Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Attorney General Dave Yost is urging the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold a contested state law banning gender transition treatment for minors.

Yost, the state's chief legal officer, filed written arguments on Oct. 20 in the case against House Bill 68, the state law that prohibits doctors from performing such medical treatment on children. Yost asked the justices to consider the case earlier this year after the Tenth District Court of Appeals ruled in March that the law is unconstitutional. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the March decision in the video player above.

The attorney general's brief argues the appeals court erred when it said H.B. 68 "infringes on parents' fundamental right to direct the medical care of their children." Yost called the ruling a "dangerous twist on the question of 'who decides,'" saying that Ohioans -- through their elected representatives -- decided that transition treatment should be reserved for adults.

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"It's our job to defend the law that was passed by the democratic process through the elected representatives of the people, but maybe even more importantly than that, it's to protect the kids," Yost said in a statement. "It's very important to understand that this case is not about what adults do with their own bodies; that's between them and their doctors, it's a free country. This is about protecting kids."

"We're trying to protect children in their most vulnerable years, but beyond that, it's really important to recognize that the Tenth District got this seriously wrong, they're trying to take away democracy, your government, and hand it over to a bunch of elected, so-called experts," the attorney general continued.

Yost's brief followed Nationwide Children's Hospital's announcement in September that it will no longer prescribe "gender-affirming medications." Although the hospital said it's "currently in compliance with state and federal regulations," the decision is "in order to proactively plan and support our providers and patients in a rapidly changing regulatory environment."

Freda Levenson, ACLU of Ohio legal director, said in a statement at the time that the organization is "actively fighting Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth." The group, which filed the lawsuit against H.B. 68 on behalf of two families with trans children, said they "will do everything we can to ensure trans youth receive lifesaving medical care moving forward."

The Ohio Supreme Court announced in July it would take up Yost's appeal and review the H.B. 68 lawsuit, after saying in late April that the state can continue enforcing the law while litigation continues.

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H.B. 68, which also bans trans female athletes' participation in women's sports, faced a contentious road while advancing through Ohio's legislature. The measure was condemned by top Ohio doctors, including Nick Lashutka, president of the Ohio Children's Hospital Association, who argued at the Statehouse in 2023 that "it is a dangerous precedent for government to dictate when medication is appropriate in pediatrics."

While the Statehouse approved H.B. 68 in December 2023, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the legislation the following month. The governor said he made his decision after visiting patients at five children's hospitals, arguing that "these are gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by parents and should be informed by teams of doctors." Still, both chambers of the Statehouse moved to override DeWine's veto.

The ACLU filed its lawsuit against H.B. 68 later that spring, putting the law temporarily on hold and setting up a five-day Franklin County trial in July 2024. Ultimately, Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook ruled that the legislation could go into effect, given that it didn't violate Ohio's constitution. The ACLU then appealed Holbrook's decision to the Tenth District.

View Yost's full Oct. 20 brief below:

2025-10-20-HB68-AppealDownload

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- If a Tuesday in November when many people work seems like a random time to hold elections, blame 19th-century farmers.

Federal statute places Election Day on the Tuesday that falls between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8, or the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The date was chosen in 1845 by Congress, which sought to establish one set date for all Americans. See previous coverage of this upcoming Election Day in the video player above.

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Before 1845, states could hold elections any time they wanted to within the 34 days before the Electoral College met in the first week of December. According to Congress, election results in earlier voting states began to influence results in later ones, creating concerns about fraud as travel and communication became faster.

Congress said the first week of November allowed about one month between citizen votes and the Electoral College's formal vote casting. Congress formalized that date for federal elections, allowing all states to cast votes for president, Senate and the House of Representatives concurrently. State and local elections do not have to fall on a uniform day, but most follow the general election schedule.

According to a report on the Electoral College for the Congressional Research Service, Congress also considered how different dates would affect the largely rural American public. In 1845, most Americans -- especially most citizens who could vote -- were typically Christian and lived in rural areas.

Congress chose November because that was typically when the harvest was gathered but before snowy weather set in. Elections were typically held in the county seat, so voters often had to take the day to travel. Farmers were much more easily able to spare the time after the harvest.

The Congressional report said travel time also contributed to picking a Tuesday. Sundays were generally seen as a day of rest and worship, so picking a Tuesday guaranteed a full day of travel before Election Day without interfering with Sunday. Religious commitments similarly complicated Friday and Saturday, narrowing it to a weekday.

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Wednesday was ruled out because it was the day many communities held their weekly markets, and Congress did not want to interfere with Thursday travel from marketplaces either. Oxford researchers said farmers, huntsmen and fishermen would travel to centralized markets in larger cities or towns and set up shop for the day. Within 50 years, the market system would no longer be the norm, but the date stuck.

By process of elimination, Congress had settled on its date. Nearly 200 years later, there have been attempts to change Election Day to fit modern societal norms.

According to Pew Research, 27 of the 36 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development hold their national elections on weekends. Israel and South Korea hold their elections on weekdays but make the days national holidays so work won't interfere with voting. Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands join the U.S. in weekday elections.

Election Day is a paid public holiday in 13 states, and 17 states require employers to give paid time off to vote. Ohio law does require employers to allow employees to take time off for voting, but Ohio is one of 19 states that does not require employers to offer paid time away.

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Congress has considered legislation to move Election Day to a weekend in hopes of improving voter turnout, but no attempt has succeeded. The U.S. lags behind many other countries in election participation. Pew Research found the U.S. rose above 60% voter turnout in the last few presidential elections, but many other countries see turnout above 75%.

Early and absentee voting offer other ways to vote ahead of Election Day. This year, Election Day falls on Nov. 4, and voters must cast their ballots between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at their polling location.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As we enter November, our thoughts turn to what kind of winter lies ahead. In fact, late next weekend, a strong cold front could bring scattered flurries in parts of central Ohio and lake-effect snows in northern Ohio in a quick, short-lived cold blast behind an Alberta clipper system.

On average, the first measurable snow of the season in Columbus arrives around Nov. 20, and the first inch or greater about Dec. 7. These dates, based on the 1991-2020 period, are about a week later compared to the late 20th-century, which reflects a winter warming trend.

Early indications for this winter

An early indicator is sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, part of the cyclical pattern known as El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, which influence the position of the jet stream and storm track.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued a La Niña advisory in early October, with a 55% chance of returning to neutral conditions in January-March 2026. The opposite phase, or warm pattern, is called El Niño, which last occurred in the winter of 2023-24.

The predominant large-scale weather influence early this winter will be a weak La Niña, which favors a mild November and December with relatively light snowfalls. Things are likely to shift to a more typical Midwestern winter mode in January and February, based on the history of La Niña seasons.

If La Niña lingers through the entire winter, the cumulative snowfall will likely be below average in central Ohio, probably 16-24 inches, with the lighter totals in the southeastern counties.

Last winter (2024-25) hinted at a weak La Niña in the early going, but it didn't last long enough to qualify, although the results could serve as an approximate guide for the start of the upcoming season.

Autumn and the beginning of winter were very mild, with little snow until the first week of January 2025. Then, the bottom dropped out, with blasts of frigid air into early February. The bulk of the winter snowfall (14.8 inches) came in January (11.8 inches).

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The amount of sea ice surrounding the Arctic region, and snow cover in Siberia and northern Asia, also play a role in the buildup of frigid air capable of reaching the U.S. The more snow and ice, the colder the air masses that reach the northern and central states when the jet stream dips south.

Other variables that could tip the scales to more cold and snow in midwinter are Arctic and tropical climate drivers, including a southward migration of the polar vortex, and subtropical moisture feeding Pacific systems that cross the nation, with mainly snow north and rain or mixed precipitation along and south of the primary storm track.

Additionally, a pool of warm water in the central North Pacific could strengthen a ridge in the jet stream over the northeastern Pacific, allowing colder air to flow south into the nation's heartland.

Weak La Niña Winters

Looking back at weak La Niña seasons patterns this century, when compared to the average Columbus snowfall (28.2 inches) and temperature (32.2 degrees), statistical clues emerge regarding the nature of the winter to come.

WINTERTOTAL SNOWFALL
(Oct.-May)AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (Dec.-Feb.)2000-0126.329.12005-0612.934.72008-0923.229.92016-17 9.337.12017-1829.832.42022-2312.537.7

Five of the six La Niña winters were less snowy compared to the 30-year average (1991-2020), while temperatures averaged above normal in 60% of those winters. Interestingly, the year after six moderate La Niña winters going back to 1950 (chillier waters than in a “weaker” pattern), half of the winters were fairly cold and snowy.

What is a typical La Niña winter in North America?

La Niña occurs when colder-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean loom off the coast of Peru and Ecuador. Warm water is pushed westward by strengthening easterly trade winds, allowing deeper, colder waters to reach the surface off the coast of South America.

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This climate regime causes the jet stream to shift farther north across the northeastern Pacific into western Canada, with a split flow sending moisture south of blocking high pressure into the Pacific Northwest. Farther east, a northwesterly flow over the lakes brings frequent lake-effect snowfalls in northeastern Ohio in early winter.

The average winter storm track, which follows the jet stream, tends to dive southward over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, where heavier precipitation occurs. A northward turn near the Ohio River Valley brings milder air in contact with cold Canadian air, resulting in mixed rain/snow or rain, sometimes ending as snow showers. (Significant snows usually fall 100 to 150 miles northwest of the storm track.)

Above-average snowfall is generally limited to the Mountain West and northern tier of states, from the High Plains to the Great Lakes and northern New England. Drier conditions prevail in the Southern states, with below-normal snowfall from the Midwest to the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region.

Winter of 2022-23

The variability in La Niña winter was illustrated in the winter of 2022-23, which was initially mild in Ohio, until a major Christmas Eve snowstorm and blast of frigid air that sent the temperature plummeting to -7 degrees in Columbus, with a wind chill of -34 on December 23, 2022. Yet temperatures in January-February 2023 averaged about 8 degrees above normal., and merely a trace of snow fell in February, with a final winter tally of a meager 12.3 inches.

La Niña was also present in the winters of 2016-17 and 2017-18. The winter of 2016-17 was exceptionally mild, delivering only 9.3 inches of snow in Columbus.

However, a weaker La Niña in 2017-18 brought a totally different result, pointing to the role of other factors beyond Pacific climate systems, especially on the weaker end.

Both December 2017 and January 2018 averaged several degrees below normal, with nearly 20 inches of snow falling in Columbus. February brought a complete reversal, with temperatures more than 6 degrees above normal. March and April were cold and snowy, raising the season snowfall to 30.7 inches.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash on an interstate exit ramp in north Columbus.

According to Columbus police, two vehicles, a semi-truck and an SUV, were involved in a crash on the Gemini Place exit ramp from Interstate 71 South. The crash occurred at 4:28 a.m. and one person was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The exit ramp from I-71 South is currently closed as is the right lane on I-71 South in the immediate area. It is not yet known how the crash was caused.

NBC4 will have more on this developing story as details become available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of a Blendon Township police officer who fatally shot a pregnant woman in a grocery store parking lot.

Connor 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 Ta’Kiya Young, 21, and her unborn daughter. If convicted of murder, Grubb could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

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Potential jurors filled out questionnaires late last week. On Monday, attorneys are scheduled to begin in-person questioning for members of the pool to determine their suitability and impartiality for the trial. Prosecution and defense attorneys have estimated the trial will take about 2-3 weeks. 

Use of force trials for police officers follow a different standard than the typical murder trial. Jurors will not have to determine if Grubb killed Young, but rather if Grubb’s use of force was “objectively reasonable” based on what he knew at the time, without the use of hindsight. 

The shooting

On Aug. 24, 2023, Young went to the Kroger at 5991 South Sunbury Road in Blendon Township, near Westerville. Surveillance footage captured Young in the liquor section of the store, placing multiple bottles into two large purses. 

Two other women walked in separately, and about a minute and a half later, they approached Young while she waited in line with more bottles in a shopping basket. After waiting in line for about a minute, Young walked out of the liquor store carrying the shopping basket and her personal bags alongside the two other women, setting off an alarm. 

Young and the two women then exited the Kroger; Young did not have the shopping basket with her but did have her purses containing liquor. A Kroger manager came outside and pointed out Young to Grubb and another Blendon Township officer, who happened to be in the parking lot helping someone get into a locked car. Young went to one car, which did not have a license plate, and the two other women went to another car. 

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Police-worn body camera footage shows the accompanying officer went to Young's driver's side window and ordered her out of the car multiple times. She asked why, and the officer said someone accused her of stealing from the store. Young responded, “I didn’t steal s—.” As the officer and Young argued, Grubb walked to the front of the car. 

Young began turning her wheel. Grubb, with his gun drawn and pointed at Young, placed his hand on the car’s hood. Young, still turning the wheel to the right, asked if he was going to shoot her.

As Young slowly started to drive forward, Grubb was briefly lifted off the ground. At the same time, he fired one shot, which struck Young in the chest. Her car rolled about 50 feet before hitting the Kroger building. 

The officers then broke Young’s driver’s side window, since her door was locked, before removing her from the car and placing her in handcuffs. Grubb called for medics about 20 seconds after Young was removed from the car. 

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Grubb ran to his car to retrieve a chest seal. A passerby wearing an OhioHealth shirt identified himself as an emergency room physician and helped provide aid for several minutes. After the chest seal was applied, the doctor said he could not locate a pulse, and the other officer began CPR. A rotation of responding officers kept up chest compressions until medics arrived about 12 minutes after the shot was fired.

As Grubb spoke to other responding officers throughout the incident, he said multiple times that Young tried to run him over. Young was taken to a hospital, where she and her unborn child died.

The aftermath

Grubb was placed on paid administrative leave immediately after the shooting and was moved to unpaid leave in June. The Blendon Township Board of Trustees voted to change Grubb’s employment status, citing financial issues for the township due to the failure of a levy in May’s election.

A few days after the shooting, nearly 100 protesters gathered at the Kroger, displaying signage saying “jail all killer cops,” “black lives matter” and “justice for Ta’Kiya.” Young’s family has also regularly held vigils in the grocery store's parking lot since her death. 

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In August, Young’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court against Grubb and Kroger. The lawsuit alleges Grubb and the Kroger employee "unnecessarily escalated" the altercation, ultimately leading to her death. 

About one month later, Young’s family also filed a federal lawsuit against the Blendon Township Police Department. That filing claims that the department has displayed a consistent and systemic failure to properly train and supervise its officers on the proper use of force, as well as a failure to properly discipline officers engaged in excessive force and other misconduct.

Who will be in the courtroom? 

Grubb, who started at the Blendon Township Police Department in early 2019, will be represented by attorneys Mark Collins and Kaitlyn Stephens. The pair has represented multiple law enforcement officials under prosecutorial scrutiny for their use of force, including Adam Coy, who fatally shot Andre Hill, and former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell, who killed Donna Castleberry in 2018.

Montgomery County prosecutors Erin Claypoole, Daniel Brandt and Richard Glennon are tasked with convincing the jury Grubb’s use of force was unreasonable. 

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young, who is not related to Ta’Kiya Young, will preside over the case. He has been a judge of the court since 2015. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead and a second is hospitalized after a shooting Sunday night in the Linden section of Columbus.

According to Columbus police, officers responded to the area of East Hudson and Pontiac streets for a reported shooting.

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One victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:22 p.m.; the second victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

There is no word on suspects at this time, and it is not known what led to the shooting.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- SNAP benefits, which help millions of families afford groceries, are still on hold as the federal government shutdown drags on, and that pause is leaving many central Ohio families wondering how they'll put food on the table. 

Giovanni's Pizza in Marysville is stepping up to make sure kids don't go hungry. From Nov. 1-15, any child 17 and under will receive a free 8-inch, one-topping pizza. Owner Cindy Curry said no purchase is necessary and no questions will be asked.

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"It was actually my daughter who reached out and said, ‘Hey, here's something going on in the news, and I think we might need to look into this,’" Curry said. 

For families across central Ohio, the pause in SNAP benefits has created anxiety with not knowing how long the government shutdown will last or when help will come. That uncertainty is what inspired Curry to take action. 

"I just thought, what are they going to do," Curry said. "How are they going to eat?  That has to be extremely concerning and worrisome for the parents who are already having struggles during this time. Rent is expensive, utilities are expensive, and now we're going to not have food." 

For Curry, this effort is deeply personal. She said she knows how it feels to rely on SNAP benefits.

"I know how terrifying it can be to not know where the food and the money is coming from," Curry said. "So, we wanted to make sure that we were able to give back since we were able to receive those benefits at one point ourselves."

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Last week, Ohio leaders announced an emergency $25 million food assistance plan to help families impacted by the pause.

One day later, on Friday, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, saying ending SNAP payments would harm not only people, but local economies. The judge ruled the Trump Administration must tap into emergency funds to make SNAP payments during the government shutdown. 

NBC4 reached out to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office for comment regarding the $25 million food assistance allotment in light of the court’s ruling, but has not heard back as press time.

"I think it's really important that everybody's got to pull together and make sure that we keep them fed," Curry said.

For Curry, she said this isn't about politics, it's about people. Her effort isn't stopping here. She's looking at additional ways to help the community like partnering with a local food bank.

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"I'd be happy to get together with other people," Curry said. "Maybe we can partner and be stronger together and do some things that might be able to make a bigger impact."

The Trump administration must provide an update by noon Monday on how it will comply with the order. It's still unclear if Friday's rulings will be enacted quickly enough to ensure November payments go through as planned. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Crew is looking to extend its season on Sunday night as it hosts FC Cincinnati in the second game of the "Hell is Real" rivals' first round playoff series.

Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. from Lower.com Field as the Black & Gold must win in regulation or in a penalty shootout to force a deciding game three on Saturday back in Cincinnati. FCC defeated its rivals 1-0 on Monday in the opening game of the series and seeks its first trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals since 2023.

If the Crew lose, it will mark the second consecutive season they lose in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. You can follow live game updates below.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – This week on the Sunday Briefing:

• Teachers from across Ohio descend on the statehouse over what they call a threat to their $90 billion pension fund.

Hear their message to lawmakers.

• The government shutdown is now on its 34th day, one day short of the longest shutdown in history.

“The Schumer shutdown is causing great hardship,” Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said.

“Good-hearted, smart Republicans are being so careless,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio 3rd District) said.

Hear from Ohioans on Capitol Hill as the blame game intensifies.

• “He basically told me, “Don’t bring it up. This is not going to work for you,’” Ohio State orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Laura Phieffer said.

An orthopedic trauma surgeon at the top of her game has filed a federal lawsuit against Ohio State. Hear what she said happened when she spoke up about harassment.

• It’s day 34 of the federal government shutdown and funding for critical programs is gone. Will it pressure lawmakers to return to the bargaining table? Democratic strategist Spencer Dirrig and Republican strategist Will Hinman join the roundtable to discuss the latest on the shutdown.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 33-year-old woman is dead and a man was charged after a shooting early Sunday morning in northeast Columbus.

Man killed in University District stabbing

Police said reports of a shooting came in at 3:34 a.m. from the 1100 block of Wildwood Avenue in the St. Mary's area. Officers found Shakeilah White with a gunshot wound and had her taken to a hospital. She was in critical condition when medics began treating her but she was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m.

CPD investigators said they have yet to determine what led up to White's shooting death but that a man was detained at the scene. He has been charged with tampering with evidence and other weapons-related charges.

Anyone with additional details on this shooting is asked to contact police at 614-645-4730 or contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes will likely be ranked No. 1 in Tuesday's initial playoff poll after receiving that ranking again on Sunday.

Ohio State (8-0, 5-0) was named the top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll and USA Today coaches poll after an impressive 38-14 win over unranked Penn State. The win Saturday in Columbus catapulted the Buckeyes' playoff chances to nearly 100% and has quarterback Julian Sayin as a favorite to be a Heisman finalist.

What we learned from Ohio State’s 38-14 win over Penn State

With four games to play, it would take a cataclysmic collapse for Ohio State to miss the College Football Playoff as the rankings committee will reveal their initial top 25 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Ohio State has been the top team in the first playoff poll on two occasions (2023, 2019) but when named No. 1, the Buckeyes were not the top team in the preceding AP or coaches poll.

2025 Associated Press rankings (Nov. 2, 2025) 1Ohio State (54)2Indiana (11)3Texas A&M (1)4Alabama5Georgia6Oregon7Ole Miss8BYU9Texas Tech10Notre Dame11Oklahoma12Virginia13Texas14Louisville15Vanderbilt16Georgia Tech17Utah18Miami19Missouri20USC21Michigan22Memphis23Tennessee24Washington25Cincinnati

If the College Football Playoff committee copied this week's rankings on Tuesday, Ohio State would sit as the No. 1 seed in the bracket with an automatic berth into the quarterfinals. The Buckeyes would be projected to play the winner of a first round game between BYU and Texas Tech in the Rose Bowl.

In the 11 previous seasons of the CFP, the team ranked No. 1 in the AP and coaches polls has been ranked No. 1 in the first playoff poll on six occasions. The first No. 1 team in the CFP poll has won the national championship only twice and has made the national championship game on six occasions.

Ohio State is one of the three teams to miss a playoff after the committee ranked it No. 1 in its first poll. Tennessee and Mississippi State are the other two teams fitting that description.

No. 1 teams in initial College Football Playoff polls

• 2024 - Oregon (No. 1 in AP and coaches, lost quarterfinal to Ohio State)
• 2023 - Ohio State (No. 3 in AP and coaches, didn't make playoff)
• 2022 - Tennessee (No. 2 in AP, No. 3 in coaches, didn't make playoff)
• 2021 - Georgia (No. 1 in AP and coaches, won national title)
• 2020 - Alabama (No. 1 in AP and coaches, won national title)
• 2019 - Ohio State (No. 3 in AP, No. 4 in coaches, lost semifinal to Clemson)
• 2018 - Alabama (No. 1 in AP and coaches, lost final to Clemson)
• 2017 - Georgia (No. 2 in AP and coaches, lost final to Alabama)
• 2016 - Alabama (No. 1 in AP and coaches, lost final to Clemson)
• 2015 - Clemson (No. 3 in AP, No. 5 in coaches, lost final to Alabama)
• 2014 - Mississippi State (No. 1 in AP and coaches, didn't make playoff)

Ohio State will look to stay undefeated on Nov. 8 when it takes on Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It may have taken a halftime adjustment but Ohio State avoided an upset and met expectations, pulling away in the second half to defeat Penn State to remain unbeaten this season.

"We came in at halftime, and we were up by three. You would have thought we were down by 21, but I thought we responded well," coach Ryan Day said. "That's the thing. When you come out in the second half, you have to learn from the first half, but you can't dwell on it."

The 38-14 win over the Nittany Lions marked the Buckeyes' ninth consecutive victory in the series and the tenth in the last 11 meetings. Meanwhile, Penn State's struggles continue after it dropped its fifth straight contest, leaving a sour taste in the Lions' mouths that may last until 2028, which is when the two Big Ten rivals are scheduled to meet again in the regular season.

Here's what we learned from Saturday.

Buckeyes come out of halftime fighting

The mood at the Horseshoe changed when C.J. Donaldson coughed up the football late in the first half, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to tighten up the contest. And PSU took advantage of the short field with Kaytron Allen scoring a one-yard touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter to get Penn State within three.

Saturday marked the first time the Ohio State defense had allowed a first half touchdown.

"I really just didn't feel the intensity that I felt like we needed. I went in there and just put out the fact that this is a game. These guys aren't going to come in here and lay down," safety Caleb Downs said. "We got to go and take it."

The Buckeyes responded with a five play, 75-yard drive out of the locker room, capped off by Donaldson's 1-yard rushing score that redeemed the West Virginia transfer from his earlier fumble.

"We came out and did that at a high level in the second half -- came out and scored," Downs said. "We got out there and then we got a chance on defense and got it three and out. We went out and executed." 

Sayin makes the case for Heisman consideration

Heading into Saturday, Penn State had only been allowing an average of 145 passing yards this season. But Ohio State more than doubled that with quarterback Julian Sayin putting together a second straight four-touchdown, zero-interception performance.

After an impressive outing at Wisconsin, Sayin completed 20 of his 23 passes, which makes for an 87% accuracy rate for the afternoon. Long story short, the most accurate thrower in the country got even better on Saturday.

The redshirt freshman gives all the credit to his teammates.

"This is a team game. And, you know, the the offensive line did a great job today," Sayin said. "Our receivers did a great job today. And, you know, none of it happens without, you know, us as an offense, as a collective."

Even Day, who preaches a team-first mentality every day, thinks Sayin should get some Heisman consideration.

"Even when you look at the Heisman Trophy, it's sort of after the season's over and there's still a whole bunch of football to be played afterwards. So I think that's unique, but that's the tradition," Day said. "But I do think that if Julian continues to play the way that he's playing, he deserves to be in the conversation at the very least."

Penn State QB Grunkemeyer's homecoming

Ethan Grunkemeyer is used to being the spotlight. He served as team captain for Olentangy just two years ago, setting a number of school records along the way.

But Saturday saw a unique situation as the central Ohio native made his second ever collegiate start and his first inside the Horseshoe.

"It was a good experience. Saw a lot of football games in this stadium. This is my first time playing in it so, that was obviously pretty cool," Grunkemeyer said. "And then just based off the play, just gotta go back and watch the film. But we lost so, like I said, not good enough when we lose."

The redshirt freshman ended up completing 19 of his 28 passes for 145 yards and an interception. Those numbers were slightly better than his first outing a week ago at Iowa.

"He made some big third down throws. He once again managed the offense in a hostile environment. I don't think we had any snap count violations. I thought he ran the offense and I thought he did what was expected of him," Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith said. "Ohio State is a talented team and they put pressure on him. I thought he got much better from game one to game two, and I continue to look forward to him just continuing to get better week by week." 

It won't get any easier for Grunkemeyer. He'll make his Beaver Stadium debut next week when Penn State hosts No. 2 Indiana.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The murder of a 25-year-old man in southeast Columbus remains unsolved five years later.

Columbus police are seeking assistance in solving the fatal shooting of Jaleel Carter-Tate, who was shot and killed on Sept. 29, 2020. Officers responded to reports of a person shot in the 800 block of East Whitter Street in the Karns Park neighborhood.

Carter-Tate was found lying in the street and unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 9:52 p.m. at the scene.

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Police said several individuals were seen with Carter-Tate, just before the shooting occurred; however, no suspects have been named, and there are no reports of witness statements.

A little over 10 months later, Carter-Tate's brother, 23-year-old Jerick Jacobs-Tate, was shot and killed at the former location of the Whittier Food Mart, about 10 blocks east on East Whittier Street.

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An adult is dead after being hit by a car early Sunday morning in a north Columbus neighborhood.

Juvenile critically injured in South Linden hit-skip

Columbus police said the victim was at the intersection of East 11th Avenue and North 5th Street in Weinland Park at 1:37 a.m. A red Mitsubishi Lancer was driving west on East 11th Ave., veered off the roadway and hit the pedestrian. Police are investigating why the vehicle left the roadway.

The victim was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead after the driver of the Mitsubishi fled the scene of the crash. Police report that at least five other individuals were inside the car at the time of the crash.

Anyone with details on the vehicle or driver is asked to contact Columbus police's accident investigation unit at 614-645-4767. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers are 614-461-8477.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Orkin has ratted out Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati for being among the top 50 cities for reported rodent activity in the United States.

In order to create this year’s list of the "rattiest cities," Orkin compiled the number of new rodent services it performed at owner-occupied residences from August 2024 to August 2025. The cities that sought the most help with rodents -- such as rats, mice and chipmunks -- topped the list.

Columbus ranked at No. 21, falling four spots from last year’s report. Cleveland was also named among the most rodent-infested cities, at No. 11, as well as Cincinnati, at No. 27. While Cleveland fell one spot compared with last year, Cincinnati jumped eight spots. 

Los Angeles took the crown as the rattiest city in America, dethroning Chicago after the Windy City’s 10-year reign at No. 1. 

“In true Hollywood fashion, Los Angeles has taken center stage,” the report said. “With year-round warm weather, a booming culinary scene and dense neighborhoods that offer ample access to food and shelter, the City of Angels checks every box for rodent survival.”

The list by Orkin is based solely on the number of treatments in each city and does not factor in population sizes, which likely impacted the rankings. The cities sitting at the top of the list are some of the most populated in the country.

Chicago came in at No. 2, and was followed by New York; San Francisco; Hartford, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Philadelphia and Minneapolis.

Orkin’s full list is available on its website. 

ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Tuesday, voters will determine if two western Licking County communities will merge into one municipality.

Residents will get to vote on a merger between the Village of Alexandria and St. Albans Township. The idea came from a dedicated merger committee, which determined merging the two communities would offer protection against the rapid growth hitting largely rural Licking County.

In Ohio, municipalities are either cities, villages or townships. Cities and villages, like Alexandria, have the right to home rule, allowing them to pass laws to govern themselves. Some townships qualify for limited home rule, but St. Albans does not have enough residents to do so, and instead is subject to state and county authorities.

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Those in favor of the merger say combining into one village would offer St. Albans control over its own land. Ohio townships have far fewer protections against land annexation, and some residents worry neighboring New Albany will go back on promises to respect community boundaries.

“While New Albany says that it is not growing beyond Mink Street, there is no guarantee
of that, and my taxes to Alexandria will be less than paying taxes to New Albany,” St. Albans resident and commission member Ann Lodder said.

Groups like Licking County Conservatives and the Jersey Township Board of Trustees are encouraging St. Albans residents to vote against the merger. They argue St. Albans is in a better fiscal spot without combining, pointing to things like Alexandria's 1% income tax, which would be adopted if they merged.

"As firm believers in the township form of government, it is clear to us that the current board of trustees in St. Albans Township has done little-to-nothing to help its township, and has allowed fear and misinformation to spur the creation of perceived 'threats' identified by the merger commission," Jersey Township trustees wrote in a formal, unanimous condemnation of the merger.

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The merger commission said Jersey Township officials have "no authority, no stake and no justification" for condemning the merger. The commission, made up of an equal number of stakeholders from both municipalities in the merger, said the formal opposition was an overstep and "out of line."

The commission said annexation is a real threat, and that 6,000 acres of Jersey Township have already been annexed by New Albany. Commission members said the merger is an attempt to protect rural life and give residents more autonomy. They also noted infrastructure that would support Jersey Township is planned for land within St. Albans, which they pointed to as evidence that St. Albans needs more say over its land.

The commission said growth is approaching rapidly, and merging will protect local autonomy and preserve the rural way of life. Opponents to the merger said it will increase taxes and restrict residents. If the ballot measure does not pass Tuesday, a new citizen-led initiative cannot be reintroduced for three years.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is dead after a stabbing early Sunday morning in a north Columbus neighborhood.

Juvenile critically injured in South Linden hit-skip

A police dispatcher said officers received reports of a stabbing at 1:48 a.m. at the 1700 block of North High Street in the University District. One victim was found with a stab wound and taken to a hospital.

The victim was pronounced dead at 2:17 a.m., per a police dispatcher.

Police has yet to provide information on a potential suspect as it continues its investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A juvenile was critically injured after being hit by a car Saturday evening, according to police.

The juvenile, whose age was not released, was hit just before 5:30 p.m. in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Windsor Avenue.

A white sedan was traveling south on Cleveland Avenue, which had a green light, when the juvenile was hit, police said. The juvenile was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The white sedan left the area after the crash, according to police. The vehicle has damage to the passenger side, including a broken mirror and cracked windshield. A photo of the vehicle was not provided.

No other details were immediately available. Anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver is asked to call 614-645-4767.

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohio's police union filed a lawsuit against the city of Whitehall on Friday, alleging an email policy violates the First Amendment.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge #9 (FOP) sued Whitehall, Mayor Michael Bivens and Chief of Police Mike Crispen over a policy banning FOP from using the city's email system. The lawsuit alleges Bivens and Crispen had the city's IT department ban all emails with the domain "@fop9.org."

Bivens and Crispen have a lengthy, contentious relationship with the FOP, particularly FOP President Brian Steel. NBC4 Investigates took a deep dive into the culture within Whitehall's police force, the subject of much of the sparring between Steel and Crispen.

The lawsuit follows months of public accusations, with Steel alleging Whitehall punishes union members, and Crispen alleging Steel has harassed leadership, including accusing Steel of vandalism. See previous coverage in the video player above.

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According to the lawsuit, FOP emails were blocked after Steel sent a vote of no confidence memo to Crispen, accusing him of "failed leadership." The lawsuit alleges Steel received a response directing him to "stop sending these emails to the chiefs' account," and threatening to block him if the messages continued.

In February, Steel sent another email. As previously indicated, Steel was blocked from the email system, and the lawsuit claims it prevented him from emailing union members. The lawsuit alleges the blanket ban violates the First Amendment.

In a September city council meeting, City Attorney Brad Nicodemus addressed the email blockage. He said there can be legitimate reasons for blocking emails, but bans cannot infringe on people's right to petition the government. He said blocking emails based solely on the sender is like holding a public comment session and banning specific people.

"Based on what I have and know at this time, the ban violates the First Amendment," Nicodemus said, telling officials they should lift the ban.

NBC4 reached out to the city of Whitehall and is awaiting comment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- No. 1 Ohio State is back at home this week to take on unranked Penn State.

Saturday is the 41st meeting of the teams, and OSU has not lost to Penn State in the past eight games. Ohio State is undefeated dating back to last year's national championship, but Penn State is on a four-game losing steak. The Buckeyes are coming in with seven injured players against the Nittany Lions, who have faced a tough run lately.

Among the injured is wide receiver Quincy Porter, who notched two catches in Ohio State's last game against Wisconsin. The true freshman hails from New Jersey, where he was 247Sports' No. 1 player.

Ohio State injury report (Week 10 vs. Penn State)

• DL Logan George
• SAF Malik Hartford
• QB Mason Maggs
• WR Quincy Porter
• RB Anthony Rogers
• DT Max Roy
• DL Ahmed Tounkara

No players were listed as questionable.

Kickoff is at noon Saturday, the first game at Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes in three weeks.