Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Is a 10-year-old too young to be put behind bars?

Right now in Ohio, children as young as 10 can be incarcerated, but that could soon change.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine created a juvenile justice reform working group to take a look at how Ohio handles its youngest offenders. The bipartisan group came before the Senate Judicial Committee at the statehouse with three recommendations for Ohio lawmakers.

Columbus police release video of officer shooting suspect in University District

“First of all, is to raise the minimum age for youth commitment to the Department of Youth Services from 10 to 14 years of age,” Ohio Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) said. “Can you imagine a 10-year-old being sentenced to a correctional facility? Then secondly, it would allow for more judicial discretion when sentencing youth who are adjudicated of a gun specification.”

Hicks-Hudson is the Democrat co-chairing the working group. She said the third recommendation is to prohibit non-violent first-time offenders from being placed in facilities.

“Trying to keep, you know, our kids out of that system, so that they don't become more criminalized, if that's a word,” she said.

Hicks-Hudson and her Republican counterpart Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) took their recommendations to the Senate Judicial Committee.

“But, unfortunately, oftentimes when we come out with recommendations, there’s not action taken by the General Assembly,” Hicks-Hudson said.

Central Ohio Republican congressman responds to swastika in his office

They want action that would give juvenile judges more sentencing discretion.

“Juveniles are different than adults,” Manning said. “Certainly, many of these violations or crimes are very serious, and incarceration is certainly appropriate, but we want to leave that up to the judge's discretion.

Hicks-Hudson said the recommendations are aimed at saving the child instead of incarcerating them. As an example, when asked about the juvenile car thieves in Columbus, she said alternatives to incarceration could be considered.

“I'm saying that what we have to do with young people that are involved in these kinds of criminal behaviors is to give them alternatives, and locking them up isn't going to do that,” Hicks-Hudson said. “I think more importantly, not only that the kid, but also bringing that parent along with them, or that custodian along with them, to figure out what it is to stop that kind of behavior.”

She said the changes are rooted in the belief that children can be rehabilitated and their behaviors can change.

Short North boutique Happy Go Lucky to close after 14 years of business

“And we have to understand that what you did at the age of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, should not define who you are at the age of 35, but if we don't intervene sooner rather than later, you're going to have a 16-year-old who's going to spend two years in a juvenile system and then be transferred to an adult system because we didn't get to them earlier,” Hicks-Hudson said.

There were 11 members on the committee, including judges, lawmakers, and faith leaders.

A public hearing must be held before any recommendations can be enacted.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus is the largest city in the Midwest without a major rail system, but a new investment change that.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced a $650,000 investment, partnering with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. The funds are going towards the Midwest Connect project, a planned corridor that would connect Chicago and Pittsburgh with stops in Columbus and Fort Wayne.

Central Ohio Republican congressman responds to swastika in his office

“Connecting those cities would be a very attractive route for everybody, from businesses to students going to college to sports fans and more. We're really interested in how it could connect people to jobs,” Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Executive Director William Murdock said.

The investment is meant to serve as a signal to the Federal Railroad Administration that the region is ready to move on to step two.

“We are at a point now where there's a dedicated effort with communities, big cities, business community advocates, all pushing in the same direction and at the same time,” Murdock said.

It’s a three-step process to start building a line. This upcoming second step is called the Service Development Plan.

Petition seeks to remove 8-year-old’s cold case homicide from Fayette County

“This next phase of study is going to answer those questions everybody has: how fast? Where will the stations be? How will it work with freight? How often will service be?” Murdock said.

The cities of Hilliard and Dublin each contributed $50,000 towards the study; both allotted land in hopes of housing a station.

“It's going to take the entire region, I think, to make this happen,” Dublin Senior Planner Christopher Will said.

He said they’ve been having in-depth conversations about the possibility of a passenger rail with residents.

Short North boutique Happy Go Lucky to close after 14 years of business

“Everyone that we've talked to in Dublin is very excited about this, from residents to business and other stakeholders, really seeing this as an opportunity to bring mobility and transportation options to the community,” Will said.

The city of Columbus, Marysville and Lima have also contributed. There is still a long road ahead. Murdock said the earliest the passenger rail would begin service is 2030.

Learn more about Midwest Connect by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — It's a story of true determination. Mike Ray was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2020, and despite dozens of rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, he planned to run the 2024 Columbus Marathon.

But it was not to be, as his health took a turn and forced him to be admitted to the hospital and miss the race. Instead, he would walk 26.2 miles outside of the James Cancer Hospital, because there is no quit in Ray.

Weekend fun: Pumpkin Show, Diwali, haunted Statehouse, Columbus Marathon, more

Now, Ray is cancer-free.

"So much of my identity got wrapped up in that and it's that breath of fresh air from being past it and done with it," said Ray. "And now you think it'd just be like, okay, we're done. Move on. Like, let's go bananas. But I'm just trying to figure out who I am again."

Ray is a cancer survivor. For nearly five years, he dealt with an inoperable, stage 4 metastatic colon cancer diagnosis. The only cure was a full liver transplant. Through it all, Ray kept moving forward.

"One hundred forty rounds of chemo. People are like, by all miracle of chance, you should be dead," said Ray. "Because to go through that much crap and still be fine is amazing. But I think it's honestly, the fitness is what got me through it."

Cancer survivor Mike Ray in training for future Columbus Marathons. (NBC4)

On May 1, 2025, just three weeks after being put on the transplant list, Ray got a new liver. And to the surprise of his care team at the Cleveland Clinic, he was in the ICU for just one day and back home in Columbus after one week.

"Trying to remind myself, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks I can do because I can do whatever I think I can," said Ray.

Now, after five months since his surgery, Ray is running again. His stamina isn't quite what it used to be. But he knows that it will take time. He already has plans to race in the 2026 Ohio Half-Ironman, and maybe take on take on that long-awaited Columbus Marathon next year as well.

"Really, you just have to go. You're not just going to have it handed to you. You have to keep pushing," said Ray. "But even then, that's harder for anyone older and in the younger generation to realize. Everything comes from within. And you have to push yourself because the only person that's ever going to stop you is yourself. And the worst enemy you have in any situation is yourself."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police on Thursday released body camera footage showing the moments an officer fatally shot an alleged robbery suspect in the University District.

Officers patrolling at North High Street and East 8th Avenue in the University District responded to a robbery call at 3:26 a.m. on Sunday. Two people told officers that a man approached them with a firearm.

The officer was driving down East 8th Avenue when a man flagged him down.

Bystander: "Did you get those kids?"
Officer: "The one we were looking for we got back there on Indianola."
Bystander: "Those two guys right there, one of them just pulled a gun on me."

The officer turns the corner and approaches a man identified by police as TaShawn Davis, 18.

"Get your hands up or I'm going to shoot you," the officer said as Davis began to run away.

It appeared Davis picked something up from the ground. The officer yelled commands again.

The officer fired about 10 shots. The officer waited for backup and then began to render aid. It appeared Davis was shot in the back.

Davis was taken to a hospital where he later died.

Columbus police have not identified the officer involved in the shooting, citing Marsy's Law, which protects identities of victims of violent crimes. However, CPD said the officer is a 14-year veteran of the department.

NBC4 asked Chief Elaine Bryant if she feels the officer involved followed protocol. She said he responded accordingly with the information he was given.

"No one should ever lose their life," Bryant said. "Unfortunately, when decisions are made, when people choose to have a gun. Decisions are made. Unfortunately, things like this can occur. So, I don't think anyone deserves to lose their life, but at the same time, officers are responding to a situation where someone pointed a gun at someone."

Bryant said Davis's family viewed the video before it was released.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation, which is standard procedure for shootings involving officers.

LONDON, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead and two others were taken to a hospital Thursday from a house fire in Madison County.

According to the Pleasant Township Fire Department, it was alerted about 11:15 a.m. to a house fire and explosion on Pringle-Benjamin Road, which is off of State Route 665 between London and Grove City.

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Chief David Whiting said the house was heavily involved in a fire upon the arrival of firefighters, made worse by winds that prevented them from attempting to get inside and conduct a search.

A passerby who arrived before firefighters noticed a person trapped and attempted to break a window to help them get out, injuring themselves in the process. That passerby was taken to a hospital, as was one person from inside the house who got out. The person who died was inside the house.

• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (NBC4)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (NBC4)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (NBC4)
• 
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)
• A house fire in Madison County, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025, left one dead and injured two. (COURTESY PLEASANT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT)

The identities of the victims have yet to be released.

Multiple nearby fire departments responded to a call for assistance. Whiting said debris in the yard made it seem likely that an explosion was part of the fire.

An investigation into its cause is underway.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) riders can expect major delays and reroutes Sunday during the Columbus Marathon.

About 17 COTA lines will be rerouted during the morning and afternoon. Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 31, 102, CMAX, and Zoo Bus will all be impacted.

According to a news release, nearly all Downtown stops and more than 800 stops in surrounding areas will be closed. Stops in Downtown Columbus, Bexley, North Bank, Arena District, Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State, Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington will be affected.

Road closures announced for the Columbus Marathon and related events this weekend

Downtown transit transfer points will be located on Spring Street and Long Street, near the Fourth Street intersection. Transportation street supervisors will be on duty to assist riders.

All reroutes will end after the marathon during the midafternoon.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio congressman is responding after a swastika was spotted in his Washington, D.C. office.

Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) called the incident vandalism and said Capitol Police were called to investigate. Taylor represents Ohio's second congressional district, which includes Pickaway, Ross and Pike counties.

POLITICO released an image it obtained from a virtual meeting, which shows an American flag pinned to a desk with the red stripes in the middle altered to make the shape of a swastika.

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"I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office," Taylor said in a statement. "The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms."

Taylor said no further comment would be made while the incident remains under investigation.

The image was revealed one day after the outlet reported on a group chat where Young Republican leaders praised Hitler. The group also included remarks about the Holocaust, other racist language, and suggestions that their political opponents be put in gas chambers, according to POLITICO.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thursday will be a very special night for Columbus Blue Jackets fans as the team honors one of its greatest players.

Cam Atkinson, 36, will be honored before Columbus' game against the Colorado Avalanche after he signed a one-day contract so he can retire with the team he spent ten seasons with. He and Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell spoke with media members Thursday afternoon. You can watch Atkinson's retirement speech and more in the video player above.

He thanked everyone involved in his career from his parents, wife, three children, and of course the Blue Jackets family. "It was so special to be a Blue Jacket and obviously to play in front of the 5th line," said Atkinson. "They are a special group through the ups and the downs. Just happy to be able to call this place home."

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Atkinson first appeared for the Blue Jackets during the 2011-12 season. In 627 games, Atkinson scored 213 goals (second only to Rick Nash), and provided 189 assists (fifth in the team’s history) to amass 402 points. He was named an all-star in the 2017 and 2019 seasons.

Atkinson was instrumental in leading the Jackets to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the 2019 season, scoring two goals and notching six assists in 10 postseason games. During that playoff run was the Blue Jackets historic sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round and Atkinson shared his fond memories of completing the historic upset.

"There were so many different moments from that," said Atkinson. "It was special to be a part of but the city, the organization, the fans, they deserve it more than anyone."

The Blue Jackets traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 and, after two seasons, he appeared in 39 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2024-25 season.

Atkinson is among six Blue Jackets on the team’s quarter-century team announced in January by the NHL, alongside Nash, Sergei Bobrovsky, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Artemi Panarin.

He also mentioned that he will be the first Columbus player to wear No. 13 when he takes the ice Thursday since Johnny Gaudreau was killed. "I will be thinking about him and his family as I take my final lap tonight," said Atkinson.

Atkinson said he hopes to one day work for the Blue Jackets in the front office but Waddell said he gave him the advice of spending time with family before taking that step. He will live in Columbus with his family and devote more time to the Battery Hockey Academy in Plain City.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After more than a decade serving shoppers in the Short North Arts District, a locally-owned boutique is closing its door for good this month.

Happy Go Lucky at 787 N. High St. announced the closure in a social media post on Oct. 1, citing its retirement after 14 years in business. "Dear friends, the time has come," the post read. "After 14 unforgettable years in the Short North, Happy Go Lucky will officially retire and close its door on Oct. 31."

• Happy Go Lucky at 787 N. High St. is closing on Oct. 31. (Courtesy Photo/Happy Go Lucky)
• Happy Go Lucky at 787 N. High St. is closing on Oct. 31. (Courtesy Photo/Happy Go Lucky)
• Happy Go Lucky at 787 N. High St. is closing on Oct. 31. (Courtesy Photo/Happy Go Lucky)

The shop, known for its eclectic selection of clothing, accessories and home goods, launched a farewell sale the same day as its announcement. Everything in the store is currently marked 70% off, with all sales final. "Quantities are very limited, so if you've had your eye on something, now is the time. Once it's gone, it's gone," the post said.

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While no specific reason for the closure was given, the owners expressed gratitude to their customers and the Short North community. "Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Thank you for the laughter, the love and countless memories you've shared with [us] through the years," the post said. "This community has been our heart, and we couldn't be more grateful."

Happy Go Lucky hours through October are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"Come see us one last time," the post said. "Share a hug, snag a treasure and celebrate 14 beautiful years together."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Meet Jabarkus! He is available at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

Jabarkus is a one-year-old Pitbull mix and has been with the shelter since September. Shelter staff say Jabarkus started out as shy but has been doing really well. He has tested positive for heartworm, so the shelter is looking for a medical foster.

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Once he has been treated, you can either adopt him or be a long-term foster. Staff say that Jabarkus would be best if he were the only pet in the house. He loves to cuddle and is described as a super friendly and gentle couch potato with bursts of energy.

Jabarkus knows "sit" and is said to be house broken as well. If you are interested in Jabarkus, you can visit him at the shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. For the full list of adoptable dogs, visit the shelter's website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Fall fun continues in central Ohio this October with some of the area's top signature events, Halloween-themed experiences and community celebrations.

Seasonal favorites include the Circleville Pumpkin Show marking its 118th year downtown with parades, giant gourds and plenty of pumpkin treats, while Pumpkins Aglow transforms Franklin Park Conservatory into a glowing wonderland of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns.

For those seeking a scare or a laugh, “The Rocky Horror Show” returns to the Short North Stage, and the Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours invite guests to explore the Capitol’s eerie past. Adults and teens can also join Halloween at Thurber House for a murder mystery, games and ghostly fun.

In New Albany, the Diwali festival brings light, music and fireworks, and the Library Concert Series at the Hilliard Branch offers a relaxing, family-friendly afternoon of live music. Dog lovers can head to Dublin for the Running of the Bullies supporting Buckeye Bulldog Rescue.

Columbus Crew fans can cheer on the team in their final regular-season home match.

The weekend caps off with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon in its 45th year and the 1/2 Marathon in its 19th year, drawing thousands of runners and supporters downtown.

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Downtown Circleville, 159 E. Franklin St., open daily until Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• The Circleville Pumpkin Show, sometimes referred to as “The Greatest Free Show on Earth,” will run for its 118th season. Held in the heart of Circleville’s downtown, the show offers a selection of baked goods, live entertainment, parades, amusement rides and more. The show kicks off with area pumpkin growers vying for the coveted Giant Pumpkin Trophy. More than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash and gourds are featured in a large street display. Admission is free.

Pumpkins Aglow

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Wednesday through Sunday until Nov. 2
• More than 700 hand-carved glowing pumpkins light up Franklin Park Conservatory during its sixth annual Pumpkins Aglow event. A family-friendly festival that is spooky, but not scary, features themed displays, including pirates, creepy-crawly spiders, dancing skeletons and even aliens landing among the leaves. Nightly roaming entertainment, food trucks, a bar with specialty cocktails, a glass pumpkin pop-up shop, crafts and more. Open hours are 5 to 9 p.m. nightly, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Tickets range from $17.33 to $30.45, including the city's culture fee; check for member discounts.

(Courtesy Photo/Franklin Park Conservatory) The Rocky Horror Show

Short North Stage at the Garden Theater, Thursdays through Sundays until Nov. 1, showtimes vary
• Back for its eighth year, buckle up for a wild ride through the twisted, tantalizing world of “The Rocky Horror Show.” When straight-laced couple Brad and Janet's car breaks down, they find themselves at the mercy of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a mad scientist with a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for creating life. The audience will rock out to “Time Warp,” the ultimate party anthem.  Rated R. Tickets range from $43.35 to $92.75, including fees. Student rush tickets are available at the door two hours before showtime for $20.

Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours

Ohio Statehouse, Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 25
• Guests step into the dark and historic hallways of the Ohio Statehouse and take a glimpse at figures from the past, following conductors through its hallways and chambers. The lantern-lit tours are offered every half hour between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. This spooky historical tour is a ticketed event and appropriate for children 12 and older. Affordable event parking is available in the Statehouse underground garage. Tickets for adults are $16 and children ages 12 to 17 are $8. 

Ohio Statehouse (Adobe Stock) Buckeye Bulldog Rescue — Running of the Bullies

Scioto North Park, 7377 Riverside Dr., Dublin, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.

• Dog lovers can take part of one of the most fun, bulldog-celebrating events of the year. All types of dogs are welcome, but the bulldog race will be limited to English and French bulldog participants only. Participants must register one human per dog. Registration begins at 9 a.m. the Bulldog Derby anticipated start time is 10:30 a.m., no same day registrations will be accepted this year.

(Courtesy Photo/ Running of the Bullies) Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls

Lower.com Field, Saturday, Oct. 18, kickoff 6 p.m.
• Columbus Crew is set to host New York Red Bulls for the last regular-season home match. The first 10,000 fans will receive a wearable flag courtesy of Cenovus. Tickets start at $45.98.
• 3:30 p.m.: Happy Hour at the Chase Plaza and Condado Tacos begins
• 4:30 p.m.: Lower.com Field Gates Open
• 6 p.m.: Match Kickoff
• Halftime Performance: Jady

Celebrate Diwali

Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, Saturday, Oct. 18, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• The New Albany 2025 Diwali Celebration will take place at the Hinson Amphitheater. This “Festival of Lights” symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. The free event is open to the entire community and will include music, dancing, food and fireworks. Fireworks are scheduled to start at approximately 7:20 p.m. Organizers suggest bringing a chair and a reusable water bottle.

Halloween at Thurber House (Adults/Teens 15+)

Thurber Center, Saturday, Oct. 18, 5 to 9 p.m.
• Thurber House will host a murder mystery and a spooky social with mini pumpkin and gourd painting, games, sweet treats, a ghost raffle and more festive activities. Attendees can register online for the event and pick a time slot to solve the murder mystery. Teens must be accompanied by an adult. General admission is $35 and student discount tickets are $25.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Downtown Columbus, North Bank Park, Sunday, Oct. 19
• Each year, thousands of athletes gather in Columbus for a day celebrating health and wellness, personal victories, record-breaking performances and of course, the children helped by Nationwide Children's Hospital. The Columbus Marathon began in 1980; the 1/2 Marathon was added in 2006. Both the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon events are sold out for 2025, however the races feature a spectator-friendly course.
• 6 a.m.: Corrals Open
• 7:25 a.m.: Wheelchair Division Start
• 7:30 a.m.: Marathon Start

Runners leave the starting line for the 2022 Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 16. Library Concert series

Columbus Metropolitan Library, Hilliard Branch, Oct. 19, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• A fun-filled, family-friendly afternoon of music. Enjoy the sounds of a string quartet from ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. The event is free and appropriate for all ages.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As Ohio State heads to Wisconsin for a game Saturday, center Carson Hinzman will be returning home.

Normally, fans won’t hear his name called during games, which is exactly what he wants.

“Every birthday, my mom would paint something on the windows, and she’d paint Bucky Badger ... and we'd do dress up," Hinzman said. "And I'd dress up as a Wisconsin Badgers fan. My whole life, I always carried around a Wisconsin lunch pail, like until I graduated high school. I mean, everything I had was Badgers my whole life.”

Coach Ryan Day spoke highly of the Wisconsin transplant.

“He's become an excellent football player, and ... he's playing with great confidence,” Day said. “He keeps everybody together up front. And, you know, I thought he's held some of the environments he played in well so far. We're going to need him here. I know he's excited to go back to his home state and play well.”

Hinzman said he’s 1-1 at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium, with a win two years ago as a Buckeye and then a loss in a high school state championship game.

He also tried to commit to Wisconsin, but he called late at night. No one answered and then, by the next day, when the call was returned, he felt different and ended up at Ohio State.  

INJURY REPORT: There’s good news for the Ohio State defense as Lorenzo Styles and Eddrick Houston work their way back onto the field. Day said they’re ready to go. Both players were out this past week against Illinois. Styles starts at nickelback, and Houston rotates up front on the line.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently released report ranked the best institutions of higher education in Ohio and across the country. 

The personal finance company WalletHub compared 791 U.S. colleges and universities to determine the best, based on 30 metrics, including graduation rates, student loan debt, on-campus crime and post-attendance median salary. 

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland ranked as the top higher education institution in Ohio and placed at No. 56 nationally. In the state, the university boasted the best post-attendance median salary, the second-highest graduation rate and had the most gender and racial diversity. 

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Central Ohio colleges that made the state’s top 10 include Kenyon College at No. 2 (ranked at No. 94 nationally), Denison University at No. 4 (No. 103 nationally), Ohio State University’s main campus at No. 5 (No. 113 nationally) and Ohio Wesleyan University at No. 7 (No. 156 nationally).

The full list of Ohio’s top 10 includes:

1. Case Western Reserve University
2. Kenyon College 
3. Oberlin College (No. 99 nationally)
4. Denison University
5. Ohio State University 
6. The College of Wooster (No. 130 nationally)
7. Ohio Wesleyan University
8. Ohio Northern University (No. 166 nationally)
9. Cedarville University (No. 205 nationally)
10. University of Dayton (No. 226 nationally)

The top 10 colleges and universities in the country were:

1. Princeton University in New Jersey
2. Harvard University in Massachusetts
3. Yale University in Connecticut
4. Dartmouth College in New Hampshire
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6. California Institute of Technology 
7. Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania
8. Williams College in Massachusetts
9. Rice University in Texas
10. Northwestern University in Illinois

WalletHub’s full report can be found here.

PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) -- Southwest Licking Schools are trying again at the ballot to fund facility expansions after a similar bond issue failed in May.

Southwest Licking is asking for a 3.48 mills bond issue to fund a new fifth- and sixth-grade building, and to add a new wing and parking to Watkins Memorial High School. Unlike the 4.2 mills bond issue that failed in May, November's request does not include funding for an athletic center. If approved, the bond issue would generate $95,335,00 for the schools.

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"These projects will allow the district to accommodate projected peak enrollment and ensure students have the space and facilities needed for learning well into the future," Southwest Licking Superintendent Kasey Perkins said.

Southwest Licking said the expanded facilities are needed to address rising enrollment. The district's current facilities have a capacity of 5,200, but enrollment projections expect to surpass that by the 2032-2033 school year. With the expansions, building capacity would grow to around 6,800 or 6,900, the district said.

In May, district plans also included a new training facility, which would have been built in partnership with the YMCA. When 68% of taxpayers voted against the bond issue, the district changed courses for its new request. See previous coverage of May's bond issue in the video player above.

Voters told NBC4 that the request was too expensive and may not be needed. Southwest Licking built new facilities in 2017, and voters asked the district why the new buildings are already too small.

The district said its 2017 facilities project was done with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, which helped cover costs. Southwest Licking administrators said that despite requests to use district enrollment projections, the state used its own, which demonstrated less need. The 2017 collaboration is also stopping the district from renovating its former middle school, as the OFCC agreement guaranteed its demolition.

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On social media, people asked the district to stop allowing new residential developments if there are enrollment concerns. Perkins said there are 27 residential developments within district boundaries, driving growth. Southwest Licking reminded voters that school districts do not have the opportunity to approve or deny residential developments or property tax breaks for big projects.

"Those decisions rest solely with local governmental entities," Perkins said. "As growth continues, it is the district’s responsibility to find ways to educate all students who reside within its boundaries."

Other schools have faced similar concerns where developments do not have to pay property taxes but increase district enrollment. A governor-appointed group tasked with suggesting property tax relief recommended requiring school approval for large development projects in district boundaries. However, the law has not changed.

The district's planned middle school would host 1,200 students. The academic wing expansion at Watkins Memorial would raise the high school's capacity to 1,700, 500 students more than its current capacity. Southwest Licking said the project will also expand parking around the high school to ease congestion.

The district said it will cost taxpayers $10.16 per month for every $100,000 of their home value, or $121.92 per $100,000 annually. Early voting is already open, and taxpayers can vote in person on Nov. 4.

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A petition with more than 1,800 signatures aims to transfer the investigation into an 8-year-old girl’s homicide out of Fayette County, as organizers allege “conflicts of interest” and “mishandlings” have stalled the case.

In April 2006, Mackenzie Branham died in a fire at her mother’s residence in Jeffersonville, which the mother shared with her live-in boyfriend. The Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the blaze was arson, and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office discovered male DNA on Mackenzie’s body, indicating she was sexually assaulted before her death.

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Over the 19 years since the homicide, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has had investigative authority over the case, but not without controversy. The latest pushback against the office comes in the form of a petition attempting to reassign the investigation to a new agency.

“We're not gonna stop what we're doing,” said Donald Branham, Mackenzie’s father, who supports the petition's effort. "My daughter deserves this. She surely didn't deserve to be set on fire and raped that night and there is somebody out there accountable for it.”

The petition was created on Oct. 9 by Shawn Wilson, a friend of Donald’s, and Melissa Sandberg, a cold case podcaster investigating Mackenzie’s homicide. Wilson also created a petition to suspend Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth over the investigation in 2018, which Donald said reached about 200 signatures. See NBC4’s previous coverage in the video player above. 

Sandberg and Donald pointed to multiple incidents as reasons for the effort, including the fact that the sheriff’s office did not obtain the results of Mackenzie’s rape kit until 2012, about six years after it was administered. Additionally, a now-deceased sergeant who was seen at the scene of the fire was the brother-in-law of Mackenzie’s mother’s boyfriend, which the pair have called a conflict of interest. 

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“They did the [rape] kit and then that test result sat for six years,” Sandberg said. “They were found by mistake when Donald started his investigation. So to me that right there shows incompetence.”

However, Stanforth told NBC4 his office has worked “diligently” on the case since the beginning. He said the sexual assault kit – which rendered a “poor quality” DNA sample that has not produced a suspect – may have been misplaced by Montgomery County resulting in the delay, but his office never got a full answer on what happened. Stanforth also claimed the brother-in-law was never allowed access to any investigative materials and that the case was not discussed in his presence. Stanforth did, however, admit he may have been at the scene, as “dozens and dozens of people” were. 

“I've lived this case for 19 years as a sheriff,” he said. “That's nothing compared to what the families had to go through. … The worst of the tragedies is we have an 8-year-old girl that lost her life.”

Tension over the case escalated when episodes of Sandberg’s podcast, "Dog with a Bone," published earlier this month, containing audio of an interview she conducted with Stanforth. In the recording, Stanforth can be heard saying “we don’t know that” after Sandberg said the girl was sexually abused. He also discussed multiple ways the fire could have started, including the possibility that it was accidental.  

“You have a sheriff who's still 19 years later questioning, do we have a sexual assault and do we have an arson?” Sandberg said. “That's unacceptable to me. If you don't even believe those two things, you're not investigating.”

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“I've never felt so disappointed, so hurt, as a father of a child, that they would even make the comments they made, the sheriff did,” Donald said. 

Stanforth denied disbelieving that Mackenzie was sexually assaulted and said he was trying to convey that they did not know that information in the early days of the investigation, when a pathologist initially found no signs of sexual assault.

“This is the complexity we have, is that one day it wasn't, and six years later, it is,” Stanforth said. “Now we have a very complicated case to be able to prove that it's a sexual assault."

Stanforth also said that since the fire marshal ruled the incident as arson, they have been treating the case as such.

While the petition called for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to intervene and reassign the investigation to a different agency, a spokesperson with the department said it does not have authority to take a case from a local jurisdiction. 

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“I'm sick and tired that all these agencies, all these law enforcement, they can't come into a case unless they're invited in,” Donald said. “I will prove that these agencies that are supposed to protect my child are failing my child, and the only way, probably, to do that is with a lawyer.”

In light of the recent controversy, on Tuesday, Fayette County Prosecutor Jess Weade sent a letter to the Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutor Unit – consisting of seasoned prosecutors who help with local investigations – asking it to review the case and allegations against the sheriff's office.

The Special Prosecutors Unit and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have reviewed Mackenzie's case in the past and have not found enough evidence to charge anyone, according to Stanforth. He said he is not against outside agencies looking at the case and has welcomed them throughout the investigation. 

“It's not for the public or not for social media to decide who's going to be charged or how they're going to be charged because it's got to be able to be presented to a jury and we have one shot at this,” Stanforth said. 

However, Donald and Sandberg believe there is plenty of evidence for prosecution, and that Sandberg’s digging has uncovered even more. They are continuing to push the Ohio attorney general to investigate the sheriff’s office and exploring options to have the investigation reassigned.

“I've been fighting this for 19 years,” Donald said. “I want it out of this county.”

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's not every day you see pumpkins turned into fine art, but Reynoldsburg resident Deane Arnold has made it his specialty. 

"Art is fun," Arnold said. "Creating is fun. Working with other creatives is fun. It's satisfying. It's rewarding. I hope other people enjoy it as much as I do."

Arnold has been featured on Food Network's “Halloween Wars” and “Outrageous Pumpkins.” He's sculpted for audiences around the world and has also earned a Guinness World Record for the world's largest jack o'lantern. 

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"I'll work on these things for eight, nine, 12 hours," Arnold said. "Sometimes three or four days."

This weekend, Arnold is bringing his talent home for Halloweekend in the BURG. 

"Bringing it back to Reynoldsburg really is special to me because I feel like I neglected my neighbors," Arnold said. "A lot of the kids that really loved it when I started have grown up and now have their own careers."

People will get to watch as he turns ordinary pumpkins into detailed, lifelike sculptures. He said art has always been part of his DNA. 

"When I was small, I remember riding in the back of the car and looking out the window and tracing the outlines of trees and things like that," Arnold said. "Just in my mind I was aware of how things were shaped."

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Arnold's specialty is sculpting faces that seem to come alive. 

"That's just an art form that a lot of people aren't exposed to," Reynoldsburg communications and events director Jennifer Clemens said. 

All of his work is open to the viewers’ imagination. He likes his pumpkins to convey something, but he never wants it to be too obvious.

"You can't quite make out what the pumpkin might be thinking or judging or mocking or whatever," Arnold said. "I like that because it lets the viewer project their own feelings onto it."

Arnold said he starts by taking off the outer rind of the pumpkin to get to the sweet spot for carving. 

"I block in the face," Arnold said. "I go for the large forms first. The eyebrows, the cheekbones, where the mouth is, where the dimples are."

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According to Arnold, it's all about depth and working with each pumpkin's unique shape. 

"It's not drawing," Arnold said. "It's not two-dimensional. You're not just drawing the eyes and the mouth on the surface, you're going around. When you sculpt a mouth, it’s got a bite to it. It goes back."

For Arnold, bringing his art back to Reynoldsburg isn't just about the Halloween spirit -- it's about sharing his creativity with the community that's supported him from the start. 

"I'll never forget the moment that I found him online," Clemens said. "I didn't know of Deane, and we were trying to think about what we could add to this weekend just to do more. It’s been really fun to work with him. He's very creative and we just feel very fortunate that he's a Reynoldsburg resident and we get to highlight him in this way."

Arnold has two Food Network celebrities coming in to help him on Friday. 

Halloweekend in the BURG is on Saturday and Sunday at JFK Park in Reynoldsburg. Arnold encourages people to watch him in action and if you're lucky, you may even get a chance to try sculpting a pumpkin yourself. 

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) – There are multiple police and fire levies on the November ballot this year, and one small police department has extra reason to ask for money from taxpayers.

In Mifflin Township, two of their officers are still recovering after being shot at following a traffic stop in May.

The department said it needs additional funds to hire more officers and maintain around-the-clock patrols. Currently, it has one officer patrolling during the day, one in the afternoon, and no coverage at all on Sundays.

Mifflin Township Police Chief David Briggs said the department has had to lean on neighboring agencies just to keep the streets covered, and he said they’re already one of the lowest-paid departments in Franklin County.

"Currently, I'm operating a police department on $768,000 a year, and what that means is we don't have state-of-the-art equipment,” Briggs said. “We have hand-me-downs. We have things that get us by. That's what we're operating on.”

The levy would cost property owners $195 a year for every $100,000 of appraised value. Briggs said the township may have to disband the department.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The largest, most successful charity art auction in Ohio is making its comeback in Columbus, but Art for Life will have an all-new look and a new home.

The biennial auction has traditionally taken place at an evening gala, but on Sunday, Oct. 26, it will be a Sunday brunch in one of the city's hottest arts and restaurant districts.  

Equitas Health Events Director Rob Duvall said six galleries and nearly as many restaurants at High and Gay streets in Downtown Columbus will play host.

“The day should be this huge hug to the community, the arts community, the LGBTQ community, and Equitas Health,” Duvall said.

The auction will benefit people living with HIV and AIDS who receive services through Equitas.  

Art for Life began in 1989 to benefit what was then called the Columbus AIDS Task Force.

“Art for Life has been around for nearly 40 years for a reason," Duvall said. “It started in the 80s because our artist friends were dying and we didn't know why."

Patrons at this year’s event will be able to stroll from gallery to gallery in the Broad and Gay district and enjoy food stations from some of the city's top restaurants, including Veritas, Speck, Chouette, and Hanks.

Event co-chairperson Gabriel Mastin said the district will be a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA).  

“So when you leave registration at the Citizens Trust lobby, we are going to be having our mimosa in hand,” Mastin said. “I mean, what is a better Sunday?"

Mastin said funding for Equitas Health has never been more important because "Equitas is seeing 20,000-plus patients, the most we've seen in history, and amongst a time when we've had three staff reductions."  

Mastin said each of the galleries will have 15 pieces donated by local artists for a silent auction and the live auction will take place inside Citizens Trust.

“This is the time to bring your checkbook,” Mastin said. “We need your money. It is fun, but it is serious."

For tickets and information, visit the Art for Life Columbus website by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction costs on new homes are about to get even pricier.

Another round of tariffs went into effect this week and a central Ohio real estate developer said he is already feeling the impact.

“It really affects everything from top to bottom in the construction industry,” said Brian Higgins, Principal of Arch City Development.

He said their projects range from single-family homes to multi-million dollar homes. None of it has been immune to higher interest rates, labor costs and now tariffs.

“It’s challenging. There are uncertainties certainly in the marketplace and really we’ve been living in an uncertainty era in history I suppose,” Higgins said.

The most recently added tariffs include 25% on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. A 10% tariff was also imposed on timber and lumber.

“Lumber is the lifeblood of construction. Everything from a single-family home to a multi-family project, even if you’re building some high rise that’s made of steel, there’s still a lot of wood and other lumber-related things that are involved,” he said.

Higgins said with so much uncertainty, the only way to prepare is by downsizing, including redesigning a development plan on West Town Street in Franklinton.

“We took off all the balconies, we took off the rooftop deck, some of the amenities in the project that we thought were going to be compelling just to make it more efficient,” he said.

Higgins said one of the hardest parts surrounding tariffs is the uncertainty it brings.

“It's really hard to make a budget for a project when your wood comes from Canada, your steel comes from China, your cabinets come from Vietnam and we don’t know from any given day what those costs are really going to look like,” he said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As central Ohio continues to grow, it isn’t surprising that even more people are needed in the workforce.

Columbus City Schools is prioritizing career tech programs so its students can fill the gaps in these areas.

Fort Hayes Career Center has more than two dozen programs that CCS students can choose from. The district partners with central Ohio industry professionals, including the Columbus Building and Zoning Department.

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Employees from the department came to Fort Hayes on Wednesday to show students in skilled trades programs some job options available to them right out of high school, like building inspectors or construction workers. It’s just one of the many career opportunities brought to Fort Hayes students.

“We also get to build a Habitat house that's really hands-on for us, so it's a lot of hands-on projects that we get to do. We get to use tools. We just not staring in books all day,” Amilleonna Golden, a senior in the carpentry program, said.

Students spend half of their school day at Fort Hayes learning from former industry professionals, like instructor Christian Minor, who owned a masonry construction company for 20 years.

“It serves a tremendous need where there is a huge hole in the market for skilled workers,” Minor said. “As a former employer, we were desperate to find good workers.”

Besides getting their hands dirty working on local Habitat for Humanity homes and building sheds, students also learn the importance of skills like interviewing and networking.

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“It’s a lot of connections that you get to have with being here,” Golden said. “If you represent yourself well, you definitely get a lot of connections, a lot of people looking at you.”

“The networking of everybody in the building, because everybody around this area has something to do with the trade and you're meeting a lot of people,” James McGhee, a senior in the masonry program, said.

The district continues to prioritize career tech programs and educational opportunities outside the classroom, no matter if students are interested in healthcare, performing arts, construction or mechanics.

“We need students that are able to learn, to be able to be those citizens, to take those jobs,” Fort Hayes Assistant Principal Crystal Sanders said. “People are retiring. The demand is heavy.”

The workforce demand in central Ohio doesn’t seem to be slowing down, so Fort Hayes staff members work each day to prepare students to fill those gaps in the near future.