Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium lost a longtime friend Friday: Allen, a magpie goose.

Allen, 23, was a "silly, special goose" who had called the Columbus Zoo home since 2011. His keepers said he was a lively spirit who was honored in life as much as he is in death -- his annual birthday bashes were attended by geese, staff and guests alike.

His last birthday party was in July 2024, Taylor Swift themed event honoring Allen's 22nd birthday. As Allen's arthritis infringed on his quality of life, the Zoo did not hold a birthday bash this year.

"Allen’s vibrant spirit and silly antics will be deeply missed," the Columbus Zoo said. "His legacy lives on in the memories of our team and the guests who loved him."

Allen hatched at the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2002, and quickly moved to ZooTampa. When he arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2011, he originally lived in the Asia Quest region. In 2014, Allen moved to the Australia and the Island region.

Why Ohio is considering legalizing the sale of raw milk

Allen was a goose with personality. His care team said he had strong opinions about people, especially his keepers. He was known for honking at guests, especially when they spoke to him, and his selective relationship with keepers. Allen chose some keepers as his favorites and chased after keepers who were not in his favor.

Allen loved being misted with a hose and making nests from leaves given to him by his favorite keepers. His care team said he also enjoyed standing on heads and in laps.

Since 2021, his animal care team helped him manage arthritis in both legs. With time, his daily pain medication no longer kept the discomfort at bay. The Zoo said he often struggled to stand up, and keepers made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Allen out of respect for his quality of life.

As a vibrant magpie goose, Allen was among the most intelligent birds in the aviary. The Zoo said Allen will be greatly missed.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two Ohio lawmakers are attempting to make it easier for residents to obtain raw milk.

House Bill 406, introduced on Aug. 5 by Reps. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) and Levi Dean (R-Xenia), would allow farmers to sell raw milk directly to customers. The legislation does not allow for retail sales or deliveries.

“I'm not even necessarily a raw milk advocate, but I am a liberty advocate,” Deeter said. 

Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization, a process of heating food products to kill pathogens. Selling raw milk is illegal in Ohio unless a consumer has a herd share agreement, where they buy a “share” of a cow or herd and pay fees for their boarding and management. Farmers can also sell raw milk labeled for pet use. 

Deeter argued that residents are already consuming raw milk through “unregulated” herd share agreements and products intended for pets. Legalizing raw milk would help the state ensure the product is safer, she said.

“We know that there's a large market for this milk and it is being consumed by humans, not necessarily pets,” Deeter said. “So, the goal with this bill is to legalize and regulate a narrow path for what is currently being done, but in a way that is healthier for the public.”

The bill would require raw milk sellers to obtain a license through the state’s Director of Agriculture, which is already required of dairy farmers in the state and includes an inspection of their facilities.

Under the legislation, raw milk sellers would also need to have customers sign a waiver acknowledging the dangers of consuming the product. Health experts say these dangers include contracting foodborne illnesses from bacteria such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli. 

“Ingesting raw milk and those types of bacteria, it may not impact someone who is healthy,” said Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), an OB-GYN. “At minimum, they may end up with diarrhea or nausea or vomiting. For somebody who's immunocompromised, somebody who's pregnant, it can be devastating.”

Consuming raw milk can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as tuberculosis, especially for people with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Between 1998 and 2018, raw milk was linked to more than 2,500 hospitalizations and three deaths across the United States, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

The legislation would require sellers to test for harmful bacteria that can be found in raw milk once a month, and bar the sale of batches that test positive. However, Somani is skeptical the testing would have any real impact, as the milk could quickly grow bacteria after it’s been tested.

“If it's on the shelf for more than a few days, it may end up growing bacteria,” she said. “You can only test and say that this raw milk is safe for maybe 24 to 48 hours.”

Somani said the bill would take Ohio “backwards” when it comes to public health, as raw milk is generally unsafe for consumption and legalizing it may lead to more people believing it is safe and drinking it. 

“Any food item that’s sold from any farm, including vegetables, etc., there’s no guarantee that we can prevent listeria or E. coli,” Deeter said. “We currently have outbreaks for those things, but I think we can improve the current process.” 

Some raw milk advocates argue the product can cure lactose intolerance, treat allergies and support gut health. However, Harvard University and the FDA have stated research has disproven these claims. Consumers of the product also say they like that it is unprocessed and more “natural” than pasteurized milk.

The legislation comes at a time when raw milk is increasing in popularity. Weekly raw milk sales in 2024 increased by 21% compared to the previous year, according to the University of Delaware. The college said the growing interest in raw milk is largely being fueled by “eat local” and unprocessed food movements. 

“I'm an advocate of pasteurized milk,” Deeter said. “It's one of the biggest scientific discoveries in history, and I will continue to drink pasteurized milk, personally.”

HB 406 awaits a committee assignment and its first hearing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new 379-unit student housing complex is welcoming Ohio State students.

Rambler Columbus, a 407,465-square-foot project at 222 W. Lane Ave., opened for student living on July 31. The complex can house up to 889 students across a variety of living options, ranging from six-bedroom, six-bathroom apartments to two-level townhomes.

Texas-based developers LV Collective and Virtus Real Estate Capital collaborated on the project and highlighted features that are not always included in student housing. Rambler has study spots, fitness options and even a pet spa.

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All units are fully furnished with full-XL beds, study areas, smart TVs and amenities. Rooms range from $829 to $1,979 per month, per person.

• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels

Rambler's fitness center is connected to a terrace and the development offers a rooftop yoga studio, sauna and cold plunge pool alongside traditional equipment. Geared toward students, it also includes a study mezzanine with private study rooms, conference rooms and a podcast studio.

Outside, Rambler residents have access to two heated pools turned hot tubs and four courtyards. The pool deck includes fire pits, grilling area, lounge chairs and a jumbotron where residents can watch Ohio State football games.

On the first floor, Rambler has the Daydreamer coffee shop and sports bar, called Victory Lap. Although Victory Lap brings a strong Ohio State theme, it also offers streaming parties for "The Summer I Turned Pretty" episodes, back-to-school markets, fantasy football deals and other events geared toward students.

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Residents who moved in July 31, Aug. 1 or Aug. 15 were assisted by professional movers and offered free coffee, although standard move-in did not include those add-ons.

"We are thrilled to join the Columbus community and bring our curated, experience-based student housing to The Ohio State University students,” LV Collective Student Housing President, Jonathan Reyes, said. “From a prime location to thoughtfully designed spaces and unmatched amenities, Rambler Columbus is redefining student living in the market.” 

This is LV Collective's first project in Ohio, and the first completed project in the Midwest.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus high-rise that once buzzed with Nationwide office workers could soon become the city's newest housing development.

Nationwide Realty Investors, the real estate development affiliate of Nationwide Insurance, may soon transform part of the company's former Downtown headquarters into housing. A preliminary site plan has been submitted to the city for 280 N. High St., an 18-story office building constructed in 192 and once known as Two Nationwide Plaza.

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The site plan, which outlines minor landscaping updates along High and Chestnut streets but doesn't detail how many apartments could be yielded from the building's conversion, is set to go before the Downtown Commission on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Nationwide began reviewing its real estate holdings to identify which might be viable for housing, amid Columbus' housing shortage. In a move aligning with that goal, the property deed for 280 N. High St. was transferred to Realty Investors in March. The building also once housed Morton's Steakhouse, which closed in 2009 after nearly three decades.

Nationwide consolidated its Columbus workforce in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the company operates out of three main buildings, including the 40-story One Nationwide Plaza and the 26-story Three Nationwide Plaza, which both sit across the street from the former Two Nationwide Plaza. The company also owns an office at 1000 Yard St. in Grandview Yard.

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If Realty Investors advances the project, the building would follow in the footsteps of other former Downtown office buildings that have been converted into apartments, like the Preston Centre, the former PNC Tower that was redeveloped for mixed-use. The Preston Centre is one of several part of the Capital Square Renaissance project replacing underutilized buildings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman has been indicted in connection to a 2024 fatal hit-and-run. 

Dondra Hill was arraigned in court on Monday after being indicted by a grand jury for the July 18, 2024 fatal crash that happened at the intersection of Cleveland and Chittenden Avenues.

In June of this year, Claire Del Vita came to NBC4 seeking answers in her father's death. Her dad, Giancarlo Del Vita, was killed in that crash while riding his motorcycle.

NBC4 obtained surveillance video of the crash. In the video, a red vehicle driven by Hill can be seen continuing to turn after colliding with Giancarlo. She was traveling south before making a left-hand turn at the intersection. Giancarlo was proceeding north. 

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About a minute after the crash, Hill appears in the frame of the video walking toward the scene. She sees bystanders helping Giancarlo, and then can be seen leaving less than a minute later. 

Columbus police laid out Hill's actions in the crash report saying she failed to yield, briefly got out of the car, then got back in and left. Police also reported that Hill did not have a valid driver's license or insurance at the time of the crash. 

Now, more than a year later, Hill faces a charge of failure to stop after an accident, a third-degree felony. If convicted, she could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence of up to 5 years.   

Hill entered a not guilty plea. She was released on a $5,000 recognized bond and was ordered to go no contact with the victim's family and lost her driving privileges.

Claire Del Vita told NBC4 she is relieved that Hill has been indicted, but knows the process is far from over. 

• Claire and Giancarlo Del Vita (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)
• Giancarlo Del Vita (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)
• Giancarlo Del Vita with his motorcycle (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)

"It's really hard to start healing when you're still dealing with all of this stuff," Claire said. "So, I'm hopeful that this will get resolved. And even if it's not the outcome that I hope it is, just knowing that people are aware. That people are aware of motorcycles and that they're on the road. And that I'm doing something that hopefully makes people more aware of. That is all I could ask for at the end of the day." 

As the case moves forward, Claire said she plans to attend as many court dates as she can and continue to be an advocate for her dad and other motorcyclist on the roads.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent report has revealed the most difficult town name to pronounce in Ohio and each state across the country. 

Preply, an online language learning platform, released a report earlier this summer that included a list of what it considers to be the hardest-to-pronounce town names in each state. 

In Ohio, the town name that is the most difficult to say is Gnadenhutten, which is pronounced “ji-NAY-dun-huh-tehn,” according to the analysis. Gnadenhutten is located in Tuscarawas County, with a population of 1,158 as of 2023.

Town names from states surrounding Ohio that made the list include Loogootee in Indiana, Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan, Iaeger in West Virginia, Shickshinny in Pennsylvania and Tyewhoppety in Kentucky.  

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While not included in the report, Ohio boasts a variety of other unique names for towns, cities and unincorporated communities, including Knockemstiff in Ross County, Celeryville in Huron County, Reminderville in Summit County and Pee Pee Township in Pike County. 

Preply also found out what state names residents struggle with pronouncing the most. The website pulled Google Trends data from the past year for terms such as “[state name] pronunciation” in each U.S. state.

Americans overall found Arkansas the hardest to pronounce. However, Ohioans struggled the most with saying Massachusetts.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican Sen. Jon Husted holds a six-point advantage over former Sen. Sherrod Brown, marking a competitive start to Ohio's closely watched 2026 race.

An Emerson College Polling survey of Ohio voters released Friday morning found Husted leads with 50% over Brown's 44%, with 7% still undecided. The poll, with a margin of error of +/- three percentage points, surveyed 1,000 active Ohio registered voters on Aug. 18 and 19.

Brown, a Democrat who launched his campaign Monday and raised $3.6 million, is viewed favorably by 44%, while 42% hold an unfavorable opinion. Husted, who began his bid in April and is sitting on $2.6 million, is viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 28%. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ohio's 2026 U.S. Senate race in the video player above.

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"Husted has a 16-point lead among male voters and voters without a college degree, and a 14-point lead among voters over 40," said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. "Brown has a 13-point lead among voters under 40, a three-point lead among women voters, and an eight-point lead among independent voters."

The poll also gauged early sentiment in Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race. In a hypothetical general election, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy holds a 10-point lead over Democrat Amy Acton, 49% to 39%, with 12% undecided. Against Democrat Tim Ryan, Ramaswamy leads 49% to 41%, with 10% undecided.

"Driving Ramaswamy's support is his strength with younger voters, for comparison, he outperforms Husted among those under 30 by five points, 39% to 34%," said Kimball.

In a preview of the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, Vice President JD Vance heavily leads the field with 55%, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 7%, Ramaswamy at 6% and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 4%.

For the Democratic nomination, California Gov. Gavin Newsom leads with 20%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 15%, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8%, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders each at 7%.

On presidential approval, 49% of Ohio voters support President Donald Trump's performance, while 42% disapprove. Regarding Gov. Mike DeWine, 40% disapprove of his job performance, 32% approve and 28% remain neutral.

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The survey also explored views on immigration enforcement. About 57% of Ohio voters think mass deportations of undocumented or illegal immigrants would be good for the state, while 43% view them as bad. Among party lines, 77% of Democrats oppose deportations, while 87% of Republicans support them. Independents are nearly split, with 52% in favor and 48% opposed.

On the issue of Ohio sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., 44% approve, 42% disapprove, and 14% are unsure. When asked about the most important issues facing the state, 44% of Ohio voters named the economy, followed by threats to democracy at 15%, housing affordability at 10%, and healthcare at 8%.

Regarding Ohio's congressional redistricting, 41% of voters believe district lines are drawn to benefit Republicans, while 23% believe the process is fair. Eight percent think the maps favor Democrats, and 29% are unsure.

"Among voters whose top issue is threats to democracy, 82% think congressional district lines are being drawn to benefit the Republican Party," Kimball noted.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The man accused of shooting two Mifflin Township police officers is in jail after months in the hospital.

Franklin County court records show Daveonte Dixon is in jail on 11 felony charges, including attempted murder. Dixon, 21, led police on a two-day manhunt in May after fleeing a traffic stop and allegedly shooting two Mifflin Township police officers. Once caught, Dixon was hospitalized for months with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was booked in a Franklin County jail on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Dixon pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges: two counts of attempted murder, one count of tampering with evidence, six counts of felonious assault and two counts of weapon under disability. Dixon had been on probation and barred from using firearms when the incident occurred three months ago.

Dixon was a passenger in the car when Mifflin Township officers stopped a vehicle on May 28. Although the driver cooperated with police, Dixon fled from the vehicle. Body camera footage shows when officers chased after him, Dixon turned and fired, hitting both officers involved in the traffic stop -- two of Mifflin Township's five police officers.

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Dixon then fled, starting a two-day man hunt. He was eventually tracked to an apartment in Obetz, where officers heard gunfire from inside the unit while trying to execute a search warrant. Dixon was hospitalized in critical condition with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and has been recovering since.

Both Mifflin Officers were hospitalized after the shooting, neither of whom have been named. Officers said one was released on June 23, nearly a month after he was hospitalized in critical condition with injuries to his face and upper body. The other officer was released the day after the shooting with serious injuries to his right arm.

Five women and three men, ages 21-25, have been indicted on allegations they helped Dixon evade capture. All eight are charged with obstructing justice and accused of hindering search efforts with the knowledge he had a felony arrest warrant.

Jail records list 13 charges, including two counts of murder, but court records consistently report the 11 charges, and list attempted murder rather than murder. Dixon has not yet been issued a bond's bond was not yet set as of Friday morning.

If Dixon is convicted on all charges, he would spend at least 40 years in jail.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There are fewer public school students heading back to school this year as enrollment continues to decline in Ohio.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, public school enrollment declined 8.7% from 2000 to 2023. Matthew Joseph, senior adviser for education policy at ExcelinEd, warned Ohio could see a further 10% decline over the next 10 years. He encouraged state legislators to start planning.

"Without state action, the decline in student enrollment in public schools in Ohio will mean a decline in funding going to those schools, because funding is largely by student per student," Joseph said. "Without state planning, that drop in funding could raise the risk of lots of schools closing.”

Joseph said he believes declining enrollment stems from lower birth rates. Since 2006, the earliest available state data, Ohio's birth rate has dropped 15.7%. He said Ohio should be looking at policy changes to help protect schools from closing as enrollment declines.

To protect public schools, Joseph said the state could fund “ghost students,” a policy change that funds schools based on previous enrollment numbers. He said funding "ghosts" is costly for the state, but offers protection for schools as enrollment fluctuates.

He also suggested sharing resources like facilities or cashflow among schools with declining enrollment, including nonpublic schools. Joseph said legislators could step in to ensure districts are distributing assets among other districts.

“Some traditional public school districts are reluctant to share the space," Joseph said. "They either want to hope for the future that they might get another 500 students, or they don't want to give the resources to a (school) that they perceive to be a competitor."

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Some public school advocates feel like the state is already ensuring public schools share with nonpublic ones in state education funding. Public school advocates -- and a Franklin County judge -- say Ohio's scholarship program unfairly fund a second system of schools with fewer regulations using state dollars, leaving less money for public schools.

Ohio's scholarship program guarantees any student, regardless of income, at least a partial state-funded scholarship to attend private or charter school. William Phillis, executive director for the Coalition for Adequacy and Equity of School Funding, won a lawsuit challenging Ohio's voucher programs, which the state is appealing. See previous coverage in the video player above.

"All these giveaways to the private sector have nothing to do with improved educational opportunities, have nothing to do with improving the public good, improving how well students get along together," Phillis said. "It all has to do with public money being paid to private schools, rather than public money being paid for the education of kids in public schools.”

Joseph is a proponent of school choice and voucher programs but said it's more likely expanded vouchers will affect public school enrollment in the future. He said most of Ohio's voucher participants were already in private schools, so they have only marginally contributed to decreasing enrollment rates.

Voucher enrollment nearly doubled after Ohio removed income requirements for participation in 2022, but nonpublic enrollment did not follow suit. Phillis and other anti-voucher advocates often point to this trend as proof universal vouchers are largely benefiting families who can already afford private schools. Voucher program supporters say state money should benefit all students, including those at schools that do not qualify for other public funding.

"What Ohio as a state should be doing is not trying to stop parents from choosing, but to make it so that the resources can ebb and flow without harming the people who are left,” Joseph said.

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Although Ohio's public schools overall are enrolling fewer students, several central Ohio school districts are expanding. The Department of Development predicts Ohio as a whole will lose 675,000 residents by 2050, but central Ohio will increase its population by 726,000 people by the same year. Joseph's recommendation that Ohio schools share facilities is less applicable in central Ohio, where districts are reporting overcrowding.

Joseph examines education policies across the nation, and encouraged Ohio legislators to adapt soon.

“I think that resisting the change, whether it's because of declining enrollment or because of choice, is kind of like resisting gravity," Joseph said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- AAA is hosting educational sessions around central Ohio geared specifically toward women.

The first Girls’ Night at the Garage happened Thursday night, and it was with Ohio State’s cheerleaders and dance team.

Some women have limited knowledge when it comes to car maintenance, which can make navigating car troubles confusing. OSU cheerleader Ryleigh Stelletell can relate.

“I’d call my parents first thing and then just do whatever they told me to do,” said Stelletell.

However, AAA showed that car maintenance is easy and that everyone can do it. Rose Thacker, an assistant manager at AAA, said she knew nothing about cars when she first started.

“I do think automotive is still like a man's field. So I do think a lot of women might be a little bit hesitant to kind of start getting into things and learn it,” said Thacker.

But now she was picked to help teach other young women at Girls’ Night.

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OSU cheerleaders and dance team members were taught how to check their oil, air, and cabin filter, tire pressure, and other basics.

“Men and women are both driving cars, and I think it's important for us to equally be knowledgeable about the vehicle that we are driving and how we can repair any damages and help with maintenance,” said dance team member Lauren Wainz.

“I actually got shown how to check my oil to see if I need to go in right away to get it changed,” said Stelletell. “So I think I'll definitely remember that since I got to see it firsthand.”

Thacker said some women who come into AAA to get their oil changed or car checked are nervous. That’s why she said learning the basics can go a long way.

“I do think it's pretty empowering to, like, teach girls that that way they kind of have some more knowledge next time they go get some car work done,” said Thacker.

AAA’s next Girls’ Night at the Garage is happening Thursday, October 18, at the Gahanna AAA location. Registration for that event will open soon for those who want to attend.

Click here in the coming weeks for registration.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Law enforcement officers, police chiefs, and retired officers from across Central Ohio came together Wednesday for a good cause.

The Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9 held a blood drive in honor of wounded officers. 

“We had a couple of officers shot in the last couple of years. I did not realize the impact of the blood shortage supply in our community until that happened. So we thought this is a great way for officers to give back by donating some blood,” said Brian Steel, President of the FOP lodge 9.

FOP leaders say this is the first of what they hope will be many events in partnership with the American Red Cross. 

They say that with so many of their brothers and sisters in Ohio being injured in the line of duty this summer makes this event is that much more meaningful. 

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“It's the people that serve police officers, firefighters, you know, we run into things, and we have a lot of people running in today to give blood. So giving back some of that of what we do,” Chief Michel Jones with the Clinton Township Police Department.

The officers said they enjoy getting out into the community and giving back. They say it's at the root of why they do what they do.

“I think that's what people don't understand, is that, you know, we took this job to assist the community to be part of the community. And honestly, we're everyday humans, just like the community. Yeah, we put on a badge and have a gun and stuff and make arrests. But you know, it's all about trying to make the community safer and better,” said retired Columbus Police officer David Jones.

The blood collected at Wednesday's event will go toward helping people in need in our community.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local organization is feeling the pressure to support those facing food insecurity. The group uses publicly located cabinets called “blessing boxes” to collect and distribute food donations. 

For the past two months, the Columbus Blessing Boxes Project has seen an increase in need, and they are continuing to fulfill that demand even if the weight of it falls on them.   

“The prices of everything are increasing, food is for sure increasing, which makes it really hard for people that are already having struggles with food insecurity,” said Founder, Gretchen Davis. “When it gets even more expensive, then the struggle just gets even more intense.” 

The group has more than one hundred boxes throughout Central Ohio. Within the past month, they have added two new boxes, citing an increase in use. Davis shared that this time of year can be a struggle for families as kids head back to school. 

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“Back-to-school time is very hard for families; it's an expensive time of year,” Davis said. “Back to school requires new clothes, new shoes, new backpacks, school supplies, and then for somebody who's already food insecure, that extra expense really, really adds to it. 

She also explained that it can limit the amount of anonymous donations they receive, forcing them to rely on churches, partner organizations, and volunteers to carry the load – making sure every box has nonperishable foods, water, first aid kits, hygiene essentials, and more on an intense timeline. 

“We go out every two weeks and they're basically empty when we go out, so we start fresh every two weeks,” Volunteer, Michael Whetstone said. “It is important that when the people come to the box and they open it up, that there's something there that they can use consistently.” 

Even as the group feels the strain on their resources and people, they want to continue their mission: “Leave what you can, take what you need.” 

“Once I started helping, I thought I didn't see the picture; I now see the picture,” Whetstone said. “The need is always there, and we're trying to fulfill that need for those people that walk up. You can't feed everybody, but you can feed that next person that goes and opens that door.” 

To find boxes near you, click here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Humane Society held a free vaccine clinic at historic Crew Stadium with the goal of vaccinating twelve hundred pets.

Each summer, the Columbus Humane Society holds free vaccine clinics for dogs and cats. On Thursday, pet owners could get in line at the Historic Crew Stadium to receive multiple free vaccinations. The humane society was offering DAPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats, and rabies shots for both.

Columbus Humane was founded in 1883. Its mission has been to fight animal cruelty and help animals in need. A release from the Humane Society states that they provide veterinary care and pet food assistance to help families in need in central Ohio.

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This year, the Humane Society's goal was to vaccinate twelve hundred pets. Seventeen hundred cats and dogs were vaccinated at today's event at the Historic Crew Stadium. Pet owners attending today's vaccination clinic were also connected with low-cost pet care resources.

"From a sheltering perspective, you know, it's often a reason that people come in and say, 'I might need to surrender my pet. I cannot afford vaccinations. I cannot afford veterinary care, and those are requirements for my housing complex.' So being able to provide free and low-cost healthcare helps keep pet families together," says Columbus Humane Society Chief Advancement Officer Brittany Williams.

The next free vaccination clinic will happen on September 5th at One Church in Gahanna.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus first responders staged a mass casualty simulation on Thursday, designed to prepare all divisions for possible tragedies.

There was chaos at the Columbus Fire Training Academy on Thursday. Thankfully, it was only a drill. Columbus police, fire, and OhioHealth medical teams staged two mass casualty simulations designed to help first responders prepare for the unthinkable. 

While it was a simulation, the above video may be disturbing for some viewers. 

According to first responders, the first 10 minutes of any event are the most important, so there's no time to waste. They said training like this ensures that if tragedy strikes, they're ready. 

"The first thing is just controlling the chaos," Columbus Division of Fire Medical Director Dr. Robert Lowe said. "You walk into a scene. There's a lot of chaos, and what we need to do is rapidly restore order to that." 

Victims were crying out and responders were rushing in, but it wasn't real. It was a high-stakes simulation designed after real-life situations in the U.S. to prepare first responders for mass casualty events. 

"We have those same types of special events or gatherings, and so we have to be prepared for that," Dr. Lowe said. "But we also have to not be too constrained by that, the ability to say, all right, we saw this happen in New Orleans, we saw this happen in Boston, but what's the next step that we should anticipate with that as well?"

These drills tested communication, teamwork, and ways to help track patients and connect families after a disaster. 

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"Having a chance to actually see and take care of these situations before it happens makes sure that our participants, the spectators, everyone is safer as a result of it," System Medical Director for OhioHealth Simulation Dr. Brad Gable said. "So not only do we understand our processes and our protocols, but also what do we need to do to work as a team with some of our pre-hospital providers."

First responder teams ran through two scenarios where quick decisions and clear communication could mean the difference between life and death. In the first situation, a car plowed through a crowd of people. Actors and mannequins played the victims, making the injuries feel real. 

"Practice like this is what lets you start to get comfortable with what needs to happen, what communications are reasonable, what you just may not know in the first minutes of a disaster like this," Dr. Lowe said.

The second scenario was an explosion in a public space, which also resulted in several injuries. According to Dr. Gable, it's one thing to talk through emergencies at a table. 

"It's quite another when you're out in the elements actually dealing with the smells, the sights, the sounds and actually having to triage patients appropriately, get them the care that they need and being able to do that in this environment where we're simulating that makes it so that you're prepared to handle it when it actually happens," Dr. Gable said. 

Of course, the hope is they'll never have to use this training in real life, but first responders said if they do, they'll already know how to work together in the middle of chaos. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has not yet named a starting punter for the season opener against No. 1 Texas.

That battle comes down to two players: Junior Joe McGuire and redshirt freshman Nick McLarty. Their pursuit of that job is just the start of what they share. 

"There's 120 of them and two of us, I think we've managed to sort of fit in those conversations faster than they do with us," said McGuire, describing his bond with McLarty and how they fit in around the Buckeyes. While they're a few years apart in age (McGuire is 24 and McLarty is 21), they're bonded by their shared journey to Columbus.

And that is a long... LONG journey. 

If you managed to get a direct flight from Melbourne, Australia to Columbus—which does not exist—it would take roughly 20 hours and 16 minutes take-off to touchdown. McGuire and McLarty actually grew up about a mile from each other in Melbourne but did not know each other growing up.

They said they briefly met while riding jet-skis years ago, but that was about it. And like many young athletes "Down Under", they came up through Aussie rules football. "If you live in Melbourne, Australia, you are kicking a ball from the moment you can stand up," said Eddie McGuire, Joe's father. 

That explains why so many Australian-born punters are now playing American football. Colleges across the country, like Ohio State, Georgia, Tennessee and Notre Dame, are recruiting Australian punters for their unique skill set and accuracy in placing the ball on the field.

Nearly 60 college punters this season were born in Australia, and many, like McLarty, are still learning American football. He said he watched his first American football game two years ago. 

"I don't understand the game I really need to do better. But it is fun to watch." said McLarty's mother Cynthia. 

After Nick ended his Aussie rules career, he joined up with former Chargers All-Pro punter Darren Bennett, who trains young punters from the country. McGuire was trained in the ProKick Australia camp that has produced dozens of elite college and NFL punters. But McGuire's childhood path was far different. 

"My dad was pretty heavily involved in one of the professional teams in Australia, Collingwood. So I've been around professional sport my whole life." Joe said. 

His dad, Eddie, is kind of a big deal in Australia. For more than two decades he served as the President of Collingwood Football Club, the top team at the moment in Australian Football League. Joe got an up-close look at sport from an early age.

"He was so determined. And I think the aspect of him was that he grew up in elite sports. He was in the rooms of the biggest team in Australia. So the highest level of sport in Australia was happening all around him," Eddie said. "And then for good measure I was, I was hosting everything else as well on television."

Eddie also works as a sportscaster and commentator on Channel 9 in Australia and has worked in media since his teenage days. For 14 years, Eddie also served as the host of the Australian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

But these days, it's Joe's success in America he loves to talk about most. Last year he won the starting punting job in Columbus, averaging 42 yards per punt and playing a key role in the National Championship run. The McGuire family gathered in Atlanta in January to see it in-person.

"He was basically the last Buckeye to actually hold the ball to win the championship," Eddie said. "My wife and I we're at the airport to fly back to Ohio and people came up and (said)... Oh, congratulations, that was great. Where are you from? I said, Oh, from Melbourne, Australia. He said, so is our punter Joe McGuire... He did really good yesterday!"

McLarty stands an imposing 6'7" and has a booming leg, while McGuire is better known for his accuracy and ability to trap opponents inside their own 10-yard line. Both could be of situational use to the Bucks this season. 

"You step into Ohio State and greatness is sort of drilled into you, like that is what's expected," Joe said. "We don't settle for anything less and that sort of becomes the expectation. You know, we don't come here to lose games. We're coming to win national championships."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Special Agent in charge of the DEA Columbus office is showing NBC4 a clear picture of the danger fentanyl poses to our community.

A joint operation with Columbus Police resulted in the seizure of several kilos of fentanyl and cocaine, more than a dozen guns, and two arrests. 

The day before this operation, the special agent talked with our Crime and Safety reporter Anna Hoffman to sound the alarm on what he called the fentanyl crisis. 

“It is alarming,” Brian Mulcahy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus office. “This seizure yesterday highlights just the danger that fentanyl poses to our communities.”

Mulcahy said they executed six search warrants at six separate apartments across Columbus.

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“We arrested two subjects and seized a total of four kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, both in powder and fentanyl pill format, as well as 15 firearms, many of which are fully automatic weapons,”  Mulcahy said

One of the men arrested and charged with trafficking drugs was 48-year-old Kemar Campbell; he had an apartment off Goodale Boulevard. Court records show he has an extensive criminal history. 

“We know that drug traffickers protect their operations and turf that they use weapons for. And they are often involved with violence, drug trafficking, and violence, you know, in our city and communities go hand in hand. So we are laser focused at the idea on targeting these not only fentanyl, but these violent traffickers who have significant criminal histories and have been a problem in our communities for a long time,” Mulcahy said 

He said much of the fentanyl and cocaine mixture is broken up into smaller bags ready for distribution.

Mulchay says they seized about 100 of these fentanyl pills, which he says were disguised as oxycodone. He said they will send them to a lab for testing.

“We know that two milligrams of fentanyl, literally the amount that you could fit on the tip of a pencil, could be enough fentanyl to trigger a deadly, fatal drug poisoning or overdose,” Mulcahy said. “And current stats show that every five and ten pills has that two milligram deadly dose.”

He said the majority of the guns seized were fully automatic. One has a Glock switch to make it automatic. Mulcahy said they collected several magazine drums, which allow you to load about 100 bullets into a handgun.

“So something like that isn't, you know, a weapon that someone's going to use for hunting or something of that nature. Right, like these are military grade weapons, you know, that you would see in battle in foreign countries,” he said.

Mulcahy said all of these guns will also be sent to a lab to see if they can be traced to any crimes in Columbus.

“We will be relentless. We will go out tomorrow and look for these things and continue on until we could try to lower those fatal drug poisoning and overdose rates even further,” Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy said they’ve taken almost 40 kilos of fentanyl off the streets so far this year.

He said Thursday is also fentanyl prevention and Awareness Day. He said the more we spread awareness, the more lives we can save.

CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- A promise of affordable housing is taking longer than expected in one Central Ohio community.

For many who moved to a Canal Winchester development, a 15-year tax break was a big selling point. Years later, they’re still fighting for it and paying full taxes.

NBC4 Investigates heard from dozens of neighbors, all asking: Where is my tax break?

“When we signed our contract, our lender said that we would get a tax abatement. It was, I mean, it was a selling piece like who doesn't want to have a tax abatement for 15 years?” Maronda Homes resident Latanya Hampton said. 

“November will be three years I've been here, I haven't received a penny,” Maronda Homes resident Ernest Allen said. 

“My intention was not to do a new build. However, with some of the incentives and some of the perks, I decided that that was the route to go,” Maronda Homes resident Shana Cone said. 

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Those are just three of the dozens of stories NBC4 Investigates has heard from people living in the Meadows at Shannon Lake by Maronda Homes.

“I feel like we were deceived,” Hampton said. 

When they bought from Maronda Homes, they were told they would receive a tax break, and signs still on the property advertise this. But now, NBC4 Investigates is hearing disappointment, with some even struggling to make ends meet due to a bill they didn’t expect to pay.  

“I just try to take it day by day and try to see what knowledge I can come up with, who I can talk to, just to, you know, try to better the situation,” Allen said. 

One way the City of Columbus is addressing the affordable housing crisis is through tax breaks called abatements. If developers designate a certain number of homes as affordable, in approved areas, then the property owners get a tax abatement.

Maronda Homes is building the development in phases, and everyone we spoke with falls into phases three through five. A signed affidavit dated October 2024 shows they are all eligible for this tax break.

“Things happen, but at least communicate about what's happening and what's going on. Three years, I think, is just unacceptable,” Cone said. 

“It's discouraging,” Hampton said. 

Documents NBC4 Investigates obtained show that Maronda Homes expressed confusion about the abatement process in the beginning, with city documents saying: “It is assumed that the developer’s knowledge may have been limited concerning their role and the program requirements.”

While the city allows either homeowners or developers to apply for the abatement, many at the Shannon Lakes development say they were told or strongly led to believe that Maronda Homes was handling the process for them.

The city had a more lenient tax abatement process from 2018 to 2022. Columbus designated certain areas of the city market ready, ready for revitalization, and ready for opportunity. 

Depending on which area developers build in, there are certain requirements in order for homeowners to qualify for a tax abatement. Developers need to designate a certain number of homes as affordable housing or pay a fee in lieu based on the number of properties that do not meet the requirements. 

In 2022, the city upped the cost of that fee by 300%, making it more expensive for developers to avoid the affordability aspect of the requirement. Some developments were grandfathered into the 2018 rules during this change, which led to some confusion in the application process. 

Shannon Lakes was one of the developments that was being built throughout this time.

“Everybody just seems to give me the runaround,” Allen said. 

Documents show Maronda Homes submitted some Shannon Lakes properties, but not all. There’s no explanation why.

“Honestly, it makes me feel like I shouldn't have chosen this area,” Maronda Homes resident Ashli Brihm said. 

“The first year, we were like, okay, maybe it's just going to take a little bit. Second year, we started reaching out. Third year, we were like, okay, where's the money? Fourth year, we started reaching out, and then they finally started responding. It's been almost five years now,” Hampton said. 

Maronda Homes agreed to an interview where I planned to ask them why some eligible homeowners had to apply themselves and what the delay in the process was. 

They canceled the interview, instead sending me an email reading: “Maronda has been working on this for well over a year to get everything submitted and processed, including early applications.” and “Maronda has been working with the City of Columbus on the Shannon Meadows CRA agreement since October 2022. This agreement has created such an incredible opportunity for both the homeowners and Maronda.”

Homeowners share that they are frustrated and want better communication.

“I would like to get my money like it's owed. Like, if we owe them, they would be coming for it,” Hampton said. 

Emails to some homeowners from the city stated that if property taxes have been paid that are part of the abatement, a credit or refund could be issued once the approvals have gone through.

If you are planning to buy a home in an area of Franklin County that qualifies for a tax abatement, there are some questions you should be asking the developer, including: Are you applying for the relief for me, or should I? And what does the timeline look like?

You can learn more about how the tax abatement works here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With many students already back in the classroom, and thousands more preparing to start the fall semester, the Ohio School Counselor Association is sounding the alarm about the shortage of school counselors nationwide.

“I think a lot of school districts have seen the number of people applying for jobs going down,” said Shawn Grime, the Executive Director of the Ohio School Counselor Association. “And then obviously, there’s just been a decrease in some positions in general, whether it’s through attrition or just budget cuts.”

Grime is in his 26th year as a school counselor at a rural high school in northwest Ohio. Counselors are leaving their positions now more than ever and Grime said districts are happy to get three applicants for open positions.

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“Across the board, there does seem to be more and more younger people who are leaving the position. There are some personal parts with that, whether it’s burn out or whether that’s the lower pay,” said Grime. “A lot of school counselors end up kind of being an island of one. They’re working in a building where they’re all by themselves, so that lack of support sometimes can be frustrating.”

The American School Counselor Association’s recommended ratio is 250 students to one counselor. Of the school districts in central Ohio who responded to NBC4 requests, all nine districts are above the ratio.

Columbus City Schools is just above the recommended ratio with 260 students to one counselor, compared to South-Western City Schools, which has a ratio of 677:1. Based on the data, several districts prioritize school counselors within high schools.

Central Ohio school districts students to counselor ratio School DistrictStudents to one counselorBexley282Columbus260Dublin365 ½Grandview Heights287Hilliard427Olentangy470Pickerington444South-Western677Westerville377

ASCA cites several studies that note smaller ratios support increases in standardized test performance, attendance, GPA, graduation rates and decreased disciplinary infractions.

According to Grime, school counselors typically target these areas: academic advising, career planning and post-secondary planning and personal-social development skills. He has noticed that because of the shortage, school districts are now splitting the job of a counselor. 

“We really try to deal with the whole student,” he said. “When you’re only talking with a kid about their career plans, and you don’t know anything else about them, it doesn’t always lead to the best kind of support.” 

Grime said as the nation deals with this shortage, parents should be more active in their child’s academic and professional development.

“Try to do the best you can to stay engaged. Create more meaningful opportunities, support them being involved in activities,” Grime said. “I definitely encourage parents to be more active in having conversations with their kids about what their career interests are. Connect them with professionals and get them out on job shadows.” 

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A former Whitehall car dealership owner pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to altering odometers.

According to federal prosecutors, Simon C. Nwaru Jr., 38, was the owner of S. Automotive in Whitehall and indicted by a grand jury in April, two years after the Ohio Attorney General's Office sued against the dealership.

Since October 2014, it was estimated that about 60% of vehicles he sold had their odometers tampered with or replaced. According to the plea agreement, between January 2021 and January 2023, at least 300 vehicles were sold with rolled back odometers, accounting for at least 31 million miles being removed from odometers.

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Nwaru also listed false sales prices on documents submitted to the state, court documents showed, leading to a loss in tax revenue.

Odometer fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison. A sentencing date will come later for Nwaru.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Evidence taken after a driver was accused of fatally hitting the Gaudreau brothers while intoxicated will remain in the record after a Thursday hearing.

Attorneys for Sean Higgins, who is accused in the deaths of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew nearly one year ago in southern New Jersey, argued that evidence from the search warrant of Higgins' vehicle should be suppressed, specifically from the infotainment system and air bag module.

Judge Michael Silvanio ruled that there was probable cause for the search warrant for the airbags and the infotainment system and denied the motion to suppress the evidence.

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This comes after Silvanio in April refused to dismiss any of the counts against Higgins. The defense rejected a plea deal in December before arguing in February that Higgins received an unfair offer that was “greatly out of the range of other plea offers made in Salem County over the past few years” from other vehicular homicide cases.

A second filing was then submitted to show the blood alcohol levels of Johnny (0.129) and Matthew (0.134), and in March, Higgins’ defense counsel moved for a dismissal

The next court date is set for September 18 for a Miranda hearing, which will include testimony from four state troopers.

Higgins, who was driving with a reported blood alcohol level of 0.087, struck the Gaudreau brothers last August as they were cycling after sunset on a road near Salem, New Jersey.

The brothers were in New Jersey for the wedding of their sister, Katie and were buried on Sept. 9 in Philadelphia, where Johnny’s wife, Meredith, revealed she was pregnant. She gave birth to their son Carter on April 1. Matthew’s wife also was pregnant when he was killed and has since given birth.

Higgins, who worked at a drug and alcohol treatment center, was indicted on Dec. 11 after a grand jury submitted charges of two counts of reckless vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The defense rejected a plea deal in December before arguing in February that Higgins received an unfair offer that was “greatly out of the range of other plea offers made in Salem County over the past few years” from other vehicular homicide cases. A second filing was then submitted to show the blood alcohol levels of Johnny (0.129) and Matthew (0.134), and in March, Higgins’ defense counsel moved for a dismissal