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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hail of varying sizes pelted central Ohio during severe storms, which rose to tornado warnings at some points Wednesday evening.

Photos and videos captured from Hilliard to Gahanna all showed hail falling around 5:30 p.m. in the Columbus metropolitan area. At the NBC4 studios, hail appeared to be the size of ping pong balls. When it progressed to the Gahanna area, the balls of ice appeared closer to the size of pennies.

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• Hail fell on the NBC4 studios on April 17, 2024, that appeared to be the size of ping pong balls. (NBC4 Photo/Joe Clark)
• Hail fell in Gahanna, Ohio on April 17, 2024 that appeared to be around the size of pennies. (NBC4 Photo/Brian Hofmann)
• Hail fell in Gahanna, Ohio on April 17, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Brian Hofmann)

The Ohio Department of Transportation had to close a ramp from State Route 161 to Interstate 270 South due to flooding from the storm.

Flooding has closed the State Route 161 East ramp onto Interstate 270 South after storms blew through central Ohio Wednesday. (ODOT)

While Bucyrus police have reported damage from a confirmed rotation, which included structures, powerlines and trees, there was no significant damage reported from the hail as of 6 p.m.

Stay updated on continuing coverage of severe storms in central Ohio with Storm Team 4. View an updated forecast here.

View the player above to watch previous coverage.

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – Delaware Municipal Court deemed 40 dogs found in heavy chains and swampy conditions were “abandoned” by their owner and assigned custody to the county dog warden on Wednesday.

Now that the Delaware County Dog Warden has custody of the dogs, formal medical care can begin. The Delaware County Humane Society has been caring for 20 of the dogs and is now awaiting documentation from the dog warden to grant them custody. All the dogs need spayed and neutered, with some needing dental work. This medical work will begin tomorrow, according to the humane society.

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Once their medical care is addressed, the shelter will focus on the dogs' behavioral needs, which they said varies from dog to dog. After that, the DCHS said they would look for foster homes for some dogs, while others may be ready for adoption. The shelter stressed that the process is going to take time. 

The county dog warden is currently housing the rest of the dogs. Rico Pet Recovery will be assisting with placing those dogs into foster homes –  founder Marci Dop said there is a “line of people” ready to take the dogs into foster care. 

In early April, the dogs were removed from a Delaware County property on the 7000 block of Kilbourne Road after a video showing their living conditions went viral. In the video, the dogs are shown living in waterlogged patches of mud with only an uninsulated blue barrel for shelter. 

After four years of being on the county shelter’s “radar,” the owner of the 40 dogs is now facing misdemeanor charges, including 26 counts of cruelty to a companion animal and four counts of failure to register a dog or dog kennel. The animal cruelty charges were filed due to multiple dogs having abrasions, sores or scarring where their collars were, with one dog needing its collar cut off. Some charges also claim the owner was housing dogs with others that were hurting them, as well as not providing adequate shelter.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 P.M.

A tornado watch is in effect for central and western Ohio until 7 p.m. Strong storms will develop this afternoon that could contain damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, especially across the northern half of the state.

A mix of sun and clouds, with breezy conditions, prevail ahead of a cold front that will cross the state, accompanied by gusty showers and a few strong thunderstorms. Temperatures will soar into the mid-70s before the rain arrives.

Behind the front, slightly cooler and drier air will filter into the region later tonight and Thursday. Morning lows will dip into the low 50s.

Thursday will be mostly sunny, with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. The front will stall south of the Ohio River, then lift north as a disturbance develops. Showers and a few storms will move across the southern half of the state Thursday night, ending early Friday.

The weekend looks to be very pleasant and on the cool side, with lots of sunshine.

Forecast

• Wednesday: Mix clouds and sun, breezy, scattered strong storms. High 77
• Tonight: Evening showers, storms, clearing later. Low 52
• Thursday: Sunny. High 75
• Friday: Early shower, partly sunny, breezy. High 64 (59)
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, cooler. High 57 (43)
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 57 (36)
• Monday: Sunny. High 64 (37)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, showers. High 64 (44)

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Criminal investigators from the Ohio Department of Taxation have been fired after trying to improperly hit a Chillicothe business owner with legal trouble, according to the Ohio Inspector General's Office.

Agents Matthew Shell and Mandowl Nixon were both terminated from their jobs on Dec. 15 and could face potential criminal charges. The inspector general's office accused the pair on Tuesday of filing misdemeanor charges and a tax return citation for their own personal interests.

The charges and citation were a collaborated plot between the agents. The pair made the plan sometime in August 2023 after a police officer told Shell that the officer's wife was having an affair with the business owner they targeted, according to the inspector general's office. The business owner was required to file sales tax returns on a semiannual basis, and Shell and Nixon had determined he missed a deadline in July.

The Ohio Department of Taxation building. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) What the major road construction projects are this summer in Franklin County

The business owner wasn't on the department of taxation's delinquency list, and so as part of the plan Shell and Nixon checked state records on the man to find his missed deadline. The pair of agents improperly accessed both the STARS and the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway databases, which contain confidential business tax information and crime evidence respectively. The inspector general's office said the main issue was that the tax agents looked information up in these databases for personal interests rather than a criminal investigation.

An audit administrator from ODT told investigators that the citation they issued was found improper, because the department typically gives business owners or taxpayers notice of a missed deadline 30 days after the due date. After that, they get another 30 days to respond either by challenging or paying their tax bill. Nixon and Shell cited the business owner on Sept. 1 while taxpayers in the same situation would normally have until Sept. 21.

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The inspector general's office sent its findings to the Franklin County Prosecutor, the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for review. While it normally posts a response from the involved agency with its reports, the Ohio Department of Taxation had not provided one as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Read the full report from the Ohio inspector general's office below:

Shell-and-Nixon-Tax-Agents-ReportDownload

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A large police presence has formed outside of a west Columbus thrift store during a search for a wanted homicide suspect late Tuesday morning.

According to Columbus police, there is currently a search underway for a homicide suspect near the intersection of Hilliard Rome Road and West Broad Street in the Galloway Ridge neighborhood.

Semi-truck driver gets trailer stuck under north Columbus bridge overpass Police are searching for a homicide suspect in a west Columbus thrift store, April 17, 2024. (NBC4/Bill Reagan)

Police could not confirm any additional details as of 12 p.m., but a SWAT unit vehicle and several emergency vehicles, including CPD cruisers and Columbus Fire medic units were staged outside of the Volunteers of America Thrift Store on West Broad Street.

It is unknown if the suspect is inside or outside the perimeter of store. Also unconfirmed is what led to the search and how it relates to a homicide.

This is a developing story.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As road construction season gets under way in Ohio, many major projects are beginning or continuing in Franklin County.

Here are the most significant road construction projects taking place in the county, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up

A series of projects to reconstruct interstates 70 and 71 Downtown began in the summer of 2010 and carries a total estimated cost of $1.4 billion. ODOT will be working on two phases this year.

One of those phases began in February and is expected to end in July 2030 at a cost of $340 million. It'll involve reconstructing certain roadways and replacing and reconstructing some bridges.

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Traffic impacts are expected to include overnight lane and ramp closures with traffic shifts, and the closure of the State Route 315 southbound ramp to I-70 eastbound for more than a year.

The other phase began in February 2022 and is expected to be completed in August 2025. The $279 million project will construct ramps, reconstruct certain streets, convert Front Street to two-way-traffic and replace and widen certain bridges.

Traffic impacts include overnight lane and ramp closures, the permanent closure of ramps from I-70 East to Front Street and to Livingston Avenue, and the closure of the Front Street bridge for two years.

State Route 161 widening

An $80 million project will widen State Route 161 in the New Albany area. It began in July 2023 and will end in August 2025.

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The project includes widening State Route 161 from I-270 to U.S. 62 and the ramp from State Route 161 west to I-270 north on the Northeast side. Traffic impacts include traffic shifts with various temporary lane and ramp closures.

Far East Freeway improvements

Two projects improving the "Far East Freeway: I-70/I-270/Brice Road eastbound interchange" worth tens of millions of dollars each are continuing or beginning this year.

One leg of the project, which began in July 2022 and will end in June 2025, costs $77 million. It will upgrade the interchange of I-70/I-270 and Brice Road along I-70 East, including a flyover ramp from I-270 South to I-70 East to replace a loop ramp. The project will also reconfigure certain ramps and add an eastbound ramp lane on I-70 between I-270 and Brice Road.

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Traffic impacts include temporary lane and ramp closures and overnight directional closures of I-270 and I-70 for bridge work.

The other leg of the project, beginning this month and set to end in September 2026, will cost $60.5 million. It will upgrade the interchange of I-70 and I-270 and Brice Road along I-70 westbound, reconstruct the I-70 West ramp to I-270 North, and add westbound ramp lanes on I-70 from Brice Road to I-270. It will also widen the Brice Road bridge over I-70 and south of I-70 to Tussing Road.

I-270/U.S. 23 South Side interchange

A $31.8 million project will reconfigure the I-270/U.S. 23 interchange on the South Side. It will improve the U.S. 23 and Rathmell Road intersection by adding turn lanes and upgrading the traffic signal.

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Traffic impacts include temporary lane and ramp closures, with some traffic being detoured to a temporary ramp operated by traffic signals. The project began in June 2023 and is scheduled to end in June 2025.

Other projects

• I-270 resurfacing ($25.6 million)
• State Route 315 bridge improvements ($11 million)
• Franklin County bridge rehabilitation ($10.6 million)
• State Route 161 noise walls ($8 million)
• I-670 bridge rehabilitation ($7 million)
• East Broad Street/Hamilton Road intersection improvements ($6 million)
• U.S. 40 improvements ($5.2 million)
• Gantz Road and McComb Road bridge rehabilitation ($4.2 million)
• I-70 bridge work ($2.6 million)
• Courtright Road bridge improvements ($2.5 million)
• I-70 resurfacing ($1.6 million)
• I-70 culvert replacement ($600,000)
• U.S. 40 paving ($480,000)
• State Route 161/Olentangy River Road intersection improvements ($210,000)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police on Wednesday announced that the victim of a homicide on the northeast side of the city was a child.

The shooting occurred on Sunday night just after 10:15 p.m. in the North Linden area, where police said they found 12-year-old Angel Diaz suffering from a gunshot wound in the 1300 block of East Hudson Street. Medics arrived and pronounced him dead at 10:24 p.m.

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Investigators said they're unsure what led to the shooting and did not have any suspect information as of Wednesday morning. Columbus police asked anyone with information to contact them at 614-645-4730.

GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – A New Albany-based Mexican restaurant has opened a second location in Gahanna.

Blue Agave opened its doors at 64 Granville St. on Monday. The restaurant’s first location opened in New Albany, at 9745 Johnstown Road, in 2011. 

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The eatery serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and other traditional Mexican dishes. Blue Agave’s website states its food is made from locally-sourced, fresh ingredients.

“Our popular items on the menu would have to be obviously margaritas,” said manager of Blue Agave in Gahanna Jason Martinez. “Margaritas are probably the most we sell. Then we have our fajitas; you can never really go wrong with fajitas.”

Martinez listed the “Burrito California” as another one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, describing it as a “huge” cheesy burrito with chicken or steak. 

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“So far Gahanna has been really welcoming,” Martinez said. “Everybody here is nice, our neighbors are nice, the people are really nice. For the most part, everybody’s really excited that we’re here, and I’m really happy that we’re here as well.”

Blue Agave opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Pop songwriters Charli XCX and Troye Sivan are teaming up to co-headline an arena tour coming to central Ohio this fall.

(Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)

The duo's 21-city "Sweat" tour is performing at Nationwide Arena on Sept. 20 with special guest Shygirl, Live Nation announced on Wednesday. Advance presale registration is available now at sweat-tour.com, with the artist presale beginning April 25 at 10 a.m. The general on-sale will begin on April 26 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com.

"Charli XCX & Troye Sivan present: Sweat is not only a celebration of their individual successes, but it is also a testament to their commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the music industry," said Live Nation. "Fans can expect an electrifying show filled with exhilarating performances, stunning visuals, and infectious beats."

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XCX is fresh off the announcement of her sold-out "Brat 2024" tour in the UK, and is gearing up for the release of her sixth album, "Brat." The album, set to feature 15 tracks, includes the hit single "Von dutch," alongside recent releases "Club classics" and "B2b."

• Sivan will be coming off the heels of his European arena tour in support of his third album, "Something to Give Each Other." (Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)
• XCX is fresh off the announcement of her sold-out "Brat 2024" tour in the UK. (Courtesy Photo/Live Nation)

Sivan will be coming off the heels of his European arena tour in support of his third album, "Something to Give Each Other." His single "Rush," which earned two Grammy nominations and amassed over 180 million combined global streams to date, and "Got Me Started," the second single from his 2023 album, have gained worldwide recognition.

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Troye Sivan and Charli XCX are no strangers to collaboration, having previously worked together on hits such as "1999" and "2099."

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A national steakhouse known for preparing hand-cut, aged meats is opening a central Ohio location for the first time in more than a decade.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is opening at 6036 N. Hamilton Road west of New Albany, according to a permit under review by the city of Columbus. The location will add to the chain's more than 60 restaurants across 20 states, including Firebirds' Polaris Fashion Place grill at 8760 Sancus Blvd. that opened in 2014 and eateries near Cincinnati, Cleveland and Youngstown.

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The grill's permit calls from the construction of 6,000 square-foot restaurant with a patio on a more than two-acre site. The Westerville location will span about the same size as the Polaris restaurant, which can seat more than 200 patrons.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill at 8760 Sancus Blvd. near Polaris Fashion Place. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware County Auditor's Office)

Firebirds is known for 21-day-aged steaks butchered in house, hand-trimmed and then hardwood grilled. The restaurant also features of selection of seafood offerings, chicken dishes and pork chops. Half-pound burgers and signature salads with house-made dressings round of the menu.

The brand is one of several steakhouses expanding in central Ohio, along with international chain Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse with locations across the globe, including in Dubai, Toronto and Istanbul. Fogo de Chão will open at a former O'Charley's at 1425 Polaris Parkway after the building undergoes at $1.5 million renovation.

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Cameron Mitchell's new downtown steakhouse Butcher and Rose is set to open this year on the ground floor of 155 E. Broad St. at Preston Centre, the building previously known as the PNC Plaza. Columbus developer Edwards Cos. is transforming the building, one of several high-profile efforts underway to convert downtown towers for new uses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — It's been 100 years since the Olympics were held in Paris, and they are now 100 days away. The 2024 summer games open on July 26 as the world fixes its eyes on the City of Light.

Among the thousands of athletes heading to Paris will be several Ohio natives, current and former Buckeyes, and some of the biggest names in sports. As the Olympics approach, we catch up on the athletes and teams that are starting to form.

Notable Ohio athletes

Abby Steiner (track and field): The Dublin track star burst onto the professional scene in 2022 after winning multiple world championships. Her 2023 season was cut short after nationals due to a heel injury. Steiner returned to the track earlier in April and will be among the stars to watch at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

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Hunter Armstrong (swimming): Armstrong, a former Buckeye from Dover, Ohio, has cemented himself as one of the best male swimmers for Team USA. At February's world championships in Qatar, Armstrong won more medals than any swimmer with seven. The 23-year-old is expected to have a busy schedule in Paris.

Simone Biles (gymnastics): One of the top gymnastics stars ever, Biles was born in Columbus and looks likely to make her third Olympics team this summer. Biles withdrew from a majority of events in Tokyo but will enter the Olympic trials coming off a World all-around championship last year.

Katie Moon (track and field): The 32-year-old from Lakewood is the current Olympic and world pole vaulting champion. Moon will be among the favorites for the finals in Paris on Aug. 7.

Central Ohioans/Buckeyes qualified for Paris: Katelyn Abeln (Ohio State, shooting, USA), Lena Hentschel (Ohio State, diving, Germany), Maycey Vieta (Gahanna, diving, Puerto Rico)

U.S. teams and trials

Basketball: USA basketball will be favored for all four gold medals available in Paris, which includes the 3x3 tournaments. The men's roster spots are finalized, but the women's roster has yet to be decided.

Soccer: Both USA soccer teams are expected to have an Ohio flavor to them. The women's team could include Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle while the men's team could feature three Columbus Crew players: goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and midfielders Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki.

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Track and field: Eugene, Oregon, will host the U.S. Olympic trials from June 21 to 30. Among those joining Steiner will be 100-meter favorite Noah Lyles and superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Swimming: The American team will be decided at the Olympic trials in Indianapolis from June 15 to 23. Armstrong and other stars like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel are expected to feature.

Other key trials: wrestling (April 19-20), diving (June 16-23), gymnastics (June 27-30)

Events to watch at the start of the Olympics

July 24: Action for the Olympics kicks off two days before the opening ceremony. Known as Day minus-2, the first day of competition will include multiple rugby matches and the start of the men's soccer tournament. The soccer game to watch will be when the hosts France face Team USA.

July 25: The day before the opening ceremony will have action in four different sports: archery, handball, rugby, and soccer. Women's soccer headlines Day -1 with the U.S. team opening against Zambia.

July 26: The one-of-a-kind opening ceremony across the Seine River will take place in 100 days. NBC4's coverage of the opening ceremony will be hosted by Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning.

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July 27: Notable events for Day 1 include the first diving final, the men's rugby final, USA men's soccer match vs. New Zealand, and the first four swimming finals.

July 28: Among the events to watch on the first Sunday are: women's gymnastics qualifying, USA men's basketball's first game vs. Serbia, USA women's soccer game vs. Germany, and three more swimming finals.

How to watch on NBC4

The Paris games will offer the most live coverage and programming on NBC4 than any other Olympics before. With a six-hour time difference between the City of Light and Ohio’s capital, NBC4 will be showing at least nine hours of daytime coverage every day of the Olympics, including live finals coverage of swimming, gymnastics, track & field, and much more.

NBC4 Today morning anchor Matt Barnes will be reporting live from Paris throughout the games.

NBC4’s primetime Olympic coverage will consist of three hours of the best highlights of the day’s competition. More wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympics will be available on Peacock and NBC Universal cable channels.

For an earlier report on this story view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Police have identified and are searching for a third suspect in connection to a north-central Columbus murder that occurred one week ago.

According to court documents, an investigation revealed that Sheleeah Foggie, 32, was allegedly involved in the murder of 24-year-old Dedrick Robinson, who was gunned down on the morning of April 9 in the Arlington Park neighborhood.

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According to Columbus police, Robinson was taken to Grant Medical Center a little after midnight in critical condition after being struck by gunfire at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Brentnell Avenue. There, police said, officers found Robinson lying outside an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at 2:38 a.m.

Multiple witnesses reported that Robinson fired a shot from a handgun into an apartment before Kiante Lee, 27, and Terrell Thomas, 29, reportedly came outside where the three exchanged gunfire. Video evidence of the shooting as well as shell casings and handguns were recovered from the scene.

Court documents now say that Foggie and Thomas were in possession of handguns and exchanged gunfire with Robinson and another male.

Police said several apartment units were also struck by gunfire soon after 1 a.m. and officers detained Lee and Thomas from a nearby apartment complex on Genessee Avenue, a few blocks away from the shooting. They were each issued $2 million bonds in Franklin County Municipal Court.

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Foggie, who is believed to be armed and dangerous, according to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, is wanted for murder after a warrant was issued on April 12. Police said she is known to frequent the south side of Columbus.

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

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A developer suing the city of Dublin, alleging private property rights were violated when its shopping district overhaul was rejected, is proposing a new mixed-use development to be built in the Ballantrae neighborhood.

Stavroff Land and Development aims to transform a 12-acre site southwest of the intersection of Avery and Woerner Temple roads into a mixed-use district named "Irish Village." The village would sit next to the Ballantrae Community Park and the Dublin Community Pool, sporting the Ballantrae neighborhood's Irish countryside-inspired aesthetic.

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The development company's Irish Village proposal submitted to the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission outlines four possible layouts, featuring various combinations of apartment buildings, senior living facilities, restaurants, shops, office spaces and more. The planning commission is set to provide an informal review of the layouts on Thursday.

• Stavroff Land and Development is aiming to transform a 12-acre site into a mixed-use district named "Irish Village." (Courtesy Photo/Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission)

Stavroff's new proposal comes after the company filed a lawsuit earlier this year against the city, claiming Dublin's Bridge Street District code hinders the ability to redevelop Dublin Village Center, a shopping area owned by Stavroff since 2009. The complaint argues the city’s “illegitimate restrictions” violate equal protection and due process law.

"The City took complete control over the use and development of private property within the [Bridge Street District] by adopting unlawful and overbearing development restrictions," the lawsuit states. "In doing so, Dublin "unilaterally rezoned hundreds of acres of land and anointed its officials with unfettered and arbitrary discretion over private property."

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Stavroff is seeking compensatory damages "to recoup the millions of dollars in damages, costs, and expenses it has incurred as a result of the City's misconduct." The complaint also demands a declaration that the Bridge Street code is unconstitutional, a declaration that Stavroff's proposal is constitutional, and an injunction requiring Dublin to refrain from preventing the site's development.

However, Dublin denies the allegations and said Stavroff's claims are "moot" and "barred by applicable statutes of limitation." The city provided line-by-line acknowledgements in a March response to more than 160 of Stavroff's claims, admitting to some allegations but denying many or stating the city is "without knowledge to admit the allegations." Now, Dublin is asking the court to dismiss the company's suit.

Dublin said in the filing that Stavroff has yet "to set forth allegations sufficient to support a claim for compensatory damages." In addition, the city said in a statement to NBC4 in January that since the 1,100-acre Bridge Street District was created, dozens of projects have been approved and built.

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"The City's development approval process in the Bridge Street Code provides a fair and collaborative method to achieve high-quality development for the benefit of property owners and the community," a Dublin spokesperson said. "The City stands by its process and standards."

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) – Nearly a year and a half after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state could evict a golf club from the site of 2,000-year-old American Indian earthworks, the parties will finally go to trial to determine just how much money the golf club’s lease is worth. 

The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a procedural appeal from the Moundbuilders Country Club, meaning the previously delayed jury trial to determine leaseholder value will soon be underway. The members-only club, which sits in the middle of the Octagon Earthworks, asked the court to allow its appeal of the exclusion of its expert witnesses’ testimony about the lease's value.

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The Ohio History Connection, which has leased the land to the country club for 90 years, has sought control of the property for years to fully open the Octagon Earthworks to the public. The earthworks, one of three earthworks in Newark, were ceremonial and spiritual meeting grounds for many American Indian groups and were built 2,000 years ago to track the lunar cycle, according to the Ohio History Connection. The Newark Earthworks are the largest earthworks in existence and are one of eight in Ohio built by indigenous groups who were part of the Hopewell Culture. 

Moundbuilders Country Club, whose lease is slated to end in 2078, fought the appropriation of the land. The Ohio Supreme Court sided with the Ohio History Connection in December 2022, sending the case back to Licking County for a jury trial to determine the value of the remainder of the lease. The state cannot take the land from the country club until the leaseholder value is determined.

That trial was supposed to happen in October, but the club appealed to higher courts after, at the request of the Ohio History Connection, the Licking County judge threw out expert testimony from two of the country club’s witnesses. The witnesses had estimated the value of the remaining lease to be between $9.8 million and $22.7 million, basing their estimates on how much it would cost to build another golf course and the “historical, scientific and cultural significance of the mounds themselves,” according to the lower court ruling.

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The judge ruled those estimations improper and inadmissible, saying case law is clear that just compensation does not require the Ohio History Connection to fund the construction of a new golf course. Further, the club provided no evidence demonstrating that the value of the earthworks contributed meaningfully to their club membership rates.

“The Country Club is not entitled to the value of the mounds,” Judge David Branstool wrote in his October order. “The inclusion of that speculative value in some sort of cost reproduction method is completely unreliable when determining the fair market value of the Country Club’s lease.”

As a result, the jury would only hear testimony from the Ohio History Connection’s experts, who valued the lease to be between $1.18 million and $2 million. After an appellate court rejected the country club’s appeal, it took its case to the Supreme Court in February.

Allowing the trial to proceed without the country club’s expert witness testimony would make it a “trial in name only,” the club argued in its merit brief to the high court. The club further argued that not being able to appeal until after a jury determines the leaseholder value – at which point the state can immediately seize the land – would cause irreparable harm.

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“It is true that a jury will determine the amount of compensation MCC is to receive. But that jury-trial right is hollow and empty if the jury is making a determination based solely on evidence presented by the appropriating governmental agency,” the club’s merit brief to the Supreme Court read. 

Joe Fraley, attorney for the country club, said he plans to ask the Licking County judge to reconsider the exclusion of the club's witnesses before the case goes to trial.

"It puts us in the position that we're going to have to do a trial with essentially no witnesses," Fraley said. "That's not really a fair trial."

Octagon Earthworks of Newark (Courtesy Photo/Ohio History Connection)

In September, the state’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, including the Octagon Earthworks, were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, making them the first sites in Ohio to receive the global designation. Neil Thompson, spokesperson for the Ohio History Connection, said it was a process two decades in the making.

The legal fight between the state and the country club didn’t help with that timeline. But Thompson said the Ohio History Connection is appreciative of the legal process and pleased that the case will – hopefully – soon be resolved.

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“Our guiding principles throughout this process remain the same: to enable full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring the country club receives fair market value for the lease,” Thompson said.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – In Durham, North Carolina, there is a famous railroad overpass called The Can Opener Bridge.

Standing at 12-feet-4 inches (up from 11-feet, 8-inches since 2020), it is periodically the site where trucks get stuck under or crash into the top of the overpass, 178 times since 2008. Late Monday night in north Columbus, a semi-truck experienced the same fate.

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According to Columbus police a crash occurred at 11:31 p.m. when a semi-truck got stuck under the railroad overpass at East 17th Avenue, near Dora Road and just west of the Ohio Expo Center. The crash caused the road to close between North 4th Street and Korbel Avenue.

An out of state semi-truck got stuck under the bridge overpass at East 17th Avenue near the Ohio Expo Center, April 16, 2024. (NBC4/Ronald Clark)

The man, who is not from Ohio, but Wyoming, told police he was able to get under a bridge earlier in the day on East 11th Avenue, which stands at 14 feet tall. He then was leaving town on East 17th Ave. and thought the overpass was the same height, but the bridge stands at 12-feet-9-inches. The trailer rises 13-feet and 1-inch.

No one was injured during the crash and about an hour after the trailer was wedged underneath the overpass, the driver let the air out of all 18 wheels of the truck and was able to pull it out from under the bridge. Authorities were called to assess any damage and East 17th Ave. reopened just after 12:30 p.m.

View the player above to watch previous coverage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio has approved the $78,000 purchase of two mobile homes for training public school staff with firearms in the event of an active shooter. 

The Ohio Controlling Board, which handles making adjustments to the state budget, approved public safety officials’ request for $78,028 in March to purchase two "mobile modular shoot houses" to train public school staff who are permitted to carry firearms. 

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House Bill 99, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in June 2022, allows school boards to arm specific staff members and mandates training requirements for those individuals. The law does not mandate the arming of school staff members but leaves the decision to local school boards. 

Armed staff members are required to complete at least 24 hours of initial training and eight hours of annual requalification training, according to Ohio Department of Public Safety spokesperson Jay Carey. Under the law, the training must include four hours of scenario-based training, which Carey said the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) strives to make “as close to the real thing as possible.”

“Currently, we have movable canvas walls that can be configured to simulate responding to an active shooter in a school, like walking down a hallway, but there are limits,” Carey said. “The modular mobile shoot houses offer several advantages like doors and windows so armed school staff can practice opening doors and looking through windows just like they would find in a school.”

Carey said the OSSC is in the early stages of procuring the custom shoot houses from Kontek Industries, a North Carolina-based security service company, and hopes to have them incorporated into training this summer. 

• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)
• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)
• (Photo Courtesy/Kontek Industries)

Kontek has over 40 systems across the country used in training efforts of law enforcement and civilians in response to an active shooter threat. The mobile modular shoot houses debuted in 2019. 

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The shoot houses can be set up in a large outdoor space at schools for training (without the use of lethal ammunition), and if there is inclement weather, the units can be moved into a large indoor space such as a gymnasium, according to Carey. The shoot houses will also be used for live-fire training courses at a firing range.

Currently, there are 67 schools and districts in 36 counties that have submitted rosters of staff that are permitted to be armed, but not everyone is on board with arming teachers and other staff. 

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“We have very serious concerns about asking educators who already have a lot on their plate, and who have a primary responsibility of educating children to take on the dual role of serving as armed security guards,” said president of the Ohio Education Association Scott DiMauro. 

DiMauro said the OEA would “rather not” see teachers or any school employee carrying weapons except trained security professionals, such as school resource officers. But when it comes to the state's purchase of shoot houses, he said if schools are going to have armed staff anyway, it’s better that they complete simulated training.

“If you compare Ohio to other states that do that, I don’t think there’s another state in the country that has training standards as weak as Ohio’s,” DiMauro said. “Given the incredibly high life and death stakes we’re talking about here, if any teachers are going to be authorized to carry weapons they need to be trained in way more than 24 hours.”

Joe Eaton is the program director for FASTER Saves Lives – a Buckeye Firearms Foundation program that has worked alongside around 3,000 different staff members across 23 states who have chosen to arm themselves at school. He called 24 hours an “adequate” training requirement and said the decision should be up to each school. In his experience, he said about 5% to 15% of staff members in a given school are interested in firearms training.

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“[Many teachers] will willingly go stand between someone with a rifle and the school kids and they’ll give up the last few minutes of their lives to buy the kids a few more minutes,” Eaton said. “We owe it to them to give them every opportunity they want to take to be able to go home to their families at the end of the night.”

A large amount of the staff that enters his firearms training program are already concealed carry license holders, according to Eaton. He said armed staff members do not replace law enforcement or school resource officers, but rather add an additional safety layer.  

“Most of the studies on these past events, especially in schools, has determined that the killers are looking for a place where they assume they will meet no resistance to carry out their crimes,” Eaton said.

Armed school staff will complete training through the Ohio Department of Public Safety or an alternate training provider whose courses meet the requirements of OSSC's curriculum.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: AM rain, PM storms, windy, high 76
• Tonight: Rain tapers, breezy, low 55
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 75
• Friday: AM showers, clearing, high 65
• Saturday: Clearing, breezy, high 59
• Sunday: Few clouds, high 58

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Wednesday!

We start the day with rain and a few rumbles for portions of the region. That will all taper by about mid-morning, then we'll see several dry hours, allowing temperatures to warm into the middle 70s, with a strong gusty wind. The more clearing we get during this timeframe, the greater our threat for strong storms later, so this is a timeframe we'll be watching closely.

Currently the Storm Prediction Center has our entire area under a 2-out-of-5 risk for strong to severe storms this afternoon and evening.

This is a very conditional threat, based on the amount of clearing. With that said, the primary timeframe we will be watching will be between about 3-9 PM, with strong gusty winds and heavy rain being the higher risks, with an isolated large hail and/or tornado threat.

That all clears in time for Thursday, leading to mainly sunny skies, with highs sticking in the middle 70s.

Overnight into Friday, we'll be looking at scattered rain showers. Those showers will clear up early Friday, then we'll be dry into the afternoon, with highs falling back to the middle 60s.

This weekend will be dry, just a lot cooler. Expect highs in the upper 50s, with just a few clouds out.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It was somehow fitting that all the stars aligned for a Blue Jackets victory to end what was an otherwise forgetful 2023-24 campaign.

On a night that saw the franchise's longtime television announcer enter retirement, and five years to the day when Columbus upset the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, CBJ headed into an uncertain offseason with a 6-3 win over the playoff-bound Carolina Hurricanes.

There were 17,289 fans that witnessed the season finale for the Blue Jackets. And the number of individual storylines that unfolded Tuesday evening at Nationwide Arena gave the faithful fanbase some hope about the future.

Luca Del Bel Belluz scores in NHL debut

Luca Del Bel Belluz woke up this morning in Cleveland not knowing he'd end up scoring his first NHL goal hours later. The 20-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario was in the middle of watching film when he got the call that he'd be on the ice for the Blue Jackets on emergency recall with forward Dimitri Voronkov out due to illness.

"There were so many thoughts going through my head. I had a lot of people calling me on the way down," Del Bel Belluz said.

The forward made an immediate impact in his NHL debut, scoring his first career goal on his first shot of the game. He became the eighth player in club history to score in his debut and fifth to do it at home.

"It's definitely going to be one to remember. It was just kind of a whirlwind of a day. Not expecting to get called up. Just going to practice in the morning. Regular day and then just like that it switches and you're on your way to Columbus," Del Bel Belluz said. "Playing my first NHL game is something that you dream of as a kid and something I'll always remember.

It's just too bad his parents didn't get to see it, even though they were at Nationwide Arena to see him play.

"He was called up this afternoon and I believe somebody told me that his parents were in the elevator when he scored that goal," head coach Pascal Vincent said. "Just too bad. But that's a good story in 20 years."

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Zach Werenski was on the Blue Jackets when they pulled off that memorable sweep of the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning five years ago, which marked the first playoff series win in franchise history.

Five years later, he's in the record books for an individual achievement. Werenski's assist on Del Bel Belluz's opening goal set a new franchise record for most assists in a single season by a defenseman. By the end of the night, Werenski had four points with two goals and two assists and became the sixth player in Blue Jackets history to reach 300 career points.

"I owe it to a lot of guys obviously, but it was really cool to finish that way," Werenski said. "I think it was really huge for us. It was a fun hockey game in a fun atmosphere. It's good to end on a high note."

Jeff Rimer heads into retirement on a high note

For one last time, Jeff Rimer provided the soundtrack to a Blue Jackets telecast, concluding a 20-year run in the broadcast booth for Columbus. And the Blue Jackets made sure he headed into retirement with a victory.

Earlier in the day, Rimer was in the locker room to provide the team's starting lineup.

"He said I expect a win. And nothing less. There's no way you guys are going to let me retire on a loss," Vincent said. "It was a great speech."

There's no question Rimer was part of the motivation for the Blue Jackets' season finale. In the final period of Rimer's broadcast, a montage commemorating his career played on the video board, with appearances from the likes of Michael Buble and Wayne Gretzky who provided messages of gratitude for his decades of service.

"He's such a character. He's such a good man. He's been in the NHL for 47 years," Vincent said. "And there's a reason for it. You don't last that long if you're not a special man."

And so ends the 2023-24 season. One that saw more than 40 losses for the second straight year. Yet the fanbase remains strong. The club's average attendance of 17,016 over 41 games marks the highest average at Nationwide Arena in 20 years.

As the players get ready to clean out their lockers for an offseason that will see a new general manager take over, the fans can enjoy this win until the Blue Jackets get on the ice again.

Watch a previous report of Cayon Drake appearing in court in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus man was sentenced to as much as 18 years in prison for a fatal double-shooting tied to a drug deal gone wrong in 2023.

Cayon Drake, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, one carrying a mandatory three-year firearms specification. He was sentenced to 15 to 18 years in prison with two to five years of post-release control when released.

In exchange for his plea, charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premise, and improper handling of a firearm were all dropped.

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According to police, officers responded to the 2000 block of East 10th Avenue on April 18, 2023, and found Antonie Moss Jr., 19, and Jeremy Heglar, 16, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene while Heglar later died at the hospital.

Heglar and his girlfriend met Moss and Drake to buy drugs, court records show. Moss and Drake then got into the back seat of Heglar’s car, pulled out guns and shot Heglar. Helger then returned fire, killing Moss and shooting Drake in the arm. Drake ran from the car, shooting it several more times before running away.

Drake received six to nine years in prison plus an additional three years for the firearms specification for the first involuntary manslaughter charge, plus an additional six to nine years for the second involuntary manslaughter charge, all to be served consecutively.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Dozens of people enjoying time out and about on Saturday afternoon came back to find their car windows smashed. The crimes took place in Clintonville and western parts of the city. 

According to Columbus Police, nearly 20 people had their cars vandalized at the Rusty Bucket on North High Street. 

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“Be safe, be aware and keep your eyes open,” said Paige Postlewaite, a Columbus resident. 

That’s the message one Columbus resident is spreading after a smash-and-grab incident happened not too far from where she lives. 

“I always thought Clintonville was more of a safer area. It's not too close to the city, so I don't really expect a lot of break-ins or anything like that. But, I was definitely surprised to hear about The Rusty Bucket. Yeah, I'll definitely be keeping valuables in my home,” said Postlewaite. 

Over the weekend, dozens of cars had their windows smashed out. Cars were also targeted at Hayden Falls and Tuttle Crossing Mall.

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The recent string of break-ins has led the Rusty Bucket to add its own portable surveillance system, just to make sure its customers and employees feel protected. 

At Hayden Falls, you can still see large amounts of glass in a couple parking spots. People we spoke with told NBC4 they were shocked that it happened in the middle of the day. They said it makes them more concerned but they try to not leave anything valuable in their cars. 

“The people that we live with, like, advise us not to leave anything. So, other than a few blankets, like nothing is left in the car,” said Isabelle Smith, a student at Ohio State University. 

Eric Delbert, owner of L.E.P.D Firearms, said one thing these vandals could be looking for is firearms. 

“They're looking for that firearm that is stored in the center console, in the glove box, under the seat, those obvious places. When they don't find it, they're off to the next one,” he said. 

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According to data from Columbus police, in 2023, 770 guns were stolen out of vehicles. In January of this year, 69 guns were stolen from vehicles. If you have to leave your firearms in your vehicle, Delbert recommends a lock box. 

“There's always an occasion to maybe need to secure your firearm when you're out. It doesn't take much just to have one of these safes sitting in the car, sitting in the trunk, and be prepared for those days when you're going to have to lock it up and make sure it's secured,” said Delbert. 

As always, if someone witnesses a car break-in, contact law enforcement.