Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The next of the nearly two dozen super loads will reach its destination Saturday in Hebron, but will cause traffic delays on certain central Ohio roadways.

The super load is making its way from a dock on the Ohio River near Manchester in Adams County to the Freepoint Eco-Systems recycling facility near Hebron. Many later shipments will go to Intel's Ohio One site in New Albany.

On Friday, the super load arrived at Rickenbacker Parkway. On Saturday, it is scheduled to travel the following route:

• Travel north on Rickenbacker Parkway north to Alum Creek Drive
• Travel north on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road
• Travel east on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive
• Travel north on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive south
• Travel east on Green Point Drive south to Saltzgaber Road
• Travel south on Saltzgaber Road to State Route 317
• Travel north in the southbound lanes on State Route 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road east
• Travel east on Bixby Road to U.S. 33
• Travel east in the Westbound lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road southbound to U.S.33 westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
• Travel the wrong way on the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 Westbound ramp
• Take State Route 674/Gender Road north to Brice Road
• Take Brice Road north to the intersection with Tussing Road/State Route 204 in Columbus
• Travel east on Tussing Road/State Route 204 east to State Route 310
• Travel north on State Route 310 to U.S. 40 in Etna
• Travel east on U.S. 40 to State Route 79 in Hebron
• Travel the wrong way on the State Route 79 southbound off ramp to U.S. 40
• Travel north in the southbound lanes on State Route 79 to local roads

A notice on Canal Winchester's website indicated there will be highway closures on Saturday. The city's website said when the load reaches U.S. 33 at Bixby Road, the highway will be briefly closed in both directions. The eastbound part of the highway will be quickly reopened, with the westbound portion remaining closed as the load moves.

There's no shortage of scenic drives to take in the United States. According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, there are 184 designated byway routes with beautiful vistas, as well as historic and cultural sites across the country. That means, no matter where you are in the U.S., a stunning drive isn't too far away.

Some drives have reached celebrity status, one of the most well known being Historic Route 66, which stretches from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica Pier in California. For nearly 100 years, travelers have been hitting the 2,448-mile road that has more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other famous drives include the Pacific Coast Highway in California, which hugs 650 miles of the state's coast; the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic 444-mile route from Tennessee to Alabama and Mississippi; and the highest fully paved road in North America, Colorado's Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, which sits at a cool 14,264 feet at its peak.

Of course, there are plenty more drives that may not be as famous but are just as alluring. The Highland Scenic Highway in West Virginia gives riders a picturesque view through the Monongahela National Forest. Make a pit stop in the Cranberry Glades for an unusual site: bogs full of carnivorous plants. Further north, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in New Hampshire is a particularly beautiful drive as the leaves turn in the fall and won't take you too long to drive—it's on the shorter side at only 34.5 miles long.

For those looking to take to the open road, Stacker compiled a list of the best scenic drives in Ohio using data from Tripadvisor as of March 2024. Note that Tripadvisor ranks attractions using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a drive with a 5/5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4/5.

Once you locate the closest scenic drive near you, gather your favorite passengers, turn on an epic playlist, and take in the beauty that Ohio has to offer.

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and are not of the specific drives listed.

1 / 2 Canva

- Rating: 4/5 (9 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

2 / 2 Canva

- Rating: 4/5 (48 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Sheeka Sanahori, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.

• Today: Showers & storms, high 65
• Tonight: Spotty showers, low 45
• Sunday: Chance of rain, high 60 (51)
• Monday: Showers & storms, high 65 (54)
• Tuesday: Rain showers, high 66 (36)
• Wednesday: Chance rain showers, high 45 (32)

Showers and thunderstorms will be moving periodically through central Ohio. The best chance for rain will be the mid morning to early afternoon hours. There is a marginal risk for severe weather this morning with the primary threat being for large hail. That risk is on the lower on the scale. Temperatures will top off in the mid 60s.

Overnight there will be the chance for a few spotty showers, but most of central Ohio will see mostly cloudy skies and calmer wind speeds. Lows will drop into the mid 40s. Waking up Easter Sunday morning there will be light sprinkles.

During the day Easter conditions will stay mainly dry. Rain chances pick up again late in the afternoon and lasting through the evening and overnight hours. Highs will only reach the low 60s. Sunday night going into Monday will bring another round of showers and storms with a marginal risk for severe weather. Again, the biggest threat will be for large hail, but it is still on the lower end of that risk scale.

Plenty of shower and storm activity is expected over the next several days. By the time all is said and done around 1.5"-2" of rain is expected to fall. Once this system finally leaves by Wednesday, a mass of colder air will move in and some of those last rain showers have the potential to fall with a few snow flakes mixed in with them.

LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) – About two weeks after a deadly tornado tore through parts of the Indian Lake community in Logan County, Indian Lake State Park reopened on Friday.

"It's a sense of just that one step of recovery," said Hiedie Whitman, Park Manager of Indian Lake State Park.

Staff with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and volunteers worked together to clean up the park. Whitman knows many of the park's neighbors around the lake still face unknowns and a lot of work. She said her thoughts are with the whole community.

"It's going to be a long road, one day at a time, but this community is resilient, they will come through this, we will, together," Whitman said.

Rick Stanley is one of the neighbors still figuring out exactly what to do next. His Lakeview neighborhood which he's called home for about 50 years was one of the hardest hit. Some homes which were destroyed have been torn apart and taken away.

"Everything you see that people built is gone. Looks better, cleaning up, but it's never going to be the same," he said.

He also described the park re-opening as a step toward getting back to normal.

“Let people come out and enjoy themselves, that's what Indian Lake is about, is enjoyment, fishing, camping. You might as well get back to normal. We’re never going to be normal but you might as well try and get back to normal," he said.

Fox Island is the only part of Indian Lake State Park which is still closed. A shelter house was destroyed and several large trees came down during the storm.

“It’s an escape for people that are local. It's an escape for people that are out of town. But I think it will be a new sense for the locals just come, unwind their thoughts some, and be able to reflect, this is their home," Whitman said about the park.

The park and surrounding area are expecting big crowds for the solar eclipse. Whitman reminded visitors to be respectful of neighbors who are still dealing with an incredibly difficult situation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- April Fools' Day is all fun and games until it's not anymore.

The Better Business Bureau is warning people about potential scams on the pranking holiday.

“Trust your gut. If it's too good to be true, it probably is,” said Jessica Hamlin, the Communications Director for the Better Business Bureau.

Hamlin said if those who aren’t careful could be left feeling like a fool because scammers often seize the holiday as an opportunity.

Hamlin said the trick can be a phone call or an email. She said people often fall victim when they are in a hurry and not doing research. She said they can even show up in a form that looks familiar.

“I personally have seen a lot of fun April Fools pranks coming from a lot of the brands that I follow and enjoy,” Hamlin said. “It's very easy to impersonate that account, and basically it means information has been hacked and now your information is compromised.”

The BBB’s best advice: don’t click on emails from unknown senders, don’t disclose personal information and don’t feel pressured to move quickly. Hamlin also said to vet before buying.

“So, it's a good idea to go to a resource like BBB.org to look at those reviews where every single review has been vetted and confirmed to come from a real, true person that has interacted with that company,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin said it's also best to purchase using something traceable like a credit card instead of cash or Venmo. She said that way, if something does happen, people can get their money back and find out who the real fool is.

High pressure building in the from the west brought lots of sunshine. Temperatures edged up through the 50s, with a westerly breeze.

Clouds will thicken tonight as a weak system tracks eastward along a warm front. A few light showers are possible after midnight, but the better chances for rain come toward morning, with a rumble of thunder possible.

A cold front will sag south across Ohio on Saturday, with a few additional showers popping up later in the day, though most of the time will be dry in the afternoon. Skies will remain mostly cloudy, with afternoon readings reaching the mid-60s.

Clouds will stick around on Easter Sunday, as the front stalls over southern Ohio, before lifting north at night, accompanied by widespread rain and rumbles of thunder. Some of the rain could be heavy at time.

After a few waves of low pressure ripple b over the weekend, the main storm system will take shape in the central Plains early next week and track northeast into the Ohio Valley. Rounds of showers and storms are likely through Tuesday evening, which could result in minor flooding.

Blustery and cooler weather will follow behind a cold front midweek. The weather will improve the latter half of the week, with cool to seasonable conditions.

• Friday: Partly sunny, mild. High 60
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, showers after midnight. Low 45
• Saturday: Showers, isolated thunder, breezy, mild. High 65 
• Easter: Mostly cloudy, spotty rain, heavier at night. High 59 (44)
• Monday: Showers, storms. High 65 (51)
• Tuesday: Showers, storms. High 66 (45)
• Wednesday: Rain/snow showers, windy, colder. High 47 (38)
• Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 48 (32)
• Friday: Partly cloudy. High 52 (33)

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead and four others are hospitalized after a crash occurred in Westerville Friday afternoon.

• (NBC4 Photo/Kyle Beachy)
• (NBC4 Photo/Kyle Beachy)
• (NBC4 Photo/Kyle Beachy)

At least two cars crashed at Polaris Parkway and North Cleveland Avenue, about two miles from Polaris Fashion Place, according to a Westerville Police spokesperson. Dispatchers said emergency crews took three children to Nationwide Children's Hospital and one adult to Riverside Methodist Hospital, but they are expected to survive. A fifth person was pronounced dead at St. Ann's Hospital.

Cleveland Avenue between Polaris and Altair parkways will be closed for an extended period of time while police investigate.

View a previous report from when Ohio voters established the right to an abortion in the November 2023 general election in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio abortion providers are challenging the state's 24-hour waiting requirement for abortions as violating the constitutional right to abortion care.

In a lawsuit filed against Attorney General Dave Yost on Friday, a coalition of abortion clinics, backed by the ACLU and ACLU of Ohio, argue a suite of abortion restrictions unnecessarily burden people seeking abortions, in many cases delaying their care. The providers are asking the Franklin County court to pause the 24-hour waiting requirement between first seeing a provider and undergoing an abortion, the required review of state-provided fetal development brochures, and the required testing for fetal cardiac activity, among other restrictions.

The suit contends that such restrictions violate the recently-enshrined constitutional right to abortion passed by voters in November. The constitutional amendment prohibits bans on abortion before fetal viability, and any restrictions thereafter must serve to promote the health and safety of the pregnant person -- as accepted by the medical community.

But, as Dr. Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, said in an interview in early March, many of Ohio's abortion restrictions go beyond what the medical community accepts as necessary, including ultrasounds to confirm gestational age, restrictions on abortion pill prescriptions and the 24-hour, two-appointment waiting requirement. They also diverge from most other regulations on health care in the state.

“This filing is just the first step toward making the will of Ohioans a reality after they overwhelmingly voted in support of Issue 1," Krishen said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is committed to ensuring Ohioans can access high-quality, patient-centered reproductive health care including abortion. That means we must also reduce the barriers that prevent people from accessing care."

Read the complaint and motion for preliminary injunction below.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction has kicked off on a multimillion dollar project aimed at improving pedestrian and biking pathways throughout a Westerville office district.

Contractors are installing the first phase, which includes concrete sidewalks on Brooksedge Drive between Schrock Road and Greencrest Drive within Westerville's Brooksedge Corporate Center. This phase, costing about $575,000, will also feature sidewalk installation along Greencrest Drive, in addition to complete curb and gutter replacement.

Westerville officials said through traffic will be maintained, but single lane closures can be expected during work hours, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The project's second phase, costing about $2.94 million, will be completed in 2025, with sidewalk installation along Brooksedge Boulevard, Park Meadow Road and Heatherdown Drive. Further pathways will also be constructed on Brooksedge Plaza Boulevard and Greencrest Drive. Curb and gutter repairs are included in this phase, too.

Named the "Brooksedge Mobility Plan," the project by Westerville officials aims to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities throughout the Brooksedge Corporate Center, which is home to businesses like Eagle Equipment, Vector Security, Archive Data Solutions, M Engineering and Goldfish Swim School.

Along with the Brooksedge project, Westerville is continuously repairing or replacing deficient sidewalk panels throughout the city at no direct cost to property owners. The program implemented in 2021 allows hazardous panels to be recorded by public complaint and then addressed during the following construction season as part of the city's "Street Rehabilitation Project."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Habaneros Mexican Grill may move into the Clintonville building that once housed Old Bag of Nails.

The location is at 4416 N. High St., according to an application filed with the city's building and zoning department. The graphics permit application shows plans for two Habaneros signs on the building.

The Mexican restaurant has three other central Ohio locations, on Main Street, on Fishinger Boulevard in Hilliard, and on Yard Street in Grandview Heights.

Mexican street tacos, tortas, tamales, specialty tequila and more are among the staples on Habaneros' menu. The restaurant's "Taco Tuesday" features $1 pastor tacos and $6.99 lime flavored margaritas.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus-based pizzeria known for its “edge to edge” pizzas is expanding to Texas with up to 20 new restaurants. 

Founded in Columbus in 1963, Donatos Pizza will be making its debut in the Lone Star State in 2024, according to the company. Four different franchise groups “strategically positioned” throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area will bring the company’s pizzas, subs, salads and wings to Texans for the first time, initially opening up to 20 restaurants. 

Donatos also stated numerous locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth region are available for potential franchise partners and that there is the possibility for over 50 locations to come to the area. 

“Bringing Donatos to Dallas-Fort Worth is a historic milestone for us as we begin this exciting journey to expand the brand into Texas,” said Kevin King, President of Donatos Pizza. “We are looking to have yet another successful year in 2024, and this growth into Texas is just the beginning.”

Donatos Pizza has over 460 locations across 29 states, with 179 traditional restaurants located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and Oklahoma. Donatos’ products are also served in 287 non-traditional locations, including Red Robins, sports and entertainment venues and REEF kitchens.

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – A Ross County man is dead after a two-car crash Thursday night south of Circleville.

According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, a 2012 red Buick was traveling northbound on U.S. 23, approaching Tarlton Road about 5:35 p.m. A 1999 turquoise Buick was at the southbound intersection.

Deputies said the turquoise Buick failed to yield to traffic and collided with the red Buick. The crash resulted in three being taken to hospitals. The driver of the red Buick was taken to Berger Hospital in Circleville. The driver of the turquoise Buick was flown to Grant Medical Center in Columbus. And the passenger of the turquoise Buick, David Fisher, 73, of Kingston, was taken to Berger.

Fisher died from his injuries at 6:44 p.m.

The crash remains under investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The way a home is sold in central Ohio could change this summer after the leading national real estate trade group settled a series of lawsuits and agreed to alter how agents are paid commissions.

The National Association of Realtors reached the settlement this month with home sellers who argued the current way commission prices are negotiated forced them to pay excessive fees. Now, the association will pay $418 million in damages and implement a new rule banning a seller's agent from offering to compensate a buyer's agent through the Multiple Listing Service, a database of homes for sale.

Columbus Realtors announced that the organization will follow the new rule set by NAR's settlement, which is still subject to court approval. Scott Hrabcak, president of Columbus Realtors, said the rule will be enacted in mid-July for the organization's more than 9,000 central Ohio agents.

"I am confident that today's announcement from NAR provides some clarity and gives us a positive path forward," said Hrabcak. "The goal has always been to promote access to home ownership, and Columbus Realtors leadership is dedicated to seeing this through while providing an exceptional home-buying and selling experience for our consumers."

The new rule could end the current practice of a home seller paying the commissions for both their agent and the buyer's agent. Typically, if each agent receives a commission of 3% of the sales price, a seller would pay $12,000 -- $6,000 to each agent -- for their home that sold for $200,000.

Now, an agent who is representing a buyer will be required to have a written agreement with their client outlining their compensation, instead of relying on sellers to cover the cost. Columbus Realtors said the organization will also adopt this change in mid-July.

While the new process bans compensation offers from being communicated through the MLS, home sellers could still offer compensation to the buyer's agent through negotiations with their agent, Columbus Realtors said.

While NAR denies agents inflated costs while negotiating through the MLS, Nykia Wright, Interim CEO of NAR, said the settlement "provides a path forward for our industry, which makes up nearly one fifth of the American economy."

"This will be a time of adjustment, but the fundamentals will remain: buyers and sellers will continue to have many choices when deciding to buy or sell a home, and NAR members will continue to use their skill, care, and diligence to protect the interests of their clients," said Wright.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – NBC4’s Puppy with a Purpose has arrived in Columbus!

Paris arrived just before 6 p.m. Thursday night after a cross country flight from California.

The labrador-golden retriever mix -- born on February 2nd – is a ball of energy with a curious mind. He will be NBC4’s fourth puppy with a purpose in partnership with Canine Companions -- a non-profit that trains assistance dogs to help children, adults, and veterans with disabilities — free of charge. 

Upon arrival Paris wasted no time getting comfortable with his new puppy raiser, Elaine May, who he will be staying with during his journey of becoming a full-service assistance dog.

May says the job of a puppy raiser is to work on the basics so when he goes off to professional training he'll know about 30 commands.

"We set the groundwork for when they go off to professional training and then they'll learn to open and close doors, turn lights on and off, pick up dropped items, but it all starts with a puppy raiser,” May said.

• Elaine May and Paris, NBC4s new Puppy with a Purpose. (NBC4)
• Parris, NBC4's fourth puppy with a purpose, arrived in Columbus, March 28, 2024. (NBC4)

There are also many volunteer opportunities with Canine Companions.

"Canine Companions is in need of more puppy raisers. If you'd like to get a little fella like Paris here and help raise him, contact Canine Companions and we'll get you fixed up!"

Paris, like his predecessors Brutus, Scarlet and Buckeye, will join the NBC4 studio every Friday beginning April 12 during the 6 a.m. broadcast of NBC4 Today.

Be sure to follow Paris’ journey by following NBC4pups on Facebook and Instagram! For more information on how you can support or assist Canine Companions’ cause, visit https://canine.org/get-involved/.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus has set its sights on a historic part of town to become the city's first neighborhood with net-zero emissions, and the project could lower electric bills for its residents.

American Addition is one of the oldest African American communities in Columbus, dating to May 1898. Soon, it could become the first neighborhood in the city to completely eliminate emissions, reducing its carbon footprint and dependence on nonrenewable energy sources.

A solar plant, solar panels, efficient insulation, and smart design are among the changes to minimize the neighborhood's energy waste, according to IMPACT Community Action Director of Climate Justice Initiatives Katie Devlin. Residents of American Addition will also be provided with information and education on how to reduce their overall energy usage.

"We're trying to strike a balance between the amount of energy that buildings in the neighborhood are producing, and then using energy efficiency mechanisms to offset that energy, and ultimately, those emissions," Devlin said.

While some Columbus residents are facing their largest electric bills in the decade, this project could actually lower costs for American Addition residents. Devlin said that the installation of solar panels and batteries will come at no cost to the homeowners, and that residents could expect to pay less for their electricity.

"Depending on the home’s utility provider, most homes are AEP, the cost of the bill will depend on how much energy their solar panel produces," Devlin said. "But we are confident that the majority of residents will see a decrease on their electric bill with the installation of solar panels."

Columbus was recently selected as one of 25 U.S. cities to join Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, a three-year initiative leveraging federal funding to implement local solutions that build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities. Because of its participation in the initiative, the city will receive an innovation team with up to three dedicated staff members, a multi-year, in-depth, customized policy, and technical assistance.

Assistant Director of Sustainable Columbus Erin Beck said the American Addition project was a major reason for the city's inclusion on the list. She said they worked closely with IMPACT Community Action to be awarded the funding.

"A big part of our application that we worked with IMPACT and the community on was that we really wanted to use these supports to help support the American Addition neighborhood, and a commitment to creating a net-zero neighborhood and working collaboratively toward that," Beck said.

While a plan is clearly already in place to reach the net-zero goal, Beck said there will still be some trial and error.

"What is this going to look like? I think all of us still aren't entirely sure what this might look like," Beck said. "We're on a journey together to figure out what is going to work best for American Addition."

Lisa Ghee-Brown, Community Advocate for IMPACT and American Addition resident, said her family has lived in the neighborhood for generations. She said members of the community are eager to see the changes coming with the project.

"They're happy, they're waiting, they're no-nonsense people because they're an older generation and they tell you exactly what they feel," Ghee-Brown said. "They're happy that they're getting some help with their homes, because it's a couple of families out there still buying oil to heat their homes. So, they're patiently waiting."

American Addition isn't the only solar project coming to central Ohio, the Ohio Power Siting Board recently approved a much larger, 800-megawatt solar-powered generating facility to be built in Madison County.