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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dalton, a dog up for adoption at the Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center, is an easygoing fellow who loves a game of tug with a friend.

The shelter's behavior coordinator, Brandy Trott, noted the 5-year-old pit bull mix has been at the shelter for a couple of weeks, and she's not quite sure how he's been there so long.

"We had a lot of adoptions this past week, and he's kind of a gem that didn't get picked," Trott said.

Dalton. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

Dalton is a "medium-energy" dog, according to Trott. He's had time to let his puppy energy out and has more of an easygoing attitude now. However, that's not to say that he doesn't know how to have fun.

"Loves to play tug, sometimes fetch," Trott said. "He knows sit so far. He might know a couple of things that he's hiding in his back pocket, but he definitely knows sit and he's very eager to do it for a treat."

The behavior coordinator also said Dalton gets along with other dogs, but might be best with one that matches his energy level rather than a rowdy pup.

The shelter reported on April 16 that it had more than 300 dogs in its care. However, as of Tuesday staff said they had helped 186 dogs find homes. Until April 30, a discount setting all dogs over six months old to $18 remains in effect.

Dalton is available for meet-and-greets at the Franklin County Dog Shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. Below are some additional dogs up for adoption as well:

Gilligan. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Gilligan

• Tan and white terrier and pit bull mix
• Young male between 6 months and 2 years old
• Microchipped, neutered and up to date on shots

Behr

• Brown terrier and pit bull mix
• Young male between 6 months and 2 years old
• Neutered and up to date on shots

Willy. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Willy

• Brindle terrier and pit bull mix
• Adult male between 2 and 5 years old
• Microchipped, neutered and up to date on shots

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- From Monster Jam at the Schottenstein Center to BalletMet's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Ohio Theatre, here are things to see and do this weekend in central Ohio.

Fury vs. Valkyries

Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday

• Columbus Fury face the Orlando Valkyries.

'Unextinct'

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Friday and Saturday

• Enter a world where 70 extinct and endangered species come to life using tech-driven theatrical illusions, allowing guests to learn about the importance of conservation and the role we all play in species survival.

BalletMet's 'Romeo and Juliet'

Ohio Theatre on Friday through Sunday

• Wrapping up both its 46th season, BalletMet will present "Romeo and Juliet" for the first time since 2017. The ballet will be performed at the Ohio Theatre with live music from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

(Courtesy Photo/Jennifer Zmuda)

Monster Jam

Schottenstein Center on Friday through Sunday

• Witness world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill.

(Courtesy Photo/Field Entertainment)

Crew vs. CF Montreal

Lower.com Field at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday

• Columbus Crew face CF Montreal.

Fury vs. Rise

Nationwide Arena at 2 p.m. on Sunday

• Columbus Fury face the Grand Rapids Rise.

Blooms and Butterflies

Franklin Park Conservatory through July 7

• Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Blooms and Butterflies has returned featuring various butterflies from around the world inside the largest indoor biome at the conservatory.

(Courtesy Photo/Franklin Park Conservatory)

Top spring central Ohio events

• This spring in central Ohio is packed with highly anticipated festivals and shows, from the reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at the Schottenstein Center and Disney’s “The Lion King” at the Ohio Theatre to the Columbus Arts Festival.

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A tavern boasted as an upscale sports bar has opened inside the former home of a central Ohio pizzeria.

1801 Tavern is now welcoming guests at 9721 Sawmill Road after opening earlier this month, the restaurant shared on social media. The bar is taking over the space where Shorty's Pizza and Growl operated until late last year, closing the location to prioritize the pizzeria's other eateries in Delaware, Lewis Center and Columbus.

Gahanna commission rejects Sheetz proposal for second time 1801 Tavern is now welcoming guests at 9721 Sawmill Road in Powell after opening earlier this month. (Courtesy Photo/1801 Tavern)

A "go-to" sports bar, 1801 Tavern is decked out with more than 25 TVs for viewing all sports, from MLS and Premier League soccer to March Madness and the NFL. The tavern also serves up traditional bar eats made by Mangiamo Handmade Street Food, including a selection of shareables, sandwiches, sliders, salads, pizza, wings and more.

The eatery's cocktail menu features several classics, like a martini or a Manhattan, along with seasonal rotating options like the honey hibiscus old fashioned for spring. A number of on-draft and bottled beer and a wine list round out the menu.

1801 Tavern has opened in Powell as several other businesses and developments are launching in the area, including a breakfast and brunch spot featured on the Food Network for its biscuits and gravy. Named Maple Street Biscuit Co., the chain opened a third central Ohio location at 9711 Sawmill Parkway in February.

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The tavern is also not too far from a lone Target that will soon have a series of retail neighbors, as developers are nearing construction on a new 43,000-square-foot shopping center next to the department store. Named “The Shoppes at Wedgewood,” the complex will be built on a vacant 6.1-acre site to the left of the Target store at 10560 Sawmill Parkway.

COhatch, a Columbus-based co-working business, is demolishing a Powell office building as the first step of a larger project to redesign the city’s downtown. The business was recruited to be one of the main developers tasked with transforming a section of Powell’s downtown district at North Liberty and East Olentangy streets.

Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center is expected to start building a $183 million outpatient campus in Powell this spring, a years-long effort once regarded as the “largest economic development project” in the city’s history. The new outpatient facility will be built on nearly 30 acres at the northeast corner of Home Road and Sawmill Parkway, across from Olentangy Liberty High School. 

Customized apparel store relocates to Gahanna

1801 Tavern is open noon to midnight Sunday through Tuesday, closed Wednesday, noon to midnight Thursday, and noon to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and several places across central Ohio are providing drop-off events and locations for those wanting to get rid of their unwanted medication.

Held by the Drug Enforcement Agency twice a year, collection areas are helping those in the community who want to safely dispose of their prescription medicine that is not being used. Many local stores, pharmacies, police departments and more will have drop-offs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Health Commissioner with Columbus Public Health, said Drug Take Back Day is not only an easy way to get rid of the unwanted medication, but it also keeps unused medicine out of the hands of those who don't need it.

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"Many people who start using pain medication often start using it because they find unused, pain medication in a medicine cabinet of their loved ones," said Dr. Roberts. "We want to allow people to get rid of that medication that they no longer need, want or use."

Locations will accept unused pills, while other drop-off spots may take and dispose of liquids, gels and patches. Columbus Public Health will only be accepting pills and sharps including needles. Anyone who is dropping off sharps is asked to store them in a safe way that won't be able to puncture or harm anyone. CPH is also be providing Narcan and Narcan training, along with COVID-19 at-home test kits on Saturday.

If you are not able to drop off medication on Drug Take Back Day, there are other ways to safely dispose of medication like putting the prescription pills in Deterra bags, which can be picked up at CPH or ADAMH at 447 E. Broad St. You can also put the unused medication in coffee grinds and throw in the trash.

Below is a map with several drop-off locations participating in Drug Take Back Day.

To find additional drop-off locations, click here.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) –  The Columbus Crew are halfway to extending its historic run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Cucho Hernandez and Jacen Russell-Rowe scored for the Crew, who held on to defeat CF Monterrey 2-1 in the first leg of a semifinal series against Monterrey.

Russell-Rowe’s goal came with 18 minutes remaining in regular time off a corner kick from Diego Rossi. Sean Zawadzki flicked the ball with a header from the near side to the far side of the box before Russell-Rowe’s header bounced over the outstretched arm of Monterrey goalie Esteban Andrada.

Russell-Rowe also helped give the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute by returning a give-and-go back to Cucho, who dipped to his right before sending a shot to the left corner of the net for the first half’s lone goal.

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Los Rayados tied the match midway through the second half with a goal by Maximillano Meza, but the Crew tightened up defensively, allowing only two shot attempts the rest of the match.

The Crew outpaced Monterrey in several key statistics including shots, shots on-goal, corner kicks, passes, passing accuracy and possession. Monterrey led Columbus in offsides, fouls and yellow cards.

The second leg will be played in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon Mexico on May 1 at 10:15 p.m. With a win or a tie in the second leg the Crew will advance to its first CONCACAF final in program history.

The winner of the series will face either Club America or Liga MX, which are locked in a 1-1 tie after Tuesday’s first-leg semifinal match.

Columbus will first host Montreal at Lower.com Field for an MLS match on Saturday. The Crew sit in fourth place of the Eastern Conference with 14 points, three ahead of Montreal, which is tied with three other teams at 11 points but brings up the rear of the group (10th place) with a -4-goal differential.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Mostly sunny, high 61
• Tonight: Mainly clear, low 40
• Friday: Increasing clouds, breezy, showers late, high 74
• Saturday: Sct'd showers, windy, high 77
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, iso. storm, high 83
• Monday: PM rain & storms, high 82

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Thursday!

We start the day off on a chilly note, with freeze alerts in effect. We do start to warm up today, though, with highs into the lower 60s this afternoon, under mainly sunny skies. Winds will remain light.

For Friday, clouds increase gradually throughout the day, and we'll be a bit breezy. That southerly wind will send high temps into the middle 70s in Columbus. We'll be dry throughout the day, before showers move in Friday night into Saturday morning.

The bulk of Saturday's showers arrive during the morning, with very widely scattered shower/storm chances later in the day. Mainly dry overall. We will be windy, however, with highs in the upper 70s.

Less windy, but still breezy for Sunday, with partly cloudy skies, and just an isolated storm chance. Highs warm into the low to middle 80s for Sunday.

Monday starts dry, then we'll see the chance for showers and storms during the back half of the day and overnight. Highs stick in the lower 80s.

-McKenna

View the player above for previous coverage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Cities across America are experiencing declines in homicides at the fastest pace in decades, with the number of homicides in Columbus falling more than 50% compared with the first quarter of last year.

Nationwide, homicides dropped nearly 20% from January through mid-April compared with the same period in 2023, according to data from AH Datalytics. The consulting firm compiled homicide counts from 218 U.S. cities where updated homicide data was available.

Fighting to keep Columbus’ murder numbers under triple digits

“We’re seeing pretty much the same trends in all of the places,” said co-founder Jeff Asher said. “Pretty much across the board declines, big cities, small cities, medium-sized cities, there’s no sort of formula for what we’re seeing, it’s really a nationwide decline in murder.”

Columbus saw a 51% drop in homicides as of April 15, police data shows. By this date last year, 47 homicides occurred in Columbus, compared to 23 in 2024.

In Cleveland, homicides fell 39% through April 14. Major cities such as New York City (-23%), Chicago (-11%) and Detroit (-26%) also saw notable decreases. While homicide rates are falling overall, some outlier cities did experience an increase in homicide such as Cincinnati (12%), Los Angeles (9.46%) and Portland, Oregon (13%). 

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The national decrease is an acceleration of a small decline that began in 2022 and fell further in 2023, according to Asher. The country saw a jump in homicides in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which remained steady into 2021. Between 2019 and 2020, the murder rate rose 30% – the largest single-year increase in more than a century. 

Experts theorized a number of potential causes, including economic and societal changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes in police-community relationships after George Floyd was killed during a police encounter, according to Pew Research Center.

Mary Reiter, a criminology professor at Columbus State Community College, said the closure of schools, businesses, childcare services and community programs combined with these other factors helped create the “perfect storm” for crime. Reiter said as society returns to normal, it’s not surprising to see the drop in homicide rates. 

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“It just sort of seemed like it was a no-brainer [that] the homicide rates and crime rates overall would kind of go back to normal with everything else in society,” Reiter said. “Schools are reopened, they’re getting back to normal. They’re investing a lot of resources into getting kids back into the classroom and getting caught up. Businesses are open, the economy is fairly strong. Unemployment rates are low.”

In Columbus, Reiter said partnerships between the city and local organizations, such as Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, could also be contributing to homicides dropping in the city. 

“Especially in Columbus, we’re seeing a pretty good collaboration between community leaders and city leaders to really do the work necessary, to do things like rebuild trust and rebuild all those community organizations,” Reiter said.

A spokesperson with the Columbus Division of Police also cited relationships with community partners as a possible reason for the decrease, along with their "targeted enforcement strategies" and the increased presence of police officers.

"While we are certainly encouraged by the drop in homicide numbers, one homicide is simply one too many," the spokesperson said. "While these efforts have shown promising results in reducing homicides, it is essential that we all remain vigilant and continue to work together to build and sustain a safe Columbus.”

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Homicide rates are not completely unpredictable, according to Reiter, and the direction Columbus and the rest of the country is headed in so far this year could be an encouraging sign for the future.

“I think that there are pretty clear trends,” Reiter said. “We are looking really good right now, but there’s no way to predict for example, if there’s some kind of huge disruption that might happen again in the future. But as long as we stay on the same path, I think it's pretty safe to predict by the end of the year we’ll see a pretty strong decline in homicide rates.”

Homicide rates are consistently updating – statistics in this article are accurate as of April 18.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two Ohio State University students were arrested Tuesday evening when a group of 50-60 demonstrators became "disruptive" to university business, according to spokesperson Benjamin Johnson.

One of those students, Yousef Munir, spoke with NBC4 Wednesday afternoon.

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"Even before the protest actually started, dozens upon dozens of cops are already there, surrounding us on every direction, along with more student life members than I've ever seen at any protest," he said.

Munir is a member of the Ohio Youth for Climate Justice organization. He said they chose to stand up for Palestine due to similar objectives of climate justice and Palestine liberation.

"We knew that fundamentally, if we wanted to fight for climate justice, that meant we had to really support the fight for Palestinian liberation," he said. "It ignores the social, political and economic aspects of the climate crisis. And so, for example, the bombs that are being dropped on Gaza right now have dropped tons and tons and tons of emissions.”

Munir's recollection of the protest at Meiling Hall on campus was that the group was gathered peacefully, chanting at times.

"I personally received no warnings beforehand,” he said. “They gave warnings to some other people about other things. And then I relayed this and then they said, ‘Stop chanting,’ and I didn't chant. And then they arrested me without any warning.”

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The university claims Munir and one other student were continually disruptive when asked to stop due to the loud noise created.

"These newly created arbitrary rules about what counts for too much sound and what counts as amplified sound and what lines we're not allowed to cross, which we complied with, and still, I spent the night in jail," Munir said.

Ohio State University held a news conference for local media Wednesday afternoon to address their policy on demonstrations and why two students were arrested.

Munir said he doesn't buy their story and believes the university is singling out people to send a message.

"They can keep trying to single individuals out and everyone else is going to keep fighting,” he said. “There's another protest tomorrow and nobody is slowing down. If they suppress one of us, thousands more will rise up.”

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Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a couple who lived in Columbus for nearly 40 years is engaged in their own protest. Jack Chomsky and Susan Gellman now reside in Tel Aviv, Israel. They visit what is now called “Hostage Square” every week. Thousands of protestors are calling for their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring home all the Israeli hostages who remain in custody of Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack.

"It is complicated and people here are aware of and do care about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Gellman said. “You have to remember that it's a complex situation to everyone here knows someone who has a family member who is a hostage in Gaza right now. Everyone knows someone who does. So we see it through that lens as well.”

"It's important that people understand that many or most people really are concerned compassionately about the people who are suffering so badly," Chomsky added.

They both have been protesting the Israeli government for months.

"They don't want to end the war. They don't care about bringing the hostage's home. They certainly don't care about ending the occupation. They are trying to spin the wheels and play for time for various reasons," Gellman said.

Gahanna commission rejects Sheetz proposal for second time

The freedom of Palestine is something Chomsky and Gellman believe is possible. They both believe there is a way to coexist.

"I'm a believer that we have the capacity to have an Israel and Palestine in this neighborhood. But the people who are interested in developing that project are not generally leading in either group of people," Chomsky said.

Different protests on opposite sides of the earth are uniquely intertwined, seeking both peace and freedom.

"If the hostages were released, things would be different in Gaza,” Gellman said. “We're all sad here. I mean, we're still grieving here. It's a very difficult and complicated time. And we're hoping that that something good will come from it.”

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the second time, a proposal to build a Sheetz in Gahanna has been shot down.

Skilken Gold Real Estate Development pitched a Sheetz gas station and convenience store at 230 Granville St., the site of the closed restaurant Coaches, showing the 4,959-square-foot building would be located at the back of the 4.63-acre lot with no drive-thru. It would be the smallest Sheetz store in central Ohio, according to a Sheetz representative who spoke at a Wednesday planning commission meeting.

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Following a public comment period where most of the residents who spoke were against the development, the seven-member Gahanna Planning Commission voted unanimously to reject the proposal, particularly the conditional use application from Sheetz, with board members stating the project does not fit the city's zoning regulations for that area.

In a staff review conducted before the meeting, the commission recommended disapproval of the company's three design proposals, saying the proposals are not consistent with recommendations from the city’s land use plan, which emphasizes walkability and pedestrians being “a focal point of design.” The review pointed out that the Sheetz project is an automobile-oriented development.

• (Photo Courtesy/City of Gahanna)
• (Photo Courtesy/City of Gahanna)

The proposed plan did call for a sidewalk to be installed from Granville Street to Shull Park.

Another issue cited in the review is that the gas pumps and parking for the Sheetz would be street-facing, not located in the rear of the building as called for in the land use plan.

Former Gahanna Mayor Jim McGregor said previously on social media that while he hopes Gahanna will have a Sheetz one day, the proposed location is not appropriate. 

“Shull Park bustles with children coming to and leaving athletic games,” McGregor said in a Facebook post. “Bicycles, foot traffic and cars hurry about the grounds. Present adjacent business activities are busy at lunch and after work, but generally quiescent at other times. A fuel station draws a constant turbulence of traffic. This is incompatible with the safety of the children.”

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Last year, Skilken Gold attempted to bring a Sheetz to Gahanna on a plot between Johnstown Road and Morse Road. In March 2023, the city’s planning commission rejected three design proposals for the building.

Residents who have spoken out against the project cited FBI statistics about how convenience stores and gas stations are high on the list of likely locations for violent crime and concerns about traffic.

Sheetz opened its first central Ohio store in 2021 and has since expanded to 14 more central Ohio locations, according to its website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio House and Ohio Senate moved several bills forward Wednesday afternoon, including a few that now head to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for a signature or veto.

House Bill 161: Eliminates the spousal rape exception

As it stands, if force or threat of force was used, then someone can take action against their spouse for sexual assault. But if there was any type of intoxication, like alcohol or drugs, that spousal rape case is thrown out.

House Bill 161 would make spousal rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, gross sexual imposition, and sexual imposition all punishable by law, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the offense. Lawmakers said this was a “long time coming” after more than a decade of attempts to pass this bill.

“Legislation takes a long time, I hate to say it but sometimes when the majority of the folks who it effects are women, it seems to take a little bit longer,” Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said.

“Obviously it’s a gap in the law,” Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. “I’m glad we’re doing it today.”

The bill cleared its final hurdle Wednesday before heading to the governor’s desk when the Ohio Senate passed it 32 to zero.

House Bill 250: Military enlistment diploma seals

House Bill 250 was written to “establish new pathways for a high school student to earn a military enlistment diploma seal.”

The bill passed both the Senate and House with no votes against it, but the Senate did add several unrelated amendments that the House still needs to agree with before the bill can head to the governor’s desk.

Senators added a $19 million appropriation into the legislation for the state's Adoption Grant Program. Senators tried to pass the money back in February, but the House has yet to consider that bill as well. Huffman said the funding originally appropriated for that has run out.

Senators also added a provision to the legislation to require each public school to adopt a policy about cell phone use for students during school hours. The provision also requires the Department of Education and Workforce to adopt a “model policy” that schools can use.

The bill, as passed the Senate, also creates a new pilot program for alternative modes of transportation for students to get to school.

House Bill 322: Creates the offense of grooming

House Bill 322 would create the offense of grooming.The bill passed from the Ohio House on Wednesday, only one Democrat voted against the bill.  

Essie Baird is a survivor of abuse who said she went through a long pattern of grooming by her alleged abuser, and had it been illegal when she was 12, more action could have been taken to possibly prevent the abuse.

“It is another form of justice,” Baird said. “And it actually may open a door back up for my case specifically. But even if it has nothing to do with me anymore it is a huge step forward.”

Lawmakers said this legislation is another way to protect children by keeping them away from potential abusers. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 230: Increases penalties for drug and human trafficking  

This bill garnered the most floor debate on Wednesday. It did end up passing the House with 13 Democrats voting against it and will go to the Senate for consideration.

“The intent is good, some of the details just need to be refined,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “For example, if someone has an Adderall pill that is laced with fentanyl, if they know or don’t know, the penalties are the same, so there were some concerns about that.”

“Dealing with the fentanyl issue throughout the state, we’ve heard the stories, and we had the bill that was a bipartisan bill,” Stephens said. “I think having those types of real issues that affect everyday Ohioans every day, we are addressing those today.”

House Bill 77: Drone usage regulations  

This bill comes from the Ohio House’s new Aviation and Aerospace Committee.

Right now, drone use regulation is only enforced by the federal government. House Bill 77 would give local governments more authority and spells out instances in which someone could be prosecuted for flying a drone. Those instances include flying in a reckless manner, flying in a way that interferes with first responder activities and operating in a way that disregards FAA rules.

“I think every state has been struggling with this,” Russo said. “We are kind of in the wild, wild west in terms of drone regulation because the technology is changing so quickly, and the feds are stepping up and doing some regulation but not nearly as quickly as we would hope.”

“It kind of buzzes over your head a little because it is a little boring and dry, but it is still incredibly important, forward-thinking legislation,” Stephens said.

Stephens said the House will continue to put out legislation in this area to give local communities “a little more authority with drones.”

Other bills

House Bill 195 creates an adaptive mobility dealer license. The bill would allow license holders to, among other things, sell verifies designed to enable an individual with a disability to operate or be transported in the car. This legislation also heads to DeWine’s desk for a signature.

Senate Bill 90 also passed its last vote before head to the governor’s desk. The bill, if signed, will enter Ohio into the Social Work Licensure Compact “to facilitate the interstate practice of and improve public access to social work services.” By doing this, social workers would be allowed to practice in multiple states with a multistate license.

Senate Bill 214 would allow human trafficking victims to expunge certain records. It passed the Senate with no votes against it and now heads to the House for consideration. House lawmakers have introduced a similar bill.

Senate Bill 109 also passed the Senate with no votes against it and heads to the House for consideration. The bill would give the state medical board more authority to revoke licenses of medical professionals convicted of a sex offense.

House Bill 70 now heads to the Senate for consideration. This legislation requires public and chartered nonpublic schools to adopt a policy regarding the administration of over-the-counter drugs for students.

House Bill 301 passed the House with no votes against it and now heads to the Senate. This bill changes the Nonprofit Corporation law in several ways.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Dozens in a Columbus neighborhood are not sure where they are going to live after some received eviction notices from the new property owner and others have gotten word they'll need to be out later this spring. 

They live on Riverview Drive which is right next to NBC4's studios. The Riverview International Center (RIC) is a non-profit that helps many of the tenants and is a sponsor of the Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4. Eighty-eight apartments will be affected by this, according to RIC. Some house single tenants while others house entire families.

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Activities for families, walkability to a mosque and RIC, and affordability are all reasons many decide to live on Riverview Drive.

“These are my people, I have lived here for two years. I know her, I know everybody here, they know me," Mohamed Benghezala said.

Benghezala moved to Columbus, specifically to his family's apartment on Riverview, from Algeria. He said the new owners of the building he lives in and others on Riverview have told him he'll need to be out later this season.

“My daughter last night she was crying, every night, when she hears something like this it's complicated," Benghezala said.

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The neighborhood is home for a lot of new Americans, immigrants and refugees. RIC, which said it will also need to move, works to support its neighbors.

“If you immigrate you have to meet a whole new group of people and in Riverview a lot of people have found that, they’ve found their second family and so for everyone to be uprooted and spread out across the city wherever they can find something affordable is really difficult," said Emelia Sheeley, executive director of RIC.

Sheeley said eviction notices served earlier this spring require some tenants to be out by the end of April.

“I would like to see people being given more notice if they are going to have to leave. 30 days, it's no time," Sheeley said.

She said many neighbors are month-to-month tenants. While 30 days is the minimum required notice in those situations, according to Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, they said it's still tough on tenants.

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“So even though it might be legal for a landlord to ask a tenant to leave in 30 days or 60 days, I think as we see here there are broader concerns about the community," said Jesse Vogel, an Equal Justice Works Fellow with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio. "This kind of displacement impacts the whole community. On Riverview Drive, it's a really special place."

Vogel said what's happening on Riverview is an example of what's playing out across other parts of Columbus too.

"It's already hard for a new immigrant in the United States to find a safe and affordable place to stay, when you bring on top of that the fact that many properties are getting bought up or changing management or seeking to rehab their units and seeking to use that as a way to increase prices it really is something we’re seeing again and again not just on Riverview Drive," he said.

RIC has created ways people can help out with this situation. Those interested can donate or volunteer to assist neighbors. Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio can be reached at 614-241-2001. 

"Anyone who takes the step to immigrate is a courageous person and probably a really resilient person and so I want to believe that our families will be ok, they’ll figure it out, they’ll find a way, they already made the biggest step of their lives coming here but I do wish that it would be easier for them," Sheeley said. "They’re strong people but even a strong person shouldn’t be treated this way."

Property records show the new owners own at least six properties on the street. NBC4 reached out to the company. It said they do not have a comment at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Law enforcement K9 dogs all play a special role in their agency.

NBC4 was able to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they train to sniff out explosive devices.  This training is part of the Regional Explosive Detection Dog Initiative or REDDI put on by Battelle and The Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate.

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They hosted the program at Historic Crew Stadium to make these scenarios as real as possible. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Fire Division and other agencies across Central Ohio participated.

We were able to follow along with Sgt. Ray DeBolt and K9 Vero. They both work with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

DeBolt said this training is very important to both of them.

“So we always want to try to challenge ourselves, right? So we are always trying to find new and inventive ways to challenge the dogs, challenge ourselves as operators," DeBolt said.

Watch: Ducklings trapped in storm drain rescued by Westerville police

The real-life training exercises are things the K9s will use daily. They will also be used while working at large events like an Ohio State football game or a Columbus Crew match. Debolt said that’s why there are distractions.

“There's so much stuff in the world today, right? There's you know, you've got candy and my dog likes candy. You got all kinds of stuff that's out there. It's strong-smelling candles, whatever it is. I think they were using Tide pods, that kind of stuff. You've got to make sure that they're not hitting on those things,” DeBolt said.

The dogs also practiced identifying explosives on cars in a motorcade situation. Debolt said if a dignitary like the president or vice president comes to town, these K9s will be in charge of inspecting the cars.

The dogs are searching for odors -- anything from military explosives to precursors that could be used to create an energy device.

Battelle engineer Kevin Good said Battelle has a team that is specifically dedicated to working with the working dog community.

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“Each year we try to evolve the study, to evolve the initiative to further challenge our canine teams, to better prepare them for the intelligent adversary that we are asking them to intercept,” Good said.

Good said Battelle is excited to have this training in its backyard.

DeBolt said this training, which happens over three days, is also about teamwork.

“The dog is very spot on. A lot of our dogs are really spot on and it's good. And again, with the challenging part of it, it just lets us have more confidence in the dog and the dog has more confidence in his job,” DeBolt said.

Battelle has done dozens of REDDI training like this one nationwide.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Everyone recalls the eerie nature of events in 2020: games that still existed with little or no fans.

Four years later, it’s an entirely different world.

Live Nation recently released attendance data for 2023, showing all-time industry highs in attendance and sales, up 20% from the year prior.

Best public high schools in Ohio, according to US News and World Report

In Columbus, the data shows the city actually outpacing most of the country; for sports, concerts and comedy, tickets are tough to come by.

“We have the industry’s attention, the people in L.A. and Nashville that are making decisions on where tours are going and whether or not they’re going to play Cincinnati, Cleveland or Columbus,” Mike Gatto with Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment said. “They’re looking at Columbus and saying, ‘I’ve got to play Columbus first.’”

Starting with sports, it was another struggle of a season for the Blue Jackets, finishing last in the NHL Eastern Conference. Yet this season, the CBJ averaged more than 17,000 per game, the highest for the club in 20 years.

"We need to make sure that their investment in their time and their money is valued, so we are evaluating all those things so that it is a positive experience,” Blue Jackets Vice President of Marketing Ryan Chenault said.

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The MLS Cup-champion Crew sold out of its season tickets this year as fans have embraced the champions on the field and in their new home confines of Lower.com Field.

“It is a fight to get our ticket,” Crew Senior Director of Events and Marketing Molly Zaluski said. “We want people to thing far in advance to think about our games. We’re expanding as far as we can to get as many people in here as possible.”

Down the block at Huntington Park, the Clippers ranked a close second in AAA baseball attendance last year.

Of course, Ohio State football ranked among the national leaders in attendance every season.

And then, concerts: last year, Buckeye Country Superfest set an attendance record with nearly 64,000 fans in Ohio Stadium. Drake played two nights at the Schottenstein Center in February while Twenty One Pilots is set to do three nights at Nationwide Arena this October.

Watch: Ducklings trapped in storm drain rescued by Westerville police

"People playing back-to-back nights was just unheard of, and then Morgan Wallen did it last year and could not believe the crowd that turned out two nights in a row,” Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment’s Dave Redelberger said.

More than a decade ago, Ohio State's venues and Nationwide Arena united under the same management company, Columbus Arena Management, which has allowed the venues to merge marketing plans instead of competing for crowds. 

So why is Columbus setting attendance records in buildings across the city? Operators said they pride themselves on fan experience and convenience, but they also said market research of ticket buyers gives them a better picture.

“We're able to get these great tours... acts... whatever they may be, people will come here and it's very easy to get here,” Experience Columbus CEO Brian Ross said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some board members of the State Teachers Retirement System believe its last board meeting ended improperly in an attempt for leaders to maintain control over the $92 billion pension fund.

The STRS board meeting ended abruptly April 18 after ousted member Wade Steen was reinstated by a court ruling. An appeals court sided with Steen, ruling that Gov. Mike DeWine overstepped his authority when he unilaterally moved to replace Steen before the end of his appointed term.

Best public high schools in Ohio, according to US News and World Report

"Oh, I was so angry. I couldn't see straight," said Julie Sellers, an STRS board member. "I felt like they again pulled the rug out from underneath us."

Steen was vocal in calling for changes to STRS after the system paid out $10 million in investment staff bonuses in a fiscal year ending in June 2022 while the pension fund for teachers lost more than $5 billion. Last April, STRS proposed setting aside another $11.1 million for performance-based bonuses for the staff in 2024 — a 30.6% increase from the prior year’s incentives.

"It particularly upset people, you know, in the year when the pension lost a lot of money that it was like a record year for bonuses," said STRS board member Rudy Fichtenbaum.

Steen's presence on the board gave reform-minded members a majority, allowing them to make desired changes, including the return of cost-of-living adjustments for retirees and an end to lavish bonuses. Sellers said she was stunned when, less than an hour after Steen reclaimed his seat, Chair Dale Price called an end to the meeting before reaching the end of the agenda -- including discussion on investment staff bonuses planned for this year.

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Sellers said she believes Steen was removed from the board because of his support for reform. Ending the meeting early was simply another tactic to delay change, she said.

In a statement, Price said he ended the meeting because "it became apparent that I was unable to conduct the meeting in an efficient and effective manner."

"I decided to conduct the necessary business and adjourn the meeting," Price said. "I plan to have the Retirement Board consider the remaining items from today's agenda at the regularly scheduled May Board meeting."

The governor's office is urging an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court. An appeal could result in Steen being kept off the board for the meeting in May.

Watch: Ducklings trapped in storm drain rescued by Westerville police

But Sellers believes that last week's meeting is still underway.

"I don't believe that they ended the meeting properly," Sellers said. "We did not vote on it. We tried to say, 'Look, we don't even have a motion and a second. We didn't vote to do this.' I don't believe that the meeting was ever officially ended."

View a previous report in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Police have arrested a man they believe killed another man at a south Columbus bus stop in late March.

Columbus police arrested 35-year-old Joshua Hunt on Wednesday for the death of 61-year-old Dwayne Dowdell. Dowdell died after he was found bleeding from his head at the intersection of Parsons Avenue and East Whittier Street in the Southern Orchards neighborhood on March 29.

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At the time of Dowdell's death, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers said Dowdell was standing at a bus stop when another man struck him, causing Dowdell to fall backward and hit his head on the pavement. Dowdell was pronounced dead late the next day.

Hunt has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. After Dowdell's death, police released images of a person of interest in the case, but it's not clear if Hunt was that person.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Video released Wednesday by Westerville police shows the process they went through to rescue ducklings trapped in an area storm drain.

Officers Jon Baer, Maddie Muncie and TJ Ryan spent around an hour on Monday attempting to save a group of ducklings that had fallen into a storm drain by the Harrins-Askins House of the Rotary Club of Westerville. Bodycam footage recorded around 8:40 a.m. showed them using grabber tools to try and pick the ducklings up, but just barely missing the baby birds.

A few minutes later, the officers tied bags to a thin metal rod to create a makeshift net. The video showed one shining a flashlight into the gutter while another used the net to catch the ducklings. From there, they were pulled up, freed from the bags and then reunited with their mother.

Ducks rescued from a storm drain in Westerville. (Courtesy Photo/Westerville Police Department)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A person has been hospitalized after a shooting took place on the north side of Columbus.

According to Columbus police one person was shot in or near an Advance Auto Parts parking lot on East Dublin Granville Road, just west of Interstate 71. The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m., when police cruisers arrived at the Sheetz gas station, which sits adjacent to the Advance Auto Parts parking lot.

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Officers found a victim in the adjacent parking lot at a Sheetz gas station. The victim was suffering from a gunshot wound and emergency crews took them to Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Police do not currently know what condition the victim is in, what led to the shooting, or have any suspect information.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The most-anticipated ranking of Ohio public high schools is in, and several central Ohio schools ranked high on the list.

The U.S. News and World Report released its school rankings Tuesday. The news organization analyzed more than 700 public high schools in Ohio based on six factors:

• 30% weight given to college readiness, measured by the proportion of seniors who took and earned a qualifying score on an IB or AP exam
• 20% weight given to state assessment proficiency
• 20% weight given to state assessment performance, measured against U.S. News and World Report's prediction for how a school with similar characteristics would score
• 10% weight given to college curriculum breadth, measured by how many AP or IB exams students take and pass
• 10% weight given to underserved student performance, measured by learning outcomes among Black, Hispanic and low-income students
• 10% graduation rate

Bexley High School nearly topped the list, being ranked second with a 99.17 score out of 100. Dublin Jerome High School, meanwhile, rounded out the top 10 with a score of 97.56. Other central Ohio high schools, including Olentangy Liberty, Columbus Alternative, Grandview Heights and Olentangy also ranked high on the list.

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The top 50 public high schools in Ohio in the ranking are:

1. Walnut Hills High School -- Cincinnati (#118 nationally)
2. Bexley High School -- Bexley (#147 nationally)
3. Madeira High School -- Cincinnati (#212 nationally)
4. Solon High School -- Solon (#220 nationally)
5. Rocky River High School -- Rocky River (#232 nationally)
6. Oakwood High School -- Dayton (#265 nationally)
7. Chagrin Falls High School -- Chagrin Falls (#297 nationally)
8. Indian Hill High School -- Cincinnati (#310 nationally)
9. Hudson High School -- Hudson (#404 nationally)
10. Dublin Jerome High School -- Dublin (#431 nationally)
11. Olentangy Liberty High School -- Powell (#441 nationally)
12. Wyoming High School -- Wyoming (#466 nationally)
13. Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School -- Broadview Heights (#488 nationally)
14. Olentangy High School -- Lewis Center (#490 nationally)
15. Kenston High School -- Chagrin Falls (#495 nationally)
16. Columbus Alternative High School -- Columbus (#510 nationally)
17. Sycamore High School -- Cincinnati (#528 nationally)
18. William Mason High School -- Mason (#530 nationally)
19. Grandview Heights High School -- Grandview Heights (#535 nationally)
20. Aurora High School -- Aurora (#569 nationally)
21. Upper Arlington High School -- Upper Arlington (#585 nationally)
22. Ottawa Hills High School -- Toledo (#588 nationally)
23. Granville High School -- Granville (#591 nationally)
24. Bay High School -- Bay Village (#616 nationally)
25. Turpin High School -- Cincinnati (#628 nationally)
26. Perrysburg High School -- Perrysburg (#698 nationally)
27. Revere High School -- Richfield (#700 nationally)
28. Mariemont High School -- Cincinnati (#726 nationally)
29. John Hay Early College High School -- Cleveland (#745 nationally)
30. Orange High School -- Lewis Center (#794 nationally)
31. Dublin Coffman High School -- Dublin (#799 nationally)
32. Highland High School -- Medina (#808 nationally)
33. West Geauga High School -- Chesterland (#811 nationally)
34. Avon Lake High School -- Avon Lake (#842 nationally)
35. New Albany High School -- New Albany (#877 nationally)
36. Cleveland School of Science and Medicine -- Cleveland (#894 nationally)
37. Olentangy Berlin High School -- Delaware (#915 nationally)
38. Orange High School -- Pepper Pike (#965 nationally)
39. Loveland High School -- Loveland (#971 nationally)
40. Avon High School -- Avon (#999 nationally)
41. Fort Loramie Junior-Senior High School -- Fort Loramie (#1,005 nationally)
42. Waynesville High School -- Waynesville (#1,024 nationally)
43. Bellbrook High School -- Bellbrook (#1,040 nationally)
44. Hiland High School -- Millersburg (#1,220 nationally)
45. Versailles High School -- Versailles (#1,240 nationally)
46. Strongsville High School -- Strongsville (#1,249 nationally)
47. Canfield High School -- Canfield (#1,275 nationally)
48. Kings High School -- Kings Mills (#1,308 nationally)
49. Anderson High School -- Cincinnati (#1,319 nationally)
50. Milford Senior High School -- Milford (#1,350 nationally)

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – A member of the Ohio National Guard accused of raping a minor was in court Wednesday.

Steven Vicario, of Delaware, was arrested by Delaware police Friday and faces three counts of rape and one count each of gross sexual imposition and tampering with evidence. The charges stem from two alleged incidents, one on November 5, 2023, when a woman brought a 14-year-old girl to the Delaware Police Department. The woman alleged the incident occurred in the early hours of Nov. 5 at a south Delaware residence.

The Delaware police report states that an officer escorted the victim to Grady Memorial Hospital, where an interview was conducted. The woman told police that she found Vicario in a bedroom with the minor, who was not fully clothed.

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According to the report, Vicario left the room before the minor was brought to the police station. The victim was next taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for additional examination.

Steven Vicario speaks with his attorney in court. (NBC4 Photo/Jackie Gillis)

An official indictment also includes additional charges in which Vicario is accused of rape between October 2022 and October 2023.

A Delaware County Court of Common Pleas copy of the indictment states that Vicario is charged with four total sex crimes, three counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition, over the two incidents, which accuse him of forcing vaginal and anal intercourse with the minor.

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Vicario is a lieutenant colonel currently serving as the Mobilization, Plans and Readiness Division Chief with the Ohio National Guard, according to his social media account. The woman told police that there were upwards of 50 firearms in the home, though Vicario was arrested without incident on April 19.

After a plea of not guilty, a judge issued Vicario a $500,000 bond and ordered him to have no contact with the victim, witnesses or family members. The judge added that should Vicario post bond, he will be ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.

A trial date has been set for June 25.

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – A small business selling customized apparel has found its new home.

643 Spirit relocated to 62 Mill Street in Gahanna in mid-April. The store, which opened in 2017, was previously located at 97 East Main Street in New Albany.

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“We were looking for a more central location with a little bit more visibility than what we had in New Albany,” owner Megan Lindholm said. “It seemed like Mill Street and the Creekside area was up and coming, so we decided to make our place here.”

The business, which is completely woman-owned and run, offers both screen printing and embroidery. 

“We do logo apparel, so we do any kind of apparel for spirit wear, schools, team uniforms, corporate apparel and promotional products,” Lindholm said. “So basically anything with your logo on it, we can sell.”

643 Spirit offers sales both in person and on their website. The business is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.