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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.

Fight turns fatal outside of Waffle House near Ohio State campus

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.

Fight turns fatal outside of Waffle House near Ohio State campus

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.

Fight turns fatal outside of Waffle House near Ohio State campus

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.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A hat made by a central Ohio apparel company has been restocked four times after Taylor Swift was seen wearing the cap, skyrocketing the brand's sales to new heights.

Columbus-based Homage told NBC4 the boost in sales came after the musician attended the Coachella music festival sporting a baseball-style cap that read "New Heights," the name of a podcast hosted by her boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, former center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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"The 'New Heights' Dad hat spiked a staggering 170x when Swift was spotted wearing it at Weekend One of the Coachella music fest in Indio, California," a company spokesperson said. "The company has restocked inventory now four times."

• Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13 in Thermal, California. (Gilbert Flores/Getty Images)
• Homage is the official apparel partner of the "New Heights" podcast, selling the hat in black or green for $36. (Courtesy Photo/Homage)

Homage is the official apparel partner of the podcast, selling the hat in black or green for $36. The spokesperson said the brand has ramped up manufacturing of the hat and is now delivering orders ahead of schedule, meaning fans who ordered a "New Heights" cap are likely to get it sooner than expected.

Swift and Kelce attended Coachella after a monumental first quarter of 2024, where Kelce won his third Super Bowl on Feb. 11 with the Chiefs. Kelce, who is also a University of Cincinnati graduate, cemented his legacy as one of the NFL's most prolific tight end players, catching nine passes for 93 yards, in the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory over the 49ers.

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One week prior, Swift took home another album of the year win at the Grammys for "Midnights," marking the musician as the only artist in history to win the category four times. She had previously been tied with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon with three wins.

The boost in Homage sales also comes as Swift released her 11th album on April 19, "The Tortured Poets Department." The album broke the record for the most streams earned in a single week, racking up 799 million plays on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – After the average gas price in the Columbus metro area climbed up to a 2024 high of $3.69 per gallon last week, a petroleum analysis expert predicts the worst is behind central Ohio motorists.

Gas prices in Columbus jumped by over a quarter last week, but this week prices dipped by 11 cents to an average of $3.58 per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations. The current price is 19.8 cents per gallon higher than one month ago and 11.7 cents higher than one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $3.38 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.77, a difference of 39 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also dropped by 15 cents per gallon, from $3.64 per gallon to $3.48 per gallon. Nationally, gas prices fell slightly (1.9 cents) to $3.63 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, expressed confidence that relief at the pump is on the way.

"Average gas prices have started to cool off in many areas. While the latter half of the summer could potentially see hurricane-related issues, I do sense we've hit the top for now,” he said. "Americans should be optimistic that this summer will be very similar to last year, in line with our early 2024 expectations and likely not featuring record gasoline prices. I'm quite excited the seasonal rise in gas prices appears to be over."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A fight involving up to 20 people turned fatal after one person was shot outside of a restaurant near Ohio State University early Monday morning.

According to officers at the scene, police were called to the Waffle House restaurant on North High Street in the University District at around 2:30 a.m. Monday. Upon arrival one person was found shot in the chest outside of the business.

Study: Ohio among states with most weather-related power outages Columbus police at the scene of a fight that turned fatal when one person was shot outside of a Waffle House on North High Street. (NBC4/Mathew Herchik)

Police said that a fight between 15 and 20 people began inside of the Waffle House and spilled out into the street. There, one person was shot. That victim was found on the sidewalk in front of Midway bar and restaurant, a couple of buildings north on North High St.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition was later pronounced dead at 3:06 p.m. No suspects are in custody and police did not offer any leads to potential suspects, though are still interviewing potential witnesses.

The scene remains roped off as of 5:30 a.m. and North High Street is closed near the campus area while the investigation continues.

The deadly shooting is the second of its kind at this location over a span of 53 weeks, when Deijon Bedgood was killed after a fight broke out between two groups of people. Raymond Ladd and Shemar Franklin were arrested for Bedgood's murder and are still awaiting trial.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is among the top five U.S. states that experience the most weather-related power outages, according to a recent study. 

Climate Central collected utility companies’ power outage data from 2000 to 2023, defining major outages as events that affect at least 50,000 customers. 

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The nonprofit claims weather-related power outages are on the rise, with the U.S. experiencing about two times more weather-related outages during the last 10 years compared to 2000 through 2009. Of all major U.S. outages reported, 80% (1,755) were due to weather, with some states more affected than others.

Ohio is the state that experienced the fifth-highest number of weather-related power outages (88), following Texas (210), Michigan (157), California (145) and North Carolina (111), according to the study. In the Buckeye State, of the 98 major outages reported, nearly 90% were weather-related. 

“The nation’s electrical grid wasn't built for the present-day climate,” the study says. “Electricity is mostly transmitted and distributed through above-ground transformers, transmission wires, and utility poles that are exposed to extreme weather such as high winds, heavy rain, ice, lightning, and extreme heat.”

Nationally, most weather-related outages were caused by severe weather such as high winds, rain and thunderstorms (58%), winter storms (23%) and tropical cyclones including hurricanes (14%). 

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates power outages cost American businesses around $150 billion annually. Outages can also disrupt access to clean water, food and critical healthcare.

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To prepare for a power outage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests having batteries and alternative power sources, such as a portable charger or power bank, as well as flashlights. The agency also suggests installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup and making a plan for medical devices or refrigerated medicines.

Additionally, FEMA recommends disconnecting appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. The agency also says to keep freezers and refrigerators closed and prepare to throw away any food that reaches unsafe temperatures.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Increasing clouds, night showers, high 83
• Tonight: Sct'd t-showers, low 62
• Tuesday: AM showers, high 73
• Wednesday: Mainly sunny, iso. sprinkle, high 80
• Thursday: Mainly sunny, iso. sprinkle, high 85
• Friday: Rain & storms, high 79

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Monday!

We had a beautiful, breezy weekend in Central Ohio, and that doesn't end quite yet! For our Monday, expect highs to warm back into the lower 80s, with a slight breeze. We won't be quite as gusty as we were over the weekend. We'll start the morning with sunshine, then clouds will gradually increase. A cold front then brings showers and thunderstorms tonight, between about 8 PM and midnight, and continuing through Tuesday morning.

Showers will gradually taper Tuesday morning and into the early afternoon, eventually exiting to the southeast. Highs drop back to the lower 70s Tuesday, and clouds gradually break late in the day.

For Wednesday and Thursday, we'll be looking at mainly sunny skies, with highs in the lower 80s Wednesday, and mid 80s for Thursday. We'll be looking at an isolated sprinkle chance, but overall mainly dry.

Our next system moves in Friday, and brings showers and thunderstorms that linger overnight and into the start of Saturday.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Teresa Scharf has lived in central Ohio for decades, but was born in Athens, Greece. She was adopted as a 7-month-old from Madera Baby Center in Athens. Her adoptive parents were both in the US Navy at the time, so she grew up moving all over the world.

It wasn't until she was grown and ready to start her own family that she became curious about her ancestry.

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"The first time I really felt an interest was when I got… when my husband and I were expecting our first child, and I was like, ‘How, how could you give this baby away?’" she said.

Scharf said that her adoptive parents would not have been receptive to many questions about her biological parents. She felt as if it would have been insulting to ask them. After her adoptive parents died, she began to wonder more seriously.

Scharf contacted the Efthichia Project, an organization that helps Greek adoptees find their families.

“The first thing she said was, ‘You need to do a DNA test,’" she said.

To her surprise, Scharf was met with positive results. She matched with a first cousin who lived in Chicago, and traveled to meet him and his family.

"It was the first time I'd ever met a blood relative ever, and at that point, I was 63 years old,” Scharf said. “This proved that they exist and there was a way to find them. I said to a very dear friend of mine later, ‘I wish I had started this process 30 years ago.’”

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Scharf’s story wasn't finished there. She found through the work of the Efthichia Project that she had about a dozen first cousins living in Greece. She traveled there and met her cousins who welcomed her with open arms.

"They were all talking and trying to figure out which one of her uncle's is her father or which one of our dads is her father," she said.

Then she received the call she thought may never come.

"She said, ‘The results are in. Angie is your sister,’” Scharf said. “And so I called Angie then and it was, I don't know, two in the morning in Greece when I called her. And, we just… she said, ‘Do you have results?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I do, and they confirmed that you and I are sisters.’ And I felt like we were two 10-year-old little girls. Just we just giggled and laughed the whole time. It was just so joyful.”

Scharf called her sister right away and planned another visit to Greece to meet in person.

On March 17 of this year, she flew into Athens, Greece where she met her sister Angie for the first time.

"I saw her, and I knew who she was and all I could do was walk up to her, wrap my arms around her, and just hug her, and she me, and we did that for a long time,” Scharf said. “We talked about everything, mostly about our father. She let me know what he was like as a person. And some of his characteristics and how I reminded her of him. I felt like I was a sponge trying to absorb 60 years' worth of information in a short span of time. But I… we immediately seemed to connect with one another. And, I mean, I could look in her eyes and just feel like we were we were part of each other. It was amazing. It was absolutely amazing.”

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“It was unbelievable. It is still unbelievable to me," said Scharf’s sister Angeliki (Angie) Palaeologou, via Zoom with the Efthichia Project.

Scharf was learning about her birth father, and spending every waking moment with her sister Palaeologou, who joked about their father, "Father, someday someone will knock my door and say, 'Hello sis.' This was a joke going on for years and years," Scharf said.

The journey isn't over yet for Scharf. She plans on visiting her sister and cousins again later this year. Then she wants to find out more about her biological mother's family as well.

"Everything that we've found so far is on my father's side, so we still don't know about my mother,” Scharf said. “Now there is a name on my birth. Oh, my birth certificate. So we have a name. I may have other half siblings, you know, all over Greece or maybe elsewhere in the world, maybe here in the U.S.”

The key to the life-changing discovery is the ability to submit a DNA test through MyHeritage or other ancestry and genealogy platforms. Technological advancements have connected people across the world who never would have otherwise found each other.

"I have an identity that I never had before. Having the access to be able to do the DNA testing is and it's such a simple process that that's made all the difference. There's always hope and there's always a way to try to find, especially now with the DNA that is that is the key. And if you if you just start looking, you may find something," Scharf said.

GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) -- Shelters across the state are seeing an influx of dogs coming into their shelters.

The shelter animal count shows so far this year, around 681,000 dogs have entered shelters across the United States. Franklin County is seeing this pressure firsthand as every single cage was full earlier this month.

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They put out a plea and people stepped up, through adoptions and fostering. Now one couple is sharing the impact fostering can have, for the dogs and for their foster humans.

Two long-time Franklin County dog fosters are getting ready to move, but they didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to the 17 dogs they’ve fostered over the years or without showing how much fostering can help.

"It's crazy. It's the best day of my life," Franklin County Dog Shelter foster mom Abigail Lee said. 

Lee got her first dog at 18 and since then, she and her partner Julia Murray have taken in many fosters and helped them find a forever home.

"People always asked, ‘How do you not get attached? How do you not keep them all?’ We would love to. However, then there wouldn't be more fosters," Lee said. 

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They are emphasizing just how important it is to foster; not only does it help make space for the shelter to take in more dogs, but it helps the dogs, too.

"They come in so sick and when they leave, they are so happy and well-adjusted," Lee said. 

"Fostering is huge,” shelter care manager Hannah Henschen said. “It gives us an opportunity to learn more about how a dog does in a home environment, which is really helpful and also just gets dogs out of the shelter environment, which, for a lot of dogs, can be stressful here.”

It gets the dogs into homes and helps make space, which isn’t just an issue in central Ohio.

"It's been a nationwide thing,” Henschen said. “I've talked with a lot of different other shelters. I have a friend who works at a shelter in Alaska and they're seeing the same problems that we are here, just an overpopulation of pets and maybe, maybe some kind of decrease in adoptions as well.”

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Lee and Murray are already signed up to foster in their new home city.

If you are interested in fostering with the Franklin County Dog Shelter, you can find more information here. 

Watch a previous report on Hermanio Joseph in the video player above.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) – A man accused of causing a fatal school bus crash in Clark County on the first day of school last year is set to go on trial this week.

Hermanio Joseph, 36, is facing a first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter charge and a fourth-degree felony vehicular homicide charge in connection with the Aug. 22, 2023 crash.

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According to police, Joseph was driving east on State Route 41 in Lawrenceville while a Northwestern Local Schools bus was driving in the opposite direction. Police said Joseph crossed the center lane, causing the bus driver to swerve. The vehicles still made contact, with the bus going off the road and rolling onto its side.

Aiden Clark, an 11-year-old Northwestern student, was killed in the crash. Twenty-six other students were injured; there were 52 students on the bus that day.

Joseph’s attorney filed a motion in January to have the case dismissed because prosecutors allege that Joseph didn’t have a valid U.S. driver’s license; the attorney argued that Joseph did have a valid Mexican driver’s license at the time of the crash. A judge ruled against the motion in early February.

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If guilty, Joseph faces up to 11 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter charge and up to a year in prison for the vehicular homicide charge.

The crash prompted the creation of the Ohio School Safety Working Group, formed to issue recommendations to make school buses safer. Among the recommendations made in January were seat belts on the buses, stronger bus frames, and collision avoidance systems.

UPDATE: Columbus police said the case involving a child found on Sullivant Avenue has been resolved.

According to Franklin County Children Services, the child's parents contacted police about the boy. The family is in the process of being reunited.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Police are looking for the parents or guardians of a young boy found at a Family Dollar store in the Hilltop section of Columbus on Sunday.

Columbus police said the child, who they estimate to be between 3 and 4 years old, was found in a diaper wandering on Sullivant and South Hague avenues by a Family Dollar store.

The boy, who police said is not talking with officers or social workers, is just over 4 feet tall and weighs about 38 pounds. He has brown eyes and brownish-blonde hair.

Anyone who knows anything about the child is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-2358 or 614-645-4545 or Franklin County Children Services at 614-299-7100.

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people were injured, one critically, in a traffic accident Sunday afternoon.

According to Madison Township Fire Chief Howard Hahn, first responders were dispatched to the area of Ebright Road and Blair Avenue at approximately 12:17 p.m. for a report of a two-vehicle crash.

Both of the victims, one in critical condition and the other in a stable condition, were taken to Mount Carmel East.

Details as to what caused the crash have not been released.

Ebright Road was closed between Bixford Avenue and Bixby Road for safety reasons because the crash involved two side-by-side telephones being hit and damaged, Hahn said. AEP repaired the poles and the road is expected to reopen by approximately 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Madison Township Fire Department was assisted at the scene by Columbus Division of Fire.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum:

• There’s no end in sight for the battle for control of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS).

“We’ll let the courts figure that, figure this out,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said about one week after a court ruled the governor overstepped his authority in ousting STRS member Wade Steen.

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“I felt like they, again, pulled the rug out from underneath us,” STRS board member Julie Sellers said.

• President Joe Biden signed a bill this week aimed at addressing the fentanyl crisis.

“This is not a… it’s not an urban problem or a rural problem or suburban problem,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said. “It’s, it’s everywhere.

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Hear who the bill targets and why Brown said it will save lives.

• “I think the most important thing that we believe as conservatives is that, keeping local control,” Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, a Republican, said.

Home rule is at the top of the agenda for the Ohio Mayor’s Alliance.

“There’s no Republican way to create a job, no Democratic way to fix a pothole,” Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, a Democrat, said.

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Hear why leaders from both sides of the aisle said they’re better positioned to solve problems than lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse.

• Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis and Democratic strategist Joe Rettof join the roundtable to discuss the struggle for control of STRS and Ohio’s mayors lobbying for more local control.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

High pressure off the Atlantic East Coast has prompted a southerly flow of warm air into the region. Skies are partly cloudy, with afternoon readings reaching the low 80s. Early morning readings will only fall back into the low 60s again tonight.

A storm in the central Plains will push a cold front farther east on Monday, resulting in scattered showers and storms over the western half of the state later in the day, spreading east Monday night into Tuesday morning. The weather will remain quite warm, as readings again climb into the low 80s.

The passage of a cold front will bring slightly cooler weather Tuesday, as rain showers taper off in the morning. Temperatures will hold in the 70s. High pressure will slide in midweek, providing drier weather. The weather will stay on the warm side.

Widely scattered showers and storms are likely Thursday night and Friday, before a cold front crosses the state. Showers will end early Saturday, followed by cooler weather next weekend.

Forecast

• Sunday: Partly cloudy, warm. High 84
• Tonight: Few clouds, mild. Low 63
• Monday: Some sun, late-day storm. High 83
• Tuesday: Showers early, sun. High 74 (63)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, scattered storms. High 79 (55)
• Thursday: Partly sunny. High 83 (59)
• Friday: Showers, storms. High 79 (63)
• Saturday: Showers taper off. High 73 (58)