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ANNAPOLIS, MD (WCMH) — On a football gameday in Annapolis, Maryland, it's not just a celebration of the Navy Midshipmen. It's also a celebration of America. Outside Navy Marine Corps Stadium, there's a Blue Angels jet on permanent display. American flags fly over most of the tailgates in the busy parking lot. 

On this particular Saturday, Navy is set to face off against its second-biggest rival, Air Force. Fans gather outside the stadium to greet the team as it walks through the gates. Near the front of the line is Navy's team Captain, senior quarterback Blake Horvath. A large gathering of his family members is there to see him off. Watch a previous report on Horvath and his family in the video player above.

Former Ohio State receiver faces homicide charges after Pennsylvania ATV crash

"When they come off the bus and we give him a hug... That's when I'm just like, it's so nerve wracking," Horvath's mother Laura said. 

Laura calms her anxiety by baking desserts for Horvath's offensive linemen each week. Laura, her husband, Alan, and a large group of family make the drive from Hilliard to Annapolis for every home game, and even for road games. 

"My mom is taking a ton of Navy stuff back to Columbus to spread out all over Hilliard, Ohio," Blake Horvath said. "The fandom that they have is amazing."

"He's been a good football player his whole life. He’s just our little boy," Alan Horvath said

Blake Horvath grew up fascinated by football and became a standout quarterback at Hilliard Darby, running coach John Santagata's option offense. It's a similar offense to what Navy runs, and when Horvath was set to graduate in 2022, an offer from the Naval Academy arrived. 

"Our whole family went to Ohio State, and we just thought all our kids would go to Ohio State also, but this was tailor-made for him," Laura Horvath said. 

"As an Ohio State fan growing up in Columbus, you don't know much about the academies just in general," Blake Horvath said. "A lot of times, the football team is the front door. It's the front porch for a lot of people’s impressions of the Naval Academy."

• Navy quarterback Blake Horvath (11) passes the ball during an NFL football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Players at the Naval Academy are making a commitment far more pressing than college football. Midshipmen agree to a minimum five-year post-Academy career as an officer in the U.S. Navy. 

"I didn't have a great idea of that patriotism or that pride when I first got here. And, you know, the people you meet are really what grows that pride and that patriotism because you're like, I want to be like them," Blake Horvath said.

He plans to go into Naval aviation upon graduation as a pilot or flight officer. "Maverick and Goose [from "Top Gun"] is the easiest way to distinguish those two," he said.

In football, Horvath's grown into Navy's Top Gun. Last year, he ranked second in the nation in quarterback rushing yards, and this year, he's on the verge of smashing several passing and total yardage records at Navy. He's even been labeled as a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate.  Navy's last Heisman winner was QB Roger Staubach in 1963. 

Horvath has also been named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy—the academic Heisman. He posted a 4.0 GPA both semesters last year at the #1-ranked public school in America. 

"To even have those conversations is just amazing," Blake Horvath said. "The quarterback is the face of the system. They have the ball every play, especially with our option and our passing game. Really, it's how we're doing as a team."

Against Air Force Saturday, Horvath broke the Navy record for total offense with 469 yards, a career-best 339 passing yards, and four total touchdowns. Navy won a thriller, 34-31. 

"I can't say enough good things about him, and he's just, you know, he never flinches. He never panics, he never presses, just goes and plays calm, cool and collected," said Navy head coach Brian Newberry. "He's a winner, and that permeates on the rest of our team."

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"We'll definitely miss it when it's over," Alan Horvath said. "Somebody said last night it's the golden years. You know, it's the best time of your life. So right now, we're just enjoying every second of it."

"As a person morally, mentally, physically, it's cliché but it's the truth: you grow and you develop, and you gain that sense of pride for what you're doing in the service that you do for this country," Blake Horvath said. 

Navy (5-0) plays at Temple Saturday at noon. The Midshipmen find themselves atop the American Athletic Conference standings and in contention for the at-large spot in the College Football Playoff. They still face a road game at Notre Dame on Nov. 8, a home game against South Florida on Nov. 15, and a Nov. 27 visit to Memphis. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the greatest Blue Jackets players will sign a one-day deal so he can retire from the NHL as a Blue Jacket.

Forward Cam Atkinson, 36, is set to sign the deal after an NHL career that spanned 13 seasons, including 10 with the Jackets. Atkinson told NBC4 he plans on living in Columbus with his family and will devote more time to the Battery Hockey Academy in Plain City.

Atkinson came to the Blue Jackets after a successful college career with Boston College, where he won the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four.

He first appeared for the Blue Jackets during the 2011-12 season. In 627 games, Atkinson scored 213 goals (second only to Rick Nash), and provided 189 assists (fifth in the team's history) to amass 402 points. He was named an all-star in the 2017 and 2019 seasons.

He was instrumental in leading the Jackets to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the 2019 season, scoring two goals and notching six assists in 10 postseason games. The Blue Jackets traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 and, after two seasons, he appeared in 39 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2024-25 season.

Atkinson is among six Blue Jackets on the team's quarter-century team announced in January by the NHL, alongside Nash, Sergei Bobrovsky, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Artemi Panarin.

The club has yet to announced whether Atkinson's No. 13 would be retired.

The team will honor him before the Oct. 16 game against the Colorado Avalanche.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Retailers have until Tuesday to remove intoxicating hemp products from their shelves and cease sales after Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order on Wednesday.

DeWine's executive order separates intoxicating hemp from legal hemp in the Ohio Administrative Code, declaring an adulterated consumer emergency, giving the Ohio Department of Agriculture the power to seize products and fine those in violation of the order.

The governor said the marijuana law passed by voters set up a highly regulated market with rigorous testing and packaging that doesn't target children, which does not apply to intoxicating hemp.

"Intoxicating hemp is dangerous, and we need better to protect our children," DeWine said.

Lawmakers have been considering changes to intoxicating hemp for some time, but efforts have repeatedly stalled.

These cannabinoid products are not controlled by the FDA and are considered less intoxicating than other cannabis-derived products. Intoxicating hemp can be sold to any age, raising concerns about minors using the products to get a similar high to marijuana.

It is often found for sale at places like convenience stores and can come in packaging that looks similar to candy.

"I think the danger to our children is clear," DeWine said.

The order is in effect for 90 days, at which point the General Assembly can decide whether or not to extend it. The order does not apply to non-intoxicating hemp products or marijuana.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Shots were reportedly fired Wednesday afternoon on a north Columbus interstate, leading to the road being shut down.

About 1:25 p.m., Columbus police ordered the closure of Interstate 270 East between Worthington Galena Road and the Interstate 71 interchange after officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area.

Former Ohio State receiver faces homicide charges after Pennsylvania ATV crash

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the area of I-270 near the Worthington Galena Road overpass was closed due to a “police incident,” and a spokesperson for CPD said the interstate will be shut down starting at State Route 315 while authorities investigate.

All exit ramps onto I-270 East from U.S. 23 and State Route 315 are closed while the investigation continues.

TOWANDA, Pa. (WCMH) — A former Ohio State receiver who was seriously injured in an ATV crash that also killed his girlfriend has been criminally charged.

Julian Fleming, 24, is facing felony charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, and aggravated assault by vehicle. He also is charged with a misdemeanor of driving under the influence.

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Additional charges may be filed against Fleming, who was riding with his girlfriend Alyssa Boyd in Columbia Township in north-central Pennsylvania.

Reports say Fleming was driving the ATV on Painter Lick Drive, near the town of Sylvania, Pennsylvania, when a deer jumped out into the roadway and the vehicle crashed. Boyd was pronounced dead at the scene, and Fleming was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. See a previous report in the video player above.

Officers noted that neither Fleming nor Boyd were wearing protective gear, and the deer was found dead.

Fleming was the top recruit in ESPN’s Class of 2020 out of Southern Columbia High School in Pennsylvania. He joined the Buckeyes and played through 2023, when he entered the transfer portal and ended his collegiate career at Penn State.

In April, he was expected to sign with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent but allegedly failed his physical exam and was not signed.

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Intel reaffirmed its commitment to the Ohio project following pressure from Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

“Ohio has consistently stepped up to support Intel," Moreno wrote. "Intel must provide answers now. Time is of the essence.”

On Sept. 26, Moreno gave Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan 10 days to respond to his request for a detailed update about Intel's Ohio One project. In a letter to Tan, Moreno asked for a projected timeline, information about the cost of delays and how Intel plans to protect taxpayers from associated costs. He said it was his responsibility to ensure taxpayers are not being taken advantage of by a "charade or worse, potential fraud." See previous Intel Ohio One coverage in the video player above.

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Moreno also echoed a request from Meta, asking Intel to temporarily reassign 200 megawatts of power for Meta's use near the Ohio One site. An Intel spokesperson declined to comment on the request, but reaffirmed the company's commitment to Ohio.

“We continue to work closely with local stakeholders, the Ohio congressional delegation and the state of Ohio to advance the needs of the state and Intel’s priorities," an Intel spokesperson said. "Intel is committed to advancing U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership, and Ohio One remains an important part of our long-term plans to expand leading-edge manufacturing on U.S. soil."

Moreno said he was concerned that Intel announced it would further slow construction in Ohio this summer, just months after delaying Ohio One's opening date into 2030. The project had already been delayed once, and was originally slated to open this year.

Moreno said the state has offered a number of incentives, and taxpayers are covering costs. He said taxpayers deserve more thorough information. He also said supplying Meta with power was in the "best interest of Ohio's hardworking taxpayers."

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Meta operates data centers near the Ohio One site, and is planning to open the world's first 1-gegabyte data center near New Albany in 2026. Moreno said reassigning power to support Meta projects is also in the best interest of taxpayers. Data centers require immense amounts of energy, and there is energy slated for Intel use that is currently sitting untapped.

In the 2024 election cycle, individuals affiliated with Meta donated a total of $2,250 to his campaign. Meta affiliated individuals donated more than $27,000 to Moreno's competitor for the Senate seat, Sherrod Brown. As a company, Meta did not donate to either candidate.

Intel also did not comment on if the company has specifically connected with Moreno following the request, although they said they are working closely with Ohio's congressmen. The spokesperson reiterated that its existing progress in Ohio allowed for timeline flexibility.

Work at the Ohio plant continues, with state filings showing a pipe laying project was completed in recent weeks. However, that pipe project was done in tandem with two other companies. Despite multiple departures by Ohio One leaders, Intel does not have any job listings open for Ohio.

Meta and Moreno's office both did not respond to NBC4's request for comment.

LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) — A Fairfield County man charged with fatally shooting two family members while injuring a third has been deemed temporarily competent to stand trial.

According to a virtual court hearing and its audio transcript from the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Kyle Varney, of Lancaster, was ruled competent by Central Ohio Behavioral Health Care. However, an administrator confirmed Wednesday that a second, independent evaluation was requested and granted at Tuesday's hearing.

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Varney, 26, is accused of fatally shooting two men in the head, his father and grandfather, on Feb. 25 in the 1200 block of North Broad Street in north Lancaster. A third victim, Varney’s mother, was also injured after being shot twice, according to a court affidavit, and survived after being hospitalized.

Lancaster police initially responded to the home after receiving reports of a behavioral issue, but additional police support was immediately called after a woman was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the front yard. Two men were found dead inside the home after what police reported began as an argument before Varney allegedly shot the victims.

Body camera footage released by Lancaster police showed Varney eventually came out from behind the home and was ordered to crawl to officers before placed in handcuffs. He was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds and was remanded to custody after his arraignment hearing.

Varney was originally ruled incompetent to stand trial in April and was assigned to Access Behavioral Health treatment for six months. During Tuesday’s virtual hearing, it was stated that medical officials found Varney is “capable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against him and is able to assist counsel in his own defense.”

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However, the presiding judge granted defense counsel to conduct an independent psychological evaluation to determine whether Varney is fit for trial. He will remain at a behavioral facility until a future court hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Charges against Varney were increased from eight (two counts of murder and six counts of felonious assault) to 18 and now include the following:

• 2 counts of aggravated murder
• 4 counts of murder
• 1 count of attempted aggravated murder
• 2 counts of attempted murder
• 6 counts of felonious assault
• 3 counts of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or in a school safety zone

For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction is underway on the redevelopment of the historic Downtown YMCA building into an affordable housing complex known as Lofts at 40 Long.

Woda Cooper Companies, in partnership with IMPACT Community Action, began work on the $65.7 million project last week, marking a new phase in the transformation of the long-vacant seven-story building at the corner of North Front and West Long streets. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the YMCA's conversion in the video player above.

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The project will convert the 235,000-square-foot structure into 121 affordable apartments aimed at families, workforce residents and seniors. Unit sizes will range from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Rents are expected to range from $445 to $1,900 depending on unit size and income eligibility, with households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income qualifying.

• The Downtown YMCA pictured before construction began on the building's redevelopment. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)
• The Downtown YMCA pictured before construction began on the building's redevelopment. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)
• The Downtown YMCA pictured before construction began on the building's redevelopment. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)
• The Downtown YMCA pictured before construction began on the building's redevelopment. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)
• The Downtown YMCA pictured before construction began on the building's redevelopment. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)

The renovation will retain much of the building's original character, preserving features such as first-floor woodwork, stone and terrazzo lobby flooring, a winding stairwell, and the "YMCA" inscription on the façade. The building, constructed in 1922 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, reflects architectural styles popular in the early 20th century, like Jacobethan and Late Gothic Revival.

In addition to modernized apartments, the development will include amenities such as a community room, fitness space, indoor play area, coworking space, bike storage, pet care facilities, and access to affordable parking in a nearby city-owned garage. One of the building's two full-sized basketball courts will remain for resident use.

• A rendering of the community spaces planned for the Lofts at 40 Long. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)
• A rendering of the community spaces planned for the Lofts at 40 Long. (Courtesy Photo/Woda Cooper Companies)

The YMCA of Central Ohio ceased operations at the site in the 2010s, and the building was officially decommissioned in 2019. Former residents were relocated to other housing communities, including McKinley Manor, a development also built and managed by Woda Cooper.

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The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028. Leasing will be handled by Woda Management & Real Estate.

Downtown Columbus, Inc. selected Woda Cooper to lead the redevelopment following a 2023 request for proposals. The Columbus Downtown Commission approved the development plans in May.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A members-only dog park and bar where “friendships form” and “tails wag” is preparing to open in Columbus.

The Wag, located at 1330 Norton Ave. in the Fifth by Northwest neighborhood north of Grandview Heights, will hold its grand opening on Nov. 15 from 5 to 10 p.m., according to a news release. 

At The Wag, dogs have access to an indoor playspace, an outdoor dog park with turf, a grooming salon and a pet shop. Meanwhile, their owners can enjoy an outdoor garden and seating area, food trucks, Wi-Fi, big-screen TVs and an indoor three-sided bar, which serves beer, cocktails, mocktails and nitro cold brew. A private rentable party space is also available. 

“It's a 50-50 place basically, so half of it when you first walk in is all like a regular bar-slash-brewery, but [dogs] can be inside. Dogs have to be on leash,” founder Casie Goldstein said in an interview with NBC4. “Then there's a turnstile or basically an unleashing area that allows them at the back half of the property to be off leash and play.”

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Goldstein, who also founded the Columbus doggie daycare All Paws Retreat, said she was inspired to launch the concept when one of her customers suggested she open a dog-friendly bar.

“It’s really been a passion project,” she said. “It’s something that we’ve been trying to do since 2023. We've had a lot of trials and tribulations along the way for this.”

A membership is required to enter the facility, and it costs $55 a month or $75 a month for a VIP pass, which includes a members-only drink menu, 10% off full-service grooms, and early access to the facility in the morning before it opens. Day passes are available, priced at $15. Goldstein said if someone has more than one pup, $10 is added per additional dog to the membership or day pass fee.

Before entering the establishment, all dogs must meet behavioral and health criteria, including being up-to-date on vaccines and friendly with humans and dogs, Goldstein said. 

New dog members wear an identification collar issued by The Wag for their first few days, allowing the bar’s employees to keep a closer eye on them and provide extra support as they settle in, according to the news release. 

After its grand opening, The Wag’s regular hours will include Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bar offers on-site and street parking. A paid parking garage is also located behind the facility. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — For the first time this season, Ohio State's No. 1 ranking is under threat, and it's coming from two different angles.

The Buckeyes are facing a ranked opponent for the first time since Week 1 as they travel Saturday to No. 17 Illinois. On the other side of the country, a top-10 Big Ten game could also see Ohio State's standing as the nation's best team under threat.

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Aside from Ohio State's standing atop the bracket, the College Football Playoff outlook changed significantly, with the top two teams this preseason dropping out entirely and a new team making its debut. Here is a look at the changes to the projected 12-team playoff field in the past week, plus what to watch for this weekend.

Bye-bye, Penn State and Texas

That's right. The two teams that started the season ranked ahead of Ohio State are out of the projected playoff field entirely after just six weeks.

Preseason AP No. 1 Texas and preseason No. 2 Penn State both lost last week, to Florida and UCLA. Each now has two losses and won't be able to book a playoff ticket without running the table.

NBC4 looks at the AP rankings for playoff projections until the initial official playoff rankings begin in November. Texas and Penn State started the season as the projected top two seeds, and both are kaput. Ohio State and Miami sit as the top-two seeds in a field that is half Southeastern Conference teams.

The new rankings opened the door for a team ranked No. 11 in the AP poll to get in the field as Texas Tech moved up to No. 9, putting LSU back in the field. But one name is in there for the first time.

Meet Memphis

The first bowl eligible team of this season is not Ohio State. Or Miami. Or Oregon. It's the Memphis Tigers of the American conference. Sitting at 6-0, Memphis has overtaken South Florida as the new Group of Five team projected to make the playoff.

Seventh-year coach Ryan Silverfield has built the Tigers program, with back-to-back seasons of 10 wins or more. Memphis also boasts a four-game bowl winning streak.

The running game is where Memphis shines, with four backs already with at least three rushing touchdowns each, including three rushing scores in a 32-31 win over Arkansas. But the Tigers' schedule is about to get difficult with games against No. 24 USF (Oct. 25) and two teams lurking just outside of the top 25, Tulane (Nov. 7) and undefeated Navy (Nov. 27).

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No. 1 Ohio State at No. 17 Illinois (Saturday, noon): The last time Ohio State played Illinois as the top team in America, it lost at Ohio Stadium. The Illini will hope to make history repeat itself and beat the Buckeyes in Champaign for the first time since 1991 to take the Illibuck trophy.

No. 8 Alabama at No. 14 Missouri (Saturday, noon): The Crimson Tide's gauntlet continues into Week 7 as they face Missouri in Columbia. Alabama bounced back strongly from its opening-week loss to Florida State and looks to hand another undefeated SEC team a defeat.

No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.): Even if Ohio State beats Illinois, this top-10 Big Ten game in Eugene could spell trouble for its No. 1 ranking. Oregon has already beaten Penn State but now faces a confident Indiana squad. If the Ducks win, AP voters could gravitate more towards them as the best team.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A shuttered hotel and waterpark in east Columbus is a step closer to being transformed into a mixed-use development with housing and community services under a new name: Hamilton Rising.

Drever Partners, a California-based real estate group, and WorldFire Church, a multi-campus congregation with Columbus and Lancaster locations, are advancing plans to redevelop the former Fort Rapids property at 4560 Hilton Corporate Drive. The partnership, operating as WorldFire Services, is now in search of additional investors and shared updated plans with NBC4 that reimagine the site as a residential and civic center.

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The proposal includes converting the 12-story hotel tower into studio and one-bedroom apartments, while also restoring as many as 30 standalone villas on the 16-acre site. In total, Hamilton Rising will yield more than 300 residential units. The developers' plans say reusing the existing structures is "faster, at lower cost and greener than new construction." Watch a previous NBC4 report on the redevelopment of Fort Rapids in the video player above.

A rendering of Hamilton Rising, the redevelopment planned for the former Fort Rapids site. (Courtesy Photo/WorldFire Services LLC)

The project also includes plans to repurpose the 60,000-square-foot former waterpark into the WorldFire Civic Hub, a multi-use community center that would feature conference rooms and space for family services, athletics and wellness programs. The developers previously told NBC4 the proposal could feature a daycare and a drive-up food bank.

Josh Lawrence, senior lead pastor of WorldFire Church, said in a statement that the redevelopment represents more than just a construction project.

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"We envision Fort Rapids as a hub where families can live, work, and gather, and as a model for how underutilized spaces can be transformed for the good of our city," he said. "This project represents a major investment in the future of our city. It will generate jobs, create new housing opportunities, and attract both local families and regional visitors."

"It's about revitalization and building long-term economic momentum for the area," Lawrence continued. "A project of this scale requires collaboration. We're grateful for the opportunity to work alongside city leaders, investors, and community partners to ensure that this project reaches its full potential as a space that benefits Columbus."

The site has remained vacant since 2016, when the city of Columbus shut down Fort Rapids over health and safety concerns. In the years that followed, bursting pipes caused water to gush from the upper floors, and sections of the building caught fire and burned.

Litigation played out as the property changed hands and deteriorated. In recent years, Drever Partners has worked through the court system to gain approval for the sale. Pending that court agreement, construction could begin in early 2026.

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Plans describe Hamilton Rising as a transformation from a "fire-damaged liability to Columbus workforce asset," with an emphasis on housing, civic engagement and economic renewal.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As roundabouts become more common around the Buckeye State, the Ohio Department of Transportation is educating people on how to use the ring-shaped intersections and explaining how they differ from traffic circles.

ODOT recently highlighted how it gave an old traffic circle in the heart of the village of Somerset a modern makeover, converting it into a true roundabout. In a social media video, ODOT demonstrated the tricky traffic pattern drivers need to follow in a traffic circle. With pavement markings and signage, the transportation agency overhauled the intersection into a more streamlined roundabout in a few months, avoiding years of construction.

According to Chas Cosgrave, the public information officer for ODOT’s District 5, the terms “traffic circle” and “roundabout” are often used interchangeably, but they are different.

FeatureRoundaboutTraffic CircleTraffic ControlYield at entryOften stop signs or signalsSpeedLow-speed (20–30 mph)Higher-speed entriesDesignCurved approaches, splitter islands, truck apronsOften lacks modern safety geometryConflict Points8Up to 32 (like traditional intersections)SignageStandardized yield signs and lane markingsMay vary or be outdatedSafetyProven crash reductionLess consistent performanceSource: ODOT

Cosgrave told NBC4 that roundabouts are engineered to reduce dangerous angle crashes, such as T-bones and left turns, by slowing vehicles and simplifying decision-making. Citing the Federal Highway Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Cosgrave noted that replacing a two-way stop with a roundabout cuts serious crashes by nearly 90%, while converting to a signalized intersection reduces them by about 80%. Overall, roundabouts are credited with reducing total crashes by 44%.
 
“We get it, roundabouts can feel unfamiliar, especially in rural or suburban areas,” Cosgrave said. “That’s why we focus on helping drivers adjust in a few key ways.”

One method includes engaging and educating drivers through social media, weekly “Loop” video segments on its website, or community meetings. The other, explained Cosgrave, is to emphasize the simple design of the roundabout where clear signage and striping guide drivers to yield to the left, enter when there is a gap and exit at their destination.

Cosgrave said the perception of roundabouts is changing, pointing to an IIHS study that showed support for roundabouts jumped from 31% before construction to 70% after just one year of use.

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“That kind of shift is incredibly encouraging,” Cosgrave said. “It shows that once people experience the benefits firsthand, they come around. It’s a win for safety, efficiency, and it makes us proud to be part of that change.”

Ohio's older-style traffic circles, such as the one recently updated in Somerset, are being replaced with roundabouts as communities modernize intersections.

“These updates are often driven by the strong safety benefits roundabouts offer, including significant reductions in serious and fatal crashes,” Cosgrave said.

To learn more about roundabouts, Cosgrave suggested viewers visit ODOT's Roundabouts page on its website. It offers a fact sheet, printable guides, an instructional video and an FAQ.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Citing the state's new anti-DEI law, Ohio State University has banned certain statements that acknowledge lands historically occupied by Native Americans.

The concept is known as land acknowledgement, and Ohio State argues that it falls under Senate Bill 1, passed earlier this year.

"The problem I see here is that the university's interpretation of S.B. 1 now restricts us, in many situations, from even stating historical facts about Ohio's historic tribes, their treaties and the laws that became part of Ohio's origin story," said Elissa Washuta, director of OSU's American Indian Studies Program. "These facts are not controversial beliefs."

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Washuta is a Cowlitz tribal member, and she spoke with NBC4 to share her perspective, not as a representative of the university. She said Ohio State's new guidance, which says university representatives cannot issue land acknowledgements unless they are directly related to a course, has had a "chilling effect" on university conversations about the state's Native peoples.

Washuta said she, like many Native scholars, has complicated feelings about land acknowledgements, which can be seen as uplifting to Indigenous history or as hollow activism without action. She said at its most basic, land acknowledgements name the Native peoples who lived in a place. She worried the university's limitations will interfere with sharing basic facts about Ohio's historic tribes.

The university said the change was due to Senate Bill 1, a new law that bans campus DEI programming and stops universities from endorsing "any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy." It does not define diversity, equity and inclusion, leaving room for interpretation. See previous coverage of S.B. 1 in the video player above.

The university said land acknowledgements are considered controversial topics and banned them on university websites, social media, event promotions or in courses unless directly relevant to the subject matter. The law does not expressly limit land acknowledgements.

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A university spokesperson said the change also stems from Ohio State's policy on institutional statements, which was enacted in 2023. The preexisting policy directs Ohio State to only issue statements when the subject directly affects the university or its students or is of importance to the area and offers educational value.

No other university appears to have interpreted S.B. 1 the same way. Miami University still lists a land acknowledgement under its Office of the President webpage. Bowling Green also has an online land acknowledgement, but added a disclaimer that it is for educational purposes and does not represent an official statement.

John Low, a retired Ohio State associate professor of history and citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, said the decision made him sad. He previously served as the director of the Newark Earthworks Center, an OSU academic center dedicated to researching and uplifting Midwestern Indigenous cultures. The Earthworks Center's land acknowledgement webpage is now labeled as an archive of past grant work.

"For the general faculty, I feel sad they're restricted," Low said. "I think its an infringement on free speech rights."

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Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the change does not entirely eliminate land acknowledgements. He said faculty are free to teach as they see fit and can address land acknowledgements when relevant.

"After speaking with faculty leaders, we made some revisions to make clear that Ohio State remains committed to academic freedom, and the university’s academic freedom and responsibility rules have not changed," Johnson said.

Washuta said she was glad the university updated its guidance for courses, but felt it still limits research announcements, public lectures and other faculty tasks that are not approved for land acknowledgements. Washuta was also concerned that the university did not clarify what qualifies as a land acknowledgement.

"The Native community at Ohio State is miniscule -- we are dramatically underrepresented, compared to the demographics of the state of Ohio -- and I worry that this interpretation of S.B. 1 will only make the Native community and American Indian Studies less visible at OSU," Washuta said.

OSU's Indigenous student population has consistently declined over the past 15 years. In 2011, Ohio State had 169 American Indian/Alaska Native students. Of the more than 67,000 students enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year, only 46 are American Indian/Alaska Native.

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Johnson said Ohio State continues to support Indigenous students and faculty, pointing to the Earthworks Center and American Indian Studies program. Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day, which Ohio State is observing in tandem with Columbus Day on a delayed schedule. Low was glad they still celebrate and said things like the land acknowledgement limitations happen cyclically.

"I've lived long enough to see the roller coaster ride of people being supportive to Indigenous peoples and not supportive, supportive and not supportive," Low said. "I'm not a fortune teller, but I suspect, based on my lived experience, that this too shall pass."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Some central Ohio police departments are misinterpreting a state law that allows them to charge for body camera video, which could lead to higher costs for public records, according to a law professor.

In January, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 315 into law, which allows government agencies to charge the public and news media for public records requests before releasing them. This could include video from police-worn body cameras, police vehicle dashboard cameras and jail surveillance footage.

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The statute reads, in part: “A state or local law enforcement agency may charge a requester the actual cost associated with preparing a video record for inspection or production, not to exceed seventy-five dollars per hour of video produced, nor seven hundred fifty dollars total.”

The law is intended to cover the administrative costs associated with editing the video since police departments often have to redact the voices or faces of uncharged suspects or victims whose identities are protected under the law. The Ohio Revised Code previously allowed agencies to charge for public records, but only nominal fees associated with copying the content onto items such as paper or a flash drive, not labor costs.

Under state law, any person, including corporations, individuals and government agencies, is entitled to request and inspect public records.

Since the new law took effect, some police departments have rolled out updates to their public records policies, opting to charge for body camera video, but not all departments are interpreting the statute the same way. Some say they are charging per hour of video footage, while others are charging per hour of work. 

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The Grove City Police Department’s policy states charges for video records will not exceed $75 per hour of footage. The Whitehall Police Department’s policy for video records states it charges “$75 per hour or $1.25 per minute,” seemingly based on video length. 

However, the Columbus Division of Police and Reynoldsburg Police Department told NBC4 they are charging per hour of work it takes to prepare the video for release. Columbus police have set a fee of $37 per hour of work, and Reynoldsburg police have set a fee of $75 per hour of work. 

Susan Gilles, a professor of law at Capital University, said she believes the latter departments are misinterpreting the law. She said the law allows departments to charge per hour of video, and that charging per hour of work could lead to much higher costs for police video. 

“It's going to be a lot, lot more,” Gilles said. “It's a massive amount that they can put into, quote, actual cost, which is why the legislature, I think, said, ‘OK, but you can only charge $75 per hour of the video produced, of the record you're giving up.’”

For example, the law allows agencies to charge up to $75 per hour of video, which caps the price of 20 minutes of footage at $25, according to Gilles. But if a police department charges $75 per hour of work, and they claim it took them two hours to edit that 20 minutes of footage, the price for that record would jump to $150. 

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Gilles said she believes the update to Ohio Revised Code allowing labor costs to be factored into public records charges has led to police departments misconstruing the statute. 

“I think they are overreading the cap provision, the $75 per hour of video produced, because they're thinking, ‘Well, they said we could include actual costs, so it can't mean $75 per hour of video produced,’ but it does,” she said. “All of a sudden, they're allowed to include this employee time, so they're thinking, ‘Wait, it must mean $75 per hour of work to produce the record.’”

According to Gilles, police departments could face lawsuits if they are charging more than allowed by the law for body or dash camera video. 

The office of the state’s highest attorney seems to also agree the law allows departments to charge per hour of video, rather than per hour of work. The Ohio Attorney General's website states: “agencies can charge up to $75 per hour of video footage.” 

When NBC4 reached out to the office to get clarification on the law, a spokesperson said: “We do not have authority over how individual agencies interpret the statute – that’s a better question for the departments or their attorneys.”

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Gilles said government agencies that are unsure about the statute can still reach out to the office for an official opinion – formal, written legal guidance. The office has discretion over whether to issue an opinion. 

“If [lawmakers] had wanted what the police departments are saying, they would have to write ‘$75 per hour of … the time required to produce the record,’ and to me, they know how to say that and instead, they said ‘$75 per hour of video produced,’” Gilles said. 

The entire public records portion of House Bill 315 did not receive any public hearings, as it was added as a last-minute provision to the 450-page bill, which addresses a range of unrelated issues.

The Cleveland and Cincinnati police departments currently do not charge for body or dash camera video, according to city spokespeople. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A decades-old bee colony in German Village is no longer living in the place it once called home; rather, it's been relocated after one person allegedly reported a sting.

The community has long referred to the sycamore tree at the corner of S. Sixth and Lear streets as the 'Bee Tree', but a new sign posted on it this week says they were moved, and many neighbors are not happy. 

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"Being the person that had to take that away, that was kind of hard," founder of The Bee Collective Luke Howard said. "And then also this time of year is just the wrong time to do it."

The Bee Collective is a Columbus group focused on pollinator habitats and education. He said relocating the bees in the spring would have been the ideal time to provide the most opportunity for success.

"They really get started in the spring and by this time of year, they are hunkering down for the wintertime," Howard said. "So not only is this a kind of a hard process that can take a while, this time of year they really don't want to move."

Howard was the one called in from the condo complex where the tree sits. They notified him that the city ordered the complex to remove the bees.

"They absolutely did not want them gone at all," Howard said. "It was the city that said, 'Hey, you have to get rid of them. There has been a complaint and there's no fighting this. It just has to be done.'"

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Howard said it took him about a month and a half to relocate all the bees into his care. He posted a sign on their former home this week that reads, in part, "It saddened me to take on this job, but alas, it had to be done." He said he felt he owed the German Village community an explanation. 

"Bees are very, very important for the environment because they help pollinate the plants that we have," Howard said.

Now residents are pushing back. Several neighbors NBC4 spoke to off-camera are questioning whether one complaint should uproot years of peaceful coexistence. News spread quickly on social media, with many expressing their disappointment in the decision.

"It'd be nice if we could lead with more curiosity about what's happening versus just, hey, this sting was awful, and I want these things removed," Howard said. "It's like, this thing is awful. What happened? How important are bees? Should we protect them? Do I need to report them?"

Howard said he hopes what happened will spark more conversation and curiosity about how to coexist with pollinators. 

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"It can be one of those things where we have this loss of the honeybees, but we could create much more abundance for all the other native pollinator species that we have," Howard said. 

Howard created the "Beecoming Home Project" with Dr. Sarah Scott four years ago, where they invite artists locally and from across the globe to collaborate with an unexpected creative partner: honey bees. Their exhibit showcases what the meaning of home means for us as humans and our kin we share this planet with. The bees will now become a part of that project next summer.

"The goal is through this bummer of a moment to create an opportunity for the community to come together and create something cool, create some art, create a way to commemorate," Howard said. "It's in that vein of let's create a silver lining in this situation that clearly a lot of us are upset about."

The Beecoming Home Exhibit opens Saturday, Oct. 11, at 700 Bryden Rd. Gallery. Meantime, anyone can visit the bees at The Bee Collective, located at 410 W. Town St. 

NBC4 reached out to the city for comment, but has yet to hear back.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Board of Education moved one step closer to eliminating busing for all high school students with a policy change at Tuesday’s meeting.

Before, the transportation policy said the district “shall” bus 9th through 12th graders. Now, the board changed it to say “may” bus those students, meaning the district will not be required to transport high schoolers from here on out.

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Even though it’s only a one-word difference, the impact is huge.

Board President Michael Cole said the bus schedule would not change until next school year, but he recognized this is a big decision.

“We’re trying to find out not just how to deal with something in terms of economics or finance, but how to deal with something in terms of the safest, most appropriate way to transport students to and from school,” Cole said.

As CCS looks to cut $50 million from the budget, transporting fewer students each day would save a lot of money.

“You’re thinking about the cost of transportation from gas, so the energy costs,” Cole said. “You’re thinking about that in terms of human capital and again, the fact that we don't have the human capital and drivers to actually provide the additional routes needed.”

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The district has also been fined millions because of students not being picked up by a CCS bus.

“Right now, that's prospected to be about $17 million in cuts for a very small number of students who may not have gotten to school on time or missed a bus,” Cole said.

The superintendent will present a list of recommended budget cuts to the school board next month.

Cole said the policy change just allows conversations around busing cuts to begin.

Nothing has been decided, but he said it is something they are considering, especially because other urban districts in Ohio don’t bus 9th through 12th-grade students.

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“It is not a promise that every student is going to get the traditional yellow bus route," Cole said. "That is not the promise. The promise is, the commitment is that we're going to work diligently to ensure children have every means of getting to school."

If busing for high schoolers is cut, it’s unclear how those students would get to class; Cole said they are discussing different options.

If you have any recommendations on transportation, you can find contact information for CCS board members by clicking here.

NORWICH TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a traffic crash Tuesday afternoon that appears to have been caused by the rain.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened on Feder Road south of Jones Road in Norwich Township at approximately 4:22 p.m.

A 2006 Kia Spectra was traveling northwest on Feder Road while a 2025 Toyota Tacoma was traveling southeast. According to the sheriff's office, the driver of the Kia lost control of the car in the rain, spun sideways into the opposite lane and into the path of the Toyota.

The driver of the Kia was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:31 p.m. The driver of the Toyota was taken to a local hospital in a stable condition.

The sheriff's office is continuing to investigate the crash. Anyone with any information is asked to call the sheriff's office's crash investigation unit at 614-525-6113.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Domestic Violence Network said there were 157 domestic violence fatalities statewide from July 2024 through June 2025, the highest reported number since starting the annual report a decade ago. 

Advocates said this is a dramatic increase, up 37% compared to the previous year when 114 fatalities were recorded. 

“I think the fact of the matter is that violence is higher,” Ohio Domestic Violence Network Policy Director Maria York said. “We are seeing more instances of violence. We're also seeing more completed murders. And I know that sounds strange to say, but in our previous reports, we had quite a few cases where there were attempted murder suicide.”

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York said of the 157 deaths and 108 total incidents, there were 40 cases of murder suicides resulting in about 80 deaths.  The data shows that of the total incidents, in more than half of the cases, the accused killers had prior contact with the criminal justice system and 69% of victims had been involved in the courts in some way, many for divorce or custody proceedings.

“This is a lot, this is heavy information, and that there's people that are behind the numbers,” York said. “These are families whose lives have been torn up. There's children who no longer have parents or grandparents. I think it was the highest number this year. We had 168 children left behind that don't have their guardian in their lives anymore.”

The report said Franklin County saw more domestic violence fatalities than any other county with 33.

York said her network answered more than 100,000 calls and provided services to more than 127,000 people. 

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“I hope people are also inspired to take action, especially hearing from a survivor that there is still hope after experiencing domestic violence, that this could very well be lethal,” York said.

ODVN said 84% of the incidents involved guns. 

York said one concerning statistic is that last year, ODVN had to turn away around 6,000 people seeking shelter in Ohio due to lack of resources. She said they are always looking for cracks in the system that they could fix to help fight the issue.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – For the second November in a row, Westerville City Schools is seeking taxpayer money via a levy.

A property tax levy measure was defeated in November 2024 by just over 2,000 votes. The November 2025 levy is an earned income levy.

Opposition and support for the levy have become increasingly heated. Founder of the Concerned Citizens of Westerville PAC Doug Krinsky, recently posted a table of data he said describes a different financial story for the WCSD.

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"Senator Andrew Brenner and Representative Beth Lee sent this to me because they got the numbers from the Department of Education and Workforce, so, from top down there, these are the numbers that support Westerville City Schools,” Krinsky said. “It's all 100% going to the School of Public Schools. And they get it all. So, what it showed was over the last five years, they've gotten almost $6 million more, 16.5% more than what they were getting in 2020.”

WSC state support 10 1 25 1_286170281Download

The table shows a 16.5% increase in state funding for Westerville City Schools. Westerville Superintendent Angie Hamberg said this data is misleading.

"This is information that does not match our payment reports,” she said. “That includes some support that was provided to private schools and it's just very frustrating, very frustrating that our community is being misled into believing that we're providing false information. All of that information is public information, both through our district and through the state as well, and we want to provide that information so our taxpayers are informed and can see that we're being good stewards of their tax dollars. I understand every voter needs to make their own decision, but when misinformation is purposely being put out there to try to persuade people to try to cast doubt on our integrity, to try to imply that we're lying, we're not being transparent with our community. You know, I just take that personally.”

Westerville City Schools Treasurer and CFO Nicole Marshall worked for the state auditor's office for seven years prior to joining WCSD almost a decade ago.

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"There's lots of different ways that data can be represented, and it's easy to, do calculations and make things show one way or another,” Marshall said. “The information that I share, you can tie directly back to our audited financial statements. The Department of Education and Workforces payment reports. It's important to me to be able to provide sources and links to all of the information that I'm providing, which I work very hard to do with our community. And I'm just a little surprised when I see a random PDF thrown into the world, and it's presented as factual information.”

Brenner, a Republican, confirmed he shared the data from the table with Krinsky. Brenner said he received the data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, but it doesn't match the data posted on the website.

Lindsay Bobb is also campaigning against the levy in November.

"I am confident in the information that is being presented, but I'm also just a resident,” Bobb said. “I am so disappointed that it is this hard to get numbers and facts that no one can argue with.”

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The data from the ODEW website is readily available; however, to search for specific numbers, a person has to know what they are looking for. Bobb said, regardless of the data disagreement between the district and levy opposition, there are questions that need to be answered.

"We have lost 765 kids, but over that same time period, we've gained 171 teachers,” she said. “Well, why is the staffing increasing when the enrollment is decreasing so much?”

NBC4 reached out to the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce multiple times for this report, but has not received a response as of publication.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As rain fell during the Tuesday morning commute, there were reports of at least two dozen crashes on central Ohio highways.

“This morning's commute, of course, was unusual because the big accident on I-71 that shut down the southbound lanes of the freeway pushed a lot of traffic onto all of the other roads," said Jan Weisenberger, faculty director of the Ohio State University Driving Simulation Lab.

Shortly into their drive to an interview, an NBC4 crew saw a car stopped and facing the wrong direction on I-670. Weisenberger studies driver behavior and said many of the crashes were likely related to the weather in some way.

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“I think absolutely the weather played a role. The slower driving speeds played a role, the increased amount of traffic on the road played a role," she said.

When it comes to research about rainy weather and driving, the lab has worked with OSU's College of Optometry to study glare sensitivity. Weisenberger said nighttime, fog, and rain all increase glare.

"If you’re someone who suffers from glare sensitivity in the first place, it's going to be way worse on days when any of those conditions are present," she said.

She said there are three main factors that affect driving on a rainy day. They are traction, visibility, and increased driver anxiety. With how dry it's been recently, those are not things drivers have had to think about.

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“That's the other thing, too, is the not being accustomed to it because we certainly haven't had very many rainy days in the last couple months," Weisenberger said. “So they’re not thinking as much about those things that really aren't causing much of a problem on a sunny day."

She also said distracted driving is still a problem and that behavior can be even more dangerous on rainy days.

"A lot of it's common sense, slow down, leave more distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, know your commutes going to be slower, some things are just not under your control, and try to keep your anxiety level down while you’re driving, that’ll make driving safer for everybody," she said.