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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.

Joel and the service now ai.

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.