Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus is one of the top cities where members of Gen Z are looking to purchase homes, according to a recent study.

LendingTree, an online platform that connects potential borrowers with loan operators, analyzed mortgage requests among 18- to 27-year-olds who used its platform in 2024. The study, released this month, found that members of Gen Z are filing a larger share of applications for Midwestern metropolitan areas. 

Columbus was the 10th most popular city among Gen Z home seekers, with 18- to 27-year-olds making up 22.39% of mortgage requests for homes in the metro on LendingTree.

The most sought after city by Gen Z was Grand Rapids, Michigan, with applicants in the generation accounting for 31% of mortgage requests. Coming in at No. 2 was Salt Lake City, with 24.79% of LendingTree applicants being between 18 and 27 years old. Milwaukee boasted the next-largest share of Gen Z applicants, at 24.33%.

Completing the top 10 was Minneapolis with 23.93% of Gen Z applicants (No. 4), Cincinnati with 23.80% (No. 5), Indianapolis with 23.30% (No. 6), Buffalo, New York, with 23.18% (No. 7), Louisville, Kentucky with 22.84% (No. 8) and Kansas City, Missouri, with 22.63% (No. 9).

On the other end of the spectrum, LendingTree observed the lowest share of Gen Z mortgage applicants in San Francisco at 9.68%, accompanied by other California cities, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, and Orlando, Florida. 

The study stated the reason behind the rankings is likely affordability, with many popular cities among Gen Z boasting lower housing prices, and those Gen Z showed little interest in having higher home costs.

The Nexstar Media Wire contributed to this report. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Recently released statistics from the CDC are shedding a light on drug overdose deaths in the nation. Ohio had one of the biggest declines in predicted deaths last year compared to 2023.

"The numbers really speak for itself," Hanad Duale, president of recovery support organization the UNIK Foundation, said. "These numbers are extremely encouraging for us as clinicians."

There are several organizations in central Ohio leading the charge in prevention, including UNIK Foundation and This Must Be The Place. Both nonprofits received the fourth round of state opioid and stimulant grant funds, which has helped them provide much needed resources to prevent and decrease opioid overdoses. The organizations said the new numbers are encouraging but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.

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"Nothing makes me more proud than to say I'm from Columbus, Ohio, the state that is leading the way in overdose prevention," William Perry, director of outreach operations at This Must Be The Place, said. 

According to the data released by the CDC, all but two states saw declines in overdose deaths last year with some of the biggest in Ohio and other states that have been hard-hit in the nation's decades-long overdose epidemic. 

"Every morning that I wake up, I cannot help but think how I am blessed to have made it on the other side of this and that I'm able to give back in the very neighborhoods and streets that I know are in so much need because I lived there," William Perry, director of outreach operations at This Must Be The Place, said. 

Nationwide, there were 30,000 fewer deaths in 2024 than the year before, the largest one-year decline ever recorded. Ohio emerged as a leading state with a more than 35% decline. Local organizations leading the charge in prevention attribute a lot of this to the continued investment at the state level.

"What's really important and what Ohio has done is remove the bipartisan element to overdose prevention and just say, 'no, we will not stand for this anymore,'" Perry said. "We will not stand for our residents dying."

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Local organizations said the only way out of the opioid epidemic is everyone working together. 

"By tackling mental health and substance abuse, we keep families together, and that reduces the overall burden on the taxpayer," Duale said. "That reduces the overall burden on schools, on teachers."

But as funding dwindles, organizations say there's a lot of uncertainty about how this will impact the work they're doing in the community.

"When people think of the loss of federal funding, they think of that as like a nationwide problem," Perry said. "But in the cutbacks of the NARCAN distribution funds, those are funds that come directly to the states."

Therefore, the states don't have money or are going to have diminished amounts of money to purchase this very expensive medicine.

"Access is the key thing here," Duale said. "Access leads to prevention and prevention hopefully would decrease the numbers." 

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Whitehall police cruiser was struck by a 15-year-old driving their parents truck.

On April 28, police said the teen's parents allowed them behind the wheel unlawfully when they struck the cruiser. The teen, not yet 16, was unlicensed and ineligible to drive legally. Police said the parents are facing charges. See the video of the interaction, courtesy of the Whitehall Division of Police, in the video player above.

"Let’s be clear: driving is a responsibility, not a right," Whitehall police said on social media. "Parents who permit this kind of behavior will be held accountable."

The officer had been assisting a citizen locked out of their vehicle, and was not in the cruiser when it was struck. Whitehall police cautioned all citizens against underage drivers, saying unlicensed drivers on the road are a danger to others and themselves.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Taco Fest closed early Saturday after fights threatened the safety of attendees, organizer Hugo Albornoz confirmed.

Albornoz, founder and executive director of Taco Fest, said the event at Goodale Park was shut down before it's scheduled 10 p.m. end for the safety of guests. Albornoz said people with tickets left from Saturday will be able to use them Sunday, although the festival will operate under different guidelines.

Albornoz said for Sunday's event, only attendees older than 21 or under age 10 with immediate family will be admitted. He said they will also add more security to protect attendees. The festival had already required all minors to be accompanied by adults, but the new regulations bar pre-teen and teenage attendees entirely.

This is the second year in a row the Saturday of Taco Fest has had to shut down early due to fighting. Last year, Taco Fest was shut down after large groups of teenagers got violent, with radio runs describing a "20 to 50 person fight." Last year, the fighting led organizers to enact an 18-and-up age restriction after 7 p.m. on the Sunday of the festival.

Two blocks away on North High Street, two people were shot around the time dispatchers said Columbus police were trying to shut down the festival. Dispatchers did not confirm a connection between the two events, and Albornoz said he knew nothing about it as it did not happen on-site.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two people are injured after a shooting on North High Street Saturday evening, Columbus dispatchers confirmed.

According to dispatchers, two victims were shot at North High Street and Buttles Avenue. Columbus dispatchers said two people were shot, both transported to nearby hospitals in stable condition. One victim was transported to Nationwide Children's.

• NBC4/Cole Kovalchik
• NBC4/Cole Kovalchik
• NBC4/Cole Kovalchik

There was no information on a suspect or on their condition at this time. The shooting occurred just two blocks from Taco Fest at Goodale Park, which organizers confirmed was shut down early due to teenagers fighting.

Police have closed North High Street between Warren Street and Buttles Avenue as they investigate.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person was shot Saturday afternoon in South Linden.

The shooting happened at about 1:45 p.m. in the 1000 block of Chittenden Avenue, according to Columbus police dispatch.

Map below shows approximate location

One person was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

No other details about the shooting were immediately available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A fugitive from Pennsylvania was arrested 500 miles away in Columbus, nearly nine years after he last appeared in a scheduled parole hearing.

According to court documents, Columbus police received warrants from Pennsylvania stating that Ricardo François had an active felony parole violation. François, who Columbus police say is listed as unhoused, was arrested in Doylestown, in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, in May 2015.

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Facing charges of communications harassment as part of making terroristic threats, François fled the Bucks County area, which is north of Philadelphia, sometime around June 2016, with an order for a hearing over a parole or probation violation filed on June 22 of that year. That order was granted one week later, and on July 20, the notice was returned as undeliverable.

Columbus police arrested François, 36, on Tuesday and noted in a criminal complaint report that he was a flight risk in requesting a high bond amount. The following day, he was issued a $70,000 bond in Franklin County Municipal Court on one count of fugitive from justice.

He is scheduled to appear in court locally for a preliminary hearing on June 20 before being extradited to Pennsylvania later.

When you travel below the Mason-Dixon Line, you'll find some of the most mouthwatering, comforting cuisine in the U.S.: Southern food.

Southern dishes are a vital part of American cuisine, from hushpuppies to ham hocks and beignets to barbecue. It's impossible to define a classic Southern meal, but a solid one starts with the sharp savory flavor of pimento cheese dip, followed by the delicious crunchiness of fried chicken or a spicy Louisiana étouffée. It culminates with a sugary slice of chess pie that's best washed down with a tall glass of sweet tea.

What's unique about Southern fare is that multiple ethnic and cultural groups have influenced it. Spanish staples, such as potatoes and cocoa, are in many Southern dishes; the Acadians, who traveled to Louisiana from Nova Scotia and later became Louisiana Creoles, contributed their seafood to many Southern meals; African ingredients—okra, sorghum (an ancient grain), and black-eyed peas—became a part of the cuisine through the forced labor of enslaved people; French cooking methods, like braising and sautéing, are used for many Southern recipes; and Native Americans introduced corn to Southern recipes, yielding dishes like succotash and grits.

The Southern culinary scene is an explosion of cultures. To find out where you can sample some Southern offerings, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Southern restaurants in the Columbus area using data from Yelp as of May 2, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "southern" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Columbus were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items.

Read on to find the perfect spot to get a taste of the South near you.

#11. Hot Chicken Takeover

- Rating: 3.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 1417 West 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

#10. Hot Chicken Takeover

- Rating: 3.7/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 109 North Hamilton Road Gahanna, Ohio
- Categories: Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Hot Chicken Takeover

- Rating: 3.9/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 435 Polaris Pkwy Ste 101 Westerville, Ohio
- Categories: Chicken Shop, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 3.9/5 (304 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1678 West Lane Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp

#7. JD's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 3728 Agler Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Soul Food, Seafood, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#6. La Glory's

- Rating: 4.1/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3350 Allegheny Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Soul Food, Southern, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

#5. The Eagle Short North

- Rating: 4.3/5 (797 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 790 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: American, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Hot Chicken Takeover

- Rating: 4.3/5 (781 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4203 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Modern Southern Table

- Rating: 4.3/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1086 North 4th St. BUDD DAIRY FOOD HALL Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Hot Chicken Takeover

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1602 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 59 Spruce St. Floor 2 North Market Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

#1. Subourbon

- Rating: 4.4/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2234 West Dublin Granville Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A pregnant Columbus woman is suing the federal government on behalf of her son and unborn child to stop her deportation. 

Carmen Graciela Guerrero Sandoval is suing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on behalf of her 9-year-old and unborn child, alleging her deportation would violate their rights. Sandoval, a Mexican citizen living in Columbus, was allegedly denied asylum five years ago. Now, an Immigration Court in Cleveland has ordered her deportation on June 3, something she's hoping to stop.

Sandoval alleges deporting her would violate her son and unborn child's Fourteenth Amendment rights and the Equal Protection Clause. According to court documents, she is the primary financial support for her son, who is identified in the lawsuit as CDBG, and alleges removing her would be cruel and unusual punishment for him.

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"The separation of the Plaintiffs from their mother will deprive CDBG of the continued
love, affection, care and financial support of his mother," the lawsuit states.

CDBG, a U.S. citizen, attends Columbus City Schools and has an autism diagnosis. According to court documents, his school assessed him as eligible for special education on April 28. The lawsuit alleges there are no comparable special education opportunities in Mexico. According to a 2015 University of Dayton report comparing special education in Mexico and the U.S., Mexico has made progress in enacting special education laws but lacks a lot of the support available in the United States.

The lawsuit also sues on behalf of the unborn child. Sandoval is due in October and alleges removing her would violate the unborn child's birthright citizenship rights. According to the Fourteenth Amendment, “all persons born” in the U.S. are citizens; however, Sandoval has not yet given birth.

Attorney George Katchmer is representing Sandoval and said they are asking for the court to stop her deportation or delay it until birthright citizenship is ruled upon by the Supreme Court. President Donald Trump declared there is no such thing as birthright citizenship in an executive order that has been paused as the Supreme Court hears arguments.

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If Sandoval gives birth in the U.S., the child would be an American citizenship under current law. If she gives birth outside of the U.S., the child's citizenship would depend on the father. Katchmer said he did not have information about paternity, including the father's citizenship. If the father is an American citizen, the child will have U.S. citizenship regardless of where they are born.

The lawyers on each side have faced one another in court before when a U.S. citizen child sought a court order to stop his father’s deportation in 2019. Katchmer represented the child in that case too, but the court ruled in favor of the United States.

Katchmer, who did not represent Sandoval in immigration court, said he had no comment until the judge provides some clarity. NBC4 reached out to Bondi and Noem’s attorneys but did not receive a response. The lawyers met virtually on Thursday for initial discussions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A driver ran away from a crash early Saturday morning in southeast Columbus that left the passenger of their vehicle dead, according to police.

The crash happened just before 2 a.m. in the area of South Hamilton Road and Eastland 2 near the old Eastland Mall.

A silver Toyota was traveling north on South Hamilton Road and a Ford was traveling west on Eastland 2 when they crashed in the intersection, police said.

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The passenger of the Toyota died at the crash scene, and the driver ran away, according to police.

The driver of the Ford was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Division of Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — History lovers in Ohio have a new opportunity to get involved in a massive project to create a database and digital map documenting every gravesite of all the Revolutionary War veterans buried in the Buckeye State.

America 250-Ohio, an Ohio Commission formed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, announced that the Revolutionary War Veteran Graves Identification Project is looking for volunteers. In a newsletter, project leaders requested the public's help identifying and recording the approximately 7,000 graves of Revolutionary War veterans laid to rest around the state.

The mission was created through a partnership with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, Terracon Consultants, Inc., Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. This significant undertaking will create a comprehensive, public, searchable database and digital map of all the Revolutionary War military personnel buried in Ohio.

“By emphasizing data collection and long-term preservation, Ohio’s State Historic Preservation Office can serve as the central resource for identifying the burial locations of Revolutionary War veterans,” said Krista Horrocks, the effort's project manager.

The project's website explains that the grave of Revolutionary War veteran Nathaniel Massie, who established the city of Chillicothe in 1796, is the first to be documented for this project.

The documentation process for volunteers involves going into the field with a free smartphone app called Survey123. When a patriot's grave is located, the public researcher will take photos, record the grave marker inscription and create a GPS point for the database.

AM250_RevWarGuidetoFieldCollectionDownload

The organization notes that 1,700 cemeteries in Ohio include heroes of the Revolutionary War. Graveyard investigators will be able to confirm historical records and gather firsthand evidence.

Additionally, this field survey will guide preservation efforts. Photographs will help local communities and organizations evaluate gravestone conditions and take measures to protect these historical sites.

Ohio’s State Historic Preservation Office and the Ohio History Connection plan to maintain the digital records for future generations, with updates from the public beyond the official 2026 celebration year.

Anyone interested in participating should visit the Grave Marker & Cemetery Collection portal. Public researchers who do not wish to remain anonymous will be acknowledged for their contributions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest times to travel as millions of people take to the roads and hit the skies this weekend. 

AAA is predicting more than 45 million people will travel, which is about 1.4 million more than last year. But will the weather or the economic climate have any impact?

Memorial Day Weekend is supposed to be the unofficial start of summer. However, here in Ohio, it doesn’t feel that way just yet. Regardless, 1.7 million Ohioans are expected to travel this weekend, and 1.5 million of those will drive to their destination.

“We have found that people are more likely to drive to their holiday destinations than to fly. And there's a number of reasons for that,” said Kara Hitchens with AAA.

Reason number one: Driving is often more convenient than flying. 

“You can make your schedule. When you're flying, you're obviously on the airline's schedule,“ said Hitchens.

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The second reason, gas prices. According to AAA, the current national average gas price is around $3.16. A year ago, we were looking at prices closer to $3.61. 

“The typical seasonal uptick that we would see this time of year hasn't quite hit yet. It may come later in the summer, but right now gas prices are looking pretty good, which is giving an advantage to those people who do want to drive to their destination,” she said.

Memorial Day Weekend is often the time for public pools to open. But, here in Ohio, it is not pool season just yet. However, those with plans this weekend probably made them months in advance. So, while the weather might not have any impact on how many people spend the weekend, experts at AAA say the uncertainty of the economy just might.

“It'll be interesting to see what happens for the rest of the summer, because the economy is still, you know, has so much uncertainty with it,” said Hitchens, “prices are still high. Grocery prices are still high. We're even looking at airline prices. You know, they're up over last year as well. So pricing, prices have a lot to do with it.”

If you are heading out the door this weekend, Hitchens says to plan ahead. 

“You want to make sure you know where construction zones are, you know, any, any other kind of barriers. Make sure that you have an emergency roadside kit with you so that in case you do end up at the side of the road, you have some essentials such as water and snacks, that type of thing with you,” she said.

NBC4 also asked what the most popular destinations are for Ohioans this weekend, and according to Hitchens, most are opting to go South. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three people were injured and taken to local hospitals after a car accident late Friday afternoon.

According to Columbus police dispatchers, law enforcement was called to a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of South Hamilton Road and Kingsland Avenue around 6:00 pm Friday. Police say a total of three people were injured in this accident.

What to do if a bird nests near your home

One person was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, while the other two were transported in stable condition. Police dispatchers say at least two cars were involved in the incident.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Five graduating seniors in Logan County are getting a boost as they get ready to launch their careers.

The Logan County Collaborative presented five $1,000 grants to each student.

All of them have committed to begin their careers with local businesses in the fields of construction, skilled trades, manufacturing, or health care.

The grants are a first for the Logan County Collaborative -- a business advisory committee that brings teachers, community leaders, and business leaders together to strategize how to best prepare workers for jobs in their communities.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Memorial Tournament is happening next week in Dublin.

Golf fans and people of all ages come to town, boosting the economy in the city.

Dublin leaders prepared for the tournament all year and it brings in around $35 million annually.

Jeremiah Gracia, the Director of Economic Development for the City of Dublin, said he is preparing for a busy week.

“When you bring that many people to a community of our size, there is a substantial economic impact from restaurants to hotels to many, many other activities that support the Memorial,” Gracia said.

The Memorial obviously has a big impact on Muirfield Village itself.

The merchandise tent is open for just one week a year, but Head Golf Professional Peter Dornisch said he hires nearly 50 additional staff members for the tournament.

“Yeah, sales are great,” Dornisch said. “It’s just a great way to drive revenue and sell a lot of things at retail. Our logo has become really famous in the golf industry. It's really sought after amongst golfers and it has a huge impact on the local economy.”

The Golf Shop at Muirfield has partnered with Abercrombie for the past few years to sell trendy shirts and hats at a pop-up store in Bridge Park.

And Bridge Park will be a busy spot during the tournament.

Ian Montgomery owns Fado Bridge Park and he said it’s all hands on deck.

“It’s not just the weekend, it’s all week the hotels are full. You know, this is a full week event. I know people might just go to the golf one of the days or just the weekend, but for us, it's a full week,” Montgomery said.

With visitors from nearly 200 countries in town for the tournament, Montgomery said Fado and other businesses at Bridge Park are making sure they are ready for thousands of customers.

“A lot of people who are coming to the golf might not necessarily have been around Dublin in a while or down in Bridge Park. So we've got a lot of new faces in the door,” Montgomery said.

Practice rounds start Monday at Muirfield Village and the Memorial Tournament officially begins on Thursday.

Next week Friday and Saturday, Fore!Fest is happening at Bridge Park and crowds will enjoy food trucks and bands whether they attend the tournament or not.

For more information one the week’s events, check out https://www.thememorialtournament.com/

For specific hours for the Memorial’s merchandise stores, head to https://www.thememorialtournament.com/patron-info/golf-shops/

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man accused in a mass shooting at a New Albany warehouse was indicted Thursday on 19 charges, including murder, aggravated murder, and inducing panic, according to online court records.

Records show Bruce Foster III was indicted on the following charges: aggravated murder, four counts of murder, four counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, six counts of inducing panic, with a firearm specification.

An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday morning, according to court records.

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Foster on Thursday was found not competent to stand trial for a second time after the prosecutor asked for another evaluation. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

He's accused of killing two people and injuring four others at the KDC/One warehouse in February.

The shooting took place at the warehouse, in an industrial section of New Albany. Foster, an employee, had been working for several hours before opening fire and then left in a rideshare vehicle, authorities said.

Police said motive remains unknown and while there was reportedly no altercation prior to the incident, witnesses reported that Foster arrived at work intoxicated and smelling of marijuana.

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Workers saw Foster firing a handgun at people along a production line, including one victim who was shot at close range in the head. One of the shooting victims was able to get the handgun away from Foster, prompting Foster to then flee the building.

About 150 people were inside the warehouse at the time, with some not knowing about the shooting until police arrived.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A bill at the Ohio Statehouse has some worried about their livelihoods in Ohio, but others say it is a matter of national security.

Xin Yuan has been in the states for 14 years and got her green card after 10 years of living here. She said she has lived in four states — but only Ohio has felt like home. Now, she said House Bill 1 puts it all at risk. 


“Under this bill, I could lose my home,” Yuan said. “While I’m here legally, I would be labeled as a foreign adversary. This is deeply dehumanizing.”

The bill would ban anyone who is not a United States citizen, and from a country that is a foreign adversary, from buying land within 25 miles of “protected property.”

“I think there’s logic to it,” Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.

Under Ohio law, the list of land that would fall under “protected property” is long. It includes any railroad property, a dam operating by the state or federal government, and trucking terminals.

The bill also includes airports, military bases and farmland.

“There might be some countries that you might be a little worried having nationals from that country owning property in the United States, particularly real estate in the state of Ohio,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “So, we’ll see.”

The list of foreign adversaries to the United States is not set in stone. Right now, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria are on the list. Under this proposal, Ohio’s secretary of state would have to update the list every six months.

“That means people like my family who pay taxes and follow the law could be denied property rights overnight because of their background,” said Jay Qutiefan, who opposes the bill.

But supporters of the bill said it comes down to one simple thing: national security. And the bill is popular among lawmakers. It currently has more than half of Ohio House members, Democrats and Republicans, signed onto it. And DeWine is supportive of the idea.

“I think a bill that would be strategically crafted might be good,” DeWine said. “But it has to be written, I think, very carefully.”

“Let’s be honest, this is discrimination dressed up as security,” Qutiefan said. “Immigrants are not a threat to Ohio.”

The bill has had three hearings so far, but no votes yet.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s nesting season, which means hundreds of bird species are looking for a spot to settle down.

Sometimes they choose some unfavorable locations, and that’s exactly what happened to one of our executive producers, Kyleigh Jarosinski. A house finch built a nest in the wreath on her front door.

“I look through the peephole and all I could see was twigs and different types of debris and realized they were probably building a nest,” she said.

NBC4 spoke with the Ohio Division of Wildlife about what can be done in situations like this.

Their main piece of advice is to leave it alone. If the nest is empty, people are allowed to get rid of it, but they recommend wearing gloves and a face mask. If the nest has eggs in it, leave it be.

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Some species, including the house finch, are federally protected.

“It’s actually illegal to mess with the nest while it's active,” said Lindsey Krusling, wildlife communications specialist at Ohio Division of Wildlife.

She said it’s best to use another entrance if possible, but in Jarosinski’s case with only one door, it’s recommended that she open and close her door gently.

“I put a sign up on my door to let all of my neighbors know and anyone who may come by like an Amazon driver or any delivery person that there are eggs in a nest and just to be cautious of it,” Jarosinksi said.

Krusling said there ware preventative measures people can take to prevent birds from nesting near their homes.

“You can use some deterrents such as mylar tape like this. It is very flashy and moves in the wind. It will scare the birds off from using that wreath,” she said.

In situations like Jarosinski’s, where the nest is already there, she recommends just enjoying watching the process and learning more about the animals.

“It’s actually a great opportunity to watch those eggs hatch, chicks grow up and then once they have fledged and left the nest you can safely remove that nest then,” Krusling said.

Jarosinski said what started out as a nuisance has quickly developed into a fascination.

“I’ve really taken them under my wing, if you will,” she said.

The whole process once a bird makes a nest typically takes 30 to 60 days depending on the species. Learn more here.