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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Groveport man will spend the at least 14 years in prison after a guilty plea involving the rape of two children.

Court records state that on May 16, 2023, Robert Burns coaxed two girls, ages 6 and 7, to perform and engage in sex acts with him. The victims reported the incidents to police that evening, with one of the girls reporting it was not the first time Burns had sexually abused her.

Evidence collected as part of a police investigation and that of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at Nationwide Children’s Hospital corroborated the victims’ statement, resulting the arrest of Burns. He was charged with two counts of rape and was issued a $200,000 bond at an arraignment hearing.

Charges were updated in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to include four counts of rape and one count of pandering sexual material involving a minor.

Burns, 30, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in September and on Friday he was sentenced to 14-to-17 years in prison based on a joint prison recommendation between the prosecution and defense counsel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A central Ohio-based fast-casual eatery serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food is coming to Easton Town Center. 

Shawerma Bite is preparing to open at 4100 Worth Avenue. The space was previously occupied by Dragon Donuts, which closed last August. 

The restaurant debuted at 12 E. 16th Ave. near Ohio State University in 2020, before opening another location at 5453 Bethel Sawmill Center in northwest Columbus in 2022. It also launched an eatery in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason in June. 

A spokesperson with Shawerma Bite told NBC4 that it expects to open its Easton location in about one month. 

As its name suggests, the eatery is known for its shawarma – thin slices of slow-roasted, marinated meat that are cooked on a vertical rotisserie.

Shawerma Bite allows diners to build customizable bowls and wraps, served on rice, on greens or in a pita, with multiple meat options and falafel available. It offers a variety of toppings, including lettuce, onion, tomatoes, jalapenos, cauliflower and baba ghanoush. Customers can top their bowls and wraps with a sauce, in flavors such as garlic, honey barbecue or tzatziki. 

“This is a perfect location at Easton Town Center for delicious Mediterranean food,” said Dustin Ellsworth, Easton’s general manager. “This is a great addition offering a quick bite for those in nearby offices as well as guests hungry after some games at Pins Mechanical or live music and events at The Yard.”

The restaurant also serves sides including pita chips with garlic sauce, French fries, and pita bread with hummus or baba ghanoush. 

Along with dining in, Shawerma Bite costumers can order takeout, or delivery on platforms such as DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub. Catering services are available as well.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A portion of Interstate 70 through Downtown will shut down this weekend for a bridge demolition.

Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, I-70 East will shut down between Broad Street and High Street. Westbound lanes will close between I-71 and State Route 315.

Drivers will be directed to I-670 as the detour through 5 a.m. Monday.

The Downtown Ramp Up project by the Ohio Department of Transportation is a series of projects to "reconstruct Interstates 70/71 in downtown Columbus and alleviate the biggest safety and congestion problems along the corridor," according to the ODOT website.

The $1.4 billion project will last through summer 2030.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Starting this spring, expectant mothers will have a “world-class” option for giving birth, with exciting new amenities.

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center's new University Hospital is currently under construction, and the facility will house the latest in maternity care on its top three floors. The location will offer complimentary valet service, a direct elevator to Labor and Delivery, private labor and birthing rooms, postpartum rooms, and individual neonatal intensive care unit rooms in collaboration with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, among other “luxe” features. Watch the video in the player above for previous coverage and an inside look at the new hospital.

On its Facebook page, Wexner Medical Center recently shared the progress it is making on its maternity accommodations. Several photos of the hospital's birthing tubs, located opposite large windows with expansive views of the university and Downtown, were posted. The update received more than 3,000 likes, hundreds of comments and nearly 1,000 shares.

“Our new hospital will feature birthing tubs, giving families more comfort and options during labor,” the caption read. “Water birth can ease pain, promote relaxation, and create a calming environment for one of life’s most powerful moments.”

Many people were enthusiastic about the new offering, commenting, “Thank god for windows!!!!!!!!,” “The glow up maternity needed,” “This is so amazing!! OSU is honestly the best,” “Love this, and love the view!!” and “That’s great to see ♥️.”

• A birthing tub in Labor & Delivery/Maternal Care on the 23rd floor of the new inpatient tower. (Photo Courtesy/ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)
• A birthing tub in Labor & Delivery/Maternal Care on the 23rd floor of the new inpatient tower. (Photo Courtesy/ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)
• A birthing tub in Labor & Delivery/Maternal Care on the 23rd floor of the new inpatient tower. (Photo Courtesy/ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)
• A birthing tub in Labor & Delivery/Maternal Care on the 23rd floor of the new inpatient tower. (Photo Courtesy/ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)
• A birthing tub in Labor & Delivery/Maternal Care on the 23rd floor of the new inpatient tower. (Photo Courtesy/ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)

In an email to NBC4, Wexner Medical Center spokesperson Marti Leitch detailed what is presented in the online pictures.

“The tubs shown are in two rooms in the new University Hospital, which is expected to open in early 2026,” Leitch wrote. “We also have portable tubs for use in the other rooms. Nurses and midwives were involved in the design selection of the tubs and step stools.”

One of the top questions posed by readers was whether mothers would be allowed to deliver their babies in the tub. The post's author replied that, “Low-risk women utilizing a midwife can both labor and birth in the tubs.”

Additionally, Leitch helped clarify how the tubs will be used.

“The tubs can be used to labor and give birth, however women need to have a midwife and meet the low-risk criteria for doing so,” Leitch said. “Examples of things that can prevent a woman from giving birth in the tub include a concerning fetal heart rate, maternal high blood pressure, or use of pain medication. This policy is evidence-based and was developed by midwives, nurses and labor and delivery staff.”

Another concern in the social media comments was about the charge for using the tubs, to which the hospital replied that there is “no additional cost for using the birthing tubs.”

One commenter asked about the cleanliness of the tubs, sharing a story about her own birth experience 19 years ago at a different hospital. She said she was allowed to get into a tub to soak after her son was delivered.

“I sat in the tub and they turned the jets on and all kinds of stuff came out of those jets,” she wrote. “I was so scared I was going to get an infection.”

In a reply, the post's author stated that the “tubs do not have jets and are cleaned thoroughly per the manufacturer's instructions after each use.”

The post even received an inquiry about the accommodations for visitors.

“Can you just spend some money on upgrading the couches in the old maternity center?” the commenter wrote. “I genuinely thought about having a LAZYBOY delivered to our room since I was there for 3 straight days.”

“This will replace the current maternity rooms when the new hospital opens,” the hospital responded. “Each of these rooms will feature a fold-out couch for an overnight guest.”

A webpage for the new maternity area on Wexner Medical Center's website provides more information about the state-of-the-art hospital, including services that extend beyond routine births.

“The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is the only Level IV Maternity Center in central Ohio,” the webpage states. “This means we’re equipped to care for the most complex conditions in pregnancy and manage urgent situations that may occur during your labor and postpartum stay.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Franklin County residents voting in this November's election will be weighing Issue 2, a renewal of a tax levy that has supported animal care and day-to-day operations at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for the past 10 years.

If passed on Nov. 4, Issue 2 would maintain the 0.75 mill Columbus Zoo levy for another 10-year period. The levy, which the zoo said Franklin County has been supporting since 1985, was most recently renewed in 2015 and would not increase taxes, continuing to cost residents about $11 a year per $100,000 of their assessed property value.

Tom Schmid, CEO of the Columbus Zoo, previously told NBC4 that the levy's passage is imperative to keep ticket prices fair and ensure the zoo's animals are properly cared for. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the Columbus Zoo levy in the video player above.

"[The levy] allows us to keep the ticket pricing relatively modest as well as membership pricing. It allows us to do a lot of community accessibility programming," Schmid said. "It helps support our education programming. I think those are all things that are important for people that live in Franklin County, live in the city of Columbus."

So, a "yes" vote would be in support of continuing the Columbus Zoo levy for another 10 years, and a "no" vote would be in favor of ending the levy.

This year, the levy is expected to generate about $20.5 million in Columbus Zoo funding. The largest portion of the levy, about 48%, or $12,326,168, is for animal care, according to the zoo's website. Nearly 30%, or $7,408,471, goes toward maintaining the zoo's facilities and grounds. Another 10%, or $2,550,462, supports animal nutrition. Eight percent, or $2,123,678, supports education programs. The remaining 5%, or $1,384,610, is dedicated to animal health.

These levy dollars represent more than a quarter of the zoo's annual $68.6 million operating costs. The zoo's website says the rest of its budget comes from admissions, parking fees, memberships, in-park food and retail sales, corporate sponsorships, donations, education programming and rounds played at Safari Golf Club.

The Columbus Zoo is asking for a renewal of its levy after former CEO Tom Stalf, alongside several other previous zoo executives, were sentenced to prison in 2024 for mishandling nearly $2.3 million in zoo funding several years ago. After Stalf and those other executives resigned, Schmid was named the zoo's new leader in fall 2021.

The zoo is also fighting a legal battle with Liberty Township, which is trying to add on a $1 tax per Columbus Zoo admission ticket to fund local fire and emergency medical services. The tax is based on a Statehouse law, House Bill 315, which passed in April 2024. However, the zoo argues the legislation isn't designed to be imposed on nonprofit organizations like itself.

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Intel's most recent financial report exceeded Wall Street projections, an optimistic update for the chipmaker bringing a $28 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility to Licking County.

On Thursday, Intel announced its third-quarter financial report, the first since the federal government took a stake in the company. CFO David Zinsner said the quarter was "stronger than expected" and that demand -- driven by AI -- is outpacing supply. See previous coverage of the federal acquisition in the video player above.

Generally, Intel leaders did not discuss Ohio One. Instead, the company celebrated completing construction in Arizona on a fifth fab to produce highly advanced chips. Leaders were also excited about increased reliance on AI, which they said is driving interest in Intel's products and services.

Increased demand is encouraging news for Intel, which said the future of the Intel Ohio One plant hinges on gaining new external customers. Intel said its third fiscal quarter generated $13.7 billion, a 3% improvement from this time last year.

Intel also confirmed it laid off more than 13,000 employees over the past three months. The move was part of an active effort to downsize the company and remove bureaucracy. Intel said it had 88,400 employees as of Sept. 27, down from 101,400 in late June. The company plans to end 2025 with just 75,000 employees, so more layoffs may be incoming.

It's been a tumultuous few years for Intel, which delayed its Ohio One plant into 2031 in February. In March, Lip Bu-Tan was appointed as CEO and began trying to remedy prevailing fiscal issues through restructuring efforts and up to 20% layoffs. At Intel's last quarterly financial announcement, Tan said they were further slowing construction in Ohio.

When conservative lawmakers -- including Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and President Donald Trump -- called for Tan's removal, he visited the White House and walked away with an unusual proposition. In August, Trump and Intel completed an agreement authorizing the release of promised government funding in exchange for roughly 10% equity stake in the company.

Speaking on an investors' conference call, Tan voiced his gratitude to Trump for the arrangement. He said the company is "fully committed to advancing the Trump administration's vision" for domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

Under the federal agreement, Intel is set to receive $8.9 billion in federal funding. On Thursday, Intel said it received $5.7 billion so far, on top of $2.2 billion released before Trump took office. Intel said it has been unable to fully connect with federal offices due to the ongoing government shutdown, leaving some company questions unanswered.

"Due to the current U.S. Government shutdown, Intel has been unable to conclude its consultation with the staff of the SEC," Intel's disclosure read. "If the staff of the SEC were to have a different view of the appropriate accounting treatment of these transactions, Intel may revise its third quarter 2025 financial results."

Intel has not yet filed all of the forms it typically would during a fiscal update, so there will likely be more details publicized in the near future.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new bill that would get rid of school levies and Ohio's EdChoice program had its first hearing this week.

Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) introduced Senate Bill 93, which would establish a school funding system without vouchers or levies. Instead, Brenner proposes establishing a financing system supported by statewide taxes. See previous coverage of school funding in the video player above.

Under S.B. 93, school districts would no longer be able to levy property or income tax levies. Instead, Brenner proposes a statewide 20-mill property tax, to be distributed across public and charter schools. He also suggests raising the state sales tax by 1.75%, bringing the total tax to 7.5%. All of the additional sales tax revenue would go directly to education funding.

"This shift is designed to distribute the tax burden more evenly and stabilize how schools are funded across Ohio," Brenner said.

The plan would fund schools on a per-pupil basis, and Brenner expects to allocate about $11,535 per student. He said the funding would "follow" the student to their public or charter school of choice, eliminating the need for some education voucher programs.

Ohio's current funding program also operates per pupil but includes a complex formula that generates a per-pupil base cost tailored to each district, not a statewide figure. Brenner hopes his changes would address concerns with Ohio's school funding that have been ongoing for more than 30 years.

In the 1990s, Ohio's school funding system was declared unconstitutional. In part, the Ohio Supreme Court took issue with an overreliance on property taxes, still a sore subject in school funding. Ohio legislators largely agree that property tax reform is necessary, but there are concerns about how reform could gut school funding.

Brenner said about 50% of all school funding currently comes from local property or income taxes, with the state contributing about 40% and remaining funds coming from federal programs. In central Ohio, local tax revenue often makes up a higher percentage than Brenner's average.

Columbus City Schools, the state's largest district, said 68.6% of its funding comes from local taxes. In districts like Dublin and Bexley, which receive less state support, local taxes contribute about 85% of district revenue, according to district financial estimates.

He said the system would be based on student enrollment and would adjust for additional factors like special education or English learners. Brenner's suggestion also allows voluntary consolidation of two or more school districts.

Brenner also proposes shifting the responsibility of busing students from public schools to regional Educational Service Centers (ESCs). Brenner said relying on ESCs could require districts to synchronize their bell schedules.

"Many ESCs already coordinate regional services and are better equipped to manage transportation efficiently across districts in their regions," Brenner said. "This change would help relieve local schools of a significant logistical and financial burden."

Brenner said S.B. 93 would need a companion piece, Senate Joint Resolution 4, which is also pending in the Finance Committee. If approved, it would amend the state constitution to allow Ohio to assume all outstanding public school debt, removing the burden from local schools. The resolution requires approval from the House, Senate and Ohio voters.

"With more than 600 school districts in Ohio, this voluntary option would promote efficiency while respecting local control," Brenner said.

Brenner is a proponent of school choice programs like EdChoice, and even hosted the first joint caucus on school choice earlier this month. Under S.B. 93, Brenner said two of Ohio's five state scholarship programs would no longer be necessary: EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp.

Brenner plans for funding to "follow the student to the school of their choice," allocating the same amount per student to public and charter schools. EdChoice offers $8,408 for high schoolers and $6,166 for grades K-8, so Brenner's plan would allocate more funding per student to nonpublic schools.

Ohio's school funding is set for the next two years, but legislators are enacting property tax relief changes that could reduce funding before the next biennial budget. Legislators already successfully eliminated several types of school levies this fall.

On Wednesday, the Ohio House passed two bills seeking to relieve property tax burdens. House Bills 186 and 335 would limit property tax increases and inside millage levies to below the rate of inflation. Local schools worry these bills, if approved, would cost them; Canal Winchester estimates H.B. 186 alone would cut $3.3 million from its budget annually.

S.B. 93 had its first hearing on Tuesday and is awaiting further hearings in the Senate Finance Committee.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Author R.L. Stine has been making children laugh and cry with his spooky and often funny children’s books for the last 33 years.

The Columbus-area native was back in his hometown Thursday, met by a crowd and a special honor.

The Leveque Tower looked like it was dripping with green slime, and Columbus City Hall was also bathed in green light in honor of Stine, back in his hometown to unveil the scariest street that now bears his name.

"Everything's a surprise to me,” he said. “I think no one's more amazed by all this than I am."

Grant Avenue in the Italian Village is now known as R.L. Stine Way. Robert Lawrence Stine grew up in a small house in Bexley.

“When I write these books, I think back to my time in Bexley and what it looked like, and so a lot of the settings are pretty much what I remember from here in the books,” he said.

Stine was nine years old when he started writing using an old typewriter.

"I was this weird kid in my room typing all the time, typing, and my mother would stand outside my door and she would say, ‘What's wrong with you? Go outside and play. What's wrong with you? Get out! Stop typing. Go outside.’ Worst advice I ever got,” Stine said.

He’s now sold more than 400 million books worldwide, mostly through the Goosebumps series, spooking children with ghouls, ghosts, and every monster imaginable.

Watch NBC4's full interview with R.L. Stine in the video player below.

"I never planned to be scary,” he said. “I always just wanted to be funny. I wrote joke books and I did a lot of funny books for kids."

Stine said it was an editor who advised him to follow the horror route, which just caught on.

"When you, when you sneak up behind somebody and you go, ‘Boo,’ what's the first thing they do?” he said. “They gasp and then they laugh. It's the same visceral reaction, I think."

One of his biggest fans, Owen Lee, 9, came from about an hour away to meet the author.

"I like a good horror book, but then I love how they have the twists at the end that are just outright hilarious,” Owen Lee said.

He even had a Goosebumps-themed seventh birthday and waited three hours in the cold to meet his favorite author last year.

"Reading is a big part of our family,” Owen’s mother Sarah Lee said. “It's something that's really important to me as a parent to pass on to my kids and the Goosebumps in particular."

Owen and hundreds of other fans wore their Goosebumps t-shirts and packed into the Coumbus Metropolitan Library to see the man who wrote all the stories they love.

"He's published all these books and all these great books, and he's just really my hero,” Owen Lee said.

There are events continuing through the month to honor Stine and his legacy of children’s literature.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus city leaders are pushing for more pay transparency in the workplace to try to close gender and racial wage gaps.

"Since women came into the workforce in full force, we've only closed the pay gap by a quarter," councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said. "It continues to be an issue for women."

Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla is proposing pay transparency legislation that would require salary ranges on all job postings. She hosted a public hearing on it Thursday. She said it's about creating a fairer system for everyone, especially as the city continues to grow. 

"As we think about all the businesses that are going to be coming into Columbus or the businesses that will start here in Columbus, we want to make sure that people are not just coming to Columbus to do business, but they're doing the business of Columbus," Barroso de Padilla said. 

According to Barroso de Padilla the legislation builds on the city's existing pay equity law that bans employees from asking about salary history which was a move designed to stop past pay disparities from following workers into new jobs. 

"This was a time to put the stake in the ground, to add equity in the system, to make sure that we're investing in our people and our families," Barroso de Padilla said. "That's how you can ensure you get a little bit more in every paycheck to save up for that house, to get that bus pass."

Several supporters spoke during public testimony and drew on their own personal experiences.

"I applied for a role that shared the salary range, and I really deeply valued that transparency," Zora's House managing director Liz Gordon-Canlas said. "And it excited me about the opportunity."

If approved, the measure would require employers to list clear salary ranges which leaders said would help job seekers negotiate more fairly.

"When they come into these jobs knowing what their worth is, what the job is, they feel trust and confidence in that employer," president of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio, Kelley Griesmer, said. "They also feel safety in the fact that they've accepted a salary that they were able to help choose and not just wonder about." 

Barroso de Padilla said the proposed legislation would help level the playing field for women, people of color, immigrants, and others who have historically been underpaid for doing the same work. She said it also helps businesses attract the right talent. 

The measure would apply to employers in Columbus or any job largely performed within city limits. 

"We think that this is the future to evolve to this model of telling people more in the beginning and hopefully not replacing them in the end," Griesmer said.

Columbus City Council is still taking public testimony. The proposed legislation will go up for a vote at council's meeting Nov. 3. If approved, the change wouldn't take effect for a year which would allow time for education and outreach before enforcement would begin. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Local leaders gathered at the Linden Community Center today to have a conversation about what's next for the city of Columbus as the area continues to grow.

At the center of the Linden Leadership Forum was Mayor Andrew Ginther. He talked about how city leaders are working to move Linden -- and all of Columbus -- forward.

Topics ranged from affordable housing, public safety and youth programming. The goal was to start a dialogue between local leaders, identifying strategies for growth and development in the future.

"What we have to continue to do is be consistent, and make sure that we're delivering," Ginther said. "Making sure that small businesses that are starting up along this corridor are here. The majority of small businesses don't survive 18 to 36 months, so we've got to make sure we wrap our arms around these businesses as they get started up, and make sure they're successful."

Today's forum provided a space for residents, business owners and civic leaders to ask the mayor questions and give their input.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A battle between Ohio State and the team up north has begun off the field.

The 44th annual Blood Battle is underway as the Buckeyes look to defend their title for the fourth straight year.

Until Nov. 26, fans of both teams will be competing to see which fanbase can donate the most blood.

The Versiti Blood Center of Ohio hosted a donation drive today at the Schottenstein Center. It's all in an effort to inspire the next generation of donors,

Joe Gantz, the Director of Donor Services, is a former Buckeye. He knows first-hand how intense the rivalry is, and he's hoping to see Ohio State pull off another win.

"Through all my five years of playing at Ohio State, we never lost to that team up north, so hoping to keep that tradition going here since I started with Versiti," Gantz said.

There will be more than 50 blood drives during the competition, according to Gantz, including two at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 4 and 18.

Last year, around 3,100 pints of blood were collected, which can save more than 9,000 lives.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Every year, the Columbus Blue Jackets dedicate a game to children battling cancer. Today, to get ready for that game and for the team's 25th anniversary, they brought together current and past pediatric cancer heroes.

For the current heroes, the day is all about being a kid. They had a photoshoot in their special heroes jersey, played games and met some CBJ players.

Past heroes had the chance to talk with current heroes about their experience and the lasting impact of the organization.

Sullivan Plancon was diagnosed with cancer when he was six months old, and is now 19 years cancer-free. He says he wants to remind the kids to stay positive and soak this in.

"It's really cool to be able to meet people that went through the same things again," Plancon said. "Really the only thing I can do is give off positive energy. That's the one thing that you got to keep going with it."

This year's annual "Hockey Fights Cancer" game is Nov. 13 at Nationwide Arena.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCHM) – With temperatures getting colder in central Ohio, many are turning on their heat for the first time since last winter.

Experts at AEP Ohio and Atlas Butler Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing said regular maintenance of home heating systems is important to keep you warm and utility bills low.

“Maintenance is the biggest key for making your equipment last as long as possible and make sure that it will function when we do get to those single digits or negative temperatures,” Atlas Butler HVAC Team Leader Justin Smith said.

Smith said his team has been busy over the last few days as people turn their furnaces on.

“All of the calls we get at this time of year are they try to run it for the first time, haven’t changed the filter in a few months, and then the furnace doesn't run or it runs for a short period of time,” Smith said.

He said simply changing furnace filters will help in most situations.

Smith also said that before it gets colder, now is a good time to get a professional out to your house to make sure things are running smoothly.

“You get your oil changed on your car and make sure your car is working okay, but when it comes to your HVAC system, that is the hardest working system in your house, sometimes that gets overlooked,” Smith said.

Keeping systems maintained is one way to conserve energy and save money.

Experts at AEP Ohio said there are some easy things people can do at every day.

“You can open your blinds to allow natural sunlight to help your home, close those same blinds at night to retain the heat within the room,” AEP Director of Operations Don Chesler said. “You also want to make sure that your ceiling fans are rotating clockwise, that pushes the heat down into the room.”

Chesler said another way to save energy and money is to keep your home’s thermostat set at or below 68 degrees.

“Your usage and the amount you pay on your bill are tightly correlated,” Chesler said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Following a sale approval by a Franklin County Probate Court judge, there is more optimism about what could be coming to a large Far East Side property that has been vacant for years.

“I think it's an eyesore right now, I think it's a breeding ground for drama and so something needs to be done with it," said Danella Hicks, the founder and executive director of All THAT - Teens Hopeful About Tomorrow, a non-profit on the East Side.

She was referring to the property of the former Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park and Hotel. It's hard to miss from I-70. Parts of the property are in bad shape, and it's been vacant since 2016. In 2018, a burst pipe led to millions of gallons of water flooding out of the hotel windows, and last year, there was a massive fire at the site. Hicks sees the property every day.

“When the fire happened, it's like, 'We need to do something before it gets even worse,'" she said. 

Developers' plans have been stalled by litigation. With the judge recently approving the sale, the plans to convert the property into hundreds of affordable housing units and a community services hub are a step closer to reality. The California-based developers are working with a local church on the project.

“I’m excited,” Hicks said. “I'm excited that there is a plan. I think for so long nothing was happening. And so, if someone's excited about coming here, doing something, bringing some housing, improving our community, I'm definitely interested in seeing it happen.”

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin represents the district where the property sits.

“You've got to know this has been in court for a long time going back and forth, other folks have said they were going to buy it and not been able to move forward, so this really is a day of true hope," he said.

Hardin said housing is a priority for city leaders, so they welcome plans and ideas to help the issue.

“This could be a real linchpin in the east side's development, so this is a positive step in the right direction,” he said. “It still seems early, but that's why I lean on hope.”

The city is trying to work with local faith organizations to bring more housing to Columbus. Hardin said those looking to develop the former Fort Rapids site were at one of those discussions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police, city and community leaders are emphasizing the importance of locking up guns to keep them away from children. 

The call comes after a 9-year-old boy was injured Wednesday in an accidental shooting; a 27-year-old man is now facing charges in connection with the incident. 

Columbus Division of Police data shows there have been 15 accidental shootings in Columbus this year, four of them fatal. Police and community leaders said all of them were preventable.

“This simple gun lock saves lives,” Thomas Cunningham with the Onyx Gun Club said.

Cunningham travels to schools and community groups across central Ohio to teach the importance of responsible gun ownership.

“We have a gun safety pledge and that's important because when we're in the schools, this is how we link the program to the parents,” Cunningham said.

He brings gun locks and lockboxes, teaches students how to use them, and then has participants sign a pledge.

“What happens is the kids take the Lethal Means safety program home to them by taking the pledge with them, and then they go over the safety plans with their parents, and we have parents call all the time and say, ‘I never really thought about locking up my firearms until kids bought this safety pledge home,’” Cunningham said.

Cunnigham said he’s had thousands of people sign gun safety pledges.

When he hears about incidents like Wednesday’s shooting on Lonsdale Road, it is discouraging. 

“The more gun locks we can give out, the more we can motivate gun owners, the more responsible gun owners we can make,” Cunningham said.

Court records said the 9-year-old was in the basement with his 27-year-old stepbrother; the man told police he was taking the gun upstairs when he tripped and it accidentally went off, hitting the boy. The stepbrother is charged with negligent assault.

“If you own a gun, absolutely do everything in your power to make sure that that gun is either locked up or secured in a way that not one single child can get to it because, unfortunately, this young man didn't wake up planning to be charged with a crime,” Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua said.

Fuqua said accidental shootings happen more often than they would like. 

“I just think a lot of people just think it won't happen to them,” Fuqua said. “These are cases and situations where my child won't do it, or I know where my gun i,s or I don't think anything will happen, and unfortunately, when it does happen to you, you're one of those people like, ‘I can't believe it happened to me.’”

City leaders said there are several places around the city to get a gun lock or safe for free.

“We hand these out through the Department of Public Health,” Columbus City Councilmember Emmanuel Remy said. “These are in the gun safes, but lock your guns, keep them stored away and out of the reach of kids.”

Columbus attempted to pass safe gun storage laws in the past, but that is currently on hold due to a lawsuit.

“We'll continue to look at what's sensible for the residents using our home rule here in the City of Columbus to do what's right for our residents,” Remy said. “We want to make sure that everyone feels safe, and certainly this is one piece of it.”

Cunningham said if you are looking for a gun lock, reach out to the Onyx Gun Club to receive one for free.