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Man guilty of 2021 robbery, fatal shooting in east Columbus

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 18:51

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was convicted of charges related to a fatal 2021 shooting during a robbery.

Xavier Wilks, 31, of Columbus, was found guilty Friday of murder, aggravated robbery, weapons under disability, and possessing a firearm while committing crimes charges after a four-day trial.

According to Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack, on Sept. 16, 2021, Travis Kinsley, 23, of Franfort, was walking near East Main Street and Nelson Road when he was approached by Wilks.

Grove City man sentenced for possessing fentanyl and pandemic aid fraud

Wilks pulled a handgun and attempted to rob Kinsley, but as Kinsley tried to defend himself with his own handgun, Wilks pulled the trigger, hitting Kinsley once in the chest, Tyack said in a press release.

Kinsley was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Wilks will be sentenced at a later date.

Categories: Ohio News

Blustery, colder, morning snow showers

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 14:05
Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

Low pressure in southeastern Canada swept a cold front through Ohio earlier in the day, bringing an end to the rain and unseasonably mild weather. Temperatures fell into the 40s, with a gusty west wind and remaining cloud cover.

Rain showers will develop later tonight and turn to snow showers, as colder air filters into the state in a northwesterly flow. A light accumulation is possible Sunday morning on grassy surfaces north of I-70. Skies will remain mostly cloudy, with winds gusting between 20 and 30 mph, and temperatures stuck in the 30s with and a wind chill in the 20s.

Skies will be sunny to early next week, as high pressure builds in from the west, with rapidly moderating weather. Temperatures will rebound into the 60s beginning on Tuesday.

Clouds will increase midweek in a stronger southwesterly flow. A cold front will arrive at the end of the week, bringing some showers. Cooler weather returns next weekend.

Forecast
  • Saturday: Cloudy, breezy, chilly. Stead temps. (mid-40s)
  • Tonight: Blustery, colder, rain/snow showers. Low 31
  • Sunday: Early flurries, clouds, brisk. High 39
  • Monday: Sunny, milder. High 53 (27)
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 62 (35)
  • Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 66 (42)
  • Thursday: Clouds increase. High 70 (47)
  • Friday: Showers. High 63 (53)
Categories: Ohio News

Grove City man sentenced for possessing fentanyl and pandemic aid fraud

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 08:30

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – A Grove City man was sentenced to prison on Thursday for possessing and planning to distribute fentanyl, along with other drug, gun and wire fraud charges. 

Dylan Polk, 31, of Grove City was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was charged federally in October 2022 and pleaded guilty in October 2023, the evening before his jury trial was scheduled to begin.

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In October 2022, federal agents searched a property associated with Polk. They discovered more than a kilogram of fentanyl and a bulk amount of cocaine. Investigators also discovered five firearms, including a converted Glock-pistol fully automatic weapon and an AR style rifle, according to court documents. As a previously convicted felon, Polk was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Additionally, Polk committed fraud related to employment and pandemic relief assistance, according to United States Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth Parker.

Polk fraudulently collected public employment assistance funds although he was not working. Specifically, Polk reported income from Our Lady of America Farms in 2020; however, records indicate that company was dissolved in 2018. Polk also claimed to be a barber for three years and, in 2020, received more than $12,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance. Polk was incarcerated from 2016 until 2020 and was not employed.

Polk is charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

Categories: Ohio News

Ohio 'super load' update: Which parts of highways will see traffic delays

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 06:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The first of two dozen "super loads" traveling across Central Ohio from a dock in Manchester is expected to pass through Groveport this weekend, shutting down stretches of State Route 317 in the process.

The first of the oversized loads is moving along as planned and on schedule. But the current shipment is set for arrival at a Freepoint Eco-Systems recycling facility near Hebron, not Intel's Ohio One site in New Albany. Most of the incoming loads will head to Intel, however.

The load started in Adams County, and then moved through Lucasville, Chillicothe, and Pickaway County, before arriving at its resting point near Rickenbacker Airport on Friday.

  • (NBC4 Photo/Thomas Gardner)
  • (NBC4 Photo/Thomas Gardner)
  • (NBC4 Photo/Thomas Gardner)
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On Saturday at 7 a.m., the super load will move through the Groveport area, along the following route:

  • Depart from Rickenbacker Parkway and travel north to Alum Creek Drive
  • Continue north on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road 
  • Travel east on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive 
  • Travel north on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive South  
  • Travel east on Green Point Drive South to Saltzgaber Road 
  • Travel south on Saltzgaber Road to State Route 317 
  • Travel north in the southbound lanes on State Route 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road east

After that, the load will continue its journey on Sunday, with the first leg of that trip going from Bixby Road to U.S. 33. The shipment is scheduled to reach its final destination in Hebron on Monday.

Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams said that motorists can expect to experience traffic delays on at least one major Ohio roadway.

"People have been asking me what am I anticipating the shutdowns being, like I said again, it's going to be in sections, different sections of State Route 317," Adams said.

According to Ohio Department of Transportation Press Secretary Matt Bruning, referring to these delays as road shutdowns or closures is not quite accurate. He said slow-moving roadblocks could briefly stop traffic at times, but that they won't completely close roads, instead slowing traffic flow when the loads are on certain sections of the roadways. Predicting the exact time that the shipment will be in certain areas isn't possible, he said, meaning an exact timeline for delays won't be available.

Bruning said that the load currently being transported is one of the smaller super loads. He referred to the current shipment as "only 390,000 pounds," saying that some of the future trips will move much heavier loads. Later on, the loads will weigh in at as much as 900,000 pounds.

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Locals who may want to observe the super loads are more than welcome, Bruning said. However, he did ask onlookers to keep their distance. Bruning added the transportation project entails a lot of moving parts, and that people should be aware of that when planning to view the shipments.

“It's amazing to see that there's so much interest and I hope that that interest for the first one is the same interest that we see at the 24th one,” Bruning said.

Adams described good places for people to come and witness the caravan.

"There are parking lots along the route if they want to take pictures or see them being transported," Adams said. "Don't park along the side of the road because again, emergency equipment may need to use those berms to get around to get to different situations.

An ODOT news release on Friday revealed that the second super load will head for Central Ohio next week. The next load will depart from Adams County on Wednesday.

Categories: Ohio News

Best places for 9 popular indoor activities in Columbus

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 04:30

When the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, it's not too difficult to get out of the house and find something to do, whether it's a simple walk around the block or a day trip to the beach. But when temperatures are lower or rain is trickling down your windows, you're probably more likely to stay inside—and that's true no matter your age.

A 2020 survey of about 1,000 people from the National Recreation and Park Association showed that 58% of U.S. adults are less active in the winter. Similarly, a 2016 study out of the University of Cambridge found that average activity levels among children dropped to their lowest levels in February at about 48 minutes per day compared to 65 minutes per day in April, the peak month for activity.

The good news is there are an increasing number of ways to get out and be active, no matter the season and no matter what level of activity you're looking for. There are the longtime staples to visit year-round, from an awe-inspiring and educational visit to an aquarium or planetarium to a culturally stimulating night at the theater to a trip down memory lane at the bowling alley. For the gamers among you—or for those nostalgic for the 1970s, '80s, and '90s—there's always laser tag or an afternoon at the arcade.

Those looking to exercise their minds a bit more than their muscles could try the more recent sensation: escape rooms, which started captivating Americans of all ages in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, people who want to sweat it out a bit can try to get into the skyrocketing success of indoor rock climbing, the bouncing business of trampoline parks, and the more adult activity that is ax throwing.

To motivate you to try a new activity this weekend, weather notwithstanding, Stacker compiled a list of the best places for popular indoor activities in Columbus using data from Yelp. Data is as of Feb. 21, 2024. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

1 / 9 Atmosphere1 // Shutterstock

Arcade: Level One Bar + Arcade

- Rating: 4.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Hutchinson Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, Arcades
Read more on Yelp

2 / 9 Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock

Bowling: Pins Mechanical

- Rating: 4.2/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4117 Worth Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Bars, Bowling, Arcades
Read more on Yelp

3 / 9 BearFotos // Shutterstock

Laser tag: RollHouse Entertainment - Columbus

- Rating: 3.6/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 Georgesville Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Bowling, Laser Tag, American
Read more on Yelp

4 / 9 wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

Rock climbing: Chambers Purely Boulders

- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 1165 Chambers Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Rock Climbing, Climbing
Read more on Yelp

5 / 9 Pavel Gabzdyl // Shutterstock

Planetarium: Cosi- Center Of Science And Industry

- Rating: 3.9/5 (288 reviews)
- Address: 333 West Broad St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Museums, Planetarium
Read more on Yelp

6 / 9 Aldo_Parrotta // Shutterstock

Ax throwing: Columbus Axe Throwing

- Rating: 4.8/5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 560 South High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Ax Throwing
Read more on Yelp

7 / 9 BearFotos // Shutterstock

Escape games: Great Room Escape

- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 1495 Morse Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Escape Games
Read more on Yelp

8 / 9 aerogondo2 // Shutterstock

Theater: Ohio Theatre

- Rating: 4.5/5 (100 reviews)
- Address: 39 East State St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Performing Arts
Read more on Yelp

9 / 9 UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

Trampoline park: Big Air Trampoline Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Polaris Pkwy Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Trampoline Parks
Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 251 metros.

Categories: Ohio News

Rainy and breezy start to the weekend

News Channel 4 - Sat, 03/09/2024 - 03:35
Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:
  • Today: Rain showers and breezy, high 50
  • Tonight: Chance for light mix, low 30
  • Sunday: Flurries & breezy, high 39 (28)
  • Monday: Sunny skies, high 52 (37)
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high 64 (42)
  • Wednesday: Partly cloudy, high 67 (48)
FORECAST DISCUSSION:

A cold front is pushing its way through the region today. There will be plenty of rain showers that will continue to move through central Ohio this Saturday. Rain chances will be highest until noon, then we'll transition to spotty drizzle. Winds will be gusty for the majority of the day. Temperatures will continue to drop falling from the low 50s this morning down to the mid 40s this afternoon.

Overnight will be mainly cloudy. As temperatures continue to fall, we will watch for some light wintry mix that will turn into light snow flurries by the morning. Lows will fall to the low 30s. Wind speeds will continue to stay breezy overnight as wind direction starts to shift from the northwest. Wind chills will drop to the low 20s

On the back end of this cold front we will see below average temperatures on Sunday. Highs will struggle to hit the 40 degree mark. We will stay breezy, so wind chills will stay in the 20s all day. Flurries are expected to end by the middle of the morning, but skies will remain mostly cloudy for the majority of the day. A few areas of clearing clouds will arrive by the afternoon.

Categories: Ohio News

17-year-old in custody after fatal shooting in Delaware

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 20:05

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – A 17-year-old is in custody after a man was shot and killed in Delaware on Friday afternoon. 

Delaware police officers were called to the first block of Ross Street on the report of a shooting just before 4 p.m., according to the City of Delaware. A caller told police a male suspect fled the scene on foot.

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When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound lying in Ross Street. The victim was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries. 

Police located the 17-year-old suspect in the area shortly after the shooting and he was taken into custody without incident. He will be held at the Central Ohio Youth Center pending murder charges in the Delaware County Juvenile Court. 

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of family, the City of Delaware said. 

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing; anyone with information may contact the Delaware Police Department’s tip line at 740-203-1112 or PoliceTipLine@delawareohio.net.

Categories: Ohio News

Pedestrian in critical condition after Columbus hit-and-run

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 18:43

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A pedestrian is in critical condition after a hit-and-run in Columbus on Friday evening.

Police were called to the intersection of East Livingston Avenue and Mayfield Place near the Berwick neighborhood at 7:58 p.m., according to the Columbus Division of Police. A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle that did not stop and was transported to Grant Medical Center in critical condition.

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Columbus police have not released any further information as of 8:40 p.m.

Categories: Ohio News

Central Ohio ski season coming to a close, shortened by mild winter

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 16:30

ZANESFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) – After a mild start to the season and some ups and downs, especially with the temperatures, ski season in central Ohio is coming to an end.

Mad River Mountain and Snow Trails announced their last day open will be March 10. 

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“It’s a great day, there’s hardly anyone here and snow looks like it's good so I'm looking forward to it," Anton Freihofner said. “I wanted to get different types of snow experience and things of that sort.”

He said skiing sounded better than doing yard work so he spent part of his Friday at Mad River Mountain. He also had some lift tickets left he wanted to use before the season ended. Despite a lot of mud and grass visible, six of the resort's 20 trails were still open. Sunday will mark the finish line of 65 straight days being open.

"The ones that come out and see us they’re just happy we’re open because there hasn’t been a lot of snow in their yards so they don't think we have snow here, but we still do and we’re going to keep skiing as long as we can," said Alajos Fiel, General Manager at Mad River Mountain.

He's worked at the resort since 2009. He said mother nature this season brought new challenges each week.

“We’ve always had issues throughout the winter with weather but this one seems to be a little bit bigger of a stretch of that temperamental weather where we get the warm and rain and like I said the teams done an amazing job keeping the spirits up and excitement up to get us back out there," Fiel said.

He said it's a bittersweet time of year. The team at Snow Trails had similar feelings. Weather allowed for 71 days open this season. That's about two weeks less than what they've averaged the past five years, according to Nate Wolleson, Marketing Manager for the resort.

“It’s a lot of fun, the freedom the slopes provide, so yeah, of course, we don't want to cut that short, we want to make sure we offer as many days as possible but also interest starts to decrease as well," he said.

Categories: Ohio News

Ohio radio station that replaced CD 92.9 halts alternative music in apparent rebrand

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 16:23

View a previous report on 93X's launch in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The radio station that set up shop on CD 92.9's former FM frequency has rebranded, once again switching up the sound in the span of a month.

When contract negotiations fell through between alternative radio station CD 92.9 and FM frequency licensees Delmar and ICS Communications, station owner Randy Malloy announced his team would stop providing audio to broadcast effective Feb. 1. On that same day, Delmar and ICS launched their own radio station on the 92.9 FM frequency called 93X. The company owners said the new station would keep the alternative format and also place the same emphasis on supporting local artists in central Ohio.

Program Director Ian Graham sits at a computer in 93X's studio. (NBC4 Photo/Greg O'Leary)

Through February and the beginning of March, the station frequently played local artists' songs and showcased interviews recorded at area concerts. But on Friday, that new, yet familiar sound disappeared. Listeners reported to NBC4 that the station apparently switched genres away from alternative. During an aircheck heard on the broadcast, a DJ called the station "My 92.9" instead of 93X, and advertised it as an oldies station.

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As part of the separation with Malloy's CD 92.9, the station swapped its former callsign WWCD out for WXGT. While the station changed names from 93X to My 92.9, a DJ also used the same WXGT callsign during an aircheck.

While real estate listings showed Malloy is selling the building his CD 92.9 station operated out of, his team has continued to use the old callsign as branding on an internet radio stream, called "WWCD Radio." Federal Communications Commission filings showed another radio station picked up the official WWCD callsign, but quietly abandoned it days later.

NBC4 reached out to ICS Communications for more information on the apparent rebranding, but did not hear back as of 6:30 p.m. The 93X website remained active as of Friday evening, but its internet stream of the broadcast also played the same oldies music heard on the FM frequency.

Categories: Ohio News

Columbus Blue Jackets to hold annual 'Kids Takeover' game

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 16:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Those attending the Columbus Blue Jackets game Saturday might notice young leadership. It’s the annual Kids Takeover game where the Blue Jackets celebrate the youngest members of the Fifth Line. 

This game allows children the opportunity to step into the shoes of Blue Jackets professionals and gives them a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a professional hockey game. 

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Throughout the game, kids will take on various roles like, kid coach, anthem singer and cannon crew. 

The role of kid coach will be 8-year-old Riley Sallet. Sallet is a current participant in the Blue Jackets Foundation’s 2023 Class of Pediatric Cancer Heroes. Sallet was diagnosed with Stage 3 Wilm Tumor, a rare kidney cancer most common in children. 9-year-old Leo Szabrak and his 6-year-old sister, Ruby, will serve as members of the cannon crew. 

This year's national anthem singer is 14-year-old Lila Urbanic. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms Tumor at 11 years old.  

“You don’t ever picture that you’re just someone, like you’re just an ordinary person, you don’t go around and think you have these big, scary diseases. So, you just couldn’t really imagine it when it was happening, it didn’t feel real for a while,” Urbanic said. 

She was diagnosed in October of 2021. After a nearly 8-month battle, she rang the bell, celebrating being cancer free. 

“That was really incredible. I spent so long in the hospital, so long alone and just worrying that things could happen or complications could arise,” Urbanic said. 

Fighting pediatric cancer is one thing the Blue Jackets Foundation is passionate about. The Kids Takeover game gives kids a chance to not think about their fight and be a normal kid. 

This isn’t the first time Urbanic has sung the national anthem. She has had a love for singing  for as long as she could remember. She used to take lessons until her cancer diagnosis put a pause on it. 

However, the Blue Jackets reached out and asked if she’d perform in the 2022 Kids Takeover game.  

“To see her able to get up in front of a crowd and to see how much she enjoys once she gets started, how much she enjoys performing, it’s really a lot of fun,” said her dad, Sean. 

NBC4 asked Urbanic what it was like to perform in front of hundreds of fans.

“I think the best thing is that all of the crew and my family and the Fifth Line, everybody, even if I screw up royally out there, they’re always so gung ho and they’ll congratulate me as if I did the best performance they have ever heard,” Urbanic said.

She said the Blue Jackets put a lot of emphasis on reaching out to the community and making kids feel special, which means a lot to her. 

“The ability to kind of step back from that for just a moment and have some fun and just live like a kid who does not have cancer, and just be a normal kid,” Urbanic said.

She’s cancer free but requires on-going management of Chronic Kidney Disease and Deep Vein Thrombosis resulting from the cancer. Despite everything, Urbanic has kept a smile on her face. 

“The resilience that she has shown is really remarkable,” said her father Brian, “Obviously, the treatment days were extremely challenging and there was a lot of uncertainty involved in the treatment process, but she has always maintained a positive attitude.”

The Blue Jackets will host the Nashville Predators at 12:30 p.m. The afternoon will be filled with activities for all ages. The School of Rock Bands from Dublin and Gahanna will be located on the terrace at the McConnell Street Entrance before the puck drop, during intermissions and post-game. 

“Cancer is a part of you,” Urbanic said. “It’s like a scar. It’s going to hurt for a little while and it’s going to be part of you, but after a little while, it’ll fade and it’ll always be a part of you, but it will never be all of you.”

There will also be fun activities throughout the concourse such as: face painting and balloon artists. The first 5,000 kids will even receive a CBJ sticker sheet.

Categories: Ohio News

Crash restricts traffic on I-270 West

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 15:29

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A crash has constricted traffic on a major highway in Columbus. 

The right two lanes of Interstate 270 West past State Route 710 and Cleveland Avenue are closed due to a crash. An Ohio Department of Transportation traffic camera showed traffic congestion in all four lanes and emergency vehicles parked in the right two lanes. The camera shows heavy traffic as of 5:25 p.m.

(Photo Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation) Teenage girl killed in head-on crash in Licking County

Law enforcement officials have not released information on if anyone was injured as of 5:30 p.m.

Categories: Ohio News

Could Ohio abandon daylight saving and observe standard time permanently?

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 10:30

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While clocks are skipping an hour this weekend, advocates say Ohio should abandon daylight saving time and observe standard time permanently.

Daylight saving begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, beginning the annual nine-moth period when U.S. clock "spring forward" an hour in March and "fall back" in November. Yes, this means we lose an hour of sleep this weekend when the clock skips from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Jay Pea, president of the nonprofit Save Standard Time, advocates for extending standard time to the entire year and testified at the Ohio Statehouse last fall against a bipartisan resolution passed by the House of Representatives that urges the U.S. Congress to pass the "Sunshine Protection Act," a bill to transition to perpetual daylight saving nationwide.

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Pea said perpetual daylight saving would delay Ohio's sunrise past 8 a.m. for more than four months, sometimes as late as 9:06 a.m., and noted Ohio rejected an effort in 1974 to enact daylight saving permanently.

"Permanent standard time would protect start times for schoolchildren and essential workers by letting most sleep naturally past dawn year-round," Pea said. "Standard time is the natural clock, set to the sun."

Enacting daylight saving in Ohio would be curtailed until federal law changes, while switching to standard time would not. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can change to standard time but not daylight saving, which requires a change to federal law to transition to perpetual daylight saving.

Michael Garrahan, a Save Standard Time board member, also submitted testimony against the Ohio House's resolution and argued permanent daylight saving would be harmful to the health and safety of residents. Garrahan said darker winter mornings would have an adverse effect of students unless schools alter their schedules.

"Rather than impose this burden on school districts just to maintain their present level of safety, health, and academic performance, it would be better to keep standard time so that a schedule change can improve conditions," Garrahan said.

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However, Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma), a sponsor of the House's resolution, said now is the time to reconsider the relevance of the biannual change, given studies show the time shift disrupts biological clocks and sleeping patterns. Brennan cited a 2015 study from the Journal of Critical Sleep Medicine that found during school days after the time change, students were sleepier, had slower reactional times and were less attentive.

“As a public school teacher for three decades, I can confirm these findings,” Brennan said. “By maintaining consistent time throughout the year, we can promote better sleep, overall health, safety and student productivity.”

Passing the Sunshine Protection Act would mean later sunsets in the winter, but also later sunrises. For example, the sun rises around 7:15 a.m. and sets around 4:30 p.m. on the first day of winter in New York. The Sunshine Protection Act would change sunrise to 8:15 a.m. and sunset to 5:30 p.m.

While many other states have also hinted at permanently observing daylight saving, states like Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania want to observe standard time. As the rest of the U.S. switches to daylight saving, two states change time zones. Arizona shifts from the Pacific Time Zone to the Mountain Time Zone, and Hawaii from five hours behind Eastern Time to six hours behind.

Six in 10 Americans, 61%, would do away with the nation’s twice-a-year time change while a little over one-third, 35%, want to keep the current practice, according to a Monmouth University poll.

Categories: Ohio News

Columbus landlord sets same home on fire twice in 4 days over rental dispute, police say

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 10:00

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A man has been arrested after police accused him of setting fire to his own south Columbus residence – twice.

On Monday morning, crews from the Columbus Division of Fire responded to the 600 block of Lock Avenue, near State Route 104 and Groveport Avenue. Firefighters on the scene extinguished the fire and requested an investigation. They also observed a man passing through the home’s driveway at around 9:40 a.m.

During a police examination, the man matching the firefighter’s description returned to the scene and agreed to an interview. The man, Kenneth Hendricks, reported that he had squatters in the house he had been trying to evict.

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Hendricks told police that there had been ongoing conflicts with the alleged squatters and that he believed they killed his dog the night prior. Police said Hendricks broke down in tears and said, “I set the fire,” and explained that the blaze began in the living room, then spread to the front porch.

  • Columbus police say a man twice set a house on fire to evict squatters on Lock Ave. in South Columbus, March 7, 2024. (NBC4/Michael King)
  • Columbus police say a man twice set a house on fire to evict squatters on Lock Ave. in South Columbus, March 7, 2024.. (NBC4/Michael King)

Police said Hendricks opened all of the doors to let any pets or people escape. No one was home or injured during the fire.

A Franklin County Municipal judge released Hendricks on his own recognizance and set a hearing date for March 19 on a charge of aggravated arson.

Two days later, however, CFD and CPD were called to the Lock Avenue home again, responding to another structure fire at 4 a.m. When they arrived, authorities observed fire spreading from debris piled up next to the house and into the eaves of the roof.

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Hendricks was again identified at the scene and was observed feeding the flames with debris. Police observed charred lumber and furniture along the side of the house.

During an interview, Hendricks again admitted to setting the fire and reportedly said he had hoped to burn down the entire home, which is owned by a bank and used as a rental property by Hendricks.

On Friday, Hendricks, charged with a second count of aggravated arson, was issued a $700,000 bond and ordered to stay away from the Lock Ave. property. A new preliminary hearing date was set for March 15.

Categories: Ohio News

Columbus bank employee stole $1.8 million from customers, romance scam victims

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 09:45

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A former Columbus bank employee who scammed multiple people out of nearly $2 million will spend more than eight years in prison.

Prince Oduro, 34, was sentenced in federal court Thursday to 8.5 years in prison for money laundering and wire fraud -- and ordered to pay back $1.8 million to his victims, the U.S. attorney's office for southern Ohio announced Friday. Oduro, of Westerville, admitted to stealing customers' bank information and wiring money to PayPal accounts. After pleading guilty, he continued to scam people by posing as a romantic interest to people online.

According to the federal complaint, Oduro accessed at least five customers' bank information while working for JPMorgan Chase Bank in Columbus. He then wired customers' money to PayPal accounts and withdrew funds as cash.

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From 2015 through March 2020, Oduro stole more than $1 million, funds he also used to launder proceeds from concurrently-running online romance scams. Oduro often posed online as someone needing a medical operation, had been injured while deployed to Afghanistan, or had access to gold and silver, according to the complaint.

One victim sent Oduro nearly $400,000, believing her dead husband had stolen valuable artwork while traveling to Atlanta for business, the district attorney's office said.

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When investigators executed a search warrant, they found incriminating messages on Oduro's phone.

“This is the only business in America I can do and make 20k in a month and not get arrested…I’m locating money, I’m not fraud anyone…It’s called money laundering," Oduro wrote in a WhatsApp message.

Oduro was arrested in 2022 and pleaded guilty in January 2023, but he continued his online romance scams, the district attorney's office said. He was re-arrested in November 2023 after racking up more than $700,000 from post-plea fraud.

Categories: Ohio News

Columbus Brew Fest set for Saturday at COSI

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 09:30

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An annual festival featuring several different types of beer that will help raise money for a local organization is happening this weekend.

The Columbus Brew Festival is set for Saturday at COSI on West Broad Street in Franklinton. 150 beers will be available for participants to try, along with access throughout COSI. More than 50 breweries will be in attendance, giving patrons access to a variety of brews to try out.

Early admission starts at 7 p.m., with general admission from 8 to 11 p.m. According to the event website, those who are part of the early admission will get to try specialty beer that will be poured in the first hour.

Get out and do something this weekend in central Ohio, March 7-11

The access through the museum will offer tours through exhibits, science demonstrations and even some surprises, according to the event website.

Patrons must be at least 21 years old to attend. All proceeds from the Columbus Brew Festival will go towards the charity, A Kid Again. The organization helps families who are raising children that are fighting a life-threatening condition.

For additional information on the event and how to get tickets, click here.

Categories: Ohio News

Teenage girl killed in head-on crash in Licking County

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 09:15

HEBRON, Ohio (WCMH) – Highway patrol investigators released some details Friday on a crash that left a teenage girl dead in Licking County.

Megan Hart, of Baltimore, Ohio, was heading east on Thursday in a 2003 Toyota Corolla on Refugee Road, near Canyon Road in Hebron. Around 5:48 p.m., her car veered off the left side of the road and into a ditch before striking a concrete abutment head-on.

Sexual assault victim speaks out after $10 million verdict in Lancaster

Authorities at the scene pronounced Hart dead on arrival and she was taken to the Licking County Morgue. She was 16 years old.

The OSHP said it didn't suspect alcohol or drugs to be involved but continued to investigate what may have led to the crash, which occurred at 5:48 p.m. Thursday.

Categories: Ohio News

Mini donut truck to expand with shop at Polaris Fashion Place

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 08:30

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Sofi's Mini Donuts, a central Ohio food truck known for crispy treats drizzled in Nutella, is expanding with the vendor's first brick-and-mortar location.

(Courtesy Photo/Sofi's Mini Donuts)

The donut eatery is opening a kiosk inside of Polaris Fashion Place this spring, according to a recent permit filing. Sofi's walk-up food truck travels to various central Ohio events, like the Jazz & Rib Fest, and is currently stationed outside of Tanger Outlets at 400 S. Wilson Road in Sunbury.

Get out and do something this weekend in central Ohio, March 7-11

At the truck, customers can order a dozen of the mini donuts for $5 or three dozen donuts for $14. The sweet treats are made fresh with a selection of free toppings, including cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle. Nutella drizzle and Dulce de Leche can also be added for an extra $1.

Sofi's is open at Tanger Outlets from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Categories: Ohio News

List: Easter egg hunts in central Ohio

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 06:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohio communities are hosting Easter celebrations this March with grand-scale egg hunts, family-friendly activities and more. Find an Easter event near you below.

Bexley

Jeffrey Meadow

Behind Jeffrey Mansion at noon on March 30

  • From start to finish, this event only takes a few minutes. The hunt starts promptly at noon noon, with eggs filled with treats and surprises.
Canal Winchester

C3 Church

6305 Waterloo Road NW from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 22

  • This is a free community flashlight Easter egg hunt with 20,000 eggs with glow in the dark fun, free activities that include inflatables, games, temporary tattoos, pictures with the Easter Bunny, along with popcorn and more.

McGill Park

6725 Lithopolis-Winchester Road at 10 a.m. on March 23

  • Visit with the Easter Bunny, have your face painted by one of the Miss Canal Winchester queens, enjoy the new playground, and join the egg hunt.
Columbus

Sanctuary Columbus Church

4142 Westerville Road From 10 to 11:30 a.m. on March 23

  • Toddlers to children in second grade will hunt for candy-filled eggs outdoors, while those in third through fifth grade will participate in a glow-in-the-dark flashlight egg hunt in Wesley Hall.

Fellowship Baptist Church

4701 Winchester Pike at 11 a.m. on March 23

  • The church is hosting family-friendly events beginning at 10 a.m., followed by egg hunts in three age divisions at 11 a.m.

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department

1826 Lattimer Drive from 10 a.m. to noon on March 30

  • At the Far East Community Center, kids ages 12 and under are welcome to hunt for plastic eggs filled with treats.
Gahanna

Hannah Park

6547 Clark State Road from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 23

  • Th egg hunt is divided by age group, and will feature family-friendly activities, a visit from the Easter bunny and face painting.
Grandview Heights

Wyman Woods Park

1520 Goodale Blvd. at 10 a.m. on March 30

  • More than 10,000 items hidden around the park in three separate age divisions.
Genoa Township

McNamara Park

7049 Big Walnut Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 23

  • Bring a basket or bag and collect candy along a 1/3 mile, paved walking path at McNamara Park while finding bunnies hiding in the woods. 
Grove City

Century Village

3899 Orders Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23

  • The Southwest Franklin Historical Society will have the buildings of Century Village open for touring. There will be trunks with treats from many local businesses and a scavenger hunt.
Hilliard

KidsFest

4100 Columbia St. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 16

  • Register now for bunny breakfast, the Columbus bunny run, bunny meet and greet, bunny coloring contest and 10 candy hunts.
Mansfield

Richland Carrousel Park

75 N. Main St. at 10 a.m. on March 30

  • The hunt is including more than 2,000 filled eggs.
Obetz

Fortress Obetz

2015 Recreation Trail from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. on March 30

  • Experience an afternoon full of fun inflatables, temporary tattoos, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and an Easter egg hunt with more than 40,000 eggs.
Pataskala

Thomas J. Evans Foundation Park

10255 McIntosh Road from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 23

  • Activities include age specific egg hunts, five inflatables, food trucks and character visits.
Plain City

Jerome Fire Station Park

9685 New California Dr. at 3 p.m. on March 17

  • There will be thousands of eggs filled with candy and small toys, free visits with the Easter Bunny, and a separate egg-hunting area for our youngest participants.
Powell

New Hope Church

4739 W. Powell Road from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on March 24

  • The celebration will include a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, story time, an egg hunt and face painting.
Upper Arlington

Thompson Park

4250 Woodbridge Road at 10 a.m. on March 16

  • Bring a basket or bag out, find the dedicated circle that fits the age group for your little one and wait for the horn to sound. Once the horns go off kids will take off for the races grabbing as much candy as they can within each giant circle.
Westerville

Spring Eggstravaganza

556 McCorkle Blvd. from at 10 a.m. on March 23

  • Enjoy inflatable games, a photo area for the bunny and an egg hunt for children ages 8 and under. This free event will also feature breakfast-themed food trucks.
Worthington

Worthington Community Center

345 E. Wilson Bridge Road from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 15

  • The Worthington Bunny Hop includes music, crafts, vendors, candy and prizes, a photo booth, and an Easter Bunny meet and greet.
Categories: Ohio News

Solar eclipse in Ohio one month from today: what to know

News Channel 4 - Fri, 03/08/2024 - 05:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A rare total solar eclipse will be visible in Ohio, weather permitting, on the afternoon of April 8, with the path of totality 124 miles wide that will pass through the northwestern half of the state. More than 30 million Americans will be in the path of totality that will extend from Texas to New England and cross 13 states.

"The total solar eclipse is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Brad Lepper, curator and senior archaeologist at The Ohio History Connection. "It's the most spectacular thing, I think, you can witness in the sky, and the changes it has in the environment."

Last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio

On August 21, 2017, central Ohio was visited by a partial solar eclipse that covered about 86 to 88 percent of the sun, with the path of totality cutting through western Kentucky.

The following views were taken along the path of totality in Wyoming by Don Stevens, director of Perkins Observatory at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware.

Images of a total solar eclipse from Wyoming on Aug. 21, 2017. (Don Stevens/Ohio Wesleyan University)

The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio occurred in 1806, and the next one will not happen until 2099, so this is a big deal.

Stevens said that the brother of Shawnee chief Tecumseh, Tenskwatawa, predicted the 1806 eclipse, a prophesy that had historical significance.

"When the eclipse occurred, Tecumseh was able to use the prediction given to him by his brother -- The Prophet -- to unify the tribe," said Stevens. Mystery surrounds how Tenskwatawa came up with the prediction, which was initiated by a challenge from William Henry Harrison, then the governor of the Indiana Territory, and later the ninth president of the U.S.

"When the eclipse occurred, of course, this proved Tecumseh is correct and his brother to be a prophet. Tecumseh used the event to unify the tribes," Stevens said.

How often do total solar eclipses occur?

Earth experiences total solar eclipses on average of every 18 months, but the next time this will occur in the U.S. is 2044, and again in 2045.

An 18.6-year lunar cycle factors into the types of eclipses and where they occur on Earth's surface, a result of wobbles in the moon's orbit.

Lepper, who has spent countless hours at the Newark Octagon Earthworks, a World Heritage site, explained that the 20-acre circle and 50-acre octagon are perfectly aligned with the northernmost rise of the moon, Lepper said. "All eight of the full rise points and full set points define that 18.6-year-long lunar cycle are built into this architecture.

The Newark Earthworks, along with six additional Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023.

What causes a total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth in its orbit, which projects the moon's shadow, as sunlight is blocked. The moon's shadow is quite small with respect to Earth's surface. The main axis points to the northernmost rise of the moon."

The outermost atmosphere of the sun, called the corona, will make a rare appearance during totality, when plasma (ionized gas) will stream into space. As an added bonus, solar activity will be near peak in its 11-year cycle.

For locations in the direct path, the moon will blot out the sun for three to four minutes during totality.

The sun is 400 times larger than the moon, so a total solar eclipse requires the moon to be 400 times closer to Earth than the sun.

When will the total solar eclipse be visible in Ohio?

The Great American Eclipse of April 8, 2024, will begin in Columbus at 1:55 p.m. EDT and achieve peak coverage (99.7%) at about 3:15 p.m. in the city, before ending at 4:27 p.m. Areas just to the north and west will experience totality, when skies will grow dark as night.

Areas in far northwestern Franklin County will achieve totality for more than a minute. A longer interval of "dusk" lasting several minutes will occur closer to the center of the path.

How does this eclipse differ from an annular eclipse?

You may recall the annular solar eclipse last Oct. 14 in 2023? The path ran from coastal Oregon southeastward to Texas, Mexico and Central America. Ohio only saw 30 to 40 percent coverage of the sun (more evident in the southwest part of the state) that peaked around 1:07 p.m., according to NASA.

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth near its farthest from Earth (apogee). During totality, a bright "ring of fire" briefly appears around the sun, because the moon incompletely blots out the solar disk from the viewpoint of Earth at this distance.

Eclipse eye safety reminders

Remember, never to look up at the sun during a solar eclipse, or attempt to shield your eyes, due to the risk of permanent vision loss. The only safe way to view a solar eclipse is to use ISO-certified protective eyewear specifically designed for eclipse viewing. Peering through binoculars, a camera lens, or a telescope without an approved safety filter, could also result in serious damage to eyesight.

Categories: Ohio News

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