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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has announced that the candidates for the 2025 ARRL Division elections are now official. ARRL members will choose between four candidates for Director in the Southeastern Division, two candidates for Director in the Pacific and Southwestern Divisions, and two candidates for Vice Director in the Southwestern Division. The Directors in the Rocky Mo...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Columbus Metropolitan Library's School Help locations and hours

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

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

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

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

Reading Buddies program

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

Teens Create Open Studio locations and hours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After-school snack program

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Sherrod Brown announced on Monday he will run for the U.S. Senate once again, setting the stage for a 2026 showdown against Republican Jon Husted.

Brown's comeback bid re-enters him into the national spotlight just over a year after narrowly losing re-election in 2024. The 72-year-old Democrat represented Ohio in the Senate from 2007 to 2025 and has remained active since his departure through his nonprofit "Dignity of Work Institute." His campaign is already drawing national attention as Democrats look to reclaim control of the Senate.

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

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

Polls suggest the race will be competitive: an April poll by the Democracy and Public Policy Network at Bowling Green State University shows Husted leading Brown by three percentage points, within the margin of error.

As part of a press release Monday morning, Brown's campaign said, "Washington is making life harder for Ohioans by pushing reckless tariffs and economic chaos, spiking drug prices, ripping away health insurance and raising the deficit – all to give billionaires the largest tax cut in American history – Sherrod is running for Senate to make a real difference for Ohioans."

Democrats need to flip four seats in 2026 to retake the Senate majority, and Brown's return significantly improves their odds in Ohio. Despite Trump winning Ohio by double digits in 2024, Brown's past success in winning statewide has Democrats optimistic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly met with Brown multiple times in Columbus to urge him to run.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The City of Columbus has hired a handful of furry, hoofed landscapers to help remove invasive plants at Antrim Park. 

Tracy Chesney operates a Columbus affiliate of Goats on the Go, a national organization that specializes in goat grazing. On Aug. 9, Chesney brought 20 of her goats, which are all around 3 years old, to Antrim Park in north Columbus. 

The goats are hard at work to remove invasive plants, such as honeysuckle shrubs and poison ivy, in a half-acre area bordered by an electric fence. Chesney said the goats are eventually supposed to graze a total of two acres, but containing them in smaller zones helps ensure they graze the whole area and do not just eat their favorite plants. 

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“I always think of it as you're making sure they sit at the table and eat everything on their plate,” Chesney said. “It just helps them to focus.”

While Antrim Park visitors can see the goats, they cannot pet them. Chesney said it’s important that the little employees do not get distracted. 

“That is something that they're, I would say they're struggling with, but they're adapting to now, because they're naturally curious,” Chesney said. 

Most of Chesney’s customers want to avoid using herbicides and chemicals on their property, she said. Goats can also provide an alternative to the use of heavy equipment, which can cause erosion, especially on sloped lands.

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“There's really probably a place for all the tools we have and goats are just a part of that,” she said. “They'll really eat the soft parts on trees and weeds. But other than that, just like every other livestock, they're going to eat the green stuff, and that helps to suppress the growth of the plant.”

Many invasive plants reproduce by spreading seeds, but when goats graze on these plants, they significantly hamper the ability to reproduce seeds, according to Goats on the Go. Additionally, goat manure is beneficial to soil, acting as a natural fertilizer. 

“These invasive plants do really well in poor soil where our native plants don't,” Chesley said. “So adding the fertilizer back into the ground really does, especially over repeated grazing, have a huge impact.”

A few of Chesney’s goats also briefly visited Antrim Park in April to help her and the park prepare to launch the pilot program. This project marks the first time the city’s recreation and parks department has used goats at a park to tackle invasive plants, according to the agency's Communications and Marketing Manager Stephanie Garling. 

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Garling said the goats’ services cost $4,100, which she called “much more cost-effective than other options.” A lot of the price tag comes from building the fence and Goats on the Go workers continuously monitoring the animals, according to Chesney.

Chesney’s team checks on the goats one to two times a day to ensure their health and safety. Park staff and local police also monitor the animals periodically during the day and night. 

How long the goats will stay at Antrim Park will depend on how much time it takes them to graze the area. Chesney estimated it will take the goats a total of three weeks to complete the job.

Goats on the Go is an Iowa-based company with about 65 affiliates across the country. Chesney said there are two other branches in central Ohio, amounting to a total of three affiliates in the state.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's back to school week for much of central Ohio, but decades ago students would still have some summer break left.

It used to be common for schools to return after Labor Day, but just three out of dozens central Ohio districts will begin after Sept. 1 this year. In Ohio, the switch to earlier classes came 30 years ago with an emphasis on school tests.

Beginning with the graduating class of 1994, Ohio legislators required public school students to take standardized tests in high school to ensure proficiency in key subjects. This was extended further in 2002 when the No Child Left Behind Act was introduced and mandated standardized testing.

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Today, Ohio requires students in grades 3-8 to take standardized tests in English and math, and grades 5 and 8 must also take a science test. High school students must also prove competency in English and Algebra, although state tests are just one way to achieve this requirement.

These tests are administered in the spring, starting in late March. As standardized tests became integral to measuring student and district success, schools began to start earlier to allow more time to prepare. If a test is in April, a mid-August to late May calendar offers more time to prepare than a September to June school year.

Although standardized tests drove the move toward earlier start dates, they are not the only factor. In central Ohio, 95% of school districts start between Aug. 10 and 23 this year, according to an analysis of back to school dates. However, some states' average start dates skew closer to the start of the month, and some trail into September.

Some states have laws dictating when they begin. For instance, Iowa has a law preventing schools from starting before Aug. 23 to ensure there is no crossover between school and the Iowa State Fair. Other states respond to local community wishes, such as in Georgia, where nearly three-quarters of schools have switched to an earlier start so they can have more breaks during the year.

Ohio grants school districts the right to choose when they start school, but most choose mid-August. The Ohio High School Athletic Association sets a start date for when sports can begin coaching, and most fall sports fall around Aug. 1. Schools are incentivized to go back by the time sports seasons begin in mid to late August.

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Starting in mid-August also allows Ohio students to have a clean break between semesters. A later start date pushes the end of the semester back, and some schools used to have semester exams after their winter break ended. Starting earlier helps ensure districts can wrap up the semester before the holidays so students aren't tested after weeks off from school.

Although most schools start earlier, no school is required to. Districts set dates to reflect the needs and expectations of their communities.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As predicted last week by petroleum analysis experts, central Ohio got hit with another round of price-cycling, with the cost of gasoline jumping well above the $3 per gallon threshold.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, gas prices rose 14 cents in the last week to average out at $3.14 per gallon. The current price is 13.3 cents higher than four weeks ago but remains 31.6 cents lower than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.72 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.30, a difference of $58 per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also jumped by 13.2 cents from $2.92 per gallon to $3.05 per gallon

Nationally, gas prices did not budge, holding steady at $3.08 per gallon. The price of diesel dropped by 1.9 cents, settling in at $3.67 per gallon.

What is price cycling?

GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan says he expects more of the same in midwestern states, which typically go through larger, abrupt changes due to price-cycling strategies. Prices in Ohio, therefore, could experience a decline over the next couple of weeks.

“Price cycling markets once again led the biggest weekly price changes, with Ohio and Florida seeing a cycle and higher prices last week,” De Haan said. “For the majority of motorists in non-cycling states, gas prices will likely remain near current levels as we head toward Labor Day. However, it’s worth watching developments around a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A push to repeal Ohio's same-sex marriage ban is gaining urgency after former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis asked the U.S. Supreme Court last week to revisit Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

Davis, who gained national attention a decade ago for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is appealing a ruling that requires her to pay $360,000 in damages and legal fees to a couple she denied in 2015. In her petition to the high court, Davis argues the First Amendment shields her from personal liability and is calling on the justices to overturn Obergefell, which she claims was "egregiously wrong" and a threat to religious freedom.

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"This flawed opinion has produced disastrous results," her legal filing states, "leaving individuals like Davis finding it increasingly difficult to participate in society."

This marks the first time since Obergefell was decided that the Supreme Court has been formally asked to reconsider marriage equality. The move has alarmed LGBTQ+ advocates in Ohio, where a 2004 constitutional amendment still defines marriage as only between a man and a woman -- language that remains on the books despite being unenforceable under current law.

A preemptive strike

Ohio Equal Rights, a grassroots organization, is collecting signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would repeal the state's same-sex marriage ban.

"Regardless of what the Supreme Court decides this time, attacks on our rights will keep coming," the group said in a statement. "We're fighting to repeal Ohio's gay marriage ban so marriage is protected here -- no matter what happens federally."

Lis Regula, executive co-chair of Ohio Equal Rights, said in a previous NBC4 interview that the effort is about ensuring state protections remain in place, especially if Obergefell is overturned.

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“Just in case Obergefell falls, we want to not have that trigger language in Ohio's constitution anymore," Regula told NBC4 in a previous interview. "It's not right, knowing all the advantages and all the privileges that come with being able to be married to someone, that marriage should be only for certain people and not for others."

The concern is not unfounded. In 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the court should also reconsider other substantive due process rulings, including Obergefell.

Legislative backing

Democratic lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse have echoed these concerns. In June, they introduced a resolution to place their own marriage equality amendment on the 2026 ballot. A similar effort last year, to align Ohio law with the federal protections of Obergefell, stalled in committee.

Ballot strategy and hurdles

Ohio Equal Rights is also collecting signatures for a separate amendment that would add broad anti-discrimination protections to the state constitution -- covering race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and more. The group initially sought to combine the marriage and discrimination initiatives into one amendment, but the Ohio Ballot Board voted in July to split them into two.

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To qualify for the 2026 ballot, the organization must gather signatures from at least 10% of voters from the last gubernatorial election, spread across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. All signatures must be submitted and verified by the secretary of state at least 65 days before the election.

If successful, the proposals would follow in the footsteps of other constitutional amendments in recent years. In 2023, voters approved Issues 1 and 2, establishing the right to abortion and legalizing recreational marijuana, each with around 57% support. Another amendment, Issue 1 in 2024, aimed at changing how political districts are drawn, failed by a 53-47 margin.

COMMERCIAL POINT, Ohio (WCMH) - A fire at a Commercial Point property destroyed a barn and killed seven horses, and now the owners are left to pick up the pieces.

Firefighters were called just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday to the home near Commercial Point Road. The barn, owned by Bill and Diane Capretta, was home to their horse boarding business.

"It means everything to me,” Bill Capretta said. “It's where I do my horses every day. That's why we live here. I raised my family here. It's my life.”

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Capretta recalled the moments that are now burned in his memory.

“I was still in bed,” he said. “It was 6 o’clock, and my neighbor here was going out the driveway to go to work, and he saw nothing. No smoke, no nothing. Normal morning. And ten minutes later, his wife called and said, ‘Bill, your barn’s on fire.’ I'm thinking, OK, I can maybe get some of the horses out, but the whole hallway was already engulfed. I couldn't even get in there, you know? And, so, yeah, it was pretty, I don't have a word for it at this point. It was devastating. You just saw your whole life go away from you that you've done for 30 years.”

Capretta is a retired Columbus Police Officer; he served as president of the police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, for six years after that. Working as a police officer for three decades, he learned very young that he needed an outlet. That outlet became horses.

"I've been doing it since I was 24 years old,” he said. “I needed something to offset whatever I did. And I kind of like the cowboy life and, you know, I just, in the country life for sure. It was a great break and relief because I worked the street for 25 years on the late shift, on what they called paddy wagons or ambulance cruisers. So, we took all the, the bad runs and stuff like that. And, but when I came home, I wasn't all hung up with it. I had something else to go to.”

In his retirement, Capretta boarded horses for other clients. All seven horses that died in the fire belonged to clients.

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"I know all my boarders personally and I knew it was going to affect them; for a couple of the girls, one was 23, I was 13, these girls love their horses,” Bill Capretta said. “They live for them, and it's no different than if they lost a family member.”

Both Bill and Diane Capretta are retired and now fight various health issues as well. The boarding business was a major source of income for them, and now it's gone. The community has already stepped up for them. 

“The family would like everyone to know what a humbling experience this has been,” Kendall Capretta, their daughter, wrote. “When you’re from a farm town, it could happen to anyone. We can’t thank the community enough for banding together to help at a time like this. Friends, and even strangers. Neighbors from miles down the road we’ve never met, rushing here with their equipment to help. Pick'Em Up Joe Coffee Co. in Commercial Point donating their profits from Saturday. The Summer Market in South Bloomfield, taking donations. It’s been so special to see, and we couldn’t be more grateful. They’ve truly shown us what ‘community’ means.”

"When something bad happens, they all show up, you know, because most of them are farmers and they understand, that's country living. It was amazing," Bill Capretta said.

Scioto Township Fire Department and at least two other local fire departments were on the scene to put out the blaze, returning twice over the following days to extinguish hotspots. The question that still weighs heavily on Capretta, though, is how did the fire start?

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"The fire inspectors have been here,” he said. “They don't really know. When I saw the fire, it was in this right-hand corner right here. My hay was clear back in another barn and there was no new hay. It was brought in, that was all, been there all winter. So, they really don't know. All my electric was in conduit. It was put in right. It is very frustrating. You just have to assume something like that happens because it usually is either hay or electrical, because it went so fast. I mean, it looked more like electrical fire, you know? And I just don't know.”

Now the Caprettas are considering their next steps.

Capretta said he's gone through so many emotions since the fire, but he thinks there's still a path forward, with all the help from the community and his family.

"I'm 78 years old,” he said. “I start over, you know? Well, why not? I'm still here, you know, but I got to figure out how I'm going to do it because this is all going to be cleaned out. I got to build a new barn and start all over again. And, long as the good Lord keeps me here, I might as well do something. My goal at this point is to rebuild.”

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- AEP Ohio reports power outages caused by animals have been cut nearly in half since last year.

In June 2024, the company reported more than 1,100 outages caused by animals; this June, that number was 586.

Conversations are emerging about the Christopher Columbus statue that once stood outside of city hall

“In the last year especially, we've had a hard focus on how to prevent outages for customers,” AEP Ohio Columbus Operations Manager Dylan Brown said.

He credited this success to its animal mitigation system. In the last year, Davis said that AEP Ohio has invested more than $158 million into preventative measures for outages, including upgrading animal mitigation efforts. The most noticeable piece of equipment is black pole wrap.

“This is something you see on a lot of our poles," he said. "We install this to keep the animal from coming in at the base of the pole, up the pole and contacting our energized equipment, causing an outage."

AEP Ohio also installs spinners on its power lines.

“The squirrel or the raccoon would jump over this, trying to run down the line, and this spins it off,” he said.

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Brown said they also install bushing covers, which keep animals from touching any energized sources.

“This is to protect the animal, too," Davis said. "You know, we're trying to prevent an outage. It's never easy to have an outage. Nobody wants to experience that. There's nothing nutritious about our equipment, our lines, anything. They're getting into our stuff, and then, at the end of the day, if they cause an outage, most likely the animal doesn't make it.”

Brown said AEP Ohio is still working to get the measures installed across Ohio. He said every time AEP workers respond to an outage, if the electrical pole doesn’t already have these deterrents, they will install them.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum:

• Sherrod Brown appears to have made up his mind about his political future.

“I guess he wants, 50 years wasn’t long enough, and well, we’ll see if he actually runs,” Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said.

Hear more from Husted about the possibility of facing off against Brown at the ballot box.

• Experts said Social Security will run out of money within the next decade if changes aren’t made.

“People have questions, people are concerned, people are frustrated, people are scared,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) said.

“So, we're going to go, we're going to go through this thoughtfully, in a bipartisan way,” Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) said.

Hear from Ohio lawmakers on what they are doing to try to shore up the program.

• Do utility companies have too much leeway with their regulators?

“It’s the utilities that have the opportunity to influence and change the auditor’s recommendation,” Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Director Maureen Willis said.

Why the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel said there needs to be more transparency in the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s audit process.

• Does Sherrod Brown have a chance to mount a political comeback and retake a seat in the Senate, or does Ohio’s political shift to the right make it an uphill battle? Republican strategist Will Hinman and Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg weigh in.