Ohio News

Early morning rain gave way to mostly cloudy skies in the wake of low pressure tracking across the eastern Great Lakes, with a trailing cold front that crossed the state. Clouds will slow the rise in temperature, with afternoon readings slowly rising

High pressure will edge southeastward from the northern Plains across the Ohio Valley, resulting in a northwesterly flow of cooler, drier air for the weekend.

The weekend looks to be bright and sunny. Morning readings will dip into the low 40s tonight and mid-30s early Sunday, with patchy frost possible.

Dry weather will continue on Monday. The next chance for showers arrives on Tuesday and could linger into early Wednesday, with a reinforcing push of cool air.

Forecast

• Friday: Mostly cloudy, breezy. High 61
• Tonight: Clearing. Low 44
• Saturday: Partly cloudy, cooler. High 55
• Sunday: Few clouds. High 57 (37)
• Monday: Mostly sunny. High 63 (36)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, showers p.m. High 65 (44)
• Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 57 (46)
• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 59 (35)

View a previous report on lawmakers wanting Ohio to host a U.S. Space Force test mission in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday asked the president to withdraw a proposal that would pull members of the Ohio National Guard into the U.S. Space Force.

Legislative Proposal 480 was sent to Congress by the U.S. Air Force in March, and would include moving some Air National Guard units into the country's newest military branch. It would also give the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force the sole power to move soldiers or eliminate their units.

In a letter to President Joe Biden, DeWine called for the withdrawal of the proposal. He called it "unprecedented," arguing it would severely undermine the intent of the Militia Act of 1903 and circumvent the authority of governors.

"As Commander in Chief of the Ohio National Guard, I retain the responsibility for these military organizations and their missions," DeWine said in his letter to the president. "Usurping this power would be unprecedented, and I respectfully ask that you not do so."

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Instead of letting the U.S. Air Force secretary conscript state guardsmen, DeWine's letter argued for the creation of a "Space National Guard" to be overseen by governors and state adjutants general as a substitute. Alternatively, he said that existing Air National Guard support to both forces fully meets their needs.

"I urge you to adopt either approach and direct the Department of the Air Force to immediately implement such a solution," DeWine wrote.

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In March, a bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers tried to get the state picked to host a U.S. Space Force testing mission to evaluate its capabilities. They previously wanted Ohio selected as the new headquarters for the branch, but Biden opted to keep it in Colorado.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local, family-owned Indian restaurant has opened its second location, right across from Ohio State University.

Rollz Rice Indian Kitchen opened its shop at East 16th Avenue and North High Street on April 12. The fast-casual restaurant, serving Indian staples like biryani, samosas and curry alongside less traditional offerings, first opened near Polaris in 2019.

Owners Seema and Kailash Chughwani opened Rollz Rice after regularly bringing homemade meals to their coworkers. By offering build-your-own wraps, salads and bowls, they sought to strike a balance between offering traditional Indian meals while accommodating the needs of people eating on the go.

From tikka masala-flavored chicken wings to hot dogs topped with tandoori ranch and chicken seekh kebab, Rollz Rice offers unconventional takes on classic Indian flavors. It's the latest addition to the segment of North High Street across from Ohio State called University Square.

Rollz Rice Indian Kitchen is at 16 E. High St. and is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - From pop and country, to alternative, rock and hip hop, music is something that can boost or uplift our mood, even music about breakups and loss.

Arianna Galligher, who's the director of the Gabbe Well-Being Office and the Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Program at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, said there's a lot of excitement around sad music, noting that there's benefits to listening to tracks that are not uplifting or fun.

"It sort of connects us as human beings in this shared experience," Galligher said. "Everyone knows what it's like to feel sad, even if it's not related to a breakup. That theme of loss is really universal."

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Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" has 16 songs and was rumored to be about a breakup. With its release, many people are excited about the sadness, and there's a reason why.

Galligher said music can connect listeners through situations they have gone through including a breakup or loss and have made it out. Galligher said these experiences can end up bringing hope and giving access to our own emotions.

"We all have songs that we'll listen to again and again and again because it really speaks to us," Galligher said. "I think that's just a universal connection for humanity and think it makes all the sense in the world to be a little intentional about listening to those songs."

Though it can bring benefits, Galligher noted that over listening to sad tracks could cause concerns if it starts affecting your mental health.

"If your emotional state is starting to get in the way of your ability to function, then it might be time to employ what we call "opposite emotion action" where we start to create an environment where that emotion is less likely to flourish," Galligher said. "So it might be worth while to change the track to a more uplifting or a pop song if we start to notice that you are steeping in the sadness for a really long time."

HEATH, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction has begun on a decades-long effort to build a downtown district for the city of Heath, a $218 million project that will develop 300 acres with residential buildings, a community pool, restaurants, parks and more.

Plans call for the sweeping development to be named "Central Park," with phase one built on 48 acres near Indian Mound Mall and including four mixed-use buildings, a community center and eight multi-family residential buildings totaling 424 units.

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Amenities in this phase will include a clubhouse with a community pool, volleyball courts, green space and recreational trail access. In addition, the mixed-use buildings would be home to 42,000 square feet of commercial retail space expected to be occupied by shops, offices, restaurants and breweries.

Plans call for the sweeping development to be named "Central Park," with phase one built on 48 acres near Indian Mound Mall. (Courtesy Photo/Wallick Communities)

The district's second phase would sprawl 24 buildings, including 21 multi-family residential buildings, two restaurants and a senior living facility. Townhomes and single-family homes are also planned, bringing the total number of housing units planned for Central Park to 1,836.

Heath is one of several central Ohio communities aiming to develop a new downtown district, like Plain City's new public square development that will feature a historic railroad depot. The depot will be dismantled and shipped to the village from Upper Arlington in June before opening to the public in early 2025 as the first phase of the larger public square project.

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In Powell, COhatch has been recruited to be one of the main developers tasked with transforming a section of the city's downtown district at North Liberty and East Olentangy streets. Plans call for the redevelopment to begin this spring with the demolition of a former office building at 50 E. Olentangy St., a 0.63-acre site where COhatch will then construct a 13,900-square-foot location.

COhatch is also redeveloping several historic homes and constructing a 15,000-square-foot building along the Scioto River in Dublin to launch a “one-of-a-kind co-working and entrepreneurship community." Once completed, the company said the renovated buildings will be home to private offices, meeting spaces, individual company retreat homes, bars and restaurants, indoor and outdoor event spaces, and more for year-round use and entertainment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A federal grand jury has indicted a Columbus police officer who is accused of crimes related to turning off his body camera during encounters with women while on duty.

According to a release by the office of U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker, Nicholas Duty, 35, of Commercial Point was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation.

The indictment states that on two occasions Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body-worn camera, with the alleged intention to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.

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Duty reportedly deactivated or removed his body-worn camera on Oct. 31 and March 22 during interactions with two women, including once during a sexual encounter. During these alleged incidents, Duty, while on duty, was wearing a police uniform and in a marked police vehicle with an assigned body-worn camera, which is required to comply with Columbus police policies for wearing division-issued cameras.

The U.S. Attorney's office said that knowingly altering records to obstruct a federal investigation is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Duty was hired by the Columbus Division of Police on Jan. 4, 2019, and his employee status remains active, according to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy portal.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Neighbors near the northwest side of I-270 are outraged after hearing the loud traffic noise of speeding vehicles emanating from the highway.

Community members took to social media to express their concerns about illegal street racing late Saturday that they say has been happening for years. In response to a post made on the Nextdoor app titled "HI NEIGHBORS!!! DRAG RACING:::" nearly 100 comments have been made. Many people discussed safety concerns.

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"We watched them enter at the Tuttle Crossing exit going west after 10 pm last night," said one poster. "The danger of them wrecking and hurting themselves and others worries me more than the noise but it’s a constant all spring/summer long."

"Oh it’s 270. We live about 40 feet away," confirmed another neighbor about where the activity was happening. "Even with sound machines our granddaughters can still hear them when trying to sleep. When we are out on the patio they duck and run because it is so loud and scares them. If everyone could call, it would be much appreciated. Someone innocent is going to be killed."

Most individuals vented about not knowing what authorities were responsible for patrolling the area, or who they should call to report the activity.

A freeway in summer, Columbus, Ohio (Adobe Stock)

The initial poster offered advice to call Columbus police since they discovered the area is out of the jurisdiction of Dublin police. They also noted the number to call and report "614-645-4545 extension 9," and relayed the tip, "The phone worker said you can only call WHEN it’s happening and they’ll send a car down."

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In an email to NBC4, Sgt. Joe Albert of Columbus police confirmed that calling the police phone number "is the proper course to take if the racing is actively taking place." He also suggested calling 311 to make a complaint "with as much information as possible (hours it is occurring, days of the week, etc.)," which would "alert the officers who work in the area to look out for it."

Beyond getting police involved, one resident proposed taking the issue up with Hilliard City Council to see if Hilliard police could use "Hi def cameras /Drones with decibel readers - whatever it takes" to stop the problem. Others agreed that this issue needs to be addressed as a community and can hopefully be solved with a coordinated effort.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A person has died after being struck by two cars on the Far East Side in what police say is a multiple hit-skip incident.

According to a Columbus police report, an unidentified person was attempting to cross East Broad Street at Richmond Woods Drive, outside of a marked crosswalk, when an unknown vehicle struck the pedestrian in the westbound lane of East Broad Street.

The impact knocked the victim down and they ended up in the center turn lane. The vehicle, of which there is no description, fled the scene.

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A witness told police that the victim began to crawl southbound and into the eastbound lane of East Broad Street when they were struck again, this time by a Toyota Rav4 with its driver’s side front. That vehicle, estimated to be a 2016-2018 model, also fled the scene.

The victim was pronounced dead by Columbus Fire medics at 1:06 a.m.

The Accident Investigation Unit responded to the incident and is currently investigating. Any person with knowledge of the involved vehicles that fled the scene is asked to contact the AIU at (614) 645-4767. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation recently underwent a rebranding that it hopes will better reflect its mission of making Columbus a better place to live, work, and play.

Downtown Columbus Inc. was unveiled in March, along with a new website. The nonprofit organization was created in 2002 to implement the Downtown Strategic Plan and has since focused on "city changing collaborations" to make the Downtown area better connected and livable.

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Madison Cole of Downtown Columbus explained the reasoning behind the switch. She said the new identity reflects the place it has always sought to promote and elevate.

"The old name was a bit of a mouthful and didn't align with the work we were doing," Cole said. "When we were rethinking our name, we wanted the place to be front and center."

Along with the name change, Downtown Columbus changed its logo. The new logo is characterized by shades of blue and green meant to symbolize Downtown's green gathering places like Columbus Commons and evoke the area's "blue-sky" potential.

The group's mission is not changing, Cole said, but moving forward.

"I would say it's growing and evolving just like our downtown," Cole said.

In February, a study released by the Bank of America Institute showed Columbus is the fastest growing city in the country. Cole said Downtown Columbus is ready to embrace the growth and that the increasing population could help the group in its efforts.

"We always say you can't be a strong city or a strong region without a strong Downtown," Cole said. "But it also means Columbus' growth is essential to fuel the continued rise of Downtown."

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Cole pointed out multiple projects under way, including the Capital Line, two miles of pedestrian- and bike-friendly paths. Others include a proposed outdoor alcoholic beverage zone, the return of the Scioto Mile Fountain and free events at Columbus Commons.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: AM rain, slow clearing, breezy, high 64
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 46
• Saturday: Partly cloudy, breezy, high 57
• Sunday: Partly cloudy, high 57
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high 63
• Tuesday: Sct'd showers, high 65

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Friday!

Our morning showers will be short-lived, completely exiting the area by mid-morning, with just isolated pockets lingering a bit longer for our southeastern counties. We'll then see clouds gradually break up the rest of the day, and daytime highs drop back to the middle 60s, with breezy conditions.

This weekend will be dry, just much cooler. Expect partly cloudy skies Saturday, with breezy conditions. Highs top out in the upper 50s.

Frost is a possibility Sunday morning, as lows dip into the 30s. Then Sunday afternoon, expect highs back in the upper 50s with a mix of sun and clouds.

Monday morning will be another one to monitor the potential for frost, then we warm back into the low to middle 60s during the afternoon, with more sunshine.

Rain returns Tuesday as our next system makes its way into the Ohio Valley.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Bob Evans, the chain of family-style restaurants founded and headquartered in central Ohio, is reportedly on the market.

The chain is exploring a change in ownership and has hired an investment bank named Kroll to aid in overseeing the process, according to multiple reports. Bob Evans is owned by a private equity firm based in San Francisco named Golden Gate Capital, who purchased the chain in 2017 for $565 million.

Bob Evans is exploring a change in ownership and has hired an investment bank named Kroll to aid in overseeing the process. (Adobe Stock)

Golden Gate declined to comment on the possible sale, and Bob Evans did not respond to NBC4's request for a statement.

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Farmer Bob Evans founded the restaurant concept in 1948 with a 12-stool diner in Gallipolis, Ohio, then expanded in 1962 with a restaurant called "The Sausage Shop." Today, the chain is headquartered in New Albany and operates more than 435 locations across 18 states, with about 35 restaurants in Ohio.

When Golden Gate bought Bob Evans, the private equity firm opted to split the restaurants from the brand's consumer-packaged goods business, Bob Evans Farms, which was then acquired for $1.5 billion by a company based in St. Louis named Post Holdings. Golden Gate then explored a $600 million sale of the chain in 2022, which never materialized.

Restaurant Business noted in its report that Bob Evans fared the COVID-19 pandemic well, as an early adopter of takeout and delivery that helped keep sales afloat when restaurants were shut down for dine-in service in 2020. The trade magazine said "that might be one of the company's major talking points as it looks for prospective buyers."

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Bob Evans also pursued beer and wine sales following the pandemic, first with a quiet rollout of alcoholic menu additions at the chain's Florida restaurants in 2021 before extending the offerings to locations in Indiana. The company later submitted liquor license applications for several Ohio restaurants.

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) – One man is dead after being shot by a Whitehall police officer early Friday morning.

According to Whitehall Chief of Police Mike Crispin, two officers were conducting a routine traffic stop when they heard gunfire nearby. Whitehall’s shotspotter alerted the officers to the Roses Discount Store in the 4600 block of East Main Street.

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Upon arrival police saw two cars, but one, a dark colored SUV, sped away immediately. Officers approached the parked vehicle and found two men. Attempts to communicate were difficult, police said, due to a language barrier, but after spotting a firearm, the men were told to put their hands up and comply in both Spanish and in English.

The driver of the vehicle cooperated and was removed from the vehicle, while the man in the passenger seat spun around and reached for something, police said. At that point, police shot the man in the passenger seat.

Police are investigating an officer involved shooting in which one man is dead. No officers were injured. (NBC4/Ronald Clark)

"Officers told him to lift his hands up several times in both Spanish and English and still did not comply," Crispin said. "It appears on the video he quickly spun around and reached for something, spun back toward the officer. The officer then responded to the threat. Shots were fired into the vehicle."

The man, whose identity is still unknown, was taken to Mount Carmel East hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. Neither officer was hurt during the shooting.

A handgun was found inside the vehicle and police are still searching for the other SUV that fled the scene. However, police do not believe there is a threat to the public.

“Plenty of officers are out. We don’t see any concerns for our citizens at this point,” Crispin said. “Everyone has been secured other than we don’t know anything about the vehicle that took off.”

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation will take over the case as is typical with any officer-involved shooting incident. Police say the scene will be an active investigation for at least a few more hours.

View a previous report on the Cleveland School of Cannabis, which offers courses on growing marijuana, in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In Ohio, where legislators have yet to approve a legal storefront for selling recreational marijuana, there remains one way that's also federally permitted to buy the plant.

The marijuana won't arrive ready to use, and will require gardening skills because it comes in the form of cannabis seeds. When voters approved Issue 2 in the November general election, it legalized growing, possessing and using recreational marijuana. but did not immediately define who could sell it when the amendment became law. Instead, it left that decision to the newly-created Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, which has rules for "dual-use dispensaries" on the way.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is actually responsible for confirming that cannabis seeds can be immune to federal regulation on a technicality. In a December 2022 letter to California attorney Omar Figueroa, DEA Diversion Control Division Chief Terrence Boos clarified that a seed's concentration of THC, the component of marijuana responsible for its psychological effects, can result in it falling out of regulation under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.

"Any seed, tissue culture, or other genetic material that has a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis meets the definition of 'hemp' and is not controlled under the CSA," Boos wrote. "However, non-sterilized seed … having a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis does fall within the CSA schedule I listing of marijuana."

ASCHHEIM, GERMANY - APRIL 02: Wrapped cannabis seeds are displayed in the newly opened cannabis sales point of Wenzel Cerveny, head of the Chillout cannabis social club the day after Germany's new cannabis legalization went into effect on April 02, 2024 in Aschheim, Germany. The new law legalizes possession and consumption of limited quantities of marijuana, and also allows individuals to grow up to three marijuana plants at home. In July cannabis social clubs will be allowed to grow marijuana plants for their members' consumption. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Kevin Greene, the vice president of the Cleveland School of Cannabis, told NBC4 that there's little risk of a seed exceeding the THC limit enforced by the DEA.

"In its seed form, the THC has not cultivated and actualized itself, so there is no THC in the seed," Greene said. "If you're just not really good at growing, you're going to get some low THC content even if you were trying to grow a high-quality product,"

Boos added that if the THC concentration surpassed 0.3% once the seed sprouted, it would become federally illegal again under the Controlled Substances Act. And Ohio's recreational marijuana law only legalized up to six personal plants grown at home, limiting how many seeds could be cultivated at once. Attorneys in the state have noted that the law also doesn't protect renters from stipulations on marijuana in a lease.

While the seeds are legal, finding a local vendor willing to part ways with them could be hit-or-miss. A spokeswoman for Sunnyside Dispensaries, which operates a marijuana growing facility in Ohio for its medical storefronts, told NBC4 that it intentionally avoids selling seeds directly to customers.

Because of the DEA's stance on seeds, the dichotomy of legal and illegal marijuana going across state lines depends entirely on the plant's maturity. For example, it's still illegal to drive to Michigan's recreational dispensaries and bring recreational cannabis products back to Ohio. But seeds brought back or even ordered online, fall into a different, rubberstamped class. Online vendors know this; a quick Google search turns up dozens of vendors' websites marketing to specifically to Ohio.

For residents looking for seeds and how to cultivate them, they could get both at once. Greene noted the Cleveland School of Cannabis offers classes that provide seeds to students and teach them how to grow their own marijuana.

"Anyone that's tried to grow anything at home, understands that even the easiest thing to grow still takes some education, some nurturing and some understanding of the process that you're embarking on," Greene said.

BUCYRUS, Ohio (WCMH) - The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Bucyrus Wednesday. The city in Crawford County saw top speed wind of 110 mph just after 4 p.m.

Homes, businesses, and power lines were all part of the wreckage visible Thursday. 

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"It was like something from a movie," said local business owner Breck Baker.

NBC4 caught up with Baker Thursday evening at the Old 30 BBQ, a restaurant located at the Golf Club of Bucyrus. 

"You just try to remain calm. Because you know as owners, everybody's looking at us for guidance," he said about the situation at Baker's Pizza, the Old 30 BBQ, and Golf Club.

A massive tree in front of the golf club fell directly onto the main power line, cutting power to the whole property. When NBC4 spoke with Baker Thursday around 7 p.m., the power had yet to be restored. 

"I went to Columbus to get a generator last night. He met us here at 11 p.m. last night so we could, we've had a generator running our cooler so we wouldn't lose all of our meat and stuff like that," said Baker.

The electricity was just one of many problems for Baker and his team to clean up. 

"We have an amphitheater stage behind here. It actually ripped the roof off of that. The roof was actually attached to a tree, back behind here. We probably had about seven or eight trees on the golf course that were out," he said.

Thankfully, he has had plenty of help clearing trees and getting the place up and running, as much as possible. 

"They all came out here on a moment's notice and helped us starting last night and they were out here this morning. So, we've gotten a lot of it cleaned up. Definitely glad to have all the local guys around us to help us get through this. But yea, it says a lot," he said.

Baker isn't the only business owner or Bucyrus resident that needs help. A young family living on West Charles Street were surprised to see a shed in their backyard (not their shed), a fence post through the side of their home, a yard riddled with the remnants of their deck, and a house next door that was completely off its foundation.

Brent Richardson was supposed to make a service call to the home to check out an electrical issue. 

"I was supposed to have a service call, but he called and canceled because a storm trashed the house. I asked what was going on, he said a bunch of windows were out. I told him I'd get some plywood and help board it up for him. So, come up here from there and been here ever since," Richardson said.

Richardson lives about a mile outside of Bucyrus. He spent all day Thursday helping clear debris and haul away wood from the home on West Charles Street. He didn't need to, but he did. 

"If you've got the time and the ability, and I guess I'd just hope somebody would help me, everything flipped upside down on me, I'd hope somebody would help me if I needed it," said Richardson.

The American Red Cross made rounds through Bucyrus beginning Wednesday night and all day Thursday as well. There were no injuries reported in the aftermath of the storm, but the Red Cross still set up a reception center at Bucyrus Nazarene. They walked door to door Thursday collecting damage surveys and finding out what people needed. 

Elsewhere in Bucyrus, more than half a dozen crews were working on restoring power. They were on scene for more than 24 hours as most of the city was in the dark. By Thursday around noon, there were more than 220 customers without power. That number was less than five by dinner time.

"A lot of good people. I think it brings them closer after things like this. Starting to let people actually come give you a hand, actually do care about each other," said Richardson of his experience after the storm.

Baker has a long way to go to rebuild, but he's thankful for the help he's had thus far. 

"Just hopefully it doesn't happen again anytime soon," he said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As a tragic hit-skip goes unsolved, many in the city are focusing on how to make Columbus roads safer for everyone.

NBC4 showed viewers John Decker’s story earlier this week. In early March, Decker was hit while riding his bike in north Columbus. The car did not stop and there are still no answers. Decker was taken off life support earlier this week. 

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This story is one that pulled on heartstrings for one Columbus bicyclist and is also shining a light on the work Vision Zero Columbus is doing to try and make the roads safer for everyone.

Jim Silcott lives in Columbus and heard about the hit-skip on the news. It hit close to home; he was badly injured in a hit-skip about four years ago.

"I suffered a shattered shoulder and four ribs," Yay Bikes! Board member Jim Silcott said. 

When he heard about Decker’s hit-skip, he wanted to see if he could help.

"Probably three days after the accident, I called Riverside, found out where he was and went to see him. He was, it turned out, one of the few days that he was actually conscious and speaking, though he was certainly not in great shape at that time," Silcott said. "He kept saying, 'it’s not fair.’”

Silcott is a part of Yay Bikes!, an advocacy and education group in the city. Columbus itself also has a branch that focuses on road safety. 

"We want to see zero fatal or serious injury crashes by 2035," Vision Zero Columbus Vision Zero Coordinator Katherine Swidarski said. "It's data-informed. And we also want to be thinking of equity in every part of policy, process, and those data."

For Swidarski the cause is also personal. She hasn't owned a car in more than 10 years. 

"There's a lot of joy to experience being on a bicycle, and that is part of the objective of Vision Zero and a lot of the relationships that we're building with different partners is it's not to keep us always in the depths of despair, but to look at the possibility. Imagining Columbus in 2035, where no one is dying on our streets," she said. 

As the city works towards that goal, those like Silcott are trying to raise awareness and hopefully honor Decker in a ride of silence next month.

"There's a poem that we read every year. I'd love to have one of his friends read the poem and certainly just show his friends who have rallied to him in these final days that we support him," Silcott said. The Ride of Silence will take place on Wednesday, May 15, starting at Our Lady of Peace School,  40 E. Dominion Blvd. in Columbus. Riders will begin gathering at 5:30 p.m., there will be a ceremony honoring those who have lost their lives and then at 7 p.m. the 10 mile ride will begin.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – On Thursday, Columbus State Community College (CSCC) and Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) announced new programs designed to improve student access and affordability. 

The partnership will help Columbus State students earn their bachelor’s degree faster. It’s a three-part partnership between the two institutions. Not only will this focus on access and affordability, it will also address the teacher shortage that we faced in Ohio and across the United States.

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The three programs will be tuition match, teach now and an expansion of the preferred pathway program. 

Tuition Match program:

Beginning this fall, up to 25 qualified Columbus State graduates will be able to enroll at OWU yearly to complete their bachelor’s degree while paying the same tuition they paid during their final semester at CSCC. According to educators, that’s roughly a tenth of the sticker price to attend OWU. This is open to students who have earned an associate degree, they must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 and be in good academic standing. 

“I always say that debt is a choice, it is avoidable if folks know the path. A partnership that Ohio Wesleyan has come in with and the tuition match is unprecedented. Again, the ability for students to start at Columbus State and knowing what their bachelor's degree is going to cost at our tuition rates is something that I don't think is happening anywhere in the country,” said David Harrison, president of CSCC.

Teach Now program: 

This is OWU’s accelerated teacher licensure pathway that addresses central Ohio’s teacher shortage. Starting this fall, qualified high school students will be able to combine College Credit Plus/Dual Enrollment classes completed through Columbus State with Teach Now enrollment in OWU’s education program. This will enable students to graduate from OWU with their bachelor’s degree and Ohio teaching licenses in as little as two years. 

“Talking with superintendents has just been thrilled with the possibility of bringing teachers straight into, you know, from their classrooms, into our classrooms and then out into the field in as little as two years,” said Sarah Kaka, associate professor at OWU.

“That's really what this is all about, is changing lives, but lowering the barriers to entry for teachers so that we can tackle that issue head on,” said Matt vandenBerg, president, OWU. 

Preferred Pathway program:

This is an expansion program with OWU that ensures that additional qualified Columbus State graduates are able to enroll at OWU and earn their four-year bachelor’s degrees without credit-transfer concerns.

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – Wednesday evening's storms brought roughly quarter sized hail to parts of central Ohio leaving some homeowners concerned about their roofs.

Sizable hail fell right outside of NBC4's studios. Some of the biggest hail with that storm system hit Gahanna.

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“I have not seen hail that big I don't think ever in my lifetime," said Nancy Radke, a Gahanna resident.

At one point, hail piled up in parts of her yard looked like little piles of snow. She said small hail fell at first, then the bigger pellets came. Once the storm passed, the Radke's checked their flowers and other places around the house.

“No siding damage, no roof damage, nothing on the trucks, nothing outside. It was here and gone. Kind of amazing," she said.

While the Radke's did not feel the need to call a roofing company, that was not the case for some others in the area. Tony West, owner of the Roof Medic, got a few calls from homeowners in Gahanna following the storm.

“On some of the pictures I’ve seen there were some pretty big pieces, some of them were I’d say inch, inch and a quarter, inch and a half maybe, that's definitely big enough to cause damage to any shingles, soft metals would definitely have some dents in it," he said.

He said it was not the type of storm which left a lot of homeowners with damage. The team at Newman Roofing Thursday also received calls from concerned customers. They said most of the calls were from Gahanna residents. Most people who called asked about the possibility of damage as opposed to seeing obvious signs of it, according to the company.

“It’s possible the hail we received yesterday could have caused some damage. It is possible, and it's also possible it may not have left any damage at all," said Mark Ezell, a production coordinator with Newman Roofing.

The experts also listed signs people can look out for without needing to get on their roof. They said visible damage to cars, siding, screens,and patio furniture covers are all signs of possible roof damage. 

If someone notices any of that, calling a company is not a bad idea – they stressed the importance of reaching out to a reputable one.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A bill has been introduced for a third time at the Ohio Statehouse that seeks to create more protections for survivors of domestic violence.

House Bill 486, known as “Aisha’s Law” is named after a Cleveland woman who was killed by her ex-husband.

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“Aisha’s story is not just a statistic,” friend of Aisha and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner said. “Aisha’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need for A-C-T-I-O-N, action.”

“Far too many individuals continue to be abused and live and fear,” Representative Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) said.

House Bill 486 is sponsored by Representatives Carruthers and Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland). Brent said this is an issue that hits close to home for everyone.

“This is happening in every district, all 88 counties this is happening,” Brent said. “Enough is enough.”

According to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, between July 1 and June 30 of last year, 112 domestic violence deaths were reported, that included 22 children.

“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the epidemic of domestic violence plaguing our communities,” Turner said. “Domestic violence transcends race, class and gender. It shatters lives, tears families apart and leaves scars on our society.”

The bill aims to expand the offense of child endangerment to include the offense of domestic violence when a child is present, expand the offense of aggravated murder. The bill also requires courts that issue protection orders to be available to accept a petition 24/7.

“That was a sticking point, however we found out it was not too big a hill to climb,” Carruthers said.

“Going to get a protection order is probably one of the hardest things somebody can decide to do,” Brent said. “So, making sure our court system is available, because you never know when somebody may need to do it, that part of our legislation is vital.”

The Ohio Prosecuting Attorney’s Association supports the bill. Their executive director, Lou Tobin said, “Ohio prosecutors have said for a long time that the state needs to do more to protect the victims of domestic violence…Aisha’s Law is another critical piece of protecting these victims and another tool for prosecutors to hold domestic abusers accountable.”

The bill also requires police officers who handle domestic violence complaints to have intervention technique training. The bill allocates $150,000 to accomplish that; Brent and Carruthers said the funding is imperative.

“We need to put the funding in there to make sure our police department are properly funded with training and resources,” Brent said.

“This is not a huge amount for training,” Carruthers said. “And as I said, this is the most dangerous thing police walk into.”

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This version of Aisha’s Law does not include strangulation offense portions. That was passed in Senate Bill 288 at the end of last general assembly.

Despite the Ohio House passing Aisha’s Law twice in full, with bi-partisan support, the Senate has yet to do so.

“Much to many people’s frustration,” Carruthers said.

Carruthers said she thinks some members of the Senate do not think this legislation is a “big deal.” Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) chairs the committee where the bill was heard last general assembly and will likely be heard again this year.

“We certainty do [make this a priority],” Manning said. “When we hear from interested parties that there might be issue with the bill, we certainly take that seriously, we don’t just rubber stamp it.”

“We must get this done,” Brent said. Enough is enough. We have to listen to people who are being affected.”

Manning said the reason only part of the bill made it across the finish line last year is because there were “a lot of concerns,” with some of the language.

“I worked with the advocates and prosecuting attorneys and said, ‘hey what is the most important part in here,’ because it was a complicated bill,” Manning said. “We prioritized the strangulation aspect, from talking to everyone, that was the most important aspect of that bill. So, we didn’t have a lot of process on the other parts.”

Carruthers said this bill has been “well-vetted and well thought out;” she said it seems to not be a priority for the Senate.

“If this was such a priority, why are they introducing it a year and four months into the general assembly,” Manning said. “I think it’s unfair to say we don’t prioritze this when they could’ve introduced it much earlier.”

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Brent said passing the legislation is long overdue and they would like to see it done soon. But Manning said by the time the legislation makes it to the Senate, it may be too late to send it to the governor’s desk before the end of the year.

“I prioritize domestic violence issues, but we really look at the words and how this could affect things,” Manning said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – What started out as a TikTok trend, demonstrating how to quickly and easily start and steal certain car models, led to a massive rise of thefts, crashes and more across central Ohio.

"Specific 2010 to 2022 models. These are Hyundai and Kia models that use a key to start the car, not a push button," said Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief of CARFAX.

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Olsen spoke with Better Call 4 about the issue last year. He said the problem is that these models lack immobilizers, or devices that prevent an engine from starting if there is no physical key in the ignition.

But as the trend took off, automakers came up with a solution for the millions of cars -- and people -- affected.

"We went directly to our associates in research and development in Korea and came up with this software upgrade solution," said James Bell with Kia America.

Bell said the automaker rolled out the solution to dealerships nationwide early last year. But throughout 2023, in some areas -- like Columbus -- the problem of theft persisted. That's why Kia America brought the solution to Capital City car owners, by hosting an in-person, mobile software upgrade service clinic last October.

"When I was given the list of cities that we were going to look at, I took Columbus and put it up at the top, because I knew that it had to be," Bell said.

And continues to be, as Kia America announced that it will hold another anti-theft software upgrade clinic in Columbus April 19 through April 21 at Historic Crew Stadium.

A representative said:

"Kia America is aware of the impact this social media-fed crime wave has had on Ohio, and especially the greater Columbus area, so we wanted to come back to be sure all Kia owners have a chance to process the upgrade and feel confident once again."

During the clinc, specially-trained technicians will be on-hand to install the upgrade, at no cost to car owners. And the process will be simple, according to Marco Nickens, with Kia America.

"It's about the same time as an oil change. So, about 30 minutes," said Nickens. "30 minutes of your time and it will be completed. We even have free WiFi. So, if you need to come and do some work, you can get some work done."

The clinic takes place at Historic Crew Stadium on One Black and Gold Boulevard during the following times:

• Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, April 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Those who are unsure if their vehicle is eligible for the upgrade can find more information here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police are asking for help in solving the Sunday homicide of a 13-year-old boy.

Around 10:17 p.m., officers arrived in the 1300 block of East Hudson Street in North Linden, where they found Angel Diaz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. They rendered aid to the victim until medics arrived at 10:24 p.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene.

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Police are searching for people riding in a Ford Escape who might have witnessed events surrounding the death of Diaz, the department said in a social media post.

To gather additional evidence, police are asking neighbors to check video from their surveillance cameras from April 14 between 8:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. to see if anything related to the child's death was captured.

On Wednesday investigators said they were unsure what led to the shooting and did not have any suspect information.

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Columbus police asked anyone with information to call the division's homicide unit at 614-645-4730. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers by calling 614-461-TIPS (8477).