Ohio News

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – A historic family-owned bakery has begun welcoming customers in Gahanna. 

Resch’s Bakery launched at 150 N. Hamilton Road on Friday at 11 a.m., according to its Facebook page. The business’ anticipated opening comes after its August 2024 announcement that it would take over the former Dollar General.

When Resch’s first shared it would open in Gahanna, the bakery said its location at 4061 E. Livingston Ave. in southeast Columbus would continue operating as usual. However, a sign posted on its door in late September revealed it would shut down the Livingston Avenue location before its Gahanna opening. 

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The sign did not disclose a reason for the Livingston Avenue closure, and NBC4 was unable to reach the bakery’s owners. According to its website, the Gahanna building is “significantly larger” than the Livingston Avenue store, enabling the bakery to increase its output. Resch’s serves donuts, pastries, cakes, cookies, pretzels, pies and more.

The business’ founder Wilhelm Resch immigrated to America from the German town of Neiderwinden in 1906. He and his uncle built the first Resch’s Bakery building in 1912 at 1029 E. Livingston Avenue. The family then opened a store at 4061 E. Livingston Ave. in the early 1960s. Both of those locations have since closed, leaving the Gahanna bakery as the sole storefront.

More information about Resch’s Gahanna opening can be found on the bakery’s Facebook page and website. 

NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Supreme Court ruled to uphold a voter-approved transition of government in southeast Ohio, the first of its kind.

In November 2024, Nelsonville became the first Ohio city to abolish its own city charter and return to a statutory government, a local government that defaults to the state's standard municipal government. Nelsonville city officials, tasked with abolishing their own jobs, moved to stop elections for the new form of government. On Sept. 17, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against the city, allowing elections to proceed this November.

Nelsonville voters, fed up with infighting and costly lawsuits among city officials, overwhelmingly voted in favor of abolishing the charter last year. Voters approved a citizen-enacted ordinance to return to a statutory government, which the city had until 1995, to take effect on Jan. 1. Elections for the new government will take place in November, and candidates were certified by July. See previous coverage of the ballot issue in the video player above.

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This left Nelsonville officials with the task of setting up their own replacements. Law Director Jonathan Robe told NBC4 in March that it was a difficult feat, as the current government still operates under the charter, which does not fully authorize them to create a new government.

Nelsonville city councilmembers tried twice to modify the voters' decision, saying it needed to change in order to effectively set up the new government. The first attempt, a May election issue to modify the decision, failed. In August, councilmembers voted to fully repeal the ordinance anyway.

Although the candidates were already certified for the ballot, Nelsonville officials argued the new form of government was repealed, so no election could be held. They asked the state to intervene and remove candidates from the ballot. City officials also asked the state to protest several write-in candidates for new positions.

On Sept. 17, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Nelsonville did not have the authority to overturn a voter-approved initiative. The court also said the city had not appropriately asked for residents' opinions and that candidates should be allowed to proceed.

The ruling means Nelsonville residents will be able to vote for a new mayor, council, auditor, treasurer and law director. Many of the candidates are write-ins, so tallying the votes may be more complicated for polling officials on election night.

There are three candidates for mayor, two of whom are write-ins. City Auditor also has three candidates, two of whom are write-ins. Other races appear easier; Nelsonville has seven council candidates, one council president candidate and one treasurer candidate, the same number as open seats.

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Nelsonville will also vote for four councilmembers to serve only through December, addressing a gap between when current councilmembers' roles expire and the new government takes effect. There are only four candidates for this special election, three of whom are write-ins.

Not all of the new government will be truly new. Of the uncontested positions, several have already served as councilmembers under the charter.

Wesley Henderson, who was appointed to current council in August and already resigned, is running for a seat on statutory council. Nic Joseph Saul is a current councilmember running for new council. Daniel Sherman, who was on council for several years before resigning, is the only candidate on the ballot for council president.

Carol Sue Powell, a write-in, was a councilmember before she resigned in 2024. She rescinded her resignation and attempted to continue serving on the board, leading to a confusing period where Nelsonville had more councilmembers than seats. A judge upheld that she was not a lawful councilmember, although she hopes to be one again.

Although the office of mayor is contested, it will also most likely elect a familiar face. Councilmembers Jonathan Flowers and Nancy Sonick are both running for mayor, as is City Manager Fred Holmes, so all mayoral candidates have served in the soon-to-be abolished charter government.

With the Supreme Court ruling, Nelsonville residents will elect their new officials on Nov. 4.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Six more bands were announced Friday for next year's Sonic Temple music festival.

Added to the lineup are:

• Stone Temple Pilots
• Zakk Wylde + Black Label Society
• Sevendust
• P.O.D.
• Saliva
• Soil

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That brings the total number of bands announced to 32. The festival takes place from May 14 to May 17 at Historic Crew Stadium. Tickets are on sale now, and the daily schedules of performances will be announced in the future.

Full Sonic Temple lineup (as of Oct. 3)

In alphabetical order. Headliners in bold.

• Atreyu
• Attila
• Behemoth
• Black Label Society
• Bloodywood
• Brand of Sacrifice
• Cattle Decapitation
• Chelsea Grin
• Chiodos
• Coheed and Cambria
• Conquer Divide
• Cradle of Filth
• Dance Gavin Dance
• Dethklok
• Disembodied Tyrant
• Dying Fetus
• Electric Callboy
• Hawthorne Heights
• Lorna Shore
• Make Them Suffer
• My Chemical Romance
• Nekrogoblikon
• Paleface Swiss
• P.O.D.
• The Plot in You
• Saliva
• Senses Fail
• Sevendust
• Soil
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Suffocation
• We Came as Romans

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A teenager who was ruled to be tried as an adult in the death of a mother who attempted to stop a carjacking pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.

The case against Ray-Yon Hawkins, now 17, advanced in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas after it was ruled in September that he would be tried as an adult. He faces charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, robbery, theft and failing to stop after an accident.

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Hawkins, along with another teenager and 20-year-old Gerald Dowling Jr., were charged in the death of Alexa Stakely, who was found at 1:30 a.m. on July 11, 2024, lying near the intersection of Blue Knoll Drive and Annual Drive, just north of Canal Winchester. Stakely, 29, was attempting to stop a carjacking in the southeast Columbus neighborhood of White Ash, where three suspects had entered her vehicle, which was parked at the White Oak Park Condominiums.

Dowling, along with two 16-year-old boys, jumped in Stakely’s car and drove off, police said. Stakely ran after the car, screaming for her child, before being struck and thrown to the ground. The result was a fatal head wound, and she was pronounced dead at 8:43 a.m.

Alexa Stakely

Dowling, now 20, and the two teenagers surrendered two weeks later. The teens were charged with murder and were slated to be tried as adults. The boys were originally charged with murder alongside Dowling, who was assigned a $10 million bond in July 2024.

However, in February, one of the teenagers was sentenced to the Department of Youth Services for an undetermined amount of time and his case is now closed.

In August, Dowling Jr. was sentenced to serve a minimum of seven years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Charges of theft and receiving stolen property were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

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Hawkins, who pleaded not guilty, was issued a $500,000 bond in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in September, but on Thursday a judge raised the bond amount to $750,000. His next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

Stakely was a speech pathologist for preschool students in Canal Winchester schools and, as a single mother, also worked a second job as a restaurant server and had just finished her shift before the carjacking.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A fast food chain known for its “ButterBurgers” and custard is eyeing a new central Ohio location.

Culver’s is working toward opening at 1000 E. Dublin Granville Road in north Columbus near Worthington. The fast food chain wants to redevelop part of the parking lot in front of Space Shop Self Storage into a restaurant with a drive-thru, according plans filed with the city.

The proposed Culver’s would be run by Indiana-based Meyer Foods Management Company, which operates over 30 Culver’s restaurants across Indiana, Ohio and Georgia, according to its website. 

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The family-owned franchise management company is also preparing to launch a Culver’s location in the Hamilton Quarter shopping center near Gahanna and New Albany, and at 6450 Gender Road in Canal Winchester. The Hamilton Quarter location is set to debut this month, while an opening date for the Canal Winchester spot has not yet been announced.

Culver’s has 27 eateries in Ohio, including four in the Columbus area, according to its website. Central Ohio locations include restaurants in Marysville, Reynoldsburg, Powell and in the Hilliard Green neighborhood. 

Culver’s is the home of the ButterBurger, which features buns brushed with butter and seared beef patties. The chain also offers frozen custard, customizable with a variety of toppings, such as Oreos, strawberries and hot fudge. 

Outside of Culver's burgers, its menu features chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, seafood, salads and soups. Sides such as French fries, onion rings and cheese curds are available as well.

Culver’s was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984. The chain has since spread to over 1,000 eateries across 26 states, a majority of which are franchises. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police have arrested a suspect believed to be involved in multiple overnight stabbings within a few miles of each other Friday morning.

According to Sgt. James Fuqua, officers were called to two areas in the Northgate neighborhood of North Columbus. The first incident occurred at the 6900 block of Lancaster Lane, where a man was seated in his car, suffering from multiple stab wounds.

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The man was taken to an area hospital and listed in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable condition. Police said the suspect fled the scene just after midnight.

At around 2:37 a.m., police arrived at the 6000 block of Crossgate Place, approximately 2.5 miles from the first incident, and found another victim who had been stabbed. The victim was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Police said the suspect fled the scene on foot and was eventually detained on Cleveland Avenue. Both stabbings are believed to be committed by the same suspect.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's homecoming night. And you can watch the game on NBC4.

No. 1 Ohio State will host Minnesota in the only game at the Horseshoe taking place in October. The Buckeyes aim improve to 5-0 after winning their Big Ten opener on the road last week at Washington. Kickoff Saturday is set for 7:30 p.m.

OSU owns a 12-game win streak against the Golden Gophers and have won 40 of the last 42 matchups dating back to 1969.

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The defense under Matt Patricia has made a statement throughout the season so far. The Buckeyes have yet to allow opponents to score in double figures nor have they allowed a touchdown in the red zone this season.

And OSU has used multiple combinations on the defensive line, including linebackers at the line of scrimmage. They've even incorporated cornerback Caleb Downs at times.

In the last two games, Tywone Malone has started on the inside for the Bucks. He's a former two-sport athlete, playing college baseball at Ole Miss. But now he's all in on football and Malone is making a move as the Ohio State defensive line looks better week after week, putting on his best performance yet last Saturday at Washington.

"Using the tools that Coach Johnson and Coach Patricia are giving him. And now they're starting to show up on the field," coach Ryan Day said. "And it's a mindset. And his mindsets changed. And because of that, you see a better player."

Malone, a fifth-year senior, reflected on the journey it took to earn a starting role for the Buckeyes.

"This game is not easy. A lot of time. It takes a lot of patience, especially coming from two sports into just focusing on one," Malone said. "Now it's not as time consuming. So you can focus more on one thing rather than two things."

Buckeyes playing with an edge

Caden Curry emerged as a star from last weekend's 24-6 win at Washington. His 11 tackles, five TFLs and three quarterback sacks earned the defensive end multiple "Player of the Week" honors. And the Buckeyes are 13-0 in games when Curry is credited with a tackle-for-loss.

Curry plays with an edge and that's how the Buckeyes want to play.

"The most desperate and hungry team is going to win every Saturday, and we have to make sure that we wake up every day and that same mentality," Day said. "That's when you win games, you know, week after week. Sometimes that's not easy to do. So it's my job and it's our job as coaches, and it's the job of the leaders here to make sure that we wake up with a bad attitude every day and that we're showing up with an edge."

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Four of the five starters for Ohio State's starting offensive line hails from the Buckeye state. Left tackle Austin Siereveld came from Liberty Township, left guard Luke Montgomery is from Findlay and the right side features a pair from Cincinnati: Tegra Tshabola and Phillip Daniels.

The camaraderie is apparent. Last weekend in a very loud Husky Stadium, Montgomery and Carson Hinzman worked together on the silent count and it paid off, committing just one false start.

On Mondays, Montgomery likes to watch back games but it's not just because he wants to get better from the film.

"I like to go back and watch the TV copies as a fan because that's something my dad and just my family when I was back home," Montgomery said. "Like when I was younger, I always watch Ohio State games on Saturday and I just love listening to the commentaries and stuff like that. So I usually just go back and watch the game through.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Police are investigating a hit-skip in which a cyclist was ejected onto a west Columbus street early Friday morning.

According to a CPD incident report, an adult was riding a bicycle westbound on Sullivant Avenue, near the intersection of Wedgewood Drive in the Hilltop area. At the same time a smaller blue SUV was traveling westbound and approached the cyclist from behind.

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The cyclist was struck at around 1:30 a.m., was ejected from the bicycle, and was thrown onto the sidewalk, north of the road. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and listed in critical condition.

Police said the driver of the SUV failed to stop and fled the crash scene, heading west on Sullivant Avenue in Franklin Township. The Columbus Police AIU unit also responded to the scene and is still investigating the incident.

Anyone with knowledge about this incident is asked to contact the Columbus Division of Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Stonewall Columbus is being honored on Friday, the organization's 45th anniversary, with an Ohio historical marker, recognizing its decades of advocacy and support for central Ohio's LGBTQ+ community.

The unveiling ceremony is set for noon at Stonewall Columbus' North High Street community center. While Ohio's historical marker program, administered by Ohio History Connection, has placed more than 1,800 markers throughout the state, this dedication is only the fourth to honor LGBTQ+ history. The marker highlights the organization's founding in 1981 as Stonewall Union, and its ongoing contributions through activism, education and community-building efforts.

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"When you look at the connections that we've created over those 40 plus years, it really is an opportunity to recognize, not only Stonewall, but the LGBTQ+ community across Columbus and the state," said Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus. "It is a moment of resistance to get together in community and to celebrate, even though we are faced with such struggles and vitriol right now in this particular moment." Watch a previous episode of NBC4's "Out in Ohio" featuring Stonewall Columbus in the video player above.

• The Stonewall Columbus Community Center at 1160 N. High St. in the Short North. (Adobe Stock)
• The Stonewall Columbus Community Center at 1160 N. High St. in the Short North. (Adobe Stock)

Alexandria Ingley, department manager of community engagement at Ohio History Connection, emphasized the importance of celebrating LGBTQ+ history in the state.

"Stonewall Columbus has a 40-plus year history as an LGBTQ+ advocate, leader, service procider and sanctuary for community and connection in the state of Ohio," she said. "This particular marker will honor the rich history and ongoing contributions of Stonewall Columbus to the local community and the broader movement of LGBTQ+ rights across the state."

"The Ohio historical marker program is a broad commitment to honoring all of Ohio's history and, in that sense, it's exciting to be able to celebrate history from all different parts of its communities," Ingley continued. "Our commitment is to making sure that ultimately our work is representative of the people, places and events that make Ohio special."

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Stonewall has long been a key player in local and state-level advocacy. The organization has supported other LGBTQ-related historical markers, including a recent one for Summit Station, Ohio's first lesbian bar, and has worked on several initiatives to preserve LGBTQ+ history, such as the ongoing digitization of archival footage from its former television program, the "L/G/B Report."

"As a mission-driven organization, the acknowledgement of the work that we've done through a visible marker is just that, we're stepping into our mission so we are seen and thriving," Porteous said. "LGBTQ+ folks are a part of American history, and the erasure of our stories doesn't tell the full story of our American history."

The ceremony comes at a time of both celebration and concern for Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this year, a federal grant funding the installation of 10 other LGBTQ+ historical markers in Ohio was canceled by DOGE. While the cuts didn’t impact Stonewall's marker, the organization said it was disappointed in the loss of nearly $250,000 in federal funds.

"Visibility matters, especially when the history and identity of our community is slowly being erased," said Porteous. "When young people are looking to affirm their identities, they can see these markers around our state, around our city; that they become excited and they understand that they are seen, they are valued and hopefully that they can thrive in our community."

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The marker dedication is part of a broader celebration of Stonewall's 45th anniversary. The organization is hosting an evening event, "Come Out for Stonewall," at its community center beginning at 7:30 p.m. The celebration is featuring music, hors d’oeuvres, and a special toast to the organization's achievements, with an after-party hosted by Black Sheep in the Short North. The dedication event and evening celebration are open to the public.

Porteous noted that this recognition will help ensure Stonewall's contributions to LGBTQ+ rights are remembered for generations to come.

"Being able to step into our 45th year with such support, within community gathering is really essential in this moment," he said. "The opportunity to be able to say that we are one of the oldest LGBTQ+ organizations in the area is phenomenal... we've been around for so long, doing such critical work, and so that we can celebrate stepping into 45 years is pretty monumental."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The number of abortions performed in Ohio did not increase in the wake of the implementation of a reproductive rights amendment, state data shows. 

Ohio law requires physicians to report certain medical and demographic information about abortion patients to the state Department of Health, which then compiles this data into annual reports. Physicians do not report patients’ names. 

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The department released its latest report covering 2024 on Wednesday, which revealed Ohio physicians completed a total of 21,829 abortions last year -- a drop of less than 1% compared with 2023. 

The number of abortions performed in Ohio from 1976 to 2024. (Photo courtesy/Ohio Department of Health)

Ohio voters approved an amendment in November 2023 that enshrined the right to abortion before fetal viability – and after if the mother faces a health risk – in the state’s constitution. Fetal viability, or the point at which a fetus can survive outside the uterus, is generally considered to be between 22-24 weeks gestation but is determined by an individual’s doctor. The measure took effect 30 days after the election, on Dec. 7, 2023, making 2024 the first full year it was in effect. 

Before the amendment’s implementation, Ohio’s abortion law was often in a state of flux. The state enacted a ban after six weeks of pregnancy in 2019, but it was largely unenforced due to court challenges. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the six-week ban went into effect from June 24 through Sept. 14, before it was once again blocked by a court. With that law on hold, abortion was legal in Ohio through 21 weeks of gestation when the amendment went into effect. 

“Given that Ohio has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country and we have radical judges pushing this agenda, these numbers are encouraging,” Carrie Snyder, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, said of the report. “We aren’t satisfied with the loss of any innocent pre-born child, and our efforts to protect them will continue.”

While the overall number of abortions remained largely unchanged in 2024, Ohio did see more out-of-state residents receiving abortions for the third year in a row. Last year, 3,133 out-of-state residents underwent the procedure, making up about 14% of all abortions performed in Ohio. This marks an increase from 2,771 out-of-state residents in 2023 (12.6% of all abortions), 1,287 in 2022 (7%) and 1,097 in 2021 (5%). 

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“I am glad that those people could come to Ohio for the care they needed, but they should have been able to get the care much closer to home,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Abortion Forward. “No one should be forced to cross state lines for health care.” 

The majority of abortions, or 64.6%, were performed at less than nine weeks of gestation. The state reported 0.7% of abortions, or 146, were performed after 21 weeks. 

A small portion of abortion patients, 0.4% or 97 individuals, underwent the procedure out of medical necessity. Conditions that resulted in a medically necessary abortion included hemorrhage, diabetes, premature rupture of membranes and cardiac disease. The rest of the patients, 99.6%, did not undergo the procedure due to medical necessity, according to the report. 

Data shows that the majority of abortion patients were between 20 and 29 years old (55.7%), followed by 30 to 39 (32.6%), 18 to 19 (5.9%), over 40 (3.2%) and under 18 (2.6%). When race was reported, 48.9% of patients were Black, 42.4% were white, 5.1% were multiracial, 3.3% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 0.3% were American Indian. 

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The report found 83.4% had never been married, while 10.4% were married, 3.8% were divorced, 2.2% were separated and 0.2% were widowed. It further stated 36.5% of patients did not have any children, while 25.3% had one, 37% had two or more and 1.2% did not report if they had children or not. 

A law expanding Ohio’s abortion reporting requirements recently went into effect. The state will soon create a public, electronic dashboard that will update monthly and contain similar data to what is included in the annual reports. The dashboard will supplement the annual reports, rather than replace them. 

Dashboard data will be posted on the 15th of each month starting in October, according to Ohio Department of Health press secretary Ken Gordon. The new law will also require annual abortion reports going forward to be published in March rather than October, making the data released in the reports more current. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Descendants of the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion visited central Ohio this week to hear from the last living member of their fathers' unit: Columbus resident Marvin Brown.

“That makes me very sad,” Brown said of being the last 661st veteran. “The love of a man and a woman is something to behold, very inspirational. But the love of one GI for another GI, you’ve been both shot at together, is something special.”

Brown, 99, vividly recalls his time in Germany during World War II. He shared his memories with several dozen 661st descendants on Tuesday at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. The museum was closed to the public, allowing Brown to share stories for an hour before attendees embarked on a tour.

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“I never had a pair of dry socks on my feet for the first few days,” Brown shared. “And I didn't want to report to medics because I didn't want to leave my buddies. That's how much I loved them.”

Brown was among the youngest of the battalion, having turned 18 just months before arriving in Europe. Brown, like several attendees' fathers, first tried to enlist as a young teen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He remembered the enlistment office was standing room only, which made him proud.

World War II Veteran Marvin Brown (center) and several descendants of the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion (NBC4i)

Two years later, Brown was old enough to enlist. He was originally slated for paperwork, but asked to be transferred to work as an assistant gunner. Brown said he wanted to fight.

“I’m Jewish and Hitler was killing my people, and I wanted to go do whatever I could to get them off our backs,” Brown said.

Brown is one of about 45,000 remaining living WWII veterans, and one of just 1,600 in Ohio. Many attendees had met Brown previously; although it is now nearly all descendants, the 661st holds an annual reunion.

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Brown recalled one event where he reunited with Rufus McBride, a soldier who Brown had last seen crushed between two tanks. Brown thought McBride had died, but the pair reunited decades later, and McBride's son was present Tuesday. Brown said the Germans had their coordinates and would fire artillery shells as they rested, making safety a luxury.

“You had to be lucky because there was nowhere to go,” Brown said. 

With five men to a tank, Brown said he did far less walking than many troops and left the war with the original soles of his Army boots. He said his college roommate, a Marine Corps photographer, went through three pairs in the Pacific Islands.

After the war, Brown still wore his boots during bad weather, and said he still may have them. He's not sure where his other souvenirs -- a German bayonet and armband -- are today.

Brown and his brothers in arms were part of the Battle of Leipzig, the final major German city to fall to American troops. Brown recalled the last of the fighting, with his officers threatening to burn down a monument S.S. soldiers were hiding in. Brown said the "mayor was horrified," knowing there was precious art in the basement stolen by the Nazis. The threat was enough to get the S.S. out.

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After Germany surrendered, Brown went back to the U.S. to fight in Japan. Several of the 661st were on trains headed west to set off for the Pacific when they learned America dropped the nuclear bomb. 

“I don't like anybody to say anything bad about Harry Truman,” Brown said. “I feel he saved my life.”

Brown said he did not always want to talk about his service, but wants to keep the 661st's story alive. In one of the few interviews he's done, Brown spoke with NBC4’s Ben Gelber in 2016. Brown realized he lived a parallel life with a fellow Creekside retirement community resident, both New Yorkers serving in the 661st, and shared the story with Gelber.

After Brown spoke, the museum gave attendees a private tour. The descendants also met up with Brown on Wednesday to grab lunch at his favorite spot, Scotty's Cafe in Bexley.

When asked what attendees were most excited to see in Columbus, they all said Brown. Attendee Tom Slopek's father, Julius, was in the 661st. Slopek said it was incredible Brown would give so much for his country, calling him "one of the bravest men he'd ever met."

Brown said he was honored that the group decided to reunite in Columbus to see him.

“There were times of sheer terror and times of sheer boredom,” Brown said. “But I want to tell you that I loved their dads.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Early voting begins on Oct. 7 and people across Franklin County will see multiple levies and bond issues on their ballots, depending on where they live.

Experts said property taxes could have an impact on the election, as all eyes are on the Statehouse right now to see how lawmakers address property taxes.

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Homeowners want to see relief, but schools and municipalities said they still need levies and bond issues to fund essential services.

“Property values have been rising, particularly for homes and in a lot of places, that is translating into higher taxes in a way that has not usually been the case in Ohio,” said Howard Fleeter, a research consultant with the Ohio Education Policy Institute.

Fleeter said in recent elections, many levies and bond issues have not been passing, which could be because of high property taxes.

“I think it's going to be hard for people whose taxes have already gone up to go to the ballot and look favorably upon a levy in that circumstance,” said Fleeter.

But just because there is a levy or bond issue on the ballot does not necessarily mean property taxes will increase if passed.

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Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano encouraged people to use the Levy Estimator to help at the polls.

“It’s an opportunity for you to plug in your address and see what issues would be on the ballot and potentially what impact it could have to your property taxes,” said Stinziano.

While property tax relief remains uncertain, voters are able to see how their home could be directly impacted, which could give them a better idea on what they want to vote for in November.

For example, the city of Columbus has bond issues on the ballot that will not actually increase residents’ property taxes.

“What we often see are people learning about those issues, understanding that, ‘Hey, maybe this does not increase my property taxes, but it can provide essential services,’” said the auditor.

Fleeter said right now, people may assume that any kind of levy or bond issue would mean higher taxes, so they vote against it.

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That’s why education is key.

“I think there is so much concern about property taxes right now that any government entity that has to put a levy on the ballot, I think, is at least a little bit worried about whether their voters are going to show up and vote for it,” said Fleeter.

“We want this to be a tool people can rely on. Look at the numbers, understand what the ballot language is going to be, and make their own decision on their issues for their community,” said Stinziano.

Election Day is Nov. 4.

To see what levies and bond issues may be on your ballot in Franklin County and what they could cost you, check out the Levy Estimator by clicking here.

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) -- When it comes to public safety, trust between law enforcement and the people they serve is everything, but sometimes trust grows strongest through personal connection. 

"We might be in law enforcement, but we're all human at the end of the day," Licking County Sheriff's Office Deputy Brad May said. 

The Licking County Sheriff's Office's Citizen's Academy is designed to educate residents on different aspects of law enforcement. For Aaron Smith, it became much more than that: It gave him a badge, a mission, and a family.

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"He absolutely loved police officers, deputies and troopers and wanted to know more about the sheriff's office," Licking County Sheriff's Deputy Connor Shook said. 

Aaron was first connected to Shook and May years ago. He's always been fascinated by law enforcement. So, when they suggested he join their citizen's academy, he didn't hesitate.

"Aaron's very special to our agency," May said. "We started years ago. We do parades for his birthday. We'll turn our cruiser lights on, and we'll drive down his road with our lights and sirens on, snd then we take him out to Bob Evans, where he likes to go."

Over the course of 13 weeks, Aaron not only learned about SWAT operations, jail procedures and patrol duties, but he also found belonging.

"Our job specifically is to bridge that gap between law enforcement and the community," May said. "So, we like to showcase that we don't have a specific type of person that we will reach out to and do things with. And we really liked the fact that Aaron was the first person to kind of set that off."

‘We did our part’: Central Ohioans in lease-to-purchase program fight to become homeowners

Aaron was even awarded his own badge at graduation. 

"I'm proud of it," Aaron said. 

One week after graduation, Aaron suffered a stroke, but his bond with the sheriff's office held strong.

"We all went over and saw him and visited with him for a little while, and got to see him and lift his spirits," Shook said. 

Licking County Sheriff's deputies rallied around Aaron. They visited him in the hospital, checked in constantly, and reminded Aaron he was still one of them. 

Short North fee set to go into effect

"It hit really hard," May said. "We're very close with Aaron and the first thing that me and Connor immediately said is, 'When can we come visit?' We want to make sure that he knows that his brothers here at the sheriff's office care about him."

In fact, Aaron had so many visitors that his nurses had to limit them so he could rest and recover.

Now, Aaron is part of the Citizen's Academy Alumni Association. He volunteers at events and greets neighbors with pride and purpose. The three are best friends with one unbreakable bond. 

For more information on how to join the Licking County Sheriff's Office's Citizen's Academy, click here to fill out an application. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The government has officially been shut down for two days, and many federal workers are affected, including TSA agents.

Many employees are working without pay until the government reopens. This is happening as the TSA and Federal Aviation Administration are facing staffing shortages.

If the shutdown continues, it could lead to longer lines, flight delays and even cancellations. Some travelers at John Glenn Columbus International Airport like Margaret Srnec showed up four hours before her flight.

She also shared the respect she has for the TSA agents.

"I'm just really thankful that they came to work today and I'm going to say something when I go through and say 'I thank you for being here today,'" she said.

The longest government shutdown lasted for 35 days back in 2019.

This week on Columbus Business Beat, Digital Anchor Rachel Ramsey talks to Mark Somerson, Managing Editor of Columbus Business First, about business news across central Ohio.

To watch this week’s episode, view the video player above.

• Site of former movie theater in Hilliard to be redeveloped into new apartment complex
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams launched first franchising program
• South Bloomfield not interested in warehouse projects
• What homebuyers can find in Central Ohio for $250,000

Digital reporters David Rees and Ava Boldizar also discuss some of their business stories in this latest episode.

• Hot Chicken Takeover founder reflects on 50 cent sale and closures
• Sheetz opens in Gahanna after lengthy approval process and pushback from residents
• A new Mediterranean restaurant from a local chef is set to open in the Columbus riverfront space once home to Milestone 229

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There is just one day left until Ohio State University's Homecoming parade, and students spent Thursday putting the final touches on floats for the Homecoming parade.

Thursday was the last day to work on the parade floats, and students said they would be doing so until 9 p.m.

Amelia Scheetz with the university's Office of Student Life said students have been hard at work for months on the floats.

"Students from different organizations, sororities, fraternities come down here to The 'Shoe and they work on building their homecoming floats,” Scheetz said. “Some organizations start designing their floats as early as August, but the float building process started on Monday.” 

There is also a major theme for this year's parade: Brutus will be the focus on many of the floats to celebrate the mascot's 60th birthday.

“Brutus is actually going to be our grand marshal this year, which is awesome,” Scheetz said. “It's for his 60th birthday. So, we get to celebrate Brutus and Homecoming at the same time. I think, I also just love getting to see alumni of all ages, get to meet and interact with current Buckeyes so they can form that lifelong Buckeye connection.” 

The 113th Homecoming celebration starts Friday with the parade at 6 p.m., starting at Ohio Stadium. Many students like Nathan Snizik are excited to join the tradition.

“I think it's really important because Homecoming has been a tradition on OSU's campus for as long as I know,” Snizik said. “This is kind of what it's about, it's, you bridge the alumni and the current students and bring it all together in something really special.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Central Ohio Walk to End Alzheimer’s is just over a week away and it will include teams from all over the greater Columbus region.

It will also include one supporter who is traveling nearly 2,000 miles to join the walk.

When a family first receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it can be a gut punch, not just for the patient, but for the people who love them.

Two women, one in Columbus and one in Denver, were each looking for answers after their husbands were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. They each went to the Alzheimer’s Association website, where they found answers and each other.

“We noticed that people were sharing their stories, so I shared mine about Greg, and then Courtney shared hers, and we realized how much they were alike, and before we knew it, we were texting each other, emailing, sending cards to each other,” Columbus resident Patty Williams said.

It is the kind of support you can only get from someone who has walked in your shoes.

“You know, young onset has a very definitive aspects that are very different from aged onset Alzheimer's, and Patty and I were struggling with behaviors and sleepless nights and also, you know, trying to love these guys through their fears and their worries and their distress and our distress,” Denver resident Courtney Walsh said. “And when we connected, it was just that immediate feeling that someone knew exactly what you were going through.”

Going through things like an Alzheimer’s patient suddenly wandering away,

“And I was total panic,” Williams said. “I just didn't even know what to do, and so I sent Courtney the story because it's always so much help for somebody that knows, and she said her husband had walked away on a vacation out of a hotel and got lost.”

Early onset Alzheimer’s usually hits in the late 50s or early 60s and progresses quickly.

“One of the biggest challenges is being married to a man who looks  at 215 pounds of healthy and young and vibrant and has no functional ability anywhere out in public or in any realm, that people just can't grasp that concept when they see older people or they see you in a bathroom stall with them,” Walsh said. “They think older people, that's normal. But for a young onset husband, that is not understandable.”

“His memory started declining so rapidly he didn't know who I was, he didn't know who was kids or his grandkids were, and he would call me names of friends,” Williams said.

They were there for each other when each of them lost their husbands.

“Patty has been a huge mentor to me in that respect because our husbands passed a year apart,” Williams said. “She was modeling for me the healing process and widowhood and how I was. She was showing me what a survivor was going to look like, and I needed that so much.”

Williams flew to Denver to support Walsh, and now Walsh will fly to Columbus to support Williams’ team in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“I’m, I’m super excited,” Walsh said. “I think it's going to be so meaningful, and I've been making a long list of names of people that I need to put on the flower this year.”

“The walk is the top one, yes, for sure,” Williams said. “But I do have to show her the pumpkin show since my husband is from Circleville, and that was his thing. So, we definitely will see the pumpkin show. There's just so many things in Ohio and Columbus to see and I love living here. I, and I can't wait to just share it with her.”

Walsh is joining the central Ohio walk, but she is going to visit central Ohio for two weeks.

Right now, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is behind on its fundraising goals. If you would like to support the effort, click here. Donations to NBC4’s Colleen Marshall’s team page, Betty and Mary’s Kids, can be made by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man arrested and charged with a rape more than 30 years ago has had his case dismissed.

Anthony Shinaul was arrested in June 2024 and charged in a rape and burglary case in July 1994, according to the Franklin County Prosecutors' Office.

According to court documents, the case against Shinaul was dismissed after the court found the case violated his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial and the statute of limitations for the crime as laid out in the Ohio Revised Code.

Shinaul was indicted last summer on charges of aggravated burglary, kidnapping, and three counts of rape.

In 2013, with Ohio’s 20-year statute of limitations for sex crimes approaching, prosecutors filed an indictment using a placeholder name and DNA profile created from evidence collected at the scene. This allowed the case to remain open until a suspect could be identified. However, the court ruled this week that "... the State did not use 'reasonable diligence'... to investigate, identify, or otherwise commence prosecution in this case."

The court issued its ruling on Tuesday; Shinaul's legal team filed a motion to dismiss the case in March.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Customers in the Short North could soon see a new fee on their receipts.

Business owners in the Columbus neighborhood can choose to opt into adding a 1% fee to food, shopping, or hotel purchases; the fee then doubles to 2% between the hours of 12 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Leaders say this is through the Short North New Community Authority.

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Short North Alliance Executive Director Betsy Pandora the fee, levied through the Short North New Community Authority, is part of the Short North Re-Investment Program, which the alliance is using to keep up with growth in the city.

“So there are new demands on our community as really every corner of the city of Columbus is growing,” Pandora said.

She said the arts district is on pace to see a record more than 10 million visitors this year. The money generated from the fee will be used for safety and beautification enhancements. In August, city council said half of the money generated would go toward safety, the rest toward cleanliness, landscape and culture.

Pandora said the improvements will enhance services already being provided and can get more specific on projects at a later date.

“Depending on how it performs, we would be able to significantly increase the types of resources that are made available in the community, be that for support to address a clean environment, a safe environment, and an environment that feels fun and exciting to continue to visit,” Pandora said.

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One business owner, who did not want to appear on camera, said she does not want to add the fee due to rising costs across the board.

Some shoppers said they feel the fee is helpful.

“I think it's definitely interesting, but I also think that the Short North gives so much to Columbus, so 1%, I don't think it's too much,” Columbus resident Anna Bench said.

Others agree and said it will not deter them from visiting.

“With all of the traffic that comes here in cars or people, I think it's important to have this as clean as possible because this is a popular area,” Pickerington resident Eriehl Perry said.

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Pandora said they are modeling this after similar Ohio communities that use the fee, like Bridge Park in Dublin and The Banks in Cincinnati.

“So we've really tried to be curious about the ways in which this has worked in other places,” Pandora said.

Pandora could not say how many businesses have chosen to charge the fee as they are still working through logistics. She said the fee will be implemented later this fall.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dozens of families across central Ohio are fighting to become homeowners through a lease-to-purchase program.

Pay rent for 15 years, then buy the home. But NBC4 Investigates found dozens of local families who’ve paid rent for more than 15 years and still aren’t homeowners. 

When they couldn’t get answers, they turned to NBC4 Investigates to find out why. Families tell us they feel misled, even lied to. 

NBC4 Investigates spoke to more than a dozen families in three Columbus neighborhoods, who, instead of paying a mortgage, are still paying rent that keeps going up. 

“I shouldn't be tied to anybody at all. I did my 15 years here,” said Nichole Hardy, who lives in one of the lease-option homes. 

“We’re going to fight, whatever it takes,” Tamani Lucy Thompson said. 

Thompson lives in the same neighborhood as Hardy. So does Eldridge Law, another neighbor we spoke with. They’ve all been in the southeast Columbus neighborhood for 16 years. 

“According to the original contract, the home should be ours flat out,” Eldridge Law said. 

Janet Daniels is in another neighborhood, but also joined the lease-option program through the same company 21 years ago. 

“I'm not trying to be mean, but I've got an attitude now because they walked all over me and I thought I was the only one for years,” Daniels said. 

“There's no follow-through. A lot of broken promises. A lot of 'I'll call you back.' A lot of no call back at all,” said Tracee Black-Fall, who lives in a third neighborhood with the same problem.

Homeport is the nonprofit behind these developments. It develops affordable housing in Columbus. 

“The thought of being a homeowner for the first time in the family is big in our community,” Hardy said. 

“It gave us hope. Definitely something to achieve and accomplish and even just keep persevering towards having that goal,” Thompson said. 

The Levelgreen community in northeast Columbus is the Homeport neighborhood Black-Fall moved into more than 20 years ago. At the time, she was recovering from a brain aneurysm.

“Considering what all I had been through, it was a dream come true,” Black-Fall said. 

Throughout Columbus, Homeport builds neighborhoods and individual homes.

“I was just starting a family that long ago and it was a great idea to get in on this,” Law said. 

“I saw advertisements, several of them for affordable homes for anybody. I said, that sounds great,” Daniels said. 

Homeport receives federal and state dollars, approved by the City of Columbus, for its lease-option program. Low- to moderate-income families can rent a home for 15 years and then get the option to buy, which is outlined in the contract with Homeport that they each signed.

“I was beyond excited, I was a single mom,” Hardy said.  

That excitement has turned to frustration, as calls and emails requesting to buy the homes have gone unanswered, and instead of paying a mortgage, they are still paying rising rents. NBC4 Investigates read through the contracts and researched state requirements for this program, and we found these families are entitled to buy their homes. 

“The rent's been going up $100 every year, every year. So the past four years now” Law said. “I feel like they're waiting us out, trying to wait us out.”

“Put me in the mortgage,” Daniels said. 

Homeport did not give NBC4 Investigates an interview for this story and did not explain the delay. A spokesperson for Homeport sent an email confirming: “now that these homes have completed the required 15-year term – we can move forward with sales.” It adds no one will be denied the opportunity to buy their home, but does not state when or how.

“We have ran into several other communities that said they been in their homes over 20 years and they're running into the same thing. But we're not waiting until 20 years,” Hardy said. 

“We did our part. We complied with everything they asked us to comply for. We took classes. We've taken care of the property. We've done everything they asked. And to not get a call back. It's not acceptable,” Black-Fall said. 

The email from Homeport acknowledges the delays, but a spokesperson did not respond to our questions of why this has happened across multiple communities. 

“Don’t get people’s hopes up,” Daniels said. 

“Sell us the homes. Not 90 days, not 120 days, 30 days, sell us the homes,” Law said. 

Those NBC4 Investigates spoke with at the southeast Columbus neighborhood were supposed to be able to purchase their homes in January of this year. Daniels and others at Levelgreen have been waiting since 2019, when mortgage rates were half of what they are now. 

Homeport tells us everyone will have the opportunity to buy their home. We’ll let you know when it happens.