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DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Black smoke rising in Dublin on Saturday afternoon raised alarm bells on social media.

But it was no cause for concern.

Posts began appearing on Reddit and Citizen of dark smoke rising near the northwest corner of Interstate 270, north of its interchange with U.S. 33 and State Route 161. The posts noted a large column of smoke and that there had no public information about reports of a fire.

NBC4 reached out to Dublin police and was told that the smoke was from a training fire.

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On Saturday morning, the Washington Township Fire Department, which serves parts of Dublin, posted on Facebook about the training fire in an empty residence on River Forest Road.

"Our crews will be participating in a live burn training exercise TODAY in Dublin. This notice is to inform residents that smoke may be visible in the area during the training," the post read. "Please note that this is a planned and controlled exercise, and our crews will be onsite ensuring all safety protocols are followed."

The post said that the first burn was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., with others to follow throughout the day.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A state champion in high school football has been banned from defending its title.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Saturday that Ironton has been removed from participating in the Division V playoffs, citing numerous violations of recruiting bylaws over seven years. The school was also placed on three years of probation and fined $7,500, and some unnamed members of the coaching staff were suspended from the 2026 playoffs.

"The OHSAA’s investigation determined that some members of the Ironton football program had engaged in ongoing and coordinated recruiting efforts, including communications with parents and students regarding methods to influence other prospective athletes’ enrollment," a news release from the OHSAA said. "Records show deliberate efforts to conceal recruiting activity, including direction on how to avoid leaving evidence of infractions."

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Ironton finished 9-1, capped by a 55-13 win Friday night over Portsmouth. Although the OHSAA is not making Ironton surrender its 2024 state title or forfeit any wins, it is making the Tigers forfeit Friday's win since they knew by that time that they had been using an ineligible player. Watch Football Friday Nite from Oct. 24 in the video player above.

NBC affiliate WSAZ of Huntington, West Virginia, said that the school learned of its punishment on Thursday and that fans gathered outside Ironton City Schools offices on Friday in support of the team. Ironton is a city of about 10,000 people along the Ohio River on the southern border of the state.

A district statement sent to WSAZ did not indicate that it would challenge the sanctions.

“This is a setback, but this has not erased the hard work and accomplishments of our students as a team this year," it read. "We are so proud of them. We will not let this take away our pride or our legacy, and we will strive, as always, to uphold the values that define Ironton City Schools both on and off the field.”

The OHSAA said Ironton schools also agreed to change its policies on enrollment and transfers and to attend an education seminar.

The 2024 title was the third for Ironton football, and it had reached the state final three other times since 2019.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A man received a seven-figure bond out of municipal court on rape charges, stemming from reports of a sexual assault this month in northeast Columbus.

According to court records, Columbus police was called to an apartment complex in the Clinton Estates neighborhood, where a mother reported that her 13-year-old child had been sexually assaulted.

Officers interviewed the child, who said she was forced to perform acts on a man who was at the apartment in the early hours of Oct. 6.

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The victim and a witness reported that 20-year-old Dontarius Burley left afterward. Burley, of Whitehall, was arrested just over two weeks later and charged with rape and kidnapping, two first-degree felonies.

A Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued Burley a $1 million bond and ordered him to stay away from the victim, any potential witnesses involved in the case and the location of the alleged crime, should he post bond. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for the morning of Oct. 31.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Three central Ohio suspects, including two from Columbus, could face over 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and possession charges.

According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office, three “major” fentanyl dealers admitted guilt related to separate, months-long investigations by the county’s Joint Drug Unit, CODE Task Force and the FBI.

One man, 26-year-old Steven Smith, of Zanesville pleaded guilty to multiple charges in two cases, the first from a March investigation that resulted in Smith admitting to LSD possession with a firearm specification, aggravated possession of drugs, and having weapons under disability. The second case stems from June in which he pleaded guilty to trafficking in a fentanyl related compound and possession of cocaine.

Related to the June case were the guilty pleas of two Columbus residents – Krisawn Taylor-Hayes, 23, and Breonna Kelly, 19.

Taylor-Hayes pleaded guilty to trafficking in a fentanyl related compound and possession of cocaine, while Kelly pleaded guilty to the same charges, plus possession of methamphetamine.

Steven Smith (top), Krisawn Taylor-Hayes (left) and Breonna Kelly (right) pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges in Muskingum County, Oct. 22, 2025. (Courtesy/Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office)

The prosecutor’s office stated that Smith and Taylor-Hayes participated together in selling approximately 400 pills containing fentanyl but appearing to be Percocet to undercover law enforcement. The two, plus Kelly, who was driving, were later caught in possession of the money they were paid for the transaction.

Both men were in custody during the duration of their trial. Kelly had posted bond, but had it revoked when she tested positive for drugs.

On Wednesday, a Muskingum County common pleas judge sentenced Smith to 17 years in prison. Kelly faces a sentencing hearing in which a jointly recommended sentence was agreed to of four years. Taylor-Hayes will have a pre-sentencing investigation and could face a maximum sentence of 20 years.

LOGAN, Ohio (WCMH) — A man charged with possession of sexually oriented material and voyeurism after a family staying in a Hocking Hills cabin discovered hidden camera in their bathroom has pleaded guilty.

According to a Hocking County Sheriff’s Office report, supported by three deputies who reported to the scene, a woman called the sheriff’s office to report a hidden camera was found in the bathroom of a short-term rental cabin her family had rented in February 2024.

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A search warrant was executed at the property on State Route 664 in Marion Township, north of Logan, where a camera was found in the drop-down ceiling of a bathroom. The camera, which reportedly had a green light lit when the victim found it, had an extension cord that was routed from the ceiling to a utility room and plugged in behind laundry facilities.

The victim told deputies that she, her husband and their 4-year-old child all had used the bathroom before discovering the camera, which was mounted within the ceiling and secured by black electrical tape, the report stated.

Deputies searched the rest of the property and only discovered “Ring” or “Bing” cameras outside of the residence for security measures, although the report noted the rear camera had views of a basement entrance and the hot tub.

During the investigation, deputies spoke with property management, who informed them that Jason Yard, of Akron, was the owner of the rental. In addition, it was discovered that Yard was the owner of the following evidence found at the cabin.

• A partial backup/download of a Samsung phone on the MicroSD card belonging to Yard found inside the camera.
• Several recordings within the device of Yard adjusting the camera while installed in the bathroom ceiling.

In addition, Amazon purchase records secured by the Hocking County Sheriff's indicate that Yard bought several hidden cameras, nanny cams, memory cards and adaptors between 2019 and 2023.

• Hocking County deputies discover a hidden camera in a Hocking Hills rental cabin. (Courtesy/Hocking County Sheriff's Department)
• Hocking County deputies discover a hidden camera in a Hocking Hills rental cabin. (Courtesy/Hocking County Sheriff's Department)
• Hocking County deputies discover a hidden camera in a Hocking Hills rental cabin. (Courtesy/Hocking County Sheriff's Department)

In total, the sheriff's office estimate that 49 adults and 13 children were victims of the hidden camera, and approximately 170 digital files were submitted into evidence, including one which captured a couple having sexual intercourse.

In June, an indictment was filed against Yard of Akron, who was arrested in July and issued a $100,000 bond after pleading not guilty to six charges – four felony counts of illegal use of nudity-oriented material involving a minor and two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism.

After a September motion for a continuance, Yard changed his plea on Thursday to no contest on the first count of the indictment, illegal use of nudity-oriented material involving a minor. The remaining charges were dropped as part of the agreement.

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Yard, who will have to register as a Tier I sex offender according to Ohio law, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12 and faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. However, court records state that the prosecution's office and defense counsel agreed to a prison term of 4-6 years.

The guilty plea of a felony sex offense also comes with a five-year mandatory post-release control period and a fine of up to $15,000.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person has been injured after a shooting in west Columbus on Saturday morning.

Authorities responded to the 3700 block of Briggs Road in the Hilltop at 6:34 a.m. on Saturday after report of a shooting, according to the Columbus Division of Police. One person was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg, and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Two suspects were detained, police said. Other details have yet to be released. The shooting remains under investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent report ranked more than 180 U.S. cities based on how safe they are, and Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati all placed in the bottom half of the list. 

The personal finance company WalletHub compared 182 cities – including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state – across three key dimensions: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. 

Researchers analyzed 41 metrics across those key dimensions. For example, home and community safety included metrics such as the murder rate, presence of sex offenders and number of traffic deaths. The natural disaster category included the likelihood of hurricanes and tornadoes, and the financial safety category included the unemployment rate and median credit score. 

“The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Financial safety includes things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.”

In the list of the safest cities, Cleveland ranked near the bottom at No. 173, making it the 10th-most unsafe city in America. In each specific dimension, the city ranked at No. 171 for home and community safety, No. 107 for natural disaster risk and No. 162 for financial safety. 

Columbus placed at No. 159, making it the 24th-most unsafe city. It ranked at No. 164 for home and community safety, No. 85 for natural disaster risk and No. 122 for financial safety. 

Cincinnati ranked as the safest of Ohio’s major metros, although it still appeared in the bottom half of the list, at No. 135. The city placed at No. 134 for home and community safety, No. 102 for natural disaster risk and No. 121 for financial safety. Toledo, at No. 144, and Akron, at No. 148, were also included in the list.

The study found that New Orleans is the least safe city in America, followed by Memphis, Tennessee; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Detroit; and Baltimore. 

Source: WalletHub

The safest city in the country is Warwick, Rhode Island, followed by Overland Park, Kansas; Burlington, Vermont; Juneau, Alaska; and Yonkers, New York, according to the report. 

WalletHub’s full study can be viewed here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As temperatures drop in Ohio and insects seek shelter from the cold, many residents end up hosting unwelcome house guests.

Joe Boggs, an assistant professor with the Ohio State University Department of Entomology, said boxelder bugs, brown marmorated stink bugs, Asian lady beetles and western conifer seed bugs are among “fall home invaders.”

“What they're looking for is basically to get to a place in our homes where it is just warm, not frozen, and not too hot,” Boggs told NBC4. “That would be like, for example, in between the walls, or around window casings, or door jambs, sometimes in attics.”

Boggs said when the pests end up inside a home, it is a “total accident,” which can result in them dying of starvation. The bugs feed heavily in the fall to build up fat for the winter. Their metabolism is tied directly to the temperature, so the colder it is, the slower they burn fat and the warmer it is, the faster they burn fat, according to Boggs.

“They're doomed if they [enter a home] because there's nothing for them to eat and our warm homes will cause their metabolism to go up and they burn through their fat reserves,” Boggs said. 

Nevertheless, the insects often find their way indoors while searching for shelter from the cold, rain and snow. None of the aforementioned fall invaders are harmful to humans, but when eaten by pets, they may cause an upset stomach. 

“They don't cause any harm,” Boggs said. “They're a nuisance. They're not going to come in and bite you. That's not their M.O.”

Ohio residents can prevent the insects from entering their homes by caulking any gaps around windows, door jambs and door frames, according to Boggs. He also suggested replacing old door sweeps and ensuring any vents that lead outside are properly screened. Attic soffits can be another entry point, so Boggs recommended repairing any openings.  

“What I always recommend is don't become overwhelmed,” Boggs said. “If you have an older home and you're consistently getting insect invasions, it's best to just start on part of the home and get it sealed up, do what you can, and then move along.”

When already dealing with insects in the home, Boggs said residents can simply usher the pests out with a dustpan. People can also knock the insects into soda or water bottles to escort them outside, or fill those containers with soapy water to kill the pests, he said. 

He advised Ohioans against smashing Asian multicolored lady beetles and stink bugs, because they can secrete liquids that stain walls and fabric, and release an unpleasant odor. Using a household vacuum to suck up the insects can have a similar effect. 

“It becomes a bug blender, and that can cause that vacuum to take on an odor, so that every time you vacuum your house, it'll stink,” Boggs said. “A person usually only does that once and it's like, well, I'll never do that again.”

However, shop vacs can serve as an effective way to dispose of the insects, according to Boggs. He also said there are a number of do-it-yourself traps residents can make, including light traps, which involve using a light source placed over a shallow dish of soapy water that the pests fall into.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Accident Investigation Unit responded to a fatal traffic crash Friday in the Innis Garden Village neighborhood of Columbus.

Two vehicles on East Innis Avenue crashed "slightly head-on" near the Kelton Avenue intersection, according to a Columbus Division of Police media release.

Both drivers were transported to the hospital, where one was pronounced dead. The other driver is in stable condition.

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The Accident Investigation Unit is investigating "the events that contributed to the crash," the media release said.

Anyone with information about the accident can contact the Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio baby who was born at just twenty-two weeks and two days is thriving after eight months in the hospital, and his story has made him a top contender for the Baby of the Year competition.

Remy Garcia was only 1 pound, two ounces when he was born in January 2025. His mom, Charlotte Garcia, said her water broke when she was just seventeen weeks pregnant with Remy.

Charlotte and her husband Oliver, said that for a few weeks, doctors told them they didn’t believe Remy would make it with how early he was born.

“For about two weeks, we were prepared for the worst,” said Oliver Garcia.

Now, he weighs sixteen pounds and has been living happily at home since early September.

Remy was at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for eight months as he got stronger.

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Remy did have a brain bleed when he was born, and Charlotte said there are still some unknowns with having a baby born so young. He is at risk for mobility and developmental delays, but he is in occupational and physical therapy weekly, and doctors are happy with his progress.

“At this point, he's doing so well in therapies, and nobody is necessarily predicting that he'll have those issues. But we're just keeping a close eye and obviously with his weekly therapies and everything, trying to stay ahead of the curve,” said Charlotte.

After he was released, the Garcias heard about the Baby of the Year competition. It’s a fundraiser for Baby2Baby, a nonprofit organization that provides children in need with diapers, clothing, and other necessities.

When people donate a dollar, they get a vote for the baby they want to win. People can also vote once for free each day.

Remy is currently in first place in his group, and the winning baby gets a feature in Variety magazine and $25,000.

“Just with how sweet he is and you know, what a crazy year he's been through, I feel like he is a top contender to be Baby of the Year,” said Charlotte.

“We don't get a lot of, like, even fussy from him. He will tell you how he feels about things. He's very stern when he talks to you, but he's very sweet. He loves the attention he gets when he's home,” said Oliver.

Remy is still on oxygen and has a feeding tube, but the Garcias said he is doing extremely well.

They are excited for more family time with Remy and his older sister.

The Garcias found out Friday that Remy is a quarter-finalist for Baby of the Year, which means he was in the top one percent of all the babies in the competition.

You can learn more about Remy’s story and vote for him here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The last Cap City Festival of the season took place Friday at Westgate Community Center.

Attendees enjoyed free food, a zipline, inflatables and a climbing wall.

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The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department's festival is free to attend and is held in various locations.

Cap City Festivals typically run from April to October each year. For more information on Cap City Festivals click here.

LONDON, Ohio (WCMH) — Scooters are being used to help assess the condition of every sidewalk in the city of London.

"I’ve gone through the process of grading roads to where we know which roads are the worst, and we need to start working on them right now. So this is just like that, but for sidewalks," Mayor Patrick Closser said.

The scooters are operated by employees from a company called CityLogix. They are mounted with cameras and record video as they ride on the sidewalks. Then they go over them again and take pictures of problem spots.

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“That way not only do they have a spot on the map but they actually can hit that spot on the map, pull up a picture that shows, oh yeah, that's a two-foot uplift that we need to fix," said David Teetrs, a Senior Survey Team Leader with CityLogix.

He said all the information is sent back to their office. Then a report is put together to let the city know where fixes should be made first and what areas are ok.

“That’s why we brought them out, because we want to get a real good map of what's going on. So then we can come up with a game plan on how to fix them," Closser said. “They’re able to GIS and map them faster and be able to do what they need to do in a much faster time than what they would have to do if they walked.”

Closser said the city is paying CityLogix about $50,000 for all the work.

“The safety of our citizens is always the top priority,  making sure we have safe access for everyone, especially those that are ADA, and we need to make these things compliant. I think it's money well spent," he said.

The CityLogix employees and their scooters are expected to be in town for a few weeks. Closser said he expects the city will get the report from the company in the winter, then make a plan for work in the spring.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

Low pressure aloft will slowly pivot east from the Great Lakes to northern New England, which has been responsible for blustery and chilly conditions. Drier air resulted in more sunshine, mixed with some patchy clouds, in a northwesterly flow. Temperatures edged up to the upper 50s, about 5 degrees below normal. 

Skies slowly clear this evening, as the core of cold air and less wind create favorable conditions for freezing conditions, and a freeze warning is in effect for most of the state again late tonight. 

Dry and cool weather will prevail through the weekend, with high pressure of Canadian origin building in. A storm over the southern Plains will slowly push east but remain southwest of the region, as clouds spread eastward over the region, keeping afternoon temperatures in the 50s.

Rain will eventually reach the region Tuesday and Wednesday, as a southern storm develops and draws moisture farther north. Behind the area of clouds and showers, cold air will be drawn southward later next week for Halloween.

Forecast

• Friday: Partly cloudy, crisp. High 56
• Tonight: Mainly clear, frost. Low 34
• Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 58
• Sunday: Partly sunny. High 59 (39)
• Monday: More clouds, sprinkle south. High 58 (42)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, shower. High 56 (44)
• Wednesday: Rainy, chilly. High 54 (43)
• Thursday: Showers end. High 53 (41)

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Schools is pausing its high school redistricting effort after receiving pushback from district parents.

Superintendent John Marschhausen announced the decision on Friday after three 90-minute community sessions held Wednesday, where district leaders listened to parent feedback and concerns. The district said that the current attendance lines for Dublin Coffman,
Dublin Jerome and Dublin Scioto high schools will remain in place through the 2026-27 school year. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Dublin City Schools redistricting in the video player above.

"We heard the uncertainty and the angst in our community," Marschhausen said in the announcement. "We listened -- and now we must act. We are hitting pause and reset on this process. The approach that worked well for elementary and middle school redistricting isn't sufficient for the unique challenges of high school boundaries. Our process hasn't met our purpose."

Marschhausen emphasized that additional time will allow the district to define clear criteria for redistricting, gather more input from the community, and receive further guidance from the board of education.

"People may understandably ask about the time and money already invested in this work," he said. "I consider that an investment in getting this right. What we've learned will be critical when we restart the process. We want to move forward with purpose and intention -- and build a plan our community can understand and support."

The district said it will share next steps and an updated timeline after continued discussions with the board of education in the coming months.

View the announcement sent to Dublin City Schools families below.

Dublin Redistricting PauseDownload

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- We have made it to the final week of the regular season in high school football. And there's still plenty to be decided before the playoffs.

Several conference titles are up for grabs in Week 10. Olentangy Orange has a chance to complete unbeaten regular season and take the OCC Central title with a win over Olentangy Liberty (6-3), the defending champion. Meanwhile, Olentangy can secure the OCC Cardinal title with a win over Olentangy Berlin. And the OCC Ohio championship is on the line between Pickerington North and Gahanna.

Elsewhere, Westland, Davidson, Westerville Central, Linden-McKinley and Circleville can all secure playoff spots with victories.

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 10 Schedule

• Olentangy Orange (9-0) at Olentangy Liberty (6-3)
• Olentangy Berlin (4-5) at Olentangy (8-1)
• Big Walnut (8-1) at Westland (5-4)
• Hilliard Davidson (4-5) at Upper Arlington (7-2)
• Westerville Central (4-5) at New Albany (3-6)
• Westerville South (7-2) at Worthington Kilbourne (7-2)
• Circleville (6-3) at Bloom-Carroll (7-2)
• DeSales (7-2) at Hartley (5-4)
• Linden-McKinley (8-1) at East (8-1)
• Pickerington North (8-1) at Gahanna (7-2)
• Dublin Coffman (2-7) at Hilliard Bradley (4-5)

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

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

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

Robert Burns, Oct. 24, 2025 (NBC4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The $1.4 billion project will last through summer 2030.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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