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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two people have been hospitalized in separate overnight shootings on the eastside of Columbus.

According to Columbus Police, one person is in stable condition after a shooting at the BP gas station on East Main Street, near James Road, in the Eastmoor neighborhood. Police said a man was shot in his right leg, though did not have any information on a suspect or what led to the shooting.

The East Main St. shooting occurred at 1:46 a.m., nearly three hours before a second shooting occurred in the city's northeast neighborhood of North Linden at 4:29 a.m. There, police say a man suffered serious injuries after being shot at a home near the intersection of East Weber Road and Cleveland Avenue.

Officers arrived at a residence near the 1700 block of East Weber Road, where two people were reportedly fighting before one person shot the other in the stomach.

The victim was taken to an area hospital in serious but stable condition, while police detained a suspect who was unharmed during the incident. Police said two guns were recovered at the scene.

CPD asks that anyone with information regarding either incident to contact the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at (614) 645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new bill at the Ohio Statehouse would give employers a state income tax credit for offering bonuses to employees who have a child or adopt.

House Bill 340, titled the Baby Bonus Act, would allow businesses to claim a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $50,000 annually if they implement a policy granting at least $1,000 to employees after the birth or adoption of a child. Employers would need to maintain documentation for five years and meet other eligibility criteria to qualify for the credit.

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The bill's sponsor, Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania), said the legislation is designed to address Ohio's declining birth rate and future workforce challenges, while also promoting stable family structures.

"We know that we are not producing offspring in a number that can allow for us to replenish our society," Williams said in a NBC4 interview. "That is going to directly drive the workforce shortages in the future, making it where employers may not be attracted to the state of Ohio."

The Baby Bonus Act is part of what Williams calls the "Family First Agenda," a suite of bills aimed at promoting marriage, childbirth and traditional family structures in Ohio. Other legislation in the agenda includes the Invest in Marriage Act, which proposes similar tax incentives for employers who offers marriage bonuses, and a bill to designate the weeks between Mother's Day and Father's Day as "Natural Family Month."

"We want Ohio to be a place where people want to … get married, plant their roots right here in Ohio, and raise a family with a good career where they can earn an honest living and chase the American dream like I had the opportunity to do so," Williams said.

The representative has framed the effort as both economic and cultural, arguing that previous government programs have disincentivized marriage and family formation by encouraging reliance on public assistance. The tax credits, he said, are aimed at reversing those trends by engaging private employers in promoting family life.

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"We're trying to reverse that trend here in the state of Ohio," Williams said. "This is getting employers engaged in the idea of incentivizing the creation of family units."

While H.B. 340 has yet to receive a committee hearing, related legislation from the Family First Agenda has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and some Democrats, who argue that such bills prioritize one model of family while excluding others.

In particular, H.B. 262, the Natural Family Month bill, has been described by opponents as promoting "strategic erasure" of LGBTQ+ and single-parent families. In response, Williams has maintained that his intent is not to exclude any group.

"Just because we include one group, doesn't mean we exclude the other groups," he said. "When we celebrate Mother's Day, we don't discriminate against fathers. When we celebrate Father's Day, we don't discriminate against mothers."

Still, Williams said he believes the traditional two-parent, married household provides the most stable environment for raising children.

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"That is the best family structure, and we've seen the studies that show it," he said. "I just want to set kids up for the best path forward, so they have the opportunity to chase the American dream like I had."

View H.B. 340 below.

Ohio House Bill 340Download

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini take the field Saturday in a battle for a wooden turtle, 100 years after the tradition began. One of the oldest traveling trophies in the Big Ten Conference, Illibuck, will be up for grabs.

NBC4's Kyle Beachy set out on a mission to find out more about this elusive wooden turtle. The Ohio State University Archives on Kenny Road was a great place to start. 

The Illibuck trophy began in 1925 when a 'Bucket and Dipper', one of the Junior Honorary Societies at Ohio State, agreed with Sachem Junior Honorary Society to a rivalry trophy to be passed between their organizations to the school that was victorious on the football field.

"It started as a live turtle, and now it's a wooden turtle with the date and the score of the game engraved on the back. It's presented the following year to the honorary of the team who won the previous year. So when my class went to Illinois for the game that year, we received the Illibuck because we had won the year before. I knew that it was the only football trophy that we had with another Big Ten school. And so that it was important to keep that tradition alive and to have, as many people involved in the tradition as possible," Elizabeth Watters, president of Bucket and Dipper Honorary 1985, said.

Watters was found after uncovering photos from the 1985 matchup between the Illini and Buckeyes in Champaign showed Watters standing on the field holding Illibuck up high for the crowd to cheer.

"There was a little peace pipe that we exchanged back and forth and then, they handed me the book, and I raised it up for everyone in the crowd to see, and then passed it to the other members of the honorary for from Bucket Dipper, who were there, who also raised it up to the crowd so that everyone, who was there could cheer for Ohio State, having won it," Watters said. "That was such a wonderful experience. Certainly receiving the Illibuck on the field and having everyone in the crowd be supportive, whether they were from Illinois or Ohio State and being able to show it to the crowd and, you know, show that Ohio State was a great rival and a good competitor and then to pass it on to friends, from the organization, that was definitely the highlight."

Watters has fond memories of that five-plus-hours drive to Champaign.

"It was so much fun, just going over," she said. "They were wonderful hosts. We had a great time. We tailgated together. We had a dinner. It was an overnight experience. They were, as, involved in the whole process as we were. And it was really an honor to accept that on behalf of Ohio State, knowing that we had won that the year before. And I think we won it that year, too. We won that game. So, it was, it was wonderful to be a part of that. They were as nice and supportive as they possibly could be, and we had a great time with them. At the end, you're cheering for your team, but that doesn't mean that you can't, be good rivals."

After the game, Watters got to keep Illibuck for the entire year.

"He stayed in my dorm room. He was a doorstop. He's very heavy for solid wood and so he was in my dorm room," she said.

"It defines your experience as a student. It makes you a part of everything that's going on. The football team was very supportive of this tradition. And the athletic department always allows the honorary to go down on the football field to do the exchange. You know, it's about being a part of that experience," she added.

The archives show Watters was right. Illibuck started as a real, live turtle. Legend of archived stories show Illibuck to be a 50-year-old snapping turtle found living in the basement of a fish market. When the two junior honoraries at OSU and U of I were brainstorming a trophy, they settled on a turtle after considering a plaque, cup, elephant, and snake.

The Illini won the first two matchups while Illibuck I was still alive. The turtle traveled to Champaign, where telegram correspondence showed the Sachem Junior Honorary at Illinois was having trouble caring for the turtle.

One telegram read: "What do you feed a turtle? Illibuck refuses to eat."

Another read: "Where shall we keep the turtle, the university refuses to keep him. We have him in the bathtub at the home of our only town member and his mother objects. What shall we do?"

Still, another telegram later read: "We suggest the losing society keep the turtle."

The society then suggested making "turtle soup" each year after the game, but Bucket and Dipper "ignored" all telegrams and that request.

Archived records show that "sometime during the 1926 school year the noble reptile expired."

Thus, Illibuck I was replaced with Illibuck II, a wooden carving of a turtle. Since that time there have been at least ten Illibuck trophies. Illibuck IX is housed at the Ohio Union on the second floor next to the Archie Griffin Ballroom.

The final score of each game is carved into the wooden turtle's back. Ohio State leads the all-time series of games when Illibuck is at stake with 60 wins, 23 losses, and two ties.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Grove City police officer was injured and a suspect is dead after both were shot during a chase Wednesday evening.

According to a Grove City Police Lt. Jason Stern, the incident started at approximately 5:15 p.m. on the 3800 block of Louise Court when officers responded to a burglary in progress call. Stern said that the homeowner did not recognize the suspect; the homeowner then ran from the home and called the police, stating the suspect had a gun.

At the scene, officers saw the suspect inside the home. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home, prompting the Grove City Strategic Response Team to respond.

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At approximately 8:37 p.m., the suspect fled the home, prompting a foot chase that lasted about one block. According to police, the suspect shot at the officers, with the officers shooting back. Both were taken to a local hospital, with the suspect being pronounced dead. The officer is in a stable condition.

Police did not release the suspect's identity.

"I am beyond thankful that no one in our community was injured or hurt," Stern said. "I'm very blessed that the officer involved is stable. These things happen so fast, it could have been, it could have been a lot worse."

The attorney general's bureau of criminal investigation will be investigating the officer-involved shooting, Stern said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and new data is shedding light on a disturbing trend relating to domestic violence homicides.

According to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, 2025 is already the deadliest year for domestic violence homicides in nearly a decade. With those numbers in mind, a local organization wants residents to know it is here to help, while it is also looking for help of its own.

The Center for Family Safety and Healing is a comprehensive approach to serving children and families who are experiencing family violence. Nestled in an unassuming building on the city’s east side is a center that provides hope.

“The founders of the center were really forward thinking and really understood that you couldn’t just address domestic violence happening in adult relationships, that these are deeply connected issues,” Center for Family Safety and Healing President Melissa Graves said.

Graves said the center, which was founded in 2012, has impacted the lives of more than 12,000 people in 73 of Ohio’s 88 counties, offering a unique response to domestic violence for witnesses and victims of all ages.

“Often, children who experience abuse, they are much more likely to repeat cycles of violence and perpetuate that cycle either as victims or abusers when they are adults,” Graves said.

It’s a cycle that is rearing its head in the Buckeye State. According to recent data from the ODVN, the number of domestic violence fatalities rose 37 percent over the previous year – from 114 fatalities in 2023/2024 to 157 in 2024/2025.

Graves said some changes to federal funding have impacted the center’s bottom line.

“Now more than ever, we do look at reductions and losses in federal funding, that community support is more important than ever,” she said.

As the month of October continues, the message from the folks at this center – one that offers family, adult, child, and home-based support for those who have been exposed to sexual or physical abuse – is that it takes a village to support these members of the community.

“When I hear parents or parents who have had this awful thing happen to their child, when we hear them say, ‘I just feel so relieved, I just feel like it’s going to be OK, and we’re going to be OK and there’s joy in our future,’ and there’s that relief and the letdown of the stress and the panic and the fear, that’s why we do it,” Graves said.

On Oct. 17, a gala is being held with proceeds of tickets sales and raffle items going to support the work being done in central Ohio at the Center For Family Safety and Healing. 

Tickets are on sale now for the event, which takes place at Lower.com Field. For more information, click here.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A group of Westerville residents has been pushing for safety improvements on one of its roads.

The Annehurst Village Residents Association and other resident volunteers conducted a traffic study in the area of Annehurst Elementary to see how dangerous the area is.

“It's getting worse, and the children are precious to us, as they should be, and we need to do everything we can to make sure that they survive and are not traumatized,” Annehurst Village Residents Association member Linda Stutz said.

The study looked at several areas, including the intersection of West Main Street and Granby Place. At the corner sits a memorial for Kathy Watson, who was killed in 1997 after being hit by a car at the crosswalk. Twenty-eight years later and residents report that it’s a persisting problem.

“Something needs to be done to better protect kids,” Westerville resident Michael Batchelder said. “We've done enough, like lip service to it over the years. Everybody talks about it. We need to get something done.”

He came to the neighborhood group as a concerned parent with the idea of doing this study.

For several days in August and September, volunteers tracked traffic activity at the intersection. On average, they found that 83 walkers and 39 cyclists crossed the intersection during school dismissal and drop-off times. In the same timeframe, an average of 340 vehicles cross through, with many failing to make complete stops.

“I saw 27 cars or trucks or, in one case, a school bus even, running the red light,” Stutz said.

They also found that many drivers don’t adhere to the speed limit.

“We probably need more enforcement during school hours as one thing,” Annehurst Village Residents Association Tim Goggin said.

Residents are pushing for solutions like additional school zone signage and raised crosswalks.

“There's tons of kids crossing by themselves, there's no stop signs for cars,” Batchelder said.

A spokesperson for the City of Westerville said there are plans to deploy technology to gather information and encourage safer behavior, including updated school zone flashing lights, in 2026. They will provide speed feedback to drivers as they approach the school zone. Westerville City Councilmember Aaron Glasgow also said these concerns will remain a topic of discussion at meetings.

“I grew up in this neighborhood,” Glasgow said. “I have a soft spot for the neighborhood and it's concerning to see and I think we're it's great to see that we're going to address this.”

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio University professor was taken into custody by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday after the flotilla he was a part of was intercepted en route to Gaza.

According to pro-Palestine group the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Thomas Hayes, a Columbus resident and film professor at Ohio University, was sailing on The Conscious toward Gaza when Israeli forces intercepted the boat early Wednesday. Hayes, 69, was listed among the passengers and featured in a video of eight American passengers released after the boat's interception.

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According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which tracks and organizes humanitarian ship efforts headed for Gaza, The Conscious was boarded by the IDF. It was the largest vessel of a nine-boat flotilla trying to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza. In all, 145 people were taken into custody, including Hayes, journalists and at least one member of European Parliament.

Thomas Hayes (front left, holding up peace sign) and other Conscience passengers (Courtesy photo/Freedom Flotilla Coalition)

The Coalition said all volunteers, including Hayes, were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod "against their will." The Israeli Foreign Ministry said all of the detainees were in good health and would be processed in Israel, then deported.

A photo posted by the Global Sumud Flotilla group shows Hayes photographed showing his American passport, seemingly after entering Israeli custody.

According to the U.N., the Conscience was boarded in international waters, which a U.N. representative said was done contrary to international law. A tracker on the boat shows it is now docked in Ashdod.

Hayes is the faculty adviser for Students for Justice in Palestine at Ohio University and is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace. He has been involved with the "Palestine solidarity movement" since the 1980s. Hayes has filmed three documentaries on the conflict between Palestine and Israel, the most recent of which was released in 2015 and detailed Israeli perspectives.

On Wednesday, Students for Justice in Palestine at OU urged students to call representatives to help Hayes and express concerns. It was not immediately clear if Hayes had been deported or remains in custody.

"The university is aware of the rumors that have been recently circulating, and we are looking further into the matter," a university spokesperson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the United Football League's newest teams, the Columbus Aviators, will take the field at Historic Crew Stadium next year. 

This is not the first time the city has added a pro-football team, which has some asking what will be different this time.

“I think everybody's anxious to see how the kickoff goes,” former Ohio Dominican University head football coach and Ohio State assistant coach Bill Conley said.  “Columbus, Ohio, is going to be a natural for the UFL.”

Conley not only coached college football, but he was also the head coach of the Ohio Force, the Canton-based Major League Football team.

“We tried to get a league off the ground, didn't quite, you know, pan out, but to me, it was fun. There's a lot of good players out there, good coaches out there,” he said.

Columbus has also dabbled with other pro football leagues. 

From 2004 to 2008, the city had the Columbus Destroyers as a part of the Arena Football League. They tried to make a comeback in 2019, but did not succeed.

Conley believes this time could be a different experience.

“Well, I think this league, first of all, the UFL, is they've proven they can be successful,” he said. “They get good coverage on television and things like that and I think, obviously, the big thing, there's plenty of money behind it.”

He also said there is an appetite for sports in this city.

“You need TV coverage, and you need crowds, and Columbus, Ohio, Franklin County and really, it's the whole state, is a great football state, and I think they'll put people in the stands if they promote it right and everything and you know, you never get tired of football from Ohio," Conley said.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission said the UFL will breathe life into this football town in the off-season.

“I think having spring football gives you, you're not competing with any other football league, whether that's on television or attendance, and I'm going to bet that there's going to be a lot of Ohio State connections on the coaching staff and on the field for the Aviators,” Jesse Ghiorzi with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission said.

Ghiorzi said the Columbus Fury, the pro women's volleyball team in Columbus, is getting ready for its third season and has been successful thus far.

Sports leaders also believe the Aviators will be a pathway for Buckeyes

“The thing about the spring leagues and the UFL is a combination of guys who weren't quite good enough to get drafted but still have potential, and the guys that have tried didn't quite make it, maybe some veterans even at the end up getting cut,” Conley said. “There's their chance to get back in the league.”

Conley said the sceptics should give the team a shot. He said he has no doubt they will put on a great show for the fans.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As some airports across the country deal with delays as the government shutdown continues, experts are sharing advice with those flying during this time.

“Knowledge is power, so you just need to stay on top of what's going on," said Lori Weaver Hawkins, a manager of Public and Government Affairs with AAA.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers are working without pay because of the government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there's been an increase in air traffic controller sick calls at some airports. There have been delays because of staffing shortages at airports Boston, Chicago, Newark, Nashville, and some other bigger airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“I feel bad for people that it is affecting," said Sherri Green, a traveler at John Glenn International on Wednesday. 

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NBC4 reached out to the FAA and TSA to see if John Glenn International Airport has been affected by the situation. An email from the FAA said that due to a lapse in funding, it is not responding to routine media inquiries. A TSA spokesperson sent the following statement:

“Approximately 61,000 of the agency’s 64,000 employees are considered excepted or exempt, and TSA will continue operations to keep the traveling public safe. While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5M passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. We kindly ask for our passengers’ patience during this time. Despite this challenge, we will remain vigilant and focused on performing our vital security mission on behalf of the American people.”

Weaver Hawkins said while travelers might not see as many issues in Columbus, it does not mean travelers won't run into them somewhere else.

“You may be fine flying out of Columbus, your local airport, but you may be catching a connecting flight in some of these larger hubs that may be experiencing a lot more issues with trying to get the flights out on time," she said.

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.

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"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.