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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State's penultimate road game of the 2025 regular season now has a start time.

The No. 1 Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) will take on Purdue (2-6, 0-5) on Nov. 8 at Ross-Ade Stadium and the game will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET. This will be the first time in 20 years Ohio State has a regular season game that kicks off at 1 p.m. ET when the Buckeyes played at Michigan on Nov. 19, 2005.

Nov. 8 will mark the 60th official meeting between Ohio State and the Boilermakers. This game will also be the first to be played after the initial College Football Playoff rankings are revealed on Nov. 4.

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But before this contest, each team will play on Saturday in Week 10 as Ohio State hosts Penn State in Columbus at noon and Purdue looks for its first Big Ten win at No. 21 Michigan in Ann Arbor at 7 p.m.

Ohio State has won three straight against Purdue dating back to 2021. The last time the Boilermakers beat the Buckeyes was at home in 2018 with their famous 49-20 upset win. In fact, this is one of the few Big Ten matchups where Ohio State has not utterly dominated this century with Purdue having five wins since 2000.

Remaining 2025 Ohio State football schedule

• Nov. 1: Penn State, noon
• Nov. 8: at Purdue, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 15: UCLA
• Nov. 22: Rutgers
• Nov. 29: at Michigan, noon

This season's game may not produce an upset as Purdue is struggling through Big Ten play and have lost six straight games. After nonconference wins over Ball State and Southern Illinois to begin the year, the Boilermakers have lost to USC, Notre Dame, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Rutgers.

Barring a four-game winning streak to end the year with miraculous wins over No. 21 Michigan, No. 1 Ohio State, Washington, and No. 2 Indiana, Purdue is destined to not play a bowl game for a third successive season.

NBC4's coverage of college football will continue for Week 10 in Lincoln, Nebraska as the Cornhuskers host USC at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. NBC4 will also show a noon Big Ten game on Saturday from Champaign, Illinois as the Fighting Illini host Rutgers.

The October 2025 West Coast Qualifying Run originally scheduled for Saturday,
October 25 at 2 PM PDT (October 25 at 2100z) had to be rescheduled.

The new date and time are Wednesday, October 29 at 9 PM PDT (October 30 at 0400z).

West Coast Station K6XX will transmit the official ARRL Qualifying Run on
3581.5, 7047.5, and 14047.5 kHz.  The speeds will run from 10 to 35 WPM.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – More Ohioans admit they would watch sports while driving than residents of any other state in America, according to a recent report. 

Hard Rock Bet, a sports betting app by the global hospitality brand Hard Rock, conducted a survey of 2,000 NFL fans across the country in August. The participants were asked where they would watch a live game if they did not go to the stadium, with “Whilst driving” being one of the options. 

The company found that Ohio ranked as the most reckless state for watching sports while driving, with 20% of respondents saying they would do so. 

“With an estimated 180K car accidents in Ohio in the last 12 months, the findings highlight that Ohio drivers are still easily distracted on the road, despite the 2023 law banning the use of handheld electronic wireless communication devices while driving,” Hard Rock Bet wrote. See NBC4's previous coverage in the video player above.

California was the second-most reckless state, with 19% of respondents admitting they would watch sports behind the wheel. The state registered over 588,000 car accidents in the past year, the second highest number behind Texas (622,000). 

The Golden State was followed by Nevada and Washington, tied at 18% of respondents who said they would watch sports while driving. North Carolina came next, at 17%. 

The number of residents surveyed in each state was based on the percentage of the U.S. population the state made up, meaning larger states had more residents surveyed. The study included 243 respondents from Ohio out of the 2,000 surveyed in total. 

Each year, an estimated 5.9 million car crashes occur in the U.S., and smartphones are involved in over 27% of them, according to the National Safety Council.

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) — A trial for the man accused in a mass shooting at a New Albany warehouse in February still does not have a start date.

A court hearing took place Monday to appeal the ruling of competency to stand trial for Bruce Foster III, who was indicted in May on 19 total charges related to the deaths of two people in a shooting at the KDC/One warehouse.

Foster III was ruled competent to stand trial on Oct. 2 but a defense appeal led to Monday's hearing, where Licking County Judge David Branstool ordered another competency test. The doctor that will rule on Foster III's competency to stand trial will be provided by the defense.

He was found not competent to stand trial twice before being treated. He has since been released from Central Ohio Behavior Healthcare and was returned to Licking County jail.

Child dies in accidental shooting in west Columbus

"The doctor had a limited amount of time to do an evaluation. And in that limited amount of time, he's shown great improvement, but that he may still not be at the point that's he's ready to participate in the court process," said Foster's defense attorney Brandon Shroy.

The prosecution argued on Monday Foster is competent to stand trial because he answered questions on the definition of a guilty plea and the difference between a judge and prosecutor.

Foster was an employee at the KDC/One warehouse and had been working for several hours before opening fire and then leaving in a rideshare vehicle, authorities said. Witnesses reported Foster firing a handgun at people along a production line, including one victim who was shot at close range in the head. One of the shooting victims was able to get the handgun away from Foster, prompting Foster to then flee the building.

Police said there was reportedly no altercation prior to the incident and witnesses reported that Foster arrived at work intoxicated and smelling of marijuana.

He is charged with four counts of murder, four counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and six counts of inducing panic, along with a firearm specification.

The next court date has not been scheduled at this time.

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- An independent bookstore years in the making, and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has found a home in Powell, welcoming readers with its grand opening earlier this month.

Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in downtown Powell, celebrated its launch on Oct. 18. The shop is owned by April Rock, who said the business fulfils a longtime dream that began several years ago and spun out of her love for books. When the pandemic hindered her original store plans, Rock began building a customer base online.

"In 2019, we lived in West Chester, Ohio, just down by Cincinnati, and we wanted to have a brick and mortar there," Rock said in a NBC4 interview. "We went to get ready to sign a lease, and the pandemic hit, everything closed, so we decided to segue and do at home deliveries during the pandemic, which was wonderful. That was a good way to get started for us."

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A couple years later, a job opportunity for Rock's husband took them to Massachusetts, where she spent three years operating her first bookstore in the suburb of Franklin. The couple returned to Ohio following another job change and the arrival of their first grandchild. The move also meant Rock could again pursue opening a Buckeye State storefront.

• Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in Powell. (Courtesy Photo/April Rock)
• Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in Powell. (Courtesy Photo/April Rock)
• Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in Powell. (Courtesy Photo/April Rock)
• Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in Powell. (Courtesy Photo/April Rock)
• Escape Into Fiction, located at 50 S. Liberty St. in Powell. (Courtesy Photo/April Rock)

Rock and her husband settled in Powell for about a year before they were able to secure the South Liberty Street location, she said. A lifelong reader, opening Escape Into Fiction has been a full circle moment for Rock, who also previously worked in the children's department of the MidPointe Library System in West Chester.

"I was helping take care of an elderly grandfather at the time, and so I was not able to work a full time job like I had been," she said. "We were like, 'Okay, what can we do that would still enhance my love of books, but give me something to do?' … The bookstore was a good way to be able to stay in the realm of the books, but still give me time to be flexible with my schedule."

Now, Escape Into Fiction in Powell features a wide selection for all readers. As the name suggests, the shop's shelves are stocked with fiction books, from mystery and romance to fantasy and science fiction. While the storefront doesn't carry other genres, Rock said she's able to order almost any book that customers request.

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"It's all ages. We call it 'birth to death,' so you can come in and get anything you need. I always tease because people are like, 'Oh, but you're only fiction.' I'm like, 'Yes, but I can order anything, and I'm willing to order even nonfiction,'" she said. "I'm willing to order anything that somebody wants to read. It's just that we don't carry it on hand."

Rock envisions Escape Into Fiction as more than just a bookstore -- she hopes it becomes a true community gathering space, hosting book clubs, partnering with other local businesses and restaurants, and holding charity events.

"We try and make our store very comfortable, light and bright," she said. "We want to be a community based store so that we can host events. We do a lot of partnering with other businesses, like restaurants. We do book clubs. … One of the things we want to do is provide books for the NICU unit in Columbus."

Escape Into Fiction is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Asian-inspired fast-casual chain that allows customers to build their own stir-fry bowls has launched its first central Ohio restaurant near Gahanna. 

Honeygrow began welcoming customers at 4782 Morse Road, in the Trouville neighborhood just north of Gahanna, on Friday. The restaurant took over the building that formerly housed Mod Pizza, which closed last year amid financial troubles for the chain. 

General Manager Erika Leiter, District Manager Sean Anderson, Regional Director Lu Story and Brad Fisher, Executive Director of Gahanna Area Chamber of Commerce, join the team at Honeygrow to celebrate the opening of the Morse Road location.

“Columbus has an incredible food culture, and we see real opportunity to bring something new to the market,” said Justin Rosenberg, CEO of Honeygrow. “At Honeygrow, every dish is cooked to order and made with care. Gahanna represents another step toward our vision of making better-for-you dining exciting, unique and full of flavor.”

Honeygrow debuted in Ohio in 2024, with a restaurant in Strongsville. The brand has since spread across the northeast portion of the state, adding eateries in Canton, Akron, Mentor and Avon. The Morse Road opening brings the brand’s Ohio footprint to six locations. 

The chain allows guests to customize stir-fry bowls with egg white noodles, whole wheat noodles, gluten-free rice noodles, brown rice or greens as a base. Customers can then choose from protein options, such as steak, chicken, tofu and egg, along with toppings including vegetables, fruit, cheese and roasted garlic. The chain also offers pre-made dishes, like its sriracha tahini and red coconut curry stir-fries. 

Desserts on the menu include fruit cups with sweet toppings called “honeybars” and brownies. Honeygrow offers dine-in and take-out at its restaurants, along with catering services. 

Founded in 2012, the Pennsylvania-based chain has more than 67 locations across eight U.S. states, according to the company.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus Crew is back in the MLS Cup playoffs and will face its in-state rival in the opening round.

FC Cincinnati stands in the Crew's way of making the Eastern Conference semifinals and will look for revenge in the second "Hell is Real" playoff matchup. The series begins Monday at 6:45 p.m. with Game 1 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati before the teams come to Lower.com Field for Game 2 on Sunday.

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Although FCC is raring to avenge a 2023 playoff loss to Columbus, the Crew is limping into the postseason. Here is everything to know ahead of this "Hell is Real" playoff series.

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The Crew finished the regular season with 54 points (14 wins, 12 draws and 8 losses) for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, good enough to avoid the wild card round.

The 2023 MLS Cup champion had its worst season under coach Wilfried Nancy but were held back all season because of injuries. The team won just two of its last 10 MLS games as its top attackers Diego Rossi and Wessam Abou Ali missed a chunk of those games. Mo Farsi, Rudy Camacho, Sean Zawadzki, and Patrick Schulte also missed games during the season.

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For Monday, Crew fans will hope Rossi, the top scorer this season, returns as he was listed as questionable for the regular season finale against the New York Red Bulls because of a thigh injury. Abou Ali (ankle) and Farsi (pelvis) look likely to be out again but could be back for Game 2.

Although most of the defense and midfield is in tip top shape, the key for the Crew is to have Rossi and Abou Ali back in some capacity so the team can have a stronger attacking presence.

FC Cincinnati now a model of consistency

FC Cincinnati started its MLS journey in the dregs of the league, but coach Pat Noonan has lifted it from the cellar into an annual contender. This is the fourth consecutive season Cincinnati is in the playoffs after finishing second in the Eastern Conference with 65 points (20 wins, 9 draws and 5 losses).

Cincy's success was due in no small part to its defense, which ranked second in the East with just 40 goals allowed. Keeper Roman Celentano and defensive leaders Miles Robinson and Nick Hagglund will be the ones to watch in the back.

The danger man in the attack is Evander, who had 18 goals and 15 assists in his first season with the team. Brenner will be in the striker spot, and former Crew player Kei Kamara could pose a threat.

'Hell is Real' derby history

One of the best-named rivalries in sports earned the moniker in 2017 with fans taking the words from a highway sign on Interstate 71 between the cities. That year was the first and only time the clubs met while FCC was part of the United Soccer League. The Crew lost the inaugural meeting 1-0.

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Since Cincinnati joined MLS in 2019, the Ohio rivals have met 17 times, with the Crew winning on eight occasions. One of those wins was in the 2023 Eastern Conference final, when Columbus came back from down 2-0 to win Cincinnati 3-2 in extra time at TQL Stadium, eventually leading to the Crew's title.

The Crew has been the better team in the rivalry this season, with a 1-1 draw at home on May 17 and a 4-2 win on the road on July 12. If Cincinnati wants to beat Columbus in the playoffs for the first time, it will have to win at least twice in two weeks. FCC has just four wins against the Crew over eight years.

How the MLS Cup Playoffs work

This is the third season that the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs is a best-of-three series. Eight teams from each conference have made this stage with matchups seeded based on the conference standings.

The Crew sits as the second-lowest seed in the East and will need to win at least one game in Cincinnati to book a conference semifinal spot. In the first round, games that end in a draw in regulation go straight to penalty kicks to determine a winner.

If the Crew and FCC split the first two matches on Monday and Sunday, a deciding game three would be played on Nov. 7 at TQL Stadium. After the first round, the remaining playoff rounds are single-elimination, with the higher-seeded team hosting.

The winner of the "Hell is Real" playoff series will meet Inter Miami or Nashville SC in the conference semifinal on Nov. 22 or 23. Miami beat Nashville 3-1 in Game 1 of its series behind two goals from MLS Golden Boot winner Lionel Messi.

Miami is favored by oddsmakers to win its first MLS Cup title with the Philadelphia Union, Vancouver Whitecaps, and San Diego FC trailing behind. Despite being one of the lowest seeds in the bracket, the Crew have better odds than seven other teams to win MLS Cup.

Last season's No. 7 seed in the East, the New York Red Bulls, won the conference and became the lowest-seeded team to make an MLS Cup final. Can that spot give the Crew good luck?

WAYNESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — A stunning estate in Warren County is now part of the growing list of Buckeye homes showcased on social media's viral real estate account, Zillow Gone Wild.

The Instagram post, which shared around two dozen photos of the unique house, received more than 4,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

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“The next stop on our #zgwmansionmondays tour today is known as SAGUARO RANCH, has over 189 acres of land and is currently at auction,” the ZGW post caption reads. “The log cabin home has over 7k sq ft and over a mile of 'little Miami river frontage.' Are we moving to Waynesville now?? Hello???”

The home, according to listing agent Alexis Galligan of Sotheby's, is crafted from authentic British Columbia timber and Wyoming stone, shipped directly to Ohio from the sources. Originally priced at $6.9 million, the property was offered by Concierge Auctions, with bidding closing on Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Although the final sale price has not yet been recorded, bids reached at least $3.6 million before the auction ended.

About an hour and ten minutes from Columbus, along U.S. 42 northeast of Waynesville, the 189 acres boasts several living spaces and outbuildings. A private entry leads to a two-bedroom guest suite with its own bathroom and kitchenette. There is a separate 1,890 square foot “ranch manager” house, which includes five bedrooms and two bathrooms. Also, a “traditional bunkhouse” provides additional accommodations.

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One of the most intriguing aspects of the main house is the 33 hand-carved bears by Wyoming artist Jonathan LaBenne that adorn both the structure and furnishings. The dwelling has numerous custom features in its four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. There are five Snake River rock fireplaces, floors crafted from Douglas fir, custom ironwork lighting fixtures by Kevin Johnson and hand-milled interior doors with custom handles. The new owner will also receive much of the western-themed furniture to keep the ranch looking on point.

• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
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• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
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• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
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• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
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• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps
• Photo Courtesy/Cincy Snaps

The kitchen offers a La Cornue Château 147 range series crafted in France, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and double-stack freezer, two Sub-Zero beverage refrigerators and a new copper dishwasher installed in 2025.

The home's outside incorporates a temperature-controlled five-car garage, an in-ground
swimming pool with fiber optic lighting surrounded by a stamped concrete courtyard, a covered front porch, custom Snake River rock outdoor fireplaces and copper gutters with decorative chain downspouts.

Interestingly, the massive compound operated as a working horse farm with 50 or more horses for more than two decades. The equestrian facilities are made up of more than 30 stalls and multiple paddocks and pastures. There is a large riding arena and pin-ring, a 6,748 square foot hay barn, two climate-controlled offices with a bathroom and shower, and several tack rooms and storage areas.

Galligan said the original owners began building the house with North American Log Crafters around 2000. The construction was completed in 2003. The name Saguaro Ranch comes from their love of the Southwest. This is the first time the property has been offered for sale.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University consultant and former president Gordan Gee championed intellectual diversity and spoke out against pro-Palestine student groups in an op-ed for Fox News.

Gee, 81, was rehired by Ohio State to serve in an advisory role for the 2025-2026 school year. Writing for Fox News, Gee said college campuses need to be better at combating antisemitism and to embrace intellectual diversity. A university spokesperson said Gee's column was not done on behalf of the university. See previous coverage of Gee's role with OSU in the video player above.

"It does not take a former university president, who just concluded 45 years of service, to realize that these actions reflect a very serious problem in the way universities conduct their affairs," Gee wrote.

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Gee criticized college campuses like George Washington University for allowing pro-Palestine or anti-Israel protests, particularly after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza. Gee also called Students for Justice in Palestine -- a national coalition of more than 350 university chapters -- "pro-Hamas."

Ohio State is home to a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, which NBC4 was unable to reach for comment before publication. In April 2024, more than 30 students were arrested during pro-Palestine protests on campus.

OSU's faculty advocacy group has called the arrests a "dark mark on OSU's recent history," alleging it suppressed free speech. In contrast, Gee said universities are not doing enough to "restore order" on campuses in the wake of pro-Palestine protests.

"This continuing, intolerable situation, explains why [President Donald] Trump made our universities one of his administration’s top priorities," Gee said.

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Gee referenced other universities that have been called out by the Trump administration for antisemitism but did not acknowledge the administration's condemnation of Ohio State. In March, Ohio State was one of 60 universities formally warned by the Department of Education that it could lose funding for not properly protecting students from antisemitism.

Gee also pushed for intellectual diversity and civic education, echoing talking points common among typically conservative politicians and advocates. Like Gee, proponents of increased civic education often advocate for it in ways that reflect American history positively.

"American universities were created to train and challenge young Americans to be proud, committed, informed and industrious citizens of this great nation," Gee said.

Gee said studies show diversity is important, and universities must remember diversifying includes differences in intellectual viewpoints. He said universities must "wean itself, urgently, off its addiction" to partisanship and certain ideologies.

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"All university employees have free speech rights and can submit letters to the editor and guest columns without university input or review, as long as they are not speaking on behalf of the university," a university spokesperson said about Gee's column.

Although Gee did not write on behalf of Ohio State, portions of his column did mirror some comments made by university leadership. Gee advocated for history and civic education, and Ohio State has emphasized the same priorities in its new civic center. OSU President Ted Carter also spoke of civil discourse and intellectual diversity during his state of the university address.

The spokesperson did not address questions as to if Gee's opinion was similar to the advice he was giving in his role as university consultant. Faculty told NBC4 they were glad to see the university's response to Gee's statement and expect the same free speech protections for any other staff who might write their own op-eds or make personal statements.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus residents will be able to save some money on gas for Halloween week as the average price has hit under $3 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, gas prices fell nearly seven cents in the last week to average out at $2.94 per gallon. The current price is 4.1 cents per gallon higher than four weeks ago but 1.1 cents higher than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.57 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.19. In Ohio, the average price of gas went down 2.2 cents from $2.93 per gallon to $2.91 per gallon.

The national average did rise slightly, hitting exactly $3 per gallon for a 2.5 cents drop from last week's price.

GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan said a refinery fire in the Midwest was a factor in last week's higher prices and that trade deals between the U.S.-China could keeps things steadily under the $3 per gallon average.

“While the spike in prices in affected areas was significant, relief is likely in the weeks ahead as the situation stabilizes," said De Haan. "For now, the possibility of a U.S.-China trade deal could lift oil prices on optimism that it would increase trade and reduce tariffs—potentially keeping the national average slightly above the $3-per-gallon mark for a couple more weeks before slipping back below $3 ahead of Thanksgiving.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Organizers of Ohio ballot initiatives to outlaw discrimination and repeal the state's dormant same-sex marriage ban got a boost this month from a leading LGBTQ+ rights activist: Jim Obergefell.

Grassroots organization Ohio Equal Rights announced on social media Oct. 17 that Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage, has endorsed the group's proposed 2026 constitutional amendments. In a statement shared by the group, Obergefell said, "The [Ohio Equal Rights] campaign is working to ensure Ohio treats every person equally, and that is something everyone should support."

The "Right to Marry" initiative, which would reverse another amendment passed in 2004 that says marriage is "only a union between one man and one woman," is imperative, Obergefell said, given the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a case on Nov. 7 that is calling for the justices to overturn marriage equality. Should that case succeed, Ohio's 2004 amendment would again become law. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the case in the video player above.

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"It's up to the people of Ohio to say, 'This is what we believe, this is what we value,'" Obergefell, who was born in Sandusky, said. "If our nation's Constitution becomes a mere suggestion of what rights every person enjoys, subject to the whims of state legislators, then Ohioans must propose and pass laws and amendments to protect those rights."

Jim Obergefell speaks to members of the media after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling regarding same-sex marriage June 26, 2015, outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The "Equal Rights" amendment would prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin, or military and veteran status. Obergefell said this initiative "helps ensure that our laws, not just in concept but in practice and reality, protect these rights for everyone, not just some."

"No Ohioan should be evicted from their apartment, fired from their job, denied service in a business open to the public, be prevented from living life on an equal basis denied medical care, or suffer any other indignity because of who they are, whom they love, their age, disability, family status, veteran status, or other reason," Obergefell said. "These amendments will have immediate, positive impacts on Ohioans and their quality of life."

Lis Regula, co-chair of Ohio Equal Rights, said the group is grateful for Obergefell, who has been connecting the organizers with other Ohio advocacy groups to expand the effort to collect the more than 442,000 signatures needed for each proposal to appear on the 2026 ballot. While the backers of the initiatives began collecting those signatures this fall, Regula said that effort will begin in earnest "with all boots on the ground across the state" in January.

"Jim is so identifiable within the marriage equality fight and has strong connections still to Ohio, we wanted to make sure that he was part of the conversation," Regula said. "He's been absolutely great in helping us find additional connections across [Ohio], especially the northern portion of the state, Sandusky and parts of Toledo, and we're just happy to have him on board with this."

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Ohio Equal Rights had originally planned for the "Right to Marry" and "Equal Rights" initiatives to appear on the ballot as a single amendment. However, Ohio's Ballot Board voted in July to split the amendment in two. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, chairman of the board, argued during the July meeting, "It would be good to give [voters] those as two separate amendments," and asked, "Is it conceivable that there are voters out there that would support one part of this but not support the other part?"

Now, to qualify for the 2026 ballot, the organization must gather signatures from at least 10% of voters from the last gubernatorial election, spread across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. That means Ohio Equal Rights needs a combined 885,916 signatures. All signatures must be submitted and verified by the secretary of state at least 65 days before the election.

"Most people have been signing both petitions at the same time, and most of our volunteers and coordinating organizations have been circulating at the same time," Regula said. "This is a community effort. We are a grassroots organization that is partnering with other grassroots organizations. This is not about one group or a small number of people trying to dictate what is best for Ohio. This is about Ohioans recognizing how we can do better at protecting ourselves."

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Monday kicks off a trial investigating state allegations of misconduct among the pension board that covers 500,000 active and retired Ohio teachers.

The lawsuit was filed in May 2024 after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost released concerns from an anonymous 14-page letter accusing two State Teachers Retirement System board members of acting without the best interests of educators in mind. Board President Rudy Fichtenbaum and former board member Wade Steen are accused of attempting a hostile takeover of the pension's funds.

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The anonymous letter alleged Fichtenbaum and Steen had improperly schemed to steer money from the $90 billion pension fund to an investment firm known as QED. Steen's lawyer, Norman Abood, said his clients never denied discussions with QED investment leaders, but do not agree that there was any misconduct.

"We're looking forward to the trial, because that's when the rubber meets the road," Abood said. "It's no longer going to be a question of innuendo or rumor."

Abood said Steen, an investment expert appointed to the STRS board by Gov. Mike DeWine, was trying to enhance the pension's economic performance by meeting with QED. He said Steen and Fichtenbaum spoke with QED leaders about possible investment opportunities to address a shortfall in earnings.

Abood said the state has subpoenaed thousands of pages of records, but has not taken anyone's formal statements. He is grateful the trial will offer straightforward, on-the-record details.

"There has been written discovery, but there hasn't been actual question and answer to see what the perspectives of the various people involved were," Amood said.

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The lawsuit was filed amid years of chaos and a retired teachers watchdog group that was fighting for STRS reforms. At the time Fichtenbaum and Steen spoke with QED leaders, the pension fund lost $5 billion in just one year. It has also since come to light that the chief legal counsel for STRS was partially behind the anonymous letter.

The board ultimately declined any investments from QED in 2021, but Yost's civil claims were filed regardless. Although the state initially sought monetary penalties, Yost's office dropped that demand. The state now wants a judge to bar Fichtenbaum and Steen from ever serving on a public pension board again. Steen has already left the board.

"I mean to be, to be accused of the things that they've been accused of, and to have the kind of remedies that the state is seeking, would be a permanent stain on their records," Abood said. "We're very concerned about that."

The fund has consistently underperformed. Teacher retirees told NBC4's Colleen Marshall that they believe the fund's poor performance led to the end of promised annual cost-of-living increases.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Washington, D.C., man has filed a lawsuit against an Ohio National Guard member and local police, alleging he was detained for recording guardsmen in the nation’s capital while playing the villain's theme from "Star Wars."

On Thursday, Sam O’Hara, 35, filed the lawsuit against guardsman Sgt. Devon Beck, of Columbus, and four D.C. police officers over his Sept. 11 arrest, which he claims violated his First Amendment rights. 

Former Buckeyes center Nick Mangold, 41, dies from kidney disease

According to the complaint, filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, O’Hara saw Beck and several other guard members walking on his way home from work and “calmly” walked behind them, playing “The Imperial March” aloud on his phone while recording. The song is used to signal the presence of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire in the "Star Wars" movie series.

The lawsuit claims O’Hara, who followed from several feet away, did not speak to, touch or otherwise interfere with the guard members’ duties. He played the music “loudly but not at a blaring level,” the suit states.

In less than two minutes, Beck turned around and threatened to call District police officers to “handle” O’Hara if he persisted, the filing says. O’Hara continued playing the music and recording. Beck then contacted the police and four officers came to the scene, placing O’Hara in handcuffs. O’Hara was in the handcuffs for about 15-20 minutes before officers released him without charging him.

“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” the complaint says. “But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests, and the Fourth Amendment (along with the District’s prohibition on false arrest) bars groundless seizures.”

O’Hara is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as his legal fees. The Ohio National Guard declined to comment on the case, and instead directed NBC4's inquiry to the District of Columbia National Guard.

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The filing noted that Beck’s decision to contact local police was in adherence to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s directive that the Metropolitan Police Department, not guard members, make arrests. 

The Sept. 11 incident does not mark the first time O’Hara has played “The Imperial March” while recording guard members. Since August, O’Hara has posted dozens of TikTok videos of him trailing behind guardsmen as he plays the song. Most guard members have ignored O’Hara, with some laughing or smiling, the suit said. The posts have racked up millions of views. 

“Armed National Guard should not be policing D.C. residents as we walk around our neighborhoods,” O’Hara said in a statement. “It was important to me not to normalize this dystopian occupation. Instead of respecting my right to protest, police officers handcuffed me so tightly my wrists were still marked and sore the next day. This shows the danger of deploying troops onto American streets: it puts all our basic rights at risk.”

The August mobilization of the troops in the nation’s capital came after President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a crime emergency in the city. More than 2,300 guard members from eight states, including Ohio and the District, were deployed, alongside hundreds of federal agents. 

The U.S. Department of Justice said in January that the District’s violent crime rate is at a 30-year low. It is unclear how long the guardsmen may stay in the city. 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Buckeye Nation is mourning the loss of one of its own as former Ohio State and New York Jets center Nick Mangold has died at the age of 41 after complications from kidney disease.

"Finding this news out in real time is just super shocking, super sad," former teammate Jay Richardson said. "And we're all really just feeling for Nick and his family."

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For those who wore the scarlet and gray alongside him like Richardson, Mangold was more than just a dominant lineman -- he was family. 

"The Buckeye brotherhood took a huge loss today," Richardson said.

Richardson and Mangold first met as teenagers. They were high school football all-stars turned Buckeyes in the 2002 recruiting class. That same season, Mangold helped Ohio State win a national title. 

"He got some reps on that '02 championship team as a freshman when so many of us were redshirting because it was such a talented team," Richardson said. "Guys like Nick and Rob Sims and A.J. Hawk, they were good enough to play right away."

Richardson and Mangold's football journey came full circle in 2012 when they reunited on the New York Jets. 

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"To watch his career go from being almost an undersized center to just being a Pro Bowl level, ultra elite NFL player, was really, really cool to see as a former teammate," Richardson said. 

From Columbus to New York, tributes have been pouring in on social media. 

"It just speaks to his impact that he had, and the platform that you're given when you're a Buckeye or when you're an NFL player," Richardson said. "You're definitely thrust in that spotlight, and I thought he handled it well and was always a fantastic teammate and a great person."

For Richardson, the news doesn't feel real. He said teammates have been flooding their Buckeye group chat, sharing stories, old memories and disbelief. 

"Anybody that has played with him, that has known him, that has been his teammate or his friend, will tell you, dude was a special guy," Richardson said. "Funny guy. Very, very quick-witted. Always had a one-liner and just somebody that cared deeply for his loved ones."

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Mangold leaves behind his wife and four children.

"All of Buckeye Nation is right there with his family," Richardson said. "All of his former teammates, all of his former friends, anyone he's come in contact with, everybody's feeling it and we're all just pulling for his family and hoping that they feel that love."

Mangold's death comes less than two weeks after he announced on social media he had kidney disease and needed a transplant. Mangold said he didn't have any relatives who were able to donate, so he went public with the request for a donor with type O blood. 

"I don't know if anything prepares you for something like that, especially a guy so young," Richardson said. "It was really, really sad to see."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A child is dead after what police are calling was an accidental shooting on the west side of Columbus Sunday night.

According to a Columbus police dispatcher, the shooting happened at approximately 9:10 p.m. on the 1500 block of Grandview Avenue.

According to Columbus Police Sgt. Joseph Albert, the child, who was under the age of 10, was pronounced dead by medics at 9:18 p.m.

Albert said the gun was recovered at the scene.

"We say this all the time, you have to lock up your guns," Albert said. "As soon as you get home, you have to lock up your gun. Children are curious; children want to know what it is. We tragically have seen this before in our city. We need this to stop. We need to not have another child lose their life because of a firearm that's unattended."

Police continue to be on the scene investigating.

This is the second accidental shooting involving a child in less than a week. On Wednesday, a child was hospitalized in stable condition after a person carrying a firearm dropped the gun, causing it to go off and shoot the child. A man in that case was charged with negligent assault, a third-degree misdemeanor.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people were injured after a vehicle they were in crashed into a house in east Columbus Sunday afternoon.

According to Columbus police, the crash happened on the 600 block of Loreto Lane at approximately 4:50 p.m.

The driver of a Jeep traveling east on Crete Lane near Loreto Lane lost control and hit a home, causing what police said was significant damage to both the building and the vehicle.

The driver and a passenger in the Jeep were both taken to local hospitals with serious injuries, but are both expected to survive. No one in the home was injured, police said.

The Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the crash. Anyone with any information is asked to call 614-645-4767.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Ross County Sheriff's deputy shot a suspect Sunday afternoon while responding to a call in Chillicothe.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies responded to the 400 block of State Route 180 at approximately 3 p.m. for what the office said was a "disorderly complaint."

When deputies started their investigation, it was discovered there was enough probable cause to arrest a 58-year-old man for assault, the sheriff's office said. While trying to place the man under arrest, the suspect was shot by the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office did not specify what the suspect did to be shot, how many deputies fired their weapons, or the suspect's condition. The sheriff's office also did not identify the deputy or deputies involved in the incident.

NBC4 is not naming the suspect because, according to online court records, charges have not been filed against him.

The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been requested to investigate the incident.