Ohio News

Over one-third of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Storms during this past winter brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020 to 2022. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue. West Virginia is currently the state with the most widespread drought, covering all of the state's area.

In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems are also affected as shrinking water supplies impact agriculture and hydropower generation while increasing wildfire risk.

Periods of drought have intensified and become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Scientists predict that even in low-emissions scenarios, much of the U.S. will be drier by the end of the century.

Stacker cited data from the U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in Ohio with the worst droughts as of Sept. 24, 2024. Counties are listed in order of percent of the area in drought conditions. "Abnormally dry" is not considered to be a drought but is included as a separate data point. Additional data for the state overall is also included. Any counties not experiencing drought are not included in the list. Counties are listed in order of drought severity.

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Emma Rubin // Stacker

Ohio statistics

- Abnormally dry: 10.3%
- Area in drought: 87.7% (#2 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 23.4%
--- Severe drought: 28.5%
--- Extreme drought: 23.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 12.6%

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Nagel Photography // Shutterstock

Van Wert County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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CourtneySimons // Shutterstock

Mercer County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Darke County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Allen County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Preble County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 96.2%
--- Severe drought: 3.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Joshua D'Ariano // Shutterstock

Hancock County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 95.7%
--- Severe drought: 4.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Putnam County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 87.1%
--- Severe drought: 12.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Auglaize County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 84.3%
--- Severe drought: 15.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

Williams County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 54.9%
--- Severe drought: 45.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Anne Kitzman // Shutterstock

Paulding County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 54.4%
--- Severe drought: 45.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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JNix // Shutterstock

Columbiana County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 54.0%
--- Severe drought: 46.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Donna Wickerham // Shutterstock

Richland County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 36.9%
--- Severe drought: 63.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Crawford County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 36.8%
--- Severe drought: 63.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Ottawa County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 29.3%
--- Severe drought: 70.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Shelby County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 21.4%
--- Severe drought: 78.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Wyandot County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 20.5%
--- Severe drought: 79.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hardin County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 19.5%
--- Severe drought: 80.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Rosamar // Shutterstock

Wood County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 18.0%
--- Severe drought: 82.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Mahoning County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 17.5%
--- Severe drought: 82.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

Fulton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 13.7%
--- Severe drought: 86.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Holmes County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.4%
--- Severe drought: 98.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Morrow County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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James W. Thompson // Shutterstock

Marion County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Michael Shake // Shutterstock

Lucas County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock

Knox County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Henry County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

Defiance County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Delaware County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 99.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Brown County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.2%
--- Severe drought: 6.7%
--- Extreme drought: 2.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Clermont County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 81.7%
--- Severe drought: 11.4%
--- Extreme drought: 6.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Logan County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 87.0%
--- Extreme drought: 13.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Madison Muskopf // Shutterstock

Coshocton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 85.2%
--- Extreme drought: 14.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Aiwilliams // Shutterstock

Carroll County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 75.8%
--- Extreme drought: 24.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Miami County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 9.5%
--- Severe drought: 60.9%
--- Extreme drought: 29.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Union County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 54.9%
--- Extreme drought: 45.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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photo.ua // Shutterstock

Hamilton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.8%
--- Severe drought: 36.5%
--- Extreme drought: 57.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Montgomery County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 7.9%
--- Severe drought: 32.9%
--- Extreme drought: 59.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Butler County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 14.1%
--- Severe drought: 16.3%
--- Extreme drought: 69.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Gallia County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.0%
--- Severe drought: 12.2%
--- Extreme drought: 82.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Clark County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 5.8%
--- Extreme drought: 94.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Champaign County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 4.2%
--- Extreme drought: 95.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Greene County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.6%
--- Extreme drought: 98.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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JNix // Shutterstock

Clinton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.1%
--- Extreme drought: 98.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Warren County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 100.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Washington County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 100.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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James Marciniak // Shutterstock

Jackson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 10.0%
--- Severe drought: 25.0%
--- Extreme drought: 64.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.2%

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Tuscarawas County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 47.2%
--- Extreme drought: 52.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.8%

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Madison County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 57.4%
--- Extreme drought: 40.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 1.9%

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Licking County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 48.6%
--- Extreme drought: 45.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 6.3%

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Jefferson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 26.9%
--- Severe drought: 41.2%
--- Extreme drought: 22.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 8.9%

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Pike County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.8%
--- Severe drought: 29.2%
--- Extreme drought: 57.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 11.8%

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Fayette County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 6.8%
--- Extreme drought: 75.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 18.1%

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Highland County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.5%
--- Severe drought: 25.6%
--- Extreme drought: 50.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 18.6%

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Hocking County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 80.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 19.1%

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Franklin County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 30.4%
--- Extreme drought: 47.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 22.6%

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Monroe County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 72.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 27.9%

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Meigs County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 62.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 37.2%

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Vinton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 56.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 43.6%

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Muskingum County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 2.9%
--- Extreme drought: 48.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 48.3%

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Ross County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 43.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 56.9%

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Harrison County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 38.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 62.0%

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Fairfield County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 34.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 66.0%

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Belmont County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 26.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 73.2%

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Guernsey County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 15.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 84.6%

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Noble County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 15.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 84.9%

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Athens County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 11.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 88.4%

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Pickaway County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 8.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 91.3%

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Morgan County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 8.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 92.0%

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Perry County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 1.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 98.4%

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 45 states.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Sunny & mild, high 79
• Tonight: Clear skies, low 60
• Sunday: Isolated showers, 76 (47)
• Monday: Very breezy, 58 (39)
• Tuesday: Sunny & chilly, high 55 (37)
• Wednesday: Very cool, high 57 (37)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Saturday will be a great day as far as weather goes for Central Ohio. Skies will be partly cloudy for most of the day. High temperatures will be above average running in the upper 70s. These above average temps will be coming to an end as a system will move over the region over the next couple of days.

Tonight skies will vary between partly and mostly cloudy during the night. warmer air will stick around as well. Lows will only drop to around 60 degrees in the city and mid 50s in the outlaying areas. By the early morning hours the wind speeds are expected to pick up a little bit, but it won't be too breezy.

Temperatures on Sunday do cool down a little bit. There will be isolated chanced for spotty sprinkles. North of Columbus can see the majority of the rain that will fall. All of this comes along a cold front that will move through by Sunday night.

The new work week comes with a blast of very cool air. High will be in the mid-upper 50s with overnight lows getting closer and closer to the freezing point. Breezy conditions are expected on Monday, but those winds eventually die down. Sunny skies will return by the second half of the week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Wildlife Center is now asking for help after its main freezer broke.

The freezer carried a variety of food for distinct species of animals they take care of. The staff said they've had to change how they take care of their animals since the incident, but with the help of the community, they can rebuild on what they have lost.

Manager David Donahue knows this is a tough challenge, the center already takes in 9,000 orphaned, hurt or sick animals for rehabilitation, along with 60 animals that live on campus.

"Our freezer, fully stocked with all the proteins essential for all the animals here on our campus,” Donahue said. “Then, with the malfunction, we thought that the thermometer was not reading properly, and our temperatures were actually over 40 degrees inside."

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All the food needed for every animal, from a bald eagle to a fox, was deemed unusable. Those unique proteins come at a high cost.

"It's over $60,000 in costs each year just to support the proteins, but also formulas and everything else we keep inside of our deep freezers to help support those animals," Donahue said.

The Ohio Wildlife Center is not state funded; they can do their work solely based on volunteer work and donations. The Columbus Zoo and Ohio State University have been an immense help since the incident, and members of the community have raised 6,000 so far. The staff has had to care for the animals a little differently in recent days but are working towards getting back on track.

"We've also been able to create other ways to support us during this time, so we've had other people step in just for that while we're waiting for things to arrive, to make sure we have the things we need,” Donahue said. “Every day we’re doing something different
to support the community to make life easier."

If you would like to donate, click here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a multi-day initiative to help people who are struggling with addiction get connected to much-needed resources. 

The initiative was called Operation BRIDGE, which stands for Bridging Recovery and Interdiction Data Gathering Enforcement. 

The sheriff’s office said there are many people in central Ohio who are addicted to drugs and some are engaging in sex work just to survive. The goal of Operation BRIDGE was to help people get out of this unforgiving cycle. 

“The hope, I guess you can say, is that these people realize that there is a way out of the substance abuse loop,” said Sgt. Jeff Zech with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. 

Zech said that during the operation, he had an eye out for people on the streets who looked to be addicted to drugs and in need of help. 

“It’s actually geared towards getting these individuals into treatment programs, which they would benefit more as opposed to just taking them to jail, locking them up and walking away,” Zech said. 

Through Operation BRIDGE, sheriff’s deputies would go around and try to approach people who are battling addiction and potentially using sex work to get by. 

Most of the people they approached were not required to get in the car and go with the deputy, but if they did, they were taken to a resource area. 

“Once they realize that we’re not running people for warrants, we’re not necessarily trying to take somebody to jail, they're a little bit more receptive to it,” Zech said. 

At the resource area, the people were able to get connected to healthcare, food, Narcan, clothes and water. They were also given the option to be taken right from there to treatment. 

“If somebody says that they want a treatment service, we can take them there right now as opposed to them having to wait for a couple weeks or a month for a bed to open up,” Zech said. 

Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said Operation BRIDGE was a big success in years past. 

“To continue to respond and just put people in jail and come back and do it over and over doesn’t really achieve the goal,” Baldwin said. “So our goal is to have more services available immediately and hopefully it’ll have an impact on somebody’s life and save their life and break that cycle.” 

Baldwin said that last year, multiple people went right to treatment programs for drug addiction. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's no secret that Buckeyes fans travel well, and Friday was a true testament to that.

The Buckeyes are set to take on the Ducks in a top three showdown Saturday. Because of the big game, American Airlines created a nonstop flight from Columbus to Eugene, Oregon.

Franklin County voters face confusion over mail-in ballot postage

An Ohio State flag hung out of American Airlines flight 1480 Friday afternoon as close to 200 Buckeye fans boarded it, including the Luedekes.

It's pretty tough to find a bigger Buckeye family than the Luedekes, especially Jamie.

Jamie Luedeke is Ohio born and bred. He graduated with his master's degree from Ohio State, and the doctor is known around town as "Dr. Buckeye'"

"I've had season tickets for years," Jamie said. "I did some cancer research in a lab here years ago."

His wife, Kathie Luedeke, said as part of the Ohio doctor's 70th birthday celebration, they were already planning on going to the away game.

"All of our children, when they came home from the hospital, my husband delivered two of them himself, but when they came home, they came home in scarlet and gray," Kathie Luedeke said.

But Jamie Luedeke said the phone call they got from their son, Justin Luedeke, a couple days ago, was the icing on the cake. The American Airlines pilot told him he was their captain of the flight.

"It was very exciting, very cool," Jamie Luedeke said. "I mean how many get a chance to have a child fly their plane."

Jamie and Kathie's son Justin is a graduate of Ohio State's College of Aviation, but his loyalty to the school began way before he started studying there. The Luedekes are a loyal and proud Buckeye family.

"Everyone knows. I mean our yard, a Buckeye flag flies every day," Kathie Luedeke said. "Our kids could never have anything maize and blue. They were told, don't you ever think about getting married on a Buckeye Saturday, we won't be there."

Justin Luedeke said it was a full circle moment to be back in his home state, flying other fans, especially his parents.

Brothers come together as Honor Flight Columbus reaches 10,000 veterans milestone

"These are special flights that we don't do a whole lot. So, it's a very unique situation," Justin Luedeke said. "And to combine that with my dad and his 70th birthday and him being such a big Buckeye fan, it's just a very special event for everyone."

"Away games have their own unique parts because you really get the true Buckeye fans that go to these and the ones that are really rabid," Jamie Luedeke said. "So, it's a special experience."

The Luedekes even planned a small surprise for the passengers on the flight. Each person received a buckeye. What made them so special is that they came from the buckeye trees in the Luedeke's yard.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- COSI held a celebration for International Day of the Girl on Friday.

Girls in grades sixth through eighth attended the 2024 "Girls Will!" summit. At the event, they learned about life skills and how to strive to be multi-faceted. The event also featured music and cosmetics.

One girl who attended said it's all about sharing ideas and striving to be your best self.

"This could be a great experience for girls because the sky is not the limit," said Sophia Williams from Air Pink.

The summit was hosted by Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The 2024 election has come with twists and turns from the very beginning. Now, just over three weeks until election day, pollsters are trying to get insight on how it’s all going to shake out.

"We're in just such a no man's land like we've never been here before," Republican strategist Bobb Clegg said.

"[Polls] are a snapshot in time. So, things change on a daily basis," Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg said.

Polling shows Ohioans will likely vote for former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris this fall. Clegg and Rothenberg agree that is likely, though Clegg said he is “going to win by around 12%,” meanwhile Rothenberg thinks it be by will be “less than people expect.”

Franklin County voters face confusion over mail-in ballot postage

The toss up race this fall, though, is the race for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is vying for his fourth term, challenged by Republican businessman Bernie Moreno.

"It's a really, really close race," Clegg said.

Earlier in this election cycle, Brown was leading by about six or seven points in polls. Now, as we get closer to Election Day the margins are tighter at about three or four points. Clegg and Rothenberg agreed, the race tightening was not unexpected.

"When you saw the polls during spring and summer that showed Sherrod up by what, seven, eight points, you knew that was going to close," Clegg said. "Because, I mean, so many people didn't know anything about Bernie Moreno."

In order for Brown to win this year, Clegg and Rothenberg said that there has to be some amount of split ticket voting.

"Sherrod Brown has always known that he has to win in this state," Rothenberg said. "And to win in the state, you have to transcend party and politics. And so that's why he's always been sort of a working families type senator."

"That's going to be a big hurdle," Clegg said. "I don't know how Trump people are going to think, ‘Yeah, I'm going to vote for President Trump because I really want him back in office, but I'm also going to vote for this guy that tried to convict him twice.'"

But the experts said the presidential race could also be an indicator of who comes out on top in the U.S. Senate contest.

"I think if President Trump carries Ohio by less than 5%, I think Sherrod Brown has got a really good shot at keeping his seat. I think if President Trump wins Ohio by more than 10%, I think Sherrod is going to have a really hard time," Clegg said. "The closer to five the more likely [Sherrod] is going to get reelected. The closer to ten, it's more likely he's not going to get reelected."

"There's a six or seven point difference between [Sherrod] and [Trump] in almost every poll," Rothenberg said. "So, at this late point in the race, it seems like he's solidified a lot of votes that are going to be split ticket. It’s not unusual in Ohio."

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Issue 1 is the only statewide ballot initiative this fall, it would give power to citizens to draw district maps instead of elected officials. One recent polls show more than 60% of voters are likely to support it, and another poll shows 69% of Ohioans oppose the idea of gerrymandering. Rothenberg said that is notable, but Issue 1’s passage cannot be taken to the bank quite yet.

"You can never take anything for granted," Rothenberg said. "But when you look at those numbers and you look at how much money the opposition to issue one has, it's a very good number for that ‘yes,’ vote."

Early voting started on Tuesday and will continue for the next three weeks until Election Day on Nov. 5.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With its latest mission Thursday, Honor Flight Columbus has now taken 10,000 veterans to Washington D.C. to see memorials in honor of the wars they served in.

The trip is free for veterans. Thursday was the nonprofit's 136th mission. The concept was started in Ohio by Earl Morse, founder of Honor Flight and cofounder of Honor Flight Network. The retired Air Force captain wanted to make sure as many World War II veterans as possible got to see the memorial in the nation's capital. So in 2005, he and other volunteer pilots took 12 veterans on small planes.

"If this country felt it was important enough for them to have a memorial, then we at Honor Flight believe it's just as important they get to experience their memorial," Morse said.

Franklin County voters face confusion over mail-in ballot postage

The program has since grown and taken off. Almost 20 years later, chartered commercial planes and volunteer guardians are used for the missions. They also take Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, and Morse said they'll keep taking others as times change.

"They’re going to get on the plane, they’re going to go home and they’re going to realize their friends’ sacrifice will never be forgotten by this nation," Morse said. "Absolutely not. And at Honor Flight we’re able to make that dream a reality they can see and experience and witness first hand this nation cherishes them and their service and the sacrifice of their friends."

Watch: Honor Flight Columbus celebrates milestone

92 veterans, including the Labadie brothers, were on Honor Flight Columbus Mission 136. Bob Labadie, a Vietnam War veteran who lives in central Ohio, said he would only go if his brother, Jim, could also go. Jim Labadie, also a Vietnam War veteran, lives in Alabama. Honor Flight Columbus made it happen.

“I’m kind of looking forward to it but there’s a lot of pent up energy from unresolved issues," Bob Labadie said before the flight.

The brothers were some of the first to arrive at John Glenn International Airport.

“Kind of excited, it's something the Vietnam era guys never got," Jim Labadie said before the flight.

After some photos and paperwork, they were on the plane with the other veterans and guardians. The first stop was at Arlington National Cemetery to witness The Changing of the Guard. Then, Mission 136 stopped at the Air Force Memorial. The afternoon included time at the Vietnam War Memorial, where the brothers got their pins from their guardian and reflected.

“Seeing the memorials and all that stuff as just a visitor was pretty freeing," Bob said.

Eventually, the veterans were back on the plane and on the way back to Columbus for the final part of Mission 136, the welcome home. The terminal was packed with family, friends, and other community members giving the veterans a reception they did not get when they first came home.

“It was quite a moving experience actually," Jim Labadie said. "Don't know what to expect coming back but it was great to see little ones all the way up to the adults and everybody was saying thank you."

The Labadies were together every step of the day.

“It was huge to have him along," Bob Labadie said. "We were able to reconcile, put some solution, put some sauce on the whole process by one of them brotherly hugs at the wall, its stuff only he and I will be able to pass at that time."

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Bob Labadie said that while he was hesitant at the beginning, he would highly recommend Honor Flight to other veterans. Honor Flight Columbus' next mission is on Oct. 31. Information on how to support their work can be found here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The instructions on Franklin County mail-in ballots say 73 cents, or one forever stamp, will cover the cost of mailing your absentee ballot to the board of elections. However, NBC4 is learning that's not the case for many voters.

NBC4 Investigates went to several different post offices around Franklin County to ask why some absentee voters are paying $1.01 when the ballot instructions say 0.73 cents. Each post office gave different answers.

One said they’ve seen a lot of voters with this issue, so they weigh the ballot and charge them accordingly. Another post office said they mail the ballots regardless of whether more postage is needed. Another said to go ask the postmaster general.

"There is a disconnect somewhere with the processing. There's a disconnect somewhere with the information," one Franklin County voter, who did not want her name used, said.

Statehouse leaders divided on Issue 1

This Franklin County voter has voted by mail for years and this year was no different.

"I read everything that came in that envelope," she said. "It told you how to fill it out. It told you how to seal it and everything. So, in between me filling it out and sealing it, I read everything."

She didn’t have a stamp, so she took her ballot to the post office, and was told it would cost more to mail in her ballot than what was listed on the instructions that come with the ballot.

"We followed the instructions on the ballot," she said. "Was it an error on the ballot?"

She’s not the only one. Franklin County voter Jeff Brown also had to pay more than what was listed.

"The lack of transparency is like somebody is on one side of the fence fighting here," Brown said. "I mean, why wasn't the verbiage the same as it was back in the primary when they said it's going to be x amount more stamp or money or whatever?"

We wanted to know: what about the people who just put a stamp on their ballot and dropped it in a mailbox? Would their vote make it? So, we took that question to the Franklin County Board of Elections.

"We work with the post office. If folks are mailing in their ballot with a forever stamp, it will get to us, they've assured us that we will get all ballots that have been sent," Franklin County Board of Elections Public Information Officer Aaron Sellers said.

While those NBC4 Investigates spoke with are worried about a disconnect, the bottom line is making sure every vote counts.

"What I'm going to do is the information that you've provided as I'm going to work with our absentee folks to make sure that we reach out to our folks at the post office and make sure that everybody in Franklin County, all the post office are, you know, telling people the same message," Sellers said to NBC4 Investigates.

On Friday afternoon, he emailed NBC4 Investigates saying that the Franklin County Board of Elections' director reached out to their contact at the USPS and made them aware of the issue we brought to them. He said, "They told us they had a meeting with all Columbus USPS managers to reiterate ballot processes."

Sellers also sent a photo of part of a ballot that had incomplete postage, which showed that all ballots USPS receives are sent to the board. 

The Franklin County Board of Elections said to follow the mail-in instructions very closely: you don’t need to include a copy of your ID or anything extra. Sellers said what sometimes can happen is that extra papers can weigh down the envelope.

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Those NBC4 spoke with said they did not add anything extra, so we reached out to USPS for a statement on the cost difference.

The USPS sent a statement that did not answer the question but said in part, "The U.S. Postal Service is committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nation’s Election Mail. In 2024, just as we have in previous elections, the Postal Service is collecting, processing, transporting, and delivering the nation’s Election Mail when public policy makers choose to utilize the mail as a part of their election system or when voters choose to use our services to participate in an election. We are employing robust and proven processes to ensure proper handling and delivery of all Election Mail, including ballots."

To make sure your ballot is received, you can track it yourself. This will give you an alert when the ballot is received. Voters can sign up to do that at this link. You can also drop your ballot off in person at the your county board of elections.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- For those living in Marysville, if you think drivers are traveling at an excessive speed in your neighborhood, the city wants to hear from you.

A couple months ago, the city’s Engineering Department released a new speed study request form. The point of the speed study is twofold. The Marysville Police Division is working alongside the Engineering Department to not only enhance the safety of motorist and residents, but also to educate the public.

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While speed, overall, may not be a huge problem for the city of Marysville, there are a few problem areas.

“Professional Parkway is a newer road in the city. It's an east west kind of connector on the south side of town,” said Brian Mullaney, a transportation and mobility engineer.

According to Mullaney, Professional Parkway is one area where several speed surveys have been done. Conducting speed surveys isn’t new to Marysville, but a couple months ago, the engineering department made it easier to submit a request.

“Originally it was more of an as needed basis. So, if you felt like there was somebody speeding on your street, you would either call or come in or stop it like a city council meeting,” said Mullaney.

Now, it’s all on a form that can be filled out online within minutes. Since the form has been active, Mullaney says there’s been in uptick in requests. The department can track speeds for five different locations at a time, using Stealth Speed Counters.

“We put them out on Monday or whatever, whatever day, and we leave them out for seven days,” said Mullaney.

After the seven days are up, Mullaney collects the data and puts it in a spreadsheet. If they find there is a problem with speed, they’ll begin to enforce what they call "traffic calming measures."

"It's a way to engineer a roadway to make you feel like you can't go as fast on it," he said.

The 5th Street corridor, another problem area, has speed feedback signs up as a way to try and slow traffic. Mullaney says whenever a method like this is implemented, he sees a difference.

"On these areas that we find the problems, we will do a study before and after, and we can see that it is helping," he said.

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Mullaney said the goal of this is to not reduce any speed limits within the city of Marysville. However, he did say that this is something the city plans on continuing to monitor for the foreseeable future.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With three weeks left in the regular season, high school football teams are entering the final stretch before the playoffs begin.

The number of one-loss teams left decreases every week, and an undefeated school is even rarer to find. A pair of 6-1 teams from central Ohio will meet Friday night, including the two from our Game of the Week: Pickerington North and Grove City.

Below is a list of games that will be featured on Football Friday Nite at 11:15 p.m. A complete list of games in the state is at the bottom. Check back all evening for updated scores and highlights.

Week 8 schedule

• Westland (6-1) at Westerville South (3-4)
• Big Walnut (6-1) at Westerville North (4-3)
• Eastmoor Academy (4-3) at Walnut Ridge (7-0)
• Groveport Madison (4-3) at Pickerington Central (5-2)
• Upper Arlington (6-1) at Olentangy Orange (6-1)
• Olentangy Berlin (5-2) at Dublin Jerome (3-4)
• Bloom-Carroll (6-1) at Hartley (3-4)
• Pickerington North (6-1) at Grove City (6-1) - Game of the Week

For a previous report on this story, view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  – A man whose body was found "badly decomposed" inside an abandoned car wash has been identified.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office said Friday that it had identified Christopher M. Coleman by his fingerprints. Coleman, 53, was pronounced dead in the 1500 block of Holt Road, inside an abandoned car wash in the Georgesville Square Shopping Plaza.

On Wednesday night, police found Coleman's body, "badly decomposed," inside one of the car wash bays. At 10:51 p.m., the Franklin County Coroner’s Office arrived at the scene and confirmed the remains were human. Homicide detectives also investigated the scene.

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The former Super Wash storefront has a chain link fence surrounding the property, and has been abandoned for several years. A cause of death likely won't be available until an autopsy is conducted.

Christopher Coleman in 2016. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Sheriff's Office)

Coleman, who was described as homeless, was alive as recently as one month ago, when he was charged with disorderly conduct in Franklin County Municipal Court. The fingerprints used to identify Coleman were matched with those taken on Sept. 11, three days after his arrest.

Coleman also had a lengthy criminal history, having faced charges in municipal court nearly 25 times, including an alleged robbery in 2016 that took place at a west Columbus Huntington Bank. He also pleaded guilty to vandalism out of Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Aug. 2023. Charges of aggravated menacing were dismissed.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is the state with the most haunted attractions in the country, according to a website that reviews horror entertainment.

The Scare Factor, an online platform dedicated to spooky attractions, compiles a list of haunted entertainment across the country, including houses, corn mazes, hayrides and amusement park events. The website found that Ohio has the highest number of haunted activities in America, with 135 attractions as of Thursday. 

“I think the biggest part of it stems from there's just a huge passion for Halloween in [Ohio], and it's kind of a snowball effect," said Tyler Proffet, co-owner of The Scare Factor. "Because there's so many, the culture is there that really supports it."

Nora Proffet, the other owner of the website, said in her opinion Dead Acres Haunted Hoochie is the best in the state, with the pair noting it is one of the more “extreme” and “controversial” haunts. They also named Fear Columbus as one of the best in Ohio, praising it for being immersive and having good sound effects. 

“Ohio tends to have longer attractions,” Nora Proffet said.  “Also, a lot of them deviate between indoors and outdoors.”

California was the state with the second highest number of attractions at 130, followed by Illinois with 106. Wyoming had the least, with only four haunted attractions in the state, followed by Alaska (5) and Vermont (5). 

The website, which has 30 teams across the country who visit and review attractions, also compiled a list of the best haunted houses in the Buckeye state this year based on 30 different criteria, including the actors, special effects, and customer service, combined with the haunts’ reviews and online popularity.

The list of the best haunted houses in Ohio in 2024 can be viewed below:

1. The Dent Schoolhouse, Cincinnati
2. Face Your Fears Hotel of Terror, Springfield
3. Fear Columbus, Columbus
4. Blood Prison, Mansfield 
5. Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory, Akron
6. Dead Acres Haunted Hoochie, Pataskala 
7. Ghoul Brothers, Akron
8. Factory of Terror, Canton
9. Chippewa Lake Slaughterhouse, Chippewa Lake
10. Wells Township Haunted House, Brilliant 

Walk-through videos of Ohio haunts can be found on The Scare Factor's website. The site also updates during the offseason, maintaining a list of Christmas and Valentine’s Day haunts, along with other special horror events. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  – A suspect wanted in connection to a fatal home invasion in south Columbus has been arrested over three months after two people were killed, including the suspect's father.

Dispatchers first sent Columbus police to a home near the 1300 block of Seymour Avenue on June 24, after a woman went to the house to check on one of the two men. When she found him with gunshot wounds, she called police. Investigators later found the home had a broken back window.

According to court documents, Reginald M. Purnell and his father, Reginald P. Purnell, went to the Deshler Park residence, allegedly with the intent to commit a robbery.

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Police said cell phone data, video and text messages confirmed the Purnells went to the home and that at approximately 10:45 a.m., Darrell Walker, 45, along with Reginald P. Purnell, 48, were shot and killed. Within minutes of arriving at the scene, the coroner’s office said medics pronounced both men dead.

Investigators found personal belongings of Reginald M. Purnell, 31, left behind, connecting him to the fatal shooting. He is charged with murder and aggravated robbery.

A Franklin County Municipal judge issued him a $1 million bond and ordered him to next appear in court on Oct. 18 for a preliminary hearing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Central Ohio is full of haunted history, and this October, thrill-seekers can immerse themselves in spine-chilling tales without the frights of traditional haunted houses.

From eerie walking tours through historic streets to ghostly trolley rides, these haunted experiences offer a unique mix of local lore and paranormal intrigue, and some are family-friendly. Whether people prefer exploring the Ohio Statehouse’s spectral past or hearing firsthand accounts of hauntings in Delaware’s Northwest Neighborhood, these tours bring history and ghost stories together for an unforgettable experience.

Boardman Arts Park: Ghost Walk - Haunted Historic Delaware Ghost Walk Haunted Historic Delaware (Photo Courtesy: Boardman Arts Park )

• Location: Boardman Arts Park, 154 W. William St., Delaware, Ohio 43015
• Dates & Hours: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024; tours at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.
• Details: Embark on a ghost walk through Delaware’s most haunted streets in the Northwest Neighborhood. Hear firsthand ghost accounts from local residents and visit eight spooky stops, including a tour of Delaware’s Victorian Jail. This 1.5-mile walk is perfect for history and ghost story enthusiasts. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Web Link: Ghost Walk Tickets

Canal Winchester Haunted History Historical Tour Historic train station in Canal Winchester (Adobe Stock)

• Location: Historical Complex, 10 W. Oak St., Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110
• Dates & Hours: Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, tours begin at 7 p.m., the last tour departs at 7:30 p.m.
• Details: Explore historic locations throughout downtown Canal Winchester on this 90-minute walking tour. Learn about the haunted history of this charming town with engaging stories at each stop.
• Web Link: Canal Winchester Haunted History Historical Tour

Columbus Ghost Tours Walking Tour

• Location: Various locations around Columbus, check the website.
• Dates & Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday tours, typically starting around 7 or 8 p.m.
• Details: Join a walking tour through some of Columbus' most haunted spots. From historic buildings to eerie graveyards, hear about hauntings, ghostly apparitions, and unexplained phenomena from experienced guides.
• Web Link: Columbus Ghost Tours

Ghost Trolley Ohio Railway Museum

• Location: 990 Proprietors Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085
• Dates & Hours: Friday (6-10 p.m.) and Saturday (5-10 p.m.) evenings throughout October.
• Details: Visitors can hop aboard the Ghost Trolley at the Ohio Railway Museum for a spine-tingling adventure. A family-friendly event where creaky railcars and flickering lights set the stage for a ghostly ride and whispers from the beyond may be heard. It’s the perfect October outing for thrill-seekers and lovers of mystery.
• Web Link: Ohio Railway Museum Ghost Trolley

Green Lawn Cemetery Halloween Lantern Tour

• Location: Green Lawn Cemetery, 1000 Greenlawn Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43223
• Dates & Hours: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Details: This guided walking tour delves into the rich history of Green Lawn Cemetery, with stories of Columbus’ most notable figures and eerie tales from the cemetery’s past. Learn about local legends and historical hauntings.
• Web Link: Green Lawn Cemetery Tours

Kelton House Fernando's Funeral

• Location: 586 East Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
• Dates & Hours: Thursdays & Fridays, Oct. 24 to Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Details: A unique ghost tour at one of Ohio's most haunted locations. Guests will hear the tragic stories of the Kelton family who once lived there, along with chilling recent encounters at the Mansion. This once-a-year, 45- to 50-minute tour is a must-see, with small group sizes and content suitable for ages 13 and up.
• Web Link: Kelton House Fernando's Funeral

Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tour Ohio Statehouse (Adobe Stock)

• Location: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio 43215
• Dates & Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 18 to Oct. 26, 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Details: Explore the haunted history of the Ohio Statehouse, with chilling stories of past politicians, unexplained happenings, and paranormal sightings. The tour is educational and family-friendly, blending history with ghostly tales.
• Web Link: Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours

Uptown Westerville Ghost Story Walking Tours

• Location: Begins at the Otterbein Cemetery, 175 S. Knox St., and concludes at the Old Bag of Nails Pub in Westerville’s historic Weyant Building, 24 N. State St., Westerville, Ohio
• Dates & Hours: Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 26, plus Halloween; tours at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.(October 27: 9 p.m. only)
• Details: Experience a slightly theatrical, yet largely historical walking tour through Uptown Westerville. The tour features ghost stories collected from the community and provides a mix of spooky tales and local history. This family-friendly tour offers a captivating way to explore the haunted side of Westerville.
• Web Link: Uptown Ghost Tours

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's the date that Ohio State fans have had circled on the calendar for months.

On Saturday, No. 2 Ohio State visits No. 3 Oregon in a 7:30 p.m. game on NBC4. The game features two of nine teams that are still undefeated, and even though it'll be the 11th meeting between the programs, it's the first since the Ducks joined the Big Ten this year.

"You get to control your own destiny, because you're playing the best teams in the league on our schedule. Every time you're playing one of these teams, you're fighting for an opportunity to go to Indianapolis, and that's important," Day said. "And obviously there's the playoff scenario. So a lot at stake this weekend."

Here are three things to watch.

Scouting the Ducks

Oregon's offense is orchestrated by former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns against three interceptions, with 1,449 passing yards.

He's also a big part of a ground game that has proved difficult to contain. The Ducks have had six carries over 10 yards, including a 41-yard gain last week against Michigan State. The running game is led by Jordan James, who has five touchdowns and averages over six yards a carry.

"Not going down on first contact ... I think you saw that multiple times from Jordan, where he got hit and he continued to to push for extra yards," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. "I thought we ran the ball effectively. And that's something we have to continue to do."

The Ohio State offense will have its hands full facing Jordan Burch. The defensive end is noted for his athleticism and has seven solo tackles and five sacks.

Chip Kelly's homecoming

Saturday presents a homecoming for a trio of Buckeyes starters who call the Pacific Northwest home. Receiver Emeka Egbuka is from Steilacoom, Washington; tight end Gee Scott Junior hails from Seattle, and defensive end JT Tuimoloau grew up in Edgewood, Washington.

But it's a New Hampshire native who is getting the most attention. Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly returns to Eugene, where he coached the Ducks from 2009 to '12. He led Oregon to a 46-7 record and won three conference titles. The highlight of his tenure was leading the Ducks to the 2011 national championship game, a 22-19 loss to Auburn.

"The big thing is that we had great players. The success we had when I was there was a direct correlation to how good our players were," Kelly said. "I learned a ton. Not only from the coaches that were there but from the players I had an opportunity to coach."

Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is an ex-Oregon assistant, spending two seasons there before joining Ohio State in April.

Big game experience

The Ducks are the first ranked opponent the Buckeyes will face this season. And while critics may argue that Ohio State hasn't faced a real challeng, that doesn't mean there isn't big game experience on the roster.

Quarterback Will Howard comes into the game with plenty from his time at Kansas State. His 28 career starts with the Wildcats include a win over TCU in the 2022 Big 12 championship game and a career-best four-touchdown performance against Texas last season.

"From my experience in playing in them, the biggest thing is staying neutral, not getting too high or getting too low," Howard said. "We know emotions will be running rampant in this game. We know the implications of this game. We know it's a big one. Can't let things that happen affect you."

Howard is embracing the challenge and said games like this are why he transferred to Ohio State.

"This is what you sign up for. This is what I was looking forward to," Howard said. "It's what you dream about as a kid."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Grandview Heights restaurant, bar and distillery is appearing on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," the Food Network show hosted by Columbus-born celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

High Bank Distillery Co. will be the latest Columbus eatery to show up on the small screen, with an episode airing at 9 p.m. Friday. Adam Hines, High Bank's cofounder and master distiller, was appreciative for the opportunity.

• Members of the High Bank staff dressed as Guy Fieri to commemorate the distillery's appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. (Courtesy Photo/High Bank Distillery Co.)
• Members of the High Bank staff dressed as Guy Fieri to commemorate the distillery's appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. (Courtesy Photo/High Bank Distillery Co.)
• Members of the High Bank staff dressed as Guy Fieri to commemorate the distillery's appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. (Courtesy Photo/High Bank Distillery Co.)

"When we started this, we never thought that this was going to be something that we could be on," Hines said. "That's not why you do it, but it's really nice to get some recognition every once in a while."

Operating as a full-service restaurant, hospitality group and distillery, High Bank has three spots across central Ohio, with other locations in Gahanna and Westerville. The menu offers a variety of drinks, featuring cocktails, spirits and its award-winning whiskey.

As for food, it has a wide-ranging menu of shareables, sandwiches, pizza and more. Menu items that Fieri taste-tested included the spicy chicken sandwich, barbacoa nachos, hot honey chicken and biscuits, brussels sprouts and wings.

• High Bank's hot honey chicken and biscuits will make an appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Friday. (Courtesy Photo/High Bank Distillery Co.)
• High Bank's barbacoa nachos will make an appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Friday night. (Courtesy Photo/High Bank Distillery Co.)

The Grandview Heights storefront at 1051 Goodale Blvd. -- High Bank's largest location -- will be the spot making an appearance in the Friday episode. It comes equipped with 25,000 square feet of production space for its distillery.

High Bank Distillery Co. in Grandview will appear on Friday night's episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. (NBC4 Photo/Aaron Burd)

All three High Bank locations will be hosting watch parties. Happy hour will be extended, lasting from 3 to 9 p.m. instead of the usual cutoff of 6 p.m.

Recently, Tommy's Diner in Franklinton was also featured on Fieri's long-running program. Soon, Joya's in Worthington will appear on the show as well.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is the highest-paid housing authority lead in the nation, with a $550,000 salary his colleagues say is well-deserved.

Just months later, however, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's inspector general said some families getting assistance from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority lived in houses that were not always “decent, safe and sanitary.”

The CMHA is one of many public housing authorities across the country, but Chairman James L Ervin Jr. said the leadership of President and CEO Charles Hillman sets it apart. Ervin said the nearly $150,000 pay increase was fitting.

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The raise came after a consulting firm found Hillman's pay was uncompetitive when examined alongside other presidents or CEOs of local nonprofits, top real estate leaders and other public housing authority executives. The firm recommended increasing Hillman’s salary to $616,982.27 in December, and the board approved $550,000. Ervin clarified none of his salary came from state or federal funds, nor did any other CMHA executives' salaries.

Ervin said Hillman pushes the CMHA to do things untraditionally, gathering revenue outside the scope of traditional public housing authorities. He said Hillman’s leadership has driven CMHA to create more than 7,000 jobs and added several billion dollars to Ohio’s economy. According to the CMHA, for every $1 the organization spends, Ohio’s economy gets a $2.24 return on investment.

“Mr. Hillman has led CMHA to leverage innovative finance strategies, strategic investments, create large-scale development projects and generate additional revenue,” Ervin said. “This is leadership we want to keep, so it is essential to offer a competitive salary.”

Ervin said most public housing authorities focus on two core programs: housing choice vouchers that offer support so low-income families can afford private housing, and maintaining a system of public housing units.

What does a 'yes' or 'no' vote mean for Issue 1?

Ervin said Hillman’s raise was warranted by his ability to move the CMHA beyond the two core programs to generate revenue. However, a June 2024 audit by the HUD inspector general found CMHA’s work in one of those two core programs – the housing choice voucher program – fell short of federal standards for housing quality.

The audit looked at 84 homes in the program and found nearly 250 deficiencies across 48 of the houses they sampled. The audit found 29% of the homes with deficiencies had life-threatening concerns that needed to be addressed within 24 hours, including missing or broken smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, electrical hazards and a lack of safe exits. Photos in the audit showed rotted window frames, rested ducts and actively leaking ceilings.

According to the HUD Inspector General, CMHA failed to oversee its contractor, who had performed the inspections. Further, the audit said when CMHA inspectors did their own inspections, they failed to note issues the Inspector General’s office identified. The audit estimated CMHA will pay more than $36 million in housing assistance for units that do not comply with federal housing quality standards by July.

According to CMHA, 13,000 Ohioans participate in the voucher program in the audit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  – One of two suspects is in custody following an arrest in connection to an August homicide in east Columbus.

A Columbus SWAT unit arrested 22-year-old Dewarin Powell Thursday night. Powell is charged with the murder of 27-year-old Remarcus Smith-Heagler, who was suffering from a gunshot wound in the 5000 block of Cedar Drive in the Pine Hills neighborhood.

Statehouse leaders divided on Issue 1

Police said Smith-Heagler was seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had been involved in a traffic accident. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead two days later.

Powell was taken to Franklkn County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court Friday morning.

Also wanted in connection to the murder is 29-year-old Shavez Hargrave. Police ask that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Hargrave to contact the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Transgender candidates running for the Ohio Statehouse, who were nearly disqualified from the ballot, say they are not letting their identities define them as they campaign on bipartisanship and an end to extremism.

Arienne Childrey is on the trail in and around Celina as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 84th district, and Ari Faber is on the ground near Marietta as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate's 30th district. Although the two are running separate campaigns more than 200 miles apart, both told NBC4 they are combating false perceptions of the trans community by running on bipartisan solutions for issues like housing reform and access to healthcare.

"I'm happy to be the quote 'trans candidate,' but there's a lot more to who I am," Childrey said. "I'm ready to put in the time for the people of Ohio and to show them, that for once, the most corrupt legislature in the county can be cleaned up, can be fixed and we can have people who actually care."

• Arienne Childrey is on the trail as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 84th district. (Courtesy Photo/Arienne Childrey)
• Ari Faber is on the ground as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate's 30th district. (Courtesy Photo/Ari Faber)

Childrey is campaigning after she was nearly disqualified from the ballot for not including her deadname -- the name a trans person was assigned at birth but that does not align with their gender identity -- on petition paperwork. Meanwhile, Faber will appear on the ballot under his deadname, Iva Faber, since he has not legally changed it.

"We're trying to emphasize my last name," said Faber. "Either way, I don't care at all that much. I'm really focused on the policy points I want to talk about, and the things I want to do for our communities."

Childrey says she's tired of 'culture war nonsense'

The 41-year-old is running against Republican Rep. Angie King, who Childrey argues is "representing a very, very narrow faction" of Ohio's 84th district who want to see the Statehouse tackle culture-war issues. The candidate pointed to King's sponsorship of House Bill 245 to ban "adult cabaret performances," which opponents say would amount to a prohibition of drag queens in public.

"What she's doing is really appealing to the lowest common denominator," said Childrey. "She's trying to hit onto these culture war battles that aren't doing anything to improve anybody's day-to-day life."

• Arienne Childrey is on the trail as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 84th district. (Courtesy Photo/Arienne Childrey)
• Arienne Childrey is on the trail as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 84th district. (Courtesy Photo/Arienne Childrey)

King, who did not respond to NBC4's request for comment, said during a Statehouse hearing that she is pursuing legislation like H.B. 245 because she saw a video from a LGBTQ+ Pride event where a drag queen's performance was "obscene."

"I was appalled to watch a video of a 'family-friendly' event held in our city park where adults where dancing for children, who were then rewarded with cash, handed to them by young children," said King in her testimony. "One of the performers, dressed in a skimpy 'thonged' leotard, twerked and gyrated on the concrete."

Childrey said King's comments are why she decided to pursue a run for the Statehouse, and argued she would be a better steward who would "put the people of this district above party politics." The candidate said King is "the most extreme of the party," and outlined a number of issues she would prioritize if she wins election, like uplifting union jobs and investing in public education.

"As a trans candidate, that may be my identity, but my identity is also somebody who is really, really sick of seeing our public schools drained," said Childrey. "That's what I want to bring to the state legislature, I want to show people that we can work, and I want to inspire people to say that 'I can step up.'"

King has also introduced House Bill 471, which would make it easier to question a candidacy like Childrey's. If enacted, the measure would allow any eligible voter, regardless of party affiliation, to formally protest a political party's candidate, while current law only allows an individual to challenge a candidate who is part of their same party.

"An issue was brought to light when a protest was presented to the board of elections against a petition of candidacy for noncompliance and failure to provide a former name as required by law," said King, referring to Childrey during the bill's first hearing in May. "Some may try to portray this as an obscure law, but it's a candidacy requirement that's been in effect since 1939."

Childrey said she supports a dueling bill introduced by Democrats that would amend the former name requirement, adding an exemption from disclosure if the change of name was granted by any court in the state of Ohio. The candidate said it's up to her generation to find solutions for these problems, and to show those in the LGBTQ+ community "that even in the most red district in Ohio, people can stand up and fight back."

"If you want to get beyond the divisive culture war nonsense and get to people who are actually there to do the job of government, if you're in the 84th district, I believe you have a candidate that will do that, and I believe that candidate is me," said Childrey.

Faber says his opponent is 'an oil and gas man'

Faber, running against Republican Sen. Brian Chavez, touts a similar message. The 29-year-old argues Chavez prioritizes his own gain, noting the senator's multiple oil and gas companies. One is Deeprock Disposal Solutions, which came under fire this year after records showed the company had leached brine, an often toxic liquid byproduct of fracking, underground in Noble County.

On several occasions since 2010, brine burst to the surface through other companies' oil and gas wells, with one instance requiring a $1.3 million cleanup that was paid for by the state. Chavez was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to sit on the state's oil and gas commission in 2021, and served there until Republicans named Chavez to the Senate in 2023.

"We have companies and people coming in from out of the region to strip us of our natural resources, and then they leave and take all that money with them," said Faber. "[Chavez] is an oil and gas man who has only ever sponsored legislation about oil and gas, benefiting himself."

• Ari Faber is on the ground as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate's 30th district. (Courtesy Photo/Ari Faber)
• Ari Faber is on the ground as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate's 30th district. (Courtesy Photo/Ari Faber)

In a statement to NBC4, Chavez said he is a "proud resident of southeast Ohio" who understands "both the opportunities and challenges that families in this region face." As a small business owner, Chavez said he "knows what it takes to make payroll and balance a budget," and that he has seen "what the scourge of opioid addiction and economic hardship has done to our part of the state."

"As a legislator, my sole focus is to fight every day to ensure the people of southeast Ohio have good-paying jobs, a quality education, improved infrastructure and increased opportunities," said Chavez. "By achieving these things, we can help make it possible for future generations to thrive and prosper -- not somewhere else, but right here in Ohio."

Faber argues he could better platform these issues as a "pro-labor, pro-family and pro-freedom candidate" who, like Childrey, wants to uplift union jobs if elected to the Statehouse. Faber also noted his passion for protecting gender-affirming care, especially after an Ohio law went into effect this year banning the treatment for those under 18.

"I want to get to the root of these issues, and the best way of doing so is through policy," said Faber.

Faber said he is grateful to be an out trans candidate, especially when the legislature is pursuing several anti-LGBTQ+ proposals. One proposed bill would prohibit schools from allowing trans students to use a bathroom that doesn't correspond with the gender assigned to them at birth. Another would require teachers to notify parents before teaching "sexuality content" and of any change in a student's mental, emotional or physical health.

"I've had parents and teenagers that are trans reach out to me, saying how grateful they are that I'm running," said Faber. "If I can give a little bit of hope to even just one trans kiddo out there, than it will all have been worth it."

Other trans candidates running for the Statehouse

Bobbie Arnold, campaigning as the Democratic nominee for the Ohio House's 40th district, declined NBC4's request for an interview. Like Childrey, Arnold faced a protest over the certification of her candidacy but had her possible disqualification dismissed in January by the county's board of elections. Arnold is running against Republican Rep. Rodney Creech, who is also a sponsor for King's bill that would have made it easier to question a candidate's certification.

"I am committed to ensuring Ohio elections are the most secure, fair, transparent, and accurate
in the nation," said Creech in his testimony for the bill's hearing in May. "This legislation will help voters make more informed decisions at the polls and hold candidates accountable."

Vanessa Joy, a fourth trans candidate, was successfully disqualified from running in House District 50 for not including her deadname on petition paperwork. While Joy appealed her disqualification, the board of elections voted to keep her off the ballot. Joy submitted testimony against King's and Creech's bill, arguing the proposal is "entirely ridiculous in its timing."

"This past primary cycle made some history, as three transgender women ran for their party primaries for seats in the Ohio House," said Joy. "I fail to see why H.B. 471 is suddenly needed now, and why taxpayer money is being wasted on giving more time and energy to this. Reps. King and Creech should be focusing on their own campaigns and serving Ohioans, rather than finding ways to add additional barriers to candidates."