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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

The Accident Investigation Unit has opened an investigation.

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

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

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

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

Columbus high school football game cancelled due to safety concerns

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

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

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

“Cheeseburgers were her favorite meal,” Untied said. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Child hurt in apparent accidental shooting in east Columbus, police say

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

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

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

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

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

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

All eyes and ears are on Tropical Storm Melissa, now in the Caribbean Sea. As of 11:00 AM EDT on Wednesday October 22, 2025, Melissa was drifting west-northwestward in the central Caribbean. Heavy rain and flooding are expected over portions of Hispaniola and Jamaica for the reminder of the week.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from the border with the Dom...

Financial regulators in Canada this week levied $176 million in fines against Cryptomus, a digital payments platform that supports dozens of Russian cryptocurrency exchanges and websites hawking cybercrime services. The penalties for violating Canada’s anti money-laundering laws come ten months after KrebsOnSecurity noted that Cryptomus’s Vancouver street address was home to dozens of foreign currency dealers, money transfer businesses, and cryptocurrency exchanges — none of which were physically located there.

On October 16, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada (FINTRAC) imposed a $176,960,190 penalty on Xeltox Enterprises Ltd., more commonly known as the cryptocurrency payments platform Cryptomus.

FINTRAC found that Cryptomus failed to submit suspicious transaction reports in cases where there were reasonable grounds to suspect that they were related to the laundering of proceeds connected to trafficking in child sexual abuse material, fraud, ransomware payments and sanctions evasion.

“Given that numerous violations in this case were connected to trafficking in child sexual abuse material, fraud, ransomware payments and sanctions evasion, FINTRAC was compelled to take this unprecedented enforcement action,” said Sarah Paquet, director and CEO at the regulatory agency.

In December 2024, KrebsOnSecurity covered research by blockchain analyst and investigator Richard Sanders, who’d spent several months signing up for various cybercrime services, and then tracking where their customer funds go from there. The 122 services targeted in Sanders’s research all used Cryptomus, and included some of the more prominent businesses advertising on the cybercrime forums, such as:

-abuse-friendly or “bulletproof” hosting providers like anonvm[.]wtf, and PQHosting;
-sites selling aged email, financial, or social media accounts, such as verif[.]work and kopeechka[.]store;
-anonymity or “proxy” providers like crazyrdp[.]com and rdp[.]monster;
-anonymous SMS services, including anonsim[.]net and smsboss[.]pro.

Flymoney, one of dozens of cryptocurrency exchanges apparently nested at Cryptomus. The image from this website has been machine translated from Russian.

Sanders found at least 56 cryptocurrency exchanges were using Cryptomus to process transactions, including financial entities with names like casher[.]su, grumbot[.]com, flymoney[.]biz, obama[.]ru and swop[.]is.

“These platforms were built for Russian speakers, and they each advertised the ability to anonymously swap one form of cryptocurrency for another,” the December 2024 story noted. “They also allowed the exchange of cryptocurrency for cash in accounts at some of Russia’s largest banks — nearly all of which are currently sanctioned by the United States and other western nations.”

Reached for comment on FINTRAC’s action, Sanders told KrebsOnSecurity he was surprised it took them so long.

“I have no idea why they don’t just sanction them or prosecute them,” Sanders said. “I’m not let down with the fine amount but it’s also just going to be the cost of doing business to them.”

The $173 million fine is a significant sum for FINTRAC, which imposed 23 such penalties last year totaling less than $26 million. But Sanders says FINTRAC still has much work to do in pursuing other shadowy money service businesses (MSBs) that are registered in Canada but are likely money laundering fronts for entities based in Russia and Iran.

In an investigation published in July 2024, CTV National News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) documented dozens of cases across Canada where multiple MSBs are incorporated at the same address, often without the knowledge or consent of the location’s actual occupant.

Their inquiry found that the street address for Cryptomus parent Xeltox Enterprises was listed as the home of at least 76 foreign currency dealers, eight MSBs, and six cryptocurrency exchanges. At that address is a three-story building that used to be a bank and now houses a massage therapy clinic and a co-working space. But the news outlets found none of the MSBs or currency dealers were paying for services at that co-working space.

The reporters also found another collection of 97 MSBs clustered at an address for a commercial office suite in Ontario, even though there was no evidence any of these companies had ever arranged for any business services at that address.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Map courtesy of Google Maps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paras Pumpkins 2025 Taylor Swift design

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

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

Paras Pumpkins previous artworks

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

To learn more about how to donate, click here.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – A coffee and ice cream shop is underway in Upper Arlington, led by a local mom who hopes it will cater to both parents and children.

Alyssa Litzinger is preparing to open Mallway Market Coffee + Cone at 1966 N. Mallway Drive. The shop is taking over a former real estate office and has been under construction since June, according to Litzinger. 

Alyssa Litzinger telling her kids that she is opening Mallway Market. (Photo courtesy/Alyssa Litzinger)

“We live nearby and there's a lot of great spots in Upper Arlington, but nothing quite like this,” Litzinger said. “As a mom, I really wanted somewhere with great coffee, but also something for the kids.”

The business will serve coffee from One Line, a Columbus-based roaster that also runs cafés in central Ohio. The menu will feature espresso, drip coffee and seasonal lattes, Litzinger said. 

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The shop will also offer soft serve ice cream in vanilla and either chocolate or a seasonal flavor, with the option to swirl the flavors together. The shop will serve snacks and pastries provided by local bakeries as well, according to Litzinger. 

Mallway Market is designed primarily as a grab-and-go space, with limited seating available, Litzinger said. It is located in the Mallway at Old Arlington, a walkable retail and dining district that features a nearby park. 

“It's a very walkable and bike-friendly neighborhood for the kids, and families are always out and about,” Litzinger said. “It's kind of right in the heart of the neighborhood and near a couple schools and a public pool as well.”

Litzinger has not yet determined an opening date but hopes to begin training employees as soon as construction ends within the “next few weeks.” Once open, the shop will welcome customers daily, she said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As changes ramp up at Mill Run shopping center, customers of one recently shuttered shop are expressing heartbreak after the retail chain abruptly announced it would end its two-and-a-half-decade run at the northwest marketplace.

In a recent Facebook post, Hilliard United Art and Education, formerly located at 3622 Fishinger Blvd. in Hilliard, confirmed the store's permanent closing on Oct. 4.

“We have appreciated your business for the past 25 years!” the post read. “We can still be your source for educational and art supplies at UnitedNow.com. Rest assured that gift cards never expire and can be used as payment on our website.”

Additionally, the company explained in the post's comments how its unexpected end came about.

“We're very sorry to have to go!” the comment stated. “Unfortunately, our landlord intends to open a new pickleball business at our location and informed us early last month that our lease would not be renewed. We did not have enough time to find a suitable location nearby.”

In the Nextdoor app, several community members voiced their opinions upon learning the news from a neighbor's post.

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“Shame on the owner … for forcing the teacher store (United Arts and Education) to close!” the original post read. “What a great resource that supports education in our community! Note: They were given 30 days' notice to evacuate because the Landlord wants to start his own pickleball business there.”

The post garnered dozens of reactions and nearly 100 comments.

“My heart is literally breaking [because] of the closing of that store,” one person said.

“Sad, so, so sad,” another neighbor wrote. “We as a family went there often.”

Many people were concerned that local teachers would lose access to a valuable resource for materials.

“It was the only teacher store I knew of,” one comment read. “Let me know if you find another.”

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“Are there any teacher stores left in Columbus?” echoed another person.

Other Nextdoor users hoped that the educational supply seller would relocate somewhere nearby.

“What a shame! I hope they can find another reasonably priced place,” offered one commenter.

“There are plenty of places they can relocate with a good leasing agent,” another person said.

Despite this optimism, the education chain's website suggests that there are no plans to reopen in central Ohio. The site's locations page displays the business's four stores, including Hilliard and Dayton, which are both marked as permanently closed. Two other Indiana storefronts in Fort Wayne and Mishawaka remain open.

Online, the company notes that it was founded in 1960 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“We are committed to serving schools, organizations and individuals with quality products, competitive prices and friendly customer service,” the company information page states. “Our goal is to make shopping fun for every customer, whether you're an art instructor, elementary teacher, school supply buyer, fine artist or parent.

Both Hilliard United Art and Education and the building owner were contacted for this story, but did not respond.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus voters will return to the polls on Nov. 4 to decide who will represent District 7 on Columbus City Council, with attorney Jesse Vogel and assistant city attorney Tiara Ross as the two finalists in the race.

The two candidates advanced from a three-person field in the May 6 primary, defeating nonprofit director Kate Curry-Da-Souza. The winner in November will fill the seat vacated by Shayla Favor, who was elected Franklin County prosecutor. Council appointed Otto Beatty to serve temporarily, but he is not seeking the seat.

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While District 7 is made up of Downtown and most of the city's central neighborhoods, all Columbus residents are eligible to vote in the nonpartisan race. Watch a previous NBC4 report on this year's Columbus City Council race in the video player above.

Vogel, 32, is an attorney with Community Refugee and Immigration Services, where he represents low-income residents. A Columbus native, he holds a bachelor's degree in politics from Oberlin College and a Juris Doctorate from Ohio State University. He has made affordability a central issue in his campaign, especially housing and transportation.

Jesse Vogel. (Courtesy Photo/Jesse Vogel for Columbus City Council)

"I've been an attorney representing renters struggling to stay housed, and I think our city needs a stronger strategy to make sure that our public dollars being invested to build housing that people can actually afford," Vogel previously told NBC4. He has also expressed interest in a property tax relief program for low-income seniors and in making COTA buses free to use.

Vogel said he "would be an advocate for people," and although he is a Democrat, he said he wants "to hold others accountable, including other Democrats, to see how collectively we can do better at making our city work for working people," and that he's "ready to be able to get on council and ask some hard questions."

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Ross, 37, has served as an assistant city attorney for the past seven years. She previously worked in financial crimes compliance at JPMorgan and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and strategic communication, along with a Juris Doctorate, both from Ohio State. A lifelong Columbus resident, Ross has also prioritized housing and public safety in her campaign.

Tiara Ross. (Courtesy Photo/Tiara Ross for Columbus City Council)

"As we are thinking about development looks like, making sure we are prioritizing affordable housing for people, making sure that when we are looking to develop, we are planful about the areas in which development occurs to maker sure that there is appropriate infrastructure that walks alongside development," she told NBC4.

Ross has also called for more comprehensive approaches to public safety, including alternative responses for nonviolent mental health emergencies, and has emphasized the importance of representation on city council.

"Having been the one candidate that has worked inside city government for the better half of the last decade offers me the unique opportunity to have already created and established very good relationships with the administration," Ross said. "I think representation matters here; who is at the table and what voices are represented at the table. There is a gaping hole right now where there are no Black women that are serving on city council."

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Polls on Nov. 4 will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. More information about ballots and polling locations is available through the Franklin County board of elections.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is digitizing its education scholarships, relying on a third-party company to help manage funding for programs like EdChoice.

EdChoice is one of five state-sponsored scholarships allowing families to attend private and charter schools using public money. On Monday, the state announced it will switch from a paper-based system to a digital one, selecting Florida-based ClassWallet to manage the more than 175,000 students enrolled in a state scholarship program. The change also introduces a universal scholarship application, streamlining enrollment.

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The switch will require all scholarship students to create accounts through ClassWallet and log in online to manage their funding. Students can attach multiple funds and pay directly from the app. Families are also able to switch between users and manage programs for different kids in the same app.

The change will also streamline scholarship applications, making it easier to apply, proponents said. In partnership with education technology services solution FACTS, ClassWallet is offering the ability to apply for scholarships online. A spokesperson said the transition allows families to apply for all five programs in minutes with reduced paperwork and delays.

Ohio offers five scholarship programs, including EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp, the latter of which removed income requirements and allows any child regardless of financial need to receive at least a partial scholarship to attend nonpublic school. EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp make up 86% of all scholarship participation. See previous coverage of EdChoice in the video player above.

Ohio's Cleveland scholarship offers low-income students in Cleveland schools funding to attend private schools. Ohio also offers the John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship and the Autism Scholarship, which provide funding for students to attend special education programs.

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ClassWallet is used in 37 states to manage public funds, including 12 states' education savings accounts and microgrants. ClassWallet said it offers real-time spending tracking to ensure accountability, and it cuts down processing time by 98%.

ClassWallet was once used to manage Oklahoma's pandemic relief funding for students. However, the state auditor found at least $1.7 million in questionable purchases under the program, and sued ClassWallet for a lack of oversight.

Oklahoma's attorney general dismissed lawsuits against the vendor, saying ClassWallet was not responsible for individual misuse and was operating under the direction of state officials. A ClassWallet spokesperson said its technology allows state agencies to set their own spending rules within the digital wallet.

"We’re really proud of our strong track record helping states minimize both fraud and unintentional misuse of funds," a spokesperson said.

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In a statement, School Choice Ohio applauded ClassWallet's experience and entry into the scholarship program. School Choice Ohio has advocated for programs like EdChoice for 20 years, and said the transition is a "positive step forward for Ohio families."

"Its technology will help create a more efficient, user-friendly experience for families and schools alike," School Choice Ohio said in a statement. "This change not only saves the state money and leverages innovation but also ensures better support for the more than 175,000 students who rely on Ohio’s scholarship programs."

The scholarships have also received criticism, with opponents alleging they take money from public schools. In June, a Franklin County judge ruled that the EdChoice program is unconstitutional. Expecting an appeal, she stayed her own order, which allowed EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp to continue until it is determined by a higher court. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has since appealed the ruling, and legal proceedings continue.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio bill named after a corrections officer who was killed by an inmate on Christmas morning seeks to increase the penalties for incarcerated people who harm prison employees. 

House Bill 338, sponsored by Reps. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), would “reform Ohio’s prisons” and make them safer places to work, according to the lawmakers.

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The legislation was named Andy’s Law in honor of Andrew Lansing, a 62-year-old corrections officer at the Ross County Correctional Institution who died after being assaulted by an inmate in 2024. Authorities identified the inmate as Rashawn Cannon, 28, who pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in connection with the killing and awaits trial.

The measure would create a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for incarcerated individuals who murder Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections or Department of Youth Services employees, while leaving the door open for the death penalty.

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Under current state law, individuals convicted of aggravated murder – the charge typically brought in such cases – could already face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. However, judges have the ability to grant parole eligibility after 20 years. 

“These sweeping changes are necessary to show DRC and DYS employees that their safety is valued by the state,” Johnson and Plummer wrote in testimony for an Oct. 15 hearing. “It’s shameful that it took the death of a husband and father for us to realize there needs to be changes made to our prison system, but, as Legislators, we need to do everything in our power to prevent another death.”

The proposal would also create a mandatory seven-year prison sentence for inmates who commit felonious assault against correctional employees, along with a mandatory three-year sentence for assault, according to the lawmakers. 

Andrew Lansing

The bill seeks to ensure all level three and level four prisons – which house medium- to high-risk offenders – use a drug-sniffing dog that is exclusively assigned to their institution within two years of the bill taking effect. It would require all lower-level prisons to deploy K-9s within five years. 

HB 338 would also would increase the penalty for smuggling drugs into a government facility from a third-degree felony to a first-degree felony in relation to correctional institutions. 

“Inmates that are bringing drugs in and assaulting officers are not facing serious enough repercussions to deter them from [committing] these violations in the future,” the lawmakers wrote. “As a result, the staff vacancy rate at many prisons, especially level 3 prisons, is approaching a critical level.”

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Under the legislation, the DRC would be required to hire a consultant to help address the staffing crisis. The bill also would ban physical contact between inmates and visitors in all level three and level four prisons. 

Gabe Davis, CEO of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, a nonprofit law firm that works to reduce mass incarceration, said his organization is reviewing the “complicated” and “nuanced” bill thoroughly. 

HB 338, introduced in June, awaits further hearings and public testimony. The bill has six Republican cosponsors. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Fans of the former alternative radio station WWCD have a chance to own a piece of local music history as the Brewery District building long associated with the station prepares for demolition.

An online auction of nearly 500 items from the former station and the Big Room Bar, which operated above it, is underway ahead of the building's razing at 1036 S. Front St. The auction, hosted by Paul Delphia of AuctionByDelphia, began Oct. 9 and will close Oct. 30.

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"Big Room Bar and radio station at site have ceased business," the listing reads. "Building to be razed so some of the items are of an architectural nature." Watch a previous NBC4 report on WWCD's closure in the video player above.

The Brewery District site at 1036 S. Front St. will make way for a six-story apartment complex. (Courtesy Photos/Franklin County Auditor's Office)

Items up for bid range from practical kitchen equipment, including griddles, deep fryers, refrigerators and dishwashers, to more unique memorabilia such as neon beer signs, a piano, disco balls, flat-screen TVs, a Big Room Bar-branded chalkboard, and a large WWCD sign. Also listed are desks, office chairs, storage units, a ping pong table and even bathroom stall dividers.

The building served as home base for WWCD -- known to listeners over the decades as CD101, CD102.5, and, most recently, CD92.9FM -- before the station shut down in April 2024. The locally owned alternative station had already transitioned to an online-only format earlier after losing its frequency.

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"The time has come that we must announce with heavy hearts that WWCD Radio has played its last song," the closure announcement read. "It has been an incredible journey, one that legend can be told with memoires and cherished moments shared with you that will never be forgotten. Thank you to each and every one of you."

The Brewery District site at 1036 S. Front St. will make way for a six-story apartment complex. (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)

The building is set to be demolished to make way for a six-story apartment complex by real estate firm Arcadia development. The project, approved in September by the city's Historic Resources Commission, will include 106 residential units, a second-floor pool deck and a parking garage.

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The commission approved the demolition in a 5-2 vote.