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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum:

• Columbus is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and with that growth comes growing pains, from housing to transportation to workforce education.

“The growth that we’ll see over the next 20 years, 1 million more people into our region,” Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said.

Ohio lawmakers lay out their spring priorities

Hear what city leaders are working to address to make sure the city is capable of supporting the predicted population boom.

• Two controversial bills at the Ohio Statehouse are poised to move forward this week. Hear how they could make the classroom the center of the culture wars.

• The expert the Trump campaign hired to investigate claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election has a new book out telling his side of the story.

“This was about it’s either there or it wasn’t,” said data specialist Ken Block, author of the book Disproven.

Criminal justice bills working through Ohio House

See what he found and what he said can make our elections better.

• As the war between Israel and Hamas drags on, can anything be done to prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza? Republican strategist Bob Clegg and Democratic strategist Lou Gentile join the roundtable to weigh in.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

Sunshine will give way to clouds later, as a disturbance develops in the central Plains and travel northeast to the Upper Midwest on Monday.

Moisture will spread northward tonight, with a round of showers that will end Monday morning. Clouds should gradually break in the afternoon, providing a filtered view of the total solar eclipse in the northwest half of Ohio and the partial eclipse statewide. Skies are likely to be clearer the farther northwest of Columbus that you travel.

Temperatures will warm up into the upper 60s and low 70s to start the week. More widespread rain is likely to develop Tuesday afternoon, with on and off showers and a few storms through Thursday, with an incoming storm system in the Plains midweek.

Cooler air will move in briefly on Friday, with a few lingering showers. Mild and dry conditions are expected next weekend

Forecast

• Sunday: Partly sunny. High 62
• Tonight: Showers late. Low 48
• Monday: Damp early, breaks of sun p.m. High 70
• Tuesday: Clouds thicken, showers p.m.. High 69 (52)
• Wednesday: Showers. High 66 (55)
• Thursday: Showers, storm. High 63 (54)
• Friday: Some sun, shower possible, cooler. High 56 (41)
• Saturday: Sunny. High 65 (39)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- April is Donate Life month, and Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center celebrated the gift of organ donation Sunday morning with their 16th annual Buckeye Pinwheel Planting and Transplant Reunion.

The pinwheels have one stem and eight spokes, symbolizing how one person can save up to eight lives through organ donation.

The hospital's front lawn was filled with 12,500 pinwheels -- one for each organ transplant performed at the Wexner Medical Center since 1967. One of those pinwheels represented kidney recipient Steve Robison.

Steve and his brother Mike Robison spoke to NBC4 in November, right before the big Ohio State-Michigan game. Mike has always been a die-hard Buckeyes fan while Steve grew up cheering for the team up north.

Solar eclipse weather forecast

Mike made the selfless decision to donate one of his kidneys to his brother Steve, who had kidney disease.

“I’m so much better after receiving the kidney, and it’s just done wonders for my lifestyle,” said Steve, who received his new kidney from his brother in December. “I am functioning as well as I ever have been before.”

Steve said his operation went well and Mike, who traveled to Columbus from Arizona for the donation, is functioning great with one kidney.

“He just initially amazed me, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather, but that’s what brothers do for each other. That’s what family does for each other," Steve said. "It’s the unwritten rules of love."

This is the 16th year thousands of pinwheels have been on display in front of the hospital. Dr. Ken Washburn, the director of the Wexner Medical Center’s transplant center, said seeing the people his team saved is extremely rewarding.

“To the recipients I say, ‘Thank your donor.’ To the donors I say, ‘Thank you,’” said Dr. Washburn.

This was Steve’s first year at the pinwheel planting, and he said it is surreal to see how many lives organ donation has touched just here in central Ohio.

“It’s just an amazing showing of how many people not only receive organs on a yearly basis, but the number of donors who are willing to give the gift of life,” said Steve.

The pinwheels will stay planted in the ground throughout the rest of April.

A poster promoting 2024 ARRL Field Day has been released on the Field Day web page, www.arrl.org/field-day. The two-sided informational poster features this year's theme "Be Radio Active". It includes a space for clubs to fill in information about their planned activation so that members of their community can come visit the site.

More resources for promoting 2024 ARRL Field Day are being develo...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Even if clouds cover the total solar eclipse Monday afternoon, you can see it in your own home -- with a little bit of water, food coloring and an effervescent tablet.

Eye safety during the solar eclipse

In this week's “Connecting with COSI,” Dr. Alyssa Cassabaum-Smith shows Monica Day how to make kid-friendly eclipse art at home. Tomorrow’s total solar eclipse will only last a few minutes, but this fun project can last a lifetime.

Learn more about COSI's solar eclipse programming at its website.

A previous report can be seen in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An east Columbus homicide that occurred nearly four years ago remains unsolved with law enforcement asking for public assistance in the case.

On Dec. 11, 2019, Columbus police sent a missing adult alert for 39-year-old Ricardo Vallejo-Truss, who hadn't been seen since Dec. 5, 2019 on the east side of the city. On Dec. 19 just before 9:45 a.m., a 911 caller reported a vehicle that was parked on the 2900 block of East Moreland Drive had not moved for some time.

Police arrived and found the body of Vallejo-Truss in the vehicle and ruled the case a homicide.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for anyone that has information that could lead to the arrest of a possible suspect in Vallejo-Truss' death. You can call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or submit a tip at stopcrime.org.

All tips made to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The total solar eclipse is only a day away, which is a good time to focus on eye safety when experiencing the event in central Ohio Monday afternoon.

The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio occurred in June 1806, and the next one will not happen until 2099 across the Buckeye State.

Graphic: National Weather Service/Wilmington

More than 30 million Americans will be in the path of totality that stretches from Texas to Maine, and slices through the northwest half of Ohio.

Solar eclipse inspires Columbus songwriter

In Columbus, the partial eclipse will begin at 1:55 p.m. Eastern time and end at 4:26 p.m., with peak totality (99.7 percent) occurring at 3:12 p.m. Areas just northwest of the city will witness darkness for seconds to up to several minutes. The longest viewing time will be about 3 minutes 50 seconds in a band from west-central Ohio to Upper Sandusky and Cleveland.

Protective eyewear is essential during the eclipse to avoid the risk of permanent eye damage. Youngsters, especially, should be reminded by parents not to even peek at the sun without their approved safety glasses.

Dr. David Rogers, chief of Ophthalmology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and chairman of the AAPOS solar eclipse task force, encourages families to take preventive steps prior to properly prepare for eclipse viewing.

Best places in central Ohio to see solar eclipse

"Only ISO-Certified solar eclipse glasses can protect your eyes from the damaging rays the solar eclipse will emit. Eclipse glasses are 100,000 times darker than regular sunglasses and block the damaging infrared and ultraviolet rays of the sun that will oxidize the retina leading to permanent vision loss."

Rogers explained the nature of the serious and potentially permanent eye damage that occurs if a person looks at the sun. "The damaging part about this whole event is that there's ultraviolet (UV) rays that we really can't see. Those UV rays enter the eye and they can damage that sensitive retina in the back of the eye."

The damage from the sun occurs through the process of photo oxidation, which Rogers said "causes free radicals to be released in the back of the eye in the photoreceptors. Those photoreceptors are permanently damaged; they cannot repair themselves."

Photographer gives tips to capture solar eclipse

He stressed that your certified eclipse glasses must be put on while looking down or away from the sun, to ensure proper fit, before looking up to observe the spectacular event.

NASA has information on how families can construct a box pinhole projector to ensure kids have another safe way to view the eclipse.

Parents are advised to discuss all the precautions before the celestial event of a lifetime and make sure that children are fully aware of the risk of severe eye damage if protective glasses are not worn at all times during the total solar eclipse.

For more information about eye safety for all ages during the eclipse, you can click here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three people were hospitalized after two shootings early Sunday morning in Columbus.

At about 1:40 a.m., a shooting was reported at the 2500 block of Kimberly Parkway East in Eastland. A male with a gunshot wound was taken to Mount Carmel East in stable condition, dispatchers said. Columbus police later said the victim is expected to survive.

Less than an hour later and about 10 miles northwest, Columbus police were called to a reported shooting on Interstate 71 southbound at East 11th Avenue. Medics took one victim to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and another victim to Grant Medical Center, both in unknown condition, dispatchers said. Several hours later, police said both victims were expected to survive.

Police did not have suspect information as of Sunday morning, but they asked anyone with information on either case to call the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or submit an anonymous tip to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Ohio using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.

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#30. Grandview Heights High School

- Location: Grandview Heights City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 336 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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Achira22 // Shutterstock

#29. Orange High School

- Location: Orange City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 678 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#28. Upper Arlington High School

- Location: Upper Arlington Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 1,880 (24:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#27. Columbus Preparatory Academy

- Location: Columbus, OH
- Enrollment: 874 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#26. Toledo Early College High School

- Location: Toledo City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 335 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#25. Oakwood High School

- Location: Oakwood Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 697 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#24. Orange High School

- Location: Olentangy Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,935 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#23. Chagrin Falls High School

- Location: Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District, OH
- Enrollment: 656 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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ImageFlow // Shutterstock

#22. Aurora High School

- Location: Aurora City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 972 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#21. Ottawa Hills High School

- Location: Ottawa Hills Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 528 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#20. Olentangy Liberty High School

- Location: Olentangy Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,934 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock

#19. Metro Early College High School

- Location: Columbus, OH
- Enrollment: 892 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#18. Centerville High School

- Location: Centerville City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 2,752 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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maroke // Shutterstock

#17. Olentangy Berlin High School

- Location: Olentangy Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,548 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#16. Rocky River High School

- Location: Rocky River City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 873 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#15. Olentangy High School

- Location: Olentangy Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,649 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Beachwood High School

- Location: Beachwood City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 594 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#13. Hudson High School

- Location: Hudson City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,474 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#12. New Albany High School

- Location: New Albany-Plain Local School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,667 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#11. Dublin Coffman High School

- Location: Dublin City Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 1,871 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#10. Bexley High School

- Location: Bexley City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 745 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#9. Dayton Regional STEM School

- Location: Kettering, OH
- Enrollment: 726 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#8. Mariemont High School

- Location: Mariemont City Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 458 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#7. Wyoming High School

- Location: Wyoming City Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 619 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#6. Walnut Hills High School

- Location: Cincinnati City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 2,749 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#5. Sycamore High School

- Location: Sycamore Community School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,620 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#4. William Mason High School

- Location: Mason City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 3,460 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#3. Solon High School

- Location: Solon City School District, OH
- Enrollment: 1,515 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#2. Dublin Jerome High School

- Location: Dublin City Schools, OH
- Enrollment: 1,953 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#1. Indian Hill High School

- Location: Indian Hill Exempted Village School District, OH
- Enrollment: 648 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Partly cloudy, high 62
• Tonight: Scattered showers, low 47
• Monday: Some clearing, high 72 (51)
• Tuesday: Chance of showers, high 70 (54)
• Wednesday: Chance rain showers, high 67 (55)
• Thursday: Showers & t-storms, high 63 (39)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Sunday starts off chilly across Central Ohio. A Freeze Warning is in effect until 10am across most of the area, including Franklin County. Skies will start off mostly clear, then the afternoon will bring more clouds as our next system approaches. Daytime highs will will closer to normal for this time of year reaching the low 60s. Light rain chances start up late in the evening.

More chances for scattered rain arrive overnight into Monday morning. Most of these rain showers will fall between the hours of 1-5am. Tonight will also be noticeably warmer, with overnight lows only falling into the upper 40s. Winds will be fairly light moving from the east southeast at 5-10mph.

Monday’s Eclipsecast continues to show clouds starting to clear as we move into the afternoon. Better chances for those skies to clear faster will be north and west of Columbus. Temps will top off in the low 70s. Generally speaking, it’s going to be a beautiful day. That beauty won’t last long.

Rain chances and a few thunderstorms roll in as the week goes on. Tuesday will bring scattered showers. Even better chances of rain in a few thunderstorms will roll in between Wednesday and Thursday. By the end of the week, Central Ohio may see up to 1.5" of rain. This is on top of the 3.33" that Columbus has already seen so far this month. Temperatures through the work week are expected to stay above normal.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Saturday's Powerball drawing has been delayed.

Originally scheduled to be drawn at 10:59 p.m., by 11:35 p.m., there were still no winning numbers in Saturday's estimated $1.3 billion drawing.

In a statement released after the drawing post time, Powerball stated that the drawing was delayed due to one lottery needing time to process ticket sales.

The statement reads, in part:

Tonight, we have one participating lottery that needs additional time to complete required pre-draw procedures, which have been enacted to protect the security and integrity of the Powerball game.

Powerball game rules require that every single ticket sold nationwide be checked and verified against two different computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn. This is done to ensure that every ticket sold for the Powerball drawing has been accounted for and has an equal chance to win. Tonight, we have one jurisdiction that needs extra time to complete that pre-draw process.

The statement did not say which jurisdiction needed the extra time.

This is the second time since 2022 that a drawing worth more than $1 billion has been delayed; in November 2022, a jackpot drawing worth $1.9 billion was delayed by 10 hours due to a similar reason.

Should no players match Saturday's Powerball drawing, the next drawing will be Monday -- the same day a total solar eclipse rolls across the country.

Central Ohio forecast for the total solar eclipse

No players matched the correct numbers to win the jackpot Wednesday, making Saturday's drawing worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

Nine tickets sold for Wednesday's drawing -- two each in California and Massachusetts and one each in Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Washington -- matched the five white ball numbers, but missed the Powerball, netting the winners $1 million. Nearly 3 million tickets won a prize of at least $4 in Wednesday's drawing.

Wednesday’s estimated jackpot will be the fourth-highest in the game’s history if claimed and marks the 41st drawing since the game’s last winner – a $842.4 million jackpot won on Jan. 1. This marks a three-way tie for the number of drawings before a winner -- should the jackpot roll over into Monday, it will set the new record with 42 draws.

Solar eclipse inspires Columbus songwriter

It is also the fourth Powerball jackpot in less than two years to reach $1 billion.

The top ten Powerball jackpots are:

1. $2.04 billion – Nov. 7, 2022
2. $1.765 billion – Oct. 11, 2023
3. $1.586 billion – Jan. 13, 2016
4. $1.30 billion (estimated) -- April 6, 2024
5. $1.08 billion -- July 19, 2023
6. $842.4 million – January 1, 2024
7. $768.4 million – March 27, 2019
8. $758.7 million – Aug. 23, 2017
9. $754.6 million – Feb. 6, 2023
10. $731.1 million – Jan. 20, 2021

None of those top ten jackpots was won in Ohio.

Winners have the option of being paid the full jackpot amount in annual payments over 30 years, or taking a lesser, one-time payment (Saturday is an estimated $608.9 million). Lottery officials said most winners choose the one-time payment. All winnings are pre-federal tax, and most states also collect taxes on lottery winnings.

Players must match five balls numbered 1 to 69 plus a Powerball numbered between 1 through 26 to win the jackpot.

Hocking County prosecutor facing disbarment after misconduct complaint

Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can opt to play the Power Play multiplier for an extra $1, which will multiply the player’s winnings by the drawn multiplier (this applies to all prizes except the jackpot and the $1 million prize, which tops out at $2 million).

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million; the odds of winning any one of the nine different prizes available is 1 in 24.9. Odds are not affected by the number of tickets sold; instead, they are based on the chances of selecting the right combination of numbers. Prizes start at $4 for matching either the Powerball or the Powerball and one other number.

Drawings are every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Though Cucho Hernandez's return to the field for Columbus lasted less than 75 minutes, the Crew found a way to be resilient again thanks to Aidan Morris.

Morris delivered a thrilling equalizer in the 87th minute with a long-range shot to the back of the net, tying the match at 1-1 against D.C. United and lifting the spirit of more than 20,000 fans at Lower.com Field who were worried they might witness the Crew's first loss at home this season.

Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber to have season-ending surgery

The draw marks the Crew's second straight in MLS competition and third overall after a tie with Nashville last week and a 1-1 result against Tigres on Tuesday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.

After missing the last two matches for what head coach Wilfried Nancy called "team policy", Hernandez was back in the starting lineup Saturday night. But his return was cut short when he received a red card in the 75th minute for violent conduct.

Christian Benteke scored the game's first goal in the 61st minute on a right-footed shot from the center of the box thanks to a feed from Jared Stroud. D.C. United held the 1-0 lead until Morris' equalizer 26 minutes later.

For Morris, the goal was redemption after he was shown a red card in last Tuesday's match against Tigres. It was the second straight contest where Morris found the back of the net.

The Crew will be without Morris when they return to the field on Tuesday night for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Tigres in Monterrey, Mexico. A win would earn a spot in the semifinals against either Monterrey or Miami. The Crew can also advance with a draw if they score at least two goals. A 1-1 draw would force extra time while a scoreless draw would see Tigres advance.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was arrested Saturday after allegedly assaulting a woman more than one week ago.

According to Columbus police, Jesse Wayne Walters Jr., 33, was arrested after a standoff with police and SWAT officers on the 100 block of South Eureka Avenue on the city's west side.

Hocking County prosecutor facing disbarment after sexual misconduct complaint

Police said that on March 27, officers responded to a city hospital to take a report on an assault victim. When officers arrived, they were told that the female victim suffered "significant injuries," which prompted the department's homicide unit to investigate the incident.

Walters was booked into Franklin County Jail on a felonious assault charge.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse event just days away, one local folk singer wanted to take the event and turn it into a song. 

Columbus folk singer Bill Cohen said there’s a bigger meaning behind his song “Eclipse.” For those who listen to it, he hopes that it will remind people that this eclipse can be so much more than a three-minute adventure. 

Mix of clouds and sun forecasted for central Ohio Monday during eclipse

Bill and his wife Randi work as a team. Bill has been doing music for nearly 60 years while Randi has always loved technology -- she put together the music video for Bill's song.

As you listen to the lyrics, Bill said he wanted to make the point that this once-in-a-lifetime eclipse is an opportunity for everyone to not only be inspired but to also reflect on their own lives.

“The fact that millions of people are going to be gathering together at the eclipse, that shows what an opportunity it is,” Bill said. “We know there’s going to be a feeling of community and we’re all hungering for more communities and that’s a step in the right direction, but hopefully it can be even more than that. Hopefully, it can be a time when we think about a better world.”

The music video consists of pictures that Randi has taken over the years. She said she created a couple different versions but is happy with the final product. 

Tasty total solar eclipse deals you can eat and drink

She said there are pockets of darkness throughout the music video because they wanted to inspire people to use their imaginations as well. 

The song came together relatively quickly. Bill said it starts with a description of an eclipse, then it describes shadows moving over the sun, but then he wanted to make it more than just a physical description of an eclipse. 

“I wanted to make the point that this is an opportunity for us, not just to be wowed and inspired by this cosmic miracle, but also it’s an opportunity for us to think about our own lives, our personal lives,” he said.

The couple said they just want people to feel inspired. 

Photographer gives tips to capture solar eclipse

“The last verse of the song is talking about, let’s pull back and let’s imagine, decades and centuries in the future, perhaps would it be that future generations look back on this as a very dark time?” Bill said. “We know we’ve got big divisions and big problems. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they looked back on this time and saw how bad it was but also saw that this was the start of new generations of new thinking, of new togetherness in the world.”

The music video was posted to Facebook and can be viewed here.

In this edition:

* AMSAT Seeks Volunteers to Assist with 2024 Hamvention AMSAT Booth
* AMSAT AO-109 (Fox-1E) Satellite Sets New Processor Uptime Record
* ESA Unveils Proba-3 Mission: Artificial Solar Eclipses on Demand
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers April 2024 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 5, 2024
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* 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/

ANS-098 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2024 April 07

AMSAT Seeks Volunteers to Assist with 2024 Hamvention AMSAT Booth

With less than six weeks until the 2024 Dayton Hamvention, scheduled for May 17th to May 19th in Xenia, Ohio, excitement mounts for the 72nd installment of this premier gathering for ham operators worldwide. In 2023, attendance surged to 33,861, surpassing both the previous year and pre-pandemic records, indicating growing enthusiasm. The 2024 event, anticipated to draw even larger crowds, will also host the ARRL National Convention.

AMSAT, a key exhibitor, will once again occupy a spacious 1,200 square foot area at Building 1’s north end, known as the Maxim building. This location, ideally situated for its ventilation and access to the outdoor satellite ground station, is perfect for showcasing AMSAT’s exhibits. The booth will feature various attractions, including engineering team members, CubeSatSim, Beginner’s Corner, Youth Initiative, merchandise sales, software demonstrations, and membership sign-ups. Notably, this year’s booth will spotlight the revamped AMSAT Ambassador program, offering opportunities for engagement.

Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, shares her satellite expertise at the AMSAT Dayton Hamvention booth. [Credit: Katie Allen, WY7YL]AMSAT is actively seeking volunteers to assist with booth activities and invites enthusiasts to dedicate their time. Last year, around 20 volunteers played crucial roles in fostering meaningful interactions with attendees. Volunteers, whether able to commit a few hours or the entire weekend, are warmly encouraged to participate.

Aligned with this year’s theme of “Expanding our Community,” AMSAT aims to strengthen its presence by recruiting new members and volunteers. For those eager to be part of AMSAT’s presence at Dayton Hamvention or request more information about volunteering, Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, serves as the point of contact. To volunteer or inquire further, individuals can reach out to Phil via email at w1eme [at] amsat.org. Your involvement not only enriches the event but also contributes to the vibrant amateur radio community.

[ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, for the above information]

AMSAT AO-109 (Fox-1E) Satellite Sets New Processor Uptime Record

AMSAT’s AO-109, also known as Fox-1E, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone. Launched in January 2021, this satellite operates with an 8 mW signal, best suited for CW and FT4 communications among amateur radio enthusiasts. Recent telemetry data from the Dwingeloo Radiotelescope in The Netherlands has revealed an impressive feat: AO-109 has set a new record for processor uptime. This information was gathered by Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, who has meticulously monitored telemetry reports on a daily basis and calculated the duration of each reset, allowing for precise correlation of telemetry frames with UTC time.

The Fox satellites are designed to undergo onboard computer resets triggered by factors like radiation exposure and low battery voltage. Time on these satellites is measured by counting resets plus the duration since the last reset. It is common for the Fox satellites to reset every few days or weeks, especially when passing over the South Atlantic Anomaly. However, the processor on AO-109 has been running continuously since September 2023, accumulating over 18 million seconds of uptime—far surpassing any other Fox satellite.

Launched on January 17, 2021, as part of the ELaNa 20 mission using a LauncherOne rocket operated by Virgin Orbit, AO-109 was carried aloft by a modified Boeing 747 named “Cosmic Girl” from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, United States. After reaching an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet (11,000 meters), the rocket was released into space. This launch, conducted under NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative program, marked the beginning of the satellite’s mission to facilitate amateur radio communications and technology research.

AO-109 (Fox-1E) Satellite is Expected to Re-enter Earth’s Atmosphere in April 2024. [Credit: AMSAT]AO-109 represents the fifth iteration of the “Fox” 1U amateur radio satellites series developed by AMSAT, featuring a 30KHz linear transponder radio. Upon becoming operational on July 20, 2021, AO-109 embarked on a mission to serve both amateur radio and technology research objectives. Among its key payloads is RadFXSat-2, a collaboration with Vanderbilt University, aimed at studying the effects of space radiation on specific SRAM types. Consistent with the Fox 1A design blueprint, Fox-1E is equipped with a 2-meter whip antenna and a 70 cm whip antenna.

With its anticipated re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in the coming weeks, users are encouraged to make the most of AO-109 while it’s still operational. Current reports suggest the satellite’s altitude is around 300 km, which is lower than the ISS orbiting altitude of 370–460 km.

[ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, and Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, for the above information]

The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ ESA Unveils Proba-3 Mission: Artificial Solar Eclipses on Demand

Next week, a celestial spectacle will unfold across North America as millions of people witness a total solar eclipse. Alongside eager spectators, solar physicists worldwide are gearing up for the event, drawn by the opportunity to study the Sun’s enigmatic corona, typically obscured by its intense luminosity. However, thanks to a innovative initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA), sustained examination of the solar corona will soon become feasible through the Proba-3 mission.

In Belgium last week, the European Space Agency revealed the spacecraft pair which constitute the Proba-3 mission. This initiative aims to generate orbital solar eclipses at will, providing researchers with extended periods to scrutinize the Sun’s ethereal corona. The mission comprises two spacecraft: the Occulter and the Coronagraph. Positioned approximately 150 meters apart, these spacecraft will align meticulously with the Sun, with the Occulter casting a shadow onto the Coronagraph, effectively blocking out the Sun’s glare and unveiling the corona.

Dietmar Pilz, ESA’s Director of Technology, Engineering, and Quality, explains, “The two spacecraft will act as if they are one enormous 150-meter-long instrument.” However, achieving such precision poses immense technical challenges. Even the slightest misalignment could disrupt the mission’s efficacy. Consequently, the development process, spearheaded by a consortium of ESA Member States led by Spain and Belgium, has been extensive.

Rendering of Proba-3 Occulter and Coronagraph Spacecraft above Earth [Credit: European Space Agency]The fundamental concept of generating artificial solar eclipses in orbit isn’t novel. Previous attempts, such as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, have explored similar endeavors. However, Proba-3 seeks to institutionalize this capability through precise formation flying, enabling up to six hours of continuous observation per orbit lasting 19 hours and 36 minutes.

Solar eclipses, a consequence of the fortunate alignment of the Sun and the Moon, unveil the solar corona — a region of profound scientific and practical significance. Significantly hotter than the Sun’s surface, the corona influences space weather, solar wind, and phenomena like coronal mass ejections, which can impact satellite operations and terrestrial communications networks.

Proba-3’s groundbreaking approach involves orchestrating the Occulter and Coronagraph to operate as a unified entity, thus minimizing diffraction effects and maximizing the observation of the corona. This collaboration, facilitated by advanced positioning technologies, promises to unveil the mysteries of the corona within the range of 3 to 1.1 solar radii from the Sun.

Occulter and Coronagraph Spacecraft Undergoing Integration Testing at Redwire’s Belgium Facility [Credit: ESA]The mission’s autonomy is paramount, with precise formation flying orchestrated autonomously to minimize external perturbations. This autonomy enables the spacecraft to maintain precise alignment for optimal observation of the corona while passively drifting during the remainder of the orbit.

Beyond its scientific implications, the success of Proba-3 could herald a new era of space missions, facilitating endeavors like in-orbit satellite servicing and deploying larger-scale space infrastructure. Moreover, the mission’s instruments, like ASPIICS and the radiometer, hold promise for climate modeling and advancing our understanding of solar dynamics.

As the world awaits the North American total solar eclipse, members of Proba-3’s science team seize the opportunity to test mission hardware. Components like polarizing filter wheels and alternative LED technologies will undergo rigorous examination, further refining the mission’s capabilities.

[ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information]

GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers April 2024 Rankings

The April 2024 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.

Updated: 2024-04-02

1 ND9M 26 N5BO 51 SP5XSD 76 FG8OJ 2 NJ7H 27 K8BL 52 AD7DB 77 PT9BM 3 JA9KRO 28 LU5ILA 53 JL3RNZ 78 KJ7NDY 4 N5UC 29 KE4AL 54 F4DXV 79 KI7UXT 5 UT1FG 30 DL2GRC 55 KE9AJ 80 YU0W 6 OE3SEU 31 VE3HLS 56 KI7QEK 81 WA9JBQ 7 DL6AP 32 KB5FHK 57 PA3GAN 82 N4DCW 8 WI7P 33 KI7UNJ 58 N8RO 83 HB9GWJ 9 HA3FOK 34 LA9XGA 59 XE1ET 84 KB2YSI 10 K5ZM 35 F4BKV 60 KM4LAO 85 N0TEL 11 N6UA 36 N7AGF 61 VE1CWJ 86 VE3GOP 12 N9IP 37 JO2ASQ 62 SM3NRY 87 KI0KB 13 WY7AA 38 XE3DX 63 N4UFO 88 JM1CAX 14 W5PFG 39 K7TAB 64 VA3VGR 89 CU2ZG 15 AK8CW 40 KE0PBR 65 W1AW 90 K0FFY 16 AD0DX 41 KE0WPA 66 VA7LM 91 KG4AKV 17 DP0POL 42 N6DNM 67 PT2AP 92 AF5CC 18 WD9EWK 43 PR8KW 68 M1DDD 93 VE6WK 19 AD0HJ 44 AC0RA 69 DL4EA 94 W8MTB 20 ON4AUC 45 EB1AO 70 AA8CH 95 VE7PTN 21 KX9X 46 JK2XXK 71 N4AKV 96 DK9JC 22 KG5CCI 47 W7WGC 72 LU4JVE 97 K6VHF 23 ND0C 48 EA4NF 73 VE1VOX 98 N6UTC 24 DJ8MS 49 VK5DG 74 W8LR 99 PT9ST 25 F5VMJ 50 AA5PK 75 DF2ET 100 VO2AC

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]

Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store!When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 5, 2024

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/.

The following satellite has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

XW-2F NORAD Cat ID 40910 Decayed from orbit on or about 01 April 2024

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.

+ Recently Completed Contacts

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL, direct via NN4ER
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The crewmember was Matthew Dominick KCØTOR
The ARISS mentor was AJ9N
Contact was successful: Wed 2024-04-03 15:22:17 UTC
Watch the contact at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/eraudaytona/portal.htm?eventId=754085&streamType=video
Congratulations to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students, Matthew, NN4ER, mentor AJ9N!

Ryazan State Radio Engineering University, Ryazan, Russia, direct via RK3SWB (***)
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The crewmember was Oleg Novitskiy
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful for Wed 2024-04-03 12:30 UTC
Congratulations to the Ryazan State Radio Engineering University students, Oleg, RK3SWB, and mentor RV3DR!

Aznakaevsky District students, Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The crewmember was Aleksandr Grebyonkin RZ3DSE
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Thu 2024-04-04 10:10 UTC
Congratulations to the Aznakaevsky District students, Aleksandr, mentor RV3DR, and RC4P!

University College of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia, direct via R2FDB
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The crewmember was Marina Vasilevskaya
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Thu 2024-04-04 13:19 UTC
Congratulations to the University College of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University students, Marina, mentor RV3DR, and R2FDB!

Collège Théodore Monod, Gagny, France, direct via TM2ISS
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The crewmember was Matthew Dominick KCØTOR
The ARISS mentor was F6ICS
Contact was successful: Thu 2024-04-04 14:51:07 UTC
Congratulations to the Collège Théodore Monod students!

+ Upcoming Contacts

Volga State University, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Aleksandr Grebyonkin RZ3DSE
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Sun 2024-04-07 09:20 UTC

Tooele County School District, Tooele, UT, direct via W7CBL
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Barratt KD5MIJ
The ARISS mentor is AJ9N
Contact is go for: Mon 2024-04-08 17:45:07 UTC

ARTADEMIA, Milano, Italy, AND Scuola Secondaria I grado “A. Moro”, Ponte Lambro (CO), Italy, direct via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Jeanette Epps KF5QNU
The ARISS mentor is IZ2GOJ
Contact is go for: Wed 2024-04-10 13:16:48 UTC

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.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

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

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]

Upcoming Satellite Operations

EL, LIBERIA: Satellite activations include RS-44, IO-117, and QO-100
The Czech DXpedition Team (Petr/OK1BOA, Palo/OK1CRM, Petr/OK1FCJ,
Pavel/OK1GK, Ruda/OK2ZA, Ludek/OK2ZC, Karel/OK2ZI, and David/OK6DJ)
signs A8OK between April 9 and 16 from Liberia. QRV on 160-6m (CW,
SSB, RTTY, PSK, FT8/4) and via satellite. For more information see:
https://www.cdxp.cz and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472348776313779
QSL via OK6DJ OQRS or via LoTW.

(Thanks to DXNL 2400 – April 3, 2024 DX Newsletter)

A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

2024 CubeSat Developer’s Workshop
Tuesday April 23rd – Thursday April 25th
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA
https://www.cubesatdw.org/

Dayton Hamvention 2024
Friday May 17th – Sunday May 19th
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
120 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://hamvention.org

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 Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ NASA will launch three scientific-sounding rockets into the moon’s shadow on April 8 during a partial solar eclipse across North America, coinciding with a total solar eclipse in certain areas. The project, named Atmospheric Perturbations Around The Eclipse Path (APEP), aims to investigate how the sudden drop in sunlight and temperature during the eclipse affects Earth’s upper atmosphere. Named after the serpent deity from ancient Egyptian mythology, APEP will involve rockets launched from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. These rockets, equipped with secondary instruments, will measure changes in electric and magnetic fields, density, and temperature as they penetrate the ionosphere during the eclipse. Understanding these perturbations in the ionosphere is crucial for predicting disturbances that impact satellite communications and ensuring the smooth operation of our communication-dependent world. (ANS thanks Jamie Carter, Senior Contributor, Forbes, for the above information)

+ The final launch of United Launch Alliance’s Delta Heavy IV rocket is scheduled for April 9, marking the end of a 64-year legacy for the Delta family. The highly successful career of the Delta Heavy IV comes to a close as it launches a classified payload, NROL-70, on behalf of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO, responsible for the country’s surveillance satellites, maintains secrecy about the specifics of its missions. This final launch aims to enhance the NRO’s capabilities in providing intelligence to national decision-makers and supporting global humanitarian efforts. United Launch Alliance plans to retire both the Delta IV Heavy and the Atlas V to pave the way for its new Vulcan Centaur rocket, with the Atlas V scheduled for missions until 2029. The era of the Delta family concludes amidst a transition towards more advanced launch technologies and capabilities. (ANS thanks Brett Tingley, Managing Editor, Space.com, for the above information)

+ Despite facing numerous challenges, including malfunctioning temperature sensors and unused battery cells, Japan’s SLIM Moon lander has defied expectations by surviving a second lunar night, despite being in a precarious position with its thrusters pointed upward and solar arrays facing away from the Sun. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received a signal from the lander indicating it had restarted after hibernating to avoid freezing temperatures on the Moon’s surface. Initially forced to shut down due to insufficient electricity generation from its solar cells, SLIM has persisted against the odds, reviving itself twice since its landing on January 19. Although not designed to endure the Moon’s harsh conditions, the lander has continued to function, prompting uncertainty about JAXA’s future plans for the resilient spacecraft after it successfully achieved its primary mission goal of a precise lunar landing within a 328-foot radius. (ANS thanks Passant Rabie, Gizmodo, for the above information)

+ China’s Queqiao-2 satellite successfully launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on March 20th, reaching lunar orbit after a perilune braking maneuver near the Moon’s surface on March 24th. Positioned to relay communications for future lunar missions, including Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-6, Queqiao-2’s orbit will be adjusted to facilitate these missions and support China’s ambitious lunar exploration program. Accompanying experimental satellites, Tiandu-1 and -2, also entered lunar orbit, conducting tests in communication and navigation. Queqiao-2’s strategic orbit placement in the Moon’s maria region holds significance for China’s lunar exploration history, including past probe landings fifteen years ago on March 1, 2009. China’s lunar missions, aiming to scout resources and establish a lunar base, signify a substantial endeavor parallel to NASA’s Artemis Program, which plans to establish a sustained presence on the Moon with international collaboration. (ANS thanks Matt Williams, Universe Today, for the above information)

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, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
ad0hj [at] amsat.org

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT

Clouds developed this afternoon, with a cool northerly breeze. Temperatures barely reached the low 50s.

Tonight will be quite chilly again as skies clear, with morning readings near freezing. Freeze warning/frost advisory will be up again later tonight through the early morning hours.

Sunshine will give way to clouds Sunday afternoon Sunday, as a disturbance moves develops in the central Plains.

Moisture will spread northward Sunday night, with a round of showers that will end Monday morning. Clouds should part in the afternoon, providing a partial view of the total solar eclipse in Ohio, with brighter skies favored in the western part of the state and lingering cloud over in the east being more problematic.

Temperatures will warm up into the 60s next week. More widespread rain is likely midweek with the next in a series of western storm systems.

Forecast

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, patchy frost. Low 32
• Sunday: Partly sunny, showers at night. High 59
• Monday: Mix clouds and sun, warmer. High 72 (47)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, showers p.m.. High 70 (51)
• Wednesday: Showers, storms. High 65 (54)
• Thursday: Showers, windy. High 63 (57)
• Friday: Showers, breezy, cooler. High 51 (39)

Watch a previous report on the sexual harassment lawsuit againt Ryan Black in the video player above.

LOGAN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hocking County's outgoing top prosecutor is facing new allegations of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, according to documents filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan R. Black, who resigned the seat effective April 19, is already the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in February.

Mix of clouds and sun forecasted for central Ohio Monday during eclipse

The new allegations, filedon April 3 with the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Professional Conduct, come from people not mentioned in the sexual harassment lawsuit; one of those complaints involves a then-Hocking County Commissioner.

In the complaint, Black is accused of "erratic" behavior often consisting of "screaming outbursts" and "refus[ing] to speak to staff members for several days," and of making sexually charged comments to women working in his office.

The first count of the new complaint, inappropriate sexual conduct with employees, details an assistant prosceutor alleging Black "frequently made inappropriate sexual comments" to her and about her to others; once, in March 2021, those comments ventured into lewd territory about her dress and how it made him want to perform sexual acts to her. Another instance detailed in the complaint alleges Black said the woman's phone number was written inside a bathroom stall at the Hocking County Sheriff's office and that everyone at the office should have it. The woman resigned her position in November 2021.

As part of this count, the new complaint includes details from one of the plaintiffs who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit and how she felt coerced by Black into a sexual relationship due to his position as her boss.

Latest super load on the move: Intel’s first shipment to cause delays Saturday

Another accusation in the complaint, inappropriate sexual relationship with client, states Black was engaged in a sexual act with then-Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken in August 2023 when the two were caught by Black's fiance. As the legal advisor for the board of commissioners, it is a violation of Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and the Ohio bar association to engage in such a sexual relationship. Dicken is still being paid by the county, but is no longer serving as commissioner after being indicted on several theft, fraud and money laundering felonies in September 2023.

A third count, inappropriate use of office, alledge Black tried to use his power of office to force the county's IT director to respond to his office after Black moved several of the computers and cuased them not to work. Black allegedly threatend the IT director with arrest for obstructing official business.

Black faces sanctions up to and including disbarrment should the disciplinary board rule against him. He has until April 23 to file his answer to the complaint.

ARRL is working to engage the next generation of radio amateurs right in the classroom. Many young people have become active hams because of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology.

This donor-funded effort brings teachers from across the United States together to get them excited about radio through hands-on experiments. The Institute then trains them on how to take that excitement b...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The southbound lanes of Interstate 71 are closed after a fatal car crash Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened at approximately 2:05 p.m. on I-71 South between Morse Road and East Hudson Street on the city's north side, according to a Columbus Police dispatcher.

Latest super load on the move: Intel’s first shipment to cause delays Saturday

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, I-71 South is closed starting at Interstate 270 West, and there is no timeframe for when it will reopen.

Details about the crash are not available at this time.