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AMSAT News Service ANS-292
October 19, 2025

In this edition:

* AMSAT Board of Directors Elects Officers
* AMSAT Symposium Held in Phoenix
* AMSAT Releases Draft Educators Guide to Using Satellites in the Classroom
* AMSAT Student Memberships Now Offered at No-Cost
* Is Low Earth Orbit Getting Too Crowded?
* Swarm Reveals Growing Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

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

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

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT Board of Directors Elects Officers Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA

At its annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., the AMSAT Board of Directors elected Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, President. Glasbrenner succeeds Robert Bankston, KE4AL, who had served as AMSAT’s president since 2020 and earlier this year announced his intention to step down.

Glasbrenner had previously served as AMSAT’s Vice President – Operations since 2006, and as a director for many years. As an enthusiastic operator, Glasbrenner earned Satellite DXCC and WAS, AMSAT Gridmaster, and has over 2100 VUCC Satellite grids. He is also a proud father of two young hams, KO4UYE and KQ4SJM.

Additionally, Glasbrenner serves as a member of the International Amateur Radio Union’s (IARU) Satellite Frequency Coordination panel and advises university CubeSat teams on frequency coordination and licensing issues.

The Board of Directors also elected the following officers for the next year:

Executive Vice President: Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Vice President – Operations: Mark Hammond, N8MH
Vice President – Engineering: Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Treasurer: Steve Belter, N9IP
Secretary: Doug Tabor, N6UA

Additionally, the President appointed the following officers:

Vice President – Educational Relations: Alan Johnston, KU2Y
Vice President – Development: Frank Karnauskas, N1UW

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors and AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information]

AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing! Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus Satellite
Includes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain AMSAT Symposium Held in Phoenix

Approximately 35 AMSAT members gathered at Holiday Inn Phoenix Airport North on Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, for the 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting. They were joined by more than 50 guests, at any one time, tuning into the livestream online.

Presentations from the AMSAT Engineering teams updated participants on propulsion systems that may be used in the upcoming GOLF (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) series of satellites, mechanical design of the FoxPlus series of satellites, command and control, power management, and telemetry systems under development.

Presentations from the AMSAT Educational Relations team focused on the CubeSat Sim and its use in the classroom at various grade levels.

Additional presentations were made by AMSAT’s partner organization, ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), tracking software authors, and the AMSAT Youth Initiative.

The symposium culminated with the Banquet on Saturday evening with keynote delivered by Liam Cheney, PMP. Liam is an aerospace consultant and founder of Footstep Aerospace by AG3, LLC.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Are Here!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today!

AMSAT Releases Draft Educators Guide to Using Satellites in the Classroom

At the 2025 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., AMSAT Vice President – Educational Relations Alan Johnston, KU2Y, announced the availability of a draft version of Educators Guide to Using Satellites in the Classroom, a new guide covering AMSAT’s CubeSatSim and other resources available for utilizing satellites in classroom education.

Johnston emphasizes that this guide is a draft document and will be continuously revised with better formatting and more content.

The draft guide is available at https://cubesatsim.org/EducatorsGuide.

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President – Educational Relations for the above information]

AMSAT Student Memberships Now Offered at No-Cost

At its annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., the AMSAT Board of Directors unanimously voted to offer student memberships at no-cost.

Free student memberships are offered for individuals under the age of 25 enrolled in an educational program from primary school through a Master’s degree.

The benefits of an AMSAT student membership include a one-year digital subscription to The AMSAT Journal and discounted prices on certain items in the AMSAT store.

Interested students may sign up for their no-cost membership at https://launch.amsat.org/Membership

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information]

Is Low Earth Orbit Getting Too Crowded?

Hundreds of satellites may soon be flying in orbital regions that are already too packed to allow safe and long-term operations, a new study suggests.

The study found that, while in 2019 only 0.2% of satellites in Earth orbit were forced to perform more than 10 collision-avoidance maneuvers per month, that percentage had risen sevenfold by early 2025, to 1.4%. That number might still seem low, but it means that some 340 satellites spend a lot of time dodging debris and other spacecraft.

Moreover, the satellite population is set to keep growing. While in 2019 about 13,700 objects (including space junk) zoomed around the planet in low Earth orbit (LEO), at altitudes below 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers), that number has since risen to 24,185 objects in 2025, an increase of 76%, according to the study. By the end of this decade, some 70,000 satellites may reside in LEO, according to industry growth predictions, representing a more than fivefold increase compared to the 2019 situation.

Artist’s rendering of space junk in orbit
[Image: European Space Agency]

The study, conducted by William E. Parker, Maya Harris, Giovanni Lavezzi, and Richard Linares of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was published September 26 in the journal, Acta Astronautica. The research was sponsored by the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator.

The authors selected 10 collision-avoidance maneuvers per month as a threshold at which satellite operation may become too complicated to be beneficial. Different operators choose a different threshold to perform collision-avoidance maneuvers. NASA spacecraft mostly maneuver when the collision risk is greater than 1 in 10,000. SpaceX — the world’s biggest satellite operator, with its Starlink broadband megaconstellation — is more cautious, using its autonomous space dodging system to avoid an object posing a risk greater than 1 in 3.3 million. Frequent maneuvers present a disruption to operations that some satellite handlers are better able to absorb than others.

[ANS thanks Space.com  for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/is-low-earth-orbit-getting-too-crowded-new-study-rings-an-alarm-bell. See the complete academic paper at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576525006332?dgcid=author.]

Swarm Reveals Growing Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field

Using 11 years of magnetic field measurements from the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellite constellation, scientists have discovered that the weak region in Earth’s magnetic field over the South Atlantic – known as the South Atlantic Anomaly – has expanded by an area nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014.

Earth’s magnetic field is vital to life on our planet. It is a complex and dynamic force that protects us from cosmic radiation and charged particles from the Sun.

It is largely generated by a global ocean of molten, swirling liquid iron that makes up the outer core around 3000 km beneath our feet. Acting like a spinning conductor in a bicycle dynamo, it creates electrical currents, which in turn, generate our continuously changing electromagnetic field – but in reality the processes that generate the field are far more complex.

Swarm, an Earth Explorer mission developed under ESA’s Earth Observation FutureEO programme, comprises a constellation of three identical satellites that precisely measure the magnetic signals that stem from Earth’s core, mantle, crust and oceans, as well as from the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Thanks to this exceptional mission, scientists are gaining more insight into the different sources of magnetism to help understand how and why the magnetic field is weakening in some places and strengthening in others.

The weak field South Atlantic Anomaly was first identified southeast of South America back in the 19th century.

Today, the South Atlantic Anomaly is of particular interest for space safety, as satellites passing over the region are faced with higher doses of incoming radiation. This can lead to malfunctions or damage to critical hardware, and even blackouts.

Published this month in Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, the latest results from the Swarm mission reveal that while the South Atlantic Anomaly expanded steadily between 2014 and 2025, a region of the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Africa has experienced an even faster weakening of Earth’s magnetic field since 2020.

“The South Atlantic Anomaly is not just a single block,” says lead author Chris Finlay, Professor of Geomagnetism at the Technical University of Denmark. “It’s changing differently towards Africa than it is near South America. There’s something special happening in this region that is causing the field to weaken in a more intense way.”

This behaviour is linked to strange patterns in the magnetic field at the boundary between Earth’s liquid outer core and its rocky mantle, known as reverse flux patches.

Prof. Finlay explains, “Normally we’d expect to see magnetic field lines coming out of the core in the southern hemisphere. But beneath the South Atlantic Anomaly we see unexpected areas where the magnetic field, instead of coming out of the core, goes back into the core. Thanks to the Swarm data we can see one of these areas moving westward over Africa, which contributes to the weakening of the South Atlantic Anomaly in this region.”

Swarm’s record-breaking 11 years

The latest model of Earth’s core-generated magnetic field marks a new milestone for ESA’s Swarm satellites, which have now provided the longest continuous record of magnetic field measurements from space.

The satellites were launched on 22 November 2013 as the fourth Earth Explorer mission, pioneering satellites that form a key component of ESA’s forward-looking FutureEO programme.

Conceived as demonstrators of innovative Earth observation technologies, these missions have long outlived their original design lifetime, become integral to long-term records, provided data for critical operational services, and have paved the way for future generations of satellites.

Swarm data underpin the global magnetic models used for navigation, monitor space weather hazards, and allow unprecedented insights into our Earth system from its core through to the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.

Earth’s magnetic field strengthens over Siberia

The latest Swarm results highlight the dynamic nature of Earth’s magnetism. For example, in the southern hemisphere there is one point where the magnetic field is particularly strong, and in the northern hemisphere there are two – one around Canada and the other around Siberia.

“When you’re trying to understand Earth’s magnetic field, it’s important to remember that it’s not just a simple dipole, like a bar magnet. It’s only by having satellites like Swarm that we can fully map this structure and see it changing,” said Prof. Finlay.

However, since Swarm has been in orbit the magnetic field over Siberia has strengthened while it has weakened over Canada. The Canadian strong field region has shrunk by 0.65% of Earth’s surface area, which is almost the size of India, while the Siberian region has grown by 0.42% of Earth’s surface area, which is comparable to the size of Greenland.

This shift, which is caused by complex processes going on in Earth’s turbulent core, is associated with the northern magnetic pole moving towards Siberia in recent years. This shift is important for navigation, which is affected by the dance between these two areas of strong magnetic field.

ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager, Anja Stromme, said, “It’s really wonderful to see the big picture of our dynamic Earth thanks to Swarm’s extended timeseries. The satellites are all healthy and providing excellent data, so we can hopefully extend that record beyond 2030, when the solar minimum will allow more unprecedented insights into our planet.”

[ANS thanks the European Space Agency (ESA) for the above information.]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for October 17, 2025

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

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

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

ARISS News

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

Completed Contacts

1st Radford Semele Scout Group, Radford Semele, United Kingdom, Direct via GB4RSS
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Jonathan (Jonny) Kim, KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor was MØXTD
Contact was successful: Sat 2025-10-18 09:51:59 UTC degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the 1st Radford Semele Scout Group students, Jonny, mentor MØXTD, and ground station GB4RSS!

Scheduled Contacts

Colegio de Cultura Popular, Bogotá, Colombia, telebridge via AB1OC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN
The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ
Contact is go for: Thu 2025-10-23 13:46:10 UTC 63 deg

18th Primary School of Larissa, Larissa, Greece, Telebridge via K6DUE
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Fincke, KE5AIT
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Fri 2025-10-24 08:04:47 UTC 33 deg

Terre Haute Children’s Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana, direct via W9UUU
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Jonathan (Jonny) Kim, KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-10-25 13:45:00 UTC 52 deg
Watch for Livestream at https://youtube.com/live/kULT9EvbPwc?feature=share or https://live.ariss.org

Many times a school may make a last minute decision to do a Livestream or run into a last minute glitch requiring a change of the URL but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication.  You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

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

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

Packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) is ACTIVE.

Ham TV is CONFIGURED. ​​ Default mode is for​​​ scheduled digital amateur television operations (2395.00 MHz).

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

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

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

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

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

25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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

No events are currently scheduled.

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

For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

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

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ SpaceX closed a chapter in its Starship saga on October 13. It launched what appeared to be a nearly flawless suborbital mission with its Version 2 Starship-Super Heavy rocket, the final flight for this iteration of the launch vehicle. This was the final Starship launch of the year and the last mission that will fly from Pad A in its current configuration. SpaceX now turns its attention to completing and testing Version 3 of Starship-Super Heavy, which will begin launch from Pad B. It’s this iteration of the rocket that SpaceX intends to use for launching payloads to orbit and eventually flying missions to the Moon and Mars. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information. Read the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/10/14/spacex-launches-final-version-2-starship-super-heavy-rocket/.)

+ Approximately 550 employees of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be laid off, according to an announcement made on the agency’s website on October 13. The news comes in the midst of an ongoing U.S. government shutdown and the looming threat of the single largest funding reduction in NASA’s 66-year history. Due to those potential cuts, NASA has been forced to reshape many of its science and space exploration efforts. Scientists at NASA’S JPL oversee a fleet of flagship science missions designed to unravel the mysteries of our solar system. They include the Psyche asteroid probe, the Europa Clipper, the dark-matter-hunting Euclid Space Telescope, the Perseverance Mars rover and, of course, the Deep Space Network — the international array of antennas used to communicate with humanity’s spacefaring robotic explorers. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-lays-off-550-employees-at-jet-propulsion-laboratory-in-sweeping-realignment-of-workforce.)

+  The Federal Communications Commission, which issues Amateur Radio Service licenses, issued a Public Notice on Tuesday, September 30, indicating that it would suspend most operations following a shutdown. ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said the FCC systems appeared to go off-line around 1 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, and are redirecting to the Public Notice. This means the FCC will not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown, which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade) applications. However, Somma urged that Volunteer Examiners continue to promptly forward session results from their exams to the ARRL VEC. ARRL VEC will promptly resume submitting applications to the FCC for processing. (ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.)

+ A constellation of classified defense satellites built by SpaceX is emitting a mysterious signal that may violate international standards. Satellites associated with the Starshield satellite network appear to be transmitting to the Earth on frequencies normally used for sending commands from Earth to satellites in space. The use of those frequencies to “downlink” data runs counter to standards set by the International Telecommunication Union. Starshield’s unusual transmissions have the potential to interfere with other scientific and commercial satellites, warns Scott Tilley, VA7LF, an amateur satellite tracker in Canada who first spotted the signals. (ANS thanks National Public Radio for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5575254/spacex-starshield-starlink-signal.)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Mark Johns, KØJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A huge crowd gathered at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday for another "No Kings" protest.

Demonstrators voiced their concerns over the Trump administration's policies, attending with chants and signs adorned with phrases like "Hate won't make America great" and "No one is above the law."

The protest was hosted by Common Cause Ohio, Indivisible Central Ohio and 50501. The demonstration included several speakers, like a member of Ohio State's chapter of the Ohio Student Association, a pastor and a board member of the ACLU of Ohio.

• (NBC4 Photo/Gracie Collins)
• (NBC4 Photo/Gracie Collins)
• (NBC4 Photo/Gracie Collins)

"I never want to be the one to say the sky is falling but all the things that we were afraid might happen have actually started to happen," said Mia Lewis, with Common Cause Ohio and Indivisible Central Ohio.

The speakers said they're calling out recent federal actions, like the government shutdown, the "ICE crackdown," and cuts to healthcare and education services.

"I think we all need to be united to get some action done," said protestor Vickey Ater.

In addition to a "No Kings" protest at the Ohio Statehouse, there were also demonstrations in communities around the state. A protest in Hilliard late Saturday morning included more than 1,500, organizers said. Attendees chanted and marched, voicing their displeasure with President Trump and his administration.

"It's so nice to have this support that you don't feel you're alone," protestor Penny Van Kirk said. "When you watch so much of TV and hear the administration, they make you feel like you don't belong, they make you feel, like this isn't your country, and to know all these people are our here, I feel like it's my country."

Many members of the Republican Party branded the protests as "Hate America rallies." This was the second round of "No Kings" protests. The first was in June.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State will be without nine players on Saturday against Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes are coming off of a 34-16 win on the road against No. 17 Illinois last week.

Ohio State comes into the game with a 6-0 record. Wisconsin is 2-4 and looking for its first Big Ten win of the season.

Ohio State injury report (Week 8 at Wisconsin)

• Logan George (DL)
• Max LeBlanc (TE)
• Mason Maggs (QB)
• Bryson Rodgers (WR)
• Anthony Rogers (RB)
• Max Roy (DL)
• Deshawn Stewart (S)
• Ahmed Tounkara (DL)
• Preston Wolfe (WR)

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. from Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- What would the Circleville Pumpkin Show be without the giant pumpkins? 

Some of the pumpkin growers, including this year's grand champion, said with a tough growing season they faced some challenges, but held out hope to make it to this year's weigh-in. 

Many of the growers have decades of experience, and there's one name that comes top of mind when thinking of the unimaginably large pumpkins sometimes weighing upwards of 2,000 pounds. 

Records show Anduril chose one of three site plans in Pickaway County

He's known as Dr. Bob Liggett. 

"So, it's a disease," Liggett. "Once you've been involved in the pumpkin show and the fun of it and talking to the people that come to the show, you talk about how to grow pumpkins, it's just fun. Look forward to it every year." 

Liggett comes with an impressive track topping the leader board of the largest pumpkin many times over the past three decades. He even set a state record in 2023 with a 2,388.5-pound pumpkin (The current Ohio state record was set this year by Jared Persinger at 2,505 pounds). 

This year's pumpkin however, not a winner.

"I'm just happy that we made it here because sometimes when they quit growing it's an indication that something's not right," he said.

This year, Liggett's 1,663-pound pumpkin was beaten out by Mike Helberg's at 1,972 pounds. This was Helberg's first win and the largest pumpkin he's personally ever grown. 

While impressive in size, it was tough to get the plants to make it through the summer.

"We didn't do very well," Helberg said. "We lost about three-quarters of the plant in June from the floods and the humidity. So, this pumpkin actually only grew on about six side vines from the main vines."

"It took us a long time to really figure out why we would pollinate a pumpkin, but it wouldn't set," Liggett said. "It would just shrivel up after a few days and it was because of the humidity.

From what was left of the plant, they said managing the dry and rainless days of early fall was much easier.

"I'm fortunate I actually have access to water, so no problems there and we did have a shade cloth over most of the patch," Liggett said. 

Both Liggett and Helberg said for them, the pumpkin show isn't about winning, it's about the comradery among growers, the joy it brings to their families and visitors and maybe even inspiring the next person to have their shot at growing one of their own, too.

"In 2004, I came to the pumpkin show and saw the big pumpkins and talked to the growers and they gave me some seeds and so I just started, got the itch to grow them," Helberg said. 

"If you look here, there's so many pumpkins that just look so beautiful and I think that's what we all try to do," Liggett said. "We try to have beautiful pumpkins for the visitors that come to our pumpkin show to see."

To qualify for the pumpkin weigh in, the pumpkins must be grown within a 25-mile radius of downtown Circleville. 

XENIA, Ohio (WCMH) — A man facing nearly 40 charges related to the use of child pornography was sentenced in Greene County.

According to court records, Donald Sparklin was investigated by the Beavercreek Police Department and brought up on charges, 38 in total, of illegal use of a minor person in nudity-oriented material and pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, both second-degree felonies.

Sparklin, 68, was alleged to have “create, direct, produce or transfer” sexual material involving a minor or “advertise, sell, distribute, transport, disseminate, exhibit or display”, the material, the indictment said. The charges stem from incidents between 2017 and 2019.

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

Beavercreek police were notified of a 2019 federal investigation in 2023, when it was reported that the Department of Homeland Security was tracking the distribution and receiving of child pornography from Sparklin’s residence.

In January 2024, Sparklin was interviewed and his phone was confiscated. Court records stated that the phone investigated in 2024 matched the number he gave authorities in 2019.

A Greene County Common Pleas judge sentenced Sparklin, who pleaded no contest in August, to five years of probation house arrest and ordered him to wear a GPS monitoring device.

Sparklin, who will be monitored by the Green County Adult Probation Department and Ohio AMS, will be required to register as a Tier II sex offender.

NEW LEXINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Former Northern Local Schools treasurer Elizabeth McCarthy is facing an indictment of three felony charges after she allegedly used a district credit card for personal purchases.

A Perry County grand jury returned an indictment for two counts of felony theft in office and one count of felony telecommunications fraud, per an indictment filed Wednesday in Perry County Common Pleas Court.

McCarthy allegedly made purchases "in stores and online for clothing, event tickets, household goods, and other items that were not for district use," according to a news release from the Ohio Auditor of State.

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

The Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit opened its investigation in October 2024. An SIU attorney will serve as a special prosecutor for the case, as appointed by Perry County Prosecutor Terry Rugg.

McCarthy is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 5.

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) — Opened in 2007, Waggoner Road Junior High School in Reynoldsburg is where meteorologist Bryan Still started the seventh grade the same year. Little did he know that many years later he would return back to that very building not as a student, but as a principal.

Reynoldsburg city schools held their “principal for a day” event where members all over the community were invited to join various school administrators and help carry out the day to day tasks that any normal principal would do. This is the second school year that the district organized this event.

After a busy morning of greeting kids at the door, classes were monitored as teachers demonstrated the different lessons that were on the day's schedule. 

Education has changed drastically over the last 18 years. Gone are the whiteboards and textbooks. Those tools have been replaced with touchscreen monitors and laptops. Some traditional tools like pencil and paper are timeless and still present.

Over the last few years, Waggoner Road has made strides in listening to the community and how its members wanted to see the school grow. School principal Jason Phillips says part of this feedback involved seeing an increase in classes involving the arts. The school responded. dropping in on choir class, there are many kids learning music theory and choreography. With music so catchy it was easy to join in on the learning.

With hard work and dedication, in no time, the kids felt more confident in their skills and seemed eager to showcase them when the time comes.

Once lunch time came, a group of hungry sixth graders made their way to grab food, catch up on some work, and meet up with their friends. Joining them at their tables shed light on another big change. Children moved from cliques to clicks.

Keyboards and laptop screens sat next to the food as they shared notes and discussed lessons. Even then they were still eager to share in conversation with their guest principal about what their favorite subjects were and what they were learning about.

There was one task that ended up being more daunting than anticipated. Getting the attention of a rambunctious cafeteria of sixth graders required a great big breath and a strong set of vocal cords. 

Ready to learn again, the kids made their way to the next class to finish another day of learning

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent study ranked three Ohio municipalities among the top 10 U.S. cities where residents are the most burdened by grocery costs.

The personal finance website WalletHub looked at 100 of the largest cities to discover where residents spend the highest percentage of their household income on common grocery items. Researchers collected data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the nonprofit Council for Community and Economic Research.

Multiple Ohio cities placed high on the list, including Cleveland, where the average cost of groceries accounts for about 3.77% of the median household income. While Cleveland experiences "reasonable" grocery prices, the city has the lowest household income of those included in the study, leading to food costs making up a larger portion of residents' paychecks, according to WalletHub.

Source: WalletHub

The other Ohio cities in the top 10 are Toledo at No. 5, where residents allocate around 3.09% of their income to groceries each month, and Cincinnati (2.90%). Columbus ranked the lowest of all Ohio cities included, but still placed relatively high on the list, at No. 26. On average, residents of Ohio's capital spend 2.28% of their monthly income on groceries, the study says. 

The analysis found that Detroit residents spend the highest percentage of their incomes on groceries, with a median cost of 3.78%. While grocery prices are somewhat average, the median household income is the second lowest, WalletHub said.

The full top 10 can be found below:

1. Detroit, Michigan 
2. Cleveland, Ohio 
3. Birmingham, Alabama 
4. Newark, New Jersey
5. Toledo, Ohio
6. Hialeah, Florida
7. Buffalo, New York
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
10. Memphis, Tennessee

In contrast, California cities San Francisco (1.22%), San Jose (1.16%) and Fremont (0.96%) spend the smallest percentage of income, on average, at the grocery store.

WalletHub’s full study can be found here. 

The Nexstar Media Wire contributed to this report. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- State records show Anduril considered three site plans for its Pickaway County weapons manufacturing facility before selecting its five-warehouse plan.

According to state records, Anduril considered three alternative project plans to minimize the effects on local wildlife, as is required by the EPA. Anduril ultimately went with the option requiring the largest effect on local ecosystems, determining it was the only site that would meet the "anticipated production demands" of the Department of Defense.

Anduril, a defense systems manufacturing company, announced plans to build aerial autonomous weapons in Pickaway County in January. Anduril selected Ohio for its Arsenal-1 project because the state offers economic support for major developments and is home to many universities. See previous coverage of Arsenal-1 in the video player above.

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Permit requests show five warehouses was the only way to meet the production and job creation demands required by JobsOhio. JobsOhio awarded Anduril a $310 million state grant to support drone and aerial weapons manufacturing near Rickenbacker Airport. Under the funding agreement, Anduril must create 4,008 jobs by 2035, and permits said ulterior site plans would not have accommodated enough workers.

Filings show Anduril's team chose the five warehouse option over off-site or four-building alternatives with smaller environmental impacts. The selected site will require 76 acres of trees to be cleared, and will affect 5.6 acres of wetlands.

Courtesy photo of selected site option / Ohio EPA

Under the approved plan, two streams will be permanently rerouted, with one feeding into the other and culverting under roadways. Both streams are unnamed tributaries to Walnut Creek. 

The project will also affect 11 wetlands. To supplement the effects on wetlands and wildlife, Anduril’s planning team proposed buying stream and wetland credits from mitigation banks. Mitigation banks allow developers to financially support wetlands or streams that have been restored or enhanced elsewhere to offset their own environmental impacts.

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The selection was the most expensive option, costing Anduril $1.4 billion to construct. However, state records show the two other options would have led to potential production delays, which could have resulted in the project "likely" moving out of state. 

Filings indicate Anduril has not begun construction in areas with identified environmental impacts. However, Anduril confirmed to NBC4 in late September that construction is quietly underway elsewhere on the site. Anduril previously said it hopes to begin weapons manufacturing in Pickaway County by July 2026.

As is required by Ohio law, Anduril will have to offer a chance for public feedback on the project. According to a letter from the Ohio EPA, Anduril must notify the public by Nov. 4.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Marathon Mile Champion from Gahanna adds her own sparkle to mile seven at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon.

Thousands of people will take part in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday. Twenty-four of the 26.2 miles will be dedicated to children treated at the hospital, known as ‘marathon mile champions.’ When runners reach mile seven, it’s all about Hannah Daubenmire from Gahanna.

“I was super excited because, you know, I got diagnosed as a runner. So to see other people run for Nationwide Children's Hospital, it just means a lot to me,” she said.

In 2024, she was at run club when she felt knee pain. Hannah was taken to Nationwide Children’s, thinking it was a sprain, but imaging of her knee revealed something far worse than expected. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.

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“Honestly, the first couple of weeks, I kept thinking somebody was going to call me and tell me it was all a big mistake,” said Hannah’s mother, Julie Daubenmire.

She said they spent almost sixty nights in the hospital, and there were numerous rounds of chemotherapy, but through it all, her daughter stood strong.

“You helped keep everybody's spirits high because you said I'm still going to be a kid and I'm still going to have fun and we're still going to laugh and do all the things that we still like to do,” Julie said to Hannah.

Hannah’s motto through treatment? Never lose your sparkle. That’s sticking with her and serving as the theme for her marathon mile.

“I’m just going to have a bunch of disco balls and pink and yellow stuff,” she said.

Hannah has since rung the bell, signifying that she’s done with treatment. She’s now in physical therapy. Her goal is to get back into running, but in the meantime, she’s picked up new hobbies like sled hockey.

“The hardest part is, I guess, just adapting to what I can’t do and can,” Hannah said.

She’s looking forward to sharing some of her strength with the thousands of marathon runners.

“I just like to stand there and see all the runners just run by and, like, cheer for a lot,” she said.

Funds from the race go towards the work done at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“We want to do all that we can to help give back and help other kids who are, you know, fighting cancer now and in the future,” Julie said.

MARION, Ohio (WCMH) -- The mother of a 6-month-old baby mauled to death by a dog received the maximum sentence Friday.

Alyssa Smith was sentenced to three years in prison by the Marion County Court of Common Pleas for child endangering. In April 2024, Smith's child was fatally mauled by her boyfriend's Pitbull.

According to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, Smith allegedly left the infant alone and unsupervised with another young child and the dog. Prosecutors said this allowed the aggressive dog to fatally attack the infant.

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"This sentence holds a mother accountable for failing her infant in the most tragic way," Marion County Prosecutor Raymond Grogan said in a statement. "Smith's actions in ignoring the dog's history showed a pattern of irresponsibility that cost baby Royal his life."

Smith's boyfriend, Blake Bates, recently pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in the incident and is currently awaiting sentencing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is facing a veterinary care shortage, according to The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, but now the state is two weeks into a new law that is hoping to address the issue through virtual vet care.

Nearly one-third of Ohio’s counties are designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as rural veterinary shortage areas. One vet NBC4 spoke with sees this firsthand, and she’s excited for the opportunities expanded virtual vet care will provide to close the gaps in service. 

“This is very, very valuable,” Veterinarian Dr. Jodi Smith said. 

Smith is a veterinarian in Perry County, where she sees a high demand for pet care. 

“On any given day, we have to turn people away sometimes because we just can't facilitate all of the people that need to be seen,” Smith said. 

Now, she’s able to expand her services online. This new law in Ohio allows vets to prescribe up to 14 days of medicine through a virtual visit, as well as establish a patient-doctor relationship online. 

“Sometimes it's all about people not being able to physically get to the veterinarian, you know, but they still have these animals that are their emotional support animals and their pets that need care and they just can't get to the vet,” Smith said. 

Mark Bordo is a co-founder of a platform that helps connect pet parents with licensed vets online. 

“If your dog jumps off a couch and breaks their leg, that's not something we can treat on telemedicine. But anything to do with ear infections and gastro issues and obviously diet and nutrition and eye infections and ear infections really like thousands of different symptoms and conditions can be treated through telemedicine,” Vetster CEO Mark Bordo said. 

“I'll have the client either walk them around, like say their lame, I'll make sure that I can see where we're limping, how bad the limp is. We get up close in the dog's face or cat's face. And I also do exotics too. So sometimes will be a bird or an iguana or, you know, a gecko,” Smith said.  

While, of course, not everything can be treated online, this new law is making it easier for families to get routine care for their pets. 

“It is never a replacement for your primary veterinarian's care and expertise and knowledge, but it is a good backup and ancillary modality to use if you cannot get in to your primary care veterinarian,” Smith said. 

In a statement, Columbus Humane said:

“Columbus Humane is actively exploring options to bring virtual veterinary care to our community. We’re excited about the potential to expand access to essential services and are evaluating grants and other resources to support this addition. To accommodate telemedicine, we will be transitioning to new software capable of providing this service. We plan to introduce virtual veterinary care at the Essential Care Center in 2026–2027, further enhancing our ability to serve pets and families in need.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The final EMT class of the year graduated Friday from the Ohio Fire Academy.

NBC4 got an exclusive behind the scenes look at the work it takes to make it to graduation day.

The fire academy invited NBC4’s Anna Hoffman to experience some of the training scenarios cadets have to master during their six week program. They make it as real as can be from the practice setting, to the radio communication, to the medical emergencies they must handle. 

“This is about as real as we can make it for them,” said Sarah Settles, the EMS coordinator at the the Ohio Fire Academy.

The training starts as soon as the cadets step out of the ambulance. They must assess the situation and find out what is going on with the patient. In the scenario that NBC4 watched, the person was in cardiac arrest.  

The whole time the cadets must keep up communication with their team and also the hospital that Settles is acting as.

“We want to make sure that they are evaluating the patient quickly and efficiently, but also properly and recognizing any hazards right off the bat. But then we're looking at their performance,” Settles said.

Settles said this is one of 11 skills the cadets have to master throughout the six-week course. They will be tested on seven of the 11.

Caleb Hundley is one of 24 cadets in this class from Ohio and Indiana. NBC4 asked him why he wants to become an EMT.

“The reason why is because I want to give back to my community,” Hundley said.

Hundley said hands-on training is the only way to learn. 

“Everything on a piece of paper, it might say something, but if you can't do it, if you don't know how to do it, then you're not going to do it in the field,” Hundley said.

The cadets are hands on all the way to the end, calling for backup if they need help getting down the narrow stairs and then into the ambulance. 

The cadets also use new technology like the Anatomage table to study human cadavers and learn how to best treat certain injuries.

All of that training leading to graduation day.

“It makes me proud. It's kind of surreal to watch them go from basically, you know, baby EMT, to totally prepared to drop everything and save somebody if they need to. It makes me really proud because I get to watch throughout class. All of those light bulbs go off. Oh, that's what that means. And then they go across the stage and like, don't forget, come back and say hi,” Settles said.

Settles said many of these men and women go on to the fire academy or come from the fire academy before heading back home.

She said in addition to their skills she hopes they leave the academy with the desire to make a difference in people's lives.

Region AR4246 underwent significant evolution, growing in overall
size while gaining multiple new spots. Subsequently, AR4246 was the
main provider of activity which included an M1.2 flare on October
13. Several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with potential
Earth-directed components are in the mix at this time.

Additional modeling efforts are underway to perhaps confirm those
suspicions. The largest f...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With just two weeks left in the regular season, the action is heating up with many teams looking to improve their playoff seedings while others try to keep postseason hopes alive.

Among the high-profile matchups include Hamilton Township hosting Bloom-Carroll in Football Friday Nite's Game of the Week. The Rangers have won three in a row since their only loss, at Buckeye Valley, and the Bulldogs are riding a five-game win streak. Elsewhere, Linden McKinley puts its 8-0 record on the line against Northland, which is 5-3.

Below is a list of games that will be featured on Football Friday Nite at 11:15 p.m. A complete list of games in the state is at the bottom. Check back all evening for updated scores and highlights.

Week 9 Schedule

• Gahanna (6-2) at Grove City (4-4)
• Bloom-Carroll (6-2) at Hamilton Township (7-1) - Game of the Week
• Africentric (7-1) at Walnut Ridge (5-3)
• Northland (5-3) at Linden McKinley (8-0)
• Upper Arlington (6-2) at Dublin Coffman (2-6)
• Olentangy Liberty (5-3) at Hilliard Davidson (4-4)
• Dublin Scioto (5-3) at Big Walnut (7-1)
• Marysville (4-4) at Olentangy Berlin (3-5)
• Olentangy (7-1) at Dublin Jerome (4-4)

As part of a much larger overhaul focused on deleting almost 400 obsolete wireless regulations, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced plans to delete or modify four minor provisions of Part 97. 

ARRL’s Washington Counsel has reviewed the proposal and agrees that the deletions are to obsolete rules and will have no impact on today’s modern Amateur Radio Service. One of the del...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Roosters location on Olentangy River Road has announced when it will be reopening after a fire last year forced its closure.

The restaurant will reopen on Thursday. Their website shows all of their locations open at 11 a.m.

The company bought the land next door to the restaurant to add more parking, Columbus Business First reported. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

The restaurant has been closed since a fire in July 2024. The fire caused more damage to the restaurant than initially expected and has been undergoing renovations.

The Olentangy River Road location opened in 2000 when there were just a handful of restaurants. The chain now operates more than 40 locations in four states, according to Columbus Business First.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A national chain known for its hot dogs and burgers served on King's Hawaiian rolls has picked a location in Columbus for its Ohio debut. 

Dog Haus is coming to 1574-1576 N. High St. in the Gateway development near Ohio State University, according to city permits. The space was previously occupied by two Irish pubs – a Kildare’s and a McFadden’s.

Central Ohioans can expect to see more of the franchise-based chain in the coming years, as the brand announced in March that it had signed a deal that will bring four eateries to the Columbus area. These locations are set to mark the Dog Haus’ first Ohio restaurants. 

Cherokee Rhoda, who has business experience as the founder and CEO of Brooks & Truitt Specialty Group and AirTek Global, will run the Columbus locations, according to Dog Haus. His wife, Michelle Rhoda, will also help with operations.

“Columbus is a thriving city with a diverse and exciting food culture,” Cherokee Rhoda previously said. “I’m confident that Dog Haus will resonate with locals, from busy professionals to college students looking for high-quality, flavorful dining options.”

Founded in 2010, California-based Dog Haus offers burgers, sausages, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls. A variety of toppings are available to customize these items, including crispy onions, cheese, avocado and pickled jalapenos. The restaurant features multiple vegetarian options, including bratwursts, burgers and chicken sandwiches made with Impossible products. 

• (Photo courtesy/Dog Haus)
• (Photo courtesy/Dog Haus)
• (Photo courtesy/Dog Haus)
• (Photo courtesy/Dog Haus)

The brand also serves sliders and breakfast burritos, along with sides such as fries and tater tots, with the option to top either with chili. Beer, cocktails and ice cream are on the menu as well. 

Dog Haus has more than 50 locations across the country, according to its website. A spokesperson with the company said it has not yet determined an opening date for the Gateway restaurant.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A fifth measles case was confirmed in northeast Franklin County, according to a public health spokesperson.

The fifth case is an unvaccinated 6-year-old who traveled internationally, and the case is not related to the other four previous cases, according to Franklin County Public Health. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

"We have worked closely with our health care partners to investigate and notify any potential waiting room exposures," the spokesperson said in a statement. "At this time, we have not identified any potential exposures outside of the health care setting."

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Earlier this month, a measles case was traced to two public locations in the New Albany area. Health officials urged parents of children older than 12 months to vaccinate their children.

Columbus Public Health offers the vaccines for anyone of eligible age with no appointments needed. Learn more on the CPH website. MMR vaccines are also available at health care providers.