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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after being struck by a car near a casino on the south side of Columbus Sunday night.

According to a Columbus police dispatcher, the accident was reported at approximately 9:21 p.m. near Eldorado Scioto Downs Casino on the 6000 block of South High Street.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

There is no further information available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus Blue Jackets' 25th anniversary season kicks off this week, and the band O.A.R. had a special, fun weekend to support the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.

O.A.R.’s Crazy Game of Hockey event was held Sunday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus, and it was an appropriately named event.

The game featured the band members from OAR, lots of former Blue Jackets like Rich Nash and Cam Atkinson, as well as other celebrities.

All proceeds from the event are going to the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.

Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, said the entire weekend was incredible as is the continued support from Columbus, a place her family loves to call home,

"I really feel so much support here, so that's one of the main reasons that we're here, and just being able to have these events for everyone in the city is, you know, it makes it fun on both ends,” she said. “On Friday night, when it was the concert and they presented the check, it was so, so generous, and the whole team was kind of behind me for that. So that almost felt a little symbolic, too.”

The Blue Jackets start the season Thursday on the road in Nashville, taking on the Predators, and on Saturday, facing the Minnesota Wild; the home opener for the Jackets will be one week from Monday, on Oct. 13, against the New Jersey Devils.

For more on the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, visit its website by clicking here.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) -- Skywatchers have several events this month to look forward to, starting with the full Harvest Moon, which peaks at 11:48 p.m. EDT Monday.

This will be the first supermoon of 2025, appearing opposite the sun and fully illuminated in the evening after sunset on Monday. A supermoon happens when the moon is near its closest position to Earth, appearing a little larger and brighter than usual, with an orange-yellow tinge. Even closer supermoons will occur in November and December.

The first full moon after the autumnal equinox (September 22-23) is known as the Harvest Moon because it occurs during the harvest season, when the extra brightness provides additional time for farmers to gather crops and complete field work ahead of winter. Also, look for Saturn a little above and to the right of the moon, and very bright. Later in October, Jupiter will be rising around midnight, higher in the southeastern sky. Venus is currently very low in the sky just before sunrise.

Orionid meteor shower

Later in October, the Orionid meteor shower will be ongoing, with the best views on the night of Oct. 21-22. The Orionids derive their name from the constellation Orion, the point from where meteors appear to originate, called the radiant.

At peak, as many as 10-20 per hour could be visible under ideal conditions, traveling at about 41 million miles per second. A few particularly bright ones are possible, best seen after 1 a.m. up to the beginning of twilight. As usual, the best view will be from a dark sky away from city lights.

The annual Orionid show is associated with debris leftover from Halley's Comet, which comes around every 75-76 years. When the tiny particles, estimated to be the size of a grain of sand, enter our atmosphere and burn up, we can observe fleeting streaks of light.

You may be able to catch a few meteors as early as this coming Wednesday evening, shortly after sunset, associated with a weaker Draconid meteor shower.

Viewing the comets

This month will bring a rare opportunity to see not one but two comets: C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and C/2025 R2 (SWAN). Both were discovered this year: one from the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, and the other from the Solar and Heliospheric spacecraft images.

The origin of comets dates back to the beginning of our solar system and they are composed of ice and rock. The sun causes the ice to turn into gas that carries dust, leaving the familiar tail.

Don Stevens, director of Perkins Observatory at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, said that the comets will be challenging to observe in early October due to the moon's brightness, and they may be best viewed through a telescope.

"C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is just below naked eye visibility in dark rural skies. It is going to be low over the northern horizon, which will make it very difficult to observe unless at a very rural location with no terrain in the way. It will be located below the Big Dipper," he said.

Regarding C/2025 R2 (SWAN), Stevens said this will also be too low to view even in dark rural locations. "It will be low in the southwestern skies in Libra," he said.

There is a possibility that A6 (Lemmon) could be visible later in the month in the evening sky near the horizon. "You will need binoculars to view them and finder charts," Stevens said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on the Sunday Briefing:

• “We are going everywhere in this state,” gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton said. “We are listening deeply, we are going places.”

Acton is hitting the campaign trail, still the only Democrat in the race for Ohio’s governor. Some in her own part are skeptical she can defeat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in a general election match-up.

“I wouldn't be running if I didn't think I could beat him,” Acton said.

Hear why she said she has a clear path to the governor’s mansion.

• It’s day five of the government shutdown, and there’s no end in sight.

“The Democratic caucus has been very clear: no healthcare, no vote,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio 3rd) said.

"This nonsense needs to come to an end,” Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said.

Hear from Ohio lawmakers about the stalemate.

• A one-on-one interview with one of Ohio’s most outspoken members of Congress.

“I think our constitution, I think our constitution is being trampled in a lot of ways,” Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio 8th) said.

Hear why the conservative congressman says the current funding battle goes beyond the usual political disagreements.

• Do Democrats on Capitol Hill have any leverage when it comes to bringing an end to the government shutdown? Republican strategist Terry Casey and Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg discuss the situation at the all-star roundtable.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ann B. Walker, a Columbus media icon, former columnist, journalist, and radio host, has died, according to her family. She was 101.

Walker was the first woman and woman of color in management in Columbus television history and the community service director at NBC4. During her time at NBC4, she interviewed Martin Luther King Jr., senators, congressmen, and President Jimmy Carter, who eventually offered her a position in the White House as a public affairs advisor; this made her the first Black woman from Franklin County to receive a White House appointment.

• Former NBC4 journalist Ann B. Walker with former President Jimmy Carter. (NBC4)
• Ann B. Walker of WLW-C/WCMH/NBC4 in an undated photo (NBC4 archives)
• Ann B. Walker. (NBC4 File Photo)
• Ann B. Walker. (NBC4 File Photo)

Before accepting a job with NBC4, she worked at WVKO Radio and the Ohio Sentinel. Additionally, she was the first female broadcaster to report on the Ohio legislature.

In 2021, the city of Columbus dedicated a plaza to Walker in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood. She is also featured on the Long Street Cultural Wall. Walker was the subject of the documentary "Queen Mother: The Ann B. Walker Story." Watch a report on that documentary in the video player above.

Walker married her husband, Linwood Walker, in 1946, later raising four children. After her husband's death, Walker established a scholarship to honor him.

She held a lifetime membership with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and was a lifelong member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church.

The family did not release Walker's cause of death.

Funeral and burial details have not been released.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State is heading into its next ranked matchup undefeated and still as the No. 1 team in college football.

The Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0) kept its top spot in the new Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls going into Week 7 of the season. Ohio State ousted Minnesota on Saturday 42-3 in its only home game of October, keeping its perfect record and defensive dominance of not allowing double-digit points in any game this season.

Ohio State dominates Minnesota to move to 5-0

The next game on the docket is a big one as the Buckeyes travel to Champaign, Illinois for the first time in a decade to play the No. 17 ranked Fighting Illini at noon Saturday. Ohio State has won each of the last nine Illibuck matchups since 2008 and has not lost at Gies Memorial Stadium since 1991.

The Fighting Illini are now the fifth highest ranked team in the Big Ten ahead of former preseason No. 2 Penn State (3-2, 0-2), whose shock loss to UCLA 42-37 on Saturday sent the Nittany Lions nosediving out of the AP rankings entirely.

Preseason No. 1 Texas also suffered its second loss of the year, losing to unranked Florida 29-21. The Longhorns have gone from No. 1 to start the season to unranked heading into its showdown in Dallas against No. 6 Oklahoma.

2025 Associated Press rankings (Oct. 5, 2025) 1Ohio State (40)2Miami (21)3Oregon (5)4Ole Miss5Texas A&M6Oklahoma7Indiana8Alabama9Texas Tech10Georgia11LSU12Tennessee13Georgia Tech14Missouri15Michigan16Notre Dame17Illinois18BYU19Virginia20Vanderbilt21Arizona State22Iowa State23Memphis24South Florida25Florida State

Penn State and Texas are now out of the playoff picture completely. Using the current rankings, the No. 1 Buckeyes would be projected to play either No. 8 Alabama or No. 9 Texas Tech in a quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

CFP projection using AP rankings

Ohio State-Illinois will be one of three all-ranked matchups in Week 7. The others are Indiana-Oregon, and Alabama-Missouri.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police are investigating a 4-year-old homicide in which a man was gunned down after allegedly thwarting a car robbery.

On Aug. 30, 2021, Marcus Payne was shot and killed near the intersection of Neil and Buttles avenues in the Victorian Village neighborhood, north of Downtown.

Payne, 27, and his brother reportedly approached and confronted individuals who they believed were breaking into the brother’s vehicle. Payne’s mother, Victoria Landrum, told NBC4 that they were shot at soon afterward.

Unsolved Ohio: Daughter seeks answers in father’s 2023 disappearance

“The car was broken into, but there were some guys in a car behind them, and they asked, ‘Did y’all break into my car?’ or whatever,” Landrum said. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

As the brothers began to drive away, someone fired shots towards the brother’s vehicle and Payne was struck in the head. Payne’s brother took him to a hospital, where he remained for nearly two weeks before dying.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus man found guilty of forcing drug addicts into prostitution will serve the rest of his life in prison, but his attorneys have already begun the appeals process.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio, 43-year-old Ricco Maye, accused of leading a drug and sex trafficking ring, was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty on 14 total charges.

Maye, who faced charges of sex trafficking of children by force (two counts), nine counts of possession with intent to distribute, fraud or coercion, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, attempt and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and tampering with a witness, immediately filed an appeal through defense counsel after the sentencing was announced.

Unsolved Ohio: Daughter seeks answers in father’s 2023 disappearance

During the course of the three-week trial in November 2024, testimony detailed that Maye “used individuals to buy and sell drugs, sell women for sex, and fraudulently apply online for COVID-19 relief funds. Proceeds from all the crimes went to the defendant.”

Beginning in at least 2018, Maye’s drug trafficking organization distributed narcotics to addicts in street-level quantities. He regularly purchased narcotics from supply sources both inside and outside of Ohio and used addicts to help sell the drugs in Columbus. In addition to cash, Maye would accept stolen goods, gift cards, Social Security numbers and other items as payment for the drug.

Maye  gave drugs to women for free, court records stated, and later manipulated their addiction by requiring them to earn drug money through prostitution. Maye then provided the means for the women to engage in prostitution – frequently obtaining hotel rooms, having the women driven to the hotels, providing phones and directing internet prostitution ads. Maye collected the prostitution proceeds, enforced specific rules on the women and punished the women through physical violence.

Ricco Lamonte Maye

Maye was also found guilty of providing fentanyl which resulted in an overdose death. In November 2018, Maye communicated with the victim in the hours before his death. The victim had been obtaining cocaine from Maye off and on for years and sought to obtain cocaine from him again in this instance but received a fatal dose of fentanyl instead.

The case against Maye also revealed that he used violence against victims as part of overseeing his drug trafficking organization, including “stomping victims out,” smacking them, punching them, breaking their bones and knocking out their teeth.

In addition to the trafficking charges, Maye and other defendants also filed for and received more than $30,000 in fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Maye kept all or a portion of the others’ benefits. 

Maye attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation into his sex trafficking and other criminal activities and conspired to tamper with witnesses. Maye’s obstruction of justice included his directing the threatened murder of a potential government witness.

Teenager tried as adult in fatal carjacking of Alexa Stakely pleads not guilty

Three of Maye’s charges, distributing a controlled substance, which resulted in one man’s death, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking by force, come with a maximum sentence of life in prison. The other charges included sentences of an aggregate total of 184 years, all of which are to run concurrently with his life sentences.

The sentencing also included restitution payments of $575,596 to eight separate victims or their families.

Maye was one of 10 people charged in the conspiracy case. The full list includes:

NameAlso Known AsAgeCityRicco L. MayeRoscoe39ColumbusAirrika N. Anthony33ColumbusNicole L. GrovesNikki32ColumbusKevin E. Pearson58ColumbusJasmine R. WeatherJazmine, Jazmyne, Jaz23ColumbusJacob M. CapanJake28PickeringtonDanielle C. FergusonDani31ColumbusVincent N. MorrowV39ColumbusAshleigh A. DavisSnowflake28ChillicotheVictor BlakeSlim60Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police said two people were killed Saturday night in separate crashes in the northern portion of the city.

The first crash occurred at 8:52 p.m. when an adult driving a car west on Morse Road towards Indianola Avenue hit a pedestrian. The adult pedestrian was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m.

The second crash was at 9:33 p.m. on the northwest side of Columbus. A man was driving a motorcycle north on Sawmill Road near Hard Road as a Nissan going south on Sawmill Road was preparing to turn into a driveway.

Adult killed in Franklinton shooting

The vehicles collided into each other and the motorcyclist, identified as 38-year-old Justin Hawkins, was ejected. Hawkins was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. The driver of the Nissan remained at the scene.

Columbus police's accident investigation unit is investigating both crashes and anyone with additional information can call 614-645-4767.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a shooting early Sunday morning in a west Columbus neighborhood.

Two shot in South Linden neighborhood

A police dispatcher said that officers were called to the 100 block of Hayden Avenue in Franklinton just after 12:30 a.m. on reports of a shooting. An adult victim was found at the scene with a gunshot wound and taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital at 2:48 a.m. Columbus police is continuing to investigate.

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- Maple Street Biscuit Co. in Powell has closed, along with 13 other locations across the nation, as parent company Cracker Barrel scales back the Southern-inspired breakfast chain.

The Powell restaurant, located at 9711 Sawmill Parkway, opened in February 2024 as the brand's third central Ohio location, after spots in Polaris and Worthington. Known for biscuit dishes like the "Squawking Goat" and the "Eggstreme Biscuits & Gravy," the restaurant chain had been expanding steadily, with other Ohio locations in Canton and Mason.

Death of Hot Chicken Takeover: its 50-cent sale, reflections from founder, and more

Cracker Barrel confirmed the closure in a statement, thanking both customers and employees.

"We appreciate the continued patronage of the many guests who have dined with Maple Street at these 14 locations over recent years and thank our team members for their passionate dedication to Maple Street," the company said.

• (Courtesy Photo/Maple Street Biscuit Co.)
• (Courtesy Photo/Maple Street Biscuit Co.)

The closures come amid broader challenges for Cracker Barrel, which acquired Maple Street in 2019. The Tennessee-based company has faced recent scrutiny after a rebranding effort failed to resonate with longtime customers. The company attempted to modernize its brand to attract a younger demographic, a move that was met with significant pushback.

Before the Powell location opened last year, Jay Quart, Maple Street's vice president of brand and culinary strategy, said the community demand in Columbus played a key role in the chain's expansion.

Gahanna considers developer for Creekside project adding housing, restaurants

"Columbus has been so welcoming to Maple Street," Quart said at the time. "It'll be an honor to grow our ability to serve more breakfast, brunch and lunch to our newest friends and neighbors."

Maple Street operated more than 60 restaurants across 10 states at the time of Powell opening. The Polaris and Worthington locations remain open.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people were shot Saturday night in South Linden.

The shooting happened at about 8:50 p.m. in the 1200 block of East 23rd Avenue.

Map shows approximate location

One person has critical injuries and the second person has serious injuries, according to a police dispatcher. There was no information about a suspect.

No other details were immediately available.

October 5, 2025

In this edition:

• AMSAT 43rd Space Symposium Banquet Reservations Close Thursday, October 9, 2025
• ARISS Announces SSTV Event Begins October 3, 2025
• 43rd Annual AMSAT Symposium Speakers List Announced
• Four US Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
• A Review of the futureGEO Workshop 2025 in Bochum
• VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings October 2025
• GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2025 Rankings
• Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 3, 2025
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT(R) News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat [dot] org .

Sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List. Join this list at: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT 43rd Space Symposium Banquet Reservations Close Thursday, October 9, 2025

Those planning to attend the banquet at the 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting must have their reservation made no later than Thursday, October 9, 2025.

The banquet menu offers the following buffet features:

• Tossed Garden Salad
• Herb Encrusted Chicken Breast
• Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Ginger Crust
• Grilled Sirloin with Wild Mushrooms
• Rice Pilaf
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Roasted Seasonal Vegetables
• Seasonal Cheesecake
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Coffee and Tea

•  

The keynote speaker for the banquet is Liam Cheney, PMP. Liam is an aerospace consultant and founder of Footstep Aerospace by AG3, LLC, where he supports mission integration, strategy, and business development for the space industry. Over the past decade, he has contributed to the successful launch and deployment of numerous CubeSat missions, including many flown through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI), where he previously served as a Mission Manager. He has helped launch multiple AMSAT-supported missions during his time at NASA, Tyvak, and SRI International. Liam also served as the launch services Mission Manager for PREFIRE, which launched in 2024 on back-to-back Rocket Lab Electron flights to study polar heat loss and improve climate modeling.

Keynote Speaker Liam Cheney (Photo courtesy Liam Cheney.)

He holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he authored a thesis on safety standards for CubeSat propulsion systems and contributed to the university’s CubeSat Program. A member of AMSAT, Liam lives in Kansas City with his wife and two children and enjoys astrophotography and craft coffee.

Regrettably, walk-in registrations for the banquet cannot be accepted at the Symposium.

Make your reservation today at https://launch.amsat.org/Events .

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Board of Directors, for the above information.]

Your 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coin Is Waiting!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox-Plus.

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

ARISS SSTV Event Runs Through October 20, 2025

The ARISS team is working towards two short SSTV activations for October 2025. Both of these are expected to start on a Friday and end on the following Monday.

The first event is ARISS’ traditional celebration of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957. The SSTV activation started on Friday, October 3 and will run to end on Monday, October 6. SSTV will be paused for a short time (~ 60 minutes) on Saturday October 4 for a special student voice contact.

The second SSTV campaign is tentatively scheduled to start on Friday, October 17, with a short pause (~60 minutes) for a special student contact on Saturday, October 18, and resume until completion on Monday, October 20.

This interval roughly coincides with the International Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and the SSTV image theme is expected to deal with Scouting.

ARISS expects to offer separate electronic award diplomas for participants who receive at least one image from a campaign and submit it to the SSTV gallery.

Tentative times for the first event are:
2025-10-03 1140 UTC start
2025-10-04 1000 UTC pause for a school event
2025-10-04 1100 UTC resume
2025-10-06 TBD UTC stop

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]

43rd Annual AMSAT Symposium Speakers List Announced

The 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium has an impressive list of presentations scheduled for October 17 and October 18.

Credit: Holiday Inn Suites Phoenix Airport North

Friday, October 17*
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Start Speaker Topic 1:00 PM Introduction/Announcements   1:05 PM AMSAT President Welcome 1:15 PM Cameron Castillo, KJ7ILB ASCENT Team Propulsion 1:45 PM Jim McCullers, WA4CWI Oscar to OsTrax 2:15 PM Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW FoxPlus Mechanical Layout & Design 3:00 PM Heimir Thor Sverrisson, W1ANT Extending Command and Control for GOLF 3:30 PM Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS 4:00 PM Frank Karnauskas, N1UW Youth Initiative 4:30 PM Jim White, WD0E ARDC

Saturday, October 18*

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Start Speaker Topic 8:00 AM Alan Johnston, KU2Y CubeSatSim Update & Demonstration 9:00 AM Agastya Bose, KJ5MSH CubeSatSim 9:15 AM Larry Ryan, W7DGP CubeSatSim 9:30 AM Frederic Raab, KK6NOW Bridging Orbit and Classroom: SatNOGS/CubeSatSim 10:15 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ A New Use for Fox & MESAT-1 Whole Orbit Data Algorithm 10:45 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ Telemetry for FoxPlus & GOLF CubeSats 11:15 AM Kipton Moravec, AE5IB GOLF-TEE Electrical Power Supply (EPS) 1:00 PM Jerry Buxton, N0JY Engineering / GOLF-TEE Update 2:00 PM Mike Moore, K4MVM FoxPlus Update 2:30 PM AMSAT President Annual General Meeting

* All times are Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The presentations will be live streamed on AMSAT’s You Tube Channel, recorded and made available for viewing at a later time.
You can view the complete Symposium schedule at https://www.amsat.org/43rd-amsat-space-symposium-and-annual-general-meeting/ .

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Board of Directors, for the above information.]

Four US Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the US schools/host organizations newly selected for 2026 ARISS contacts. A total of 4 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS.

The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the 4 US host organizations during the Jan 2026 – June 2026 time period. They are now at work starting to implement their 4–6 month education plan which was outlined in their proposal. These STEAM based educational activities help prepare students for their contact as well as create an on-going exploration and interest in aerospace and amateur radio topics. They are also completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.

The schools and host organizations are:

• ASU STEM Preparatory Academy Mesa, AZ
• Conn Magnet Elementary School Raleigh, NC
• The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery Providence, UT
• EcoTarium Worcester, MA

The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]

Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store.

When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

A Review of the futureGEO Workshop 2025 in Bochum

On September 19, 2025, the futureGEO workshop took place under the radome of the Bochum Observatory. Organized by AMSAT-DL with the support of ESA, the event brought together international experts, representatives of amateur radio organizations and dedicated radio amateurs who had previously declared their active participation in an appeal and submitted corresponding proposals. In the spring, AMSAT-DL had invited potential interested parties as part of an RFEI. The aim was to build on the experience gained with QO-100 and to jointly define the first concrete mission ideas for a future amateur radio payload in geostationary orbit.

(Photo courtesy AMSAT-DL)

The workshop was held as a hybrid event. The group was made up of one half who were present on site and the other half who took part online via ZOOM. Andrew Glasbrenner, K04MA, AMSAT VP – Operations represented AMSAT-USA at the meeting.

The purpose of the workshop was to collect, cluster and prioritize ideas:

• Mission & Services – Which communication services and experiments should a new GEO payload enable?
• Payload & antennas – What technical solutions are conceivable?
• Ground station & operation – How can control and operation be organized?
• User segment – Who should have access and how?

In a concluding reflection among the participants, it became clear how much QO-100 has revitalized and enriched the amateur radio community:

• Affordable entry into microwave communication with low-cost SDRs and LNBs.
• Development of open source software such as DVB-S2 encoders and decoders.
• Educational projects from schools to schools contacts with Antarctica and other events.

The participants hope that radio amateurs can be even more involved in the construction of the hardware of a futureGEO with appropriate personal contribution, transparency and participation than was possible with QO-100 due to NDAs with the manufacturers and owners of the parent satellite.

The next steps are clear: The mission ideas developed in the workshop will be further concretized and should be available by the end of 2025 in the form of 1-3 consolidated mission concepts that are both technically exciting and attractive to the international amateur radio community and must also be technically feasible.

Read the entire story at https://amsat-dl.org/en/review-futuregeo-workshop-2025-in-bochum/ .

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]

VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings October 2025

VUCC Satellite Standings for October 2025
VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for September 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025 .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-0lax{text-align:left;vertical-align:top}

JK2XXK 1103 1208 XE1AO 1177 1185 HB9AOF 907 1016 IK3ITB 900 1000 KQ4DO 952 983 W8LR 916 919 KS1G 754 768 LY4AA 670 729 LA6OP 632 663 W0JW 341 654 HB9GWJ 602 631 KO9A 545 547 AB1OC 476 479 K3HPA 400 425 N4QWF 350 376 K5WO 304 326 OH3DP 256 300 AA6DY New 167 JA9OJM 128 151 WB5TX 135 143 S21DX New 128 KM6HB New 104 W5QZ New 102

Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.
AA6DY New 167
S21DX New 128
KM6HB New 104
W5QZ New 102

S21DX is first VUCC Satellite holder from NL51

DXCC Satellite Standings for October 2025
DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for September 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025. .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-0lax{text-align:left;vertical-align:top}

OE9DGV 215 217 HB9RYZ 164 166 LA6OP 154 159 HB9GWJ 143 150 G4BWP 110 134 F6EXV New 114 I4DOR 109 113 US0SY New 101 9A1CAL New 100 KQ4DO New 100

Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders.
F6EXV New 114
US0SY New 101
9A1CAL New 100
KQ4DO New 100

9A1CAL is first DXCC Satellite holder from Croatia and JN86

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information.]

GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2025 Rankings

The October 2025 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.
Updated: 2025-10-02 .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-baqh{text-align:center;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-0lax{text-align:left;vertical-align:top}

1 ND9M 26 KX9X 51 KE0PBR 76 KM4LAO 2 NJ7H 27 DJ8MS 52 KE0WPA 77 VA7LM 3 UT1FG 28 KG5CCI 53 JK2XXK 78 VE7PTN 4 JA9KRO 29 ON4AUC 54 EA4NF 79 N4UFO 5 N5UC 30 N5BO 55 PR8KW 80 N6UTC 6 F5VMJ 31 K8BL 56 XE1ET 81 PT2AP 7 DL6AP 32 KE4AL 57 EB1AO 82 AA8CH 8 DP0POL 33 PA3GAN 58 W7WGC 83 VE1VOX 9 OE3SEU 34 F4BKV 59 LU4JVE 84 FG8OJ 10 WI7P 35 KB5FHK 60 N6DNM 85 PT9BM 11 K5ZM 36 AC0RA 61 SM3NRY 86 YU0W 12 WY7AA 37 JO2ASQ 62 F4DXV 87 KI7UXT 13 HA3FOK 38 VA3VGR 63 KI7QEK 88 KJ7NDY 14 LU5ILA 39 KI0KB 64 W8LR 89 AF5CC 15 N6UA 40 VE3HLS 65 W1AW 90 KB2YSI 16 W5PFG 41 KI7UNJ 66 AA5PK 91 VE3GOP 17 N9IP 42 LA9XGA 67 WD5GRW 92 K0FFY 18 DL2GRC 43 HJ5LVR 68 VE1CWJ 93 JM1CAX 19 AK8CW 44 BG7QIW 69 KE9AJ 94 PS8BR 20 N4AKV 45 DF2ET 70 M1DDD 95 BI1MHK 21 AD0DX 46 N7AGF 71 AD7DB 96 W8MTB 22 AD0HJ 47 JL3RNZ 72 HB9GWJ 97 DK9JC 23 ND0C 48 VK5DG 73 SP5XSD 98 WA9JBQ 24 BA1PK 49 K7TAB 74 DL4EA 99 N4DCW 25 WD9EWK 50 XE3DX 75 N8RO 100 KG4AKV

[ANS thanks Mitch Ahrenstorff, AD0HJ ANS Rotating Editor and @GridMasterMap for the above information.]

[ANS thanks _ for the above information.]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 3, 2025

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ .

This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]

ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Upcoming Contacts
Paterson P-Tech High School/ Paterson Public Schools, Paterson, New Jersey, direct via W2NPT
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1S .
The scheduled crewmember is Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH.
The ARISS mentor is AB1OC.
Contact is go for Monday, October 6. 2025 at 14:24:46 UTC.

Namibia Scientific Society, Windhoek, Namibia, telebridge via ON4ISS.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH.
The ARISS mentor is KA3HDO.
Contact is go for Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10:37:18 UTC.

Completed Contacts
Pobeda schools, Aznakaevsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P.
The ISS callsign was RSØISS.
The crewmember was Sergey Ryzhikov.
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR.
Contact was successful on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 1 10:45 UTC.

Instituto Politecnico Nacional: Planetario “Luis Enrique Erro”, Mexico City (Gustavo A. Madero), Mexico, Direct via XE2L.
The ISS callsign was NA1SS.
The crewmember was Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN.
The ARISS mentor was VE3TBD.
Contact was successful on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 16:40:40 UTC.

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html .

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html .

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

October 11, 2025
North Star Radio Convention
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
https://northstarradio.org/
ADØHJ

October 16, 17, 18, 19, 2025
AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting and 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
1515 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/ .

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

• Suryono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX/N5SNN, Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia, reports “September 28, 2025, was the 10th anniversary of IO-86 (Indonesia OSCAR 86) Satellite. The host vehicle, LAPAN A2 satellite, was launched from India using a PSLV rocket. This 10 years of almost problem-free satellite is beyond imagination, as the service year was designed only for 2 years. Currently the FM voice repeater payload is still working good , only the APRS digipeater is showing reduced sensitivity . The same digipeater box, a Tracker2, that was purchased at the same time in 2008 currently on my bench is also showing the same symptom. Hopefully we can have another 10 years of service from this satellite.” [ANS thanks Suryono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX/N5SNN, Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia for the above information.]

• M2 Antenna Systems Sales Manager Robert Brown, KR7O reports that LEO Pack antenna systems are back in stock and once again available in the AMSAT Store Despite the factory working nearly around the clock, the LEO Pack had been out-of-stock for several months due to a suddden increase in commercial and government orders. The good news is, at this time, there is no price increase. [ANS thanks M2 Antenna Systems Sales Manager Robert Brown, KR7O, for the above information.

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ .

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
• Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW.
f.karnauskas [at] amsat [dot] org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002.
AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio State Buckeyes are back home to take on Minnesota after a road trip out west.

The Buckeyes will look to remain undefeated as they go against a 3-1 Golden Gophers team. The Buckeyes defeated Washington 24-6 on the road last week to move to 4-0 on the season. Minnesota is coming off a 31-28 win over Rutgers.

The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on NBC4.

Follow along below for live updates.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- He isn’t just the mascot. He’s the face of Ohio State pride. During the homecoming game against Minnesota in October 1965, Brutus Buckeye made his debut.

“Picture yourself in front of over 100,000 fans in a huge, heavy costume running this heavy flag down a football field with the entire football team chasing you,” said Emily Williams, 2001-2003 Brutus Buckeye.

To celebrate his 60th birthday, many Brutus alumni were featured in the homecoming parade on Friday night. While they were all Brutus at different times, the dozens of people who have been able to call themselves the mascot were reunited and shared their own experiences.

“It's such an incredible honor to be Brutus. You're really kind of the face or an ambassador for the university,” said Jamie Cleverley, 1996-1999 Brutus Buckeye.

What to know about Ohio State’s game against Minnesota on NBC4

Cleverley grew up in Columbus so he’s been surrounded by Ohio State pride all his life. He said he was in high school leading the student section at a basketball game when an Ohio State red coat approached him and suggested he’d made a good fit. He decided to try out and got the part.

“It was huge. I'm still getting chills right now thinking about it. My first game standing with 100,000 fans around and you're ready to run that flag out. It is almost just overwhelming in a wonderful way feeling like I'm a part of this. This is something that I have watched. I've seen my whole life as a kid and now I'm here,” he said.

The role took him to a Rose Bowl, two Sugar Bowls and a win against Michigan. While he only got to be Brutus for a few years, Cleverley said he will have the lessons learned forever.

“Brutus always has to be on and you've got to be ready for whatever situation gets tossed your way. That's a really great life lesson to be prepared for what comes at you and to try and respond in a positive way,” Cleverley said.

Brutus is a he but there have been four times in Ohio State history where he was a she. That includes Emily Williams. 

“Four women have had the honor to do this and so we have set the stage and that opportunity for other women to try out and be confident that you can do this,” she said.

Williams had experience beforehand as her high school mascot and dreamed of being such an iconic mascot. “I love making people laugh, getting them excited, and entertaining,” she said.

A highlight of her experience was being at the 2002 BCS national championship game in Tempe, Arizona, where the Buckeyes beat Miami in dramatic fashion.

“All the fans are going wild but you had no idea underneath that head I was yelling and screaming and cheering on as well,” Williams said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A woman accused of stabbing a co-worker at an east Columbus hospital is facing an assault charge and received a bond amount in court on Saturday morning.

According to court documents, Makaela Wilson, 25, had her arraignment hearing postponed twice in Franklin County Municipal Court but appeared on Saturday. She is facing a charge of felonious assault after a confrontation occurred at Mount Carmel East hospital on East Broad Street.

Police arrest person suspected in multiple north Columbus stabbings

The stabbing occurred Tuesday morning at 8:50 a.m. when a hospital spokesperson confirmed that two employees were involved in an incident and Columbus police told NBC4 that a man had been stabbed inside a hospital kitchen.

A criminal complaint reports that Wilson was seen on security video fleeing the hospital with a large kitchen knife in her hand and then attempting to conceal it under her shirt. Officers found Wilson in a nearby wooded area, along with the knife on the ground close by.

The victim, who was reportedly bleeding from multiple lacerations to his head, neck, face and torso, was hospitalized in critical condition but later upgraded to stable condition.

Wilson was detained and treated for minor injuries. She declined to speak with detectives and is being held at Franklin County Jail. She received a $1 million bond and has her preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 10.

MARION, Ohio (WCMH) — A years-long investigation concluded after a Marion County man pleaded no contest to rape charges dating back nearly 30 years.

According to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, 52-year-old Michael Stith, of Prospect, Ohio, pleaded no contest on five of 10 counts of rape. The allegations date as far back as 1997, and Stith has been accused of targeting and raping four minors under the age of 13 in and around the city of Marion.

Teenager tried as adult in fatal carjacking of Alexa Stakely pleads not guilty Michael Stith (Courtesy Marion County Prosecutor's Office

Court records state that Stith is accused of sexually assaulting two juveniles between 1997 and 1999 and a motion was filed to dismiss those charges based on statute of limitations. That motion was denied, and Stith was remanded to jail throughout the course of the trial.

A sentencing hearing for Stith is scheduled for Nov. 14, when he faces up to 50 years to life in prison.

You can watch a special edition of NBC4 Sports Extra, taking you behind-the-scenes of Big Ten Saturday night, in the player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While fans watch Ohio State take on Minnesota on NBC4 Saturday night, there's an army of production personnel behind the scenes making sure the broadcast goes smoothly.

The majority of that army arrived in Columbus on Thursday, making the parking lot right outside Ohio Stadium its home this weekend, taking two full days to prepare to bring viewers the best sights and sounds from the game.

Between two production trucks and an RV that serves as a green room, dozens of staff members spend hours preparing for the contest. At the helm of the entire production is Kregg Van Meter, who is the director of operations for the network's Big Ten telecasts. His job is to oversee all the logistics, from coordinating with school officials to booking all the flights for the crew.

What to know about Ohio State’s game against Minnesota on NBC4

"We have a crew of about 140 people. And about 110 of those we travel week to week to week. I tell people all the time this is the modern day equivalent of growing up and joining the circus," Van Meter said.

It's NBC's third season broadcasting Big Ten football in primetime. And Saturday marks the network's second trip to the Horseshoe since Big Ten Saturday Night started. And Van Meter has the preparations down to a science.

"We get here on a Thursday all the gear comes out. All the cameras come out. You set your stage. You take two days to do that," Van Meter said. "You do your show and then you rip it all down in two hours once the game is over. And you move on to the next city."

About 5,000 feet of cable is used in the production, much of it used to connect a total of 25 cameras from the field to the broadcast compound.

While a producer and director are tasked with selecting the best sights and sounds, the voice fans hear the most will be from Noah Eagle, who's been calling Big Ten games for NBC since the network acquired the rights to Saturday night games in 2023.

And Eagle understands well the importance of Buckeye football to the Columbus market and surrounding areas.

"What makes it unique to me is that even in a city that has professional sports and is a major city and has all these other things going on, they're still the number one show in town," Eagle said. "And you feel it every time you go. You feel how passionate the fanbase is. And it stretches wide. Obviously beyond Columbus but just certainly within Columbus, walking around you feel that. And you understand that."

Watch David DeGuzman's extended interview with Noah Eagle in the player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent study claims Columbus is one of the best cities in the country for people with disabilities.

WalletHub compared 182 cities – including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state – across 33 indicators of “disability-friendliness.” Metrics included the employment rate for people with disabilities, the number of disability-accessible restaurants and the cost of doctor’s visits. 

The study sourced data from a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private companies.

Columbus ranked as the fourth-best city for people with disabilities, offering the lowest cost for in-home care of all cities analyzed, and "strong state-level support through CDC funding and Employment First policies," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told NBC4.

"On the quality-of-life side, Columbus performs especially well in education and housing accessibility, ranking 14th for both the number of special-education teachers and the share of accessible homes listed on the market," Lupo said. "However, the city could improve in areas such as accessible dining options and overall walkability, which are important for day-to-day independence."

Taking the No. 1 spot was Minneapolis, largely due to its availability of affordable, quality medical care, according to WalletHub. Additionally, the city has the fifth-most wheelchair-accessible trails in the nation and the 11th-most homes listed for sale that are wheelchair accessible.

Source: WalletHub

Rounding out the top five was St. Louis (No. 2), Scottsdale, Arizona (No. 3) and St. Paul, Minnesota (No. 5). The worst cities for those with disabilities were Juneau, Alaska; South Burlington, Vermont; Gulfport, Mississippi; Pearl City, Hawaii; and Jackson, Mississippi. 

WalletHub’s full study can be found here.