Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some of Columbus's most beloved mom-and-pop shops could soon be forced to close their doors.

Redevelopment plans on Kenny Road are putting longtime businesses like HoneyDip Donuts and Diner, Iacono's Restaurant, De Santis Florist, and HealthMarkets Insurance at risk. 

"I was literally crying about it earlier because, you know, I don't want to see it go," Iacono's Restaurant employee Alyssa Mazon said. "This is the charm of Ohio, Columbus, everything. I want it to stay. I want people to make new memories here. I want them to bring their kids and share it."

The strip of businesses went into receivership. That's when a judge steps in and appoints someone else to manage a property after the landlord runs into trouble. 

HoneyDip Donuts owner George Nicoloulias said they feel blindsided because they were told they'd be given the chance to buy the buildings they've occupied for decades. Instead, he said they went on the market without them knowing about it.

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"You don't have too many more mom-and-pop places," Nicoloulias said. "Everything's getting run over. And as a community, everyone wants this place here. This is like a home to them. It's sad."

For people who live in Columbus, these small businesses feel like family, and they aren't ready to say goodbye yet. 

"It's going to bum us out for the rest of the week, the rest of the month," HoneyDip Donuts customer Jeff Phelps said. "It's almost like you're losing a dear friend."

Phelps and his wife, Helen, said they've built lifelong friendships over coffee and donuts. The business has been a staple in the area for over 50 years.

"We've had generations of families come in here," Nicoloulias said. "I remember waiting on customers; now they have their kids."

NBC4 reached out to the court-appointed receiver multiple times on Thursday for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

For employees like Alyssa Mazon, who grew up eating at these restaurants and now works at Iacono's Restaurant, the news hits hard. 

"I am devastated," Mazon said. "I'm terrified. This community means everything to me. You can't have us like, you know, not being a part of Columbus."

But the businesses say they're not going down without a fight. 

"We just want a chance to buy our properties," Nicoloulias said. "That's plain and simple."

Nicoloulias said if redevelopment goes forward, Columbus will lose generations of family-owned businesses, along with local jobs and neighborhood stability.

"You've got all these employees," Nicoloulias said. "Not just De Santis. Not just Iacono's, but the health place next door. I mean, you're booting out four different families who have roots here. I mean, we've been here fifty years. We're well-known."

For now, the businesses are still serving customers. An online petition was created on Wednesday. Owners hope that momentum will convince city leaders to step in before it's too late. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Today, victims from the most recent school shooting were honored, as churches around the world held mass.

Two children were killed and others injured at annunciation catholic school in Minnesota. At St. Joseph’s Cathedral, parishioners gathered as the events of Wednesday lay heavy on their hearts. They hoped their prayers could ease the pain of those suffering from this tragedy.   

Reverend Jan Sullivan, draped in a purple robe for mourning, started the mass speaking on the shooting in South Minneapolis 

“At the very moments when they were gathered in prayer at the beginning of their new school year, for the celebration of the eucharist, the celebration of the mass, the place of gods abiding and true presence, their peace was shattered by an act of incomprehensible evil,” Sullivan said.  

The shooting left an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old dead and 18 others hurt when a shooter fired in a catholic church filled with students. The weight of this incident was felt by many throughout the service, including parishioner Scott Bent.

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“I think that it's a sorrowful day for all of us, not just Catholics, but for humanity, that we have such, such violence and strife in the world,” Bent said. “And, I mean, I hope that that this mass and mass is being held all around the country can do some small part to bring us closer together.” 

Also noted was love and compassion for all their families involved, closing out the service by lifting up the children who lost their lives in one final prayer.   

“There's so much love and compassion for them and for their families and for what they're going through, and that we're all praying and hopefully doing what we can to ease their pain,”  Bent said.  

Church leaders also expressed a hope to end acts of violence like this one in the future. 

“May God's infinite strength be given to us all, to do our every effort to end such violent attacks against human life,” Sullivan said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State Police say they will have more law enforcement than ever before patrolling for Saturday's game.

Police leaders say they want Buckeye fans to focus on cheering for the team and let police handle the safety.  Chief Dennis Jeffrey, with the Ohio State University Police Division, said law enforcement has been running through mock safety scenarios here at the Horseshoe. He said with all the attention on this big match-up, they are on extra high alert. 

“We're always ready for anything that comes our way,” Jeffrey said.

Jeffrey said months of preparation and coordination all led up to Saturday's kickoff. He said there will be 10 percent more law enforcement officers than usual.

“All our normal partners, but we actually now have asked for some help from Grandview Heights, Bexley, and Upper Arlington. They're gonna help us out this year just because, you know, obviously with the amount of games, the amount of attention," Jeffrey said.

Those normal partners include the Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the FBI. Jeffrey said they also utilize social media analysts to monitor potential threats, as well as security cameras.

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“We have some really talented group of what we call the camera monitors. They're always looking for anything around a car that looks suspicious. Certainly, they would call that out, and then we would have officers respond over there if we feel like there needs to be a presence,” Jeffrey said. 

This year, OSU has also updated its emergency text system. It's a new number to join text “OSU FB” to “67283.”

“As people are coming to the game, if they want to join that system and they'll get notifications of when fan fest opens up or when the gates open up or if there's an emergency, we'll be able to communicate with them that way,” said Robert Armstrong, the Director of Emergency Management and Fire Prevention

Armstrong said they have utilized this tool in the past.

“We actually have for severe weather. We partner with the National Weather Service for every game, and they help us keep track of severe weather as it's moving in. If we have lightning that is coming close to the stadium and we need to ask people to move out of the bowl and onto the concourse, we'll use that system to make those notifications is also helps with people who are not inside the stadium, who may be out in the parking lots,” Armstrong said.

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“We know that with that comes extra attention. So we feel, you know, we really try to look at what's going on in the world, too, and see, you know, what that impacts the game. So we're always looking at those issues,” Jeffrey said.

Ohio State Police also wants to remind fans of some traffic pattern changes. 

Due to construction, Woody Hayes Drive in front of the stadium will be shut down to traffic about four hours before kickoff. Police say the Woody Hayes Bridge will be open for pedestrians.

Also new this year, police say the west campus shuttle will now drop off fans at the campus transit lot south of the stadium off John Herrick Drive. 

“Big game, as we all know. So when we say, Hey, arrive early, this one, you really should arrive early. I just think it can be a lot of folks there. We'll have college game day and Fox, you know, both broadcasting pre-game. So just a lot of folks on campus and a lot going on,” Jeffrey said.

Police also want to remind fans to refresh themselves on the bag policy before heading to the stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- He's not, technically, a football coach. Mickey Marotti, or "Coach Mick," sets the tone for every meeting, practice and game for the Ohio State football program.

"Fight is our culture, fight to be the best version of yourself, doing whatever you have to do to be better than you were the day before." Marotti said. 

For the past 13 years he's directed Ohio State's strength and conditioning program. His official title lists him as an assistant athletic director for football sports performance. It's a long way of saying he's in charge of getting the Buckeyes physically and mentally ready to play a brutal game.   

"He's unrelenting," said head coach Ryan Day. "He comes every single day with the same amount of energy."

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For many players, Marotti's personal style creates unique bonds, extending well beyond football. "Outside of family, coach Mick is by far the biggest influencer in my life." said junior receiver Nolan Baudo. 

Marotti calls himself a culture guy, leaning on terms like 'fight' and 'brotherhood' to get players to invest. "If they know you care and know you care about them as people, they'll crack their chest open and give me their heart," Marotti said. "And it's much more than running faster or getting stronger. They believe in this program."

Four teams trained by Marotti have won national championships—two at Florida in 2006 and 2008 with two more at Ohio State in 2014 and 2024. Both his kids graduated from Ohio State and now he's a proud grandfather. But make no mistake, he's not softened up a bit. It's especially true in the weight room, where training sessions are legendary. 

"He knows that it's very difficult to replicate what happens during a season and what happens during a game in those moments when things get really, really hard and you have to respond," Day said. "He tries to create that as many times as he can and then teach them the lessons along the way because he knows what it looks like."

Marotti said that stress is needed to create elite performance and develop elite habits. "They need structure. Actually, they crave it. Discipline," he said. "I take my job seriously. I take it with a ginormous responsibility and obligation to these players. I'm here for the players to help them be who they want to be, who they strive to be." 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's the last holiday weekend before Thanksgiving as Ohioans are ready for a relaxing Labor Day.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has highlighted the expected traffic on the freeways for the holiday weekend across the major cities.

Columbus and Central Ohio road conditions

For Columbus, motorists can expect very heavy traffic Friday afternoon between 2 and 6 p.m. The city's Labor Day weekend is highlighted by Saturday's Ohio State season opener against No. 1 Texas at Ohio Stadium that will bring travelers from across the country.

Traffic is expected to remain standard for the remainder of the weekend in Ohio's capital. Click here to watch a preview of other events planned across central Ohio.

Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Transportation

Traffic is expected to get more congested around the same time frame in Cleveland and Cincinnati as well. But the Queen City is expected to have heavier traffic in that mid Friday afternoon slot than "The Land".

Cleveland though is expected to sustain for standard traffic through the holiday weekend while things are expected to easy up in Cincinnati by Sunday.

Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Transportation

The other other area in Ohio expected to see some road congestion is in Dayton, with 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday expected to be the most congested in the city.

Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Transportation

ODOT always warns drivers to plan ahead to arrive at your destination early and to keep an eye on construction areas.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police announced the arrest of two men and three teenagers in connection to a south side crash Wednesday night involving a stolen Kia.

At 10:30 p.m., officers were told a stolen Kia fled from traffic and a police pursuit ensued. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed on the 1000 block of South Champion Avenue and came to a rest in a front yard.

The five people in the Kia fled on foot after the crash and were quickly arrested by Columbus police officers. Three handguns were recovered by investigators with one found in the yard and two inside the Kia.

Marion councilmember reindicted on rape charges after dismissal

Darrel Fields Jr., 19, along with 18-year-old Christopher Allmon, two 15-year-olds, and one 14-year-old were all arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police said all five are repeat "motor vehicle crime offenders" and added that the 14-year-old suspect had warrants for stolen property and obstructing official business. He also faces a theft charge and a tampering with evidence charge.

The City of Columbus' 2023 lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for “skyrocketing rates of thefts of certain Kia and Hyundai models that lack industry standard antitheft technology,” was recently cleared to proceed.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Seven months after three felony rape charges were dropped, a Marion City Council member has been indicted on five felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl.

In January, the Marion County prosecutor’s office filed a motion to dismiss rape charges against Ayers Ratliff for the purpose of possibly strengthening its case in the future with additional and “substantial evidence.”

On Wednesday, two indictments were filed, one against Ratliff, the other against his wife, Heidi Ratliff, who are being charged in connection with the rape of a 13-year-old girl, who reportedly texted a friend of the alleged incident.

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Ayers Ratliff was arrested in May 2024 after the alleged victim reportedly sent a friend a text. A criminal complaint stated that the friend notified a school counselor, who called the police.

Marion officers interviewed the alleged victim, who told officers Ayers had forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with her the night before. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to assist in the investigation and the victim was taken to Marion General Hospital for a sexual assault examination.

Marion PD also executed a search warrant at the location of the reported rape, where several clothes described by the victim were collected, as well as other physical evidence and electronic devices.

Three witnesses including the Marion Chief of Police, a special agent with BCI and a nurse at Marion General Hospital, testified during a preliminary hearing before a Marion County Court of Common Pleas grand jury convened to indict Ayers.

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When the prosecutor’s office said additional evidence surfaced, it voluntarily dropped the charges to pursue the case further.

“The evidence continues to amass,” January’s motion stated. “Surprisingly, Ratliff’s attorneys – by providing potential witnesses and hundreds of pages of new discovery material – have unwittingly given the prosecution team additional leads that will need to be reviewed by a Marion County grand jury.”

Seven months later, seven new charges were added to the reindictment, two for Ayers Ratliff and five for Heidi Ratliff.

The charges are as follows:

• Ayers Ratliff: Rape, gross sexual imposition (three counts), abduction
• Heidi Ratliff: Obstruction of justice (two counts), endangering children (two), intimidation of a victim

The charges list multiple incidents occurring; May 1, 2023, and May 19, 2023.

“The Intimidation of a Victim charge advanced by the Grand Jury suggests this child was subjected to improper intimidation after she told others about the rape committed against her,” Marion County prosecutor Ray Grogan said.

Ayers Ratliff pleaded not guilty in September 2024 and just five weeks ago filed a lawsuit against Grogan along with several members of his staff, alleging false arrest, wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel and slander.

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The lawsuit claimed that the victim made up the rape accusations, but that for political reasons, investigators pursued the case.

“The investigation was at all times incompetent, reckless, malicious and in blatant disregard for the truth and was conducted with actual malice,” the lawsuit said.

Ayers Ratliff was present in recent Marion City Council meetings as recent as July, records show, and remains listed as 2nd Ward representative, the chair of Public Utilities, and on the Finance committee as well as the Jobs & Economic Growth Development committee.

Online records do not indicate when a future court date will be scheduled.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Bier Stube is back.

A staple of Columbus, the Bier Stube dive bar closed nearly a year ago to make room for a 13-story high rise. The Bier Stube had occupied 1479 N. High St. since 1966 and acquired a strong patronage who mourned the Stube's closure. Now the beloved campus bar is reopening at a new location, 234 King Ave.

Bier Stube is taking over the former location of Junior's Bar and Grill, just blocks from the Stube's former home. On social media, owner Craig Kempton said the deal was finalized this week.

Kempton took fans along via social media for the first time as he opened the doors to the new Bier Stube. Grinning big, Kempton's new location is brightly decorated with a big bar. Kempton said it will need some work, but he is excited to revive the Bier Stube.

"Today starts this journey of turning this amazing location into a place you can call home again. I promise that I will do all I can to do make this happen," Kempton said on social media. "I really felt the love the last few days from so many people literally across the entire United States. So now, we plan, design and rebuild."

The news was well-received among Columbus residents. Kempton's video attracted dozens of comments, all of which heralded the old Stube and were excited for the next step.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Meet Bodhi! He is up for adoption at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

Bodhi has been with the shelter since August, and staff say they are surprised he hasn't been adopted. A social pup who loves everyone he meets, Bodhi also gets along well with other dogs.

Shelter staff say his only "quirk" would be that he can get a little too rambunctious at times, but it could be helped with some training. Bodhi loves to eat treats and is food-motivated. As of now, he knows "sit" but is eager to learn more tricks for his new family.

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Bodhi has a love for any toys he can play with and will keep himself entertained for hours, according to shelter staff. He will even go outside to chew and play with sticks as toys as well.

If you are interested in adopting or fostering to adopt Bodhi, you can meet with him at the shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. To see a list of other adoptable dogs, visit the shelter's website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Festivals and nostalgia take center stage in central Ohio this weekend, bringing the community together with food, music, and old-fashioned fun.

Some of the area's biggest events include the Greek Festival, Obetz Zucchinifest, Bexley Summer Festival and Soberfest Ohio. Adding to the fun are vintage baseball games, retro-themed concerts, classic movies on the big screen and fascinating exhibitions featuring Legos and Star Trek.

The list below has something for everyone looking to get out and make weekend memories.

Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, until Sept. 7

• Nature Connects is an award-winning Lego brick art exhibition, designed within the horticulture summer displays, by artist Sean Kenney. His enormous, ambitious, gravity-defying, and astoundingly precise structures will delight the whole family. The event is included with general admission.

Photo Courtesy/ Franklin Park Conservatory Star Trek & Worlds Beyond

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Star Trek & Worlds Beyond is a special exhibition featuring nearly 150 unique props, costumes, and images from the Paramount Archive. Phasers, communicators, and Romulan insignia from the Kelvin timeline and beyond are on display. In partnership with DACO, the Trumbull County Historical Society and Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts adds pieces from a newly acquired collection of over 500 sci-fi props. Admission is free.

'Heathers: The Musical'

Columbus Performing Arts Center (Van Fleet Theater), recurring weekly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Sept. 7

• “Heathers” tells the darkly comedic story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into a powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. Admission is $20 to $23.

Columbus Greek Festival

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Aug 29 to Sept. 1

• The Columbus Greek Festival is back for its traditional Labor Day celebration at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in downtown Columbus. Enjoy Greek dancing, food and more. Hours are Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per day for adults or $10 for a weekend pass. Kids 12 years and younger are free.

Photo Courtesy/Columbus Greek Festival Obetz Zucchinifest

Fortress Obetz, Aug. 29 to Sept. 1

• A free four-day, family-friendly festival featuring everything zucchini. Free concerts throughout the weekend. More than 20 food vendors, Zucchinifest Beer Garden, a midway with rides and games for kids of all ages, and arts and crafts vendors. Prizes are awarded for the biggest zucchini, smallest zucchini, most unusual, and best dressed. Enter a dessert, relish, or zucchini bread into the culinary competition. Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

The Dead Revival Band with The Groove Brothers Band: A Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band

Columbus Commons, Aug. 29, starts at 6 p.m.

• Tribute bands The Dead Revival Band and The Groove Brothers Band pay homage to The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band. Tickets are not required. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs; beverage sales and food trucks will be on-site beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Ohio Cup, vintage baseball festival

Westerville Sports Complex, Aug. 30 and 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• More than two dozen teams from across the United States compete by 19th-century rules for vintage baseball’s Ohio Cup. Activities for kids, including old-time games and sports. Admission is free.

 Ohio Village Muffins. Photo Courtesy/Ohio History Connection Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas Longhorns

Ohio Stadium, Aug. 30, noon

• Ohio State football's home opener. Check Ticketmaster for ticket prices.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to his team during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) Tequila Fest Columbus 2025

Land-Grant Brewing Company, Aug. 30, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Festival attendees can sample over 50 tequilas, along with souvenirs, food, music, and more. Enjoy tacos from Condado Tacos. Tickets are priced between $50 and $150.

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Wexner Center for the Arts, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

• Rapid aging is a blessing and a curse in this time-bending back-to-school double feature. Admission is free for Ohio State students, $5 for other students, $8 for members and adults 55 and older, and $10 for adults.

Soberfest Ohio 2025

Franklin County Fairgrounds, Aug. 31, from noon to 6 p.m.

• A day of live music, inspirational speakers, family activities, and critical community resources. Headliners for 2025 include Broken Habits, The Mighty Bristlecone, Rock This Way, Whirl, Analog Youth, Matt Keegan, and Pilot to Pluto, with performances running from 11:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. The event provides “a safe, judgment-free environment where the entire community can come together.” Admission is free, parking $10.

Photo Courtesy/Soberfest Bexley Summer Festival 2025

Main Street Bexley, Aug. 31, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Bexley Summerfest is a community celebration that is fun for all ages. More than 50 artist booths, live music, hands-on kids activities, and the famous crowd favorite, Egg Drop. Food trucks and Brewfest, featuring craft brews from regional favorites. Admission is free.

Shadowbox Live Performance of Rock This Way

Columbus Commons, Aug. 31, starts at 6 p.m.

Shadowbox Live will perform the hits of Aerosmith and Van Halen in a music tribute show.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs; beverage sales and food trucks will be on-site at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As part of its ongoing mission supporting LGBTQ+ Ohio youth, Kaleidoscope Youth Center is expanding services to Findlay, marking a significant step in the organization's long-term goal to reach rural communities.

KYC, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, has served as a cornerstone of support for LGBTQ+ central Ohio youth. The organization now hopes to replicate the inclusive space it has cultivated at its Columbus drop-in center in the northwest region of the state. This expansion follows the sunset of Spectrum, a Findlay LGBTQ+ organization that collaborated closely with KYC to ensure a smooth transition.

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"One of the things that we've always had in our long-term strategic plan is more rural outreach outside of central Ohio," Jen Kuhn, senior associate director of advancement and strategy at KYC, said in an interview with NBC4. "Particularly, when you're thinking about safer and affirming spaces, there aren't always as many of those outside of the cities." Watch a previous NBC4 report on KYC's expansion in the video player above.

KYC's Columbus drop-in center at 603 E. Town St. (Courtesy Photo/Kaleidoscope Youth Center)

In early 2024, KYC was contacted by a former Spectrum board member who expressed concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ services in Findlay. After discussions with Spectrum's leadership and local stakeholders, KYC decided to move forward with a plan that would see the organization step in to fill the need left by Spectrum's closure.

"We don't want to leave a gap for LGBTQ+ people in the region," Kuhn said. "We didn't take over Spectrum, we didn't envelop it into our own operations. We were very fortunate that we got to work hand in hand with them as they were sunsetting and we could talk about their experiences and what we needed to do to adjust... we're sad to see them go from the region, but hopefully we can do them justice."

KYC's expansion efforts are guided by a needs assessment that was launched in early 2025. This survey reached out to both youth and adults in Findlay, aiming to identify gaps in services and areas where KYC could offer support. Additionally, KYC has hired a full-time staff member based in Findlay to help with outreach and programming.

Kuhn emphasized that the goal isn't just to establish a physical presence in Findlay, but to integrate into the fabric of the local LGBTQ+ community. The team has already begun working with other organizations and is hosting Findlay Pride in the Park on Sept. 13, where KYC will engage with the community and introduce itself to the area.

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"It's really important to us that we're not bringing the 'big city' to them, but instead we're gonna hire people from Findlay, from northwest Ohio," Kuhn said. "We've always been by and for our community, and so that's important while also looking at these different regions of the state that we make sure it's community feeding back into community."

KYC's expansion comes at a time when LGBTQ+ youth services in Ohio face significant challenges, particularly in the wake of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being advanced at the state level. Recent laws such as House Bill 68, which bans gender-affirming care for minors, have left many LGBTQ+ youth and their families searching for supportive resources.

While KYC's goal is to establish a full-service facility in Findlay, that will take time. Kuhn noted that the organization plans to initially offer smaller-scale programs, including group support sessions for youth and young adults. These programs are set to launch as early as 2026, as the center works to secure permanent space for its operations.

"The dream is always to have a full-on facility; that certainly would be in the long term, a three-to-five year plan," Kuhn said. "In the interim, we are looking for a space to at least do groups and keep those going ... but certainly long term, it'd be great to have a space just like we do here in Columbus."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Local governments in the Columbus area are issuing multifamily housing permits at one of the highest rates in the country, according to a recent report. 

The real estate company Redfin examined U.S. Census Bureau data regarding construction permits issued for units in buildings with five or more dwellings from July 2024 through June 2025. The analysis included the 78 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of at least 750,000. 

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The report found that the Columbus metropolitan area – covering 10 central Ohio counties – saw the fifth-highest rate of authorizations granted for multifamily housing, with permits issued to build 42 units per 10,000 individuals.

North Port, Florida, issued the most permits, giving the greenlight to 65 units for every 10,000 people. Ranking next in a tie at 63.6 units were Austin, Texas and Cape Coral, Florida, which were followed by Raleigh, North Carolina (43.7). 

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On the other hand, Stockton, California, saw the lowest number of permits granted for multifamily housing, at zero. The metro with the second-fewest permits was Bakersfield, California (0.9), followed by El Paso, Texas (1.6), New Orleans (2.7) and Providence, Rhode Island (2.7). 

Across the country, developers obtained permits to build an average of 12.8 multifamily housing units per 10,000 people. The figure includes the entire country – not just the 78 metros that were ranked in the report. 

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This national rate is down 23.1% from an average of 16.7 during the pandemic housing boom, from 2020 to 2023, and down 1.1% from an average of 13 before the pandemic, from 2014 to 2020. 

The report also found that rents have been declining or remaining stable over much of the past two years; however, the median asking rent rose 1.7% last month compared with rents a year earlier.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police and Franklin County sheriff deputies are searching for a suspect who fled after a pursuit in the west side of the city.

Police said that at approximately 1:28 a.m. Thursday morning, Franklin Township cruiser pulled over a driver on Sullivant Avenue due to their headlights. The driver, however, accelerated and attempted to flee.

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The vehicle struck a light pole, sending wires down, lost control, and hit the porch of a home on Kingsford Road in the Holly Hill neighborhood.

The driver, who police have not yet identified, reportedly got out of the car and ran. Police said no one is currently in custody and that the driver was allegedly in possession of a gun.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Parents and teachers are raising concerns about violence at Columbus City Schools, with more than 850 police runs to district middle and high schools in less than three years.

“These kids are no joke. This isn't like minor disruption," an elementary school music teacher told NBC4 Investigates. "This is foul-mouthed, this is punching, this is threats, this is hitting. I don't go on the playground for fifth and sixth-grade recess. I don't do it because there's too many fights."

The elementary school teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her employment, said she was shocked by the violence she witnessed in the district. She said she’s seen students throw things at teachers, destroy school property, curse out others and threaten to shoot everyone at school. She said despite daily violence, she's only seen one expulsion: a third-grade student who brought a weapon to school and tried to use it.

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Teachers are not the only ones concerned. Parent Mindy Hewitt said her 13-year-old was jumped seven times last school year, got in two fights, and instigated one after thinking a group was about to jump her. She said the year before, her daughter had been on the merit roll and rarely skipped class. Last year, Hewitt said her daughter lost more than 20 pounds due to the stress of in-school violence.

“The kids there act like they are in prison,” Hewitt said.

NBC4 Investigates combed through hundreds of police reports detailing all Columbus police calls to CCS middle and high schools. From Jan. 1, 2023, to April 18, 2025, officers responded to secondary schools 858 times.

Most of the calls were for "disturbances," which can range from calls about irate parents to assaults. Although the data is just for secondary schools, police are even involved with elementary schoolers. NBC4 Investigates obtained police video from May of elementary students brawling on a school bus and being restrained by officers.

The teacher said she believes police reports barely scratch the surface.

"I think Columbus City has made it clear that they don't like people speaking out, and they don't want the cops involved," she said. "I'm like, 'Let the cops walk through this building, let them pull out a couple of kids. Let the other kids see.'"

CCS told NBC4 Investigates it disciplined students for fighting, harassment, serious bodily harm and unwelcome sexual contact 9,103 times from August to April of the 2024-25 school year, and 11,251 the year before. The district did not make administrators available for an interview on school safety. See previous coverage of CCS sexual violence in the video player above.

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The district is required to submit disciplinary data to the state every year. When comparing the 2023-2024 school year -- the most recently available data -- police were called to CCS 368 times. That same year, the district reported disciplining students nearly 60,000 times.

NBC4 Investigates compared all police runs to all disciplinary activity for CCS' middle and high schools. Just three schools did not have police runs and are not included in the graph.

The elementary school teacher said she believes this data is also lacking. She said she and her colleagues are encouraged not to write up student misconduct to protect the school and principal from looking bad.

"The amount of things that are blown over because the principals are under pressure to make it all look shiny and they want to keep their jobs," the teacher said.

CCS representatives said the district is intentionally working with teachers and principals to bring down violence. The district has a detailed intervention policy that encourages de-escalation techniques like monitoring signs of distress or positive reinforcement.

CCS said de-escalation has proven effective. NBC4 Investigates spoke with Dr. Samuel Johnson Jr., the principal of Beechcroft High School. Now in his eighth year in the role, Johnson said fighting decreased 25% thanks to de-escalation techniques. 

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"We have crisis prevention, professional development, we use our counselors," Johnson said. "And again, the social emotional piece, teachers really, really sit down with the students and try to get to the root causes, and we're very proactive. Our teachers, administrators and our security have their ear to the ground."

At her elementary school, the teacher said she's seen minimal success with de-escalation. In extreme situations, teachers are permitted to physically intervene when students pose a threat to themselves or others. Although she feels it’s necessary, the elementary teacher said it was highly discouraged by her peers and superiors. She said she's seen teachers placed on leave for permitted uses of physical touch because of parent complaints or student allegations of misconduct.

She said this leaves teachers with few options, adding she has also been discouraged from sending students to school disciplinary counselors. She said she still sends them.

"I can't sit and watch 20 kids suffer because of the six in the room who are determined to make this miserable for everyone," she said.

She felt sending students to a special classroom is also not the punishment it seems. The teacher said students who go to the behavior center are given sweets and allowed to have more freedom, encouraging bad behavior.

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The teacher said the toll this takes on teachers is immense, and many feel like they are too close to retirement to voice concerns. She said almost every teacher she knows is on antidepressants and antianxiety medication.

"I panic when they line up at my door," she said. "After Christmas break, I think I wept that whole morning that I knew I had to go back."

The teacher NBC4 Investigates spoke with said she does not have the answer to fix the violence and disruption, but knows current practices are not working. CCS began the 2025-2026 school year this week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio dispensaries can now sell pre-rolled marijuana joints.

This has been more than a year in the making after dispensaries were given the green light to sell recreational marijuana.

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control updated its rules on Aug. 1 to allow processors the ability to put pre-rolls on the market, but they must first obtain approval from the state to do so.

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Many local dispensaries like Nar Reserve have been anticipating this provision change, noting that adding this product would increase demand and give them a competitive edge when it comes to Michigan dispensaries.

“We sold out,” Darius Walters with Nar Reserve said. “We sold out so fast that it was even harder to keep up with the marketing, making sure that the people know we have them. Before I even let them know they were gone, you know, we had them one day. We should see more in stock as the market continues to adjust to the demand.

“They can go to one place and get their single-serve or their five packs or three packs and be able to take care of themselves without having to go to Michigan for them and/or go to other smoke shops,” Walters added.

The DCC also said standard pre-rolls are available to both medical and adult-use patients, but medical patients are not allowed to buy infused pre-rolls, which contain other concentrates.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Central Ohio business and technology leaders gathered in Columbus on Wednesday for an event called C.I.O Tomorrow.

One of the topics of the event is what it’ll take to make Columbus -- and Ohio as a whole -- a leader in the tech industry.

Leaders like Nick Fortine, president of Columbus Business First, said the event is about making sure the next generation of tech companies and leaders have the education, strategy and execution skills to bring more growth to central Ohio. 

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“Columbus is a thriving community,” Fortine said. “It's really important that we continue to collaborate, bring the technology community together again to make connections, to learn from one another, and to really become a catalyst for the next generation of technology leadership.” 

Through speeches and in-depth breakdowns, the highlight was how technology is a part of every organization and critical to a business's success. Another key point was the rapid speed with which technology is changing, from learning how one company creates automated welding systems to being educated in programming artificial intelligence. Nationwide Financial Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Michael Carrel sees it all as an imperative investment.   

“If we don't, companies in central Ohio won't continue to grow; we’ll be displaced by companies that are able to leverage technology to be able to change the way you interact with customers and our new markets,” Carrel said. “So, it's critical for us.” 

There was also discussion surrounding the potential for job growth as more companies like Intel or Anduril come to Ohio, which are expected to add more than 4,500 jobs by 2035. There is a belief that students in high school and college have an opportunity for careers with these companies but should study various technology and cybersecurity programs.

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“We need workers in central Ohio,” Fortine said. “Our economy is growing, it’s very diversified and at the heart of almost every company is technology. And so, we need technologists that are credentialed, that come out of organizations like vocational schools or state community colleges or the Ohio State University or any other university across Ohio or across the country. We need them all.” 

According to the Columbus Partnership, there has been a 22% increase in tech jobs over the last five years in Columbus alone. Steve Wylie, general manager and vice president of sales for Trace3, said this could lead to Ohio becoming a national leader of the technology industry.  

“I mean, California, for instance, you know, Silicon Valley, you know, has its place and will probably continue to have its place,” Wylie said. “But there's a lot of those tech companies which are putting second homes here in Ohio. And so, I think, for us as Ohioans, like, it's our job to in the organizations that we work with to continue to attract more of that.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- If you've noticed your grocery bills getting bigger, beef may be one of the reasons. Prices are at record highs and it doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon.

According to industry experts, it comes down to simple supply and demand. According to the latest consumer price index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ground beef prices rose 11.5% and beef steak prices rose 12% compared to this time last year.

At the grocery store and central Ohio butcher shops, sticker shock is setting in.

"We see consumer demand for beef up across the board," Ohio Beef Council executive director Elizabeth Harsh said. "Certainly, we see ground beef prices at a historical high."

Harsh said a shortage of cows and tough weather are to blame. "Cow herds across the country have been at an all-time low for many decades and we really see that reflected here in central Ohio and throughout the state," Harsh said. 

Record high prices are coming simultaneously with historically high demand with Harsh saying demand is at its highest in 40 years.

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"So, while the supply is low, consumers want beef and are willing to buy beef, even as we see beef prices continue to rise, we see beef sales following right along with it," Harsh said. 

David Smith has owned Bluescreek Farm Meats and Market for more than 30 years. He said because he owns a farm he raises almost everything himself. Not everyone does though. 

"People that has strictly a retail store, freestanding, that doesn't raise their own meats, it's going to be particularly hard on them," Smith said. "You're going to see a lot of them going out of business."

However, Smith said even he has had to absorb some of the costs. "The bottom line's getting slimmer all the time," Smith said. Smith's customers are feeling this when they go to purchase beef. "You're looking at anywhere from two to four dollars a pound higher," Smith said. 

According to industry experts, if people buy more chicken and pork for their dinner meals it could help decrease the price of beef. Central Ohio families looking to save can stretch their meals with ground beef, roasts, or other less expensive cuts.

"People always have to eat," Smith said. "That's the bottom line. People have to eat. So, they will try to take other cuts and marinate them, extend them with different recipes out of the cookbook like ground beef, ground lamb. There are all kinds of different things that they can do with ground beef that's on the lower end of meat."

Experts said they don't expect prices to level off this fall. In fact, they said they could climb even higher as we head into winter due to fuel costs and other factors.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University athletics leaders said a lot of thought went into figuring out how to make the gameday experience unmatched for Buckeye fans, not necessarily calling the changes new traditions, but more like evolved traditions.

“Nobody's going to be able to do what we're about to do,” Ohio State Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Live Events Caleb Clark said.

Ohio State's athletics team wants the gameday experience to not only be fun but to tell a story.

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“We didn't really take away any of those traditions at all,” Clark said. “We just, maybe, you know, I kind of say we want to live in the nuance of game experience, so those subtle tweaks are going to be noticeable.”

From fans getting a towel when they walk in to the ringing of the victory bell before the game, to a new anthem by hometown band Caamp, Clark said everything was curated specifically to fan experience.

“It's a different energy,” he said. “It's not third down. It's not going in the third quarter break. It's something in the first half to make you kind of feel pride in being from Ohio.”

The university said a lot of ideas stemmed from the Buckeyes’ National Championship run.  Ohio State wants to maximize musical opportunities for the band and fan engagement opportunities, too.

“What we talked about is we want to make this a tough place to play in the country, so how do we get there when the visiting team comes in and they have to change what they're doing?” Clark said.

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Fans are counting down the minutes to Saturday’s season opener.

“That's kind of like what OSU is,” Ohio State student Ethan Strohacker said. “We have all our traditions that we carry forward, but like also we are pushing forward with just the new generations coming in each year.”

This weekend's game will be a Cotton Bowl rematch from last season. Many will never forget the play that sealed Ohio State's win in that game when Jack Sawyer sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, picked up the fumble and took it 83 yards for a touchdown. 

In case Texas fans try to erase it from their memory, there will be a subtle reminder at Saturday's game.

A new item will debut on The ‘Shoe’s concession menu: the Scoop and Score nachos, a gametime snack named after Sawyer's play against Texas that had the entire football world talking. It is a loaded nachos dish with beans, cheese and cilantro chimichurri.

Hospitality leaders said it's a fun way to honor the Pickerington native and the Buckeyes historic run to the National Championship.

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“I don't want anyone to be depressed, but a friendly reminder of what might have happened in 2024 is certainly not a bad thing,” Levy Vice President of Hospitality and Strategy Chris North said.

Athletics leaders are excited to share what they’ve worked so hard to create.

“Maybe from the outside, if you don't understand it yet, when you come to the game, I think you really will,” Clark said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Metropolitan Library is once again partnering with Children's Hunger Alliance to provide free after-school snacks.

The statewide non-profit has been leading the charge to break the cycle of childhood hunger in Ohio since 1970. It works with more than 1,800 partners across the state to provide food and nutrition education to children right where they are.

Children ages 1 through 18 are eligible for the program. Snacks will consist of a fruit, vegetable, protein, grain, and milk.

Leaders said food insecurity remains a big issue in the community, and children deserve nourishing food year-round.

"Here at Columbus Metropolitan Library, our commitment to young minds goes beyond literacy," said Ben Zenitsky, a media specialist with the library. "We believe that no child should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from."

The free snacks will be offered at 16 of the library's 23 locations beginning Tuesday. Locations were selected for the meal program based on student need.

• Barnett Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:30-4:30 p.m. & Saturday: 2:30-3 p.m.
• Driving Park Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4:15-4:45 p.m.
• Franklinton Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:30-4 p.m. & Saturday: 12:15-12:45 p.m.
• Hilltop Branch: Monday-Friday: 3:15-3:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Karl Road Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Linden Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4-4:30 p.m.
• Main Library: Monday-Friday: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Branch: Monday-Saturday: 3:45-4:45 p.m.
• Northern Lights Branch: Monday-Saturday: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Northside Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Parsons Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4-4:45 p.m.
• Reynoldsburg Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4:15-4:45 p.m.
• Shepard Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• South High Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4-5 p.m.
• Southeast Branch: Monday-Friday: 4:15-4:45 p.m. & Saturday: 2:15-2:45 p.m.
• Whitehall Branch: Monday-Saturday: 4-4:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Flags across Ohio will be flying at half-staff starting Thursday at sunrise in honor of the victims in Wednesday’s mass shooting at a school in Minnesota.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, in accordance with a similar order issued by President Donald Trump, has ordered all Ohio and U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds across the state until sundown on Sunday, Aug. 31.

The order comes after two children were killed and 17 people were injured after a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday.