Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The yellow school bus is a landmark of back-to-school season, but the bright hue is more than tradition.

With 26 million students riding buses across the U.S. each day, school transportation is considered the country's largest public transit system. Most school buses -- and all in Ohio -- are painted a familiar bright yellow. The color helps improve safety and recognition to protect student passengers.

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Frank Cyr is known as the "Father of the Yellow School Bus," although he always believed his standardized color was more of an orange. Cyr was a professor at Columbia University who brought together school bus manufacturers and transportation officials across 48 states for a national safety conference. The conference established national school bus standards, including painting all buses yellow.

Officially known as "National School Bus Glossy Yellow," the bright yellow color was chosen from 50 swatches hung across a wall. According to Columbia University, where the conference took place, the bright yellow best displayed black text in semi-darkness, like early mornings when a bus might pick up students.

Cyr had decided to host the conference and create the first national school bus standards after researching school transportation. His research identified a district in Kansas that only drove students in horse-drawn wheat wagons. Another district had painted its buses red, white and blue to instill patriotism. He was concerned by the lack of consistency and how it could affect bus safety.

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Many of the 44 school bus standards agreed upon at Cyr's conference have changed over the decades, but the color has not. The bright yellow is credited with helping keep students safe; according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involve students on school buses thanks to safety standards like school bus yellow.

Nationally, there are no requirements for school buses to be yellow, although it is recommended. Ohio's school bus standards do require yellow buses, however. Ohio inspects all school buses twice a year, and vehicles can fail if they are not the appropriate hue.

Millions of years ago, humans evolved to quickly identify yellow, making them one of the only mammals to develop a third color-processing cone in the eye. According to the National Institute of Health, primates likely developed the ability to see more colors than many other mammals in order to more easily identify ripe, yellow fruit against green foliage.

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According to Iowa State University, the human eye is most sensitive to a yellow-green color. At night or in low lighting, eyes process colors differently, but still favor yellow and some green shades. This makes school bus yellow especially visible, even from the periphery, helping ensure drivers are cognizant of student transportation.

As students return to school, transportation safety organizations encourage drivers to remind themselves of bus safety laws and to always look out for the bright yellow bus.

GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – One person is dead, and another is fighting for their life after being ejected from a vehicle during a two-car crash in Licking County.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, deputies responded to a crash on State Route 661, north of Granville, where a 2007 Honda Civic was traveling northbound and a 2023 Jeep Wrangler was heading south.

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Deputies reported that the driver of the Honda veered off the right side of the road, then returned to the road and drove left of center. The driver of the Jeep swerved to avoid the Honda but clipped the rear of the Honda.

The Honda traveled off the west side of the road and flipped over, causing both the driver and passenger to be ejected from the vehicle.

The driver of the Honda, 46-year-old Williams Coss, of Newark, was pronounced dead at the scene while the passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital. She was later transferred to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.

Medics at the scene of the crash treated the driver of the Jeep for minor injuries.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In a move aimed at addressing Columbus' affordable housing crisis, the city's housing authority has purchased a historic Downtown apartment complex for $29.3 million.

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's acquisition includes a 114-unit mixed-income development at 366 E. Broad St. known as the "Vera on Broad" complex. The property consists of a historic three-story structure originally built around 1926 and an eight-story addition completed in 2023.

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"We see the Vera on Broad acquisition as an opportunity to expand mixed-income housing options in an area of Columbus that’s increasingly attractive to households of all income levels," said Scott Scharlach, CMHA's chief operating officer. "Our purchase also aligns with CMHA's strategy of acquiring multifamily housing that's located in neighborhoods with close proximity to transit options, easy access to healthcare and education services, and near job centers."

The acquisition comes amid concern over Columbus' housing affordability. A report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio found that the city needs more than 52,000 additional rental units to meet demand. Only 25 affordable units exist for every 100 low-income households, which is worse than in New York City or San Francisco, according to the report.

To help alleviate this gap, CMHA plans to allocate a portion of the Vera on Broad units to low- and moderate-income renters. About 30% of the apartments will be restricted to tenants earning up to 80% of the area median income, roughly $62,650 for an individual. The remaining units will be reserved for renters earning up to 100% of AMI, or about $87,200 for a two-person household. Some apartments will also be available to tenants using Housing Choice Vouchers.

Vera on Broad features a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom units. In addition to residential, the complex includes fully leased street-level office and retail space. Amenities include a hotel-style lobby with concierge service, rooftop terrace with cabanas, grilling stations, access to a nearby fitness center, and a three-story parking garage with 128 spaces.

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The buildings were previously owned by the Finance Fund, which developed the site with support from the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority. The historic structure was originally designed by the Columbus architecture firm Richards, McCarty & Bulford, which has many of its projects listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The development is situated in the Columbus Central Business District, a hub that includes Columbus State Community College, Franklin University, and the Columbus College of Art & Design. While CMHA will own the property, Finance Fund will continue managing day-to-day operations in partnership with Weiler Management.

PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) – A Licking County woman is out on bond after being accused of binding up a 1-year-old child with tape at a daycare center.

According to a criminal complaint via the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, a parent of a 1-year-old girl contacted the Licking County Sheriff’s Office that her daughter had been abused at the Over the Rainbow Children’s Center.

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The director of the facility, located on Lois Lane Southwest in Pataskala, notified the victim’s mother that 23-year-old Katelyn Strohacker had bound the child with tape for over an hour on July 21. An investigation revealed that Strohacker allegedly placed painter’s tape over the victim’s eyes and taped her hands and feet together, then left her face down under a blanket and unattended.

Strohacker, of Granville, reportedly admitted to doing so on more than one occasion during an interview with sheriff deputies. She was charged with child endangerment, assigned a $50,000 bond on Monday, and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 28.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Research suggests firefly populations are declining in Ohio and globally, prompting a state park naturalist to create a certified firefly habitat and teach residents how to do the same. 

Erin Shaw, a naturalist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said she has always been enchanted by fireflies. But in recent years, she said she has been seeing them less frequently – and she’s not alone. Anecdotal reports from around the world suggest firefly populations are declining, although comprehensive studies are scarce, according to Firefly Atlas, a North American conservation project.

Hunan Lion to reopen Tuesday after nearly two-year closure due to kitchen fire Erin Shaw with her certified firefly habitat sign. (Photo courtesy/Tiffany DeChant-Hunt)

“This past year has been pretty good for them as far as the weather and the moisture levels,” Shaw said. “So a lot of people have noticed them this past year, but overall, they are declining.”

The dwindling sightings inspired Shaw to obtain a firefly habitat certification for Caesar Creek State Park in southwestern Ohio through the global nonprofit Firefly Conservation and Research.

In order to get the certification, the organization requires individuals to maintain an ideal environment for fireflies, which it describes as a place that provides undisturbed cover for adults and larvae, encourages plant diversity, reduces artificial light and limits pesticide use.

While Shaw initially created a firefly habitat in the form of a small garden near the Nature Center, she said she realized a majority of the park serves as a sanctuary for the insects, as more than 70% of it complies with the nonprofit’s guidelines. 

• A time-lapse photo of fireflies at Caesar Creek State Park. (Photo courtesy/Erin Shaw)
• A time-lapse photo of fireflies at Caesar Creek State Park. (Photo courtesy/Erin Shaw)
• A time-lapse photo of fireflies at Caesar Creek State Park. (Photo courtesy/Erin Shaw)

The self-guided certification program, priced at $45, includes a downloadable guide with a checklist to turn an area into a firefly-friendly environment and a “certified firefly habitat” sign, which the nonprofit believes helps raise awareness about declining firefly populations. 

“I think a lot of parks could do this, you could get it for your backyard, you could get it for your church or your school or your business,” Shaw said. “It's applicable to many different places.”

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Anyone can create a certified firefly habitat by completing the program. Shaw said moist areas, such as those near creeks, ponds and other wetlands, would be ideal spots to create firefly habitats. She also noted lightning bugs enjoy trees, tall grass, rotten logs and leaf litter. 

“It's finding places where they should be and then just helping to protect that area for [the] future,” she said. 

Fireflies face a variety of threats, including light pollution, defined as the brightening of the night sky by street lights and other artificial sources. Such lights can disrupt courtship among fireflies, which rely on their lanterns to find mates. 

Habitat loss due to urban development and pesticide use is also impacting firefly populations. To help, Shaw said residents can turn off their porch lights before dusk throughout the summer, when fireflies are most active, and avoid using pesticides. 

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“Instead of spraying pesticide on our gardens, we could simply make a firefly habitat and invite the larvae to have a safe place to stay and then they will help take care of our pesky bugs,” Shaw said. 

As larvae, fireflies benefit the environment by controlling populations of invertebrates such as slugs and snails, which can damage and kill plants if left unchecked by natural predators. As adults, they feed on pollen and nectar, benefiting a variety of flowering plants. 

Fireflies are members of the beetle family, with scientists estimating there are about 2,000 firefly species worldwide, including nearly 200 in North America.

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hoping to bolster Intel's $28 billion project in central Ohio, President Donald Trump's administration is considering requesting Intel stock in exchange for releasing promised CHIPS Act funding.

Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both commented on a possible 10% acquisition of Intel stock, although neither secretary confirmed or denied that percentage. Lutnick and Bessent said the plan, spurred by Trump, would offer the U.S. government something tangible in exchange for CHIPS Act funding.

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Three years ago, Intel's plant in New Albany was the face of increased American semiconductor manufacturing. Under President Joe Biden, Congress passed the bipartisan CHIPS Act to fund domestic chip manufacturing. As an incentive, Intel was promised $7.8 billion in CHIPS Act funding in November 2024, but has not received payments since Trump took office.

Although the CHIPS Act had significant bipartisan support, Trump and other allies have criticized the effort. Lutnick called the act a "giveaway to rich companies" in the CNBC interview.

“We want Intel to be successful in America. We’d like an American transistor built in America, right? We’d like an American to be doing that," Lutnick told CNBC. "So Donald Trump says, 'Hey, look, let’s turn the money that Biden was going to just give away and turn that to equity for the American people.'”

Lutnick and Bessent said it's crucial to build semiconductor chips -- tiny computer chips that power technology like phones, AI and computers -- in the U.S. for national security, and they would like it if Intel could be the one to build them.

Intel is the only American company with significant standing in the semiconductor manufacturing game. More than 60% of all semiconductors and more than 90% of advanced semiconductor chips come from Taiwanese companies.

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However, it's unclear if the CHIPS Act agreement allows the federal government to demand equity in exchange for promised payments. The direct funding agreement between Intel and the Department of Commerce provides far more protection to the federal government than it offers the private company, but not absolute control. Portions of the agreement are redacted, but it does not appear to include provisions allowing the government to request equity.

The agreement says the CHIPS Act deal should in no way equate any "partnership, tenancy-in-common, joint tenancy, joint venture or co-ownership" between the government and Intel. It also protects Intel from having to disclose trade secrets that do not directly relate to the approved CHIPS projects, including Intel Ohio One. However, Bessent said the government would not be a voting shareholder or impose on Intel's operations.

At 10%, the move would make the U.S. government Intel’s largest shareholder. Blackrock Inc. currently holds the title with 8.92% ownership and 390.7 million shares.

Intel declined to comment and said the company had no further information to share. The White House did not respond to NBC4's inquiry, including questions about if other CHIPS Act recipients are being asked to give up shares.

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The possible U.S. investment came just one day after Japanese bank SoftBank announced it will acquire $2 billion in Intel stock. SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said the investment reflects SoftBank's belief that semiconductor manufacturing will expand in the U.S., with Intel as a crucial player.

After several years of rocky finances and limited profits, SoftBank and CHIPS Act funding would help Intel through fears that its manufacturing division may not be worth the cost. The federal share acquisition was supposedly proposed to help ensure Intel's investment in Licking County comes to fruition, especially after Intel announced in July that it would further slow -- but not stop -- construction.

Rep. Mike Carey, who voted in favor of the CHIPS Act, could not be reached for comment. Gov. Mike DeWine and Sen. John Husted, who brought Intel to Ohio, also declined to comment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As high-stakes redistricting battles erupt nationwide, an Ohio coalition is stepping back into the spotlight to fend off partisan gerrymandering.

The Equal Districts Coalition -- a statewide alliance of environmental, education, civil rights and several other advocacy groups -- announced last week it's relaunching to demand fair congressional maps in Ohio, just as lawmakers in Texas and California are also drawing fire for threatening to manipulate political boundaries ahead of the 2026 election.

While Texas Republicans are pushing for a mid-decade redraw to expand their congressional edge, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is signaling he will abandon the state's independent redistricting commission in retaliation.

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Ohio is unique in being the only state required to redraw its congressional map in 2025, a legal consequence of the 2022 map's adoption without bipartisan support under redistricting reform laws. Such maps last only four years; the new map will govern congressional elections through 2030 and likely shape the battleground for control of the U.S. House. 

"Ohio is the only state required to redraw its congressional map this year because the last one was gerrymandered so badly," Equal Districts spokesperson Bria Bennett said. "Without transparency and public pressure, politicians will use this process to lock in partisan power and set a national gerrymandering playbook. We're here to make sure voters, and not politicians, decide our future."

Procedural roadmap

Under Ohio's constitutional redistricting process, the legislature has until roughly Sept. 30 to pass a congressional map with a three‑fifths majority, including support from both parties. If that fails, the Ohio Redistricting Commission steps in with only a month to agree. If that also fails, the legislature makes a simple‑majority map, but it then lasts only four years.

The current commission is dominated by Republicans, holding five of seven seats, and the Ohio Supreme Court now leans heavily conservative, making legal challenges more uncertain than in past cycles.

After Issue 1's defeat

The Equal Districts' relaunch follows the defeat of 2024's Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment that aimed to create an independent redistricting commission in Ohio. The ballot measure, backed by several of the same groups now involved in the coalition, was pitched as a solution to end partisan gerrymandering.

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Issue 1 was rejected at the polls after a heated and expensive campaign in which opponents framed the measure as an unnecessary overhaul of the current system. The failure of Issue 1 left the existing redistricting structure intact, but Equal Districts is betting that a more organized, informed, and vocal public can still make a decisive difference in shaping what comes next.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday for the first time since the district’s treasurer shared that $50 million in budget cuts have to be made.

The board passed a resolution saying the district’s budget must be reduced by that amount starting with fiscal year 2027, which begins in July 1, 2026. Now, it’s up to Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman to come up with recommendations.

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Chapman said the district is in this position because of the rising cost to educate students and the decrease in public school funding from the state. She and other district leaders will now have to find areas where they believe cuts can be made.

“We’re looking at all areas of the organization to see how we can make continuous improvements,” Chapman said.

She said nothing is off the table at this point. The district will be looking a possible cuts to personnel, transportation, and programming.

“The number one goal in all of those conversations is how we can redirect resources back to the classroom to close these budget gaps, because we know that our students need more resources and more supports,” Chapman said.

She will need to present a list of recommended cuts to the board in November.

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Board president Michael Cole said this gives district leaders enough time to come up with solutions while keeping the timeline on track.

“We want to work diligently with the superintendent to ensure that we are fair and as equitable as possible on behalf of students, but that we're taking the time to do the deep dive necessary to know exactly what that list of cuts will be,” Cole said.

He added that there is a possibility that more schools in the district could be closed and consolidated.

 “The answer to the question effectively is yes, we want to ensure that we're taking consideration of everything possible,” Cole said.

Both district leaders said the goal with the cuts is to have the least amount of impact on students as possible.

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“We want to be sure that kids have everything they possibly can have in the classroom,” Cole said. “It's a tough decision. It's a lot of hard work that has to happen, a bigger, deep dive.”

With the passage of Tuesday’s ordinance, the district now has less than one year to make the $50 million in cuts.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Tuesday was the first day of official band practice for Ohio State’s marching band, the roster of which was made official Monday.

The first order of business for this year’s band is learning the incomparable Script Ohio. Members battled the sun and heat while marching at the practice field on campus on Tuesday morning.

Elayna Weber is a first-year member after not making the band last year.

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"I'm still in a dream,” Weber said. “I, like, just doing that script out there, it's just, like, there's no way I'm here. I need to, like, smack myself in the face and just, like, wake up, because it's not. It's not real."

Alex Ruble, a fourth-year band member and squad leader who plays baritone, is excited for the season.

“The game against Texas is a huge one and we’re all stoked about it,” he said. “We’re all excited for it. You know, horns down and everything.”

Band members and candidates have been working hard all summer to get the steps down before debuting the Script Ohio on Aug. 30 against Texas.

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A devastating diagnosis has turned into a mission of hope for one central Ohio man.

After receiving help to afford a life-changing device, Joe Ryan is now ensuring others have the same opportunity through a brand-new foundation. 

He launched the J. Ryan Foundation Strides of Hope on Friday. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has access to the assisted walking devices they need to improve their quality of life and regain a sense of hope when they need it most.

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Ryan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016 and couldn't afford the Bioness device he desperately needed. It helps people living with foot drop improve their walking.

"At the time, I didn't have $5,500 laying around," Ryan said. "My uncle ended up helping me purchase the device."

Ryan said it changed everything for him, leading him to stop tripping, get back to working out, and even return to golf.

"I gave up golf for just about six years just because my balance was so bad," Ryan said. 

That gift lit a fire in him to do the same for others. He's raised money to buy devices for kids who had nowhere else to turn. The inspiration behind all of it was an 8-year-old girl he met who was living with cerebral palsy named Brooklyn, who needed two devices. She's now 14 and Ryan saw her recently.

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"She plays basketball," Ryan said. "She does volleyball. The confidence she has as a young lady, it just makes your day. When a little girl looks at you and says you changed her life, what more could you ask for?"

Now Ryan's foundation is changing even more lives. Kristina Jorge is the first person to benefit from his brand-new charity. She received a phone call last week with the news, and on Tuesday, she was fitted for the device at the Ohio Health Eastside Health Center.

"I was actually floored," Jorge said. "I had actually, just a couple days before that, had said it's just not something I'm going to be able to do. Insurance is not being very cooperative. We're at a standstill."

Jorge is living with a brain tumor. She said her insurance repeatedly denied her the device. For both Jorge and Ryan, it's about independence, confidence and a renewed sense of hope.

"He is truly a godsend," Jorge said. "To think that I didn't even know him a week ago and that we're here at this point, and he already feels like a friend that I've had for a long time. Someone that has had similar struggles even though his condition is not the same as mine."

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Ryan said it’s about giving back and giving people hope when they feel like there is none.

"None of us are getting out of here alive," Ryan said. "Our time here is limited. Our job, in my opinion, is to make a positive impact on others."

The J. Ryan Foundation Strides of Hope has already raised about $22,000. Ryan said his goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of the year and eventually help people nationwide. Meantime, Jorge said she's most looking forward to being able to volunteer again, which she hasn't been able to do since her surgery.

For more information on the foundation and how to donate to the cause visit this link. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced over the weekend he would be sending 150 Ohio National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. at the request of President Donald Trump.

The move has drawn criticism from Democrats who claim the "crime emergency" in D.C. is just political posturing. Despite the criticism, others are questioning the legality of sending Ohio National Guard troops to act as law enforcement in another state.

"The governor has said these are not police officers," retired Army Colonel and former Pentagon Attorney Adam Miller said. "These are folks who work in other jobs. Really is a concern for me. This mission is really problematic because it doesn't meet the predicate for a national disaster that overwhelms civil authorities. It's written in a way that it adds capacity for the local officials. But in that case, DC should be asking for support from law enforcement, from the Marshals Service, from other law enforcement services like the Federal Transportation Police. And again, why are we pulling trained anti-terrorist FBI people off their desks to do traffic control?"

The National Guard can be deployed by a state governor under Title 32, which DeWine's office clarified is the case here.  Deploying troops on domestic soil often draws criticism and brings up the Posse Comitatus Act. 

"The Posse Comitatus Act, it is a law passed by Congress in 1878, and so it's been a long time," Capital Law Assistant Professor Anthony Marcum said. "And generally what it does, it prohibits federal armed forces from conducting law enforcement functions inside the United States. The Posse Comitatus Act has several big loopholes, I would say, one being that the governors. So in this instance, the Posse Comitatus Act doesn't apply to what's happening with Gov. DeWine's decision to send National Guard to D.C., for instance."

Marcum said the legality comes from the details, since Trump did not order the National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.

"The governors are sending National Guard to D.C. voluntarily," Marcum said. "They're not being ordered to do so. So it falls under a different type of federal law."

Despite the legality, Miller believes it's a bad move for DeWine to adhere to Trump's request.

"In the event of a national emergency, where there's a pandemic or where there is a long-standing civil disturbance that overwhelms the local authorities, those are instances, again, where the exception applies," Miller said. "And even under those exceptions, then the command has to go through the six factors. Is it the right unit and taking troops who aren't law enforcement officers and sending them to perform a law enforcement mission, puts them in harm's way and puts their lives at risk, and takes Ohio's defense away during storm season. It's ill-advised.

"We seem to have skipped the first step and gone right to the end, and that's political theater that we don't need," Miller added. "I'd like to see the governor work with the administration to modify the order and see if we can't pull it back before they leave."

Miller said sending in Ohio National Guard troops to provide security or law enforcement is "like sending a cook in to call plays for Ohio State football." He also worries that the National Guard troops being deployed will miss the critical education and training they already have scheduled.

"You're making it impossible for them to get promotions, to get their MOS, to get their civilian school done," he said. "So you're really impacting the soldier. We mobilize units as the exception, not the rule. We see pictures of the other states buying Starbucks on the National Mall and eating snow cones. I don't serve in the National Guard to eat snow cones on the National Mall."

Marcum said there is some ambiguity and gray area in the law that allows for a deployment like this.

"The mayor of D.C. is not supportive of this, is resistant to it, and I think before this, when Congress was discussing this, I think it's unlikely they envisioned this kind of scenario," Marcum said. "One of the reasons we're in such a gray zone is because no court has ever addressed this, and Congress has left this ambiguity. People are certainly critical of the policy to do so, but I don't see it as an illegal action. But maybe something for lawmakers to consider adding some safe safeguards in the future."

The 150 Ohio National Guard troops are mobilizing now and set to deploy to our nation's capital in the next 72 hours. Miller worries this could end poorly for Ohio's National Guard, which already has stains from the past.

"It took a long time to overcome the stigma of Kent State and there again, you're putting soldiers who are not law enforcement, who are not police, into a law enforcement critical situation without the right training," Miller said.

It's unclear how long Ohio's National Guard troops could be deployed to Washington, D.C., or what specific duties they will have once they arrive.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A top-ranking law enforcement officer said fentanyl is posing a major threat to central Ohio and communities around the country.

Special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration Columbus office Brian Mulcahy said that this summer, Columbus agents seized enough fentanyl to kill thousands of people, and worries about how often this is happening in our community.

He said Thursday is national fentanyl awareness and prevention day. Mulcahy said education and enforcement are key to saving lives.

“These substances are here in our communities. They are here right here in Columbus,” Mulcahy said.

The special agent said the dust you could fit on the tip of a pencil is how much fentanyl it takes to kill you. He said access to drugs like fentanyl has never been easier.

He said just last month, a joint operation with DEA agents and Columbus Police resulted in the seizure of about 60 kilos of fentanyl and cocaine as well as guns and money from a Downtown Columbus apartment complex.

He said they arrested an alleged gang member from California in connection to this incident.

“At least half of the fentanyl and cocaine seized was already broken down and packaged into small ounce, multi-ounce bags, which, which we understand is that that's going to be fentanyl and cocaine that's distributed throughout our metro area here, sold on street corners, college campuses,” Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy said they are regularly seizing fentanyl in the Columbus metro area. He said both in pill and powder form.

He said that in his career, he’s seen a shift in how fentanyl and other synthetic drugs are trafficked.

“They may go on the web, clear web, or dark web and buy pills. We've seen fentanyl disguised in counterfeit pills labeled as xanax, as oxycodone, Percocets, and other pills," Mulcahy said.

The special agent said the online sales have created a real challenge for them. He said that’s why they have created a whole team focused on investigating this.

Mulcahy said that years ago, to buy drugs, people had to meet face to face and there were more risk factors.

He said now people can search the web or the dark web and just look up what they want. 

He says oftentimes they think they are buying discount pharmaceuticals, and they end up being fentanyl.

“They can buy phantom fentanyl and they can have it shipped right to their P.O. Box or their, or their house, you know, it's covert under the eye of law. So we're investing a ton -- DEA and law enforcement partners were really pushing cyber investigations, we call them, and to try trying to attack that problem. But it's a significant challenge just because it's covert in nature,” Mulcahy said 

He said the majority of people who die from fentanyl don’t know they are ingesting it.

“We've seen fentanyl disguised in counterfeit pills labeled as xanax, as oxycodone, PercocetS, and other pills. So really, you know, when we talk about kids going back to college campuses and, you know, going to parties with their friends and so forth, really there's no experimentation anymore,” Mulcahy said.

He wants to change that through enforcement and awareness.

“So it's a major national security threat for our country, and it's something that we are laser focused on at DEA,” Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy said the number of people who died from fentanyl has decreased from late 2024 into 2025.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- When a person dies without family, money, or a plan, what happens next?

It’s a question that puts pressure on hospitals, coroners and funeral homes, and one that can leave the deceased in limbo. But the City of Columbus and one central Ohio funeral home are making sure no one is left behind. 

NBC4 Investigates is digging into the unclaimed remains process and who pays the cost. 

Hundreds of Ohioans die each year without the money or family to pay for a burial or cremation. We wanted to know what happens here in central Ohio when that’s the case and we found local government and your taxes pay the bill. 

“The funeral business runs fairly smoothly until you find someone who doesn't have any money,” Day Funeral Home president Rick Day said.  

Day has been in the funeral industry for 60 years. His business has handled hundreds of cases involving families who can’t or won’t pay for a loved one’s final arrangements. “That's been an ongoing problem since I first started in 1966,” Day said. 

Day Funeral Home handled around 800 unclaimed remains cases across Ohio last year. This happens when a person is unidentified, estranged from family or when no one can afford to claim the body. 

“You always just want to make sure that you're remembered and you want to make sure that that person's family has that closure,” Franklin County Coroner’s Office director of operations Amanda Wright said. 

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office had 54 unclaimed remains cases last year and 43 the year before. The coroner’s office holds the body while staffers try to find the person’s loved ones. 

“It might be within a few days, especially if families are refusing to select disposition. Other times, we will give families 14 days once they've been notified,” Wright said. “Or if there is no next of kin, we will hold an individual here for 21 days before releasing them as unclaimed.”

Ohio law requires cities to pay for burial or cremation if the deceased lived within city limits and has no one to claim them. “There are some municipalities and townships in some of the outer areas, they're not aware that they're obligated to pay for that but by statute, they must pay,” Day said. 

Columbus has a contract with Day Funeral Home to handle these cases up to a maximum of $280,000 a year. Additional money can be approved if needed.  

“The City of Columbus, the State of Ohio, has done some excellent things. We complain about our politicians sometimes, but they did an excellent program a few years ago where they now pay for that,” Day said. 

Day Funeral Home cremates the bodies and scatters the ashes at a private farm in Sunbury. “Just because they don’t have next of kin doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t get something respectful and be treated with love,” Rae Ann Anderson Dotson with Day Funeral Home said. 

Dotson reaches out to counties and townships to teach them about the laws around unclaimed remains. She also speaks with families below the poverty line and shows them options on how to get access to state funds to cover the costs. 

“This is the most fulfilling job I've ever had, and I've been a juvenile probation officer and I've worked as an investigator for the state of Ohio. And this is the best,” Dotson said. 

State funding includes specific assistance for veterans who die without family or funds.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A father accused of killing his 3-year-old son at their southeast Columbus home appeared before a judge Tuesday morning.

According to court documents, Daniel Neal is charged with the murder of his toddler-aged son Monday morning on Buckeye Circle near the Rickenbacker Airport. Officers arrived to the home just after 7 a.m. and pronounced the boy dead shortly thereafter.

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Police said the child’s mother called police and reported that her son was not breathing. Police interviewed Neal, who admitted to assaulting the child by throwing him to the ground head first. The boy reportedly died as a result of his injuries.

On Tuesday, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued Neal a $2 million bond and scheduled an arraignment hearing for Aug. 28.

Officers removed other children living in the home and placed them with Franklin County Children’s Services. Police ask that any additional information be reported to the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A 2023 lawsuit filed by the City of Columbus, which alleged Kia America and Hyundai Motor America did not do enough to theft-proof their vehicles, costing millions of dollars and putting lives at risk, recently cleared a legal hurdle, allowing it to move forward.

In a California court, the automakers asked for an en banc rehearing to reconsider a previous ruling that would have ended the negligence claims filed by Columbus and other cities, according to legal news publisher HarrisMartin. The en banc rehearing would have required the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the former ruling, which was first heard by a small panel of judges. The court unanimously denied Kia's and Hyundai's request on Aug. 1.

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The original lawsuit, filed in February 2023, was in response to what the city called “skyrocketing rates of thefts of certain Kia and Hyundai models that lack industry standard antitheft technology.” The specific “technology” refers to engine immobilizers, which lock out the “engine control module if an attempt is made to start the vehicle without the correct key or to bypass the electronic ignition system.”

“The taxpayer cost of Kia and Hyundai’s negligence continues to rise as local law enforcement diverts limited resources to investigate thefts, respond to crimes and assess property destruction,” Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a news release at the time. “It’s time we held these automakers accountable for cheating consumers and passing the buck and responsibility to clean up the mess they made onto the rest of us.”

The city pointed to the “self-named 'Kia Boyz'” as the majority of the perpetrators, indicating that the juveniles known for posting their exploits on social media were able to carry out the crimes due to the “substandard” security systems. One example included an 11-year-old who was arrested twice, days apart, for allegedly stealing both a Kia and a Hyundai.

Beyond the millions in taxpayers' money used to police the situation, the city also argued that the consequences of “Kia’s and Hyundai’s misconduct” were injury and death. Included in the complaint was the story of the deaths of two 14-year-olds and the serious injury of a third, which took place in a crash of an allegedly stolen Hyundai.

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In August 2023, Kia and Hyundai announced a software fix to prevent the theft of the affected models. It was offered free to owners of millions of vehicles across the United States. Since then, the nationwide trend of spiking vehicle thefts began to subside. Still, the National Insurance Crime Bureau found that two Hyundai and four Kia models ranked at the top of the list for vehicles stolen the most in Ohio in 2024, with the Hyundai Elantra coming in at No. 1.

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In a separate class-action lawsuit put forth by Kia and Hyundai owners, the automakers agreed to pay roughly $200 million in May 2023 to “provide cash compensation for customers who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage not covered by insurance, in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft-related losses.”

See the city's lawsuit below.

2-23-cv-00654-1-complaint-2.15.2023Download

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A mother's New Orleans-themed restaurant and her daughter's beignet and coffee shop are reopening under the same roof in Columbus.

The duo's previously separate establishments, Way Down Yonder New Orleans Finest and Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee, are relaunching at the same central Ohio location, Yonder Gordon and her daughter Yonder Miller announced on social media.

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"Two brands. One location. One mission, to keep building, no matter the barriers," the social media post said. "We don’t wait for permission, and we don't stop at token support. We invite real partnership, lasting investment, and community power. Gate open or not, we're moving forward."

The announcement comes after Miller closed her beignet and coffee shop at 386 E. Main St. in June. The closure was "a bittersweet moment" for Miller, who said at the time in a letter posted on the shop's website that "though our time at this location has come to an end, this is not goodbye." Watch a previous NBC4 report on Way Down Yonder in the video player above.

• Way Down Yonder was open at 3847 S. High St. for nearly six years. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee was known for king cakes at Mardi Gras has closed. (Courtesy Photo/Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee)

Miller's café stood as the sister storefront to Gordon's restaurant, which operated for nearly six years at 3847 S. High St. before closing in fall 2024. The property has since been purchased to make way for a Panda Express location.

The café offered authentic beignets, specialty coffees and hot breakfast options, including beignet sandwiches, shrimp and grits, and breakfast bowls. Miller also served up ring-shaped pastries known as king cakes each February for Mardi Gras, which were so popular that customers had to place their orders in advance.

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The restaurant was home to New Orleans favorites like red beans and rice, seafood gumbo and boil, and crawfish etouffee. The menu also featured a seafood platter, Cajun chicken tenders, New Orleans jambalaya, baked mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, and "Po'boy" sandwiches, like the Bayou Heat Shrimp & Hot Sausage Po'boy Sandwich.

The mother-daughter duo has yet to announce when and where the new location will open.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A weekend full of sky-high entertainment, activities and more is back in Columbus for another year.

The 2025 Columbus Air Show returns to Rickenbacker International Airport this Friday through Sunday, with a full schedule of action up in the sky and on the ground. Gates for the air show will open to the public starting at 9 a.m.

This year's headliner for the show is the United States Navy Blue Angels. The Blue Angels will be flying six F/A 18 Super Hornets, which can fly up to 700 miles per hour. Herb Gillen, director of the Columbus Air Show, said the Blue Angels are just the start of what visitors can expect to see. Watch the full interview with Gillen in the video player above.

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"We've got the F-16 Viper Demo from the United States Air Force; we also have an F-35 from the Air Force that's going to be there," Gillen said. "We've got several dozen aircraft that will be on ground display... just a ton of exciting stuff."

Guests can also check out several other attractions, live entertainment and music, and even meet and greets with legendary characters Maverick and Iceman from the 1986 action film Top Gun.

Tickets are still on sale along with a variety of different price points. Parking passes are also needed as well, with limited spots available. To get tickets and parking passes, go to the Columbus Air Show website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University is bringing back a familiar face and bow tie, appointing former OSU President Gordon Gee to a new role.

Gee will be a resource for university leaders throughout the next year, although Ohio State did not clarify exactly what his title will be. Gee, 81, will hold academic residencies over the next year in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Moritz College of Law and the new Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society.

Ohio State said Gee will meet with faculty and students to offer support and advice throughout the next year. He will report directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda and help advance OSU's "strategic priorities."

“We have an exciting vision for Ohio State to define the future of higher education, and we can only benefit from having experienced leadership voices around the table,” OSU President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. said. “Gordon knows Ohio State well and will bring valuable insights to our conversations. I am pleased to welcome him to campus."

Gee was president of OSU from 1990 to 1997, and again from 2007 to 2013, and is currently President Emeritus of the law college. Gee was the president of West Virginia University until last month, and previously worked leading Vanderbilt University, Brown University and the University of Colorado.

During his tenure as OSU president, Gee came under fire several times for comments made about other universities, especially Catholic schools, and unflattering comments about Polish people. In 2013, Gee, a Mormon, received a letter from the OSU Trustees condemning a controversial joke he made about Notre Dame in which he said "you just can't trust those damn Catholics."

Just months after his comments and the concerns from trustees, Gee announced he would retire from OSU. He retired as one of the highest-paid university leaders in the nation, a further controversy. He came under fire after records obtained by the Dayton Daily News showed he spent millions of university dollars on travel and other expenses, including $64,000 on bow ties, bow tie cookies and O-H and bow tie pins.

A university spokesperson said Gee's consulting agreement will not exceed $150,000.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – After closing for nearly two years due to a kitchen fire, a Chinese restaurant in north Columbus will soon begin welcoming customers.

Hunan Lion told NBC4 that it will hold a soft opening on Tuesday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. 

“It’s been a long time coming -- we know! The road has had its bumps, but we pushed through and we’re here at last!” The eatery wrote in a Facebook post announcing the reopening. “Thank you so so much for your patience, support, and encouragement along the way! We truly appreciate it.”

In the post, the restaurant asked customers to bear with its staff as they “navigate new systems, introduce new team members and work towards getting everything back on track.”

Hunan Lion, located at 2038 Crown Plaza Drive, caught on fire in October 2023 before the diner was set to open for the day. No one was hurt in the blaze and the Columbus fire department said it did not suspect foul play as a cause. View NBC4’s previous coverage in the video player above. 

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However, the restaurant did have to temporarily shut down to repair damage in its kitchen. On the day of the fire, a member of the owners’ family told NBC4 they were likely looking at several months before reopening. But over the course of nearly two years, the restaurant experienced numerous “delays due to city approvals, permitting and contractor scheduling,” according to its website. 

Now, after 685 days, customers can once again enjoy Hunan Lion’s spring rolls, fried rice, Lo Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, Szechuan Beef and other Chinese cuisine.

Starting on Wednesday, Hunan Lion will open during its regular hours. The restaurant’s hours include Tuesdays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 8:30 p.m.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – A Lancaster man will spend over four decades in prison after being convicted on a dozen charges, including 11 counts of rape.

According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office, a jury returned a guilty verdict on 12 of 13 charges, 11 for rape and one for gross sexual imposition, for 32-year-old Cody Friend of Lancaster.

The prosecutor’s office said that Friend raped three victims, all under the age of 13, including one who was under the age of 10. Friend, who was also a juvenile at the time of the committed crimes, was not eligible for a life sentence, and therefore received a mandatory 44-year prison term.

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All three victims testified during the trial and read statements to the judge at the sentencing hearing. The prosecution asked for a maximum sentence of 111 years, arguing that the sexual assaults left the victims with lifelong trauma.

The assaults took place between 2003 and 2011 and occurred at multiple Muskingum County residences.

Friend, who was indicted in 2024, will be eligible for parole in 2068 and will be required to register as a tier three sex offender.