Ohio News

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman has been hospitalized after a Friday night shooting inside a car on a highway in Worthington.

Around 8:45 p.m., Ohio Department of Transportation highway cameras captured police blocking off the southbound lanes of SR-315 through Worthington. Officers temporarily diverted traffic onto an exit ramp to SR-161, but the road was back open as of Saturday.

(Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Transportation) Former Amazon worker says she was suspended over Ohio warehouse shooting concerns

Worthington Assistant City Manager David McCorkle confirmed that the shutdown stemmed from a "domestic dispute" inside a car on the state highway. The vehicle was heading south when someone fired at least one shot, striking a passenger.

Emergency crews took the passenger, a woman, to an area hospital. As of Saturday morning, McCorkle did not have information on her condition. He noted Worthington police took a suspect into custody, and there was no additional threat to the public.

View a previous report on Glock switches in Columbus in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a 23-year-old Columbus man on Friday for dealing meth, and undercover agents reported that he offered to sell other products as well.

Jerrell E. Harrison, also known as "T" and "Chubbs" was arrested last September and pleaded guilty in December to two counts of distributing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker's office. As a result of his sentencing, Harrison will spend 10 years in federal prison.

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Court documents showed that Harrison sold hundreds of grams of meth to undercover agents in January and February of 2023. In recordings, Harrison discussed owning more than 20 firearms with undercover agents and offered to sell them.

Calling it the "best price in the city," he also offered to sell the agents fentanyl for $1,000 an ounce, Parker said. Harrison advertised having Glock switches as well, which convert handguns from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

View a previous report on TripAdvisor rankings for Columbus pizza restaurants in the video player above.

Pizza is one of those universal languages that Americans just get. Even if the styles are vastly different based on the region—like a thin wide slice from New York, a thick square cut with crispy edges from Detroit, or deep cheesy pie in a pan from Chicago—many can agree that the combination of chewy dough, tangy sauce, and gooey cheese is a true American classic.

The growing number of pizza joints is enough proof: more than 73,000 pizza restaurants were logged in the United States in 2023. Yet, with so many options to choose from, how is a pizza connoisseur supposed to know the best place to grab a slice?

There's a lot of competition out there to become the best pizza place in town, especially with people who have a lot of opinions. The aesthetic is always important to consider; maybe customers prefer a classic greasy joint with checkered tablecloths and shakers of Parmesan and red pepper flakes to douse their slice, or perhaps something artisanal with wood-fired pies served with a thoughtfully curated wine menu. Then there's the pizza itself. Is the restaurant using high-quality ingredients? Does the taste make you want to keep eating more and more?

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It may seem like a lot of meticulous details, but given that Americans could eat up to 180 slices of pizza in a year, it only makes sense that all of these details are considered when choosing a go-to local spot. Thankfully, there's enough data out there to steer customers in the right direction instead of having to do the research themselves.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-ranked pizza restaurants in Columbus using data from Yelp. Data is as of March 29, 2024. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only restaurants with at least 25 reviews were considered.

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.

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#30. Rooster's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7110 Sawmill Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: chicken wings, american, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Natalie's Music Hall & Kitchen - Grandview

- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 945 King Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, music venues, new american
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Cafe Bistro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4000 Worth Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: cafes, new american, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Emelio's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 574 Georgesville Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian, party & event planning
- Read more on Yelp

Ohio’s best doughnut shop is in Columbus, according to Yelp’s ‘Elite Squad’

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#26. Northstar Café

- Rating: 4.2/5 (902 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4015 Townsfair Way Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: cafes, breakfast & brunch, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Forno Kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1030 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 721 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: breakfast & brunch, pizza, cocktail bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Meister's Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1168 Chambers Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pubs, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. OH Pizza & Wings - Worthington

- Rating: 4.2/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Dillmont Drive Ste B Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: chicken wings, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Ange's Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5244 Godown Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. GoreMade Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 936 North 4th St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Susie's Sub Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3739 Karl Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: sandwiches, pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. The Pizza House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 747 East Lincoln Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Harvest Bar + Kitchen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (502 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2885 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, american, burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Dewey's Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1327 West 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, salad, gluten-free
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Rubino's Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2643 East Main St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Paulie Gee's Short North

- Rating: 4.4/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1195 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, cocktail bars, vegan
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. JT's Pizza & Pub

- Rating: 4.4/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2390 West Dublin Granville Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, sports bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Aracri Pizzaria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 51 East Gay St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders

- Rating: 4.4/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4926 Morse Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Dante's Pizza

- Rating: 4.4/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3586 Indianola Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Papa Giorgio's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (97 reviews)
- Address: 5216 Bethel Center Mall Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Mama Mimi's Take N Bake Pizza

- Rating: 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2923 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Harvest - Brewery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 940 South Front St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, beer bar, cocktail bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Oldfield's North Fourth Tavern

- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1571 North 4th St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, pubs, karaoke
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. East Coast Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5060 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, desserts, salad
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Martha's Fusion Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 3331 Maize Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, american, mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Yogi's Hoagies

- Rating: 4.6/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1274 Morse Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Terita's Pizza Carry Out

- Rating: 4.6/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3905 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Lois Mann's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1904 South High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: salad, pizza, sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Fibonacci's Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 3055 Indianola Ave. Inside Studio 35 Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: pizza, salad, sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 314 metros.

QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Clouds increasing, high 82
• Tonight: Rain showers, low 62
• Sunday: Scattered rain showers, high 74 (61)
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 83 (65)
• Tuesday: Chance of t-storms, high 86 (68)
• Wednesday: Scattered t-storms, high 84 (64)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Saturday starts of fair across central Ohio. Partly cloudy skies continue during the morning with mild temperatures in the low 50s. As the day goes on, more clouds will increase becoming overcast. Temperatures will top off in the low 80s. Winds will be from the south at 5-10 mph.

Overnight rain chances will begin to pick up as our next system approaches the region. As the low pressure center passes, no big chances for thunderstorms are expected. Scattered showers will occur on and off. Lows will be a lot warmer than recent nights. Temperatures will only drop to the low 60s.

Sunday brings continued rain chances. Most of them will be in the morning, but a couple afternoon showers are possible as well. A much cooler day is on tap with below average high temperatures only reaching the mid 70s. There still are no big chances for thunderstorms with the rain, but a rumble of thunder or two is not out of the question.

The first full week of June brings scattered storm chances during the middle of the week. Highs will stay in the 80s. A cooling trend eventually returns by Friday. By that time rain chances will also subside a bit and more sunshine will stick around for a little bit.

WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio (WCMH) - A nearly tragic workplace shooting at Amazon Fulfillment Building CMH5 on May 12 raised safety concerns for many employees.

A second incident involving a gun happened just days later right outside Amazon in West Jefferson. Amazon maintains the second incident did not take place on Amazon property, but the public road outside of the property. 

Regardless, a police report from West Jefferson Police said a contracted worker on Amazon property retrieved a gun from his personal vehicle prior to an altercation with a truck driver who had dropped off a load at Amazon.

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Both of these incidents received numerous posted concerns by employees to their company message board called 'MyVoice.' One of the employees who made posts concerning workplace safety was Breyonn Dockery. She had only worked at the building where the shooting happened for about a month.

"I was scheduled to work that day, but I was able to get the day off," she said. 

But the shooting had an impact on everyone. She went to the message board to ask, "What are you all going to do to make sure this doesn't happen again? Because our safety matters too."

Dockery was then suspended several days after making that initial post. She was called into the HR office for a twenty-minute conversation with an HR representative and a member of Employee Relations. 

During that meeting, Dockery was asked about her concerns, talked about the company's health resources, and asked for suggestions. At one moment about 15 minutes into the meeting, Dockery pulled out hand soap from her purse or bag and said, "If this was a gun, like, how would you guys prevent me from bringing it in here?"

Immediately following, she suggested more safety protocols to prevent someone from bringing a gun into the building so easily, using that hand soap as an example for an item that can be brought into work without being checked. The building does have metal detectors, but those are stationed at the exit.

"When they take more measures to protect their assets than they do to protect their employees, I kind of feel like that speaks for itself," she explained.

After that meeting with HR, Dockery was called by a Loss Prevention investigator with Amazon and another HR representative.

"I felt like I was a target just for speaking up about safety concerns," she said.

An hour after that call, Dockery was told not to come back to work, but that she would still be paid. 

Amazon representative Steve Kelly said in a written statement that "Per standard protocol and procedures, an employee was suspended with pay following an alleged altercation with a manager. That investigation is ongoing."

"I'm not with Amazon anymore. No. Yeah, I quit the next day," said Dockery. 

When she asked why she was being suspended, she said she was told it was "confidential." Dockery then posted a message to 'MyVoice' for her co-workers to see. That message was then deleted by app administrators.

Kelly with Amazon sent a statement regarding the safety measures at the facility.

“The safety of our employees is always our top priority. Based on guidance from law enforcement and safety and security experts we take a comprehensive approach to workplace violence prevention with a variety of security controls in place and regularly undertake to improve security policies and procedures at our facilities. Following the incident at our West Jefferson Sort Center, facility leaders have proactively and repeatedly reached out to employees to see how they are doing, offering support, and soliciting feedback.”

In addition, Kelly provided written explanations for company policy on messages shared via 'MyVoice' and why certain messages are deleted or hidden from view. 

"Comments through internal communications mechanisms are offensive, vulgar, or contain personal attacks," he wrote.

Amazon also had police security on the premises following the shooting for "several days," according to Kelly.

Even though Dockery no longer works at Amazon, she is worried about her former co-workers that don't feel safe. 

"I don't feel like they care. I feel like they want us to think that they do. But actions speak louder than words, and I didn't see any actions that showed that they cared about our safety," she said.

Dockery has found a new job and when asked what she thinks would help the situation at Amazon, she said, "Acknowledging, you know, that the situation happened instead of just trying to cover it up, trying to, you know, manage the narrative and all acknowledge that happened, acknowledge our feelings and tell us what they're going to do to prevent stuff like that from happening again."

Kelly also wrote, "Employees are encouraged to bring their concerns, questions, and ideas to facility leaders and free to communicate about their personal experiences at Amazon with the media."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States face an increased risk of developing cancer due to unique stressors and discrimination, according to a first-of-its-kind study by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The study found that members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to smoke cigarettes, gain weight and drink heavily, which likely increase cancer risk. For example, bisexual women are more than twice as likely as heterosexual women to smoke (23% versus 10%) and drink heavily (14% versus 6%). The ACS cites "minority stress" as a likely contributor to these behaviors.

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LGBTQ+ individuals are also concerned about discrimination due to gender identity or sexual orientation. The study noted that 20% of the LGBTQ+ community live in states where it is legal to refuse care to these individuals because of "conscience clauses" that allow healthcare providers, staff and insurers to deny care and services based on personal or religious beliefs.

"We are very proud of this report," scientist and lead author of the study Tyler Kratzer said. "It is meant to facilitate critical conversations around the need to improve the routine collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data at all levels of healthcare.”

The study found that cancer-causing infections, including HIV, HPV and hepatitis C, are more prevalent in some LGBTQ+ population groups. For example, 70% of HIV infections are due to male-to-male sexual contact (versus 22% to heterosexual contact and 7% to injection drug use). HIV-infected individuals are at a higher risk for at least 10 cancers, the study notes.

Transgender people are less likely to be screened for some cancers. For example, 46% of transgender men are up-to-date on colorectal cancer screening compared to 60% of cisgender men. And 68% of transgender men with a cervix are up-to-date on cervical cancer screening compared to 87% of cisgender women.

The study says only 25% of medical students are confident in the healthcare needs of transgender patients while 30% are not comfortable treating this same group of individuals.

Senior scientific director and senior author of the study Rebecca Siegel says that LGBTQ+ individuals experience multiple barriers to high-quality healthcare access, including discrimination and lack of knowledge by providers of their unique medical needs.

“One of the biggest take-aways from our report is that LGBTQ+ people are probably at higher risk for cancer," Siegel said. "Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to prevent and detect cancer early, which is why it’s so important to remove these roadblocks for this population.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – It’s graduation season and those who attend the Academy for Urban Scholars (AUS) are getting ready to walk across the stage and begin the next chapter of their lives. 

AUS is a unique school that focuses on giving its students the resources they need to succeed. Educators work closely with each student so they can graduate on time and are ready to start the next chapter of their lives. The whole idea is to meet students where they’re at. 

“From the teachers to the way, like, almost everybody in here is a tutor. Like, it's very different. You get help. They care about you like they want to see you succeed,” said Jaimee Cooley, a senior. 

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AUS focuses on individualized learning plans to ensure each student who graduates is prepared for their next chapter in life. Educators prepare them for the four ‘E’s”: Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship. 

“When scholars come to us, traditionally, they're coming 3 to 5 years behind in reading and math ability. So we already know walking into this work, we have a lot of ground to cover,” said Derek Lee, the director of Student Affairs. 

During a student’s time at the school, educators also work with them on the soft skills like how to interview, build a resume and write cover letters. 

“We go out in the community and we work with other businesses and create partnerships so we can do internships, we can do actual job placement for our scholars and then the scholars who traditionally want to go to college. We also do that as well,” said Lee. 

Cooley tells NBC4 that she’s decided to continue her education and attend Wilberforce University, where she’ll be studying psychology. She said that because of the education she got at AUS, she’s more prepared for college than she ever thought she’d be. 

“They've been so supportive the entire way. You don't really have to hunt them down for help. They're always there, like making sure that you're on the right path,” she said. 

Success stories like Cooley’s, is why Lee does what he does. 

“We go through life with a lot of them. A lot of our scholars have a lot of challenging barriers that had nothing to do with school. And the school becomes their safe space. And we are just honored and blessed to have this. Scholars recognize that this is a safe space,” he said. 

The school offers three things that Lee said makes them stand out. The first is an engagement coach, career based intervention and workforce development. The school also offers scholarships as well. 

Lee said that when a student graduates from AUS, they not only graduate with a highschool diploma, but they also graduate with an actual career. In addition to what they offer during typical school hours, they also have after school programs. Giving students the chance to stay active through the Boys and Girls Club.

The biggest thing, according to Lee, is that not only do they arm students with the skills to be successful, they also offer a village of support. 

“My time here has been amazing. I've been here for two years, and the teachers here are so sweet. It really is family. And they have us involved in the community a lot and a lot of community service being here and engaging in a lot of different activities,” said Cooley. 

AUS’s graduation is June 2. 

View the player above to watch previous coverage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Franklin County grand jury on Friday voted not to indict eight Columbus police officers in the shooting death of a bank robbery suspect on Interstate 70.

On July 6, 2023, Columbus police officers responded to an armed bank robbery on Hilliard Rome Road. Police located a stolen Porsche SVU traveling at more than 125 mph. 

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The suspects’ vehicle eventually crashed on I-70 near the Mound Street exit. Two suspects fled the scene on foot. Abdisamad Ismail, 19, exited the vehicle and began firing a handgun loaded with an extended clip, shooting one officer three times, according to Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Tyack. 

All eight officers returned fire, hitting Ismail numerous times. Officers administered medical aid to Ismail until an ambulance arrived, Tyack stated. Ismail was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The stolen money from the bank robbery was recovered from the vehicle. The two suspects who fled the scene, Fazsal M. Darod and Abdullahi Jama, were later arrested and are awaiting trial in federal court. The wounded officer survived the shooting with lasting injuries.

ORIENT, Ohio (WCMH) – The family of the Pickaway County corrections officer shot and killed at the county training academy in April has hired a lawyer. 

Lt. Rodney Osborne's death is being investigated as reckless homicide. It’s been weeks since any new information about the investigation has been released, but the family’s lawyer said he plans to be aggressive to start getting some answers. 

Mark Kitrick, the family’s lawyer and president of Kitrick Lewis and Harris Law Firm, said Osborne's wife and kids still have so many questions, making this even harder than it already is. 

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“Well, as you can expect Bobbie, his surviving spouse and the children are beside themselves. They're just really still in shock. They can't believe that this tragedy happened. And they have, as you can imagine, many questions about how it could possibly have happened,” Kitrick said. 

Kitrick said he is going to do everything in his power to get this investigation to pick up speed. 

“I'm going to heavily investigate the case. Look at every possible angle as to what could have happened. For example, why would an employee even pull a gun and point it at another employee, loaded or unloaded? It violates every safety rule there is in this business. Was there something defective about the vest? Was the pistol malfunctioning where the safety guard was removed or deliberately removed,” Kitrick said. 

Last month, NBC4 learned Regional Special Operations Officer David Pearson was put on administrative leave the day after the shooting pending the investigation into Osborne's death. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections said Pearson is still on leave – that is all they would say. 

“There's so many questions that need to be answered, and that's one of the reasons that Bobbie wanted us to get involved right away,” Kitrick said. 

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading this investigation. The last documents NBC4 obtained from the highway patrol were heavily redacted. NBC4 asked them for clarification on how Osborne was shot and Pearson's involvement, and they said they have no updates.

 “So if we have to file suit quickly and subpoena, do whatever we need to do to get answers, we're going to be very aggressive to protect the family here,” Kitrick said. 

Kitrick said he has also requested surveillance footage from the corrections facility during the time of the shooting. NBC4 spoke with the Pickaway County Prosecutor’s Office Friday. They said there has not been a case brought to them at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As children enter into the foster care system here in central Ohio, many of them have dealt with trauma throughout their lives. It can make adjusting to a new foster home difficult, and that’s why The Buckeye Ranch developed a new program for high-risk kids. 

It’s called the Healing Alternatives for Youth program, or HAY, and it’s the only one of its kind in Franklin County. The HAY program helps respond to the need for the placement, stabilization and treatment of kids who have been through trauma. 

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Lindsay Williams, the Vice President of Child Welfare Services at The Buckeye Ranch said they focus on, “Youth with more intensive needs because they have been dealing with lots of trauma and as a result of that, we’re seeing youth that have been overnighting in the lobbies of children’s services agencies.” 

Local foster parent Rev. Belinda Woods said when she heard about this new program, she knew she needed to get involved. 

“The HAY program to me, when it was rolled out or explained to us initially, was so there would be no children left at Franklin County sleeping in an office. That’s what tugged at my heart,” said Rev. Woods. 

The goal of the HAY program is to connect kids who have been through trauma to resources as soon as possible. Williams at The Buckeye Ranch said that’s the key to stabilizing these children. 

“When youth experience a lot of trauma, the way that we work with those youth is we provide very supportive resources, very supportive services and provide them with a healing environment,” said Williams. 

For Rev. Woods, being a HAY foster parent is really the same as fostering other children in the past. She said she just makes sure to give these kids even more grace. 

“The trauma that some of these children have experienced is, first of all, unbelievable. The fact that they are still here, alive. Regardless of the harm that’s been done to them, they are so resilient,” said Rev. Woods. “I just want to give a child a soft place to land until they get to where they’re going.” 

Foster parents are always needed at The Buckeye Ranch. Those who are interested in becoming a HAY foster parent or just a regular foster parent can learn more here or call 800-296-5113.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lawmakers finalized a bill on Friday to ensure President Joe Biden is on Ohio's November ballot and another to ban noncitizens from donating money to statewide campaign issues.

The Ohio Senate approved House Bill 1 with a vote of 24 to seven on Friday, legislation to prohibit foreign nationals for contributing to voter-lead issue campaigns. However, Democrats who rejected the measure argue the bill was prioritized by the Statehouse's Republican majority to stifle a redistricting amendment and a minimum wage initiative voters could see on November's ballot.

"It's a red herring," said Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) of the Republicans' effort to ban foreign donations. "It was used to frighten people. This is often the case when the majority is trying to really push and usurp power. It was a power play more than anything else."

Still, Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said the bill is necessary to implement punishments so people wanting to fund campaigns from out-of-state are deterred. McColley argued those actors could ignore the statute and still aim to influence Ohio's elections if a measure does not include a penalty.

"Let's keep in mind that we're talking about multi-million dollar schemes, sometimes orchestrated by groups that have over a billion dollars ... or billionaires who are trying to come in and put their thumb on the scale in Ohio," said McColley.

Statehouse Republicans advanced H.B. 1 as a trade-off for also passing House Bill 2 on Friday with a vote of 30 to one, legislation that moved Ohio's filing deadline from 90 days before the election to 65 days. The two bills now head to the governor, who convened lawmakers for a special Statehouse session after the legislators failed to agree on a solution to place Biden on the ballot.

Sen. President Matt Huffman said DeWine helped get H.B. 1 "across the finish line and protect our elections." He said, "I am grateful for the governor’s strong statement supporting the Senate’s efforts to ban foreign contributions to ballot initiative campaigns," and noted the legislature "needed to ensure that President Biden is on the ballot in November and it needed to be done legislatively."

Biden is not set to be nominated until the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, nearly two weeks after Ohio's original filing deadline of Aug. 7. Nearly all senators supported the deadline change, though Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) said "it is tempting to say to the DNC that if you can't follow Ohio existing law you don't deserve to have your candidate on the ballot, but two wrongs don't make a right."

Roegner said "bring it on, Ohio is Trump Country."

The Ohio legislator's solution could be moot given the Democratic National Committee announced it will hold a virtual roll call ahead of its Aug. 19 convention to choose Biden as their nominee. Still, Republican lawmakers forged ahead with the special session to advance H.B. 1, which Democrats also said is redundant given it's already illegal for non-U.S. citizens to donate to candidates in Ohio.

Antonio called the measure a "poison pill," and said she believes "there is enough poison in this bill to kill the will of the people as they go and bring forth ballot initiatives." The minority leader also railed against the provision allowing the state's attorney general to prosecute foreign money violations, arguing Attorney General Dave Yost has shown himself "to be partisan on many issues that's he taken up."

McColley noted a previous statewide ballot initiative where Ohioans approved a measure preventing non-citizens from voting. "I suspect the will of the people would also be that non-citizens shouldn't be able to donate in Ohio elections," said McColley.

H.B. 1 also departs from federal law by including Green Card holders in the bill's definition of foreign nationals. Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) introduced a failed amendment on Friday to remove the Green Card provision, arguing Democrats could choose to bring a lawsuit against the H.B. 1 given it differs from federal law. Antani was also the lone member of the Senate to vote against H.B. 2, arguing "Biden had plenty of time to adequately qualify for the Ohio ballot and I will not support a special favor for him."

However, Biden's scheduling snafu is not the first time a presidential candidate has run into the issue in Ohio. In the past, both Democratic and Republican nominees have had to find workarounds to the state's filing deadline. Despite lawmakers on both sides of the aisle signaling the possibility of passing a bill to implement a permanent solution, the legislation did not advance.

View a previous report on the Ohio sales tax holiday in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Friday this years’ sales tax holiday will run for more than triple the usual time.

Previous sales tax holidays in the state, which offer a temporary elimination of tax on select purchases, ran three days. However, Gov. DeWine in conjunction with the Ohio General Assembly expanded the 2024 holiday to 10 days. 

The 2024 Sales Tax Holiday will take place from midnight on July 30 to 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 8. Eligible items of up to $500 can be purchased in-store or online tax-free. Previous holidays offered the lower price limit of a $75 maximum on clothing items and a $20 maximum for school supplies, according to DeWine. 

“Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year,” DeWine said. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.”

The holiday does not include an exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products or any item that contains marijuana.

(NEXSTAR) – Doughnuts are one of the few items that people often purchase by the dozen. And, as such, they’re 12 times more disappointing when they’re not quite as fresh as they should be.

Knowing this, Yelp’s team of analysts have attempted to steer us away from any regrettable crullers, jelly sticks or Boston crème doughnuts by compiling a list of the “best” doughnut shops in every state.

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The list, released just ahead of National Doughnut Day on June 7, was also determined using data submitted by Yelp’s “Elite Squad” team — a group which Yelp chose for their passionate, detailed reviews. And don’t worry: These “Elites” can’t be swayed with some of the bells and whistles often seen at flashier doughnut shops, according to Yelp.

“While trendy flavors and toppings are always popular, Yelp Elites know that top donuts are made from well-tested dough recipes, sometimes perfected over generations,” the site says.

Ready to grab a box of fresh, peer-reviewed doughnuts? The "best," according to Yelp's Elite Squad, can be found at Donna's Delicious Dozen right here in Columbus.

“Wow. Talk about a donut being worth every single calorie, carb, etc.," wrote one Elite user after a visit in April. "Donna's Delicious Dozen is like a yeast donut and a cake donut had a baby and it is PERFECT!"

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Too far from Donna's to pick up a dozen? Have a look at the list below for some of the top-rated doughnuts in every state, as determined by Yelp’s Elites.

• Alabama — Bigfoot’s Little Donuts, in Huntsville
• Alaska — Jason’s Donuts, in Eagle River
• Arizona — Hot N Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop, in Page
• Arkansas — Mark’s DO-Nut Shop, in Little Rock
• California — JD Flannel Donuts and Coffee, in San Juan Capistrano
• Colorado — Nok’s Donuts, in Lafayette
• Connecticut — Brooklyn Baking, in Waterbury
• Delaware — Sandy Pony Donuts, in Bethany Beach
• D.C. — Donut Run, in Washington, D.C.
• Florida — Donnie’s Donuts, in Daytona Beach
• Georgia — Sweet Apple Donut & Coffee, in Alpharetta
• Hawaii — Island Glazed, in Aiea, Oahu
• Idaho — Mojo’s Donuts & Ice Cream, in Boise
• Illinois — Old Fashioned Donuts, in Chicago
• Indiana — Long’s Bakery, in Indianapolis
• Iowa — Ambrosia Donuts, in Ankeny
• Kansas — Hana’s Donuts, in Kansas City
• Kentucky — Nord’s Bakery, in Louisville
• Louisiana — Baker’s Dozen, in Jefferson
• Maine — Congdon’s Doughnuts Family Restaurant & Bakery, in Wells
• Maryland — Carlson’s Donuts, in Severn
• Massachusetts — Ruby Donut, in Ayer
• Michigan — Avon Donuts Inc., in Pontiac
• Minnesota — Heights Bakery, in Columbia Heights
• Mississippi — Fantasy Donuts, in Biloxi
• Missouri — Fresh Donuts, in Kansas City
• Montana — Granny’s Gourmet Donuts, in Bozeman
• Nebraska — Olsen Bake Shop, in Omaha
• Nevada — Yo Mochi Café, in Henderson
• New Hampshire —New Hampshire Donut Co., in Concord
• New Jersey — Uncle Dood’s Donuts, in Toms River
• New Mexico — Yummy Mini Donuts and Ice Cream, in Albuquerque
• New York — Peaceful Provisions, in Beacon
• North Carolina —Superior Bakery, in Fayetteville
• North Dakota — Sandy’s Donuts & Coffee Shop, in West Fargo
• Ohio — Donna’s Delicious Dozen, in Columbus
• Oklahoma —Polar Donuts, in Oklahoma City
• Oregon — Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai, in Portland
• Pennsylvania — Oram’s Donut Shop, in Beaver Falls
• Rhode Island — Glaze’n Daze Donuts, in Johnston
• South Carolina — Sunny’s Donuts, in Gaffney
• South Dakota — Jerry’s Cakes & Donuts, in Rapid City
• Tennessee — McGaugh’s Donuts, in Madison
• Texas — Robin’s Snowflake Donuts & Café, in Spring
• Utah — Fresh Donut & Deli, in Salt Lake City
• Vermont — North Country Donuts, in Morristown
• Virginia — Carol Lee Donuts, in Blacksburg
• Washington — Happy Donuts, in Puyallup
• West Virginia — Jolly Pirate Doughnuts, in Huntington
• Wisconsin — Greenbush Bakery, in Madison
• Wyoming — Cowboy Donuts, in Rock Springs

More information, including links to each shop’s Yelp page and a handy map of all 51 shops, can be found at Yelp.com.

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

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – One of three suspects charged in a fatal August 2023 robbery at a central Ohio AutoZone store rejected a plea offer in court.

According to the Delaware County Prosecutor’s office, Anthony Blakely, 27, was expected to agree to terms on a plea arrangement, but changed his mind Friday in court.

The plea agreement, according to the prosecution, entailed Blakely pleading guilty to three of five charges against him, including murder, felonious assault and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. He originally agreed to testify against two co-defendants and receive a joint recommendation prison sentence of 23 years to life.

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The case will now be scheduled for a new jury trial date, which has yet to be determined.

Blakely is facing charges of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, felonious assault and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The charges stem from a fatal shooting that took place at the AutoZone store on Sancus Boulevard near Polaris Fashion Place on Aug. 24, 2023, at 5:11 p.m.

Zackeyis Davis (left), Darius Wynn (center), and Anthony Blakely (right). (Courtesy/Delaware County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim, 43-year-old customer Alejandro Fajardo-Torres, was pronounced dead after it was reported that he attempted to intervene in an armed robbery. The shooting occurred inside the store, where police said a second victim was suffering from a blunt-force trauma injury. Around the same time, Fajardo-Torres tried to stop the robbery and was shot by one of the suspects.

Blakely and two alleged accomplices, Zackeyis Davis and Darius Wynn, were part of a suspected “enterprise”, according to court documents, in which they allegedly committed multiple robberies between May 14, 2023, and September 16, 2023.

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Fajardo-Torres was pronounced dead at the scene. A Delaware County grand jury indicted all three on Dec. 21 for the following charges:

• Zackeyis Davis – Murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery (2), felonious assault, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Darius Wynn – Murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery (2), engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Blakely – Murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Blakely received a $5 million bond on Jan. 16, as did Wynn on Jan. 10, while Davis received a $10 million bond for the charges he was indicted on.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Sunny & mild, high 76
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 52
• Saturday: Partly cloudy, late showers, high 79
• Sunday: Early scattered showers, high 77
• Monday: Some sunshine, PM pop-ups, high 83
• Tuesday: Chance T-storms, high 86

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Good Friday afternoon!

Another day of sunshine and warm weather in Central Ohio! Skies will remain clear through the majority of today with temperatures on their way to the mid 70s. Going into the weekend, we'll stay on the warm side, but chances for rain will make a return.

High pressure remains in control today, but we'll see it start to slip off to our east by the end of Friday. In it's place by the weekend, we're watching a low pressure center getting closer. The start of Saturday will be dry with a good bit of sunshine. Temperatures will be on their way close to 80 degrees. Towards the end of the day, that low will start entering Central Ohio and bring rain chances with it.

Most of our rain will start late in the day on Saturday and continue in the overnight hours. Most of the fronts coming out of this low will be down to our south, so we won't see a huge change in our temperatures. Rain holds over into Sunday, but we'll be getting drier by the end of the day. Temperatures are in the upper 70s to end off the weekend on Sunday.

For the first full week of June, temperatures will jump back up into the 80s. We'll peak in the mid 80s by the middle of the week before a slight cool down going into Thursday. Monday remains dry, but there are chances for scattered showers returning on Tuesday, with our best chance by Wednesday.

-Joe

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (WCMH) - A bar and restaurant featuring cocktails, all-day brunch, a selection of bubble tea and more is opening up in Grandview Heights.

Loco Social is having its grand opening Monday at 7 a.m. at 1291 Grandview Ave., according to its social media page. The restaurant is opening with hopes to make customers feel like they are on vacation, offering an experience unlike other eateries.

• (Courtesy: Loco Social)
• (Courtesy: Loco Social)
• (Courtesy: Loco Social)
• (Courtesy: Loco Social)

Loco Social describes its place to be a "tiki-inspired atmosphere" serving several beverages, food and more that matches its theme. Customers can enjoy freshly-made juices, salads and dishes along with breakfast and brunch options.

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Loco Social is also offering sweet treats from pastries and snacks to coffee, bubble tea, frappes and more. The menu also boasts a number of "tiki cocktails" including Pina Colada, daiquiris and punches.

With the grand opening Monday, the bar and restaurant will open its doors early on May 31 from 2 to 8 p.m., June 1 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and June 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with select specialties.

Loco Social will be open Sunday and Monday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Tiki Bar will also be open Thursday through Saturday from 8-10 p.m.

View a previous report on ODOT's summer construction projects in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The westbound lanes of Interstate 670 crossing Downtown are scheduled to close this weekend.

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced it will close all lanes from Interstate 71 to State Route 315 beginning at 11 p.m. Friday for a repaving project. It's a companion project to the eastbound lanes also recently closing for repaving.

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The posted detour will be to loop around Downtown by taking I-71 South to I-70 West to State Route 315 North to reconnect with the westbound lanes of I-670. For traffic Downtown, multiple westbound on-ramp ramps will be closed, too, at Jack Gibbs Boulevard, Fifth Avenue, Fourth Street and Third Street.

This project does not directly affect traffic using I-670 East as a way to get from State Route 315 South to I-70 East. The ramp connecting those roads recently closed for a years-long project that's part of the reconstruction of I-70/I-71 on the southern edge of Downtown.

I-670's westbound lanes are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Saturday night, the Crew will play in another final and seek a historic achievement.

The Crew will face Mexican club C.F. Pachuca at 9:15 p.m. at Estadio Hidalgo in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Columbus has never played in the final of a continental cup, and this one offers multiple prizes.

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The winner will book a place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the first 32-team edition of the tournament scheduled to be played in the United States.

Here are a few things to know for one of the Crew's biggest games in club history.

Pachuca's pedigree

Club de Futbol Pachuca was founded 123 years ago and has an expansive trophy cabinet. Los Tuzos (the Gophers) had trophies pouring in as the millennium turned.

The club won its first Liga MX title in 1999 and has won six more since. What Pachuca has that Columbus does not is trophies in continental competitions. It has won the Champions Cup five times, the third most in the competition's history.

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Its most recent title came in 2017, which earned them a Club World Cup spot. Pachuca has even won a continental cup in South America, winning the 2006 Copa Sudamericana.

Path to the final

Both the Crew and Pachuca were two of five teams to earn a bye to the Round of 16 for the 27-team tournament. Columbus earned its spot as the 2023 MLS Cup winner, and Los Tuzos got its spot as the top team over the 2022-23 Liga MX season.

The Crew had a difficult path to the final, starting with eliminating the Houston Dynamo in the Round of 16. The Crew kept making history by taking out two of Mexico's most iconic clubs -- UANL Tigres in the quarterfinals via a penalty shootout win in Mexico and Monterrey with a 5-2 aggregate semifinal victory.

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While the Crew's path has required some hard-fought performances, Pachuca has mostly breezed its way through. Its journey began with a 6-0 aggregate thrashing of the Philadelphia Union followed by a 7-1 aggregate victory over Costa Rican club Herediano.

Pachuca's toughest matches came in the semifinals against Club America. After a 1-1 draw on the road in the first leg, Pachuca held on to a 2-1 lead at home in the second leg to make the final.

Players to watch

Columbus hopes attackers Diego Rossi and Jacen Russell-Rowe can keep their current form. Both scored goals in each of the Monterrey matches and have stepped up in MLS play in recent weeks with the absence of Cucho Hernandez, who has missed the last three games because of a back injury.

With the possibility of Hernandez missing the final, the Crew having an in-form strike force has the players confident they can win in Mexico again. A midfield led by Darlington Nagbe and Aidan Morris always gives the Crew the edge in playing its possession-centric style.

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The Crew defense will have its hands full with Pachuca striker and the Champions Cup's top scorer Salomon Rondon. The Venezuelan has scored seven goals during CONCACAF play and is a physical striker who can bully defenders for key chances.

Manager Guillermo Almada will also look to defenders Luis Rodriguez and Gustavo Cabral to stop the Crew's attack and midfielders Nelson Deossa and Oussama Idrissi to create chances and give service to Rondon.

Polar opposite momentums

Unlike many other continental cup finals this year, CONCACAF has two teams that are in different portions of their seasons.

The Crew enters this final fresh off a three-game road winning streak. Being in good form entering the final will bode well for a team that will try to control the pace of play.

On the other end, Pachuca finished the 2023-24 Liga MX season in seventh place and fell in the playoff quarterfinals. Its last match was on May 11, with this final being Pachuca's first game in three weeks. Whether Los Tuzos enters with fresh legs or lacks match sharpness will be a big question.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has welcomed several baby animals guests can view this summer, and multiple new experiences including a virtual reality ride.

The zoo recently announced that several new species are, or will soon be, viewable in their exhibits. In the zoo's reptile building, three desert grassland whiptail lizards hatched on Jan. 20, marking the first hatchlings at the zoo in 2024. The all-female species, known for their elongated bodies and whip-like tails, can reproduce on their own. The lizards have been on display in their habitat since early spring.

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For the first time, green basilisks were welcomed to the Columbus Zoo – three of the lizards hatched in February. The animal is famed for its ability to run on water, earning it the nickname of the “Jesus Christ lizard.” The hatchlings are currently being cared for behind the scenes in the reptile building, and will be on display this summer.

In March, the zoo’s Humboldt penguin family grew with two male chicks. The chicks are being cared for by their penguin foster parents, Ava and Gunter, and Tressel and Watson behind the scenes. They will be introduced to their outdoor habitat this summer. The zoo did not specify an exact date when the new green basilisks and Humboldt penguins will be viewable to guests.

In the “Heart of Africa” region, two slender-horned gazelle calves were welcomed to the zoo’s herd in February – a male named Sasquatch and a female named Nessie. Slender-horned gazelles are classified as endangered with only a few hundred remaining in their native habitat, making their births particularly significant. The calves can be seen exploring the Heart of Africa savanna, which they were introduced to in April.

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In March, a male dama gazelle was born at the zoo. The calf, named Patrick, is providing hope for the future of his species, which is the rarest of all gazelles, the zoo said. The species is critically endangered, with fewer than 300 left in their native range. Patrick will soon be in the Heart of Africa savanna, which he will share with his mom, Kix, and dad, Kabili, as well as Sasquatch and Nessie. 

In the “Congo Expedition” region, Malaika the mandrill gave birth to a healthy male baby in early May. The new male baby joins his half-sister Izara and big brother Bernard, who the zoo said is very curious about his little brother. Guests may be able to catch a glimpse of the baby primate, who has access to the outdoor mandrill habitat.

• Humboldt penguins born at the zoo in March (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
• Slender-horned gazelle calves born at the zoo in February (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
• Mandrill born at the zoo in May (Photo Courtesy/Grahm Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
• Dama gazelle born at the zoo in March (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
• Whiptail lizards born at the zoo in January (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).

Another new addition has also joined the zoo: a virtual reality ride which is now open. The ride features 16 seats that move while guests enjoy a shark dive or gorilla trek through a VR headset. The ride is $7 for general admission and $6 for Columbus Zoo members. 

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Dinosaur Island will soon return to the zoo’s “Australia and the Islands” region and will remain open through the end of October. The attraction features more than 20 animatronic dinosaurs, a walking path and a boat ride. A special admission ticket is required for entrance and is not included with Zoo admission. Admission to Dinosaur Island is $4 for general admission, $3 for Columbus Zoo members.

• (Photo Courtesy/Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)
• (Photo Courtesy/Grahm Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

The zoo also recently debuted its “Scooter Pals,” which guests over 16 can rent and drive. Two riders can fit on the animal-themed scooters, which can be used to cruise around Adventure Cove, Conservation Lake and the Asia Quest loop. Rentals are first come, first serve, and cost $5 to activate plus 35 cents per minute.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Home sales in central Ohio jumped last month as the number of properties for sale spiked to a level not seen since 2020, a new report shows.

Columbus homes sold in April increased 13% when compared with the number of those sold in April 2023, according to a Columbus Realtors housing report. In addition, the number of properties on the market skyrocketed 28%, from 2,388 for sale in April of 2023 to 3,054 on the market at the end of last month.

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"It's great to see our total inventory climb over 3,000 units," said Scott Hrabcak, president of Columbus Realtors. "We haven't been at that level in the month of April since 2020. There is still plenty of competition out there but, as we head into the summer months, it's great that realtors will have more options for buyers."

Columbus Realtors said the increases are positive signs for potential buyers, especially given there were 3,257 new homes that joined the market last month -- a 17.2% increase in new listings compared with April 2023. For the year, there have been 10,471 new listings, an increase of 11.9% year over year.

The median sales price is also up 5.2% compared to 2023 at $317,513, as homes are selling slightly over asking price at 100.3% of last list price received. The month prior, the median sales price was $310,000 in central Ohio.

In Marysville, there were 38 sales that marked an 81% increase year over year while there were 60 sales in Delaware City School District, an 77% increase over April 2023. Union County saw a 67% increase with 75 sales, ranking among central Ohio counties behind Franklin County with 1,205 sales, Delaware County with 242, Licking County with 179 and Fairfield County with 162.

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Statewide, home sales last month reached 11,547, a 13.2% increase from the 10,199 home sales recorded in April of 2023. The average sales price across Ohio in April reached $280,814, a 4.9% increase from the $267,665 mark posted in April of last year.

"The strength and stability of the Ohio housing marketplace is evident, as sales activity levels for the year are outpacing sales from a year ago," said Ali Whitley, president of Ohio Realtors. "With the increase in home sales, the market is also showing a consistent increase in average sales price."