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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It was somehow fitting that all the stars aligned for a Blue Jackets victory to end what was an otherwise forgetful 2023-24 campaign.

On a night that saw the franchise's longtime television announcer enter retirement, and five years to the day when Columbus upset the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, CBJ headed into an uncertain offseason with a 6-3 win over the playoff-bound Carolina Hurricanes.

There were 17,289 fans that witnessed the season finale for the Blue Jackets. And the number of individual storylines that unfolded Tuesday evening at Nationwide Arena gave the faithful fanbase some hope about the future.

Luca Del Bel Belluz scores in NHL debut

Luca Del Bel Belluz woke up this morning in Cleveland not knowing he'd end up scoring his first NHL goal hours later. The 20-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario was in the middle of watching film when he got the call that he'd be on the ice for the Blue Jackets on emergency recall with forward Dimitri Voronkov out due to illness.

"There were so many thoughts going through my head. I had a lot of people calling me on the way down," Del Bel Belluz said.

The forward made an immediate impact in his NHL debut, scoring his first career goal on his first shot of the game. He became the eighth player in club history to score in his debut and fifth to do it at home.

"It's definitely going to be one to remember. It was just kind of a whirlwind of a day. Not expecting to get called up. Just going to practice in the morning. Regular day and then just like that it switches and you're on your way to Columbus," Del Bel Belluz said. "Playing my first NHL game is something that you dream of as a kid and something I'll always remember.

It's just too bad his parents didn't get to see it, even though they were at Nationwide Arena to see him play.

"He was called up this afternoon and I believe somebody told me that his parents were in the elevator when he scored that goal," head coach Pascal Vincent said. "Just too bad. But that's a good story in 20 years."

Zach Werenski sets a franchise record in season finale

Zach Werenski was on the Blue Jackets when they pulled off that memorable sweep of the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning five years ago, which marked the first playoff series win in franchise history.

Five years later, he's in the record books for an individual achievement. Werenski's assist on Del Bel Belluz's opening goal set a new franchise record for most assists in a single season by a defenseman. By the end of the night, Werenski had four points with two goals and two assists and became the sixth player in Blue Jackets history to reach 300 career points.

"I owe it to a lot of guys obviously, but it was really cool to finish that way," Werenski said. "I think it was really huge for us. It was a fun hockey game in a fun atmosphere. It's good to end on a high note."

Jeff Rimer heads into retirement on a high note

For one last time, Jeff Rimer provided the soundtrack to a Blue Jackets telecast, concluding a 20-year run in the broadcast booth for Columbus. And the Blue Jackets made sure he headed into retirement with a victory.

Earlier in the day, Rimer was in the locker room to provide the team's starting lineup.

"He said I expect a win. And nothing less. There's no way you guys are going to let me retire on a loss," Vincent said. "It was a great speech."

There's no question Rimer was part of the motivation for the Blue Jackets' season finale. In the final period of Rimer's broadcast, a montage commemorating his career played on the video board, with appearances from the likes of Michael Buble and Wayne Gretzky who provided messages of gratitude for his decades of service.

"He's such a character. He's such a good man. He's been in the NHL for 47 years," Vincent said. "And there's a reason for it. You don't last that long if you're not a special man."

And so ends the 2023-24 season. One that saw more than 40 losses for the second straight year. Yet the fanbase remains strong. The club's average attendance of 17,016 over 41 games marks the highest average at Nationwide Arena in 20 years.

As the players get ready to clean out their lockers for an offseason that will see a new general manager take over, the fans can enjoy this win until the Blue Jackets get on the ice again.

Watch a previous report of Cayon Drake appearing in court in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was sentenced to as much as 18 years in prison for a fatal double-shooting tied to a drug deal gone wrong in 2023.

Cayon Drake, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, one carrying a mandatory three-year firearms specification. He was sentenced to 15 to 18 years in prison with two to five years of post-release control when released.

In exchange for his plea, charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premise, and improper handling of a firearm were all dropped.

Man sentenced for fatal 2023 North Linden shooting

According to police, officers responded to the 2000 block of East 10th Avenue on April 18, 2023, and found Antonie Moss Jr., 19, and Jeremy Heglar, 16, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene while Heglar later died at the hospital.

Heglar and his girlfriend met Moss and Drake to buy drugs, court records show. Moss and Drake then got into the back seat of Heglar’s car, pulled out guns and shot Heglar. Helger then returned fire, killing Moss and shooting Drake in the arm. Drake ran from the car, shooting it several more times before running away.

Drake received six to nine years in prison plus an additional three years for the firearms specification for the first involuntary manslaughter charge, plus an additional six to nine years for the second involuntary manslaughter charge, all to be served consecutively.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Dozens of people enjoying time out and about on Saturday afternoon came back to find their car windows smashed. The crimes took place in Clintonville and western parts of the city. 

According to Columbus Police, nearly 20 people had their cars vandalized at the Rusty Bucket on North High Street. 

Ohio police say distracted driving law is working

“Be safe, be aware and keep your eyes open,” said Paige Postlewaite, a Columbus resident. 

That’s the message one Columbus resident is spreading after a smash-and-grab incident happened not too far from where she lives. 

“I always thought Clintonville was more of a safer area. It's not too close to the city, so I don't really expect a lot of break-ins or anything like that. But, I was definitely surprised to hear about The Rusty Bucket. Yeah, I'll definitely be keeping valuables in my home,” said Postlewaite. 

Over the weekend, dozens of cars had their windows smashed out. Cars were also targeted at Hayden Falls and Tuttle Crossing Mall.

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The recent string of break-ins has led the Rusty Bucket to add its own portable surveillance system, just to make sure its customers and employees feel protected. 

At Hayden Falls, you can still see large amounts of glass in a couple parking spots. People we spoke with told NBC4 they were shocked that it happened in the middle of the day. They said it makes them more concerned but they try to not leave anything valuable in their cars. 

“The people that we live with, like, advise us not to leave anything. So, other than a few blankets, like nothing is left in the car,” said Isabelle Smith, a student at Ohio State University. 

Eric Delbert, owner of L.E.P.D Firearms, said one thing these vandals could be looking for is firearms. 

“They're looking for that firearm that is stored in the center console, in the glove box, under the seat, those obvious places. When they don't find it, they're off to the next one,” he said. 

Man sentenced for fatal 2023 North Linden shooting

According to data from Columbus police, in 2023, 770 guns were stolen out of vehicles. In January of this year, 69 guns were stolen from vehicles. If you have to leave your firearms in your vehicle, Delbert recommends a lock box. 

“There's always an occasion to maybe need to secure your firearm when you're out. It doesn't take much just to have one of these safes sitting in the car, sitting in the trunk, and be prepared for those days when you're going to have to lock it up and make sure it's secured,” said Delbert. 

As always, if someone witnesses a car break-in, contact law enforcement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Have you ever considered that being able to check the mailbox is a privilege most of us take for granted? It's something Kieauna Fuqua's considered after she moved into an apartment complex in north Columbus last September.

"I picked up my key to get into my apartment and then I asked the landlord, 'Hey, what about my mailbox key?' And she told me, 'Oh, you'll go to the local post office to get your mailbox key.' So, that's what I did," Fuqua said. "Showed them all of my information, they stamped it, told me to come back in seven to 10 business days and they'll have my mailbox key for me."

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When that time passed, Fuqua returned to the post office to get her mailbox key.

"But, they said, 'No, you were told the wrong information. We don't have a key for you. You have to get your key from the rental property, where you're renting from,'" she said.

So, Fuqua said she went back to her landlord.

"Explained everything that was going on," Fuqua said. "She said, 'Oh, nope. That's not our issue. That's a USPS issue.'"

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The back-and-forth with the post office and the property management continued, and Fuqua was right in the middle.

"Someone has to be responsible," Fuqua said. "I'm not responsible, I'm just the tenant."

But Fuqua said she became more and more frustrated and confused, especially after she took another look at her lease agreement.

"It even stated that I'm supposed to have one mailbox key and one key to my apartment," Fuqua said.

That's when she called Better Call 4 in February. She'd gone nearly five months without mail.

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After speaking with Fuqua on Feb. 5, we were also confused about who was responsible. I even asked a mail carrier, who just happened to be outside of Fuqua's apartment the day we spoke. She told me it was the rental property's responsibility.

And a USPS representative echoed that, telling me in a statement, "We apologize for the miscommunication, but USPS does not own these boxes. Since they are considered ‘privately owned,’ the building management is responsible for maintaining the box including issuing keys."

I then reached out to property management, who told me Fuqua's "mailbox is a USPS mailbox," but added that they made the decision "to replace all of our mailboxes from USPS to our own to avoid this issue happening to anyone else." And went on to say Fuqua's mailbox was replaced on Feb. 12, and she was finally provided with a key on Feb. 21.

I checked back with both the property management and with USPS, but never got a clear answer as to why there was so much confusion about who was responsible for the key.

Need help? Contact ‘Better Call 4’

I also confirmed with Fuqua that she got her key. She did, it works, and she's officially able to get her mail.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) said distracted driving causes thousands of crashes each year, but that number is going down, and they are crediting a lot of that to the state's distracted driving law.

The law has been in place for a little more than a year and is making an impact on the roads.

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Data from the OHSP shows a 45% decrease in serious injury crashes involving distracted driving year to date. Officials credit much of this to the state’s year-old distracted driving law.

“We know that that law is actually saving lives,” said Andy Wilson with the Ohio Department of Public Safety Director.

The Phones Down law allows law enforcement to pull over drivers if they are seen swiping on their phones while moving on the roads.  

Some people said it has made them more aware.

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“I definitely have been more cautious of how I drive,” Columbus resident Sarah Grose said.

In the past year, highway patrol has given out more than 12,000 distracted driving-related violations.

Some people said the threat of being pulled over is not stopping some drivers.

“Just coming down here to Columbus today, you had at least two people who were slow in the passing lane and you look over and they’re on their phone. So it hasn’t changed. People still do what they want to do,” Toledo resident Aaron Koehl said.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety said that this year, it has been able to track phone use on the roads through insurance apps.

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“We know from the information that we have from those companies that since our distracted driving law went into effect, we've had about an 8.6% reduction in the number of people who are using their phones on the road,” Wilson said.

Highway Patrol said Franklin County ranked second in the state for the most distracted driving-related crashes over the last five years, but OSHP said the crashes are down by around 19% statewide.

People on the roads still think there is still improvement to be made.

“Social media is so big, kids on TikTok, Instagram. I know I've been a victim of falling into social media distractedness, but I think it is good to kind of push the standards moving forward,” Grose said.

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If you are pulled over for using your phone while driving there are fines. For a first offense, drivers will get two points on their license and a $150 fine. This could be waived by taking a distracted driving course. If a driver has another offense within two years, they will receive three points and up to $250 fine. Any offense after that within two years is four points, up to a $500 fine, and a possible 90-day suspension of your license. 

The Highway Patrol said if you see someone driving unsafe, you can call #677 to report it.

Watch a previous report on the fatal shooting in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to murder in connection with a 2023 North Linden double shooting.

Paul A. Banks, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to at least 18 years with the possibility of life in prison after pleading guilty to murder with a firearm specification and felonious assault charges on Monday.

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With his plea, Banks admitted to shooting and killing Ronald Price, 60, just before midnight on Jan. 31, 2023, on the 2800 block of Atwood Terrace. Banks also shot a 37-year-old man in the same incident.

The surviving victim told police that he was inside the home when he heard the shooting. When he went to help Price, Banks shot him, police said.

Banks received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 18 years for the murder charge -- 15 years plus an additional three years mandatory for a firearm specification. He also received a concurrent four-year sentence for the felonious assault plea. Should Banks be released from prison, he would receive 18 months to three years of post-release control.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As Ohio families continue to face challenges when it comes to accessing affordable childcare, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is trying to help find solutions.

The chamber Tuesday hosted its first Access and Affordability to Childcare Summit. Dave Smith, Executive Director of Horizon Education Centers, was an attendee and panelist. “A lot of families have to decide do I want to deal with that career loss or am I going to have to figure out some way to pony up the money to pay for quality childcare," he said.

‘Nightmare’ at Downtown office tower has OH Pizza and Brew looking for new home

Often times, one parent in a household decides to leave their job rather than pay for childcare. With about thirty years of experience in the early childcare and education industry, Smith recognized the situation families are in. “Quality childcare in most situations, a family is going to pay more for childcare than they’re going to pay for their mortgage," he said.

He said paying childcare workers enough and staffing levels on the provider side are other big challenges. He described as a tricky situation to be in because enrollment needs to be up to support staffing but many families can't afford enrolling.

“If we can't get enough people to staff and become childcare caregivers, how do we expect to grow the number of options, how do we expect to grow supply and drive down the price," said Rick Carfagna, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

The summit brought together national, local, and state partners. “We have to be very three dimensional in how we address this problem, there’s not going to be a one size fits all approach so we’re going to have to attack it from many different levels," Carfagna said.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on H.B. 68 in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth cannot go into effect as planned next week while a legal challenge moves forward in court, a Franklin County judge ruled Tuesday. 

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook issued a two-week temporary restraining order on Tuesday to block House Bill 68. The legislation would prohibit Ohio’s children’s hospitals from providing treatment like hormone therapy to trans minors, and was set to take effect on April 24.

Tuesday’s ruling follows a lawsuit by the ACLU against the measure filed in March on behalf of two families whose children are at risk of losing access to their healthcare. The temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days or until the hearing of the ACLU's motion for a preliminary injunction.

"We are thrilled and relieved that Ohio’s ban on gender-affirming health care has been halted and that transgender youth can continue, for the near term at least, to access medically necessary healthcare," said Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio. "Our legal battle will continue until, we hope, this cruel restriction is permanently blocked."

The ACLU argues the legislation violates the Ohio Constitution’s single-subject rule, requiring bills to only be about one topic, given the measure addresses trans healthcare and also bans transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. The two provisions had been separate bills before Ohio House legislators combined them in June last year.

H.B. 68 also goes against a constitutional amendment that says no law or rule “shall prohibit the purchase or sale of Health Care or health insurance,” the ACLU said. The amendment led by Ohio Republicans passed in 2011 and aimed to limit the effects of the Affordable Care Act.

The legal challenge came after the Statehouse voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the legislation. DeWine decided to reject the bill after visiting several children’s hospitals, arguing “parents should make these decisions and not the government.”

Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the primary sponsor of H.B. 68, said the complaint is “not surprising” and “par for the course,” and argued H.B. 68 was written “to be bulletproof when it came to lawsuits.” Click said he has the “utmost confidence in our attorney general who is capable of defending such commonsense legislation.” 

“It is going to be a frivolous lawsuit because there is not constitutional right to sterilize children or to harm or to mutilate them,” Click said. “I believe that science and the law is on our side and we will prevail.”

Gender-affirming care is backed by every major medical association in the nation, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association. To override medical consensus is “government overreach,” the ACLU said and promised it will “reinstate Ohio families’ right to make personal medical decisions with healthcare providers -- not politicians.” 

Ohio’s children’s hospitals have served about 3,300 individuals throughout the past 10 years whose first appointment at a gender clinic took place when they were under the age of 18, according to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association president. Of those 3,300 individuals, 7% were prescribed a puberty blocker and 35% were prescribed hormones.

A previous report can be seen in the player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man who has been charged with murder in connection to a fatal shooting of a 21-year-old made his first court appearance on Tuesday.

Kristion Gresham appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court and was given a $1 million bond after being arrested on Saturday and charged with the shooting death of Delvon Wilkerson Jr.

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Gresham, 21, was arrested in connection to a shooting Thursday at the 100 block of East 21st Avenue. Just after 5:15 p.m., Columbus police officers found Gresham with a gunshot wound.

Roughly 30 minutes later, officers went to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and found Wilkerson inside a car that had numerous bullet holes. Wilkerson was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. while Gresham, who had non-life threatening injuries, was arrested at the hospital.

Police believe a fight between Gresham and Wilkerson took place at the East 21st Avenue location, resulting in both men being shot.

Among the conditions of Gresham's bond include no possession of firearms of ammunition. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 25.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Isolated showers, high 78
• Tonight: Scattered showers, low 61
• Wednesday: Showers & t-storms, high 75 (55)
• Thursday: Partly sunny, high 70 (52)
• Friday: Chance rain showers, high 66 (45)
• Saturday: Clearing and cooler, high 61 (41)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

As the afternoon progresses, clouds will begin to build across the area. Temperatures will stay well above normal for this time of year. Highs will reach the upper 70s across central Ohio. By the evening hours a few isolated showers and a couple rumbles of thunder will move over. Portions of the area will be under a marginal risk for severe weather, which is on the lowest end of the threat scale.

Overnight there will be a few more chances for scattered rain chances. On and off rain starts some time after midnight and will linger into the morning commute on Wednesday. Lows overnight will fall into the lower 60s. Wind gusts will begin to pick up a little bit. Once the morning rain chances taper off there will be a few breaks in the clouds allowing for peaks of sunshine.

Wednesday afternoon will bring better chances for strong to severe thunderstorms. Most of these storms will push though around the mid to late afternoon hours. The primary severe weather threat will be for large hail. There is also the chance for some damaging winds. Flooding and tornado chances will be very low. Highs tomorrow will be in the mid 70s.

The rest of the work week will start a cooling trend in out temperatures. Thursday will be dry, but Friday will bring a few more rain chances. Expect drier conditions by this weekend with temps topping off right around 60 degrees. Lows by the weekend will be in the lower 40s.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – An Indian restaurant will open its doors in Pickerington this spring.

Indian Spice, at 1111 Hill Road North, will have a “huge menu” filled with authentic Indian dishes, according to co-owner Bhim Dulal.

Smoothie bowl shop opens near Quarry Trails Metro Park

Among the restaurant's offerings are chicken marsala, butter chicken, lamb chops, chicken biryani and vegetarian meals. The eatery will also serve Indian beers and cocktails. Dulal said he chose to open his restaurant in Pickerington because of the growth the city is seeing and the lack of Indian food in the area.

“I am a real estate salesperson, so I see the demand that Indian food is needed in this area,” Dulal said. 

Indian Spice’s opening date will likely fall in the second or third week of May, Dulal said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A store featuring smoothie bowls, juices and more is open for business.

Playa Bowls is welcoming customers at 2193 Quarry Trails Drive after holding its opening March 30, according to its social media post.

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The Quarry Trails spot joins other central Ohio locations including its Ohio State University eatery on North High Street, Perimeter Loop Road in Dublin, and its New Albany location on North Hamilton Road.

The smoothie place first started in Belmar, New Jersey, eventually expanding with over 200 stores nationwide, according to its website. Along with its four central Ohio stores, there are other locations in Ohio including Dayton and Loveland.

The company's menu features a variety of options for customers to choose from including bowls that contain yogurt with granola, honey, fruits and can even have peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella and more. Certain flavor bowls are also blended with protein as well.

The shop also has smoothies and juices ranging in flavors with many ingredients from pineapple, mango and apple to beet, spinach and kale.

Playa Bowls at Quarry Trails is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new opportunity for Columbus solar panel owners to take money off of their bills has come from a city council vote on Monday.

A new code change approved by the council established a net metering service, which enables Columbus Division of Power customers to sell their unused energy back to the city's public utilities department. Councilmember Chris Wyche said residents with solar panels on their homes will now have the chance to earn discounts from them.

"It is essentially a billing tool that allows residents who do have solar panels on their homes to sell excess energy back to the grid," Wyche said. "So, Columbus Division of Power customers now have that option."

Wyche said residents won't have to do anything to get the money. All it takes for residents to benefit is to have solar panels on their homes. The money comes in the form of a credit on a resident's utility bills.

"That is something that the Division of Power will do to monitor how their usage is interacting with the grid, how much they're pulling down, and how much they're submitting back to the grid," Wyche said. "It is pretty much hands-off from their perspective."

Columbus is working toward its hope of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 with the solar panel code change, as well as another ordinance. Alongside allowing residents to sell their unused energy, a program will connect low-to-moderate-income households with solar systems.

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The council also approved the awarding of a 2023 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $167,302.25 from American Municipal Power, Inc. to go toward a contract with Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and IMPACT Community Action. This funding goes to a co-op that helps install solar energy systems in households of residents with low-to-moderate incomes.

Both pieces of legislation passing on the same night couldn't have been more convenient, according to Wyche.

"The timing is perfect, right? Because having this code change in place means that more folks are incentivized to actually get solar panels on their homes," Wyche said. "They can truly reap the benefits of having those solar panels."

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The LMI co-op is a partnership program between the City of Columbus, SUN, and IMPACT Community Action. Initially, the program will serve a total of 17 households -- Wyche said the new grant funds 11 to 16 -- with the goal of expanding in the future. The co-op is free to join, and does not lock customers in to purchasing a system. Once the group is large enough, an installer is selected after submitting bids reviewed by the co-op members. Individual members can then decide if going with solar is right for them.

"The intention is to provide a tangible pathway to residential solar for residents that may not be able to afford the upfront installation costs," IMPACT Director of Climate Justice Initiatives Katie Devlin said. "As a member of the cohort, eligible households will be able to receive a residential rooftop array and battery system, free of charge to the resident."

SUN Ohio Program Associate Mryia Williams said the two pieces of legislation go hand in hand. As the city encourages solar energy, the limited number of residents using it needs to grow somehow, and the newly passed ordinances will get solar panels in more Columbus homes while encouraging it for others.

"In Columbus, our Department of Energy only has a handful of customers who currently have solar," Williams said. "That's because those were the only ones that could see the economic viability of adding solar to their home."

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Wyche explained why the two pieces of legislation were crucial to a much larger goal: combatting climate change.

"Every month seems to be the hottest month ever on record," Wyche said. "So, it's very evident that climate change is real. The more that we can do to kind of make it easy for people to transition to renewable energy, the better we are in the long run. My office has set the goal of Columbus being the greenest city in the country. And it starts with doing simple things."

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Penzone Salon and Spa has finished the transformation of its former flagship location into a new multipurpose building, equipped for corporate gatherings and home to a training salon, co-working spaces for rent, a yoga studio and a café.

The beauty company has repurposed its original building constructed in 1991 at 6671 Village Pkway. in Dublin into a new 18,000 square-foot space called "Penzone Base One." The 33-year-old building sits on the company's 3.52-acre Dublin campus, the same property that's home to Penzone's salon and spa built in 2018 and a new "live-work" building under construction that will feature an art gallery and residence for the company's founder.

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"Base One is intended to spark energy, boost individuals and connect people," said Debbie Penzone, the company's president. "We see this as a space for our team, our local salon and spa colleagues, and salon industry professionals from all across the United States -- all to propel the beauty industry forward."

Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)

The company's sixth salon and spa will operate out of Base One, serving as a training site providing bookable services for guests to be models as Penzone artists sharpen their skills. The salon and spa may also be rented by manufacturers and industry artists for classes.

Each month, Base One will curate ticketed events for "training, education and community cultivation." Studios, including three outdoor spaces, are available for rent for training events, team buildings, wellness retreats, special happy hours and more. Each space is customizable, with programming amenities like art classes and catering by Cameron Mitchell Premier Events.

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Several other spaces will also be available for rent in Base One, including office suites, spa suites, an on-air studio, idea room and co-working office rentals. Office renters will be able to furnish their office to their liking and will have key fob access. Spa suites will give any spa or wellness practitioner, tiny tattoo artist and others a private room with flexible rental term options.

• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)

The idea room is equipped to handle whiteboard sessions and multimedia presentations for groups of 10 or less. The on-air studio is acoustically optimized for creators and influencers to produce podcasts and audio recordings, while photographers and videographers can utilize the
creative studio.

In addition, L I T Life + Yoga will operate out of Base One's "movement studio." More than 17 weekly classes and a series of labs and special events will allow students of all levels to explore the benefits of yoga, movement and meditation. This is Penzone's second L I T Life + Yoga space after its flagship studio opened in Italian Village in 2017.

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Base One will also be home to a café and bar with complimentary Crimson Cup drip coffee, water and small bits from Krema Nut Co. Made-to-order café drinks and cocktails will
be available during curated events.

• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)
• Inside Penzone's 18,000 square-foot Base One building in Dublin. (Courtesy Photo/Penzone Salon and Spa)

"Whether here for a training, event, yoga class, team building retreat, or to run a business, our goal is that everyone will leave a little bit changed -- feeling enlightened, inspired, connected and fulfilled," Penzone said.

The transformation continues a series of renovations across the company's portfolio. Penzone constructed its new Dublin salon in 2018, followed by a new Short North location the same year. The Polaris and German Village locations have also undergone remodeling. In April of 2022, Penzone opened a New Albany salon, replacing the area's former location on Cherry Way.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A pizza shop Downtown wants out of its current location, citing a "nightmare" at the property ever since a new owner bought it.

Luke Edwards, the owner of OH Pizza and Brew, announced Wednesday on the shop's social media that he plans to relocate his shop after six years at 88 E. Broad St. The straw that broke the camel's back came in the form of a letter from AEP Ohio. The utility provider's notice stated that due to a lack of payment, it would be disconnecting electricity at the building, known for its Key Bank branding.

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"It has become obvious that the owners of 88 E Broad St. no longer care or are completely inept," Edwards wrote. "Since SPG sold it over a year ago, it has been nothing but a nightmare. Water, electrical, heating and cooling issues have plagued our operation to the point of complete shutdowns on top of the terrible electric shorting out our refrigeration equipment. This is not okay and I can’t continue to operate a business like this."

A New York-based company, Baruch Broad Street LLC, acquired the tower housing OH Pizza and Brew for $12,025,000 in January 2022, according to the Franklin County Auditor's Office. Business records from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office tie the LLC to Asher Roshanzamir, the CEO of Zamir Equities, also based in New York.

Zamir Equities did not respond to a request for comment on the issues Edwards referenced. But the pizza shop owner did speak with NBC4, sharing an array of issues that have hurt his business since the takeover.

After Roshanzamir's shell company took over, Edwards said it hired Colliers International to manage the property. The group honored OH Pizza and Brew's existing lease with the prior owner, but other financial problems appeared.

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The pizza shop owner described multiple instances where maintenance work on the skyscraper would force him to close his store, sometimes for multiple days in a row, because he could not operate with shut-off utilities during the work. With the past owner, this resulted in a discounted rate on his monthly rent. But within the first month and with a five-day shutdown, Edwards said the property manager hit his business with a late notice, claiming he only paid a partial amount.

Colliers has cycled through three lead managers since taking over management at the Key Bank Building, Edwards noted. And he blamed the property management for a nearly $10,000 burglary, which resulted in Edwards having to replace all of his point-of-sale systems.

Because the building's storefronts use magnetic locks, his team had no control over the OH Pizza and Brew's security or when the doors would shut.

"Over Christmas, they didn't lock the doors. We got burglarized," Edwards said. "He came in, thought we were open and wanted to use the restroom. We got him on camera. He looked around, he sat there for 30 minutes, walked around in my kitchen, grabbed pretzels and just started eating them. … Lo and behold, he took our registers."

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Edwards owner said that he has avoided involving attorneys or officially going through Franklin County courts to put his rent in escrow, and instead has directly negotiated his rent factoring in shutdowns with the owner. More recently, the owners initiated court proceedings to put OH Pizza and Brew in rent default, according to Edwards.

The management company, Colliers, suffered from payment issues with the owners as well, Edwards said. It left and then returned after the owners paid them for an additional month, but as of Monday, Edwards said the property owners had not paid Colliers beyond that.

AEP Ohio's communications team told NBC4 that it couldn't discuss individual customer accounts like the one for the Key Bank Building. However, they did share that the utility provider had withdrawn disconnection orders for the skyscraper and had no plans to do so as of Tuesday.

One of Edwards' biggest concerns through the issues at the Key Bank Building has been his employees' wellbeing and was part of his decision to get them to a new location.

Ice Cube's return rounds out 2024 Ohio State Fair concert schedule

"It sucks because … when my staff looks at me, I want to be able to tell them 'Hey, I've got your back. We're doing this together,'" Edwards said. "When the riots were going on Downtown, I was standing right there with them."

For the future, OH Pizza and Brew is looking for another location Downtown, rather than a long-distance relocation, Edwards said. He asked customers on social media to "please be kind as the next couple days, weeks or months will be bad."

"We've had a lot of suitors try to get us elsewhere, and my biggest thing is, for the staff, I want to be there for them," Edwards said. "So I want to keep it as close as possible. … We're going to stay open until we find a better place."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio State Fair concert schedule is complete with a world famous rapper returning to Columbus.

Rap icon Ice Cube, who performed at the 2022 Ohio State Fair, is returning as he headlines the final announcement of concerts. The 2024 Ohio State Fair will take place from July 24 to Aug. 4 with Ice Cube scheduled to perform on July 30 at 7 p.m.

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Three more concerts were announced Tuesday as well. The All-Ohio State Fair Band and Youth Choir is set for an afternoon performance on July 28. Eagles tribute band Hotel California will perform on July 30 in the afternoon before Ice Cube. The final concert of this year's fair will be country singer Jamey Johnson with special guest Southhall on Aug. 3.

The fair's final show will once again be the champions livestock auction, which will take place on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the remaining concerts will go on sale on Friday with prices varying for each show. Each concert ticket includes admission to the fair. Follow this link for ticket information. All concerts will take place at the Celeste Center.

• KIDZ BOP 2024
• Alabama
• MONTREAL, QUEBEC - AUGUST 18: Jade Eagleson performs at the Lasso Montreal festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau on August 18, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Mark Horton/Getty Images)
• SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: Eric Kretz and Jeff Gutt pose alongside other members of Stone Temple Pilots at The Hard Rock Cafe in Darling Harbour during a media call for Under The Southern Stars 2022 on March 09, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
• TOLUCA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 02: Soul Asylum performing as part of day 1 of the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2022 at Foro Pegaso on December 2, 2022 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images)
• NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO - FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Wanyá Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris of Boyz II Men perform on the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort on February 21, 2024 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (Photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)
• LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 03: America's Got Talent Season 12 finalist and comedian Preacher Lawson performs during the America's Got Talent Las Vegas LIVE preview event at the Luxor Hotel and Casino on November 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
• All-Ohio State Fair band
• La Zenda Norteña
• 
• Hotel California
• GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 05: Ice Cube performs on stage at The OVO Hydro on December 05, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)
• In this image released on December 31, 2023, Gabriel Iglesias arrives at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
• Stephen Sanchez
• Ohio Players
• Midnight Star
• Jamey Johnson

Ohio State Fair concert schedule

• July 24, 6:30 p.m.: KIDZ BOP
• July 25, 7 p.m.: Alabama with Jade Eagleson
• July 26, 7:30 p.m.: Stone Temple Pilots with Soul Asylum
• July 27, 7 p.m.: Boyz II Men with Preacher Lawson
• July 28, 1 p.m.: All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir
• July 28, 7:30 p.m.: La Zenda Norteña
• July 29, 7 p.m.: Lauren Daigle
• July 30, 1 p.m.: Hotel California (Eagles Tribute)
• July 30, 7 p.m.: Ice Cube
• July 31, 7 p.m.: Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias
• Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: Stephen Sanchez
• Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m.: Ohio Players and Midnight Star
• Aug. 3, 7 p.m.: Jamey Johnson with Southhall
• Aug. 4, 2 p.m.: Sale of Champions Livestock Auction

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A Columbus police officer was hospitalized after a two-car crash south of Downtown early Tuesday morning.

According to a sergeant on scene, an officer was responding to a call when they were struck by another vehicle and pinned to the side of a building near the intersection of South 3rd Street and Columbus Street in German Village. The crash occurred at around 12:45 a.m.

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The officer was taken to Grant Medical Center in stable condition. No injury information was provided for the other driver or what led up to the crash.

Watch a previous NBC4 report on the lawsuit against Hilliard schools in the video player above.

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- Several central Ohio parents suing Hilliard City Schools allege a student suffering from "severe emotional trauma" was pressured by teachers to adopt "a new name and identity as the opposite sex."

Nine Hilliard parents say school officials "treated the child as the opposite sex" without parental consent after "diagnosing" the student with gender dysphoria, according to the filing in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Ohio. The complaint claims the district deceived the student's parents, while the child's "condition spiraled out of control" and led to a suicide attempt.

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"The district's acts were reckless because district officials are not qualified -- and are specifically denied entitlement to -- make diagnoses and treatment decisions for somebody else's child," the parents' second amended complaint filed on April 1 argues. "Such acts will inevitably lead to harm."

While referring to the student as "an opposite-sex name" in school, teachers referred to the child in the presence of their parents with pronouns consistent with their "biological sex," meaning the sex listed on the student's birth certificate. The parents only learned the district "treated [the student] for gender dysphoria" when a school secretary sent the child a postcard, the complaint claims.

Hilliard City Schools did not respond to NBC4's request for comment, but said a previous version of the parents' suit consisted "of thread-bare assertions, innuendo, rumor, and spurious legal conclusions." Hilliard Superintendent David Stewart previously said the filing was "filled with misstatements of fact and mischaracterizations."

Still, the parents are now seeking damages and are asking the court to deem the district's "policies" unconstitutional. The group says, through "professional therapy and counseling," that the student and their parents now understand the child's "problems were not gender dysphoria."

This student's alleged experience is one of several reasons the parents said they are concerned the district is "hiding their child's gender dysphoria from them," the complaint states. The group asks in the filing whether the district could "affirmatively deceive parents" if said parent is not a "safe person" because they don't support the LGBTQ+ community.

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"'Support' for '[LGBTQ+] youth or issues' is a matter of personal opinion," the parents state. "Thus, a district official's opinion of whether a parent is a 'safe person' could arise from judgments related to a parent’s constitutionally-protected practices, such as practicing certain religions, expressing certain political views."

The suit also renews calls on the court to stop district teachers from wearing LGBTQ-supportive badges that read "I'm Here" with a Pride flag design on the front, a request made in the parents' first complaint against the district filed in January of 2023.

Teachers were given permission to continue wearing the badges in 2022 after some parents expressed concern over a code on the back that could lead to websites inappropriate for children. School officials said in January of last year they discussed the possibility of students accessing inappropriate material, and agreed that the codes should be covered so that they would not be visible. The district said at the time it was not aware of any student accessing the QR code or materials.

"Any teacher who chose to wear one of the badges clearly understood that the resources at the link were intended for adults, not students," Stewart said in a statement in 2022. "The resources are provided for teachers’ personal growth and professional development."

The April filing also raises the issue of surveys allegedly given to students, asking which pronouns they prefer at school and which pronouns students prefer the teacher use when speaking to parents, a second renewed claim that was made in the original 2023 filing. However, school officials said the survey was not a practice of the district. Stewart said he made clear to administrators that the district does not support surveying students on this topic or in this context.

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Another claim made in the first filing said school officials were allowing "activist teachers" to facilitate conversations on sexual orientation and gender identity with children as young as 6 years old without parental consent. The complaint had said teachers were taking specific actions to hide these conversations, calling the situation "a recipe for indoctrination and child abuse."

However, this language was removed from the parents' most recent filing. At the time, the district said "making broad-brush accusations such as those in this lawsuit detract from the district's mission and the educational efforts of our dedicated staff and teachers."

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Spotty PM showers, high 76
• Tonight: Rain arriving, low 62
• Wednesday: On/off t-showers, breezy, high 75
• Thursday: Partly cloudy, high 70
• Friday: Early AM showers, clearing, high 64
• Saturday: Partly cloudy, high 59

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Tuesday!

We start the day off on a dry note, with gradually increasing cloud coverage. We'll see highs warm into the middle 70s, with a light breeze. A warm front then lifts north through the state this afternoon, and we'll see a few spotty showers as a result, between about 2-5 PM for Central Ohio, and lingering just a bit longer for our eastern counties. This is not a day where everyone will see showers, but some of us will.

As a result, we've got an isolated severe threat, mainly for strong winds and hail.

More rain then arrives overnight and into Wednesday. Expect showers and rumbles during the morning, then some dry time through the middle of the day, before more rain and thunderstorms arrive along a cold front during the afternoon and evening. We will see a slightly higher, 2-out-of-5 risk for a strong to severe storm during that timeframe.

Main threats will be strong winds and large hail, with an isolated tornado chance.

Thursday will be dry, and we start to clear up. We'll see some sunshine, with highs dropping back near 70.

We then start Friday off with a few spotty showers during the morning, then clearing into the afternoon. Highs fall back to the middle 60s for Friday.

-McKenna

KILEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) - A railroad crossing in Madison County is beginning to crumble only a month after repairs.

The crossing on OH-161 between Dublin and Plain City sees thousands of vehicles per day. According to the Ohio Railway Commission, almost 10,000 vehicles cross that stretch of tracks daily. However, the last count at that location took place in 2004.

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Roger Spring began making calls to CSX Railroads in 2023 as the crossing condition began to deteriorate. He saw chunks of concrete the size of bowling balls lying in the road at times.

NBC4 spoke to Spring and several other people who travel that route on OH-161 every day in late February. Two weeks later, on March 7, the crossing was closed. Repairs were made that day, but Spring and several others quickly noticed it wasn't holding up.

"It's really bad,” he said. “You still have to slow down. Not quite as bad as it was before, but you still need to slow down a good bit. Well, it probably only took about three weeks. Concrete reinforced with rebar between the rails and on each side of the rails, on the road, sides of the rail and about three weeks after the repairs were made. That's roughly speaking, the one of the concrete sections started to break out.”

The crossing presents several dangers. One person said their tire that was popped after driving over the crossing with loose concrete and steel. Other stories of rear-end accidents and near collisions have been told as well. One major issue is the difference in the speed at which drivers approach the crossing. Some drivers slow down to approach. Others maintain a speed around the speed limit of 55 miles per hour.

"They're going to slow down, but the problem is, when they slow down, the guy behind them may not necessarily," Spring said.

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This can cause a situation where one car slows down significantly to cross the track, and then begins to accelerate on the other side. Their brake lights are no longer engaged while they accelerate but are still traveling much slower than the 55-mph speed limit. Another driver who travels over the crossing at full speed can find themselves far closer to the car in front of them than anticipated as they cross the track.

Spring was skeptical when he saw how much time the crew spent on the repairs that day, which was about six hours.

"When I saw that they didn't make any repair to the rails in terms of reinforcing the underside of that, I did not think this would hold up well, of which has proven to be the case,” he said. “The concrete that broke out had already broken down to the rebar. So they put asphalt on top of that.”

Fixing the approach and crossing for a railroad is the responsibility of the railroad company, according to Ohio law. During the March 21, 2024, meeting of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, Executive Director Matt Dietrich addressed the public concern with the deterioration and condition of railroad crossings in the state. He said:

"The surface conditions of rail grade crossings continue to be an issue for communities. Standalone grade crossing surface projects are difficult to address in Ohio. By Ohio law, which dates to the early 1950s, grade crossing surfaces are the responsibility of the railroad. However, deteriorating conditions can result in safety concerns for vehicular traffic. Federal safety funds can only be used when there is an identified safety concern. As a result, the Rail Commission must wait for PUCO inspectors to identify the crossing as a concern before we can engage the railroad about doing a project. Additionally, by policy we do not want the public to pay 100% of the costs for a project that is, by state law, the railroad’s responsibility. Therefore, we negotiate with the railroad to balance the railroad responsibility under state law with the safety concerns of the traveling public. It is a less than ideal situation because PUCO has no enforcement authority even if they find issues at the crossing. Because concerns about surfaces is an issue that is getting more attention from the public, I wanted to provide background of the situation and the Commission’s role in addressing those issues."

Now, a month after temporary repairs, many in the Plain City area are talking about plans for a permanent fix this summer. In a community Facebook group, one person posted that they were told CSX was going to shut down the road at the crossing in Kileville for seven to ten days for reconstruction during the summer. Just the thought of a permanent fix has other residents like Spring hopeful.

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"It's nice that we will have finally, hopefully a permanent fix," he said.

NBC4 reached out to CSX Railroads, Ohio Rail Development Commission, and Plain City officials to try to confirm whether or not construction was planned for the reconstruction of the railroad crossing. That information has not yet been confirmed as of Monday night.