Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio native is on a mission to raise money for cat health research by riding from California to Maine on a Onewheel.

Joey Luthman is an actor and filmmaker from the Dayton area and now lives in Los Angeles. He has been in shows like “iCarly,” “Chicago Med,” “The Goldbergs,” and, most recently, Netflix’s new series “Monster: The Ed Gein Story.”

Luthman’s latest project began on October 1 when he departed from the Santa Monica Pier. Over the past month, he has gone through several states while riding on a Onewheel. 

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“It's like a skateboard you stand on with one big tire in the middle, and you balance on it. It's self-balancing, it’s got a motor, it’s electric,” said Luthman. “It was something I thought about, doing this kind of trip for probably 4 or 5 years now.”

Luthman can go about 15 miles an hour, traveling a little over 100 miles on average every day. He is not making the journey alone. He is joined by his friends and fellow filmmakers Allisyn and Dylan Snyder. Traveling in their midsize SUV, they can track his path.

Joey Luthman is riding a Onewheel across the country to raise money for cat health research. (Courtesy/Dylan Snyder)

“We can drive up ahead, scout the road, see how dangerous it is,” said Dylan Snyder. “If it is passable, if there are any other possible routes we could take around the area, and then communicate with Joey the updates as we go along.”

They are also filming his journey along the way and hope to release a documentary in the future.

Joey Luthman and Winter. (Courtesy/Joey Luthman)

“We want the Joey’s Ride for Cats to continue well past the Maine stopping point,” said Allisyn Dylan, who also hinted at a possible film festival run.

The goal of this ride is to garner attention, allowing Luthman to raise money and awareness for feline health research in honor of his late cat.

“A couple of years ago, I lost my cat, Winter, to chronic kidney disease. He was 15 and it was a disease that I didn’t know about,” said Luthman. “He was a part of the family for so many years, and we did our best. My parents took great care, I took great care as he got older, but we just didn’t know about this condition and how prevalent it is in cats of all ages and especially older cats.” 

Chronic kidney disease impacts 30-40 percent of cats over 10 years old, according to a study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. That increases to 80 percent in cats over 15. Local experts say research into cat health is not as well-funded as research into canine health, which is why efforts to bring attention to it are so important.

“Cats can always take more money for research, especially for chronic kidney disease, which is the focus of all of this. It’s a disease that we see all too often and is really devastating when it does hit your family,” said Caitlin Dutcher-Lundy, the Director of Clinic Operations at Faitthful Friends Veterinary Clinic.

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Luthman is partnering with EveryCat Health Foundation, which funds grants worldwide for research into feline health. His long-term goal is to raise $1 million for the nonprofit. 

“Every $50,000 that we get will go towards a full grant, and that will go towards more research, more studies,” said Luthman. “When I get to Maine, when I get to the lighthouse, the trip will be done, but the progress and the donations will not stop, and we will go through the end of the year and beyond.” 

Luthman is expected to make it to the Marshall Point Lighthouse on November 14. To follow his journey and donate, click here. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After Ohio State's 12th consecutive victory, the Buckeyes put their perfect record on the line in the penultimate road game of the regular season at Purdue.

Coach Ryan Day will address the media on Tuesday from the team room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. You can watch his comments as they unfold in the player above.

OSU is coming off a 38-14 win over Penn State at home this past weekend, which saw quarterback Julian Sayin complete 20 of 23 passes, including four touchdown throws, while the defense pitched a shutout in the second half after allowing a touchdown in the opening 30 minutes for the first time this season.

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Sayin was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this year while teammate and linebacker Arvell Reese earned the league's Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Buckeyes game at the Boilermakers will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The following week, Ohio State returns home to host UCLA in a game that will be broadcast on NBC4.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Jury selection has continued into Tuesday in the murder trial for Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb, who fatally shot Ta'Kiya Young outside of a Kroger in August 2023.

Grubb, 31, is charged with four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the deaths of Young, 21, and her unborn daughter. 

Late last week, prospective jurors filled out a form with about 100 questions, including how much they knew about the case and their thoughts on police officers and the Black Lives Matter movement.

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On Monday, prosecution and defense attorneys began individually questioning the prospective jurors on their answers. The jury pool started with 90 people and 13 individuals were dismissed after questioning.

Attorneys resumed questioning members of the jury pool on Tuesday morning. Once individual questioning is complete, prospective jurors will be questioned in a group setting, before the parties decide on a 12-person jury with four alternates. 

The purpose of the questioning is to determine if a prospective juror can be fair and impartial when hearing the case, by uncovering any conflicts of interest or potential biases.

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Prior to the shooting, Young was captured on camera at the Kroger on South Sunbury Road stealing multiple bottles of liquor and leaving the building. A Kroger employee flagged down Grubb and another officer, both of whom happened to be in the parking lot helping someone get into a locked car, and told them there had been a theft, while pointing out Young. 

The officers approached Young's car, which was running with her in the driver’s seat, and repeatedly ordered her to exit the vehicle. Grubb stood in front of Young’s car before she began to drive forward. He fired one fatal shot into the car as he fell onto the hood. 

The trial is expected to last about two to three weeks. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus Division of Police is investigating the death of an infant who was found buried in north Columbus Monday afternoon.

According to an incident report, officers were called to the 4000 block of Karl Road on a report of an infant buried at the property. At around 1:07 p.m., police discovered a shallow grave which contained a deceased infant, which was pronounced by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.

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Homicide detectives were called to the scene, which led the investigation to an home on the city’s west side, where two juveniles, a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were arrested.

Police said that the juvenile parents of the baby hid the pregnancy of the mother and when the infant died, they buried it at the Karl Road location. They are each charged with involuntary manslaughter and abuse of a corpse.

The incident remains under investigation and police ask that anyone with additional information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A southern Ohio man who bought a scratch-off ticket in the Arena District made a huge score when he revealed the winning numbers.

The man, identified only as “J. from Ironton,” purchased a $30 Royal Riches scratch-off worth millions from a location called Lucky Choice across from Lower.com Field at 577 W. Nationwide Boulevard on Oct. 22.

According to a news release from the Ohio Lottery, J. is a regular player and has previously won smaller prizes with scratch-offs and Pick 3 tickets. He told the lottery that instead of always going for auto-pick numbers, he often uses a “top-secret family formula … based on notes tracking previous wins.”

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When the matching numbers were uncovered on the Royal Riches ticket, J.'s first question was, “Oh my God, is this real?” After he checked the ticket with a magnifying glass, he sent a family member a picture to make sure his win was not a dream.

The Lottery notes that the Royal Riches top prize can be taken in cash or as an annuity worth $80,000 a year for 25 years, amounting to $2 million. J. chose the cash option and will take home $728,750.00 after state and federal taxes.

J. expressed that he plans to be generous with his newfound wealth, sharing it with relatives and his church. However, one personal indulgence will be a new vehicle.

Four Royal Riches top prizes and 10 second-tier prizes remain as of Nov. 3. The overall odds of winning any of the prizes are 1 in 3.95.

Royal Riches Prizes Remaining
$80K/YR for 25 years/ 4 prizes remaining
$50,000/ 10 prizes remaining
$10,000/ 100 prizes remaining
$5,000/ 213 prizes remaining
$1,000/ 4,623 prizes remaining
$300/ 28,721 prizes remaining
$100/ 114,091 prizes remaining
$60/ 556,616 prizes remaining

The lottery website also identified at least two other big, prize-winning tickets sold at Lucky Choice in Columbus. In May, a $543,000 jackpot was hit with five winning numbers on a Rolling Cash 5 ticket and in October, a Beach City woman matched five winning digits on another Rolling Cash 5 ticket and won $100,000.

The Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $34 billion to education since 1974.

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Worthington Inn, a restaurant once considered the oldest in Franklin County, is mounting a comeback after closing seven years ago.

The historic restaurant at 649 High St. in Worthington is now under new ownership and "in a period of renewal," according to a new social media page for the inn. An Oct. 23 post reads, "The Worthington Inn is preparing for its next chapter under local ownership dedicated to preserving its legacy and revitalizing its role as Worthington's gathering place."

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In addition, a new Worthington Inn website says the building is "currently undergoing thoughtful revitalization," and encourages locals to stay tuned for updates, including a grand reopening announcement, as the new owners relaunch "this beloved landmark with refreshed dining, warm hospitality, and local partnerships that celebrate central Ohio."

• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)

"Rooted in Worthington's heritage, our vision is to make the inn a welcoming table for all -- a place where families, friends, and neighbors come together to share a meal, celebrate milestones, and create new memories," the site states. "We're committed to honoring the inn's history while shaping a vibrant future that reflects the heart of our community."

The Worthington Inn was built in 1831 and originally served as a private residence before becoming a traveler's inn with food service in the 1850s. The building saw a series of changes over the years, including a major 1937 renovation and the conversion of the inn's hotel rooms into condominiums in 2007.

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The property's restaurant remained open until shuttering in December 2018. At the time, the closure was deemed "temporary," as the owners sought to downsize the restaurant to make space for offices and retail. It's unclear if part of that plan will be incorporated into the inn's current revitalization.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of Ohioans could go without childcare as federal money runs out for some Head Start programs, which provide food and childcare for low-income families.

"The fallout is going to be so much greater than they even know," Carla Womack, parent, family and community engagement manager with Scioto County's Head Start program, said. "I think it's going to affect crime, it's going to affect hunger, it's going to affect child abuse. I don't think they thought that far.” 

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Womack is one of 150 Head Start employees who had their first day being furloughed on Monday. Seven of Ohio's 59 programs have run out of federal funds, forcing immediate closures for two programs and leaving five programs temporarily afloat through donations and reserves. See previous coverage of Ohio's Head Start programs in the video player above.

Ohio has the fourth-most students affected by Head Start closures in the nation, with 3,738 preschoolers going without childcare if federal appropriations do not resume soon. Already, 600 students were unable to attend their Head Start programs this week, with closures in Scioto and Highland counties.

Nathan Keirns is president and CEO of LEADS, a Licking County partnership that runs Head Start programs in Licking, Delaware and Union counties. He said LEADS programs are still open because they work on an April to March fiscal year, so their grant dollars were approved months ago. The seven Head Start programs under threat of closure all start their fiscal years Nov. 1. 

In all, Ohio’s Head Start programs serve more than 31,000 children, many of whom are in rural areas. The program supports pregnant mothers and children ages 0 to 5, offering classroom and in-home support for both parents and kids. Each program is tailored to its community and focuses on kindergarten readiness, health and parental engagement.

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Head Start also provides USDA-approved breakfast, lunch and snack for students, particularly pressing as SNAP funding remains uncertain. Womack said they try to introduce new fruits and vegetables, and post their menus online so parents know what their kids are eating. She said her program even partners with WIC, the federal food program for women, infants and children, to post videos helping families shop for, plan and make meals.

There are lifelong benefits too; children who attend Head Start are more likely to graduate high school and college and less likely to be arrested or experience poor health. 

Womack said she knew closing her program and its associated schools was a possibility but only learned it was certain on Friday. She said many of her coworkers are living paycheck to paycheck, and she does not know if she will receive back pay or unemployment. Despite her situation, she is most worried about the effect on her students.

“Just wondering what's going to happen to them, that's been my biggest fear," Womack said. "What's going to happen to our kids that are typically eating nutritious meals daily, that have a safe place to come ... now their families aren't working. What happens to the frustrated parent?”

Womack and Keirns said they are concerned about ripple effects in communities. Many parents rely on Head Start in order to work and now face a choice between working or staying home to take care of their kids.

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"So you may not be paying rent to landlords, may not be purchasing as many food items -- or probably wouldn't be purchasing any at all -- and all those sorts of other things, utility bills, all those sorts of things start to cascade,” Keirns said.

Even without pay, Womack said her team is posting information online to help families. She said they are promoting resources for food and offering help with electric and heating bills. Some teachers are posting lesson plans online, too, so families can keep learning at home.

Head Start leaders like Womack and Keirns encouraged legislators to keep families and crucial programs in mind as the shutdown lingers.

“This shutdown is pulling the rug out from under working families,” Julie Stone, executive director of the Ohio Head Start Association, said. “Parents are losing child care, teachers are losing paychecks, and children are losing the stable, nurturing environments that help them thrive. These are real people with real consequences — and Ohio’s youngest citizens deserve better.”

Your Local Election Headquarters

NBC4i.com will have live results on Tuesday night and coverage from 7 to 11:35 p.m. on the NBC4 Columbus streaming app.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Voters all across Ohio will be casting ballots Tuesday to vote on hundreds of local issues in the 2025 general election.

Polls are open until 7:30 p.m., and anyone in line when polls close will be able to cast their vote. Despite no statewide ballot issues or races, counties and cities across central Ohio, including Franklin County and Columbus, will be voting on numerous city and school tax levies as well as electing candidates for city councils, local school boards, and much more.

Here is everything you need to know for Tuesday's general election.

How to vote on Election Day

Polls across Ohio will open at 6:30 a.m. for in-person voting on Tuesday.

To vote, residents will be required to provide one of the following photo IDs to cast their ballots:

• Ohio driver's license
• State of Ohio ID card
• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• U.S. military ID card
• Ohio National Guard ID card
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

All photo IDs must include:

• An expiration date that has not passed
• A photograph of the voter
• The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book

If voters do not have any of the above forms of identification, they may cast a provisional ballot. However, for that ballot to be counted, voters must return to the board of elections no later than four days after Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.

Voters who received absentee ballots must have them postmarked by Monday, Nov. 3, for them to be counted. If the voter didn't return the ballot via the postal service, it can be dropped off at their county board of elections before polls close on Tuesday.

To find your county board of elections website, check below.

Notable races in Columbus, Franklin County

Columbus has a contested race for the district seven seat in City Council between Tiara Ross and Jesse Vogel. Residents who live in the Columbus City Schools district will elect three new members of the board of education. Six candidates are running in that race.

All Columbus residents will vote on Issues 5 through 9 to potentially add funding to build and maintain city infrastructure, such as police and fire stations, community centers, streets, water and sewer infrastructure, and rental housing.

Franklin County residents will be voting on maintaining a tax levy for the Columbus Zoo for another 10-year period. The county also has a ballot issue for the renewal and increase of a tax for addiction and mental health services.

Bexley, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, New Albany, Olentangy, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington all have contested races for city council.

Many of those cities also have school board races, school levies, and city tax levies to vote on.

Early voting numbers

The Ohio Secretary of State's office reported that it received nearly 400,000 ballots via early in-person and absentee voting for this election, which is a little over 200,000 more early ballots received for the primary election in May.

Just over 60% of the early ballots returned for Tuesday's election are from Ohioans who are 65 and over. Nearly 20,000 early ballots were cast in Franklin County, which falls a distant second to Cuyahoga County with more than 58,000 early votes, likely due to the Cleveland mayoral election.

Two-thirds of the early votes cast in Ohio for November were done in person, an increase in percentage from early voting for the May primary and for last year's general election.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Voters living in the Westerville City School District have an important decision to make Tuesday – a .75% earned income tax is appearing on the ballot.

The vote comes one year after Westerville voters rejected a property tax levy, but this year’s tax would only apply to wages, salaries and self-employment income.

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Westerville City Schools Superintendent Angie Hamberg said putting a levy on the November ballot once again was not something district leaders took lightly. If the income tax fails, Hamburg said many electives, AP classes and colleges credit courses would likely be cut, along with more than 120 jobs and 14 bus routes.

“Those decisions were made based on what do we have to have, so we have to have English class, we have to have math class, we don't have to have art class in an elementary, for an example,” Hamberg said.

Westerville resident Doug Krinsky said the community spoke loud and clear last November. He said he wants to see the district be more frugal.

“The money makes a difference to these folks and I see it, you know, when I was taking the yard signs out, people were telling me their personal stories,” Krinsky said. “They can't afford it.”

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Westerville parent Emma Nelson said cuts are inevitable if the levy fails and they will impact her three sons’ educations. She said strong schools are important for a strong community.

“I have two kids in elementary school,” Nelson said. “They would be looking at losing music, art and P.E. You know, unfortunately, those aren't required. So, if we kind of have to cut things to the bare minimum, those go.”

People on both sides said they feel optimistic ahead of Election Day.

“We are absolutely not against the kids,” Krinsky said. “What we're about is being, you know, frugal with the money. I mean, be smart with the money.”

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“Right now, we need to take action and prevent the cuts from ever happening,” Nelson said.

The income tax levy will be on ballots for all voters living within the Westerville City School District, which includes parts of Columbus, Blendon Township, Genoa Township and more. If passed, it’ll cost 75 cents per every $100 of earned income.

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After 100 years, the city of Grandview Heights now has a new city hall building.

The Grandview Heights police and fire department is now in the same complex. Grandview police say the heart of the new building is the 911 dispatch center. There are two full consoles where dispatchers can take calls, monitor 360 cameras, and lock facility doors, all from their seats.

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The original council building was built in 1924, and officials say this big change is noticeable.

"This gives some room for them to spread out. They have the space and the technology needed to do their job safely," said Grandview Heights Police Chief Ryan Starns.

Grandview's new building also offers a greener, more modern look, using solar panels on top of some areas to help power the complex.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Council is working to make the hiring process across the city more transparent, and Monday offered a step in that direction. 

New legislation requires employers to include salary ranges on job postings. This legislation will go into effect in 30 days, but enforcement will not start until January 2027.

The city plans to hold workshops to help businesses transition to these new requirements, but if they do not comply, after three warnings, they will be fined up to $1,000.

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"We wanted to ensure that as Columbus grows and more businesses come to Columbus or new businesses start, that they're not just doing business in Columbus, but doing the business of Columbus," Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said. 

This legislation was spearheaded by Barroso de Padilla as part of Columbus Forward, a package of legislation from all councilmembers that aims to push the city forward.

"We wanted to ensure that we were adding equity in the system," Barroso de Padilla said. 

Cleveland passed similar legislation in April: all formal job postings must include salary ranges or face fines of up to $5,000 per offense.

Here in Columbus, this is something one central Ohio non-profit that advocates for low-wage and immigrant workers says will have a big impact.

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"We are supportive of this amendment because of what it does, which is going to try to prevent systemic discrimination related to the wage gap and health gap for women, especially women of color," Central Ohio Workers Center Director of Programs Claudia Cortez said. 

The goals behind this legislation are pay transparency, closing the wage gap, and making hiring more competitive.

"Transparency, it would help close the wage gaps, build trust and give workers the information they need to advocate for themselves," Cortez said. 

This builds on past legislation that prohibits asking about or using salary history information in the job application or interview process. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio receives millions of dollars from the federal government to implement federal policy, and as the shutdown continues, state agencies are preparing for funding disruptions.

Public employee union contracts require the state government to notify employees of any potential furlough two weeks in advance. On Friday, about 9,000 state workers at six different agencies received that notice.

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“While we hope for a resolution from Washington soon, we must prepare for the potential impact on our workforce in the coming weeks should the shutdown continue,” Department of Administrative Services Director Kathleen C. Madden said. “We will continue to evaluate the situation daily and will have more specific information should further action become necessary.”

DAS stressed this week that these notices are informational only. For now, state employees are still reporting to work and are still being paid. DAS also estimates that less than half of all state employees would likely be subject to furloughs, specifically those employees whose positions are partially or fully funded by the federal government.

Agencies with employees who received the DAS notice include the Adjutant General’s Department, the state Environmental Protection Agency, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Department of Health, the Department of Job and Family Services, and the Department of Public Safety.

State Representative Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) is worried about the impact on Ohioans if those agencies are suddenly understaffed.

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“My concern is these are agencies that serve some of our most vulnerable Ohioans who are facing loss of benefits themselves, and even if they’re not facing loss of benefits, they are facing the stress of potential future loss of benefits,” Piccolantonio said.

Piccolantonio said she has already heard from worried constituents about the possibility of furloughs.

“They don’t know anything right now, other than that either they received a notice, or their coworkers received a notice, or employees that they know at another agency, and the level of anxiety just really goes up,” she said. “The people that reached out to me are parents of young kids…I would like for us to get out in front of it and come up with a solution.”

DAS said that if the shutdown continues another two weeks and furloughs become necessary, the affected employees will be notified individually and in advance. If Congress ends the shutdown in the next two weeks, however, Piccolantonio wants the state government to be more proactive.

“State employees are working people who live in this state, too, who may have families and have other responsibilities that they need to be able to take care of,” Piccolantonio said. “If funding backfill is going to be needed or if fronting funding is going to be needed, the legislature is going to need to be involved, so what I would hope is that we are creative and we are thoughtful.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A central Ohio neurosurgeon is fighting to have his medical license and reputation restored after the state medical board accused him of performing surgeries that were described as “excessive and unjustified” and resulted in death.

The medical board issued its final order last month to uphold a summary suspension against Dr. Jeffrey Hatef, finding that restoring his medical license would present an immediate danger to his patients.

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Hatef is fighting the charge and already filed an appeal – and he’s receiving support from a surprising place: from one of the three patients identified in the original, anonymous complaint against the doctor.

That patient said Hatef saved his life and helped him walk again. He was shocked to learn that he was patient one in a three-patient complaint against Hatef.

Hatef said he was shocked, too.

“They came to my house and gave me this order of a summary suspension, and I was just completely blindsided,” he said. “Summary suspension is usually something reserved for doctors who have been charged with a crime or sexual assault.”

Hatef was accused of performing unjustified surgeries, going beyond the standard of care.

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“There were two separate allegations for patient one was that the surgery was unindicated, unwarranted,” he said. “For patients two and three, it was that the surgery may have been warranted and/or may have been done properly, but they were too sick for surgery. No one should have done surgery, was the allegation.”

Patients two and three died within days of their surgeries.

The medical board case against Hatef relied on a consultant, a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic, who determined through medical records that patients two and three were too medically fragile, malnourished, and uninformed about the risks of surgery.

Hatef said patient two was in a wheelchair and on her way to paralysis, believing surgery was her last chance.

Patient three’s spinal deformity was so severe that her body was locked at a 90-degree angle and screws from previous surgeries were popping through her skin.

“So curved that the screws on her spine are literally coming through the skin with open sores,” Hatef said. “I mean, it's a horrible condition she's suffering from, and the medical board said she should have never seen the entire, the inside of an operating room.”

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Hatef said she was warned of the surgery’s risks.

“Anytime a doctor loses a patient, it's, it's an awful thing to have happen,” he said. “It's, it's never what we wish for or hope for, but she, you know, and I had many conversations with her, and she knew that was a risky surgery, and that any complication like that was a possibility, and she was in such a horrible state with so much suffering that she wanted to take on those risks.”

The medical board said the surgeries were too risky and that Hatef should lose his license.

“It’s nuts what they did to him,” Jerry Borsh, patient one in the complaint, said. “They took away my doctor. It was my choice who I would have as a doctor, and they took him away.”

Just after NBC4i.com published a report on Hatef’s initial suspension in February, Borsh found out by reading online that his doctor was suspended. He investigated further and found out that he was patient one.

“They claimed he lied to me, that he didn’t tell me all the risks and stuff, that the surgery was his idea and he just ramrodded it down there, like I am a piece of meat and I had no say in it,” Borsh said, adding that as of Nov. 3, no one from the Ohio medical board has spoken to him.

After learning Borsh was thriving, the board apparently dropped patient one from the case.

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“I think this was a very shoddy investigation,” Hatef said. “I think it's an incredibly unjust punishment, especially given the facts of this situation, where one of the patients was dismissed before we even got to the hearing, because the medical board found out they got it wrong.”

The suspension has harmed Hatef’s career, but he is hoping to regain his ability to practice medicine again.

“Professionally, it's completely ruined my career,” he said. “I've been fired. I've had these accusations. Published in the newspapers, two of which we know now have been dismissed. I haven't practiced medicine in 10 months. Now. I have to take classes and be supervised to try and get back into medicine. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to; my lawyer assures me that people have come back from this, but it's, it's been a disaster.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With the weather getting colder, experts predict the flu, RSV and COVID-19 will become more common.

Dr. Miller Sullivan, with Franklin County Public Health, shared the reason people become more prone to respiratory diseases during this time of the year. 

“Every year we enter what we call the viral respiratory season, meaning November, maybe through April, where viruses are more prevalent and more people get sick,” Sullivan said.  

Due to the colder temperatures, more people stay inside, which can cause these diseases to spread. Sullivan noted that in the event you do get sick, stick to the basics.   

“If you're sick, don't go to work, don't go to school,” Sullivan said. “If you're coughing, cover your face. Consider wearing a mask again. You know, cough into your sleeve, wash your hands, or stay away from people if you're sick who are high risk.” 

The best way to prevent getting sick is being vaccinated. According to the United Health Foundation, 42% of adults in Ohio reported receiving a flu vaccine from 2023 to 2024, which is below pre-pandemic numbers. Sullivan explained people should know it is imperative to get both the flu and COVID vaccines because they can save your life.   

“What I can say is these diseases, especially flu, are deadly; people die every year,” Sullivan said. “Kids die every year and many of these people are healthy and they didn't get vaccinated. So, we need to get back to vaccinating as much as possible.” 

Sullivan saif if you have taken over the counter anti-viral medication but still feel symptoms like a fever or shortness of breath for several days, contact your doctor.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Firefighters are battling a blaze at a historic Downtown Columbus building on Monday afternoon.

The incident was initially reported as a gas leak in the 500 block of East Town Street at the Kelton House Museum and Garden.

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Fire and thick, black smoke were pouring from the roof of the building as Columbus firefighters and police worked the scene.

Kelton House, in Columbus' East Town Historic District, was built in 1852 and has operated for decades as a Victorian-era museum and garden, a frequent spot for central Ohio school field trips.

According to Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter, crews were initially investigating a call for a gas leak, but during that investigation, an "explosive event" occurred, resulting in a partial collapse and fire at the building.

There are no injuries reported.

A resident of the neighborhood reported hearing an explosion at approximately 3:15 p.m., followed by a second explosion about 15 seconds later. The explosions shook her house, and smoke immediately poured into her room.

Colubmus Gas responded to an emergency call at the location, a company spokesperson said.

There is no word on what caused the fire.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State's first game against UCLA in 24 years now has a start time.

The top-ranked Buckeyes (8-0, 5-0) will welcome the Bruins (3-5, 3-2) to Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15 in the teams' first Big Ten meeting since the Bruins joined the conference in 2024.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC, according to the network.

This will be the second Buckeyes home game this season broadcast on NBC4. The first was Ohio State's 42-3 win over Minnesota on Oct. 4.

Kickoff time for Columbus Crew-FC Cincinnati game three announced

Before the Bruins board the long flight from Los Angeles to Columbus, it will host Nebraska this Saturday for a 9 p.m. kickoff. The Buckeyes will be on the road facing Purdue at 1 p.m. the same day.

This year's game between Ohio State and UCLA will be the 10th all-time and the first since the Bruins beat the Buckeyes 13-6 in a 2001 regular-season game at the Rose Bowl. Each team has won four times against each other and tied at Ohio Stadium in 1976. Ohio State last beat UCLA in 1999 in Columbus.

Remaining 2025 Ohio State football schedule

• Nov. 8: at Purdue, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 15: UCLA, 7:30 p.m. on NBC4
• Nov. 22: Rutgers
• Nov. 29: at Michigan, noon

UCLA had higher hopes entering 2025 with Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava becoming the new starter. The season started with losses to Utah, UNLV, New Mexico and Northwestern. After the third loss to New Mexico, coach DeShaun Foster was fired.

The season was revitalized on Oct. 4 when the Bruins shocked then-No. 7 Penn State 42-37 for their first win. Since then, they have gone 2-1 with wins over Michigan State and Maryland before losing 56-6 to Indiana.

Although this is the Bruins' first trip to central Ohio since 2001, it is the second time in less than a year its quarterback is coming to Columbus. Iamaleava will look for revenge after losing to the Buckeyes with Tennessee in the first round of last season's College Football Playoff.

NBC4's coverage of college football will continue for Week 11 with a primetime showdown Saturday between the Navy Midshipmen, led by Hilliard-native quarterback Blake Horvath, and No. 10 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent report has revealed the word that residents struggle to pronounce the most in Ohio and each state across the country. 

Unscramblerer.com, an online tool intended to assist with spelling games such as Scrabble, analyzed Google search data to discover the “most mispronounced word” in each state. The website considered searches made from January through October, containing terms such as "how do you pronounce" and "how to pronounce." 

$3.5 million Blacklick estate features grand interior and outdoor oasis

The word Ohioans have the hardest time pronouncing is Paczki, according to the study. Paczki, pronounced POONCH-kee, is a traditional Polish doughnut. Paczki was also named the most mispronounced word in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

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The most mispronounced word in the country is Gyro, pronounced YEE-roh, which saw 312,000 searches, according to the report. The list of the top 10 words Americans struggle to pronounce the most can be found below. 

1. Gyro (312 000 searches) - YEE-roh.
2. Worcestershire sauce (300 000 searches) - WUSS-ter-sheer.
3. Acai (192 000 searches) - ah-SIGH-ee.
4. Qatar (180 000  searches) - KAH-tar.
5. Dachshund (156 000 searches) - DAKS-hund.
6. Niche (142 000 searches) - NEESH.
7. Aoife (84 000 searches) - EE-fah.
8. Charcuterie (72 000 searches) - shar-KOO-tuh-ree.
9. Paczki (36 000 searches) - POONCH-kee.
10. Primeval (26 000 searches) - pry-MEE-vul.

“Our research about the most searched for mispronunciations gives an interesting insight into American culture,” a spokesperson with the website said. “Exposure to new words through media, music, pop culture and social platforms drives curiosity. People often look up pronunciations if there is a gap between how a word or name is spelled and how it sounds.”

The spelling of English words only matches pronunciation about 75% of the time, according to the University of Oxford. Unscramblerer.com also noted a Cambridge University survey that found more than 60% of English speakers admit they regularly mispronounce at least one word. 

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- New renderings show how development company Crawford Hoying plans to build Cameron Mitchell's first boutique hotel in Dublin's Bridge Park.

The proposal submitted to the city of Dublin says the hotel will be home to about 130 guestrooms with amenities including a fitness center, pool and luxury spa within a seven-story tower. The complex will be located southeast of the State Route 161 roundabout at Riverside Drive and West Granville Road, and will also feature about 24 condos in an eight-story tower.

Million-dollar neighborhood approved for 14-acre Dublin reserve

Four food and beverage concepts, multiple restaurants, a pool bar, an event venue with a 4,000-square-foot ballroom, and a series of meeting rooms round out the planned hotel's offerings. Crawford's proposal is scheduled to receive another review from the city's planning and zoning commission on Thursday.

• The hotel will be home to about 130 guestrooms with amenities including a fitness center, pool and luxury spa within a seven-story tower. (Courtesy Photo/City of Dublin)
• The hotel will be home to about 130 guestrooms with amenities including a fitness center, pool and luxury spa within a seven-story tower. (Courtesy Photo/City of Dublin)
• The hotel will be home to about 130 guestrooms with amenities including a fitness center, pool and luxury spa within a seven-story tower. (Courtesy Photo/City of Dublin)
• The outline also shows that a four-story office building with ground level retail will span about 96,000 square feet on the property's southeast corner. (Courtesy Photo/City of Dublin)

The outline also shows that a four-story office building with ground-level retail will span about 96,000 square feet on the property's southeast corner. Crawford originally planned for this building to be condos, but announced early last year it was pivoting to office space while negotiating with "some pretty significant leases" for more office users at Bridge Park.

A series of streetscapes will connect the office building to the hotel, which is Mitchell's first foray into the hotel industry after 30 years of business. Described as a boutique hotel, the complex will be a "one-of-a-kind, culinary-forward lifestyle hotel concept."

Daycare chain breaks ground on second central Ohio location

"This will undoubtedly be one of the premier hotels in the Midwest, combining the legendary culinary experience we’re known for with a preeminent hospitality focus," Mitchell said in a previous release. "We’ve been working on this project idea with Crawford Hoying for years, and not only will it be the best hotel in the city, but it will also be a place for Columbus residents and visitors alike to gather, celebrate, dine, and relax."

A three-level, partially below-grade parking garage will serve the entire development with about 415 parking spaces, and open green space on the property will be accessible to the public.

Construction on the entire development is expected to begin in 2026.

BLACKLICK, Ohio (WCMH) — A nearly 10,000-square-foot Franklin County estate, with a grand interior featuring wood paneling, fireplaces and exposed brick, has hit the market for $3.5 million.

The house, at 7975 Wills Run Lane in Blacklick, is in the gated Colts Neck community on 4.5 acres. Listed by Jack Curtis of Keller Williams Capital Partners, the residence was custom-built in 1996 by Kevin Knight Builders.

The interior includes seven large bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and three half baths. The sanctuary-like primary suite is situated on the first floor. To get around its four stories, the home has an oversized elevator. Also part of its design are laundry areas on three floors.

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The property is perfect for entertaining, with multiple indoor gathering areas and passageways that transition to an outdoor retreat. Outside, privacy abounds in the fully fenced backyard with mature trees and professional landscaping. Offering additional exterior spaces for get-togethers are an in-ground saltwater pool and an adjacent hot tub.

• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners
• Courtesy photo / reEquity Group at KW Capital Partners

Car enthusiasts will find space for 10 automobiles or recreational vehicles in several garages. Alternatively, these outbuildings could be used for hobbies or storage.

Although it feels secluded, the house is surprisingly located minutes away from Downtown Columbus and John Glenn International Airport. Also nearby are New Albany, Hoover Reservoir and Easton Town Center.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — It was an uneventful week at the pumps in central Ohio as average gas prices remained unchanged from one week ago.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, gas prices did not budge from last week, averaging out at $2.94 per gallon. The current price is 14.6 cents per gallon higher than four weeks ago and 12.9 cents lower than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.39 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.19, a difference of 80 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also stood still at $2.91 per gallon.

Nationally, gas prices experienced a small dip of 1.4 cents per gallon to average out at $2.99, but the price of diesel went in the opposite direction, climbing by 2.5 cents, settling in at $3.66 per gallon.

What is price cycling?

While no news is generally good news, experts believe prices in the Midwest are expected to rise due to unforeseen refinery issues and increased oil production for the month of December.

“The national average once again briefly dipped below the $3 per gallon mark, but the drop will be short-lived,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Gas prices are likely to rebound soon in the Great Lakes states due to ongoing refinery challenges. For now, expect the national average to hover in the low-$3 range, potentially drifting lower once refinery issues are resolved.”