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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is often used by veterinarians and farmers for livestock and has not been approved for use in humans. However, according to CompDrug, it’s easily accessible and being utilized in street drug supply.

Xylazine isn’t an opioid, so Narcan will not work, but it is still recommended as a first line of response. 

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“Xylazine is a depressant. It will achieve that similar effect that individuals can get from opioids,” said Hannah Richards, a CompDrug community health advocate. 

According to CompDrug, it’s cheaper and readily accessible, making it easier to add to the drug supply. 

“They're able to sell more of it at a cheaper value while individuals are still able to achieve that same effect and that same high,” Richards said. 

According to the Franklin County Coroner’s Officer, there have been 104 xylazine-related deaths from 2019 to 2022. 

• In 2019: 10 people died.
• In 2020: 26 people died. 
• In 2021: 35 people died. 
• In 2022: 33 people died. 

“The biggest complications we’re seeing from xylazine use are these xylazine-related lesions that appear on humans who are using it,” Dru Batte, a community health advocate, said. “They can cause necrosis so the tissue will die, large open wounds can often lead to amputations, things like that.”

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According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, xylazine is commonly mixed with fentanyl, but it can also contaminate other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. 

“We're seeing fentanyl being replaced with xylazine, people are seeking it out,” Batte said. “Once they get used to its effects and they build up that tolerance, they seek it out.”

Batte said this is concerning because they don’t know how to mitigate those overdoses the same way we do with opioids. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and utilize Narcan. 

“If you are suffering from xylazine-associated wounds, please seek out medical care or address those wounds by keeping them clean, moist and covered,” Richards said. “We've developed that guidance and seen it work really well with a lot of our community members.”

Xylazine test strips are also readily available in Columbus -- CompDrug gives them away for free. 

Second suspect arrested after death outside shuttered Columbus nightclub

“If we don't come together and address this crisis as a community with compassion, with a harm reduction-based approach, with evidence-based, trauma-informed care, we're only going to see more and more people die,” Batte said. 

In response to the rapid escalation of xylazine, CompDrug Community Health is hosting an informational webinar on March 21 at 2 p.m. It’s free to register and community members will get time at the end to ask questions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As the NCAA Tournament – March Madness – gets underway this week, basketball fans are building their brackets and placing their bets, and scammers are hoping to cash in and win big.

Just days before the Super Bowl last month, Better Call 4 told you the cautionary tale of Ricky Compton, a Columbus man who was the target of fraud through a popular sports betting app.

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"$200 to $3200 to $1500 all in one day... and then over the next, I don't know, probably five or six days, it was a ton of $500s, $200s, $100... like there's probably around 10 transactions or so,” Compton said.

After he called Better Call 4, we reached out to the company, which acknowledged Compton was the victim of fraud and his account had been hacked.

Even though Compton got his money back – a refund of $8,140 – he said he changed his sports betting habits and urged others to do the same.

The Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio said sports betting is big business not only for sports book betting services, but fraudsters and scammers, too.

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BBB of Central Ohio President Judy Dollison said the legalization of sports betting led to a surge in scams locally.

"A lot of the scammers are approaching through ads on social media,” she said.

The BBB said to play it safe during March Madness:

• Ignore pop-up ads, emails, or text messages from unfamiliar contacts; instead, look for established, approved services.

• Always read the fine print because even legitimate sports betting sites have the right to freeze your winnings.

• And even if you don’t place a bet but plan to watch the games, be aware that free streaming sites could be dangerous for your devices.

"We saw where the streaming service wasn't real, they were collecting your data and they were installing malware,” Dollison said. “So, you're not only out your information, your money; you're not getting the game that you signed up for, and you potentially have a virus on your computer."

Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’

For tips from the Better Business Bureau on how to bet safely, click here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus has been selected as one of 25 cities joining the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, a three-year initiative that will help make the city more environmentally friendly.

Leaders at Sustainable Columbus said they have been working for years now to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change, and being selected for the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative will provide even more support and assistance.

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Bloomberg Philanthropies selected the city as one of 25 nationwide, with each city getting a dedicated innovation team consisting of up to three people hired by Bloomberg and working in Columbus with the sole focus on sustainability.

“Really make sure we’re being innovative, utilizing new technologies and processes, make sure we are equitably engaging with the community as we move forward with this work,” Sustainable Columbus Assistant Director Erin Beck.

Beck said the city has been working on the Columbus Climate Action Plan for a few years and this innovation team will help move them closer to their goal.

“We are dedicated to getting to carbon neutral by 2050 as well as at least a 45 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. So really what all of that means is we want to reduce pollution in our community.”

DiCarlo’s Pizza in Westerville to reopen under family management

Beck hopes to have the innovation team in Columbus later this spring, but in the meantime, she said Columbus and central Ohio residents can make the area more sustainable with small, everyday actions.

“You can use the bus, biking, walking, that’s all going to help us reduce emissions in our community,” Beck said. “And then, of course, on the waste side, recycling. We have food waste drop-off sites now in Columbus.”

Overall, Beck said people should be excited with the direction the city is moving when it comes to climate change.

Come to this page Tuesday night for live, updated results and a digital livestream show hosted by NBC4 Digital Anchor Rachel Ramsey, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. .ylehwrapper { display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; } .ylehwrapper>* { padding: 10px; flex: 1 100%; } .ylehMain { text-align: left; background: #fff; } .aside-1 {} .aside-2 {} .ylehButton { background: #e62025; color: #fff; border-radius: 7px; padding: 5px; } @media all and (min-width: 700px) { .aside { flex: 1 auto; } } @media all and (min-width: 800px) { .ylehMain { flex: 3 0px; } .aside-1 { order: 2; align-self: center; } .ylehMain { order: 1; } .aside-2 { order: 3; align-self: center; } .menu1{ font-size:20px; } } Full 2024 Results County by County Results Athens County Coshocton County Crawford County Delaware County Fairfield County Fayette County Franklin County Guernsey County Hardin County Hocking County Knox County Licking County Madison County Marion County Morgan County Morrow County Noble County Perry County Pickaway County Pike County Ross County Union County var urlmenu = document.getElementById('menu1'); urlmenu.onchange = function () { window.open(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value); };

JetBrains has launched a public beta version of TeamCity Pipelines, a cloud-based CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) service for small and medium-sized software engineering teams.

Unveiled March 18, TeamCity Pipelines is intended to enable small development teams to automate the process of integrating code changes, testing them, and delivering an application. JetBrains said the goal was to provide an intuitive platform for running devops pipelines with minimum complexity. The combination of a user-friendly UX with intelligence and optimization features for small teams minimize disruptions for developers, the company said.

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COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Two crash victims escaped with minor injuries after a vehicle driving highway speeds collided with a Mifflin Township Fire Department firetruck on an east Columbus interstate early Sunday morning.

According to the Gahanna Police Department, officers and a Mifflin Township Fire Department battalion chief were assisting a disabled vehicle on Interstate 270 South, near the Morse Road interchange. At around 12:10 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, a car traveling southbound on the interstate struck the EMS vehicle at a high speed, causing the fire department vehicle to hit the police cruiser.

• A Mifflin Township Fire Chief and a woman survived a high-speed crash on I-270 South, March 17, 2024. (Courtesy/City of Gahanna)
• A Mifflin Township Fire Chief and a woman survived a high-speed crash on I-270 South, March 17, 2024. (Courtesy/City of Gahanna)
• A Mifflin Township Fire Chief and a woman survived a high-speed crash on I-270 South, March 17, 2024. (Courtesy/City of Gahanna)

Federal judge dismisses wrongful death lawsuit against Ohio State fraternity in student’s killing

The battalion chief was taken to an area hospital and treated for minor injuries. The Ford Bronco sustained full frontal damage, but the driver, who was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, was also treated for only minor injuries.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety crash report indicated that the police cruiser had its overhead beacon lights on while it was parked in front of the fire department vehicle. The Mifflin Township Division of Fire said that its vehicle also had emergency lights illuminated.

The Ford and fire department vehicle were towed due to extensive damage. The police cruiser sustained minor damage. I-270 southbound lanes were closed for a brief period after the crash.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – The second of two suspects wanted in a fatal shooting outside of an east Columbus night club over one month ago has been arrested.

Kyree Bell-Ravish is accused of being one of two people who shot and killed 39-year-old Dante Gamble on Feb. 11 outside of The Luxxe Lounge on Beechwood Road and East Livingston Avenue.

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Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Beechwood Road and East Livingston Avenue in the Beechwood area at 5:21 a.m. on the report of a shooting, according to a police dispatcher. Upon arrival Gamble was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to Mount Carmel East in critical condition.

Gamble was reportedly leaving the parking lot when he was passed by two men from both directions. Police reports indicate that both men produced a gun and fired several shots at Gamble, who was pronounced dead at 6 a.m. after being taken to Mount Carmel East hospital.

The City Attorney's Office filed a restraining order to shutter The Luxxe Lounge, an after-hours nightclub which has been subject to crime and illegal business practices. (NBC4)

Investigators confirmed Bell-Ravish’s identity through witness statements and video surveillance before arresting him Tuesday. A Franklin County Municipal judge issued him a $2 million bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 28.

Nicholas Wright, the other suspect wanted in Gamble’s murder, was arrested on March 5 and issued a $3 million bond the following day.

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The after-hours nightclub was shut down five days after Gamble’s death. According to the Columbus City Attorney’s Office, the city secured a temporary restraining order to shutter The Luxxe Lounge, citing illegal after-hours sales, gun-related police runs, and operating without a liquor license.

Since Jan. 1, 2023, police have responded to 11 calls at the club, including two for shootings, one person with a gun and one fight.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A pizzeria chain's central Ohio restaurant opened by franchisees and then closed after a year of business is reopening with new management.

DiCarlo's Pizza at 20 S. State St. in Uptown Westerville is expected to reopen this spring under direct management of the DiCarlo family, according to Westerville city officials. The Westerville pizzeria opened in June 2022 and then closed last fall due to a litany of issues, including rising industry costs.

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"We have poured our hearts, souls, blood, sweat, tears, injury and oven burn scars into this, all as a family unit," wrote franchisee Sarah Carlson on social media, who also operated a DiCarlo's in Hilliard city officials said will not reopen. "This was the most difficult decision, but the right decision, for our family."

The pizzeria hosted a ribbon cutting for its grand opening in June of 2022. (Courtesy Photo/Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce)

Now, the Westerville pizzeria is set to reopen as soon as construction on a walkway outside the building's front door is completed. The walkway is being renovated as part of High Bank Distillery's new restaurant and speakeasy opening inside a former post office built in 1935.

DiCarlo's was founded in Steubenville in 1945 and has since grown to restaurants across Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee. The brand is known for its rectangular pizza with a thin, crispy crust.

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Once open, the Westerville restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Tuesday: Breezy and dry, high 51 (36)
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny & breezy, high 48 (23)
• Thursday: Partly cloudy, high 43 (28)
• Friday: Chance of rain showers, high 49 (36)
• Saturday: Partly cloudy, high 50 (29)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

It will be a very breezy afternoon and evening across central Ohio. Wind speeds will reach 20 mph with peak wind gusts close to 40 mph. Highs will be in the low 50s. Spring officially begins at 11:06 PM when the vernal equinox will occur.

The first full day of spring will be mostly sunny, but wind speeds will not be dying down anytime soon. Highs will be in the upper 40s. Wednesday light lows will plummet towards the mid 20s.

Outside of the breezy week, will stay mainly quiet outside of a few rain shower chances we are tracking towards Friday. Spring like temperatures and sunshine are expected by the weekend. A warming trend is expected to start as soon as Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The hiring of Jake Diebler as Ohio State's full-time head coach in men's basketball provided a full circle moment for the 37-year-old, who puts family and faith at the heart of how he operates.

Diebler was formally introduced on the same floor where he won a state title with Upper Sandusky High School in 2005 alongside his brother, Jon, with their dad, Keith, as coach.

Ohio State introduces Jake Diebler as men’s basketball coach

Keith was on hand at the Schottenstein Center on Monday to see his son take the podium as Ohio State's 15th coach. Jake Diebler is also the first Ohio native to hold that title in 35 years. He attributes all of that success to his dad, a legend in the Ohio coaching world.

With more than 300 wins coaching boys basketball and girls volleyball, Keith's coaching career spans nearly four decades. Jake said he takes a lot of pride from growing up in Toledo and learning from his dad.

"How I coach is a reflection of how he coached and he taught me at a very early age how important passion was, both in a correcting but in an encouraging way too," Jake Diebler said. "[Keith] being around this last month has been critical for me and the way he supported me."

It was at that point in the news conference when his parents started to fight back tears.

"It's tears of pride and tears of joy," Keith Diebler said.

Monday was the culmination of a month-long audition for the former assistant coach. Keith was there for every drama-filled minute from the upset over Purdue to defeating Michigan State on the road.

"Everybody says you were so serious when you were at games. I was locked in," Keith said. "He was coaching, and I'm locked in, and I guess that's the coach in me."

And as Jake's dad, he was always confident in his son's ability to deliver.

"I'm kinda like, game's over and we're riding back and I take a deep breath and it becomes surreal because I never had any doubt about him," Keith said. "I've seen him lead a team to a state tournament win and I've seen the things that he's done over the years. It's never been a doubt on this end, it's just extreme joy for me."

Taking the interim label off of Jake's title is just the latest example of how basketball has impacted the Diebler family.

"Basketball has provided my family and I the opportunity to see some of the greatest people. And for me, for five decades, I've had the chance to teach, mentor and coach," Keith said. "That has to be the greatest. Wherever you end up. These last 48 hours have been crazy because of the amount of players that have gotten hold of me that go back to the 70s."

And asked whether he's ready to be in the spotlight that comes with coaching at Ohio State, Keith had one answer.

"100 percent. He's ready."

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – For the second time in as many weeks a judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit from a fatal shooting near the Ohio State university campus.

The family of Chase Meola, an Ohio State student killed outside a fraternity party in 2020, sued the national fraternity and Ohio State chapter in federal court.

Meola, 23, died in the early hours of Oct. 11, 2020, after being shot outside the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house on East 14th Avenue. Ohio State suspended the fraternity in 2018 for hazing and other violations of the student code of conduct.

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But Meola’s family claimed in a lawsuit filed at the United States District Court Southern District of Ohio that the local chapter continued to operate as a fraternity.

Similar to the wrongful death suit against the university that was dismissed in state court on March 5, a federal judge ruled on Monday to dismiss a suit on all counts against Phi Kappa Psi fraternity national chapter.

Court documents stated the fraternity is not an owner, lessee, or a person under the control of the owner of the property in question, but rather a landlord that rents individual rooms on the property to students. The judge decreed that even if Phi Kappa Psi was considered an owner, the plaintiffs must still successfully allege that it was grossly negligent in this case.

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The judge granted the defense’s motion to dismiss on all four counts of the lawsuit: Wrongful death, survival action, negligence, gross negligence and recklessness, and respondeat superior liability.

In the state-filed lawsuit a judge noted that although Ohio State may have been liable if Meola’s death occurred on campus, the off-campus, unsanctioned fraternity house was beyond the jurisdiction or purview of the university.

Within hours of Meola’s death, Columbus police arrested 18-year-old Kintie Mitchell Jr. He pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and one charge of having a weapon under disability. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A soccer exhibition game between two European giants will come to Columbus in August.

In February, multiple reports indicated that English Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea would play at Ohio Stadium. Now, it is official with the two teams squaring off on August 3. Tickets will be available starting on March 27 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

The game would be part of a two-week U.S. summer tour before the 2024-25 EPL season kicks off Aug. 17.

A news conference is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. at Ohio Stadium with representatives from Ohio State, the Columbus Crew and more expected to announce more details on the summer friendly.

Ohio State introduces Jake Diebler as men’s basketball coach

Manchester City is considered the team to beat in Europe after completing a historic treble of trophies in the 2022-23 season. The Citizens won their third straight EPL title last year, along with their first Champions League and English FA Cup. Man City is in contention to win all three trophies again this year.

In London, Chelsea has established itself as one of the biggest sports teams in the world. After winning the 2021 Champions League over Man City, the Blues have fallen on difficult times by not yielding good results despite spending more than $1 billion on players. They sit 11th in the EPL standings and are hoping to win one trophy this season.

Man City and Chelsea have been intertwined in some major games, including a 4-4 tie in November, and they're scheduled to play again in April. The teams will face each other in an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium in London.

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Ohio Stadium, home of the Crew from 1996 to '99, was the site for the highest-attended soccer game in Ohio when more than 85,000 fans saw Real Madrid play Paris Saint-Germain in the 2016 International Champions Cup. After eight Ohio State football games in 2024, the Horseshoe will host its first outdoor hockey game when the Columbus Blue Jackets play the Detroit Red Wings on March 1.

Columbus will have a busy summer of soccer with the Crew's home, Lower.com Field, set to host MLS All-Star week. The Skills Challenge will take place on July 23, with the MLS All-Stars facing the Liga MX All-Stars of Mexico on July 24. Three days later, the Crew will play EPL club Aston Villa in an exhibition.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With Ohio State's spring break in the books football players have returned to practice.

Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is scheduled to give an update on the team's progress through spring football in a news conference. You can watch the news conference live in the player above.

Day said Tuesday's practice was a bit on-and-off that included players in pads for the first time as the team is getting back into the groove after spring break.

The Buckeyes have a completely revamped offense with rejuvenated offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who seems to have made himself at home in Columbus. The quarterback competition remains a focus as transfer Will Howard leads the way but Day started Tuesday's news conference praising the running back room.

Transfer running back Quinshon Judkins is joining returning starter TreVeyon Henderson in a deadly duo.

Ohio State introduces Jake Diebler as men’s basketball coach

Tuesday's practice is the third of the spring for Ohio State as they are less than one month away from the April 13 intrasquad exhibition game.

Day and Kelly’s relationship goes back decades to their time at New Hampshire. And the Ohio State head coach has no problem trusting his mentor with play-calling responsibilities and quarterback coaching.

While the defensive side of the ball has not had as much turnover, new transfer safety Caleb Downs has added a new element of athleticism and skill to an already experienced secondary.

Java Development Kit 22, the next version of Java Standard Edition, is now available as a production release. JDK 22 includes 12 features, with a second preview of scoped values and a preview of stream gatherers being the last additions.

Downloadable from oracle.com, JDK 22 is a short-term release that will receive Premier support from Oracle for six months. Long-term support releases such as predecessor JDK 21 receive five years of Premier support. Extended support is available for JDK 21 until September 2031. 

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