our intentions, we all want the same thing," Lecklider said. "We're not in it for personal gain, because this is like our baby. I think if you have a good relationship with your family, it's a leg up for sure."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former central Ohio radio station has played its last song.

WWCD Radio announced the end of its streaming broadcast at 11:59 p.m. Sunday after it had moved to an online-only format of alternative rock in February. The shuttering of its 34-year run -- operating first as CD101 and later as CD102.5 and CD92.9FM -- was posted on the company’s Facebook page at midnight.

“It has been a great adventure serving our beloved community, but the time has come that we must announce with heavy hearts that WWCD Radio has played its last song," the statement read. "It has been an incredible journey, one that legend can be told with memoires and cherished moments shared with you that will never be forgotten. Thank you to each and every one of you.”

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The announcement did not cite a reason but rather several unnamed factors “that others will undoubtedly speculate on forever, and we wish you the best in doing so”.

WWCD announced early in 2024 that it was leaving the airwaves effective Jan. 31. Owner Randy Malloy said the station was unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the 92.9 frequency that would have allowed it to continue broadcasting.

The frequency owners, Delmar and ICS Communications, at first launched their own alternative station called 93X. They said the new station would keep the alternative format and also place the same emphasis on supporting local artists in central Ohio.

They also released the WWCD call letters, using WXGT for its Columbus station and keeping WQCD for its Delaware station. Both stations continued to simulcast the same programming as they had for CD92.9FM.

But a month later, 93X was gone, replaced by an oldies station branded My 92.9.

WWCD previously left the airwaves for a brief stint in 2020 after its agreement with owners of the 102.5 frequency ended. But that did not last long, as the station came back on 92.9.

Watch NBC4's report on West's first 'Drag Race' competition in 2019 in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Nina West, the Columbus drag queen who was honored with a street named after her in the Short North, is returning to "RuPaul's Drag Race" to compete in a new season airing this summer.

West is one of eight queens participating in season nine of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," a spinoff series featuring fan-favorite contestants from prior seasons, premiering on May 17. The Columbus queen last appeared on season 11 of "Drag Race" in 2019, where she placed sixth and won the title of Miss Congeniality.

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"I'm back to snatch the crown," said West on social media, who is also known for making history in 2019 as the first person to ever walk the Emmy's carpet in full drag.

Nina West for "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" season nine. (Courtesy Photo/Pari Dukovic/World of Wonder/Paramount+)

The competition lineup includes Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Gottmik, Plastique Tiara and Vanessa Vanjie, who performed in central Ohio last year at an annual walk raising awareness for those living with HIV. The queens are competing to win a donation of $200,000 for a charity of their choosing, marking the first time contestants are harnessing their drag skills to win money for a variety of organizations.

West is competing for The Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. Trevor offers 24/7 crisis services, connecting trained counselors with young people whenever they need support. To drive prevention efforts, Trevor also operates robust research, advocacy, education and peer support programs.

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After auditioning nine times, West told NBC4 in 2019 "it almost seemed like the impossible dream" before she was first chosen to battle for the title of America's next drag superstar. It was a wish come true for West who had wanted to work in show business since childhood, a goal she further achieved when touring the nation in 2022 as Edna Turnblad in "Hairspray."

"It's humbling to think that my journey really is just starting," West said to NBC4 in 2019. "I'm a product of [Columbus]. And my successes are because of this city."

West was later recognized in 2019 by Columbus when Hull Alley in the Short North was renamed "The Nina West Way," with the street sign bearing West's signature "be kind" message adorned in LGBTQ+ Pride colors. The same year, West was named the Grand Marshall of the Columbus Pride Parade.

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"Nina West is not only a pillar in the Short North community, but a leader for equality and kindness," said Betsy Pandora, executive director of the Short North Alliance, when Nina West Way was installed. "To those of us who have known her kindness for years, it is a joy to watch the nation discover it through her recent success."

The Columbus queen also boasts herself as an advocate for youth and published her first children's book, "The You Kind of Kind," in 2022. Dolly Parton called the book "a charming message about the power of kindness through text packed with bolded and capitalized made-up words that beg to be read aloud."

West is also set to deliver the keynote address at the Columbus College of Art and Design's spring commencement this May, where she will receive an honorary doctorate awarded in recognition of her creative achievement and influence on art and culture.

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"[West's] creative contributions to Columbus and to national contemporary cultural and LGBTQ+ activism are tremendous, not to mention the sheer joy he brings to those he encounters along the way," said Dr. Melanie Corn, president of CCAD, in a release.