Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A teacher with a north Columbus charter school faces sexual battery charges after she was reportedly found with a student inside her vehicle.

According to a police complaint report, the mother of a 15-year-old boy was unable to locate her son and noticed that his teacher’s car was parked in front of her residence. Upon approaching the car, the mother told police she witnessed a woman, a teacher from Horizon Science Academy, jump off the lap of her son, who was seated on the front passenger side of the vehicle.

Ex-Ohio State and Olympic wrestler Kyle Snyder speaks at prostitution plea hearing

The boy told police that he had been having an inappropriate relationship with 28-year-old Jamelah Daboubi, his English teacher, and admitted that the two were kissing and touching each other while clothed in the car.

The victim was taken to The Center for Family Safety and Healing where he participated in a forensic interview in which he relayed similar information that he told police. Police processed the boy’s cell phone, where text messages were found between him and Daboubi that supported the alleged inappropriate relationship.

Daboubi was arrested Sunday and on Monday a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued her a $15,000 bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 28.

Court documents stated that Daboubi was a teacher at Horizon Science Academy, though the school's website does not list her as an employee. NBC4 reached out to a school spokesperson for comment, but has not yet received a response.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio is among the top 10 states with the highest drug overdose mortality rates in the country, according to a recent study.

The Georgia-based firm Bader Scott Injury Lawyers analyzed drug overdose mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sourced from 2018 through 2022. Researchers found the average number of deaths annually per 100,000 residents in each state, to discover which had the highest mortality rates.

Ohio came in sixth place, seeing an average of 40.8 fatal drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents each year. This number is 48% above the national average of 27.5, according to the study. The Buckeye State saw an average of 4,795 overdose deaths annually, with fatalities increasing from 3,980 in 2018 to 5,397 in 2021 -- a 35% surge.

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The state with the highest rate of overdose deaths in the country was West Virginia, which had a mortality rate of 65.9 deaths per 100,000 residents. Completing the top five was Delaware (47.3), Tennessee (42.2), Kentucky (42) and Maryland (41.8). 

"These states have been particularly hard-hit by the opioid epidemic, facing challenges with prescription painkillers, heroin, and increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl,” a spokesperson with the law firm said. “A combination of socioeconomic factors, healthcare access limitations, and geographic challenges has created perfect conditions for this crisis across these regions.”

The study said combating the country's opioid epidemic requires comprehensive interventions, including “expanded access to addiction treatment services, increased availability of overdose-reversing medications like naloxone, and strengthening prevention efforts targeting vulnerable communities."

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A production facility opened in New Albany this month, marking a vitamin and supplement firm's $250 million foray into central Ohio.

Nutrition and wellness company Pharmavite cut the ribbon on its 225,000-square-foot facility on May 8. Known for making Nature Made vitamins, Pharmavite's new manufacturing, research and development facility created 225 jobs with the potential for more. The facility will produce gummies for Nature Made and MegaFood brands and serve as Pharmavite's Gummy Center of Excellence, according to the construction company behind the new facility.

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Pharmavite broke ground in New Albany in 2023 to address the growing demand for vitamins and wellness products. The company said it has doubled in size since 2019 and is already producing products at the New Albany plant. The California-based company built its factory at 13312 Jug Street Road NW, just a two-minute drive from Intel's enormous semiconductor plant. See previous coverage of the groundbreaking in the video player above.

“We chose New Albany for this significant investment after an extensive search and we’re proud to be a part of the emerging science, innovation and technology hub in central Ohio, and honored to be welcomed into the wellness-focused community," Pharmavite CEO Jeff Boutelle said.

The facility was built and coordinated with many local organizations, including Jobs Ohio, One Columbus and Turner Construction, a North American company that opened its Columbus office in 1965, known locally for renovating the LeVeque Tower. Pharmavite has also worked with Healthy New Albany, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Pelotonia, Garden for All and the Columbus Crew to invest in community health initiatives.

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New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding said the Pharmavite facility is part of a growing wave of investments in the Health and Life Sciences cluster of the New Albany International Business Park. According to the New Albany Company, the business park has attracted more than $6 billion in investments from businesses like Pharmavite.

"Their mission to support health and wellness through science-backed nutrition is a natural fit for our community, where health and wellness is one of our core pillars," Spalding said. "We are proud to welcome Pharmavite to New Albany and look forward to the positive impact they will make, both as an innovator in their industry and as a committed community partner.”

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio canoe livery that closed in 2024 after more than half a century is reopening on Monday under new ownership.

Trapper Johns at 7141 London-Groveport Road in Grove City is once again sending Ohioans canoeing and kayaking down Big Darby Creek. The reopening comes after the Kaufman family, who operated Trapper Johns for more than 50 years, shuttered the livery last May and listed it for sale.

Since then, the site has been revamped by owners Nick Coughlin and his fiancée, Emily Mayes, who purchased the London-Groveport Road property last October for $440,000, according to Franklin County Auditor's Office records.

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"The river is calling -- and we're ready to help you answer," Trapper John's social media post announcing the May 19 opening said. "Whether you're planning a peaceful paddle, a fun day with friends, or a new adventure, we've got canoes, kayaks and everything you need to get out on the water."

(Courtesy Photo/Trapper Johns Canoe Livery)

The sale included the site's Creekside Café, which served a selection of signature lattes and baked goods, and also closed last year while new ownership was negotiated. The café will be reopening later this summer.

Under a 1993 agreement, Trapper Johns was the only commercial livery allowed to operate on Big Darby Creek, which The Nature Conservancy boasts as "one of the most biologically diverse streams of its size in the Midwest."

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Trapper Johns welcomes walk-ins and offers varying trips down the creek, like the Sampler Trip for $35 per person that ends just before the I-71 bridges, the Lower Trip for $45 per person that ends at State Route 762, or the 9-Mile Trip for $60 per person.

All rentals include a 15- to 17-foot canoe or kayak, paddles and personal flotation devices, safety instructions and courtesy transportation. Group outings can utilize a $3 per person discount. Canoers can also opt for a $240 season rental pass or a private boater season pass for $180.

Trapper Johns is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Olympic champion and former Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Monday after he was arrested in a prostitution sting.

Snyder, an Ohio State alum and one of the most successful wrestlers in American history, was charged with engaging in prostitution on the evening of May 9 after internet ads for escorts were published by CPD’s Police and Community Together unit.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., police received over a dozen texts in response to the ad, with Snyder listed as one of those who responded.  For a previous report of this story, view the video player above.

Approximately 25 minutes later, police said Snyder met an undercover officer at a hotel and paid them in cash to perform sexual acts. He was arrested by uniformed officers inside the hotel room and was one of 16 men charged during the sting operation.

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On Friday, Snyder’s attorney confirmed that an agreement was in place in which Snyder would plead guilty to a lessor charge, disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

That offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to, but not exceeding $250.

In court Monday, Judge Cynthia Ebner issued Snyder a $250 fine based on the joint recommendation penalty between counsel. She also stated that Snyder's record would not be sealed for two years and that the money he agreed to pay the undercover officer posing as a prostitute, $160 per court documents, was forfeited.

Snyder, who was not in the courtroom, but appeared via conference call, also completed a course at The John School, a one day course designed for first-time offenders charged with solicitation.

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In a statement during Monday's hearing, Synder said the process, "taught me a lot about myself" and that he "plans on making much better decisions."

"I learned about the impact these decisions have on not just my family but the community," he said.

Snyder, a Maryland native, completed a historic 2016 sweep of the NCAA, world, and Olympic championships before returning to Ohio State and defending his NCAA title in 2017. He won a silver medal in the Tokyo 2021 games and fell just short of a bronze medal in the Paris 2024 games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - The first at-home test to help women screen for cervical cancer has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Women's health company Teal Health announced this month its "Teal Wand" has been approved by the FDA, according to the company website. The wand is an at-home test where women can collect samples to screen for cervical cancer.

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According to Teal Health, cervical cancer screenings, which are also known as a Pap smear, are done in a doctor's office. However, women could feel uncomfortable with the exam.

Now, this new way could help more patients get screened and can feel comfortable doing so from home. According to Dr. Electra Paskett, who's a director and professor of the division of cancer prevention and control at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital, cervical cancer is preventable and is caused by human papillomavirus infection, also known as HPV. View an interview with Dr. Electra Paskett in the video player above.

"It causes over 90% of cervical cancer," Paskett noted. "There is a vaccine that can totally prevent cervical cancer and several other cancers from occurring in the first place. The major causes are pre-cervical lesions, abnormal cervical findings."

The Teal Wand will soon be available in June through an online website with Teal Health where kits will be shipped to your home. According to the company website, Teal is working with insurance providers and plans to offer "flexible payment options" and "remove financial concerns."

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"This will open a door for many women who don't have access to healthcare, can't go during the day or feel uncomfortable with the exam by a healthcare provider," Paskett said. "The test is very easy to complete."

Other ways to prevent HPV and cervical cancer are to stay up to date on screenings and if you notice any changes, to follow up with a doctor.

"It's important that if you do have a positive cervical screen, it doesn't mean you have cancer," Paskett said. "But it does mean you need to follow up."

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WCMH) — People in southeastern Ohio were treated to an unusual sight overhead, many described as a “fire rainbow” in social media posts.

Rusty Mittendorf shared a few shots with NBC4, captioning the images “Fire in the sky over Gallipolis” on his Facebook account. The pictures showed a long streak of multicolored “flames” licking the sky.

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Comments on social media to the posts ranged from humorous to wonder and amazement.

• Photo Courtesy/ Rusty Mittendorf
• Photo Courtesy/ Rusty Mittendorf

“Wow. The Nexus Ribbon!” commented one person, referencing a plot point from the movie “Star Trek Generations.”

It made another person think of “Back to the Future,” who wrote, “Doc and Marty passing by in the flying DeLorean is what I see.”

“This is so cool and I'm saving it for painting inspiration, if that's ok!” someone else enthusiastically added.

Surprisingly, this atmospheric phenomenon is not a rainbow, but something known as a circumhorizontal arc.

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Storm Team 4 chief meteorologist Dave Mazza reviewed the photos and described what created the spectacular sight.

Video Courtesy/ Rusty Mittendorf

“It's a thin layer of clouds made up of ice crystals and the sunlight is refracted through those ice crystals to create the rainbow effect,” Mazza said.

An article on the American Meteorological Society's website notes that these “ice-halos” can be formed by sunlight or moonlight and “are most commonly spotted in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds.”

The website Scientific Origin reveals that the so-called “fire rainbows” are “rare and geographically limited” because of three factors. First, the sun's angle must be at least 58 degrees above the horizon. Next, the cirrus clouds need hexagonal, plate-like ice crystals to refract the light. Last, the ice crystals should be horizontally aligned within the cirrus clouds to get the distinctive blaze shape.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- The South-Western City School board voted to join two organizations that promote conservative education standards, including English-only polices and formal stances against gender identity acceptance.

At its April 28 meeting, the South-Western City School District school board voted to join four professional development organizations, two of which were founded by conservative Ohioans in the past five years. SWCSD is Ohio's fifth-largest school district, serving sections of southwestern Franklin County.

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The SWCSD board rejoined the Ohio School Boards Association and also voted to join School Boards for Academic Excellence, the Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition and the National School Board Leadership Council. The latter two organizations were established in Ohio, and both ask members to sign pledges that align with conservative educational policies, including statements denouncing DEI and "gender confusion."

"Much like the makeup of our diverse 119-square-mile district, all four organizations represent many differing perspectives and views that the Board will explore in the months to come," SWCSD communications director Evan Debo said.

The Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition and School Boards for Academic Excellence are free to join. The Ohio School Boards Association, which SWCSD boards of education have joined for decades, costs around $11,000 annually, and the NSBLC has an annual $1,500 membership fee. The NSBLC fee is per person, and Debo said only one board member is joining on the district's dime, bringing total membership fees to $12,500.

Board Vice President Denise D’Angelo Steele suggested joining the NSBLC, and the measure passed 4-0 with board member Camile Peterson abstaining. In joining, members are asked to sign an oath distancing themselves from "social emotional teaching," agree to combat identity politics and offer to open the district up to parental oversight in literature and curriculum decisions.

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The SWCSD board drew public scrutiny for joining the NSBLC, especially as the organization advocates for English-only education, writing "Non-(E)nglish speaking students provide an unacceptable cost for taxpayers to bear." According to SWCSD's website, the district is home to more than 3,800 students who are learning English as a second language, speaking 78 languages between them.

"At this time, the board is taking inventory of what each organization has to offer, to see what resources they can provide at a state and national level in terms of training, and then apply our diverse SWCS(D) lens to it to see how elements can be used to meet local needs for the 21,000+ students and families we proudly serve each day,” Debo said.

According to the NSBLC website, the organization was founded by Ohioan Kelly Kohls. However, state business records list Kohls as a statutory agent for Jim Burgess, who is on the State Central Committee of the Ohio Republican Party.

State business records also list a former Westerville-based nonprofit, Supporters of Youth Activities, as NSBLC's founding organization. Supporters of Youth Activities raised funds for various student organizations, but was canceled by the state for inactivity just months after the NSBLC was founded. While active, Burgess was the nonprofit's vice president.

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Although joining the NSBLC drew public attention, the board also joined the conservative Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition. OSBCC members are also asked to sign a pledge, promising to limit restroom and facility use by biological sex, teach American history in a way that enforces the "exceptional nature of their country" and promote freedom of speech and religion. OSBCC was founded by Jeremiah Sawyer, a Republican school board member for North Royalton City Schools in northeastern Ohio.

Debo stressed that joining these organizations does not mean the district will implement all -- or any -- of their ideas. However, these groups are one of several conservative ties to the school board. Board members Julie Lisansky and D'Angelo Steele were endorsed by Moms for Liberty during their campaigns for school board, an organization that left-leaning civil rights watchdog group Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as "extremist."

Although Ohio school board elections are nonpartisan, the Franklin County Republican Party lists all SWSCD school board members except Peterson under current officeholders. It is not uncommon for parties to endorse school board candidates; all three Columbus City Schools board of election candidates who received the most votes in the primary were endorsed by the Franklin County Democratic Party.

The district also pays attorney Omar Tarazi $9,000 each month for legal services. Tarazi has spoken against social emotional learning, including a statewide Protect Ohio Children forum in 2022. See previous coverage of Tarazi in the video player above.

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Debo said joining the four groups allows the school board to absorb a variety of resources, training materials and ideas. School Boards for Academic Excellence says it is nonpartisan and not politically affiliated. However, four of its five directors previously worked for conservative think tanks, and the fifth formerly served as a Republican Representative in the Kansas House.

SWCSD's fourth member organization, the Ohio School Boards Association, sets a legislative platform annually, and many of its priorities are more left-leaning, including an embrace of equity programs. However, its annual legislative platform is set by delegates from each member school, and every policy inclusion must be approved by at least 75% of delegates.

"By joining any of these organizations, the board's vote for membership is not an indication of support for some or any of the positions or perspectives advanced by any of these organizations, nor does it remove any existing programming in place for students," Debo said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus gas prices have stabilized leading up to the holiday weekend, which is expected to see a major influx of travelers throughout the state of Ohio.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, the average price at the pump fell by 2.5 cents last week to reach $3.7 per gallon. The current price is 5.7 cents lower than four weeks ago and 55 cents lower than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.75 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.29, a difference of 54 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas actually increased by 6.7 cents from $2.96 per gallon to $3.03 per gallon.

Nationally, gas prices also increased by 6.1 cents per gallon to reach $3.14. The price of diesel followed suit with an uptick of 2.9 cents, settling in at $3.50 per gallon.

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It was a rare occurrence, in which gas prices fell locally, while elsewhere, including three-quarters of the U.S., prices rose. As Memorial Day weekend approaches, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan says there could be some adjustments in fuel cost to match the demand of would-be travelers.

"In addition to gains in price-cycling markets, rising oil prices—fueled by economic optimism and tightening gasoline inventories—contributed to a broader upward pressure on prices,” DeHaan said. “While Americans are still seeing significant savings compared to a year ago, that gap has narrowed as oil prices have rebounded. As we approach Memorial Day, GasBuddy is preparing to release its summer travel survey results and issue a gas price forecast for the season.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lawmakers in Ohio are working to ban local governments within the state from using ranked choice voting.

Senate Bill 63 would prohibit any elections in Ohio from being conducted by ranked choice voting. Any local government found to be using ranked choice voting would have its state money withheld.

The ban on ranked choice voting would also apply to party primary elections.

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Lawmakers in the Ohio Senate voted 27-5 on Wednesday to pass the bill, which would largely ban the use of ranked choice voting in the state.

What is ranked-choice voting?

Ranked choice voting is a method where voters rank the candidates on their ballots in order of preference.

If no candidate reaches a majority of votes, the last-place candidate is defeated, and those who had the defeated candidate as their first choice would then have their second-highest choice elevated in the next round of voting.

This process generally repeats until one candidate has received a majority of votes, or until the same number of candidates are remaining as there are available seats.

Ranked choice voting is sometimes referred to as "instant runoff voting," which avoids making voters return to the polls to cast another ballot in races where the leading candidate only has a plurality of the vote, rather than the majority.

Ranked choice voting is used statewide in Maine and Alaska, plus in dozens of other cities across the country, according to FairVote, a nonprofit that works to "research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American." No cities in Ohio currently use ranked choice voting.

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Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) introduced the bipartisan bill in January.

"Ranked choice voting distorts election outcomes, which inherently leads to uncertainty in our results," Gavarone said in a statement when the bill was introduced. "If this idea came to Ohio, it could, as it has in other states, delay election results, decrease voter turnout, and create confusion among voters, diluting their voices at the ballot box."

According to FairVote, New York City's first election with ranked choice voting had the city's highest turnout in 30 years, but the full impact ranked choice has on voter turnout is still unknown.

The organization said it's hard to compare elections when studying the effect ranked choice voting has on turnout since primary and runoff elections generally have lower turnout anyway, plus there are other factors such as competitive campaigns and media attention that are at play.

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Ohio's ranked choice voting ban would not apply to municipalities or chartered counties in accordance with a 1923 Ohio Supreme Court ruling.

Gavarone said that ranked choice voting would "undo two centuries of voters having the ability to cast their vote with one vote and one voice, and alter our elections to look similar to the way it's done in New York City and San Francisco."

DeMora called ranked choice voting "cumbersome, confusing, and unnecessary."

Rank the Vote Ohio, an organization that is pushing for ranked choice voting in the state, said ranked choice voting expands voter choice, ensures the winning candidate has a majority of support, and promotes more diverse candidates.

"In our current system, many candidates are pressured to drop out, shamed as 'spoilers,' and excluded from public debates," the organization said. "Ranked Choice Voting welcomes all candidates into the race -- and you can't win if you don't run."

The bill must now pass the House before it goes to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new Ohio bill plans to designate a month celebrating "natural families" with "a clear male leader," legislation that a leading advocacy group said invalidates single parents and "takes direct aim at LGBTQ+ families."

House Bill 262 was introduced at the Ohio Statehouse on May 13 to recognize the weeks between Mother's Day and Father's Day as "Natural Family Month." The proposal is backed by the Natural Family Foundation, a Westerville-based organization that defines a "natural family" as one man and one woman "committed in a lifelong monogamous relationship" with their "biological or adopted children."

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"For society to survive, the fabric must be mended by readjusting the social constraints/contracts to once again favor the age-old natural family prototype," the foundation's site states, noting that, "Within the family there must be a clear male leader and that leader must come from the family's lineage." The foundation didn't respond to NBC4's request for comment.

Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio, condemned H.B. 262 as "discriminatory, dehumanizing legislation," and "a calculated act of strategic erasure."

"It not only invalidates the existence of single parents and countless other caregivers, but it takes direct aim at LGBTQ+ families," Steward said. "The so-called 'Natural Family Foundation,' the group pushing this legislation, has made their ideology clear: if you're not a heterosexual, monogamous couple with children -- led by a biological male from the family lineage -- you don't count as a family at all. As an adoptive parent, myself, I feel this erasure personally."

More than 23% of households in Ohio include single parents, U.S. Census data shows. A report from the Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles found Ohio's LGBTQ+ population is the sixth largest in the nation, with about 557,000 adults identifying within the community.

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H.B. 262 comes ahead of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June and the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision establishing the right to same-sex marriage. Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) introduced the bill with the support of 26 Republican lawmakers, and argue the designation is needed given the U.S. fertility rate recently reached a historic low.

"At a time when marriage is trending downward and young couples are often choosing to remain childless, it's important for the state of Ohio to make a statement that marriage and families are the cornerstone of civil society, and absolutely imperative if we want to maintain a healthy and stable republic," Lear said.

Williams argues H.B. 262 would promote "the economic and social stability that comes from raising children in healthy, two-parent households."

"With America facing declining birth rates and a shrinking population, we can no longer afford to ignore the foundational role that strong families play in sustaining our future," Williams said. "We must use every tool at our disposal to support the families that are building the next generation of Americans."

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The bill adds to the list of Statehouse legislation that opponents deem "anti-LGBTQ+," like a law banning gender-affirming care for trans youth that is currently in effect while litigation continues. Another is a measure that went into effect in February requiring academic institutions to set separate bathrooms based on students' "biological sex." Watch a report of some Ohio mayors calling for an end to conversion therapy in the video player above.

A law coined by supporters as "The Parents’ Bill of Rights" requires teachers to notify parents before teaching "sexuality content" and of changes in a student’s mental, emotional or physical health. A national crisis hotline said it received a significant increase in calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio within hours after Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law.

Lawmakers have also debated a proposal to ban universities from asking students their preferred pronouns and another penalizing school districts that use students' chosen name and pronouns without parental permission. Williams reintroduced a bill in April that opponents argue will amount to a ban of drag queens in public.

Still, when asked in March to respond to claims that Ohio is fostering an unfriendly climate for LGBTQ+ residents, DeWine said he "would totally disagree with that."

"I don't think we have done that," he said. "Look, you go back and look at everything that I have said as governor, in 'State of the State' speeches and other times, this should be a welcoming state. We want everybody to come to Ohio and feel welcomed in the state."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently released investigation alleges the Ohio-based grocery chain Kroger frequently charges consumers full price for items advertised as on sale.

The research nonprofit Consumer Reports, alongside media outlets The Guardian and Food and Environment Reporting Network, recruited undercover shoppers to visit 26 stores owned by The Kroger Company across 14 states, including Ohio. The study included Kroger subsidiaries, such as Ralphs. 

The investigation, which took place from March through May, found expired sales labels led to overcharges on more than 150 grocery items overall, by the average amount of $1.70 per item, or 18.4%. 

“Our findings suggest the typical Kroger shopper ends up paying far more for what they think are discounted items – all during a time of inflation and economic uncertainty,” the report says. 

One-third of the expired sales tags were out of date by at least 10 days, the investigation found. The undercover shoppers were overcharged for items including Cheerios, Mucinex cold and flu medication, Nescafé instant coffee, boneless beef, salmon and dog food.

Kroger has denied the allegations of widespread pricing errors, saying it regularly conducts price checks for the items on its shelves to make sure they are accurate. 

“The Consumer Reports allegations boil down to misinformation, reviewing a handful of discrete issues from billions of daily transactions,” a Kroger spokesperson told NBC4. “It in no way reflects the seriousness with which we take our transparent and affordable pricing.”

The nonprofit and media outlets launched their investigation after learning that Kroger workers in Colorado, currently in union negotiations, alleged long-term price label errors. Kroger employees claim the reason for the pricing errors are cuts to staff and hours, resulting in there not being enough workers to manually switch out price tags, according to the investigation. 

The report stated Kroger has “significantly cut the number of workers in most of its stores and the number of hours those full- and part-time employees work each week” since 2019, citing data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

Some customers go beyond seeking a price adjustment when they find a mistake, with one Ohio couple taking the issue to the state attorney general’s office. A married couple filed three separate complaints through late 2024 and early 2025 about the Kroger in Belpre, claiming they have repeatedly caught the grocer ringing up prices higher than the advertised sales tags.

Customers in California, Illinois, Ohio and Utah have also filed class action lawsuits alleging pricing errors.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As the weather in central Ohio is getting warmer, community organizations are getting ready to host events to help make Columbus safer.

“Oh, it should be jam-packed tomorrow," said Derrick Russell, founder of Linden Community Stop The Violence.

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He spoke with NBC4 on the eve of an End Gun Violence Community Walk. The walks bring together community members and several organizations in Linden. They've become a sort of tradition in recent years, and Russell helps lead them.

“When we first started, the doors were closed; now they come out on the porch, walk with us, talk with us, but we need more, we need more," Russell said.

The first walk of the year was supposed to take place May 12, but it was cancelled because of rain. Russell said because of that, there's even more excitement for the walk on May 19. During the walks, the organizations move around neighborhoods in the area to connect residents with help or resources they might need.

“The most powerful success story I can think of is that I actually met three gang members," Russell said. "They were gang members, we invited them out to the walk, they end up coming to the walk, they saw the collaboration of different people and then they stopped being in the gang, and to this day, I have them working with me."

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Homicide numbers are down in Columbus compared to recent years. But Monday's walk will happen a bit after a recent spike in deadly violence. There have been more homicides in May than in any other month in 2025. 

“That's a reminder we’ve got to continue to stay out here and we can't just sit back," Russell said. "That's just a reminder that we’ve got to get out here and hopefully, in June, that it’ll go back down and we won't have that same number."

The groups that organize the walks are planning to have two a month through October.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people are injured, one critically, after a stabbing on the east side of Columbus Sunday evening.

Columbus police reported the incident happened on the 1800 block of Marlyn Lane at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Both victims, one in critical condition and the other in a stable condition, were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

One person is being detained in connection to the stabbing.

There is no further information available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than a thousand girls laced up their shoes and hit the streets of downtown Columbus on Sunday morning for the Girls on the Run 5K.

“It’s kind of about helping and inspiring little younger girls and it’s about having fun,” said Aisha Bashi, a third grader.

Girls on the Run is a national nonprofit that offers programs for girls between third and eighth grades. For the past 10 weeks, these girls have met with their team and coaches but it wasn’t just exercise they were learning about.

“We learned about our bodies and how our emotions can affect our actions,” said sixth grader Nellie Connolly.

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The girls learned about confidence, conflict resolution and other social skills. They also said it gave them all the tools they needed to finish strong.

“They have prepared me really well by making sure that I stretch always before I run,” said fourth grader Jai Clancy. “I want to do student council next year and I think that you should have teamwork as a skill for that and Girls on the Run has taught me a lot of teamwork."

The Central Ohio Chapter is celebrated a milestone this season with their largest team ever as the Etna Road Elementary team had 40 girls.

“It's been amazing to see us grow back since 2020. This is our largest season in the last five years and it's only possible because of our volunteer coaches,” said Sarah Hider, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Central Ohio.

Organizers said there will be another session this fall. You can learn more here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on The Spectrum:

• Democratic ex-Congressman Tim Ryan said his party's brand is toxic. Hear what he says needs to happen in order to win back Ohio voters.

• All eyes are on who Vivek Ramaswamy might choose as his gubernatorial running mate. We'll tell you which names are being floated to join the ticket.

Attorney General Dave Yost drops out of Ohio’s 2026 race for governor

• Columbus is part of a growing list of governments suing the Trump administration. Hear what Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein hopes to accomplish with the three lawsuits he's filed.

• An effort to amend the state's constitution and abolish property taxes is a step closer to getting on the ballot. Will it put pressure on lawmakers at the statehouse to deliver smaller relief? Republican strategist Katie Eagan and Democratic strategist Joe Rettof weigh in.

MARION, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 27-year-old man died early Sunday morning after crashing his motorcycle into a field in Marion County.

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According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Seth Reece was driving a Suzuki motorcycle north on Caledonia-Northern Road early in the morning. As he approached the intersection of Emahiser Road, Reece traveled off the right side of the road and into field after OSHP said he "failed to negotiate the curve."

He overturned after crashing into the field and was pronounced did by an investigator of the Marion County Coroner's Office. OSHP said he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Authorities will continue to investigate.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A San Francisco man who was a co-conspirator with a Columbus man for an online car sales scam received his prison sentence in federal court.

Leo Shimizu, 39, was sentenced last week to 64 months in prison and was ordered to pay $10.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty in November to conspiring to commit money laundering.

Nicknamed "Lil Droppy," Shimizu directed individuals to post car sale ads on multiple websites despite not having the vehicles. Conspirators of the scam pretended to be eBay employees when contacting victims and told them to wire money to third-party bank accounts.

More than 850 people were victims of the scam which totaled more than $10 million in fraudulent funds for the defendants. Terry J. Boutwell, 38, of Columbus, was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison back in 2021 as one of the leaders of the conspiracy.

Another co-conspirator was 41-year-old Tiffany A. Strobl of Columbus, who received a five-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $2 million.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police are on the lookout for the driver of a minivan believed to have left the scene of an eastside crash about two months ago.

According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, police were called to the Mount Vernon neighborhood near Saunders Park, where a person riding a minibike was struck by a 2012 Nissan Quest Minivan on the evening of March 13.

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Police said the Nissan was traveling west on Mount Vernon Avenue, turned north onto Graham Street and approached the intersection of Graham Street and Hildreth Avenue. There, a person operating a minibike failed to yield to the minivan’s right of way. The minivan struck the minibike, throwing the driver from the minibike.

The operator of the minibike, a juvenile, and an adult passenger suffered serious injuries from the crash, which occurred at 7:40 p.m.

The driver of the minivan reportedly stopped after the crash, walked around the area for a short time, then drove away in the minivan, which police said was reported stolen.

A neighborhood safety camera at Mt. Vernon Avenue and Graham Street recorded the minivan as it turned, and police are looking for any additional videos or witnesses to this crash.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip.

When pilot Kenneth Arnold took off from Chehalis, Washington, in his single-engine airplane one afternoon in June 1947, he was looking for a lost military aircraft that had crashed. But what he found was something completely different—something that would set off a cultural obsession in the U.S. that persists today.

While flying around Mount Rainier, Arnold reportedly encountered nine curious, wingless objects speeding through the sky at 1,200 mph, faster than any plane at the time could. Arnold spent years afterward trying to describe what he had seen, reportedly using a term that has been ingrained in the American lexicon ever since: "flying saucer."

Since then, Americans have been uniquely fixated on the idea that aliens are somewhere in the sky above us, and the number who believe that to be true is growing. In 2019, a Gallup survey found that 33% of Americans believed some UFOs were alien spacecrafts, while 60% felt they could all be explained by human activity or some natural phenomenon. Just two years later, in 2021, 41% of respondents said they believed at least some UFOs were alien-related compared to 50% who were confident any sightings could be explained by human behavior or scientific events.

There are two main reasons that belief in aliens has become so prevalent in the United States: government hearings and pop culture.

America's film industry has always been one of the most influential in the world, and a wave of science fiction films in the 1950s, like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," perpetuated the idea that there are other life-forms out there. This continues today with alien-centric sci-fi staples like the "Avatar" franchise and the "Quiet Place" movies dominating the box office.

Rather than leave flying saucers to the domain of Hollywood, the U.S. government has addressed the question of UFOs, only adding further speculation. In April 2020, the Department of Defense released multiple videos filmed by military pilots that were thought to possibly capture UFOs. In July 2023, an Air Force veteran came forward to the House of Representatives claiming that the U.S. military has been keeping important information on "nonhuman" sightings secret since the 1930s.

Just like it did in the 1950s amid Cold War paranoia, the lore of UFOs is also currently experiencing a resurgence as many Americans grow concerned about national security. The infamous Chinese spy balloon panic in 2023 and fears over being infiltrated by the Russian government have led to many reporting seeing UFOs in the sky. People are also mistaking the spike in Starlink satellites for extraterrestrial activity. In November 2024, the Pentagon announced that most reported sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs, as they're now known) can be attributed to balloons, drones, and other regular objects, while still noting that many objects lack a sufficient explanation.

UAP and UFO sightings in the U.S. are particularly concentrated in the West, partially because of the abundance of dark sky locations, where it's easier to spot objects with less light pollution. Those who believe they've seen something otherworldly can report it to the National UFO Reporting Center, which relies on volunteers to separate fact from fiction.

While New Mexico and Nevada are perhaps best known for UFO sightings, the National UFO Reporting Center data shows that the state with the most sightings is California, with more than 16,500 reports as of April 25, 2025. But what do the numbers look like in your metro area?

Stacker compiled a ranking of cities with the most UFO sightings in Ohio using data from the National UFO Reporting Center. Data encompasses all reports of UFO sightings dating back to 1995. Sightings with locations listed across multiple cities were not included in this analysis.

For now, the U.S. government's official stance is that extraterrestrial life does not exist. But if the last century is any indicator, that will do little to curb America's alien obsession.

Note: The images in this article are stock photos and do not necessarily depict the specific cities or events described listed.

#10. Garrettsville

- UFO sightings: 44

#9. Cambridge

- UFO sightings: 45

#8. Youngstown

- UFO sightings: 48

#7. Canton

- UFO sightings: 55

#6. Akron

- UFO sightings: 68

#5. Dayton

- UFO sightings: 98

#4. Toledo

- UFO sightings: 104

#3. Cleveland

- UFO sightings: 122

#2. Cincinnati

- UFO sightings: 168

#1. Columbus

- UFO sightings: 280