Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One person has been hospitalized and traffic on Interstate 70 is at a standstill after two semi-trucks collided on the eastbound lanes in west Columbus near Hilliard.

Current traffic conditions in central Ohio

According to Columbus Fire Chief Jeffrey Geitter, two tractor trailers collided on I-70 East, near Hilliard Rome Road. Traffic is currently backed up several miles, beyond State Route 142 near West Jefferson, while cleanup crews address the crash site.

• Interstate 70 East closed after two trucks collided, Aug. 19, 2025. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation)
• Interstate 70 East closed after two trucks collided, Aug. 19, 2025. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation)

Geitter said one of the trucks was carrying batteries, and fluid from the crash as well as diesel fuel that has leaked onto the highway.

Traffic on the interstate is at gridlock status with cars backed up for over six miles. Additionally, a crash just west of SR-142 is causing additional eastbound delays.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is one of the worst states in America for women’s equality, a recent study claims. 

To determine where women receive the most equitable treatment, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 17 key metrics, including income and unemployment disparities between women and men. The personal finance company also considered the number of women lawmakers, women in executive positions and women with advanced degrees, such as Master's and Doctorate degrees. 

Federal judges who teach at Ohio State allowed to rule on university cases

The study sourced data from a variety of government agencies, research nonprofits and educational institutions.

Ohio ranked at No. 41, making it the tenth-worst state for women’s equality. While placing as the best state for gender equality in advanced education, Ohio ranked low in a variety of categories, including female representation in executive positions (No. 40). Women in the Buckeye State also face a greater poverty risk compared to men, according to Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.

"On the political front, the picture is even more troubling: Ohio ranks 42nd in equality among state-elected executives, as women are underrepresented across the U.S. House, Senate and state legislature," Lupo said. "These gaps in leadership mean women have less influence over policymaking."

Hawaii ranked as the best state for women, boasting an equal share of men and women in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Aloha State also shows no gender gap among minimum wage workers.

Ohio bill would ban lawmakers from accepting free professional sports tickets

Nevada ranked in second place and was followed by Maryland, Maine, Oregon, New Mexico, California, Iowa, Alaska and Vermont. 

The worst state for women’s equality was Utah, the study found. The state ranked last for gender equality in higher education and had the second-highest income gap between women and men, only behind Louisiana, along with the fourth-highest disparity in executive positions.

Source: WalletHub

The study named Texas as the second-worst state, which was followed by Idaho, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Wyoming, New Jersey and Virginia.

Regarding America's performance as a whole, WalletHub noted in World Economic Forum’s 2025 ranking of 148 countries based on gender equality, the United States placed at No. 42. 

WalletHub’s full report can be found here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A nonprofit group found two dozen federal judges did not recuse themselves from cases involving universities where they teach, including four who teach at Ohio State.

Fix the Court, a nonprofit that advocates for court reform, released a report in July identifying 24 federal judges with part-time university teaching jobs who did not recuse themselves in court cases related to their academic employer. Among them were four judges from the Southern District of Ohio with over 60 cases involving Ohio State among them.

Judges Chelsey Vascura, Michael Watson, Algenon Marbley and Edmund Sargus are adjunct professors at OSU's Moritz College of Law who have not recused themselves from cases involving Ohio State. A spokesperson for the district court said there is a thorough process to determine if judges need to recuse themselves.

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"Each case is different. Our Judges consider the unique circumstances in each case and make any decision to recuse as appropriate," a spokesperson for the court said in a statement. "As for cases involving Ohio State, the Judges who teach there disclose that they do so and any party can ask for the Judge to recuse."

The spokesperson said the judges use the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, federal law, case law and precedent to decide if they need to recuse themselves. The spokesperson said judges also hear arguments from parties involved in the case to help their decision.

Fix the Court argues that even though the cases relate to the larger university, rather than the Moritz College alone, there is still a perceived bias. The group highlighted comments Vascura made when a court order asked her to recuse herself from a case where she said the law school was a "small and virtually autonomous part" of Ohio State.

"That, of course, belies the fact that the law school sits on OSU’s main campus and its students and alumni, like thousands of undergrads, spell out “O-H-I-O” with their arms and wear the scarlet and gray on fall Saturdays," Fix the Court wrote.

Ohio bill would ban lawmakers from accepting free professional sports tickets

The court spokesperson pointed to Garrett v. Ohio State University, where a different federal court ruled Watson was not required to recuse himself. The second court ruled Watson's connection to OSU through the law school did not require him to step away from the case and added that "needless recusals exact a significant toll."

Fix the Court said the other court's ruling was a case of "judges covering for other judges." The nonprofit said judges need not excuse themselves from cases involving university hospitals, but the university itself gives the courts a bad look.

The university, which does not have a say in recusals, did not have a comment on the matter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – After Ohio lawmakers approved a plan to designate $600 million to a new Cleveland Browns stadium, a recently introduced bill would bar them from accepting free tickets to professional sporting events. 

Under House Bill 409, introduced on Aug. 7 by Reps. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) and Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Township), lawmakers could only accept free or discounted tickets to professional sports games if the tickets are part of a promotion that is also available to the public.

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Brownlee said lawmakers receiving free tickets could raise ethical concerns after legislators passed a controversial provision in the state budget that allocated millions from the state’s pool of unclaimed funds – money that many residents may be unaware they possess from sources such as inactive bank accounts and uncashed checks – to help the Cleveland Browns pay for a new stadium. See NBC4’s previous coverage in the video player above. 

“When it comes to the way our system is funded, and by that I mean our political system and how it intersects with the way that elected officials decide to fund certain special interests and organizations, there really should not be any overlap whatsoever,” Brownlee said. “It's just not fair to our voters.”

Ohio lawmakers must report gifts valued at more than $75 to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, an oversight board of bipartisan state lawmakers. They also must disclose free access to events if the cost of admission exceeds $25.

According to public filings, several lawmakers have accepted complimentary tickets to professional sports events in recent years. Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) each accepted a free ticket, valued at $100 apiece, to watch FC Cincinnati take on New England in March, records show.

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Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) received a free ticket for a suite at the Cleveland Guardians’ April home opener, valued at $556. Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) also received Guardians suite tickets in 2023 and 2024, both valued at more than $500.

Public filings do not indicate lawmakers have received any free Cleveland Browns tickets since at least 2020. However, the Haslam family, which owns the Browns, has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to state lawmakers -- primarily Republicans -- in recent years, according to records from the Secretary of State’s office. The plan to fund the stadium included in the budget drew most of its support from statehouse Republicans. 

“There's a real concern, especially with our current budget, about how much or how little a role ethics is playing in the decision making of legislators," Brownlee said. "After seeing what passed this year, I am extremely concerned with the over-involvement of special interests in our decision making, and voters should be, too."

The legislation does not apply to college sports. The bill defines professional sporting events as those involving teams from the NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS and NBA. This means lawmakers could not accept free tickets to games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cincinnati Reds or Cleveland Browns, as well as other professional teams.

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Brownlee said she believes including a ban on accepting tickets to college games in the bill could “muddy the waters,” since there is already an expectation that the state is funding educational institutions. 

“Historically and constitutionally, the state is required to provide funding to public institutions of education,” she said. “We are not required to provide funding to professional athletics.”

If the bill were to pass, the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee could fine lawmakers who break the rule up to $1,000.

HB 409 currently has three Democrat cosponsors, including Reps. Juanita Brent (Cleveland), Chris Glassburn (North Olmsted) and Lauren McNally (Youngstown). The bill awaits a committee assignment and its first hearing. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan is eyeing a 2026 campaign for governor, now that fellow Democrat Sherrod Brown has opted out of the race to run for U.S. Senate.

Brown, who lost his U.S. Senate seat last fall and who sources said was mulling a gubernatorial bid, has entered the 2026 race against Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Ryan's spokesperson said in a statement, "Brown's decision to run for the U.S. Senate has renewed and heightened Tim Ryan's interest in running for governor to further serve the people of Ohio." Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ryan's possible gubernatorial run in the video player above.

Should Ryan enter the race, he will be vying for the Democratic nomination against former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who announced her run in January and has since raised about $1.4 million. Acton boasts endorsements from state Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, political action committee 314 Action, and Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney.

Jon Husted sitting on $2.6 million for 2026 U.S. Senate race

In a previous interview with NBC4, state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said Brown or Ryan "are the only two people that can win for governor next year." DeMora claimed the Democratic party's candidates for other statewide offices, like attorney general and secretary of state, "will come out of the woodwork" once Ryan declares his candidacy.

"We need to get a good candidate, and again, I've always said Sherrod Brown or Tim Ryan," DeMora said. "[Democrats have] great candidates who right now are a little skittish about running because they don't think that the person at top of the ticket can win statewide right now. So, I'm hoping that one of those two decides to run."

A 2026 run for governor would act as a comeback for Ryan, who served in the U.S. Congress for Ohio's 13th and 17th districts from 2003 to 2023 until unsuccessfully running for the U.S. Senate in 2022 against now Vice President J.D. Vance. That Democratic primary saw Ryan beat former Obama consumer protection official Morgan Harper and Columbus activist Traci Johnson.

Ryan teased a possible run for the governor's mansion in a May NBC4 interview, where he said Ohio Democrats need to rebrand. He argued a majority of the state's voters agree with the party's ideas, pointing to Democrat-led constitutional amendments that passed in 2023 legalizing recreational marijuana and protecting access to abortion.

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"On many of the issues, the people of Ohio are aligned with Democrats," Ryan said. "But, then you put the 'D' by the name and say, 'Oh, this person is going to go work with Chuck Schumer,' then the whole dialogue changes at that point, so I think we need a complete rebrand."

The Democratic primary's winner will likely face Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire and 2024 presidential candidate who began his run in February and has raised $9.7 million, setting a record for the largest first-quarter fundraising total in Ohio history. He touts endorsements from Ohio's Republican Party, political action committee Ohio Corn & Wheat, and President Donald Trump.

Republican Heather Hill, an entrepreneur from Appalachia, tossed her name in the race but has struggled to gain traction. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced his bid in January, then dropped out in May and has since supported Ramaswamy. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, who replaced Husted as the state's second in command, is also said to be considering a run.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - Grove City voted to allow up to two marijuana dispensaries within city limits about three years ago, but the city still does not have a marijuana dispensary, more than a year after recreational marijuana became legal.

Grove City's city council voted during their meeting on August 4 to readjust their zoning restrictions for a dispensary. Grove City restricted dispensaries based on a property line to property line measurement. That meant the property line couldn't be within 500 feet from a school, church, or residence.

Ward 2 Council member Randy Holt explained the change.

"The last change was to just align the measurement methods with the same way the state does it, so Grove City measured from property to property; the state does building to the property,” Holt said. “And there were a lot of inquiries from dispensaries thinking they met the requirements. But then, when they got to the Grove City measurement process, they didn't make it. So, we just need to clear up that confusion. So, we just aligned with the state. Many of our other restrictions are also in line with the state, next to a church or school. You know, places where you wouldn't want a dispensary, just like you don't want a bar there. So it's basically just alignment."

Grove City has passed two developments earlier this year, but those were both vetoed by Mayor Richard "Ike" Stage. Stage cited a petition signed by more than 600 residents as the reason to veto the projects. The council does hold the power to override a mayoral veto, but it would need five votes – previous attempts only received four votes.

Holt has voted for the passing of the projects.

"Alcohol is legal and you have bars and etc., etc., and I've been to many dispensaries in multiple states, and they are as clean as any other building, probably cleaner,” he said. “I mean, they basically operate like a pharmacy. There's no people hanging out outside, no neighborhood impact.”

One of those developments would have turned the property which is now China Bell into a dispensary right off of Stringtown Road. The owner of China Bell said she would like to sell the property, and that was a good opportunity for her family. A new application for a dispensary was submitted by ACT Investments out of Baltimore, Ohio, on Monday for the property at 3989 Jackpot Road in Grove City.

Stage said after Monday night's council meeting that he believes a vote could come in November for the new application, but he anticipates another resident petition against the dispensary, followed by another veto.

Holt views the subject as an inevitability.

"I think someday, there will be, it's a matter of finding the right place, with the right traffic and the right requirements for all the restrictions," he said.

The state reported more than $702 million in recreational marijuana sales in the first year of legalized sales. That money generated an estimated $122 million in tax revenue for the state. Holt said the potential local tax revenue isn't a driving factor for his decision; it's simply what the people want.

"Very seldom do I have voter proof that the citizens want one thing or another, so I'm just operating on the fact that people voted for legalizing marijuana in Ohio," Holt said, referencing the nearly 60% of Ohioans and 60% of Grove City voters who voted to legalize marijuana in 2023.

But that money could help, he admits.

"Calculations could be somewhere between $1 million and $2 million in revenue for Grove City, and while that sounds like a lot of money, it's 1% of our budget,” Holt said. “So that's not a motivator. If we do ultimately get a dispensary, I'm going to earmark that income for social improvement. Things in the city, such as reading and elementary school, work efforts, work adult education. We have a really nice Southwest Career Center that can always use money and have more courses, and find more jobs for people that are underemployed or are unemployed.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Many central Ohio kids have already started school or are just days away from heading back to the classroom, and back to school usually means an uptick in illnesses.

Dr. Mike Patrick, an emergency medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said we see a rise in viral sicknesses – like hand, foot and mouth disease and colds – right around September and October.

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“You get all those kids together in a classroom and they start, you know, sharing their microbes,” Patrick said. “And then they take them home and share them with their parents. And then the parents take them to work and share them with their coworkers.”

Patrick said kids are going to get sick pretty soon into the school year, and this is normal.

“Kids especially, and the younger they are, the more that this is true, tend to get sick a lot because the way our immune system works is that you have to be exposed to a virus, get sick with it, your body makes immunity,” he said.

Patrick said parents don’t need to be worried about back-to-back-to-back illnesses, but they should keep their child home if they have a fever, are vomiting or coughing so much that it’s distracting.

“If you kept your kid out of school every time that they had a runny nose or just a cold virus, they would probably not be in school very often during the wintertime because these viruses really do hit back-to-back-to-back,” Patrick said.

Ohio State students react to ‘chalking’ ban

The best way to stop these illnesses from spreading to the rest of the family is good hygiene, like washing your hands often and covering coughs with your elbow.

Southwestern City Schools nurse Paige Emmelhainz said she tries to instill this in all of her students. She said leading by example goes a long way.

“If we teach kids at a young age how to prevent that spread of germs by washing your hands, not putting your hands in your mouth, or before you go to eat, you're washing your hands, it’s definitely going to help keep everybody healthier,” Emmelhainz said.

Both Emmelhainz and Patrick also recommend flu shots. They said it may not prevent you or your kids from getting sick, but it will make it less severe.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A multinational investment firm announced Monday it will invest $2 billion into Intel, just as the Trump administration floated the idea of the United States investing in the tech giant.

SoftBank Group, an investment management and holding company, announced Monday it has signed a definitive securities purchase agreement, investing in Intel by purchasing approximately 2% of the company. According to the agreement, SoftBank will pay $23 per share of Intel stock; the stock finished at $23.66 in trading on Monday.

Ohio State students react to ‘chalking’ ban

“We are very pleased to deepen our relationship with SoftBank, a company that’s at the forefront of so many areas of emerging technology and innovation and shares our commitment to advancing U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership," Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a press release. "(SoftBank CEO) Masa and I have worked closely together for decades, and I appreciate the confidence he has placed in Intel with this investment.”

The agreement comes just days after the Trump administration was reported to be considering the federal government taking a stake in Intel, specifically to help the Ohio One plant under construction in New Albany.

Once the face of domestic semiconductor manufacturing, Intel's $28 billion Ohio One plant is far from its original opening goal of 2025, now aiming for 2032. In late July, Intel announced it was further slowing construction on Ohio's facility as its manufacturing division continues to be unprofitable. The company confirmed that slowed efforts do not mean construction will stop entirely.

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SoftBank's announcement stated the investment would help build on SoftBank's "long-term vision of enabling the AI revolution by accelerating access to advanced technologies that support digital transformation, cloud computing, and next-generation infrastructure."

According to the announcement, SoftBank invests in technology that improves "the quality of life for people around the world."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a shooting in north Columbus Monday night.

According to a Columbus police dispatcher, the shooting happened on the 6300 block of Ambleside Drive near Devonshire Park at approximately 8:18 p.m.

The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:28 p.m.

There is no information on a suspect or what led to the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbus police at 614-645-4545.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Ross County on Monday afternoon.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened at the intersection of U.S. Route 23 and DeBord Road at approximately 3:35 p.m.

A 2013 Ford F-150, driven by a 30-year-old Chesapeake, Ohio, woman, was driving southwest on US-23. A 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Carol Cunningham, 70, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was crossing over the southbound lane, trying to drive north on US-23. The highway patrol said Cunningham's Equinox drove into the F-150's path, causing the crash.

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Cunningham was taken to Adena Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver of the pickup truck and two passengers, a 57-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child, were also taken to Adena Regional for treatment of minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Veterans Affairs Fire/Rescue, Scioto Township Fire and EMS, Huntington Township EMS, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Sidewalk chalk has become a point of contention between students and administration at Ohio State University.

The university amended its signage standards to ban chalking. The university’s announcement said if officials see chalk, it will be removed by facilities operations and development. The university could then charge the students for the cost of the removal. The policy also states that students found to be responsible would be subject to a potential conduct referral.

Some students said they use chalk to spread the word about events or campaigns in high traffic areas like the Oval and find the ban unnecessary.

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“Most of it was like advertising for different student groups, so, I, yeah, and a lot of it was just like all like, have a good week or like, yeah, it was, it was harmless in my opinion,” Ohio State graduate student Kimmara Yarbrough said.

In a statement, the university said, “In light of continued complaints regarding chalking on campus and the significant amount of administrative time spent evaluating chalking, we have revised the university signage standards.”

The university has not responded to a request for how many chalking complaints it received that prompted the change.

Students like senior Daizhon Cox and sophomore Christopher Cade want to know why they weren't involved in the conversations. 

“We pay to go here, we are students, and we should have a say,” Cox said. “I don't understand how you can reach a decision like that before even talking to the students.”

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Cade said he remembers his first year at Ohio State, seeing organizations trying to gain members by using chalk messages across campus; he said it’s disappointing he will not see it this year.

“I represent the social and behavioral sciences and student government, and a lot of our student organizations have already reached out to me and asked, ‘What's next? What can we do?’ And to see that students not even on campus yet are already feeling the effects of this, it's disheartening,” Cade said.

They say on a campus as big as Ohio State, chalk art is the best way to reach all students.

Students feel the ban limits their expression

“To me, it does feel a little unnecessary and I wish there was more of an explanation to why they're banning it,” Yarbrough said.

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They also feel it has to do with the current political climate.

“Coming into my senior year, another semester of, you know, just at university, telling us exactly what it is that we can do and what it is that we can't do,” Cox said.

The students say even with the rule, they plan to find ways to make sure their messages are seen and heard.

“I've been talking to a bunch of student organizations and they say they're still going to try it,” Cade said. “They're just going to do it in a different way this year.”

The university said the signage standards are used to create a consistent experience for information on campus.

The university's chalking announcement can be read by clicking here. The school's signage policy is below.

Ohio-State-University-signage-policyDownload

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) – One local business is doing its part to send students back to school feeling their best by looking their best.

Danny’s Barbershop in Reynoldsburg gave free back-to-school haircuts to dozens of students on Monday.

The owner said he and his wife have been looking for ways to give back to the community for years.

Owner Danny Eustaquio said a fresh haircut is just one part of building up a student’s confidence. He said Monday’s event wouldn’t have been possible without the community’s support.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In his first TV interview since announcing his 2026 U.S. Senate bid, Sherrod Brown told NBC4 he didn't plan to run again, but "as this year wore on, this rigged system got worse."

The Democrat launched his comeback campaign on Monday, putting himself back in the national spotlight after narrowly losing re-election last year and setting the stage for a 2026 showdown against Republican Jon Husted. NBC4's Colleen Marshall was the first TV anchor to interview the 72-year-old since making his announcement.

"I spent I spent my whole career in public office, fighting against a rigged system," Brown said. "I didn't really ever expect to run for office again. As this year wore on, this rigged system got worse: 490,000 Ohioans will lose health insurance ... a huge tax cut driving a $3 trillion hole in the federal budget, and prices kept going up."

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Brown is running in a special election, which will determine who finishes the remainder of J.D. Vance's Senate term. Vance vacated the seat in January to become vice president, prompting Gov. Mike DeWine to appoint then-Lt. Gov. Husted to fill the vacancy. Watch Marshall's full interview with Brown below.

Multiple media outlets reported earlier in August that Brown would mount a Senate return, but the decision was a surprise given the former senator was also eyeing Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly met with Brown multiple times, urging him to face off against Husted as Democrats look to reclaim Senate control.

"We were hearing from lots of people ... what was unanimous is people saying things are getting worse in this country, things during the last few months are getting worse, prices are getting worse," said Brown. "I thought I could have the biggest impact in the Senate, in large part because we don't have a voice for Ohio workers in the United States Senate."

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Husted, a longtime fixture in Ohio Republican politics, officially launched his campaign earlier this year and has quickly consolidated GOP support, including an early endorsement from President Donald Trump. Husted has more than $2.6 million in campaign funds and the backing of national conservative organizations.

Brown said Husted has spent his career -- from serving as the speaker of the Ohio House, to lieutenant governor and now senator -- advocating "for wealth people and big corporations" by increasing the deficit and voting for tax cuts for billionaires and Medicaid cuts. He argued the Republican is "against the middle class and against public interest in Ohio."

"I have fought for workers no matter what job I held in elective office. As a congressman, as a senator, I've been one of the strongest voice for workers," said Brown. "[Husted's] been a strong voice for Wall Street. He's been a strong voice for the drug company. ... Do you want somebody who's been on the side of workers in the middle class and keeping prices down, or do you want somebody who's been on the side of Wall Street?"

Brown is starting financially fresh. The former senator finished 2024's race with $394,000 on hand, which he then funneled into a political action committee called "Dignity of Work." The effort coincided with Brown's creation in March of the Dignity of Work Institute, a nonprofit group to address working-class issues like low wages and home ownership.

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His race against Moreno was the most expensive in the nation last fall, with a record-breaking $483 million spent, the highest for any nonpresidential election on record, according to AdImpact. Republicans cashed in $251 million for Moreno, while Democrats spent $232 million to boost Brown.

The winner of the 2026 race for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat will be completing Vance's original term, which runs through 2028. If that senator wants to serve a full six-year term, they will need to run again in 2028. Still, Brown said he runs for "these jobs knowing it's temporary and how important it is to perform." If he wins in 2026, Brown said he'll decided whether to run in 2028 at a later time.

"As I said, [my wife] Connie and I thought we were not running again. When we hear from people whose lives have gotten worse these last eight months and are going to get worse if we continue this direction -- closing rural hospitals, drug prices going up, and grocery prices going up -- that's why we got back in," said Brown. "That's why I want to continue this fight."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man charged in the fatal shooting outside of a Waffle House near the Ohio State University campus will spend at least the next 23 years in prison.

According to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Jaquan Curry has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. The manslaughter charge comes with a mandatory three-year firearm specification and a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced Curry to serve at least 23 years and up to 28 ½ years in prison.

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Curry was charged in the death of 38-year-old Ronald Diggs, who police believe was involved in a fight with Curry inside of the restaurant on April 29, 2024. The fight that turned fatal reportedly involved between 15 and 20 people and spilled out onto North High Street, across from the Ohio Union on campus.

Diggs was found shot on the sidewalk at around 2:30 a.m. in front of Midway Bar and Restaurant. He was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead at 3:06 a.m.

Franklin County Municipal court documents state that Curry was identified as the suspect after a witness told police Curry reportedly punched a man before pulling out a gun and shooting Diggs. For previous reports on this story view the video player above.

Curry, who was also charged with using weapons while intoxicated in Dec. 2022, had a warrant for his arrest issued the day of the shooting and was arrested over four months later in Canal Winchester on Sept. 5 by the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Team with the U.S. Marshals Office.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A mother who was charged in the death of her 3-year-old son has been ruled incompetent to stand trial, at least temporarily.

According to the Franklin County prosecutor’s office, Laronda Mims, who was on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in January, was “found incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be transferred to Central Ohio Behavioral Health for restoration treatment.”

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Mims was arrested three weeks after her 3-year-old son Emmanuel died after reports of an unresponsive child.

Officers arrived at the Eaton Avenue residence in South Franklinton and found Emmanuel unresponsive with what appeared to hot-water burns and injuries. The Franklin County Coroner's Office stated that the boy died from complications of thermal injuries (boiling water) and it was ruled accidental.

Emmanuel Mims was pronounced dead at 8:18 a.m. and due to the circumstances surrounding his death, the CPD Homicide Unit was called to investigate.

Mims was detained, but not arrested that morning, and on Jan. 28 she was formally indicted in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. A future court date has not yet been set, nor was there information on how long Mims must participate in restoration treatment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police are investigating the death of a child at a home near Rickenbacker International Airport on the south side of the city.

According to Sgt. Joe Albert, the CPD Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Search Unit are at a home on Buckeye Circle, near John Glenn Avenue and just north of Rickenbacker Airport.

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Albert said at this time, the cause of the child’s death is unknown, but police confirmed that the child was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:11 a.m. Monday. Authorities are investigating to determine if any foul play had occurred.

Police did confirm that the victim is a 3-year-old boy and NBC4 reports that a crib is being brought out of the home for further investigation. At this time there are no named suspects or people of interest.

ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (WCMH) -- As western Licking County juggles rapid growth, two communities have a new idea to protect rural life and keep a seat at the table.

This November, residents will get to vote on a merger between the Village of Alexandria and St. Albans Township. Rapid development is hitting communities hard, especially in municipalities with limited authority to control or stop projects. The commission behind the merger said combining forces would give St. Albans more control over how growth manifests.

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"The unfortunate truth is change is being forced on us from a state and federal level. Now is our chance to get ahead of that change to gain control of our situation," merger commission member and Alexandria resident Jeff Baer said.

In Ohio, local municipalities are either cities, villages or townships. Cities and villages both have the right of home rule, or the right to pass laws to govern themselves instead of relying on state and county authority. If townships are large enough, they can qualify for limited home rule, but St. Albans sits just under the 2,500 residents needed.

Although Alexandria has just 20% of the population St. Albans has, as a village, Alexandria has a lot more protections. By merging into a village, St. Albans would gain home rule authority instead of deferring to the county. It would also provide control over St. Albans' land, as it's harder to annex land from a village than it is a township.

Commission members pointed out that if Alexandria and St. Albans Township had merged before October 2022, ongoing concerns about a possible wastewater plant would look different. Without home rule, decisions made about the wastewater plant go outside of the township and fall under the Licking County Commissioners' jurisdiction.

In 2023, 60% of St. Albans and 79% of Alexandria voters supported creating a merger commission to explore if merging would be beneficial. They formed a merger commission with five representatives from each municipality. After nearly two years of research, the commission unanimously voted to place a merger on the ballot.

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"We knew that if all of this development was going to come, the only protection we have is zoning," Alexandria Mayor and commission member Sean Barnes said.

Barnes said zoning in St. Albans has been "dominated" by large landowners who he believes benefit when the local government has minimal say in what can be zoned or annexed for development. These landowners have already benefited; Barnes said the 18,000 acres zoned for commercial use in St. Albans is larger than several other Licking County municipalities' commercial zones combined.

If approved in November, both municipalities would unite as a new Alexandria. According to the conditions of the merger, the new Alexandria would be governed by an elected mayor and six elected council members. The new village would govern under Alexandria's laws, with a few exceptions to protect St. Albans' residents' rights to hunt, keep their existing agricultural structures, and use the water services they prefer.

A big change would extend Alexandria's 1% earned income tax to St. Albans residents. The tax is needed to fund the new government, and fiscal estimates show that new income tax revenue will equal about 90% of the added expenses associated with the merger.

"While New Albany says that it is not growing beyond Mink Street, there is no guarantee
of that and my taxes to Alexandria will be less than paying taxes to New Albany," St. Albans resident and commission member Ann Lodder said.

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Barnes said the commission's recommendation to merge stems from a commitment to the area's rural way of life. Although there are drawbacks, he and his fellow commission members believe merging is the best way to maintain the area's character.

St. Albans Trustee Bruce Lane said he does not have a comment in his official capacity. Speaking as a St. Albans resident, however, Lane said he hopes his fellow voters thoroughly research and understand the merger. He said he's watched voters lose autonomy when small groups with money launch loud campaigns.

“Control your destiny a little bit," Lane said. "Not saying we’re trying to stop development, just make sure that it’s done right.”

The commission said growth will come much quicker than the next opportunity to merge. If the ballot measure fails, a citizen-initiated merger cannot be reintroduced for five years.

Lane recommended that St. Albans and Alexandria residents come to the next St. Albans trustee meeting, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., to learn more. Residents can also read the merger commission's full recommendations by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 19-year-old man received a hefty bond amount just two days after being arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old in west Columbus.

Jordan Austin, who is charged with murder, appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court Monday morning and was given a $1 million bond. Among his bond conditions is to not possess any weapons as he is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 26.

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Columbus police officers went to the 600 block of Raleigh Drive on Friday at 3:45 p.m. after reports of a shooting. Officers found 15-year-old Anthony Johnson suffering from a gunshot wound. Johnson was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.

Austin was arrested by officers on Saturday at 9 a.m. Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to call Columbus Police at (614) 645-6420, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After 14 practices, Ohio State's preparations for the season opener against Texas enter the final two weeks, with attention now shifting to the Longhorns.

And now we have a starting quarterback. Day named Julian Sayin QB1 over Lincoln Keinholz.

"You see there was a lot of growth made," Day said. "Overall, Julian was more consistent."

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Day said Sayin had a good feel in the pocket and has taken steps forward in the preseason, separating himself from the rest of the room in the last week. He informed both quarterbacks Monday morning of the news, saying Keinholz took the news well.

"[Keinholz] knows he will play at some point this season," Day said.

Describing the competition as "great", Day said both quarterbacks are talented and that he'll need both of them this season.

"Julian has gotten stronger and bigger. He's learned the offense and is playing faster," Day said.

Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline said he's excited for Sayin to be the starter on Aug. 30 against Texas.

""He's done a good job of being consistent with taking care of the football," Hartline said. "Giving guys opportunities to make plays. I think it's the body of work, not one play, that made the decision."

In regards to other positions, Day also said that he has a starting five in mind for the offensive line, but would only commit to naming Austin Siereveld at left tackle.

The seventh-year OSU head coach also said he would not comment on the NCAA punishments handed down to Michigan on Friday regarding that school's sign-stealing scandal.

The third-ranked Buckeyes held their second scrimmage of the preseason over the weekend as they continue to get ready for top-ranked Texas.

Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston is working his way back from injury after getting hurt on the first day of practice. He says he'll be ready week one.

"We have to ramp up his reps to get him ready," defensive line coach Larry Johnson said. "You know, get him in a give him some inside drills, get him talk and get him going."

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Kenyatta Jackson is set up for an impactful year after waiting in the wings behind Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau. Though he hasn't been a featured pass rusher, Jackson has three career sacks and is now in line to start for the first time.

"Started in the weight room," Jackson said. "They really tapped into my mind, my mindset, and made me realize, like, you know, I got to be out to be a productive player this year. Yeah, that's where I started."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As students return to school, the Columbus Metropolitan Library is supporting K-12 learners with several programs designed to help them succeed.

To kick off the upcoming academic year, the library has announced it is having a series of open houses for families to meet staff and receive more information about what it has to offer. The events will take place at the main library and its 19 area branches on various days and times from Aug. 19-29. Parents can check its website for details.

Columbus Metropolitan Library's School Help locations and hours

The library's afterschool program, “School Help,” will begin on Aug. 19. School Help is designed to provide K-12 students with access to computers and supplies, along with special assistance from staff and volunteers. The hours reflect different dismissal times in each of the school districts.

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Monday through Friday: 3-6 p.m.
• Main Library (grades 6-12 only) and Barnett, Canal Winchester, Franklinton, Hilltop, Martin Luther King, New Albany, Northside, Parsons, Whetstone, Whitehall branches

Monday through Thursday: 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Friday: 3-6 p.m.
• Driving Park, Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, Linden, Marion-Franklin, Northern Lights and Shepard branches

Monday through Thursday: 4-7 p.m. and Friday: 3-6 p.m.
• Karl Road, Reynoldsburg and Southeast branches

Reading Buddies program

Additionally, the Reading Buddies program offers children in grades K-3 a 15-minute reading practice session. Kids can select a book at their reading level to read one-on-one with an adult.

Teens Create Open Studio locations and hours

Offered at select locations, Teens Create Open Studio is a space where teens can express their creativity, craft unique projects, make music, and connect with friends. The fall schedule starts Aug. 18.

Monday through Thursday: 3-7 p.m. and Friday 3-6 p.m.
• Main Library

Monday through Friday: 3-6 p.m.
• Gahanna branch

Monday through Friday: 3:30-6 p.m.
• Driving Park and Karl Road branches

Monday through Thursday: 3-6 p.m.
• Hilltop and Whitehall branches

Monday through Thursday: 3-7 p.m.
• Martin Luther King branch

Monday through Thursday: 4-7 p.m.
• Reynoldsburg branch

Tuesday through Friday: 3:30-6 p.m.
• Whetstone branch

After-school snack program

Certain library locations provide a free snack to children aged 0-18 through a partnership with Children’s Hunger Alliance. This initiative aims to give kids a nourishing experience. Please ask library staff for more information.