Ohio News

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio law set to take effect this month banning gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes' participation in women's sports could be put on hold if a legal challenge against the measure is successful.

House Bill 68 is scheduled to be enacted in Ohio on April 23, prohibiting children's hospitals from providing treatment like gender-reassignment surgery and hormone therapy to trans minors. The bill also bars trans students from taking part in female athletics and revokes the Ohio High School Athletic Association's trans athlete policy, a measure that is allowing seven trans girls to participate in high school sports this school year.

However, the ACLU announced on March 26 it filed a lawsuit against the bill's gender-affirming care provision and is requesting a preliminary injunction to strike down the ban, according to the complaint filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of two families whose children are at risk of losing access to their healthcare.

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"Families are now confronted with the extremely difficult decision of fleeing the state they call home to protect their children or allowing them to go without the care they and their doctors know is right for them," said Chase Strangio, deputy director for Transgender Justice at the ACLU.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will you be able to see the stars in central Ohio during the eclipse?

DeWine faced a wave of criticism from notable Republicans who called for the Statehouse to override his veto, including from former President Donald Trump, who wrote in a Truth Social post that DeWine "has fallen to the Radical Left."

The governor attempted to assuage the backlash by signing an executive order in January to ban Ohio’s medical professionals from performing gender transition surgery on trans youth. DeWine previously said he enacted that order, in part, in anticipation of a lawsuit against H.B. 68.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Both a local astronomer and national cellphone companies shared perspectives on what could happen with cellular coverage during the coming eclipse.

A wide band running from the northeast portion of Ohio to the western region will be in the path of totality, or where the sun will be 100% blocked by the moon on Monday. It will reveal phenomena like the solar corona and stars and planets visible in the daytime. Everyone outside this coverage area, which includes much of central Ohio, will have a different view of the obstruction. Columbus' neighboring towns like Dublin and Hilliard, however, are within the projected path of totality.

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Major interest in the eclipse could see large groups of people converging on places in the path of totality. This is commonly a precursor to cellphone problems, according to the Federal Communications Commission. And with this in mind, Don Stevens, director of the Perkins Observatory at Ohio Wesleyan University, said that it's not the eclipse that would have any impact on connectivity.

"There's no mysterious eclipse rays or beams or anything like that that's going to occur that comes from this," Stevens said. "The only thing that's going to disrupt cellphone tower service is the amount of traffic, of people trying to livestream, upload videos and pictures and selfies and access all kinds of things online."

Stevens speculated that because of the potential for congestion, major network providers may deploy mobile cellphone towers like the ones used during natural disasters where coverage has been impacted. But Verizon in particular told NBC4 that its network has become so advanced that it won't need to do anything like that.

"In areas where people may gather to experience this event, we feel confident the additional capacity we have layered into the network over the past few years will accommodate any increases in data usage, however as requests for supplemental capacity come to us, we are assessing the needs," a Verizon communications manager wrote.

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Another major carrier, AT&T, told NBC4 it doesn't expect serious issues thanks to the widespread adoption of 5G cellular technology.

"Our network has drastically changed since the last solar eclipse in 2017," AT&T's Phil Hayes said. "Our higher-speed mid-band 5G+ spectrum alone covers more than 210 million people. Our bandwidth has increased significantly in the last few years, providing for an improved experience on our network as a result."

AT&T also operates a public safety network called FirstNet specifically intended for emergency responders, which allows them to communicate on separate channels from civilian customers at no extra charge.

Stevens added that the Perkins Observatory now has a team at Ohio Wesleyan's Hamilton-Williams Campus Center giving away eclipse glasses. They're limited to one pair free per visitor, and $1 for additional pairs. No appointment is required to obtain the glasses from the campus.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A man is dead after driving a car into the back of a bus Tuesday night in east Columbus.

According to Columbus police, a man driving a red Toyota Corolla was traveling eastbound on East Livingston Avenue, near the Wellesley Road, Eastmoor Boulevard intersection, at around 11:15 p.m. As the driver approached the area, he rear-ended a COTA bus that was stopped just west of the intersection.

Dashcam captures dangerous trend resulting in crash at Columbus intersection

The driver, 24-year-old Kevin Jones, was extracted from the car and taken to Grant Medical Center in life-threatening condition. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The driver of the COTA bus and one adult passenger were taken to Grant Medical Center and listed in stable condition.

The Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and continues to investigate the incident.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus resident’s dash camera captured the moment a car without a license plate took over an intersection and crashed into another vehicle – a growing trend law enforcement said started early this year.

On March 23, police were called to Williams Road and Alum Creek Drive in the South Alum Creek neighborhood when a car began stunt driving in the middle of the intersection. The takeover ended when the 21-year-old driver crashed into another car and a man was transported to a local hospital, according to Columbus Police Lieutenant Christopher Wayner. The man who was hit was transported to the hospital in stable condition and was not critically injured.

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“These burnouts and street takeover events and everything else started up early this year so we’re just trying to get ahead of it,” Wayner said. “The last couple of years were interesting, had a lot of large meet-ups.”

The driver who took over the intersection fled the scene but was later identified and cited for the accident, thanks to video footage taken by residents. Both cars sustained severe damage and were impounded, Wayner said. The case will be forwarded to the city attorney’s office who will determine if any criminal charges will be filed. 

The street takeover near Obetz was not the only one police responded to on March 23 – Wayner said police had already cleared up “several” meetups earlier that night. Along with street takeovers in intersections, people will often perform stunt driving in large parking lots of closed businesses, according to Wayner. 

“They’re putting a lot of themselves and their spectators at risk, so something we’re trying to deal with,” Wayner said. “[Last] April there was a large number of these and we had officers actually get shot at who were trying to break up an event. We’ve already had shots fired at events this year when we were clearing them out.”

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Ohio lawmakers are attempting to combat the issue with a bill that would increase penalties for stunt driving, which sponsor Rep. Andrea White said the state is seeing an increased frequency of.

“When you have situations where communities have several hundred people gathering at intersections, and multiple cars doing very dangerous stunt driving in the center of major intersections, and then all of the sudden multiple parties fleeing police, people are getting hurt, lives are being lost, property damaged,” White said in a March interview. 

Under the legislation, activities such as donuts, burnouts, drifting, wheelies and tire-squealing, as well as allowing a passenger to ride partially or fully outside of a vehicle, would be classified as “stunt driving.”  Any car involved in the act would be subject to seizure and forfeiture. The bill also states anyone rendering assistance to street racing, stunt driving or street takeover would be equally charged as participants.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Tornado watches and warnings have subsided, but a heavy wave of rain Tuesday has increased the concern for flooding and power outages in central Ohio.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

Nearly three inches of rain fell in the Columbus area over the past three days and in some areas as much as four inches has fallen. Last night’s patch of storms added significant rainfall on already saturated ground, causing flood concerns, power outages and some damage throughout the region.

Scattered, light rain showers Wednesday afternoon and evening, as well as a possible wintry mix Thursday morning could keep flood threats activated longer.

Flood alerts remain in effect Wednesday morning throughout central Ohio. (NBC4) FLOOD ALERTS

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for lowland areas along Big Darby Creek in Franklin, Pickaway and Madison Counties. At 4 a.m. the flood stage was measured at 11.9 feet. At 12 feet, lowland flooding occurs, and the river is expected to crest at 12.1 feet Wednesday morning.

The NWS has issued flood watches or warnings for over a dozen counties in central Ohio. Alerts remain in the following areas:

• Franklin County (until 9:12 p.m.)
• Coshocton County (12:15 p.m.)
• Crawford County (9 a.m.)
• Fayette County (9:30 a.m.)
• Guernsey County (10:45 a.m.)
• Hocking County (4 p.m.)
• Licking County (9:30 a.m.)
• Madison County (9:30 a.m.)
• Morgan County (Thursday, 5 a.m.)
• Muskingum County (10:45 a.m.)
• Noble County (10:45 a.m.)
• Pickaway County (9:30 a.m.)
• Pike County (9:30 a.m.)

Two rescued underneath Columbus bridge after flooding

Locally, high water remains in areas of south Columbus, particularly the Greenlawn Avenue exit along Interstate 71 South and at U.S. Route 23 and Interstate 270, which are still closed, as well as parts of State Route 104.

Additionally, floodwalls installed along Greenlawn and Harmon avenues in Franklinton, west of Downtown, will not be moved until at least Wednesday afternoon, according to the City of Columbus. It’s the first time the walls have been activated since May 2020.

A car stops before entering a flood zone at U.S. Route 23 and Interstate 270 in south Columbus. (NBC4) POWER OUTAGES

As of 4:30 a.m. American Electric Power is reporting over 15,000 power outages in central and southern Ohio, with the majority of the outages coming from southeastern counties.

Over 11,400 are being reported in Lawrence County with an additional 2,100 coming from Adams County. Scioto County (329), Gallia County (163) and Licking County (122) are also reporting several outages.

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Officials advise residents to pack a back with anything you will need in an emergency, including bottled water, non-perishable food, medications, batteries, flashlights, and other necessities. They say to have your phone charged ahead of time and have a portable charger available if possible.

AEP Ohio typically updates its outage map every 15 minutes. Check the outage map below.

THE DOUBLE RAINBOW

Those seeking reprieve from the effects of Tuesday’s storms and prior inclement weather in central Ohio were granted a site only seen in perfect conditions.

A double rainbow was captured throughout the Columbus area, including at Lower.com Field, where the Crew game against UANL Tigres in a Champions Cup game was temporarily placed on hold due to lightning.

A lightning bolt is seen intersecting with a double rainbow in Columbus (NBC4 Photo/Adam Conn)

NBC4 journalists across Columbus reported seeing the rainbow and sent in photos.

Dave Mazza, chief meteorologist of Storm Team 4, said the timing was perfect for a double rainbow, which is more common than a single rainbow when the conditions are right just before sunset.

WEATHER UPDATES

Stay weather aware with Storm Team 4 through live radar, weather alerts, closings and delays, live road conditions and push notifications from our NBC4 apps.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Sct'd rain, breezy, high 46
• Tonight: Wintry mix, low 35
• Thursday: AM mix, PM rain, high 45
• Friday: Early showers, high 45
• Saturday: Few clouds, high 50
• Sunday: More sunshine, high 58

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Wednesday!

Flood alerts continue for Central Ohio this morning, following several days of heavy rainfall across the region. Totals generally equated to 2-4", but some more localized spots saw totals above that. Expect ponding on some roads, and especially near rivers and creeks. If you see high water, turn around and find a new route.

Luckily, rain is getting much lighter. We start our Wednesday off on a dry note, but we will see scattered, light rain showers this afternoon and evening. We'll also be breezy, with highs only reaching the middle 40s this afternoon.

Going overnight, a few snow showers mix in, as temperatures tumble. For Thursday, we start the morning with a bit of a wintry mix, before a transition back to rain showers during the afternoon. Highs remain in the middle 40s.

By Friday, we're looking at more isolated shower activity, mainly during the morning. Highs stick in the middle 40s.

We're much nicer by this weekend, with highs near 50 Saturday, with a few clouds out.

By Sunday, highs warm to the upper 50s, with even more sunshine. Then just an isolated shower chance late Sunday.

-McKenna

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On a day of strange weather in central Ohio and with Franklin County under a tornado watch, a double rainbow began appearing just before sunset.

Tuesday began with a strong line of storms that affected the morning commute. After midday sun, scattered showers and storms came again during the late afternoon. But then came the double rainbow.

NBC4 journalists all across Columbus reported seeing the rainbow and sent in photos. Digital Sports Reporter David DeGuzman also took video at Lower.com Field, where the Columbus Crew was set to play UANL Tigres in a Champions Cup game.

• A double rainbow visible from Grove City on April 2, 2024, amid storms moving through Columbus. (Courtesy Photo/Kelsey Wiles)
• A lightning bolt is seen intersecting with a double rainbow in Columbus (NBC4 Photo/Adam Conn)
• Rainbow outside NBC4 station (NICK BECHTEL)
• Rainbow outside NBC4 station (NICK BECHTEL)
• Rainbow outside NBC4 station (NICK BECHTEL)
• Rainbow outside NBC4 station (NICK BECHTEL)
• Double rainbow at lower.com Field (WHITNEY HARDING)
• Double rainbow at lower.com Field (WHITNEY HARDING)
• Double rainbow at lower.com Field (WHITNEY HARDING)
• Double rainbow at lower.com Field (DAVID DEGUZMAN)
• Double rainbow at lower.com Field (DAVID DEGUZMAN)

Dave Mazza, chief meteorologist of Storm Team 4, said the timing was perfect for a double rainbow, which is more common than a single rainbow when the conditions are right just before sunset.

"Behind the line of strong thunderstorms, we're seeing a bit of clearing before sunset," he said, "and that's allowing us to see the scattering of the light that's producing the rainbows."

Stay weather aware with Storm Team 4 through live radar, weather alerts, closings and delays, live road conditions and push notifications from our apps.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Better Call 4 alert for AT&T customers, past and present: The sensitive information of millions of people has appeared on the dark web.

The company announced that "AT&T data-specific fields were contained in a data set released" sometime in March.

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While it's still investigating how it happened, AT&T said the data set appeared to be from 2019 or earlier, impacts about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders, and included sensitive information such as names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, along with customer account passcodes.

As a "proactive" response, AT&T reset the passcodes of current users and said it is actively contacting all customers. It's also offering credit monitoring where applicable.

"You know, scams are designed to steal your money. And with identity theft, they're designed to steal your identity and later steal your money," said Judy Dollison, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio.

Better Call 4 spoke with Dollison last month about data privacy and the risk of identity theft when that privacy is breached. And while AT&T said affected customers can expect to hear from the company directly, Dollison said cybercriminals may be quietly taking advantage of your personal information.

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"Often times, it's a longterm process," Dollison said. "So, you don't even know that they've had access to your information and that they've started taking out credit in your name until a lot of damage has been done. So, really, you want to stay vigilant and monitor your accounts on a regular basis. Look at your credit card statements and make sure there's no charges that don't sound right to you, you don't recognize the name... know when your bills are due. Sometimes, if someone has stolen your identity, they may have changed your address, because they don't want your credit card bill going to you."

And check your credit reports.

"You can access your credit reports annually, for no charge," Dollison said. "So, it's a good annual review, just to make sure there's been no additional accounts set up in your name."

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AT&T also said it "launched a robust investigation" with internal and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation further.

You can see the company's full response here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus woman could spend more than two decades behind bars for the fatal shooting of a man last year.

According to an announcement from the Franklin County Prosecutor, Cassandra Franklin, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 to 23.5 years in prison by Common Pleas Judge Dan Hawkins.

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Franklin pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter with a three-year gun specification and one count of burglary. Investigators said Franklin shot and killed Michael Sarratt during a struggle on the evening of February 22, 2023, after entering a Columbus residence and assaulting Sarratt and another person.

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Franklin was arrested on May 26, 2023, by the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team after she was located in Uniontown, Ohio, southeast of Akron. 

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT:

Tornado Watches are now in effect through 10 p.m. tonight for the southwest quadrant of the state, up to, and including Franklin County.

QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Tonight: Rain & storms before midnight, mostly cloudy, low 41
• Wednesday: Rain showers, breezy, cooler, high 47
• Thursday: Light AM wintry mix, to cold rain showers, high 45
• Friday: Early showers, partly sunny, cool, high 44
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, brisk, high 50

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Good Tuesday evening,

It has been a mild and moist day today with showers and storms already pushing through our area. We have had near record rainfall already, with more rain expected this evening. On top of that much of our area had picked up 1-2" of rain yesterday, making flooding a concern tonight. On top of that, we are watching the line of strong to severe storms in Indiana moving toward our area.

These storms will continue to race towards our area, and will have the risk of strong damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and isolated tornadoes this evening. The timing for the arrival of these storms will be in our far western counties after about 630pm and pushing past sunset as they move through Central Ohio. Flooding will be a concern as heavy rains will be possible, but since the storms are moving quick, and not training (following the same track), I do not anticipate large areas of 1"+ rainfall.

After this system passes, we will begin to see a small window of quieter weather overnight as temps fall back into the lower 40s to upper 30s. However, on the backside of this system the low will drive down some colder air for the remainder of the work week. Temps will struggle into the mid to upper 40s on Wednesday with scattered rain showers, and breezy conditions.

Thursday expect a light wet wintry mix in the morning, giving way to cold rain showers in the afternoon with highs only in the middle 40s. Rain showers will be possible early on Friday, with still a chilly day with highs only into the lower to middle 40s. We will start to dry out later Friday and set us up for a nice, but brisk start to the weekend.

Temps on Saturday will push back up near 50 with sunshine returning to our area. Expect more sunshine and warmer temps on Sunday with highs in the upper 50s. Unfortunately, it is appearing that more clouds will start to move in for Monday, but with temps in the lower 60s. For the Eclipse hours in the afternoon, it does appear at this point that we will at least have mixed clouds, and an isolated shower can't be ruled out later in the day as a warm front lifts north.

Tuesday will be a warmer day behind the front, with highs in the upper 60s to near 70.

-Dave

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Power crews are getting ready to tackle possible outages from Tuesday’s storm.

They say if you haven’t started preparing your home for the storm, it is never too late to start. Early morning storms Tuesday made for an early start for AEP Ohio crews.

Live updates: Strong storms expected for Columbus and central Ohio on April 2, 2024

“We have crews working 24/7 to restore power,” said Julia Ivinskas, a customer experience manager with AEP Ohio.

As the severe threat grows stronger, thousands more workers are ready to deploy. AEP Ohio also has help from other states ready to go, if needed.

“It's a perfect storm with the ground being so saturated and heavy winds coming through and knocking down the trees that fall on the lines and snap poles,” Ivinskas said.

The impacts of Tuesday's storms will be felt across the state. Power crews in the south and north are also bringing in reinforcements.

“During a storm like we're expecting, it's all hands on deck coverage for all of our electric companies," said Lauren Siburkis, a spokesperson for FirstEnergy. "So we have all of our line workers and support personnel and forestry workers on standby."

Two rescued underneath Columbus bridge after flooding

FirstEnergy also has contractor crews in the area to assist with damage.

Electric companies say if a power line does fall, stay far away.

“Assume that any line on the ground is energized, and call 911 or call us," Ivinskas said. "If you're removing debris from your yard, make sure that you call us before you begin to do that."

Officials said to pack a back with anything you will need in an emergency, including bottled water, non-perishable food, medications, batteries, flashlights and other necessities. They say to charge your phone now and charge up a portable charger if you have one.

AEP Ohio typically updates its outage map every 15 minutes. Check the outage map below.

NEWARK (WCMH) – A Licking County man appeared in court for the first time since being indicted for the murder of a Newark woman two weeks ago.

Andrew Hoskinson, 22, is charged with two counts of murder, aggravated murder and strangulation after Newark police found 21-year-old Talia Smith unconscious in the back seat of a vehicle in the 200 block of Eddy Street on March 17.

Medics on the scene were able to obtain a pulse for Smith, who was then taken to Licking Memorial Hospital and then later flown to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.

Two rescued underneath Columbus bridge after flooding

Smith, who was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. on March 23, reportedly had numerous contusions and abrasions in various stages of healing, with some appearing to have been recently caused, police said. Newark detectives obtained search warrants for the car and the residence of Hoskinson.

Evidence of domestic violence was collected, including information that the victim had been strangled as part of ongoing violence and Hoskinson was originally charged with domestic violence and strangulation. Charges were amended by the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office.

Hoskinson entered a written plea of not guilty Friday and on Tuesday, a Licking County Court of Common Pleas judge issued him a $1.5 million bond, which is identical to the bond he received in municipal court one week prior.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Severe weather is expected to continue Tuesday in central Ohio, with strong storms and potential tornadoes in the forecast for evening.

Stay with NBC4 all day for updates, including the latest forecast from Storm Team 4, live traffic conditions and the latest on closings and delays. And download the NBC4 news and weather apps to be able to receive push alert notifications.

LIVE VIPIR RADAR Olentangy dismissing early

Olentangy Local Schools, the second largest district in central Ohio after Columbus, announced early dismissal. Students will be dismissed 90 minutes early, afternoon preschool classes are canceled, and afterschool activities were all canceled.

In addition, the Columbus Zoo will close at 2 p.m. and the Franklin County courthouse at 2:30 p.m., and Columbus State has canceled evening classes. For updates on closings and delays around central Ohio, visit the NBC4 closings page.

Franklinton floodwall closed

Floodgates are being installed along Greenlawn and Harmon avenues in Franklinton, west of Downtown. In a traffic alert, city officials advised motorists to avoid the area. Greenlawn Avenue is closed between Front Street and Harmon, and the Interstate 71 ramps to Greenlawn will be closed.

Franklinton floodwall in Columbus, Ohio, on April 2, 2024 (NBC4 Photo/Greg O'Leary)

Harmon Avenue will be closed between Hart and Frank roads.

Updated traffic conditions are available at this link.

Turn around, don't drown

FEMA issued a notice for its region that includes central Ohio. “Monitor local forecasts and prepare for the possibility of dangerous weather,” regional administrator Tom Sivak said. “Identify your safe shelter locations and remain vigilant--especially for potential power outages and dangerous road conditions caused by possible downed power lines and flooding.”

It included these tips:

• Follow the direction of local and state officials and make sure to sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If your community has sirens, become familiar with the warning tone.
• Identify nearby, sturdy buildings close to where you live, work, study and play. Pay attention to weather reports and warnings and be ready to take shelter immediately, if necessary.
• Make sure all mobile devices are fully charged in advance of the storm. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs in case the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for every household member. 
• Have a communications plan in place. Ensure everyone in your household knows where to go, what to do and how to reconnect after a disaster.
• Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
• Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.
• After the storm and once you are safe, check on neighbors and friends to make sure they’re okay.

View a previous report from Twenty One Pilots' 2021 performances in Columbus in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Grammy award-winning musical duo Twenty One Pilots added a third hometown show in Columbus to their tour lineup. 

Twenty One Pilots plans to visit Nationwide Arena for three separate shows on its “The Clancy World Tour.” The tour is in support of duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun’s upcoming album “Clancy,” which will be released on May 17.

Family-owned pizzeria in Grove City permanently closes

On top of the band’s previously announced Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5, shows in Columbus, Twenty One Pilots will perform at Nationwide Arena for the third day in a row on Sunday, Oct. 6.  

Columbus is the only city on the tour to receive three shows. The band, known for its songs such as "Heathens" and "Stressed Out," will also perform in Cleveland on Sept. 28 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Twenty One Pilots was formed in Columbus in 2009 and has since amassed over 33 billion streams and sold over 3 million tickets for performances. The group last performed in Columbus in 2021.

An official artist presale for tickets will launch on April 2 in the U.S., and all remaining tickets will go for general sale at 10 a.m. on April 5 on the band’s website.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - A family-owned and operated pizzeria that's been serving customers since 1963 has closed.

Zamarelli's Pizza Palace, at 4011 Front St. in Grove City, closed Saturday after 61 years. The pizza parlor offered customers a variety of options for decades from its pizza, subs and salads to other Italian dishes including spaghetti, gnocchi, eggplant parmesan and more.

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The restaurant opened to customers in 1963 under Andy Zamarelli, according to the pizzeria's website. Tina and Jack Middendorf took over the shop and remained the owners since its recent closure.

The closure comes as many other restaurants and businesses across central Ohio have shut down since the start of 2024 including Grand Tavern in Grandview Heights, Fat Girl Bakery in Westerville, and El Segundo in the Short North.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus is investing tens of thousands of dollars to support an event that will connect underserved entrepreneurs, primarily Black and Brown women, to high-growth industry opportunities.

The Women's Center for Economic Opportunity provides women of color with access to the tools needed to start a business. The center says that it seeks to help clients create generational wealth and a legacy of economic opportunity, with the goal of advancing economic equity, inclusion, and justice.

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At a recent meeting, Columbus City Council approved a $50,000 grant for the center. It will go toward Advancing Innovation Momentum Bootcamps, which will connect people with support like business planning and network-building consultations.

Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said the camps will help small business owners take another step.

"The boot camp really shows them, how do you take that business to the next level?" Barroso de Padilla said.

The camps will be the first of their kind held by the Women's Center for Economic Opportunity, according to Barroso de Padilla. However, she said the center has had other programming funded by the city and that the boot camps will be an expansion of what the center can do.

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"This is understanding that the center could be doing much more for women," Barroso de Padilla said. "And what are the other opportunities that they could provide for them, knowing that now they kind of have a brand and they have a following."

The center and its boot camps are aimed primarily at women of color.

"We already know there's a pay gap that exists for women and people of color," Barroso de Padilla said. "We put forward pay equity to begin to close and narrow that pay gap for folks in the city of Columbus. This is just another effort to understand that, again, for our small businesses that are women-owned, that are minority-owned, that they might have some challenges."

Challenges that Barroso de Padilla said teaching these communities to build wealth and break generations of poverty is an important step toward supporting the prosperity of women and families.

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"We know that big businesses will come in," Barroso de Padilla said. "But then how are we ensuring that our small businesses are really flourishing?"

The city recently launched Council Academy, which helps people understand how to navigate Columbus. Most recently, it gave info on how to become a vendor within the city.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A couple had to be rescued after severe weather arrived Tuesday morning in central Ohio, bringing heavy downpours and rising water levels in multiple areas.

Columbus police said that they were called to the Broad Street bridge for a water rescue underneath the bridge. Police and fire department officials added the rescued victims were a homeless couple who were sleeping under the bridge.

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With the water quickly rising, law enforcement brought a boat to get the couple out from underneath the bridge.

VIDEO: @ColumbusPolice and @ColsFire performing a water rescue under the Broad St. Bridge. Police say a homeless couple was sleeping under the bridge when water levels quickly rose on them. @nbc4i pic.twitter.com/yj8uAGKS36

— Matthew Herchik (@MatthewHerchik) April 2, 2024

Columbus is under a Flood Watch until 8 p.m. as central Ohio is under a moderate risk for severe weather Wednesday afternoon and evening. This is a level 4-out-of-5 risk for severe storms, meaning we do expect to see them. All risks are on the table with this storm threat, including damaging winds, large hail, flooding, and the threat for strong and longer-track tornadoes.

That threat wanes after 11 PM, and we'll just see scattered activity overnight.

Click here to follow the latest Storm Team 4 forecast.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Arena District brewery has shut its doors after two years of service.

Kentucky-based Goodwood Brewing Co. had served beer, whiskey and Southern-inspired cuisine at 401 N. Front St. since its opening in February 2022. On Wednesday, the brewery officially closed.

Central Ohio restaurant openings and closings so far this year

The brewery shut down because of a dispute with the landlord of the building, according to a Goodwood representative, though they declined to comment further.

Before Goodwood came to town, the Front Street location had housed another brewery -- Gordon Biersch brewpub -- for years. In 2020, the Columbus spot became Goodwood's sixth location, but the first in Ohio. Now, the brewery's website only has five stores listed, including the now-closed Columbus brewery.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A revolving sushi bar and a cowboy-themed smokehouse home to a mechanical bull are among the new central Ohio restaurants that have opened this year, while a Cameron Mitchell eatery and a historic Dublin tavern closed.

Restaurant closings this year

1487 Brewery

• The brewery at 620 Industrial Parkway in Plain City permanently closed on Feb. 4 after its former chief operating officer pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the company. Owner Ben King, who opened the location in 2020 after Kickstarting the business in 2015, said “due to unforeseen circumstances, our timing was awful.”

Fat Girl Bakery

• The bakery at 6457 N. Hamilton Road, between New Albany and Westerville, closed on March 30, Fat Girl Bakery’s owner announced on social media. The closure comes after the bakeshop relocated its Lewis Center storefront in May 2023.

El Segundo

• The Cameron Mitchell restaurant at 698 N. High St. in the Short North announced on social media it would close on March 3. The restaurant offered dishes inspired by Mexican street food, using fresh and local ingredients.

The remodeled exterior of Marshall's with Grand Tavern's new design. (Courtesy Photo/Andrea Spence)

Grand Tavern

• The Grandview Heights bar at 1111 W. 1st. Ave. shut down after just a few months of operating, citing bad business dealings with the landlord and nightmarish renovation costs.

Mackenzie River

• The grill and pub at 1515 Polaris Parkway closed several weeks ago after eight years in business. The restaurant launched in 2016 after Montana-based Glacier Restaurant Group purchased all Max and Erma’s locations and transformed several into Mackenzie River eateries.

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Matt the Miller's

• The tavern’s Polaris Fashion Place location at 1436 Gemini Place welcomed patrons for the last time on Valentine’s Day after owner CLB Restaurants opted not to renew the tavern’s lease. Now, the concept is down to one central Ohio location at 6725 Avery-Muirfield Dr. in Dublin.

Mr. T's Pizza

• The family-owned pizza shop at 207 W. Johnstown Road closed on Feb. 3. According to a statement on the pizzeria’s Facebook page, the pizza shop closed to allow owner Jeffrey Armstrong and family members to retire.

The restaurant and bar at 84 N. High St. in Dublin's historic neighborhood permanently shuttered on Jan. 27. (Courtesy Photo/City of Dublin)

Oscar's

• The restaurant and bar at 84 N. High St. in Dublin’s historic neighborhood permanently shuttered on Jan. 27, according to the eatery’s auction listing, which described the closure as “sudden.” Lasting several hours, the auction was held the following Monday to sell “everything by piece til done,” the listing states.

Red Rabbit Ramen

• Red Rabbit Ramen announced social media that it would be closing up shop, with its last week of operations taking place during the week of March 4. The owners said that they are closing the ramen cart due to a change in their family situation.

Weenie Wonder

• The fast casual eatery serving hot dogs and milkshakes permanently closed its Dublin and Easton locations on Feb. 6. The first restaurant opened at Bridge Park in 2022 and a second location followed at Easton in 2023. Both locations were adjacent to Pins Mechanical Co. 

Restaurant openings this year

Bob's Backyard Barbeque

• The Lancaster-based barbecue restaurant has opened a second location at 80 W. Church St. on Feb. 8. The Pickerington restaurant marks Bob’s Backyard Barbeque’s second eatery, with the first opening in 2017 at 157 W. Main St. in Lancaster.

DiBella's Subs

• The chain began welcoming guests to its new location at 7105 N. High St. at Worthington Gateway on March 6. The new location marks DiBella’s third Columbus-area location with other eateries on Olentangy River Road and in Dublin near the Mall at Tuttle Crossing, with another restaurant in New Albany on the way.

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Dirty Frank's

• The hot dog joint is now welcoming guests at its new carryout and delivery-only location at 6665 Huntley Road in Worthington. The new restaurant’s menu features classic hot dog combinations and a selection of “Top Dogs” like the Puff the Magic Popper dog with jalapenos, cheddar cream cheese and bacon bits.

Dough Boyz Pizza

• The Galloway-based pizzeria opened at 207 W. Johnstown Road in February, taking over the building that previously housed Mr. T’s Pizza.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar began welcoming guests to its new restaurant at 8833 Lyra Dr. in Polaris in January. (Courtesy Photo/Kura Sushi USA)

Korean BBQ 궁

• The authentic Korean barbeque restaurant is now open for lunch and dinner daily at North Market Bridge Park, on the east aisle in the stall between Hoyo’s Kitchen and On Paper.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar 

• The sushi bar serving dishes on a moving conveyor belt, with more than 500 locations across Japan, Taiwan and the United States, opened its first Ohio location at 8833 Lyra Dr. in Polaris.

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Lion Cub's Cookies

• The cookie shop marked its new location at 7105 N. High St. in Worthington with a grand opening party on March 8. The new shop marks the brand’s second after the first opened in 2021 at 1261 Grandview Ave. in Grandview Heights.

Maple Street Biscuit Co.

• Maple Street Biscuit Co. at 9711 Sawmill Parkway in Powell is now welcoming guests after opening on Feb. 26. The new eatery marks the brand’s third central Ohio location after the first opened near Polaris Fashion Place at 1310 Polaris Pkwy. in January last year and the second in Worthington at 7105 N. High St. last summer.

Maple Street Biscuit Co. at 9711 Sawmill Parkway in Powell is now welcoming guests. (Courtesy Photo/Maple Street Biscuit Co.)

Marlow Cheesesteaks

• Budd Dairy Food Hall at 1086 N. 4th St. has added Marlow's as a new, permanent partner. The sandwich shop is based out of Gahanna, serving traditional Philadelphia cheesesteaks and other favorites.

Mochi Ring

• The bakery known for Korean corn dogs battered in Cheetos and vibrant doughnuts made with Japanese mochi opened in March at 1144 Kenny Centre Mall in Tensuke Market.

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Pastimes Pub and Grill

• The bar opened its newest location in March at 775 Yard St. in Grandview Yard. The sports pub offers a variety of bar food including wings, appetizers, pizza, salads and more. Customers can also pick from a wide selection of beer on draft, bottles, cocktails and more.

PBR Cowboy Bar and Smokehouse

• The country-themed bar featuring a mechanical bull at 3950 Gramercy St. in Easton opened in February. The restaurant marks the concept’s first Ohio location and its 16th in the United States, with a majority of locations residing in the South.

The country-themed bar featuring a mechanical bull at 3950 Gramercy St. in Easton opened in February. (Photo Courtesy/Live Hospitality Entertainment)

PJ Hot Pot Korean BBQ and Bar

• The restaurant is now welcoming guests at 6100 Sawmill Road in Dublin, taking over a 10,000-square-foot unit previously home to a martial arts facility. The all-you-can-eat Asian grill is home to a “hot pot” dining experience that features ingredients delivered to each table by robots.

Ray Ray’s Hog Pit

• The fleet of barbeque eateries featured on the Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has renovated and again moved one of its central Ohio trucks to a new location. One of the brand’s walk-up food trucks is now parked outside The Bottle Shop at 237 King Ave. in Victorian Village.

Victor's Taco Shop

• The fast-growing taco chain based in Delaware has opened its first taco shop in Columbus at 2110 Morse Road.

Wario's Beef and Pork

• The sandwich shop opened a location at 4219 N. High St. in January. The chef-driven, East Coast-inspired sandwich shop was founded by chef Stephan Madias.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A multi-award winning R&B group and a famous American rock band will be coming to the Ohio State Fair this summer.

Philadelphia-based vocal harmony group Boyz II Men and Stone Temple Pilots will be performing at the fair, which will take place from July 24 to Aug. 4. Boyz II Men's concert will be on July 27 at 7 p.m. with special guest comedian Preacher Lawson, who was a finalist on NBC's "America's Got Talent."

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Stone Temple Pilots, which has been led by lead singer Jeff Gutt since the death of the original frontman Scott Weiland, will perform on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. They will be joined by fellow rock band Soul Asylum.

Tickets for both concerts will go on sale on Friday with prices varying for each show. Each concert ticket includes admission to the fair. Follow this link for ticket information.

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

All concerts will take place at the Celeste Center. The Expo Center said that one last set of concerts will be announced on Apr. 16. Each day of the fair is expected to have at least one concert at the Celeste Center.

Ohio State Fair concert schedule

• July 24, 6:30 p.m.: KIDZ BOP
• July 25, 7 p.m.: Alabama with Jade Eagleson
• July 26, 7:30 p.m.: Stone Temple Pilots with Soul Asylum
• July 27, 7 p.m.: Boyz II Men with Preacher Lawson
• July 28, 7:30 p.m.: La Zenda Norteña
• July 29, 7 p.m.: Lauren Daigle
• July 30: TBD
• July 31, 7 p.m.: Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias
• Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: Stephen Sanchez
• Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m.: Ohio Players and Midnight Star
• Aug. 3: TBD
• Aug. 4: TBD