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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- From Cirque Du Soleil's "Crystal" at the Schottenstein Center and comedian Matteo Lane at the Palace Theatre to the Columbus Clippers' six-game series, here are things to see and do this weekend in central Ohio.

Blue Jackets vs. Islanders

Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday

• The Columbus Blue Jackets face the New York Islanders.

Cirque Du Soleil 'Crystal'

Schottenstein Center Thursday through Sunday

• With seven jaw-dropping traditional circus acts all thrillingly adapted for Cirque du Soleil’s first foray into a brand-new creative territory, the ice, 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination.

• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)
• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)
• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)

Clippers vs. Storm Chasers

Huntington Park Thursday through Sunday

• The Columbus Clippers face the Omaha Storm Chasers in a six-game series.

Pianist Sara Davis Buechner with the Columbus Symphony

Ohio Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday

• Buechner appears for the first time with the Columbus Symphony in concerts featuring Beethoven’s delightful and virtuosic first piano concerto.

Matteo Lane | The Al Dente Tour

Palace Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday

• Lane is a New York-based comedian whose stand-up special can be seen on Netflix’s "The Comedy Lineup."

Blue Jackets vs. Flyers

Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. on Saturday

• The Columbus Blue Jackets face the Philadelphia Flyers.

Crew vs. United

Lower.com Field at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday

• The Columbus Crew face the D.C. United.

'The Prom'

Short North Stage through Sunday

• 'The Prom' follows a group of Broadway actors who travel to a conservative town to support an LGBTQ+ teen's fight to attend her high school prom with her girlfriend.

'The Prom' follows a group of Broadway actors who travel to a conservative town to support an LGBTQ+ teen's fight to attend her high school prom. (Courtesy Photo/Short North Stage)

Top spring concerts and shows

• From the reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at the Schottenstein Center to Olivia Rodrigo and Bruce Springsteen at Nationwide Arena, more than two dozen top artists and shows are performing in central Ohio this spring.

For more events, view NBC4’s community calendar.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- This spring in central Ohio is packed with highly anticipated festivals and shows, from the reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at the Schottenstein Center and Disney's "The Lion King" at the Ohio Theatre to the Columbus Arts Festival.

Cirque Du Soleil 'Crystal'

Schottenstein Center on April 4-7

• With seven jaw-dropping traditional circus acts all thrillingly adapted for Cirque du Soleil’s first foray into a brand-new creative territory, the ice. 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination.

• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)
• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)
• 'Crystal' takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. (Courtesy Photo/Matt Baker & Olivier Brajon)

Matteo Lane | The Al Dente Tour

Palace Theatre at 7 p.m. on April 6

• Lane is a New York-based comedian whose stand-up special can be seen on Netflix’s "The Comedy Lineup."

'Clue'

Ohio Theatre on April 9 to 14

• The murder mystery comedy inspired by the Hasbro board game and adapted from the cult favorite film comes to Columbus for eight shows.

Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday 2 World Tour

Schottenstein Center at 8 p.m. on April 12

• The Columbus concert will be the only one in Ohio but she will have other stops in the Midwest in Detroit and Chicago. The hip-hop star is the first woman to have 100 songs featured in the Billboard Hot 100 list, which includes three different No. 1 songs.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Nationwide Arena at 7:30 p.m. on April 21

• The concert was originally supposed to take place on March 9, 2023. It was then postponed to Sept. 21 before he canceled the remainder of his tour for the calendar year “out of an abundance of caution," according to a September press release.

Bruce Springsteen performs onstage during the 17th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Benefit presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival at David Geffen Hall on Nov. 6, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Toto | Dogz of Oz Tour

Schottenstein Center at 7:30 p.m. on April 21

• The total plays of the band’s collected works across all platforms is now approaching five billion. Amongst the most listened to recordings, “Africa” accounts for more than one billion streams on Spotify alone.

WWE Raw

Schottenstein Center at 7:30 p.m. on April 22

• WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, "Main Event" Jey Uso, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre and more.

Monster Jam

Schottenstein Center on April 26 to 28

• Witness world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill.

Witness world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill. (Courtesy Photo/Field Entertainment)

The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie

Schottenstein Center at 7:30 p.m. on April 30

• To celebrate two decades of ‘Give Up’ and ‘Transatlanticism’, The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie have joined forces for an unprecedented 20th-anniversary co-headline tour.

COSI Science Festival

COSI on May 1 to 4

• Ohio’s largest science festival will include events in Columbus and the surrounding communities, and will end with the Big Science Celebration at COSI. 

'Tina -- The Tina Turner Musical'

Ohio Theatre on May 7 to 12

• The musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters.

'Hair'

Short North Stage on May 9 to June 9

• "Hair" is the iconic original Broadway rock musical featuring chart-topping hits such as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In,” and “Good Morning, Starshine.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Schottenstein Center on May 10 to 12

• The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey invites children of all ages to a spectacle of superhuman feats, pushing the limits of possibility and thrilling families and fans of all generations.

• The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey invites children of all ages to a spectacle of superhuman feats, pushing the limits of possibility and thrilling families and fans of all generations. (Courtesy Photo/Field Entertainment)
• The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey invites children of all ages to a spectacle of superhuman feats, pushing the limits of possibility and thrilling families and fans of all generations. (Courtesy Photo/Field Entertainment)
• The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey invites children of all ages to a spectacle of superhuman feats, pushing the limits of possibility and thrilling families and fans of all generations. (Courtesy Photo/Field Entertainment)

Heart | Royal Flush Tour

Schottenstein Center at 8 p.m. on May 15

• With a career spanning nearly five decades, the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees have earned global recognition selling more than 35 million albums worldwide, with 20 Top 40 singles to their name.

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

Historic Crew Stadium from May 16 to 19

• The four-day mega rock festival is set to return with its largest lineup, which includes headliners such as Disturbed, The Original Misfits, Pantera, and Slipknot. Sonic Temple will take place once again at Historic Crew Stadium.

Columbus Chicken and Beer Festival

Dodge Park on June 1

• The Chicken and Beer Festival features local breweries, food trucks, live music, more than 50 artisans and more.

Columbus Arts Festival

Downtown riverfront from June 7 to 9

• The 62nd festival features more than 225 visual artists, three stages of performances and dozens of food vendors. 

The Columbus Arts Festival is one of the most highly acclaimed arts festivals in the nation.

Columbus Summer Wine Festival

McFerson Commons Park from 1 to 7 p.m. on June 8

• Wine enthusiasts can expect to taste some of the very best established and up-and-coming wine brands. 

Melanie Martinez | The Trilogy Tour

Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. on June 13

• "The Trilogy Tour" will see the evolution of Martinez’s alter ego "Cry Baby" performed live. It will include hits from all three of her albums: "Cry Baby," "K-12," and "Portals" which have collectively amassed over 14 Billion streams worldwide.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind and Fire | Sing a Song All Night Long Tour

Schottenstein Center at 7:30 p.m. on June 13

• Funk band Earth, Wind & Fire will join the R&B legend in an extension of his "Sing A Song All Night" tour.

Disney's 'The Lion King'

Ohio Theatre from June 12 to July 17

• More than 100 million people around the world have seen Disney's Broadway production of "The Lion King." Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, "The Lion King" features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.

More than 100 million people around the world have seen Disney's Broadway production of "The Lion King." (Courtesy Photo/CAPA)

Stonewall Columbus Pride

Goodale Park from June 14 to 15

• Stonewall’s annual Pride Festival and March serve as the organization’s largest annual fundraiser that secures the needed funds to support Stonewall’s community programs and annual operations.

Columbus Air Show

Rickenbacker International Airport from June 14 to 16

• After a nearly 20-year absence, the world-famous United States Air Force Thunderbirds will return to central Ohio for the 2024 Columbus Air Show. The weekend promises to be packed with heart-pounding air performances and family-friendly activities.

Juneteenth Ohio Festival

Genoa Park from June 15 to 16

• Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to inform the state’s residents that slavery had been abolished – 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – After a night out at Easton Town Center to celebrate his wife Brittany’s birthday, Tyler Davis said he was going for a walk and never returned. Despite his disappearance gaining national attention, Brittany is still searching for answers five years later. 

“Tyler is very funny, he’s very sarcastic,” Brittany said. “He loved to spend time with his son and he was also a gamer so he was always playing different kinds of video games.”

• (Photo Courtesy/Brittany Davis)
• (Photo Courtesy/Brittany Davis)
• (Photo Courtesy/Brittany Davis)

On Feb. 23, 2019, Brittany and Tyler, 29, were getting ready to celebrate her 23rd birthday. They dropped their one-year-old son off with Tyler’s parents and headed to the Hilton hotel at Easton, checking in around 5 p.m. Brittany, of Wilmington, said it was her first time in the Columbus area.

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The couple invited multiple friends to go out for Brittany’s birthday, but only one of Tyler’s close friends from college came. Later that evening, the trio went to a couple of bars in the area and had some drinks. They took a rideshare back to the hotel around 3 a.m., according to Brittany. She said Tyler and his friend both fell asleep in the car.

“When we had gotten in front of the Hilton, it was almost like he was confused like he didn’t think that we were where we were supposed to be, and he just took off walking, and I went to go follow him, and his buddy was like ‘No, it’s fine, I got it, you go ahead,’” Brittany said. 

Tyler and his friend began walking south of the Hilton. Brittany went back inside the hotel because her phone was dying. Around 3:30 a.m., Tyler called Brittany, saying he was taking a walk and would be right back. Shortly after, Tyler's friend returned to the hotel alone.

“I had kept calling the both of them and they didn’t answer, and then [his friend] came back but he was by himself, and I was like, ‘Do you know what happened? What’s going on?’ and he’s like, ‘He just needs a minute, Brittany, he’s just taking a walk, he’ll be right back,’” Brittany said.

Tyler attempted to put the hotel in his phone GPS at 3:51 a.m., police revealed in an October 2019 news conference. Shortly after 4 a.m., Brittany received another phone call – it was Tyler. 

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“He had said something about walking through the woods, like, ‘I’m walking through the woods; I can see the hotel’ and so we get off the phone, and I immediately call him directly back,” Brittany said.

When she called him back the line stayed open for four seconds – Brittany assumed he had answered the call, but then the call dropped. When she tried to call him back, his phone went straight to voicemail and has ever since. 

Brittany said she began to get increasingly nervous as she could not get in contact with him. She began calling friends for advice and walking around looking for Tyler. A past roommate of the couple who lived in the area picked Brittany up and they continued searching.

“I didn’t know if something had happened, if we was in the hospital, or like maybe he got arrested,” Brittany said. “We checked all the bases, and then by that point, I was like, 'OK, so we need to call his parents, we need to call police,' and things got very real very fast.”

Around 10:30 a.m., she called Columbus police to report her husband missing. Five years later, what happened to Tyler that morning remains a mystery. A spokesperson with Columbus police said they do not have any update on the case to share at this time.

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“Logically, I know Tyler would have never left his son or his parents at all,” Brittany said. “I don’t know if he got hurt somehow, and I don’t really know what to think, because I, honestly, still can’t believe I’m still in this situation, and it's been ongoing and there are no answers.”

In the months after Tyler’s disappearance, the case captured the attention of social media users. Brittany was at the center of widespread speculation – she said her address and phone number were released online, and even her job received phone calls from people who knew of the case.

“I’ve been involved with many missing persons cases from Ohio over the years, and I have to say that they were absolutely brutal to Brittany and it was very, very hard to hear everybody speculate,” said Lori Davis, an advocate for missing persons. “It’s been brutal to sit back and even watch and it's not happening to me, it’s just happening to someone I care a lot about.”

Davis called the negative attention Brittany received the “ugly side” of social media but said the positive side was getting Tyler's name out there. Brittany said she would like to see law enforcement agencies improve the way adult missing persons cases are handled.

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“We need to have more written rules and laws in place because we do for children and we do for elderly, but we don’t for people that are over 18,” Brittany said. “[A detective] said, ‘I have 15 cases,’ and I said, ‘I have one husband and my son has one father,’ so people really do just kind of shove you down. … It’s sad to see how often that happens in this kind of situation.”

Brittany asks anyone with information on Tyler’s disappearance to contact police – and she has a message for Tyler himself. 

“I would tell him that I love him and I would tell him that he would be really really proud of [our son] and me,” Brittany said through tears. “I would tell him that I haven’t given up and I never will.”

At the time of his disappearance, Tyler Davis was 5 feet 10, 170 pounds and had brown hair and brown eyes. He had a large birthmark on his right arm, chest and neck. He was last seen wearing a blue and green flannel shirt, blue jeans and Nike shoes. As of Thursday, he would be 34 years old. 

Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Tyler Davis may contact Columbus police at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477.

If you’re a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@wcmh.com.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: AM mix, PM rain, high 45
• Tonight: Sct'd mix, low 35
• Friday: Spotty showers, high 45
• Saturday: Few clouds, high 50
• Sunday: More sunshine, night shower, high 58
• Monday: Partly cloudy, iso. shower, high 66

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Happy Thursday!

We start the day with a wintry mix across most of the region as temperatures start off close to freezing. We'll then see a transition to mainly rain showers this afternoon. Highs drop back to the middle 40s today, with a breeze.

Expect a bit of a wintry mix, once again, overnight into Friday morning. Our shower activity will become more isolated in nature Friday, but we will still see a few pockets of rain into the afternoon. Highs remain in the middle 40s.

We start to shape up in time for the weekend. Expect highs close to 50 on Saturday, with a few clouds out. By Sunday we're looking at highs in the upper 50s with more sunshine. Clouds then build in later Sunday, with just an isolated shower chance overnight into early Monday.

Monday is the day of the solar eclipse, and we are keeping a very close eye on the cloud forecast. It is looking like we will see partly cloudy skies that day, so it is something to watch. Temperatures will be mild, with highs in the middle 60s.

-McKenna

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Let's start this over. Let's start at the beginning. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLW-C) -- On April 3, 1949, when NBC4 broadcast for the first time, it wasn't WCMH. It wasn't even Channel 4.

It was NBC, and that may be one of the few things that hasn't changed in 75 years. So much happened in the years before Kerry and Colleen, or Doug and Mona, or even “Hugh DeMoss and the News.” They encompass the first color broadcasts in Columbus, the first use of weather radar, and Ohio State’s first televised home football game. It’s a lot to tell.

In the beginning, Crosley Broadcasting Corporation launched Columbus’ first television station, and its third ever, under the call letters WLWC. They were often stylized with a hyphen before the C to associate it with Crosley’s super-powered AM station, WLW of Cincinnati, and its earlier television ventures there and in Dayton, WLW-T and WLW-D. Originating from the Seneca Hotel at the corner of East Broad and Grant streets Downtown, WLW-C took to the air that day on Channel 3.

1949-1953

Before Day 1, test patterns appeared over the course of two weeks as Crosley deployed a system where Cincinnati signals were picked up by Dayton and retransmitted to a receiver in Mechanicsburg that retransmitted them again to WLW-C. It was an early, and ultimately successful, attempt at regional television. But how many people were watching on April 3? Probably not a lot. A 1971 book, “Not Just a Sound: The Story of WLW” by Dick Perry, said the Columbus area had only 88 television receivers that day but that it jumped into the hundreds in a matter of weeks. “The first day WLWC was on the air for two and a half hours, took a dinner break, then came back for three more hours in the evening.”

An image of 3165 Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio, sometime before 1964, the home of WLW-C, now WCMH/NBC4 (NBC4 archives)

On Sept. 14, operations transferred to new studios at 3165 Olentangy River Road, where, after several expansions and renovations, live broadcasts still originate every day. An early hire was Jimmy Crum, the eventual “Dean of Central Ohio Sportscasters,” who remained through 1994. By the end of 1949, programming had reached 85 hours a week, including rebroadcasts from WLW-T, shows from NBC and the Dumont network, and Ohio State football. That was two years before a big change for the Buckeyes, when Woody Hayes was hired as football coach and began a 28-year run. A longer-lasting change came to Channel 3 another two years after that.

1953-1976

The conversion to Channel 4 happened on June 28, 1953, one domino to fall in a series of frequency changes that year. In reporting the move, Broadcast magazine said WLW-C’s reach had grown to over 500,000 homes, with 129 hours of programming each week. The following year, the diamond-shaped TV 4 logo debuted and became identified with the station for at least the next 20 years. And for the first time, color television appeared in Columbus, with WLW-C’s broadcasts of NBC shows. In 1957, Hugh DeMoss joined as a news reporter, eventually anchoring the evening news and becoming news director until his departure in 1980. He later served as a Franklin County commissioner.

Ann B. Walker of WLW-C/WCMH/NBC4 in an undated photo (NBC4 archives)

Another who came to WLW-C was Ann B. Walker, a pioneering Black journalist who covered the Statehouse, became part of the station management team and later worked at the White House under President Jimmy Carter. Original programs included a local version of American Bandstand called “Dance Party,” hosted by Jerry Rasor, and a variety show called “Coffee Talk,” hosted by “Spook” Beckman. Regional programs from Crosley Broadcasting out of Cincinnati included shows hosted by “Paul Baby” Dixon, Ruth Lyons and Bob Braun. Over time, the Crosley owners decided to retire that name – still associated with Powel Crosley, the radio pioneer who had died in 1961 – and use the parent company’s name instead. Avco, founded as the Aviation Corporation, was a conglomerate that also owned a credit card company, a movie studio, an appliance manufacturer and more. David Letterman, whose talk-show antics were at least partly inspired by Dixon, was a weathercaster around that time at WLW-I in Indianapolis. “They did a lot of original broadcasting both on radio and television … so for me, it was a real exciting connection. Crosley was OK,” he said in a 1995 interview. “When Avco got to it, they were making flexible straws for the space program, and they spent more time worrying about that than they did broadcasting.” In the mid 1970s, Avco began selling off its broadcasting assets one by one.

1976-1983

“You are now seeing new call letters on Channel 4 … WCMH-TV. They signify that Outlet Broadcasting has come to Columbus,” read advertisements on Feb. 3, 1976, that advised viewers to “Stay with 4, where your friends are.” The purchase price was $16 million to become Outlet’s fifth television station, with the new call letters mirroring the airport code for what was originally called Columbus Municipal Hangar, later Port Columbus and today John Glenn International. Employees who spoke privately to Columbus Monthly magazine after the sale expressed hope that with their days as a kid brother to Cincinnati’s WLW-T behind them, the new owners would prioritize news enough to push the station out of second place in the market.

WCMH/NBC4 meteorologist Ben Gelber in an undated photo (NBC4 archives)

Newscasts continued around familiar names, with DeMoss, Crum and Rasor on news, sports and weather. In transitioning from “Dance Party” host to forecaster, Rasor was known for being a bit more silly than serious, although during this time, WCMH continued to innovate, becoming the city’s first station to use weather radar – as an intern, Ben Gelber, was there to witness. But that elusive spot as the top television station in Columbus wouldn’t come for a few more years.

1983-1996

The idea was brilliant: Take top-rated anchor Doug Adair, pair him with the young and personable Mona Scott, and let them play off each other as they presented the news every evening. Only this wasn't in Columbus at WCMH. This was in Cleveland, and the idea bombed. The Cleveland station had hired away Adair from a competitor and later added Scott to the mix. The move didn't make for ratings, but it did make for chemistry. Adair and Scott married the following year, in 1980. When WCMH brought in Cleveland native Ron Bilek as its news director, he knew what he wanted to do. "I never looked at the fact that they were married as a real gimmick,” he told Columbus Monthly in November 1983. “I looked at the softness they have. It's something you strive for on the air, and they have it."

Jimmy Crum, the Dean of Central Ohio Sportscasters, in 1989

“Let’s All Be There” was an NBC slogan that decade, but it might as well have described Columbus’ devotion to Doug and Mona, and with them, WCMH ascended to the top of the ratings. But nothing lasts forever. Scott left the station in 1990, she and Adair divorced in 1992, and he retired in 1994. The last person to share the anchor desk with Adair was the person who remains there to this day, Colleen Marshall. And change remained in the air over the following years. Outlet Broadcasting, by then Outlet Communications, was on its way out of the business, and another ’80s slogan, "Come Home to NBC," was about to take on a whole new meaning for WCMH.

1997-2006

NBC paid $396 million for Outlet’s cluster of stations and began putting its imprint upon WCMH. Out was the gold and red 4 logo, and in was a new identity: NBC4. Now it didn’t have sister stations just in places like Providence, Rhode Island, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, but in New York, Los Angeles and Washington.

Cabot Rea and Colleen Marshall in 1995 (NBC4 archives)

With Adair’s retirement, Marshall settled into the evening anchor desk alongside Cabot Rea, a pairing that lasted 23 years. Also joining the station during this time were Monica Day, now anchor of NBC4 Today on weekday mornings, and Jerod Smalley, now anchor of First at 4 and NBC4 at 5. And the changes continued beyond television and into the internet world with the launch of nbc4columbus.com, the forerunner of NBC4i. But despite the expansive feel that came with being owned and operated by the network, the arrangement lasted only so long. NBC started to look at reducing the number of stations it owned, and not long after its makeover, NBC4 was once again on the move.

2007-today

A Virginia-based company, Media General, paid $600 million for NBC4 and three other stations at a time when change was obvious in the television world. People were ditching their tube televisions for high-definition models, and NBC4 unveiled its HD look in early 2008. In 2016, Nexstar bought Media General for $4.6 billion, and today NBC4 remains a part of what is the country’s largest group of television stations.

Kerry Charles and Monica Day at Red, White & BOOM! in 2022 (NBC4)

Familiar faces continued to arrive: present NBC4 Today anchor Matt Barnes in 2010, Chief Meteorologist Dave Mazza in 2012, and First at 4 and NBC4 at 5 anchor Jennifer Bullock in 2014. Rea retired in 2015, and Marshall was joined by Mike Jackson on the anchor desk until 2019, when he stepped down for medical reasons. After that came Kerry Charles, continuing NBC4’s trend of relying upon homegrown talent. Charles is from Columbus, as is Barnes. Day is from Whitehall and Bullock from Zanesville. In recent years, NBC4 has made a mission of using people from central Ohio whenever it can to tell the story of central Ohio.

When WLW-C turned 10 years old, Gov. Michael DiSalle congratulated the people of the station “for their many years of service to the community, with the hope that they may continue long in the future to extend the same kind of pleasure and entertainment and community service that they've rendered in the past.” And in looking back now at 75 years, Marshall, who’s been at NBC4 for over half of that time, can see how it’s so. “It’s been a privilege to be part of the history of this station,” Marshall said. “We try to serve the community, and the community gives us so much in return. I can’t think of a better city to work, to raise a family, to find friendship and to head toward a meaningful future.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A person is in critical condition after a reported stabbing in the South Campus section of Columbus.

Columbus police said the stabbing happened on the 1400 block of North High Street at approximately 11:01 p.m. Wednesday.

The victim was taken to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

There is no further information available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Another Wednesday, another Powerball drawing.

With no players matching the five numbers and the Powerball number in Monday's drawing, Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is worth an estimated $1.131 billion.

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Wednesday's winning numbers are 11, 38, 41, 62, and 65; the Powerball is 15 and the Power Play multiplier is 3X.

Six tickets sold for Monday's drawing -- two in Maryland and one each in Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia -- matched the five white ball numbers, but missed the Powerball, netting the winners $1 million. More than 2.1 million tickets won a prize of at least $4 in the drawing.

Wednesday’s estimated jackpot will be the fourth-highest in the game’s history if claimed and marks the 40th drawing since the game’s last winner – a $842.4 million jackpot won on Jan. 1. It is also the fourth Powerball jackpot in less than two years to reach $1 billion.

The top ten Powerball jackpots are:

1. $2.04 billion – Nov. 7, 2022
2. $1.765 billion – Oct. 11, 2023
3. $1.586 billion – Jan. 13, 2016
4. $1.131 billion (estimated) -- April 1, 2024
5. $1.08 billion -- July 19, 2023
6. $842.4 million – January 1, 2024
7. $768.4 million – March 27, 2019
8. $758.7 million – Aug. 23, 2017
9. $754.6 million – Feb. 6, 2023
10. $731.1 million – Jan. 20, 2021

None of those top ten jackpots was won in Ohio.

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Winners have the option of being paid the full jackpot amount in annual payments over 30 years, or taking a lesser, one-time payment (Wednesday is an estimated $527.3 million). Lottery officials said most winners choose the one-time payment. All winnings are pre-federal tax, and most states also collect taxes on lottery winnings.

Players must match five balls numbered 1 to 69 plus a Powerball numbered between 1 through 26 to win the jackpot.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can opt to play the Power Play multiplier for an extra $1, which will multiply the player’s winnings by the drawn multiplier (this applies to all prizes except the jackpot and the $1 million prize, which tops out at $2 million).

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The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million; the odds of winning any one of the nine different prizes available is 1 in 24.9. Odds are not affected by the number of tickets sold; instead, they are based on the chances of selecting the right combination of numbers. Prizes start at $4 for matching either the Powerball or the Powerball and one other number.

Drawings are every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) - Several inches of rain across central Ohio have resulted in road closures due to flooding and standing water in farmer's fields.

Early rain tends to help kickstart a crop in the spring, but not necessarily if the rain comes before planting season.

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Ty Higgins from the Ohio Farm Bureau said Wednesday the rain and subsequent flooding may not have too much of an impact on this spring's planting.

"No one's hitting the panic button right now," Higgins said. "But the concern is, does Mother Nature one just shut off and we plant into dry soil like we did last year? Or do we get into a spot where we can plant for a couple of days and we have another rainy pattern and not able to get the crops in in a timely manner. So those are the two things farmers are really thinking about right now."

Last year, farmers were planting crops in mostly dried out soil, which isn't ideal either. This year, Higgins and farmers across the state are hoping for more favorable planting conditions. Some moisture in the top three to four inches of the soil is ideal, but not so much moisture that tractors and farm implements drag through mud and risk getting stuck.

"With how much rain we've gotten over the last couple of days and weeks, really it's going to take a long time for those fields to dry out," Higgins said. "You never really set a schedule with Mother Nature, especially here in Ohio. I don't think we've had a really conducive weather pattern for spring planting in years."

The business of farming and agriculture has a long history of importance in the State of Ohio.

"Agriculture is Ohio's number one industry, $12 billion a year going to agriculture's bottom line," Higgins said. "One in eight jobs tied to food and farm production."

So, if crops don't get planted in time, that time is money. There's a trickle down, or trickle up, effect crops have on society. Everything from groceries to gasoline is impacted by the crops that are produced every year.

John Hummel has been farming the land in Franklin and Fairfield Counties for more than fifteen years. It's a family business for him.

"Weather affects all of us and it affects us in a big way," Hummel said. "But, you know, it's, it's what we love to do and we're passionate about it."

NBC4 visited one of his fields in Fairfield County on Wednesday. It was largely under water after several inches of rain fell on Monday and Tuesday. He's confident the water will clear up by the end of the week, leaving plenty of time for the soil to be dry enough for planting in a few weeks. But he knows the planting schedule isn't up to him.

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"We don't make a plan that, hey, we're going to start planting on April 15th," Hummel said. "And that's what's going to happen because Mother Nature, she's the one who says when we can or can't be in the field. And but so that that's a struggle."

A field full of water means planting gets pushed back. That pushes back everything else from treating the crops with nutrients all the way to harvest. Every minute delayed could mean a more expensive crop.

"As you get later, It just backs things up later, makes it makes the corn wetter in the fall, which is harder for us to handle," Hummel said. "We have to dry it more. It's more costly."

Hummel said if the rain we've seen in the first couple days of April were to come after the crops were planted, it could be catastrophic.

"There's times where you do have something, a field like this planted, and you get a big rain like this and it is it is one of the worst things that can happen to the crop," Hummel said.

In that case, he has replanted in past years when the crops were ruined early enough.

Hummel has been farming long enough to know that whatever Mother Nature brings, farmers will adjust.

"We have been pushed clear into June getting planted, which is not ideal, but it's still doable," Hummel said. "It seems like the weather patterns have pushed us later than we used to 10 to 15 years ago. But it's also allowed for better rainfall throughout the growing season."

Rain and floods aren't the only thing on the minds of farmers this time of year. They are also keeping an eye on Washington, D.C. Congress failed to pass a new Farm Bill in 2023 after the previous bill expired in September.

Higgins works to bridge the gap between lawmakers and farmers. He said Congress extended the previous Farm Bill which dates back to September 2018 in order to 'put off' passing a new one.

"They kicked it down the road another year," Higgins said. "And so we need a new five year farm bill here at the end of 2024. That is something that's on the farmers minds really heavily right now."

The Farm Bill provides funding for programs that largely benefit the agriculture and nutrition industries. One of the provisions is money for Crop Insurance, which, had a downpour happened after planting, could've put many farmers in a position to need it.

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"It's a tool that in in scenarios like we've got here in in natural catastrophes and whatnot, it can save it can really save a farm," Hummel said.

The extension on the 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire again in September 2024.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A coalition of public schools is looking to grow its ranks as its lawsuit against the state moves closer to its trial date.

The group, Vouchers Hurt Ohio, is pushing to eliminate the EdChoice vouchers that allow students in designated public schools to attend participating private schools.

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The lawsuit said these vouchers hurt public schools as more and more people apply for them.

Those who are pro-vouchers say it’s about parents having the ability to choose where to send their child. Those against the vouchers say it’s about separating church and state and because the program isn’t performing how it was promised.

Vouchers Hurt Ohio is suing to eliminate the EdChoice vouchers. Dozens of school districts have signed on, and the group is trying to get more on board.

"I spent 30 years in the Arlington schools and 34 years teaching, two of them were in a charter school," Retired UA School Teacher Betsy O'Brochta said. "But my best hope is that there is a value put to public education."

O’Brochta helped organize a Wednesday event where people came together to learn more about why there is a lawsuit suing the state for the voucher program. Former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party David Pepper was one speaker.

"For a long time, people talked about vouchers as if it was this narrow way to help people who were in poor districts go to a better school," Pepper said. 

He said now, that’s not the case.

"The people who are mostly getting dollars here already chose to go to the private school," Pepper said. "They've been going to that school, in many cases, their entire life. All they're doing now is getting public money to do what they were already doing."

Troy McIntosh is the executive director of Ohio Christian Education Network. This coalition is in support of the EdChoice voucher program.

"We don't believe the lawsuit really has any validity to it because there is nothing in the state constitution that disallows this type of program," McIntosh said. 

He said these vouchers are important.

"Vouchers are essentially a way of recognizing that parents are a much better determiner of what the best education for a child is than the government, which arbitrarily assigns kids to schools based on zip code," McIntosh said. 

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Vouchers Hurt Ohio argued the vouchers go against the Constitution.

"It was important to file the lawsuit rather than allow an unconstitutional law to continue," Former Worthington School Board President Charlie Wilson said. "My problem is, I don't want the state getting involved in religion or churches. And once the state starts funding religions and their schools, we are soon going to have the state very intertwined and auditing and looking over religions."

The lawsuit goes to trial in November.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman accused of killing her 5-year-old child in January of 2023 was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

A Franklin Court Common Pleas judge granted a defendant's motion last month allowing Saado M. Adam, 45, to plead not guilty by reason of insanity; the prosecution did not contest the motion.

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Adam was charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, and two counts of endangering children in the death of her son.

According to court documents, Columbus police responded to Nationwide Children's Hospital on Jan. 9, 2023, for a call of a deceased child.

While interviewing Adam, police learned the boy had been sick for several weeks, was not eating regularly, and had not been walking since November, according to court records.

Adam told police she did not provide medical services for her son because she “heard voices that told her not to take her son to the doctor,” court records state.

According to court records, a doctor with Nationwide Children’s told police the boy appeared to be suffering from “prolonged starvation or massively inadequate feeding.”

MANSFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) -- Detectives are working to find out what led to the shooting death of a teenager in Mansfield.

Officers responded to a call at 2:02 p.m. on Wednesday that a shooting had occurred on the unit block of East Chestnut Street. Upon arrival, Mansfield Police found a 16-year-old victim inside the residence with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead a short time later after being transported to Ohio Health Mansfield by the Mansfield Fire Department.

The Richland County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy and the investigation is ongoing.

Major Crimes detectives are working to find out what caused the shooting and identify suspects.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Ronnie Swisher at 419-755-9432.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee heard several bills on Wednesday, including two new ones.

House Bill 460: the “Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working Act”

House Bill 460, or the GROW Act was introduced by Representatives Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Brett Hillyer (R- Uhrichsville).

“There’s just a million good reasons to do this,” Seitz said.

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If enacted, the bill would seal certain criminal records automatically. Right now, Ohio law allows most people to be eligible for record sealing if they have stayed out of trouble for six years since they have been convicted and finished their sentence; for most misdemeanors, it is three years.

 “What we’re trying to do with this bill is make the process more streamlined and easier,” Seitz said.

 Offenses like a felony offense of violence, a sexually oriented offense, or 1st or 2nd-degree felonies would not be eligible.

If this bill is enacted, eligible Ohioans would be automatically enrolled, and both the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and counties would be responsible for creating a rolling monthly list. But prosecutors would still have the ability to object in these cases.

Seitz said the bill requires the sealing to go back to the earliest possible time. Seitz said in some cases, that may be a lot of work for little payoff since, “many of those folks are probably either dead, retired or moved out of state.”

Depending on the cost, Seitz said he is considering an amendment to create something like a 25-year look-back period instead.

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“If the cost ends up being achievable without a loopback period, we will do it that way,” Seitz said.

Seitz said more than one million, or 10%, of Ohioans are currently eligible to get their record sealed. He said that could be an easy fix to a workforce problem.

“When a million Ohioans are suffering from some prior conviction that could be wiped clean with a sealing, we think we can significantly increase the number of people in the workforce,” he said.

The bill would also protect employers -- since a sealed record does not have to be disclosed on a job application, the legislation would ensure that an employer does not face liability for negligent hiring or supervision.  

“We’ve got to do a better of getting people to work,” Seitz said.

 But some state agencies would still be able to look at the records, like the ones that license teachers or nurses.

 “But for most employers, it will be like it didn’t happen,” Seitz said. “They won’t know about it, and you won’t be required to tell them about it either.”

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Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee say they applaud what this bill does but some say some more work is needed, specifically in the section about employer immunity.

“I think it is broad, it is vague, and it opens the door for some creative lawyer to apply this employer immunity to a situation other than intended,” Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) said.

The Ohio Prosecuting Attorney’s Association said it is reviewing the bill, but prosecutors do not have the time or resources to review such a large number of cases.

Similar legislation has been enacted in several other states including Michigan.

House Bill 37: Increasing Penalties for OVI’s

House Bill 37, sponsored by Reps. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) and Mark Johnson (R- Chillicothe), would increase penalties for Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI) convictions.

“We want to bring justice to victims,” Miller said.

The original text of the bill only focused on increasing the penalty for OVI charges. But Miller said as the bill has moved through the committee process, they have noticed that increased penalties do not always deter repeat offenses.

“What are we really doing to address drunk driving at even the lower levels, to deter folks from maybe even their second offense before they get into their third, fourth, fifth,” Miller said.

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So now, Miller said a new version looks into things like requiring ignition interlocks, which are devices that are like a breathalyzer in your car, to prevent someone from starting their car under the influence.

“We know there is a significant number of repeat OVI offenders and that’s what we are trying to get at,” he said.

Miller said he hopes to have someone in committee to talk about the interlocks within the next few weeks, and a vote out of committee soon after.

House Bill 295: the “Innocent Act”

House Bill 295 is sponsored by Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township). The bill would penalize both the underage user and the website if a minor recklessly viewed material considered “obscene or harmful to juveniles.”

House Bill 295 would create misdemeanor charges, at different levels, for a distributor of the content if it does not verify someone’s age, and for a minor who attempts to access the online content by providing false identifying information.

Demetriou said this proposed law brings already existing laws up to date with the internet. For example, he equated this bill with 18+ sections in video stores that require age verification.

The bill spells out a few acceptable methods for age verification, but the burden would fall on the distributor. Demetriou said right now, content that is obscene and harmful to juveniles is already clearly defined in law, so the sites should not have difficulty knowing whether they fall under that category.

“We are just assuming they already have already been operating under this context, this law, on other platforms and retail space so the same thing would apply to the internet, essentially,” he said.

Other similar bills have been introduced at the statehouse to achieve the same or similar.

House Bill 196, sponsored by Reps. Josh William (R-Sylvania) and Seitz was also heard in committee. The bill changes the maximum periods of community control sanctions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A writer born and raised in central Ohio has been recognized internationally for his work of nonfiction.

Writer Hanif Abdurraqib is a recipient of the prestigious Windham-Campbell prize. The Yale-based award honors eight writers from around the world annually.

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Many of the works by the self-taught author and poet center around moments from his life. The life moments collected and documented for all to see, many with a tie to his midwestern city – a city he said if written about in the right way can become relatable to any reader.

“A big benefit to writing about Columbus or putting Columbus in my work is that I’m writing about it with the idea that I am writing about it for a set of people in the city that know the city and love the city,” Abdurraqib said. “Maybe have some of the same concerns and affections about the city that I do.”

The recent Windham-Campbell award not only comes with a $175,000 prize but also international recognition. While his popularity grows for his works like A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance or A Fortune for Your Disaster, Abdurraqib says it expands the number of readers getting a glimpse into his lens. 

“I like to think of my corner of the world being very small but to see my work has extended beyond that,” he said. “I am overjoyed."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Monday’s total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and with that comes the potential for a business boom.

Some central Ohio businesses in the path of totality said they are not sure what to expect just yet.

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“All we really can do is kind of just be prepared,” said Jeffrey Krall, the Assistant Vice President of Operations for the Old Bag of Nails Pub.

Hilliard is one of the cities in the path of totality. The city is hosting an eclipse day watch party in the Old Hilliard area. Many businesses say they will be serving eclipse day specials.

A coffee shop NBC4 spoke with will have decorated drinks and bakeries are making eclipse-themed cookies.

Krall said the Old Bag of Nails Pub will have eclipse-themed cocktails and they are even bringing in a local beer from Land-Grant Brewery called “Totality IPA.”

Krall said they’re ready but the question remains: how busy will they be?

“We're not really sure what to expect either," Krall said. "There could be a huge influx. We're not sure if people are going to sit in restaurants all day and hang out."

Mark McGhiey, Senior AVP of Loss Control Services for Nationwide, said business owners should look out for three key things: supply chain and operational needs, employee safety and then property action.

"Do you have enough raw materials, food, inventory for you to do what you need to do?" McGiehy said. "Do you have enough power? Have you talked with the power companies to understand what's going to happen? Have you made a plan if you're a you know, you're a restaurant and you're going to be serving lunch during when this happens, are your customers going to go outside your employees, things like that."

He said it's important to think about employees and what precautions they will need to take. He said to also make a plan if you're allowing them to watch it. 

McGhiey said it’s also important to protect your property and keep it clean to make sure people coming in and out do not get hurt.

Krall said they've done their preparations and are now ready for the fun part.

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“We might just be swamped all day long and business, you know, falling out the doors or, you know, we're just not really sure what to expect," Krall said. "So, a lot of excitement and kind of just general nervousness."

Experts say it is also a good idea for businesses to connect with law enforcement beforehand to have a plan in place for emergencies. 

The event in Hilliard kicks off at 1 p.m. Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Central Ohio Transit Authority is receiving nearly $42 million for a rapid transit corridor project.

This investment into the LinkUS West Broad Rapid Transit Corridor will help the city address the growth, affordability and opportunity in central Ohio.

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The Deputy Secretary of USDOT joined Rep. Joyce Beatty in Columbus Wednesday to announce the $41.9 million grant funding that will support the bus rapid transit corridor project.

According to leaders, the rapid transit is designed to decrease commute times, attract new businesses, while also increasing opportunities for more affordable housing.

“This is a game changer,” said Tracy Cloud, CEO of Lower Lights Health, “This LinkUs is a game changer.”

Lower Lights Health is one of the many businesses along West Broad Street. Cloud said one of their patients biggest barriers is transportation. She said this rapid transit corridor is going to provide them with better access. 

“We ask our patients to get healthier and one of the ways they can get healthier is to access the green spots and the green communities that are going to be created from this," said Angela Hittle, a behavioral health manager with Lower Lights Health. "So, it's going to impact not just their physical health but their mental and spiritual health."

The LinkUs plan would boost COTA’s service hours by 45% by 2050, serving an anticipated increased population. According to Mayor Andrew Ginther, the city's population on track to increase by nearly one million people over the next 25 years to over three million by 2050. 

“Put simply, we cannot build infrastructure fast enough to support 1 million more cars on our roads, nor do we want to,” Ginther said.

He said LinkUs is the solution to this challenge. The West Broad Corridor is one of five new rapid transit corridors in central Ohio. This investment will help build 17 new stations, a new park and ride center and add 9.3 miles of the bus rapid transit (BRT) route on West Broad Street. 

“When we say this will save lives, it will keep our families safe on our streets and provide options for moving in a healthy way.,” COTA President and CEO Joanna Pinkerton said.

These corridors will improve access to over 380,000 jobs and other economic opportunities. According to leaders, Broad Street has divided communities. They said this is a chance to do something transformative to improve mobility, safety and equity.

“It'll mean wider sidewalks for children going to school, making their trips safer and increasing their learning potential," said Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation. "It'll mean faster commutes to work, extending access to new opportunities for jobs and economic mobility. It'll mean better access to health care for residents who need it to live longer and healthier lives. It'll mean cleaner air for the residents."

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The West Broad corridor is set to begin construction and utility work in 2025. Station and roadway construction will begin in 2026. 

“Together, we're paving the way for a brighter future, not just for COTA, but for the people," Pinkerton said. "The why? It's not about getting from point A to point B, it's about what life is like in between."

LICKING COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) – Long after Tuesday's storms moved out of central Ohio, they still caused problems for the region.

The area around Interstate 70 and State Route 79 looked like a lake or several ponds. Flood waters forced the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to close the eastbound off ramp from I-70 and the westbound on ramp onto the interstate. As of Wednesday evening, they were still closed.

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ODOT also watched the eastbound lanes in the area extremely closely. There was concern flood waters would spill onto the roadway. If that had happened, ODOT would have closed one or both eastbound lanes.

"Shutting down a major interstate or restricting that would certainly be a big impact," said Matt Bruning, ODOT Press Secretary.

Local roads in Licking County also dealt with flooding. Mike Fry, co-owner of The Dirty Oar, said water was knee deep Tuesday night outside the bar on Buckeye Lake. Water also got inside.

“There was about three inches of water on the floor, so I was slopping through water just to lift stuff up on the tables," Fry said. “It’s been a little rough."

The flooding problems were not isolated to Licking County. At one point Wednesday, more than 130 roads were closed because of flooding or debris or both, according to ODOT.

"I can't remember too many times where we’ve had this widespread, this high amount of issues from a storm,” Bruning said. “Certainly you see that in some concentrated areas but to see it as widespread as it is certainly is something you don’t see very often thankfully.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and Ohio flags to be flown at half-staff.

Flags have been lowered on Ohio's public buildings and grounds throughout Hamilton County, the Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center and the Rhodes Tower on Thursday in honor of former Hamilton County Auditor and State Representative Brigid Kelly, who died on March 26 after a two-year battle with cancer.

"Brigid dedicated much of her career to public service, first as a Norwood City Councilwoman, then as a State Representative, and then as Hamilton County Auditor," said DeWine. "Like many who worked with her, I knew Brigid to be cordial, collaborative, and willing to work with both parties to help advance the interests of Ohioans."

Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset for Kelly's funeral. DeWine said all other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.

Kelly served in the state legislature from 2017 until 2022. She left the statehouse in 2022 to directly serve her community by running for and becoming the Hamilton County auditor. She stepped down from that position just the week before her death.

During her time at the statehouse, she sponsored several bills ranging from legislation to increase the state minimum wage and make feminine hygiene products exempt from sales tax to a bi-partisan bill to legalize and regulate sports gaming, and some lighter legislation like a bill to designate the sugar cookie as the state cookie. 

In a statement, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said Kelly was "one of the best lawmakers I have had the honor to serve with."

"Brigid’s leadership on issues, from paid family leave to better wages and stronger communities, improved the lives of working Ohio families and charted a course for the next generation of Democratic leadership in our state," Russo said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The man responsible for bringing “Hang On Sloopy” and many other compositions to the Ohio State Marching Band has died.

Arranger, composer, and musician John J. Tatgenhorst was 85 years old.

After graduating from Ohio State with a degree in music, Tatgenhorst arranged music for the Best Damn Band In The Land for more than 40 years, including arranging “Hang On Sloopy” while he was a student (Tatgenhorst was never a member of the band). The performance remains popular at OSU events and the song became Ohio’s official rock song in 1985

In the fall of 1965, Tatgenhorst's professor, Charles Spohn, who was also the band's director, asked his student to arrange the song for a halftime show; Tatgenhorst did so in four hours and the band performed his arrangement for the first time on Oct. 9, 1965, during halftime of a game against Illinois.

Tatgenhorst moved to Chicago in 1982, writing music for various advertising agencies, companies and orchestras. In addition to Ohio State’s band, he wrote for the Penn State Blue Band, Purdue’s All-American Marching Band, and the University of Washington Husky Band.

Traveling to Los Angeles often, Tatgenhorst worked with Academy Award-winning composer John Williams and wrote musical cues for the animated The Adventures of Batman and Robin. He also worked with musicians Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, CeCe Winans, Steven Tyler and film director John Hughes.

Tatgenhorst suffered from ill health later in life, eventually settling in his wife Lisa’s hometown of Berlin, Wisconsin, to live out his final years listening to music, watching movies, and taking it easy.

Tatgenhorst was born on Aug. 22, 1938, in East Liverpool, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lisa (Spoehr) Tatgenhorst, children Laura Tatgenhorst, Margo Tatgehnorst Drakos, and Michell Weaver Kuecks; sister Judy Theis; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A scholarship fund for music students will be set up in his honor.

The family is holding private services on Thursday. To share online condolences, click here, send email, or write to Lisa Tatgenhorst, P.O. Box 24, Berlin, WI 54923.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - An annual contest for all pets is returning in part of the 2024 Columbus Taco Fest.

The festival is bringing back its "highly anticipated" Puppy Dress-Up Contest on Sunday, May 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Genoa Park. While enjoying the festival's tacos, patrons have an opportunity to show off their pet and its best costume during the contest.

According to the release, the contest will be split into three categories: Chihuahuas, small dogs and big dogs. This is so all furry friends have a fair chance in the "ruff" competition. Along with the contest, there will also be several activities available including live entertainment, food vendors and more.

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All of the proceeds from the dress-up contest will go towards the CHA Animal Shelter, which is a local nonprofit that provides shelter, adoption services and care to homeless pets in the area. Those who are interested in signing their pets up can click here. Those with the Columbus Taco Fest encourage signing up early in advance and start planning the costumes.

The Columbus Taco Fest is set for May 18 and 19 at Genoa Park.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On April 3-4, 1974, a super outbreak of tornadoes caused extensive damage and loss of life across 13 states and Ontario in Canada. At least 148 tornadoes touched down in 16 hours, killing 330 people and injuring 5,484.

The 1974 Super Outbreak produced 30 F4/F5 tornadoes (winds in excess of 207 mph) that resulted in more than $3 billion in damages (2020 dollars, adjusted for inflation).

April 1974 Super Outbreak map of the path and intensity of 148 tornadoes mapped by Dr. T. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago.

More than a dozen tornadoes were confirmed in Ohio on April 3, 1974. The most powerful storm plowed through Xenia in Greene County, where an estimated 1,400 buildings, including seven schools, were damaged or destroyed.

The National Weather Service in Dayton issued the first of multiple tornado warnings at 4:10 p.m., based on hook echoes (strong circulations, with rotation) that were evident on the radar in Covington, Kentucky. The warning was promptly relayed to the Dayton office and local media for public dissemination. The Greene County community of 25,000 did not have tornado sirens at the time.

At 4:33 p.m. on April 3, 1974, a pair of funnels came together at Bellbrook in Greene County, about 70 miles southwest of Columbus, before lifting in southwestern Clark County north of South Charleston.

View of the massive F5 tornado from Greene Memorial Hospital on Apr. 3, 1974, taken by Fred Stewart. (National Weather Service, Wilmington, Oh., collection)

The multiple-vortex tornado struck the center of Xenia with deadly precision, with at least four subvortices merging into one, captured on 8 mm film by 16-year-old Xenia resident Bruce Boyd. His rare footage was included in a 1978 NOAA documentary.

A motorist died on U.S. 42, as the storm continued northeast at 50 mph, striking Wilberforce, where three people died. Most of the buildings at Central State University were hit, and 20 students were injured, though none died, according to Thomas Schmidlin, author of Thunder in the Heartland. Several structures were damaged at Wilberforce University.

The F5 tornado killed 32 persons and injured more than 1,300 in Greene County. Most of the fatalities and injuries occurred in Xenia, where half of the city was devastated by winds approaching 300 mph.

Ned DeCamp, director of the Madison County Historical Society Museum, lived in Centerville at the time. He watched the formative tornado pass overhead, with baseball-sized hail falling in the storm.

The supercell thunderstorm continued northeast across Madison and Franklin counties, spinning off two F2 tornadoes between 5 and 6 p.m.

A tornado traveled 15.7 miles from southeastern Clark County through the middle of Madison County. The funnel made intermittent contact with the ground and stripped the clock tower on top of the Madison County Courthouse, a structure dating to around 1900.

The damage in downtown London was sporadic because the funnel apparently stayed slightly aloft, with a path width of 180 yards. There were no injuries.

Another touchdown followed in New Albany, northeast of Columbus, a short time later, and damaged several homes at a time when the population was significantly smaller compared with today.

Vince Shuler, former president of the Madison County Historical Society, described what happened to a small sign (about 18 by 24 inches) torn off a grain elevator that ended up on the first farm north of Lake Erie in Ontario, traveling about 150 miles.

Shuler recalled, “The owner of the farm contacted Shaw Elevator, and sent it to them. The Shaw family donated the sign to the (Madison County) historical society.”

Violent tornadoes also struck the Cincinnati area. A storm that formed in southeastern Indiana around 5:30 p.m. crossed the Ohio River twice, before striking Sayler Park. The F5 tornado traveled through a number of city neighborhoods, including Mack and Dent. Two people were killed in the storm.

Around the same time, a violent F4 tornado formed in the northern Cincinnati suburb of Elmwood Place and traveled into Warren County, killing one person. A fatality in Hyde Park was attributed to a microburst. One hundred homes were damaged in Mason. One person died in a tornado that crossed Adams County around 8 p.m.

A photograph of a tornado (F5) moving through the Bridgetown area in Hamilton County, east of Mack, after striking Sayler Park, taken by Frank Altenau. (NWS Wilmington collection)

Ohio National Guard soldiers and airmen were joined by the Red Cross to assist in the aid and recovery efforts in the weeks following the storm, along with volunteers from across the nation. Tragically, two Ohio Air National Guardsmen died in a fire that tore through their temporary quarters in a local furniture store in Xenia on the night of April 7, 1974.

A total of 38 direct deaths occurred in Ohio in the 1974 Super Outbreak. Most of the activity was centered in the southwestern part of Ohio, although three tornadoes crossed Paulding County in the northwest.

Storms caused 47 deaths in Indiana, where 21 tornadoes were recorded. A long-tracked cell traveled 121 miles from near Lafayette to north of Fort Wayne, taking 16 lives.

The modern National Weather Service spotter outdoor siren network, and severe weather awareness programs, were an outgrowth of the devastation inflicted by the fierce tornadoes that struck the region on April 3, 1974.