COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Local veterans and their families are giving back to veterans’ nonprofits and organizations through something called electronic charitable gaming, e-pull tabs and e-bingo machines that are mostly played in veterans’ halls.
Electronic charitable gaming was legalized in Ohio in 2022, allowing players the chance to win some cash while also giving back to charity.
WATCH: NBC4’s 2024 ‘Veterans Voices’ specialThere are electronic charitable gaming machines in many veterans' halls across Columbus, including at American Legion Post 144 in south Columbus.
“We have the raffle machines and we also have tickets, the peel tickets,” said Rick Garren, the finance officer for Post 144. “It has vouchers that’ll come out for cash.”
It’s a game of chance: players put in a few dollars and can potentially win big.
“Members love them, they do,” Garren said. “Those machines saved a lot of posts from going down.”
A percentage of the proceeds from the machines goes toward charities of the halls’ choice. Recently, Post 144 gave $5,000 to the Ohio-based nonprofit Save A Warrior, which is dedicated to suicide prevention among veterans.
Broadleigh Lofts project offers support to homeless veterans in Columbus“We’re a great mission for these locations that have charitable gaming,” Save A Warrior’s Development Director Suzette Heller said. “What better way to support, what better way to spend your charitable gaming monies than to helping veterans get their lives back?”
The organization has veterans, or warriors, go through a 72-hour-long intervention to get to the root of their PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Then there is a 500-day plan to get them back on their feet.
Heller said money from electronic charitable gaming has helped Save A Warrior treat thousands.
“The veterans service organizations that support us here and the fraternal organizations that have this charitable gaming, they’re so important to us,” Heller said. “They’re invested in us and they’re our partners and we love them.”
Many of the machines in Ohio VFWs and American Legion Posts are made by Arrow International, which was founded by an Ohio veteran. Arrow Chief Operating Officer John Gallagher said knowing that nonprofits like Save A Warrior are being helped through their games is what keeps the company going.
“Our products raise over $1.5 billion each year on behalf of local nonprofit organizations and we’re proud to partner with veterans' organizations,” Gallagher said.
If you don’t belong to a local veterans’ hall but are interested in trying out electronic charitable gaming, you can also find the machines in some bars and restaurants around Columbus.
To learn more about Save A Warrior, click here.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio State University student dialed 911 just after midnight Friday from a friend's phone after his was stolen at gunpoint.
It happened on West Oakland Avenue, feet away from High Street and just a short walk north of Ohio State's campus.
"The dude jumps out of the passenger side of the car, pulls a gun on me and says, ‘Drop everything from your pockets or I'll shoot you,’" Ohio State senior Colin Clark said.
Clark said his instinct was to do exactly what the person said. He handed over his phone, which was passcode protected, and watched the thief ride away with another person driving.
Clark had just left a friend's house to walk home. He wasn't even half a block down the street when he walked around a dark-colored sedan parked in the alleyway blocking the sidewalk. He said a person jumped out of the passenger seat, yelled at him and pointed a gun in his direction.
"I turned around, saw the gun and I just froze, threw all that stuff out of my pockets," Clark said. "I do this walk all the time. And I've, like, never even cared or, like, thought I would have an issue, especially so close to High Street, so I'm, like, freaking out. I, like, panicked. This past week has been a little bit bad for me. My car got broken into on this last Monday.”
After he called police, Clark waited for them to arrive and realized several other friends were also walking home at the time. He became concerned a similar fate would fall on them if the vehicle and alleged thieves were still near campus.
Columbus Police arrived and took a report of what happened.
"While I was sitting in the cop car. I heard that another kind of similar robbery happened," Clark said.
Columbus police said that only the city’s police were on the initial call for service, not Ohio State University Police. They often collaborate and work together on incidents in such close proximity to campus.
Ohio State University Police typically send out a Buckeye Alert for immediate danger on campus, or a Public Safety Notice for other reasons students and staff may need to know about an incident. For instance, an alert was sent on Sept. 16 when a shooting took place near John Herrick Drive involving two people not affiliated with the university.
No Public Safety Notice or Buckeye Alert was sent after the armed robbery Friday night.
According to an Ohio State police spokesperson, "Off-campus crime reports are shown on the Community Crime Map. Public Safety Notices are for crimes occurring on campus."
The University does have a crime map that shows what types of crimes are committed in off campus areas. However, past Public Safety Notices show a pattern of releasing information to the OSU community, even if an incident or crime takes place off-campus.
When new OSU Police Chief Dennis Jeffrey spoke with NBC4 two weeks ago, he said the biggest challenge they face is off-campus crime.
“That’s our biggest concern really is that High Street immediate area,” Jeffrey said then.
Clark believes potential danger in the greater campus community could be better communicated.
"I really would like to see a better emphasis on, like, ‘This is nearby campus, this is right near campus, this was with a gun, this was an armed robbery,’” Clark said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With marijuana becoming more accessible around the nation, researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital wanted to know how its usage by pregnant women could affect children's development.
Sarah Keim, principal investigator with the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, said the study involved around 250 pregnant women. Each woman shared information with researchers, including details about their lifestyle and behavior.
The study looked at the same pregnant women's children after they had given birth. When each participant's child reached the age of five, they were evaluated.
Mr. Tree replica to be on display at Columbus Metropolitan LibraryResearchers conducting the study found the children who were exposed to marijuana prenatally had greater difficulties paying attention, planning and controlling their impulses, and they exhibited more aggressive behavior.
Keim said research like this is critical with the changing landscape of marijuana use and availability.
“Evidence based on what might be the harm on that to children was really rather old – some of those studies were from the '70s and '80s,” Keim said. “Today marijuana is a lot more potent than it was back then, and our population is a lot more diverse than it used to be.”
Keim said researchers will continue the study and check in with those same families when their children reach age seven to see how they are progressing. She said the team also plans to conduct interviews with the students' teachers to gain insight into their development in a classroom setting, both socially and academically.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There's a baby boom inside a local maternity ward.
Nearly a dozen of the nurses on Grant Medical Center's labor and delivery floor all gave birth around the same time. Now, the babies and mothers share a bond like no other.
The babies were all born in the hospital's maternity ward, the same ward where their mothers deliver babies on a daily basis. Many of the women helped deliver each other's babies.
Administrative Nurse Manager of Labor and Delivery Robyn Lutz said many of the nurses worked right up until their due date.
"All of them breastfeed, and they have to cover each other if they're going to pump and it's just so wonderful for our patients to see them working and breastfeeding and all of the positive things that they can teach as nurses to the pregnant women that are here," Lutz said.
There are currently 10 babies ranging in age from seven weeks old to nineteen months, with one more due at the beginning of January.
Erin Williams was the first to learn she was pregnant, unknowingly setting off a chain reaction.
"It just like trickled in, little by little and then when I was on maternity leave, they were like, ‘Hey, guess who's pregnant, guess who's pregnant, guess who's pregnant,” so it was pretty cool," Williams said.
Kortney Belt is a first-time mother. She said the mothers and babies are all now bonded for life.
"I trust these women with my life, obviously,” Belt said. “I gave them that opportunity and they took care of me and my baby and I'm just so grateful to every one of them. I love them."
Jordan Fox has three children now. She said being a mom helps them on the job.
"I just really think it's special to be there for mom's that are going through this time, and it makes it even better when you've gone through it and so you can understand where their anxiety during labor comes from," Fox said.
This wasn’t Taylor Krinock's first rodeo, either. She recently gave birth to her son Lane but has two other kids at home.
"I think it's really great we always know we have a support system we can ask, and if we run into any issues, we always have a buddy to ask and they're probably going through the same thing we are," Krinock said.
Elizabeth Barrowman, first time mother to an eight-month-old girl, said it's nice to have others who are in the same boat to lean on.
"If I have any questions or any breastfeeding tips or baby tips, I have someone I can call, multiple people I can text, too, which is really nice and they're going through the same thing I am, the sleepless nights," Barrowman said.
It's been a busy year of celebrations including lots of baby showers and playdates. But the party is just getting started for this big, happy family which will soon be complete when Jaclyn Nowak has her daughter in January.
"She's lucky already," Nowak said. "She doesn't even know it."
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Honor Flight Columbus recently provided a local veteran and grandmother the chance to visit memorials around Washington D.C. with her grandson by her side for every step of the journey.
Each Honor Flight trip is called a mission. On Mission 136, Honor Flight Columbus celebrated taking 10,000 veterans to the nation's capital.
"I am so honored and so grateful to meet such good people,” Suzanne Dirck, one of the veterans on Mission 136, said. “They’re good volunteers and the people that served, they’re wonderful people.”
Every veteran on the missions has a volunteer guardian they're paired with. Dirck's guardian was her grandson, Leopold Harden.
“He’s with me and that's good, isn't it?” Dirck said. “He’s 6'5" and I'm 4'11", so I hope I didn't trip him up."
Harden helped her get around Washington D.C. as they stopped at different memorials and monuments.
At the Vietnam War Memorial, she saw names of corpsmen she knew who made the ultimate sacrifice. Dirck was a Navy nurse at the Bethesda Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War, caring for amputees, burn patients, and psychiatric patients.
“I always remember what I saw there, and I'll never forget, never forget that, and so this, to see people that have made it through the years is so amazing," she said.
The last stop of the day was at the Military Women's Memorial, where Dirck was given her Military Women's Memorial profile and certificate.
"She specifically remembered the large amount of soldiers that were admitted after the Tet Offensive," she read from the profile. "The advice to the young women or men considering the military is that the service is so inspiring, it is so rewarding. She encourages anyone who isn't sure about what they want to do to consider the military service.”
Her grandson took that advice. He wants to be in the Air Force.
“It’s crazy to see how much she’s gone through, and we wouldn't be here today without her support and everything, so I'm very thankful she’s here with me today to show me all this history behind it," Harden said.
Their day together in Columbus started before the sun came up. It ended in Washington D.C. as the sun set. It was a day full of moments they will both cherish.
“My husband dropped me off at the airport and he’ll be by there to get me tonight, but I have had such a grand time in between, I don't even know how to explain it to him. It’s wonderful," Dirck said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Many in central Ohio noticed the smell of smoke when they went outside Sunday morning and it turns out that smoke came from fires in West Virginia.
"I thought maybe there was a fire someone had had because of the football game, but it just kept smelling all night long and throughout the morning," resident Lisa Schneider said.
Schneider and John Havener were out for a walk Monday morning. The weather for their stroll was much different than it was 24 hours earlier when there was rain and the smell of smoke. It was noticed by people in several parts of the region.
“I thought it was a chemical fire; I thought one of the neighbors, something like plastic or something because it didn't smell natural," Havener said.
West Virginia has been dealing with wildfires. Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Bryan Still said that ahead of a cold front, wind brought the smoke from those fires to the area. There was also what's called an inversion.
“The air closer to the surface was cooler than the air aloft or farther up in altitude,” Still said. “What happens is anything moving can't really move further upward because that warmer air is trapping it.”
He also said the rain made the smell stronger at times since the smoke was stuck by the inversion.
“It was sort of trapped and so once you had everything trapped together, it was condensing itself, it couldn’t move,” Still said. “It couldn’t go anywhere until it had a vehicle, and that vehicle just happened to be the rain that fell over the city.”
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has been paying attention to this too. While Sunday's air quality was not as good as usual, MORPC said it did not rise to the level of an air quality alert.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lawmakers will be back at Capitol Square on Tuesday after taking a few months off to campaign for the election.
With a limited number of sessions before the end of the year, leaders are setting their priorities, and Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said Republican infighting should not stall anything.
“From an ideological standpoint, [property legislation] should be easily passed,” he said. “I mean, these bills have been overwhelmingly supported by the House Republican caucus.”
Stephens said he has a number of things on his priority list, like House Bill 5, which would modernize the adoption process, and House Bill 7, a big spending bill for mothers and newborns.
“House Bill 7 we affectionately call our ‘Babies and Mama's Bill,’ helping young mothers and newborn babies to have a better start,” he said. “We passed those. Those are in the Senate, and [we] would really like to see those bills come back to us during lame duck.”
Another priority bill is House Bill 8 which has been stalled in the Senate for more than a year now. The legislation would allow parents to opt their students out of “sexuality content” being taught in their public schools.
“The core of the legislation is to make sure parents know what's going on at their schools and a lot of schools do that now already; we just want to make sure that parents have that information, and they have the ability to know what's going on,” Stephens said.
Overall, Stephens said, most of what he wanted to accomplish was passed back in June, so said his “hope is we’re not here late at night.”
“Most of our big items that we've already passed,” he said. “Obviously, the budgets and the SAFE Act and a lot of our other priority bills that we've been able to pass.1”
Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said while the House Democrats have a list of priorities, it may be a balancing act.
“Unfortunately, I think we are also going to be playing defense,” she said.
At the top of Russo’s list are “fixes in the education space” and property tax relief.
“Republicans and Democrats are hearing from constituents about this issue. And we think that this is something that we should prioritize,” she said. “So, it will be a real focus for us, the House Democratic Caucus, going into lame duck.”
Stephens said that is “absolutely” a priority for Republicans as well.
For Gov. Mike DeWine, the official in charge of signing or vetoing what the legislature passes, he has one particular bill in mind he wants to see on his desk.
“We still have a situation where this hyped-up hemp is being sold at gas stations all over the state of Ohio and you've got young kids, there's no age limit, kids are walking in there and buying this garbage,” DeWine said. “So, the legislature needs to take action.”
DeWine is referring to Delta-8 products, a low-level THC sometimes called “diet weed.” He has been advocating for restrictions on the product for nearly a year. Right now, it can be bought by any Ohioan at places like gas stations or convenience stores.
“There should be a sense of urgency about getting this done,” DeWine said.
Stephens said there have been conversations throughout the summer about passing some sort of Delta-8 related bill, but said it is about striking a balance.
“Keeping the free market out there, but also being smart that we protect people,” Stephens said.
Senate Bill 326, introduced by Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), introduced last week, would fully prohibit the sale of “intoxicating hemp products.” It has its first hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
There is plenty to watch for these next few weeks, but some other high profile-bills include legislation known as the bathroom bill. The House amended it in Senate Bill 104 before going on summer break, which means it now will only take one more vote by senators to be sent to the governor’s desk.
The House also has its third hearing for House Bill 445, a religious release bill for public school students. Opponents will testify on Tuesday. The Senate now also has its own version of the bill, which will have its first hearing on Tuesday. Companion legislation typically means its passage will be sped up.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police have identified the victim of a fatal shooting that happened early Saturday morning in northeast Columbus.
Police said on Monday that Abdulrahman Mohamed, 40, was pronounced dead near the intersection of Walford Street and Fitzroy Drive Saturday morning.
Mohamed and a second person were found suffering from gunshot wounds at approximately 8:21 a.m. The second victim was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but later upgraded to a stable condition.
Police have identified Devon Ford, 26, as the suspect in the shooting Saturday afternoon and said there is a warrant filed for his arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4730. To submit information anonymously, people can also call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A spokesperson for a former Ohio Speaker of the House currently serving prison time said they may be seeking help from President-elect Donald Trump.
Scott Allan Pullins, the attorney representing former Ohio Speaker Larry Householder, said Monday that he and his team "are aggressively pursuing all avenues" in getting Householder out of prison.
In addition to appealing the case to the Sixth Circuit Court, Pullins said, "We will also be applying for executive clemency at some point closer to when President Trump is sworn in."
American restaurant chain closes last central Ohio location before filing for bankruptcyIn June 2023, Householder was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for helping orchestrate the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio's history.
Householder was convicted of federal racketeering charges for accepting a $60 million bribe for FirstEnergy in exchange for passing the $1.3 billion nuclear plant bailout and squashing a referendum effort against it.
Pullins' comment said clemency would include pardoning Householder as well as commuting his sentence.
Trump is scheduled to be sworn in for his second term as president on Jan. 20, 2025.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – No. 2 Ohio State’s game against the No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers, one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the nation, now has a start time.
What could be its last chance to qualify for the Big Ten Championship game, OSU’s game against Indiana (10-0, 7-0) at Ohio Stadium will kickoff at noon, Saturday, Nov. 23.
Assuming Indiana, which is on a bye this Saturday, remains ranked in the top 10 this time next week, the Nov. 23rd game will be the Buckeyes' third matchup against teams ranked in the top 10 this season. On Oct. 12, the Buckeyes lost 32-31 at Oregon in primetime on NBC4 and outlasted No. 3 Penn State in Happy Valley two weeks ago.
Ohio high school football regional semifinals announcedThe Hoosiers, one of four remaining undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, moved up to No. 8 in the most recent Associated Press poll and is coming off a 20-15 victory over Michigan. It now has a week of rest heading into the biggest game of the Hoosier’s season.
Indiana has never beaten Ohio State, and a victory will all but secure a date with Oregon in the conference title game. The Hoosiers have already clinched their first 10-win season in program history, thanks in part to Ohio University transfer QB Kurtis Rourke, who is closing in on the Indiana record for touchdown passes in a season.
Rourke is second in the Big Ten with 21 touchdowns and seven shy Kellen Lewis’ 28 TD passes in 2007. Rourke also leads the conference with a 182.7 QB rating and 10.1 yards per pass attempt. OSU QB Will Howard is tied for the conference lead with 22 touchdown passes.
Remaining Ohio State football scheduleThis Saturday, the Buckeyes, who blanked Purdue 45-0 on Saturday and jumped up one spot to No. 2 in the country after Georgia lost to Mississippi, take on Northwestern (4-5, 2-4) at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Wildcats are in the midst of a sophomore slump, after a surprising 8-5 record in 2023. Their conference wins this season are against Purdue – by just six points – and Maryland, while they struggled mightily against the likes of Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Washington.
No. 1 Oregon will look to stay unbeaten in a primetime matchup at Wisconsin on NBC4 at 7:30 p.m. Sixth-ranked Penn State will try to keep pace with the pack as it gets its crack at Purdue at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. If the season ended today, Indiana would play Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As chief financial and administrative officer for the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Tom Williamson is naturally involved with the ongoing Broadleigh Lofts development. His role as a veteran, however, makes the project personal.
"The vision for this development is to help ensure that veterans in Franklin County have a safe and stable place to call home — together, we can achieve the goal of no veteran being homeless," Williamson said.
Broadleigh Lofts is a $26 million project by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, which said the nearly four-acre vacant site will consist of three three-story buildings. The development is being built in tandem with Woda Cooper Companies.
Columbus restaurants on 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives'According to CMHA, the property includes 25 apartments with rental assistance and supportive services exclusively for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The remaining 59 units are reserved for general households earning less than 80% of Franklin County's annual income.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 7% of the general population are veterans, but nearly 13% of the homeless population are veterans. The data also estimates around 633 veterans in Ohio are homeless, although some may be unsheltered so it is difficult to confirm the number.
Williamson said the project is the first development in CMHA's 90-year history specifically dedicated to serving homeless veterans. The location -- on East Broad Street near John Glenn International Airport -- was selected because of its proximity to VA Wylie Clinic, a Veterans Affairs treatment center, as well as other geographic benefits like transportation.
Williamson was honored for exemplary service while serving with elite special operations forces as an Army Ranger. He said his past work in the military -- especially his role managing a multi-billion dollar budget -- has helped him look toward innovation in his work with CMHA.
Gov. DeWine shares thoughts on Vance Senate replacementHe said he's not alone in gaining skills in the military that help him in civilian work, something he encouraged employers to keep in mind when receiving job applications from veterans.
“As a 100% disabled veteran, I am blessed that my disabilities have not affected my ability to work. I remain in contact with my buddies who have not been as fortunate as I,” Williamson said. “Most have suffered debilitating physical injuries, others have suffered from complications associated with post traumatic stress. We can do better.”
He said he hopes the supportive services and housing stability that will be offered at Broadleigh Lofts can offer a chance for veterans to heal. Leasing on the 60%-completed development is expected to begin in late spring of 2025.
Skies will gradually clear out for Veterans Day on Monday, but then more clouds will build with another cold front that is on the way. Highs will reach the low 60s. Some breezy conditions will stick around with gusts close to 25 mph.
The next cold front this week will move through Central Ohio Monday night into Tuesday, but this one is not expected to bring any rain. It will knock down temperatures to the upper 30s for the overnight lows.
Tomorrow is going to be much more seasonable for this time of year as temperatures only reach the mid 50s. Skies will be mostly cloudy in the morning. As skies clear throughout the day, there will be in the afternoon.
Additional chances of showers move in Wednesday night into Thursday. This will be the third cold front of the week. New rainfall totals are expected to be between 0.25-0.5" Dry conditions will become dry once again by the start of the upcoming weekend along with another warming trend.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A casual American restaurant chain closed its last central Ohio location shortly before filing for bankruptcy.
TGI Fridays recently closed its Reynoldsburg restaurant located at 2928 Taylor Road. A sign posted on the door informed customers of the closure.
“Thanks for visiting our restaurant,” the sign read. “We truly appreciate our loyal guests and it has been our pleasure serving you. Unfortunately, we’ve made the hard decision to close this TGI Fridays restaurant. Again, thank you for your patronage over all these years.”
Study ranks Columbus among top five best cities for people with disabilitiesWhile the chain did not otherwise make a public announcement, information about the Reynoldsburg location was removed from its website. Google reviews indicate the restaurant quietly closed about two months ago. While the Reynoldsburg restaurant was the last TGI Fridays in central Ohio, nine eateries remain open in the state, according to the chain's website.
On Nov. 2, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which allows a company to stay in business while it reorganizes its debt and assets. The primary driver of the restaurant's financial challenges resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press.
The Reynoldsburg closure joins a handful more across the country, with national and restaurant news websites tallying at least 50 closures since early September. TGI Fridays did not respond to a request for comment.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A classic holiday attraction that was once part of the Downtown Lazarus department store will appear at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
A replica of Mr. Tree, the "talking tree," will be on display at the Columbus Metropolitan Library's main branch at 96 S. Grant Ave. The tree will be in the lobby for its upcoming Holiday Open House on Nov. 20, according to Ben Zenitsky, media specialist at CML.
A local artist, Todd Reed, recreated the tree, which was a holiday fixture in the 1970s and '80s at the department store. The original Mr. Tree was created by Columbus art legend Gordon Keith, who died in 2015.
Mr. Tree made its return to a new generation in 2023 after being missing for years. Reed's craftmanship brought the tree back to life and appeared next to the nativity outside of St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral on East Broad Street.
Volunteers needed for Salvation Army holiday programs in central OhioAlong with Mr. Tree, patrons can also check out several other holiday festivities at the library's Open House, including the return of the Huntington Holiday Train. The 600-square-foot train was built in 1992 and originally displayed in the lobby of the Huntington building at Broad and High streets. This will be the train's 14th year on display at the library.
Families can also enjoy singalong carols, and even a visit from a live reindeer and a special guest, according to the library. The Open House is from 6 to 8 p.m.
POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- An apparel and assorted gifts shop that has called central Ohio home for 20 years is closing after the owners announced their retirement.
Cute As A Button at 38 W. Olentangy St. in Powell will soon welcome customers for the last time, owners Andrea and Carole announced on social media. After 20 years in business, the pair said, "the time has come for us to turn the page to a new chapter in our lives," and expressed gratitude for the Powell community's support.
Pizza Cottage adds tavern to renovated Powell location"We have cherished every moment -- from helping you find the perfect gift, to sharing stories and laughter, helping each other in difficult times, and even seeing familiar faces year after year," the post states. "Our shop has been more than just a business; it has been a place of connection, memories, and joy, and that is all thanks to you."
The shop has yet to specify its final day of business and is now hosting a "retirement sale" with discounts of up to 75% until all merchandise is sold. The storefront is also continuing to acquire new inventory for the holiday season. All sales are final and gift cards are no longer available.
"Thank you for being a part of our story," the shop's owners said. "Your support over the years has meant more to us than words can express, and we will carry these memories with us wherever we go."
Johnson’s Ice Cream to open seventh central Ohio shopUntil closure, Cute As A Button is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Columbus has once again fallen below $3 per gallon, further proving that gas prices have nothing to do with elections, experts say.
According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in the Columbus area, the average price at the pump fell by 10.5 cents per gallon last week to reach $2.96. The current price is 25.9 cents per gallon lower than last month and 29.6 cents per gallon lower than this time one year ago.
Do elections influence gas prices? Columbus motorists paying under $3 per gallonThe cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.72 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.53, a difference of 81 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also fell by 15.6 cents from $2.99 per gallon to $2.84 per gallon.
Nationally, gas prices also experienced a small decline of 2.6 cents per gallon to reach $3.03, while the price of diesel continues to hit new lows since January 2022, settling at $3.54 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan, the decline in fuel prices is common this time of year due to supply and demand, and it has very little, if anything, to do with politics, politicians or elections.
To wit: Columbus gas prices, which actually increased the week of the election, have steadily declined since the end of the summer, before, during and after the presidential election. De Haan also expects gas prices to hit new lows as Thanksgiving approaches.
"While the election has come and gone, gas prices have stayed the course, with the national average price of gasoline declining for a fourth consecutive week as seasonal demand weakens and Americans begin to take refuge from falling temperatures," said De Haan. “With the median U.S. gas price now at $2.95 per gallon, the lowest since 2021, it appears to be just a matter of time before the national average falls below $3 per gallon for the first time since May 2021.”
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) – The suspect in the Ohio Amber Alert for a missing teenage girl from Columbus faced a judge over the weekend.
According to Clark County Municipal Court records, 48-year-old Shane Smith appeared in court for an arraignment hearing while facing a kidnapping charge.
Child allegedly abducted from Columbus rescued in Nebraska after 70-mile pursuitThe Amber Alert issued Friday at 3:45 p.m. for a missing teenage girl from Columbus was canceled after she was recovered at 6:19 p.m. while Smith, who was believed to be armed and dangerous, was arrested at around 8:10 p.m. in Springfield.
According to court documents, Smith was known to the girl and her family, and allegedly compelled her to run away with him to begin life as a couple in a new state. Court documents also allege the two have had a sexual relationship.
According to Clark County court documents, Smith has two open court cases. Smith was indicted for felonious assault with a firearm in October 2023, and another indictment was filed in February 2024 for cocaine possession.
On Sunday, Smith was issued a $100,000 bond and he remains in custody as of Monday morning. It is not yet known when a future court date will take place.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus is among the top five best cities in the United States for people with disabilities, according to a recent study.
WalletHub, a personal finance company, compared 182 American cities across 33 key indications of “disability-friendliness.” Metrics include physicians per person, the number of workers with disabilities, and the amount of disability-accessible restaurants and facilities.
List: Columbus-area restaurants featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’Columbus ranked as the third-best city in the country for people with disabilities. The city is home to an “especially high” number of medical professionals, and has a relatively large percentage of homes -- about 25% -- that are wheelchair accessible, according to WalletHub. The company also noted Columbus has the 13th-lowest homelessness rate in the country for people with disabilities.
Taking the No. 1 spot was Scottsdale, Arizona. The city leads the country in the number of wheelchair-accessible grocery stores and entertainment establishments. Additionally, Scottsdale residents have access to Arizona’s state Medicaid program, which ranks as the best in the country.
In second place was Minneapolis. The study stated residents have access to “quality” and “affordable” healthcare, with the average monthly health insurance premium in the city being $337 – the second-lowest average in the country. In addition, the city has the sixth-best public hospitals and the eighth-most hospitals per capita.
Ohio high school football regional semifinals announcedCompleting the top five were St. Louis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The worst cities for those with disabilities were Gulfport, Mississippi; Pearl City, Hawaii; Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Alabama; and Juneau, Alaska.
BROEKN BOW, NEBRASKA (WCMH) – A three-year-old girl from Columbus was rescued by Nebraska State Troopers after a suspect led authorities on a 70-mile high-speed chase in central Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska State Patrol, troopers received a tip from the Columbus Division of Police that a suspect may be traveling in Nebraska, and on Saturday a GMC Sierra was located along Interstate 80 near Overton, Nebraska. The driver, Diego Revilla-Gonzalez of Columbus, allegedly refused to yield during a traffic stop and attempted to flee.
Central Ohio’s closest elections: Why your vote mattersA pursuit took place with the suspect reaching speeds of approximately 100 MPH on the highway. Revilla-Gonzalez was weaving in and out of traffic and on the shoulder of the highway, causing troopers to discontinue the pursuit out of concern for the child and other motorists.
Dawson County 911 dispatch then received a report of the suspect driving northbound on Cozad Road and into Custer County. Troopers were able to deploy spot sticks on Highway 40 near Callaway, Nebraska, but the driver did not stop, and a pursuit resumed.
Another attempt at stopping the vehicle via spot sticks was attempted near Highway 40 and Highway 47, but Revilla-Gonzalez allegedly drove off the road and toward a trooper. The trooper was able to avoid being struck by the vehicle, but Revilla-Gonzalez continued northbound on Highway 47 before turning west on Highway 92 near Arnold, Nebraska.
The driver again veered off the road, through a fence and into a field, where the vehicle finally became disabled. Troopers arrested Revilla-Gonzalez without further incident and the child was safely recovered from the backset of the pickup truck.
She was medically cleared and placed in protective care in Nebraska pending reunification with her mother.
After a pursuit that covered approximately 70 miles, Revilla-Gonzalez was arrested and charged with flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, child abuse, attempted assault of an officer, and multiple traffic violations. He is being held in Custer County Jail and will face charges locally before being extradited back to Columbus.
List: 2024 Veterans Day discounts and specials in central OhioAccording to the Custer County Sheriff's Office, based on his outstanding warrant in Columbus, Revilla-Gonzalez will be issued a bond Monday, due to a 48-hour holding period protocol. Due to the holiday, however, his next possible court date is Nov. 18.
Revilla-Gonzales, 27, currently faces a violation of protection order charge out of Franklin County Municipal court after an arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 8. He has previously faced local charges of violation of a protection order, domestic violence, and menacing in 2023, as well as domestic violence, assault, and endangering children in 2021. Those charges were all dismissed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some races in central Ohio's 2024 general election came down to a single voter flipping the outcome, and in others, creating a tie.
The results of national and statewide races -- including a projected win for former President Donald Trump and the ousting of Sen. Sherrod Brown -- were decided by millions of voters with sizable margins. But several races in central Ohio came down to razor-thin counts and also had major impacts on smaller pockets of residents.
In some races determining factors in Ohioans' lives, like how much they will owe in taxes or whether police and fire departments will gain funding, a single voter's decision to participate or not would have an important effect. Two measures in particular ended in ties, one being for a road maintenance levy and the other for a village's expenses. When an issue race ends with an even amount of voters on both sides, it fails.
Checking election results from Nov.5, NBC4 found 14 races decided by 10 votes or fewer. The biggest was a levy to pay for maintenance on a Perry County assisted living facility, which would raise property taxes in the area by $70 for every $100,000 in property value. It had just under 16,000 residents cast ballots countywide, and ultimately failed by a narrow margin of just three votes.
At least two races came down to a difference of one vote, including a school levy that 1,397 voters weighed in on. Five, such as a 2,460-voter race over funding for a fire department, were decided by five votes or fewer.
Zooming out even farther to races decided by 100 votes or fewer, the list balloons. Like the previous two groups, this one coincidentally only includes issue races rather than candidate races.
Several school districts' bond issues and levies were among this group, including Franklin, Mechanicsburg, Riverdale, River View and Triad. River View Local Schools stood as the biggest race with this narrow of a margin between its 7,166 voters, of which 22 made the difference in failing additional taxes for district improvements. Franklin Local Schools was a close second, having only a 73-voter difference between its 5,293 participants that shot down its measure.
All of central Ohio's races have unofficial results only, as of Monday. Election officials need to confirm the votes in each race, after which they'll share the certified totals on Nov. 30.