Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio House of Representatives took on property taxes Wednesday afternoon, passing two bills aimed at relieving tax burdens and attempting to head off a looming ballot initiative that seeks to eliminate property taxes altogether.

House Bills 186 and 335 earned tepid support from some House Democrats, while others railed against the bills for not going far enough. 

House Bill 186, sponsored by Reps. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon), creates an Inflation Cap Credit, limiting increases in property taxes above the rate of inflation. The sponsors claim this would save Ohio property owners $1.7 billion over the next three years. See an earlier report on Ohio's Property Tax Reform Work Group in the video player above.

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“Members, $1.7 billion — that is the amount of money over the next three years if we do not pass House Bill 186, that is the amount of taxpayer dollars that will be paid by our property owners above inflation due to the 20-mill floor, due to increased property values and a policy at the school level that we at the legislature are ultimately responsible for,” Thomas said. “And if we are responsible for setting the law of the land for Ohio, $1.7 billion is the amount we can tell our taxpayers, ‘You are not paying.’” 

House Bill 335, also sponsored by Thomas, caps the rate of inside millage levies, which can be imposed by local governments without voter approval. The inside millage cap would also keep property taxes tied to the rate of inflation. 

“What’s happened over the years is inside millage taxation has massively increased and, as we’ve talked about, it’s unvoted,” said Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield). “We can say that every property taxpayer in the state of Ohio will benefit from the passage of House Bill 335.” 

Some Democrats, however, argued that both measures would benefit property taxpayers who don’t actually live in Ohio. 

“Taxpayers in my district of Lucas County would see absolutely zero property tax relief under House Bill 186,” said Rep. Elgin Rogers, Jr. (D-Toledo). “About half of Ohioans who do not live in a 20-mill floor district will see no change in their property taxes. … For the other half of Ohioans, who actually live in a district at the twenty mill floor, the everyday Ohioan will possibly see just $13 a month in relief. Something’s better than nothing, right? But those folks who are out-of-state investors and major property owners will see thousands, thousands of dollars of property tax relief monthly.” 

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Democrat Daniel Troy of Willowick voted in favor of both bills but warned they would not be enough to blunt the momentum behind a ballot initiative to abolish property taxes. 

“If we think that this is somehow property tax relief for everyday Ohioans or heading off the constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes, we’re kidding ourselves,” Troy said. “I think this is like pouring a cup of water on a forest fire. We’ve got a heck of a lot more to do.” 

Having been passed by the House, both measures will now go to the Senate for consideration. 

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus woman is dead after a three-vehicle crash occurred in Logan County Wednesday afternoon.

At approximately 4:13 p.m., The Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a crash on U.S. Route 33 East in Jefferson Township, just east of Bellefontaine. The crash involved two commercial vehicles and a passenger car, a 2018 Kia Rio, which was disabled in the left lane of the highway.

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A 2020 Mack dump truck traveling eastbound failed to stop for the disabled vehicle and struck the Kia from behind. The Kia was vaulted into the right lane and collided with a 2021 International tractor-trailer.

The Mack truck overturned, spilling gravel along the roadway, and traveled off the right side of the road. The International truck also traveled off the right side of the road and overturned, while the Kia came to rest in the same area.

The driver of the Kia, 26-year-old Ismahan Abdikadir Nagati, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the dump truck was air-lifted to a Columbus hospital with serious injuries, while the driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to a Marysville hospital with minor injuries.

All eastbound lanes on U.S. 33 were closed while the crash scene was being investigated and cleared. The OSHP was assisted by the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Perry Township Fire & EMS, Bellefontaine Fire & EMS, and Huntsville Fire & EMS.

PLAIN CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Jonathan Alder Local Schools are hoping voters will approve a $70.6 million bond issue to create a new 6-12 grade campus.

The district said the expansions are necessary to address rising enrollment. If approved, the 5.12-mills bond issue would fund a new junior high, expand existing buildings and help balance facility capacity. The district would then reconfigure grade levels, creating a 6-12 campus and more room for elementary students.

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"Waiting doesn't stop the growth. It doesn't change our need," school board President Sonia Walker said. "It only equates to higher taxpayer investment in the future, and we want to avoid that."

The district expects to add 469 new students to its 2,300 student body over the next 10 years, more than a 20% increase. The district hopes the new construction will bring each building to 80% capacity, creating a more balanced learning environment across the district.

In May, Jonathan Alder tried to pass the same 5.12-mills bond issue, and almost succeeded. The May ballot issue failed 50.5%-49.5%, and the district is optimistic that things may go better in November. See previous coverage of May's bond issue in the video player above.

Jonathan Alder said its high school and Plain City Elementary are both already at capacity, and Walker said all other buildings are nearing capacity. With the $70,625,000 the bond issue would generate, the district would make Monroe and Plain City elementaries kindergarten through third-grade buildings, freeing up space without fourth and fifth grades.

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Fourth and fifth graders would then move to Canaan Middle School, which would convert to an upper elementary building with a four-classroom addition. The middle school students would learn in the district's new junior high, serving grades six through eight.

District plans would attach the new junior high to Jonathan Alder High School. The high school would also get an eight-classroom addition. The existing junior high building would be repurposed for district office space and possible preschool classrooms.

The district said delaying construction would make it more expensive, as construction costs are expected to increase by $2 million each year. Jonathan Alder considered short-term options like redistricting or bringing in temporary classrooms, but found they had "significant downsides."

If the bond issue fails, the district said families may be reassigned to different schools, and elementary students within the same families and neighborhoods may be assigned to different buildings. Redistricting and overflow fixes would also increase transportation costs and increase time spent on bus routes.

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The district said it will also have to spend money on short-term fixes, adding costs that would not be necessary if the issue were to pass. The district said a "much-requested" variety of electives, like agricultural education, will not be feasible without expanded facilities.

If approved, the bond issue would cost taxpayers $179 per $100,000 of a taxpayers' county appraised property value. However, residents on land that qualifies for current agricultural use valuation (CAUV) pay differently, and will owe $5.22 per acre.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Talk show host Stephen Colbert recently poked fun at an Ohio lawmaker for his proposed legal personhood and marriage ban for artificial intelligence systems. 

During a segment about AI on The Late Show this week, Colbert brought up House Bill 469, sponsored by Rep. Thaddeus Claggett (R-Licking County). The legislation would prohibit AI systems from being recognized as people and ban the technology from marrying a human or another AI system. 

“An Ohio lawmaker’s wife left him for a chatbot,” Colbert joked after bringing up the bill. 

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“This piece of legislation comes from Ohio representative Thaddeus Claggett,” Colbert continued. “No wonder he’s against technology, his name is 200 years old. You know his campaign slogan: Thaddeus Claggett, ‘Gol’ Darn Prairie Dog Stole My Hat Again!’” 

Colbert then pulled up a photo of Claggett before saying “that doesn’t look right, can we run that through AI?” The same portrait was displayed again, this time with Claggett edited to wear a hat, sport a beard and have a piece of straw in his mouth.

Claggett addressed the segment in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing that he would like to use it as an opportunity to talk more about his bill. He said while the legislation has been "sensationalized" as “anti-AI marriage,” it would establish a framework of liability for AI. 

“I wouldn’t normally share something from a liberal like Colbert, but I thought this was funny – probably the first time he’s been funny all year, which would explain why CBS canceled his show,” Claggett wrote. 

The lawmaker said the most important thing the bill would do is ensure developers and users of AI cannot absolve themselves of responsibility if the technology causes harm. 

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“We also want to make sure that these things can never be given control over decisions that should be made by a competent human,” Claggett said in the post. “This bill is intended as a preemptive measure.”

Claggett previously told NBC4 that the part of the bill addressing marriage would help prevent AI from taking on roles commonly held by spouses, such as holding power of attorney or making financial or medical decisions on another’s behalf.

“People need to understand, we’re not talking about marching down the aisle to some tune and having a ceremony with the robot that’ll be on our streets here in a year or two,” he said. “That could happen, but that’s not really what we’re saying.” 

Under the legislation, AI could also not own or control real estate, intellectual property or financial accounts. It bans the technology from serving in management, director or officer roles in companies as well.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Democrat Sherrod Brown has brought in $8 million since launching his comeback campaign, while Sen. Jon Husted set a fundraising record for a Republican in an Ohio U.S. Senate race.

Brown's $8 million total "was powered by an army of grassroots donors," his campaign said in an Oct. 14 news release, with 97% of individual donations under $100 and an average grassroots contribution of $24.36. The former senator raised $7 million directly into his campaign and an additional $1 million into affiliated joint fundraising committees.

"Ohioans from every corner of the state are rallying behind Sherrod's campaign," said Patrick Eisenhauer, Friends of Sherrod Brown campaign manager, in the release. "Twenty-five thousand hardworking Ohioans, from across all 88 counties, have already chipped in because they know Sherrod always puts Ohio families first."

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Husted's third-quarter fundraising totaled $3.7 million, "the highest amount ever raised by a Republican candidate at this stage of a U.S. Senate race in Ohio," his campaign said in an Oct. 14 news release. The newly minted senator has grown his fundraising totals by roughly $1 million each quarter, "demonstrating enthusiasm fueled by Ohioans who believe in his mission," his campaign said.

"We continue to see record enthusiasm for Senator Husted's campaign," said Tyson Shepard, the Husted campaign's communications director, in the release. "Our fundraising success reflects strong support from every corner of the state and shows that Jon is building the operation needed to win decisively in 2026."

Brown announced his comeback bid in August, less than a year after narrowly losing reelection in 2024 to Sen. Bernie Moreno. The Democrat's campaign previously said it raised $3.6 million in the first 24 hours after his announcement. Husted began his campaign in April and was sitting on more than $2.6 million in fundraising while waiting for Brown to enter the race.

Polling released Monday found Brown and Husted in a near deadlock. Data from a Bowling Green State University Democracy and Public Policy Research Network poll of 800 registered Ohio voters shows Brown barely leads the race over Husted, at 49%-48%. This marks a change from August, when Emerson College Polling had Husted with a six-point lead.

Brown boasts endorsements from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, alongside the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

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Husted's endorsements include Republican gubernatorial favorite Vivek Ramaswamy, President Donald Trump, the Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18 and 66 chapters.

Several lesser-known candidates are also vying for the Democratic nomination against Brown. However, those candidates haven't released their fundraising totals. They include entrepreneur Fred Ode, software designer and Special Olympics volunteer Ron Kincaid, U.S. Air Force veteran Lynnea Lau, and small business owner and game developer Chris Volpe.

Greg Levy, a community organizer and veteran, announced on Wednesday that he is running for Senate seat under the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Beechcroft High School's football season is officially over, cut short due to safety concerns.

The Beechcroft Cougars were supposed to take the field Friday for their final regular season game – and Senior Night -- but that matchup against Northland won't happen.

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"It really felt like this was going to be the one we were going to win, so having this game stripped from us really hurt," Beechcroft High School football senior Sherwin Armistead said.

For many players, this was the final chapter of their season, and for seniors, their high school careers. Instead, they're watching it end from the sidelines. 

"Let us play," Beechcroft High School football senior Harlem Walker said. "That's all we want to do. That's all we've been wanting to do. Our whole year has been riding up to this moment, and it's a core memory for us that we just want to experience."

Senior football players said they didn't expect their season to end this way.

"Especially going up against our team rival, this game meant a lot to us," Armistead said. 

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The decision comes just days after two juveniles were shot Saturday night near the high school. According to Columbus police, multiple people were seen exiting a black Honda SUV and fired shots at multiple individuals. 

"As a team captain, that hurts a lot because those two players were our key players right there and it's sad to hear that they're the ones that got hit with the bullet," Beechcroft High School football senior Jaymir Radford said.

Police and the Columbus City Schools District have yet to confirm the victim's identities.

"They want to play for those injured boys," parent Janice Cubbage said. "So, I don't agree with the game being canceled. I don't agree with how it's being handled."

The district released a statement regarding the season's cancellation:

"Due to an ongoing concern directly involving the safety of Beechcroft High School football student-athletes, the Beechcroft team’s season will conclude with the last game of play being the week 9 HOME game on October 17, 2025. This means the game between Beechcroft HS v. Northland HS scheduled for October 24, 2025 will not occur, resulting in a forfeit loss for Beechcroft. The safety of Columbus City School’s students is always our first priority, and the Superintendent approved the request of Beechcroft’s Principal and the District’s leadership team."

"Just let us play," Radford said. "It don't have to be at our field. It don't have to be at Northland's field. We could go to like the old Columbus Crew stadium, that has maximum security."

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According to players, they feel robbed and were looking forward to continuing their winning streak. 

"We were just really in our groove, and we can't do anything about it," Walker said. "It's like you have it right there in your hands and it's just taken from you."

Beechcroft's principal held a meeting on Wednesday night with players and parents, according to those NBC4 spoke with. They said the principal stood firm on his decision. 

"In the meeting, he said that the boys were targeted, that the shooter asked, ‘Did you play football? Yes or no?’ And that they shot," Cubbage said.

According to the district, the superintendent signed off on the principal's request to end the season early.

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"I want the future for all children," Cubbage said. "I'm a mom of two. I want everybody to be safe going forward. So, I told him, 'What is it in the budget for CPD to be here at these games? What is the budget?' I was told is outside of his pay grade, so I don't know if he has reached out to them."

According to the seniors, they were told by the principal that they'd be honored on a different night. In the meantime, Friday's cancelled game will go down as a forfeit loss for Beechcroft.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4323 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 to leave an anonymous tip.

BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) - Otterbein University and Capital University continue their historic rivalry on the gridiron Saturday. 

The two schools are connected by more than the city of Columbus. Alum Creek runs from Westerville in the north down through Bexley. 

"The start of the rivalry is lost to the mists of time. We assume that it goes back, though, to the late 1800s, when there would be canoe races down Alum Creek. It might have also been a religious thing. We were United Brethren. They were Lutheran. And so, you know, we can't let that other church beat us," explained Otterbein Archivist Stephen Grinch. "As our sports began to develop in the late 19th, early 20th century, we found ourselves developing a very healthy rivalry with that school down in Bexley," Grinch said.

The rivalry has gone through ebbs and flows with different generations, said Grinch. "The rivalry has taken many different shapes over the years. Sometimes it's as simple as just flying a flag that says 'Screw Cap'. Am I allowed to say that on television?" Grinch joked.

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The Otterbein/Capital rivalry pre-dates Ohio State's rivalry with Michigan. The first game played between Otterbein and Capital was a 60-0 win by Otterbein in 1894, though it isn't counted on the official record because football wasn't yet an official varsity sport at Capital. Ohio State didn't play Michigan for the first time until three years later in 1897.

"It's the small school experience. It's one thing to be a part of a big rivalry like the OSU Michigan rivalry. That's a wonderful thing. But it's also kind of impersonal. Whereas here at a smaller school, you bring people together, closer together," Grinch said. "Even though we are rival schools, there's still that bond and camaraderie. It's a lot smaller. It's a lot friendlier. And, I think it's a lot more fun, quite frankly," said Grinch, who has worked at Otterbein for 27 years after he called the school home as a student.

The rivalry has seen plenty of mischief over the years.

"Back in the early 70s, the band director Gary Tirey would have all of the school flags flown by the band at pregame and Capital's would, of course, always be upside down. We once managed to take down their goalpost, I think in the mid 60s. They were caught unfortunately, and they all had to spend a night in jail before our, Dean of Students went down to bail them out," Grinch said.

"They took the goalpost they tore down, and they cut it into rounds, and they painted them. And they sold them to the student body at Otterbein. And that's how they raised the money to pay back the Dean of Students," Grinch explained with a smile.

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The President of the university's home was on Otterbein's campus and featured a sunken garden that, to the untrained eye, was hard to spot, especially in the dark.

"They were doing some mischief on the tower's front lawn, and a bunch of our guys saw them and started chasing them. Well, they'd made a beeline for the president's front lawn. President J. Gordon Howard said that he looked out his front window to see what the commotion was, and one by one, he watched as these Capital students run full speed and then, fall. Right into the sunken garden," Grinch said.

The rivalry takes on another chapter Saturday at 1:30 p.m. as Otterbein's football and men's soccer teams travel to Capital while volleyball and women's soccer host Capital.

Capital University Athletic Director Darrell Bailey is working to restore the old rivalry.

"It's been exciting. It's one of those things that we're trying to really reinvigorate. It's the sense of community because we want to evolve it into more than just the game. So currently it's the play, and it's each sport has their own version of this," Bailey said. "So, the next step of that is to add on academics. Then the community is involved, academics is involved as well as sport, because that's the embodiment of what Division three is all about," he said.

The schools battle in each sport for 'The Oar', an homage to the students of the late 1800's who would race canoes down Alum Creek.

"Why change something that's happened well before us? Why not embody it and make it something that both teams can, resemble and understand," Bailey said.

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Otterbein holds the Oar, at least until Saturday. But Bailey said he has other expectations for Saturday's game.

"A victory, I expect the young men on the football team to come out with a vengeance, to be ready to play and put it on. To let them know that this is the year of the Capital," Bailey said with a smile.

Otterbein's football team enters the matchup with an 0-6 record while Capital is 2-4. Otterbein's only win in 2024 came in the rivalry game against Capital.

Grinch, who will surely remind his Capital friends of Otterbein's previous win, wanted to make sure everyone collects history while it happens.

"Write down your stories, label your photographs, and don't make scrapbooks," Grinch said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As the weather in central Ohio gets colder, the Ohio Department of Transportation is making sure it is ready for the winter months.

On Wednesday, the department staged its annual winter readiness event.

The department goes through a safety process and conducts and inspection for all trucks taking on the winter roads. Plow drivers went through a 150-point inspection of each truck, checking things like the plow blade, the salt spinner and brakes.

The inspections are to help protect both plow drivers and other vehicles on the road during winter conditions.

"We're doing our checks, everything that is necessary, something that we always like to focus on is safety," Morgan Eibel said. "Last year in the 2024-2025 winter season, our plows were struck 54 times, so that's 54 more times than they should have been struck. We always want that number to be as close to zero as possible."

Each ODOT garage has one of these winter preparedness days so plow anywhere in Ohio are ready to go in a moment's notice.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Everything old is new again at this year's Art for Life.

The charity art auction started in 1989 and has raised millions to support the HIV and AIDS services provided by Equitas Health. It has been held every other year for nearly four decades as an evening gala, but for the first time, it will take place during the day as a Sunday brunch. Also for the first time, the artists themselves will benefit financially.

Co-chair and former director of the Columbus Museum of Art, Nannette Maciejunes, said a special fund was donated to give artists 10% of the final sale price of the artwork they donate.  

"We're calling it Wayne's 10%, because the late Wayne Lawson, who used to run Ohio Arts Council, used to complain endlessly that we ask artists to donate and they get nothing in return," Maciejunes said. 

The fund was donated in Lawson's memory. 

"This is a small gesture back to the artists, but we really think it’s important," she said.

Six galleries and nearly as many restaurants in the Gay and High streets arts district are helping to host the event. Each gallery will display 15 pieces donated for the silent auction. The live auction will take place mid-afternoon inside The Citizens Trust.

Patrons can stroll from gallery to gallery and to the food stations set up along the way. The owner of Lindsay Gallery, Duff Lindsay, said it's a way for gallerists to support an important cause and to showcase the arts district. 

"I often say the biggest job of a gallery owner is not about the art, it’s about getting people in the door. This helps us do that, and in the process, do something for an organization that really deserves support."

Art for Life begins at 11 a.m. Sunday and runs until 4 p.m. You can find information on tickets at this link.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An alternative to assisted living has been expanding all over the country and now Ohioans have the option too.

The Ohio Department of Aging has been working to expand the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE. On Wednesday morning, BoldAge PACE opened its doors to Franklin County residents.

“I thought to myself, this sounds too good to be true. So I talked to the leaders some more and I thought I'd give it a try and I have not looked back,” said Joyce Spear, Hilliard resident and BoldAge PACE participant.

The center is meant to be a one stop shop for older residents. “Participants are usually folks with a lot of chronic medical conditions that make it difficult for them to function and be independent so we can provide the care and support that they need,” said Mary Austin, CEO of BoldAge PACE.

Adults 55 years and older can get check ups, meals and socialize all in one place. Austin said insurance or Medicaid often covers the cost, aiming to make it as accessible as possible.

“We provide free rides to and from the center to and from all medical appointments and to and from any other activities,” she said.

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The center has started enrolling participants including Spear. She said she relies on bus transportation which made it difficult to make it to different appointments. Now, it’s all under one roof.

“I was taking the bus to every doctor appointment which amounted to tons of time and transportation for maybe a 20-minute appointment,” she said.

Spear said it’s important for her to keep living at home but that also comes with isolation. Now, she comes to the center for meals, activities and to hang out with friends.

“I'm a crafter. I had fun with that to a degree, but being so isolated the fun of it, it just kind of dissipated and now that I'm here, I'm doing crafts and I'm having the time of my life,” Spear said.

BoldAge PACE is partnering with many community organizations to make this program happen including the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Stonewall Columbus.

“We want to bring PACE to communities, but we need to partner with communities because it really needs to be a program that comes from the people,” Austin said.

Learn more about how to get enrolled here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Central Ohio first responders and doctors are trying to raise awareness about the increasing number of kids they're seeing get hurt on electric scooters and electric bikes.

"We’ve definitely seen an increase in injuries related to electric bikes and electric scooters. I would say over the last few years it’s been increasing exponentially," said Dr. Chelsea Kadish with Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Kadish, an emergency room doctor at NCH, urged parents to talk with their children about wearing helmets, as she said many patients she's seen were not.

“Emphasizing how important it is to protect the head because head injuries are a lot harder to fix than those cuts and scrapes and broken bones," Kadish said.

The city of Upper Arlington recently released a public service announcement about the issue. Their first responders said they are seeing injuries from crashes on e-bikes or scooters every week. They reminded parents to teach their kids about riding safely and to make sure they know the rules.

“I think there is a little bit of shock sometimes from family members about oh my gosh I can't believe this happened to my child. I had no idea they were out there riding, renting electric scooters and riding them without helmets," Kadish said. "It's more about talking about safety and raising awareness to children, and their parents and just trying to get families to understand these devices come with high risks."

New Albany City Council this week passed new laws related to electric bikes and powered scooters. 

“These are regulations that aren't trying to ban the use but to kind of regulate and make it safe for everybody to use our sidewalks and leisure paths around the community," a councilmember said during the meeting.

The new laws include a helmet requirement for those younger than 18, reflector and light requirements, and a speed limit on shared-use paths.

“Whatever we can do to sort of protect the safety of our children is to the benefit of our population, and I hope as we increase awareness on this topic and get kids to wear their helmets more, that I hope we’ll see fewer of these really severe injuries in the emergency department," Kadish said.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Schools leaders heard from passionate parents Wednesday during three listening sessions about plans to redistrict three high schools.

The decision comes as the Dublin area continues to grow, and thousands of students and families will be affected.

Many parents have not been quiet during the process, with dozens attending the listening sessions held by the district. Some said they aren’t happy with how Dublin has handled redistricting.

“This process is being done backwards,” Dublin parent Alicia Pauling said.

Dublin City Schools began the process of redistricting students in April. Superintendent Dr. John Marschhausen said the process would be data-driven, but Pauling said that’s not how it’s gone so far.

“We are just looking for a fair, transparent and equitable process where decisions are being made based on actual, real data and not emotions or opinions, and I don't feel like that has been done,” Pauling said.

Marschhausen said at an April meeting that a traffic study would be conducted, but the study wasn’t actually done until the end of September, after draft maps were shared with the public.

“When we look at Dublin, traffic is a concern for everyone, and our goal is to try to balance the information we have as we look to create seats for students to be in in high schools in the future,” Marschhausen said.

The superintendent said the district will continue to look at those traffic patterns, but Pauling said the study was done too late. She also said it doesn’t have all the information parents were hoping to see.

“It doesn’t include teen driver crash data. It doesn't include ODOT safety data, it doesn't include specific commuter routes that are being analyzed,” Pauling said.

At a Wednesday morning listening session alone, district leaders heard from 30 parents. Marschhausen said everything they hear at these sessions will be taken into consideration. He also said it was concerns that had been brought up before.

“I think our community has done a phenomenal job communicating with us,” he said. “A lot of the things we've heard today are the same things we've heard in emails and communications and conversations over the past several weeks.”

Pauling said the listening sessions are a step in the right direction but she still isn’t sure parents will actually be heard. She doesn’t believe anything has been done right in the redistricting process so far and would like the district to start the process over.

“They will say ‘we listened,’ but then nothing potentially will be addressed, or the predetermined outcome that we think is going to happen will happen anyway,” Pauling said. “It’s hard to trust the process.”

The superintendent said no decisions have been made yet and parental input will be at the front of district leaders’ minds.

The Board of Education will hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the feedback received at the listening sessions. Marschhausen said the goal is to release the final map by Nov. 10.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Employees at the Central Ohio Transit Authority are marking the end of growing season with their final produce giveaway of the year.

It's part of a partnership between COTA's 'Believe Team' and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.

Volunteers with COTA packed 250 boxes to give out. They distributed more than 37 pounds of produce at its four events this year, serving at least 2,000 families in central Ohio.

COTA has been holding the produce giveaways since 2022, and organizers said they are blown away by the program's success.

"When we first started it, I didn't think it would be this huge," said Ivy Curtis, legal and security administrator for COTA. "Each year we do it, it gets larger and larger. And actually, this is our first time at this location, out at Great Southern, and it's a huge success so far."

COTA said its produce stand will be back with its first distribution event in April.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Leaders of the only domestic violence shelter in Franklin County said they are at risk of having to cut more than half of their shelter beds due to federal cuts.

Lutheran Social Services CHOICES said it will lose a significant amount of federal funding by next summer.

With the high demand CHOICES is experiencing, the shelter is already having to turn people in danger away. Leadership is now calling on the community to keep this serious situation from getting worse.

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“It keeps me from sleeping,” Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio President and CEO Rachel Lustig said.

Lustig said the federal government used to provide around 25% of CHOICES’  funding. She said that over the last several years, that amount has dropped to about 2%. 

“So, we are looking at a very serious situation of how do we keep CHOICES providing this level of service to our community,” Lustig said.

She said they’ve learned that amount is expected to drop more by next summer and after running the numbers, she said CHOICES would have to reduce the number of beds from 120 to 48.

“We're talking mothers with children, we’re talking about the lives of children who often wouldn't have a place to flee when they need to be able to go to a safe home environment to be able to go to,” Lustig said.

Lustig said it costs around $4 million to maintain the domestic violence shelter. She said CHOICES is not just providing shelter, but three meals a day, legal services and a 24-hour hotline. She said they currently receive around $1.2 million from state and local resources and have to raise the rest. 

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

“I think that we have to invite everybody in the community to be a part of the solution,” Lustig said. “We have to remind people that these are our neighbors,” Lustig said. “We're going to do everything we can to be there with you.”

Lustig said CHOICES tripled in size since 2018 to be able to respond to the needs of a growing community. She said that happened at the same time they saw these inflationary pressures over the course of the last couple of years that have increased the cost. 

These funding cuts come at a time when Columbus has seen a continuous rise in domestic violence over the last several years. Columbus Police data shows there have been 23 domestic violence-related homicides so far this year.

The city's Office of Violence Prevention Director Rena Shak sent the following statement on the matter. It reads:

“Supporting domestic violence victim and survivor services, including CHOICES, is a top priority for Mayor Ginther and the Office of Violence Prevention. We have been working closely with LSS and CHOICES to monitor their funding expectations and concerns, while encouraging collaboration within the entire Columbus community to make resources available to individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.  We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our partners in this space to serve domestic violence victims and will remain dedicated to all three prongs of our domestic violence prevention strategy.”

Lustig said they will do everything they can to raise awareness about this concern and keep providing services to the people in need. Lustig said they receive about 4,400 calls to their hotline each year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a collision on Stelzer Road just south of Montcair Drive Wednesday afternoon.

The victim was involved in a collision that occurred only minutes earlier. According to Columbus police, the victim was "standing between two vehicles, when the third vehicle struck the rear vehicle," causing a fatal injury to the victim.

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

The Accident Investigation Unit has opened an investigation.

Police are asking anyone with information about the vehicle or driver to contact the Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767.

COSHOCTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Years after the death of a central Ohio 15-month-old, her mother is still pleading for answers. 

Graclynn Young died in the care of a babysitter in 2021. That babysitter is now serving three years for child endangerment, but Graclynn’s death is still being investigated as a homicide. 

NBC4 Investigates spoke with the child’s mother, who is asking anyone who knows something to come forward. 

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

Documents show Graclynn died from multiple blunt force trauma to her head during the timeframe she was in her babysitter’s care, but Coshocton County Sheriff’s investigators have hit a wall. The other people who had access to Graclynn in the timeframe experts estimate she received the deadly injury are now staying silent. 

“That little girl was the happiest baby in the world. The only time she cried was if somebody was eating around her and she wasn't,” Graclynn’s mother Cheyene Untied said. 

That’s how Untied remembers Graclynn: happy and always hungry. 

“Cheeseburgers were her favorite meal,” Untied said. 

She would have been five years old, but she died at 15 months after a skull fracture caused by multiple blunt force trauma. 

“There were four separate points of impact at minimum, so there is no way that it was an accident,” Untied said 

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Testimony from a former forensic neuropathologist for the City of New York, who served as an expert in the trial, states: “This is on the order of the type of injuries that I saw in New York City of, you know, babies being pushed in a stroller and getting hit by a car.”

Kristin Neff, the Coshocton babysitter taking care of Graclynn that day, was found guilty of child endangerment in August. 

“It was a relief because this may be the only justice Graclynn ever gets, but frustrated because it also may be the only justice she ever gets,” Untied said. 

While Neff is serving time, Graclynn’s case is still being investigated as a homicide. 

The detectives investigating this case say right now there isn’t enough evidence to convict anyone of homicide.  

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“I'm exhausted,” Untied said. “The fight is not over, so I don't get to sit back and relax and continue with my life.”

The court transcript shows six people had access to Graclynn around the estimated time of her injury: Neff, her three minor children, her fiancé, and his mother, who is a neighbor. They have not been charged with a crime, so NBC4 is not naming them. The transcript states, and other sources confirm, they are suspects in Graclynn’s death.

“There were six people there that day, which is why we can't get the homicide charge quite yet,” Untied said. 

The neighbor runs childcare out of her home in Coshocton. NBC4 Investigates found four complaints to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth going back to 2022 about that daycare. Because she has not been convicted of crime, she is allowed to keep the daycare open. 

NBC4 Investigates spoke with Neff’s lawyer. She advised those who were named as suspects to invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during Neff’s trial, and they did. 

NBC4 also spoke with a Capital University law professor about the Fifth Amendment.

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“At any point, in the middle of an interview, at trial, at any point where you feel that an answer would incriminate yourself and expose you to criminal liability, you may refuse to answer,” Capital University Assistant Law Professor Robert Barnhart said. 

Now the case has stalled, if someone knows what happened, they haven’t come forward, but detectives are not closing the case. 

“Criminal law is just very fundamentally human, and you need other human beings to explain what happened or who was responsible,” Barnhart said. “What doesn't happen a lot, oddly enough, in criminal law is that people don't talk -- defendants, suspects, witnesses talk to the police all the time. They talk to the police all the time after being told explicitly they don't have to.”

Untied is holding out hope that is what happens so she can get answers. 

“If we can save one kid by telling Graclynn’s story, then Graclynn’s death served a purpose, and it sucks but sometimes that's what it takes to make change,” Untied said. 

Neff was sentenced to three years in prison. She is appealing. 

Detectives continue to investigate, and if more evidence is found, tomorrow or years down the road, they will file additional charges.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus City School District high school football game to be played in the northeast section of the city has been cancelled.

According to a media alert from CCS, this Friday’s game versus Northland will be cancelled “due to an ongoing concern directly involving the safety of Beechcroft High School football student-athletes.” Beechcroft's season will therefore conclude with its last game having been played in Week 9 on Oct. 17, the district said.

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Though the district did not specify what safety concerns it had, the cancellation comes four days after a shooting took place in the Northgate neighborhood, where two juveniles were shot just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

No suspects have been identified in the shooting, which took place near the intersection of Beechcroft Road and Sharon Woods Boulevard, where the high school is located.

Two victims were found near the high school and taken to a hospital in stable condition. At the time of the shooting, police said two to three people were seen exiting a black Honda SUV and fired shots at multiple individuals.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4323 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 to leave an anonymous tip.

The game between Beechcroft and Northland will result in a forfeit loss for the Cougars, who will finish the season with a 3-7 overall record and 2-4 in the City League North. The Vikings end their season at 7-3 (5-1).

For all of NBC4's Week 10 central Ohio area football coverage, visit our Football Friday Nite Scoreboard.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A child was hospitalized after a shooting Wednesday in east Columbus that police said appears to be accidental.

The shooting happened in the 1700 block of Lonsdale Road at the Pine Hill Townhomes, near the intersection of Lonsdale Road and East Livingston Avenue, according to Columbus police.

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The boy who was shot is under the age of 12, according to police, and used a handgun. He is listed in stable condition at an area hospital.

Two adults were taken into custody. No other details were immediately available.

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In seven months, Kent Lankas went from living under bridges as one of many homeless Athens residents to sheltered, employed and helping others recover, an accomplishment he attributes to support from local nonprofit The Gathering Place.

"That one thing of having shelter, of having security, allowed me to come so far," Lankas said.

Lankas shared his story in a packed Athens City Council meeting Monday night in support of an ordinance to allow temporary shelters for homeless individuals on North Congress Street. Proponents of the plan said it is an opportunity to address Athens' large homelessness problem. Opponents said the location poses safety concerns so close to Ohio University students and Athens Middle School.

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"We should feel safe and comfortable in our own house," Ohio University student Allison Perry, who lives on the same street as the proposed temporary housing, said.

Athens' homeless population has spiked since the pandemic. According to the Athens County Foundation, between 40%-60% of homeless Athens residents are employed, but a lack of a livable wage and affordable housing drives housing insecurity. In 2023, the Athens Homeless Coalition counted 342 homeless individuals, likely a low estimate due to data collection difficulties.

Council is considering allowing The Gathering Place to erect three dry, warm and safe microshelters, called Conestoga huts. Among the many testimonies were accounts of homeless people who lost a leg or their lives sleeping in the cold. Proponents emphasized the need for approval before winter.

The shelters are slated for the parking lot shared by The Gathering Place and affiliate male sober living facility Mike's Bridge House. The Gathering Place has helped Athens residents for nearly 50 years. It said the Conestoga huts would begin as a pilot program.

Map courtesy of Google Maps

The site is surrounded primarily by student housing, and is about 200 feet from Athens Middle School. It is also just blocks from Court Street, the primary Uptown street in Athens that is home to a number of bars and student apartments.

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Students like Perry said they appreciated what the huts would do, but they would not feel safe living next to them. Athens resident Jack Stauffer said he represents a small group of businessmen and residents concerned by how the huts might affect aesthetics and Ohio University, the regions largest economic contributor.

"We are concerned about the image of our town," Stauffer said. "We don't want a homeless encampment one block from Court Street."

Athens resident Aaron Leatherwood also disagreed with the site selection. He said drug offenses carry larger penalties in proximity to the middle school. He suggested alternate locations, but none have been made available.

"When we are trying to help people, we need to set them set up for success," he said.

To qualify for the Conestoga hut housing, residents must already be working with The Gathering Place and seeking permanent shelter. Residents must also agree to adhere to a wellness plan tracked by the nonprofit.

Huts will be unlocked at night to allow the people in to sleep, then locked up in the morning once they leave; the huts will then remain inaccessible during the day. The inexpensive huts offer small covered outdoor space with about 60 square feet inside with a lockable door and window, a twin bed and storage. They do not include kitchen or bathroom access, so residents will use nonprofit facilities and have access to a porta-john.

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"I understand the concerns about the possibility of them getting alcohol and drugs, but that exists now. They’re out on the streets now. They have no shelter now," The Plains resident and Gathering Place member Nathan Crowley said. "For them, this gives them that one step."

Many speakers, including Crowley, have been victims of violent crimes perpetrated by homeless individuals. Many said desperation drives crime, and housing could help reduce threats to the public. Council member Solveig Spjeldnes said male students likely pose a bigger threat to female students than homeless people in recovery.

"I am not kicking any members of the (general public) out of my yard for urinating in the bushes or throwing beer cans at 3 a.m.," Lankas said. "I understand that student life is student life ... but also we, as a community and as adults, need to not shelter people from the fact that the world can be difficult sometimes."

Monday night's meeting included a public hearing and the first formal reading of the ordinance. Council members unanimously altered the ordinance language so that it must be reviewed and renewed every year by the city's service safety director. The ordinance is scheduled to be voted on at its third reading. City council next meets for a likely second reading on Nov. 3.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Honey, your pumpkin wish list has been granted.

Dublin pumpkin artist Jeanette Paras of "Paras Pumpkins" unveiled her annual Halloween season pumpkin, which usually takes the form of a celebrity. And no its not Elizabeth Taylor, its the showgirl herself Taylor Swift for the second time in three years.

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Paras unveiled the 735-pound pumpkin she painted that takes the likeness of Swift making her appearance on her fiancé Travis Kelce's podcast "New Heights", where Swift announced details on her latest album "The Life of a Showgirl", which launched on Oct. 2.

The pumpkin was grown by Ashland natives Dan and Julia Kamburoff to help Paras continue her pumpkin tradition.

Paras Pumpkins 2025 Taylor Swift design

• Central Ohio pumpkin artist "Paras Pumpkins" unveils 2025 Taylor Swift pumpkin design. (Courtesy Photo / Jeanette Paras)
• Central Ohio pumpkin artist "Paras Pumpkins" unveils 2025 Taylor Swift pumpkin design. (Courtesy Photo / Jeanette Paras)

Paras has been turning giant pumpkins into works of arts for decades and this year's Taylor SwiftKin does have an eldest. She painted a 399-pound pumpkin into Taylor Swift in 2023. Other celebrities she has emulated into the fall fruit include "Saturday Night Live" cast member Bowen Yang, President Donald Trump, and Betty White.

Paras Pumpkins previous artworks

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• Bowen YangKin (Photo Courtesy/ Paras Pumpkins)
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On her website, Paras said these works can take roughly 25 to 30 hours in total from the research stage to the finished product. As a two-time breast cancer "thrive-r", according to her website, she has teamed up with the Stefanie Spielman Fund for breast cancer research at Ohio State.

To learn more about how to donate, click here.