Ohio News

PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) -- Apple picking is supposed to be a family-friendly tradition, but multiple theft incidents at a popular central Ohio farm are leaving a bad taste.

Lynd Fruit Farm now wants to make sure a few bad apples don't spoil the fun for the rest of its visitors.

Over Labor Day weekend, four separate incidents occurred where people tried to hide apples in their cars. Three of the cases involved small amounts; in the fourth instance, someone tried to hide $300 worth of apples around their vehicle's spare tire, their children, in their glove box, and under their seats.

Unusual ‘3 Bears’ house in Worthington listed for $1 million

"I'd say 95% of the time, there's children involved and sometimes the parents try blaming their kids and say, ‘Oh, my kids did that,’" Alex Patton, whose family owns Lynd Fruit Farm, said. "But when I ask their kids to lift the bag, they can't even lift it because it weighs 50 pounds."

Patton said farm staff ask every customer how many bags of apples they've picked.

"All of our four incidents yesterday, they said we only picked one bag and showed us one bag," Patton said. "And we said, ‘That's it? No more in your truck or in your car?’ And they said, ‘Nope, this is it,’ and then when we walked back to the trunk, you look in the windows, and there's apples hidden under their kids' legs. It's really sad."

Now, to prevent further incidents, Lynd Fruit Farm has added extra help around the orchard to monitor things.

25-story tower with apartments, hotel proposed near Lower.com Field

"I normally have pictures on my phone of those people so we can kind of watch for them," Patton said. "But a $300 order, I told those people not to come back and I let them know that it was a terrible lesson for their children."

Patton said the farm isn't pursuing legal action for this weekend's thefts, but future incidents may be handled differently. 

"If people see anything that's suspicious of people, maybe stealing apples or trying to, we want them to report it to our greeters or our checkout person with a good description of the vehicle and the people," Patton said. 

Patton said it's unfortunate that some people try to cheat the system. He said he hopes it doesn't ruin the experience for the rest of the families visiting the farm. 

Columbus high school combatting district trend of in-school violence

"Ninety-nine percent of our customers are perfect, great customers," Patton said. "They come out here and have a lot of fun. So, we hate for the 1% to kind of ruin things for the 99% that are having a great time not causing any issues."

With big varieties like Honeycrisp and EverCrisp still ahead, Patton said they want to get this under control now before some of the busiest weekends of the season. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police responded to at least four domestic violence calls over the Labor Day weekend, according to arrest reports.

Advocates against domestic violence find this concerning, but it shows them areas that need improvement. 

Rainbow crosswalk near Ohio State restored after vandalism incident

Three cases involved intimate partner violence and one involved an incident between a brother and sister. In this case, Columbus Police said officers responded to a home on Gilbert Street by a woman who said her brother choked her. The records show the woman was later shot by her brother. When officers arrived at the house, the suspect started shooting at officers, police said, with officers returning fire. The suspect was hit; he has been taken into custody after receiving medical treatment.

Ohio Domestic Violence Network Director of Health and Disability Programs Rachel Ramirez said the needs are different for someone dealing with intimate partner violence compared to family violence. She said the Ohio Revised Code treats these cases the same as far as what someone can be charged with, but said they differ when it comes to ways to help a victim.

Ramirez said something that applies to both is that people who are close to a victim can reach out to safety resources before it escalates.

“I think it's that kind of see something, say something,” Ramirez said. “Remember, that used to be one of those being able to say something to others, being able to express your concern, being able to notice, you know, if there are changes in behavior or what that is.”

Columbus high school combatting district trend of in-school violence

Ramirez said there isn’t just one factor that causes domestic violence. However, they tend to see increases on holidays, like Labor Day weekend. Ramirez said there are a lot of different things that cause an uptick on holiday weekends: alcohol, financial stress, and even change. She said holidays often involve all three.

“Does stress cause domestic violence? No, but going back to school and all of those changes and that can be a whole level of stress for some people and kind of what that is,” she said. “So when we put all these factors together in specific cases with specific people, then I think sometimes those things can escalate.”

Ramirez said she wants to remind people that ODVN’s resources are free, something she said many people don’t realize. She said they provide services to more than 100,000 people a year and that talking about the issue is very important because it lets more people know about the resources available to help.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Across Columbus City Schools' middle or high schools, police are called an average of twice a day to handle violent student outbursts. 

Last week, NBC4 Investigates showed you the level of violence CCS schools must handle. NBC4 Investigates' five-month investigation found hundreds of fights between students and physical attacks and threats directed at teachers. 

Rainbow crosswalk near Ohio State restored after vandalism incident

Pursuing solutions, one CCS high school has reversed the trend of violence inside the classroom. NBC4 Investigates sat down with Dr. Samuel Johnson Jr., the principal at Beechcroft High School in north Columbus. He’s been there for eight years and said the methods he’s using to reduce violence are working. 

“Building relationships goes a long way with administering your policy,” Johnson said. 

State discipline reports for Beechcroft's 2023-2024 school year show an overall drop in occurrences by 25% from the year before. Discipline reports include in-school and out-of-school suspensions, expulsion and emergency removal. Data for the 2024-2025 school year is not yet available.

Johnson said Beechcroft's teachers sit down with students to try and get to the root of behavioral issues. That attention to concerns also includes getting students to connect with one another. 

“We have student-led restorative practices, which focus on our portrait of a graduate, which teaches students how to be empathetic, have communication skills,” Johnson said. 

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The district said it’s intentionally training school leaders to work with students on de-escalation techniques and noted that in schools like Beechcroft, this approach is working.

“We have to build relationships," Johnson said. "We have to have a policy that doesn't create the school-to-prison pipeline."

In the 2023-2024 school year, Beechcroft had four calls to the police, one of the lowest of all CCS middle and high schools. These included one report of a gun, two fights, and, in one case, parents yelling at an umpire. 

“We have crisis prevention, professional development, we use our counselors,” Johnson said. 

It’s not working at every school; across the district, reports of fighting and violence have increased. NBC4 Investigates has the data across all district schools for the 2023-2024 school year:

At Beechcroft, the numbers show Johnson’s methods of building relationships and developing programs that connect students are working.  

“Our teachers, administrators and our security have their ear to the ground so if something is about to happen, we solve it before it does,” Johnson said. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohio rock and roll fans can rejoice as the first bands for the 2026 Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival have been unveiled.

The first six artists for next year's festival, which will take place from May 14-17 at Historic Crew Stadium, have been confirmed. The bands set to perform in Columbus includes:

• Lorna Shore
• Paleface Swiss
• Attila
• Chelsea Grin
• Brand of Sacrifice
• Disembodied Tyrant

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New bands, including the show's headliners, will be announced in the coming weeks. Last year's headliners were Korn, Metallica, and Linkin Park.

Passes for all four days of the festival are available on Sonic Temple's website. Next year's festival will mark the fifth one at Historic Crew Stadium since the inaugural concerts in 2019.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State is back on top of the college football world as its 14-7 win Saturday over No. 1 Texas has been rewarded by poll voters.

Media members and coaches have voted the Buckeyes (1-0) the new top team in the Associated Press and USA Today rankings, respectively. This is the first time in a decade the Scarlet & Gray sit atop the AP poll during the regular season.

The loss dropped Texas down six spots to No. 7 in the AP poll.

Ryan Day reflects on Texas win as Ohio State turns attention to Grambling State

The strong defensive effort in Columbus by Ohio State against the Longhorns impressed the country and was one of three top-ten games in Week 1 that ended with the lower-ranked team winning.

New No. 3 LSU (formerly No. 9) beat No. 8 Clemson (formerly No. 4) 17-10 Saturday night before Miami, who moved from No. 10 to No. 5, took down Notre Dame Sunday night 27-24, dropping the Irish from No. 6 to No. 9.

2025 Associated Press rankings (Sept. 2, 2025) 1Ohio State (55)2Penn State (7)3LSU (3)4Georgia5Miami6Oregon7Texas8Clemson9Notre Dame10South Carolina11Illinois12Arizona State13Florida14Florida State15Michigan16Iowa State17SMU18Oklahoma19Texas A&M20Mississippi21Alabama22Tennessee23Indiana24Texas Tech25Utah

The wild opening week of the season that had four top-ten teams lose has given the projected 12-team College Football Playoff bracket a complete makeover. The entire bracket has changed with Ohio State now the projected No. 1 seed and Big Ten champion.

In this projection, the Buckeyes would play No. 8 Clemson or No. 9 Notre Dame in a playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

Projected playoff bracket using AP poll

After a grueling Week 1 test, Ohio State will get to take it a little easier for its Week 2 game on Saturday against division two school Grambling State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A former Ohio State offensive lineman was in court Tuesday morning after an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred late last week.

According to a criminal complaint, a woman arrived at the Columbus police station on Marconi Boulevard to report that Michael McCullough had assaulted and strangled her the morning of Aug. 28.

Police said the victim reported that she and McCullough, 25, began to argue in his vehicle when McCullough reportedly broke her cell phone, punched her in the face multiple times, grabbed her by the throat and began pushing her against the window. The victim said she was not able to breathe and felt panicked, eventually regaining consciousness when they pulled in front of their residence.

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The victim had visible injuries, police said, including a black eye, a cut, swollen lower lip and bruising around her neck.

McCullough, charged with one count of strangulation, was a walk-on long-snapper for the Buckeyes from 2018-2020. He was arrested on Friday, and a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $50,000 bond Tuesday morning.

McCullough was also ordered to comply with a protection order and to stay away from the victim, who said in court Tuesday that she does not feel safe and that this incident was one of "many" prior domestic violence situations with the suspect.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 9 for McCullough, who has no prior criminal history.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus developer is proposing a 25-story tower just steps from Lower.com Field, aiming to bring a new hotel, apartments, offices and entertainment options to the rapidly changing district west of Downtown.

Plans submitted by an affiliate of Arshot Investment Corp. call for transforming a 1.6-acre surface lot at the southwest corner of West Nationwide Boulevard and Hocking Street into a high-rise. The proposal includes a street-level restaurant and coffee shop, a five-story parking garage, and a sixth-floor amenity deck featuring another restaurant, a fitness center and a pool.

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Above the amenity deck, two towers would rise: seven stories with an 88-room hotel topped with offices, and a 19-story residential tower with more than 240 apartments and a rooftop terrace.

• A rendering of the 25-story tower proposed for a 1.6-acre lot near Lower.com Field. (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• A rendering of the 25-story tower proposed for a 1.6-acre lot near Lower.com Field. (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• A rendering of the 25-story tower proposed for a 1.6-acre lot near Lower.com Field. (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)
• A rendering of the 25-story tower proposed for a 1.6-acre lot near Lower.com Field. (Courtesy Photo/City of Columbus)

Jonathan Barnes, an architect with Gensler, the firm behind the design, described the area and the project as a possible extension of Columbus' Arena District.

"We see this within the next few years becoming a destination and a district unto itself," Barnes said during the Downtown Commission's review of the proposal on Aug. 26. "What we also see is, and hard not to see, the untapped potential of the proximity to the Columbus Crew's soccer field. We think that game day could be an amazing time for this development."

The site sits directly across from the stadium's main entrance and adjacent to the Astor Park development, where a new apartment complex is under construction. It's part of a broader push to activate the area with new dining, hospitality and entertainment offerings.

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Commissioner Bob Loversidge praised the design during the Aug. 26 meeting.

"It's really complex, it seems like you've done a really good job of getting all the pieces and parts to work," Loversidge said. "I think it'd be a great addition to the city, I think it brings some things down to that end of the street that are really necessary and are missing now, like entertainment, food."

Arshot has a long history in Columbus development, though some of its more recent designs, such as the 25-story Millennial Tower proposed before the COVID-19 pandemic and a redevelopment of Cooper Stadium introduced in 2023, have not moved forward.

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) — An unusual property known as the “3 Bears” house could be just right for a buyer looking for privacy, outdoor living and surprising architecture.

The home at 264 E. South St. in Worthington recently hit the market for $995,000. Nestled inside Rush Creek Village, a neighborhood of homes built on the principles of Frank Lloyd Wright, the house is a bit of an outlier. One of the few homes in the area not designed by Theodore Van Fossen, an architect hand-picked by community founders, Martha and Richard Wakefield, its size and the inclusion of a two-car garage set it apart.

The more than 3,000-square-foot home is nearly double the average 1,700-square-foot size of other nearby homes, according to listing agent Cynthia MacKenzie of CYMACK Real Estate, who also resides in the neighborhood. Eschewing the community's typical carport, the garage adds to its originality.

Built in 1966, the home showcases a distinct mid-century modern style, with some recent updates. MacKenzie noted that the residence does not have the deed restriction that obligates the owner to seek approval for changes from an architectural review board.

The dwelling is primarily constructed of brick and features four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two lofts, and three fireplaces.

• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography
• Photo Courtesy/ © Jeffrey T. Horvath Photography

The listing details the outdoor offerings.

“Step outside to discover expansive decks, patios, and outdoor living spaces that rival any park,” the listing reads. “Listen to the creek from your backyard, host gatherings with ease, or unwind while enjoying breathtaking ravine views.

“A treehouse, space for a potential zip line, and endless opportunities for exploring nature make this home as playful as it is peaceful. Tucked into the wooded landscape, yet just minutes to Old Worthington and Colonial Hills.”

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The three-part house sits on a double lot, encompassing half an acre. Each section was built with its own distinct purpose, which inspired its name. The “Papa Bear” served as the main living and bedroom area. The “Mama Bear” section was originally designed as a mother-in-law suite, previously not connected to the main living space. Lastly, the garage makes up the “Baby Bear” section.

A renovation and addition to the house took place about a dozen years ago, which unified the space and made it more flexible for future owners. Among the improvements were a “chef's kitchen,” an enlarged primary suite with a walk-in closet, a kitchenette and a private office loft.

Property records indicate the house has only been transferred a handful of times since it was constructed. This is the first time it has been available since 2002.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After a high profile victory over Texas to start the season, Ohio State looks to ride the momentum into its game against Grambling State.

Coach Ryan Day answered questions from reporters Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. You can watch his comments as it happens in the video player above.

The Buckeyes are coming off a 14-7 win over the top-ranked Longhorns in an electric atmosphere at Ohio Stadium, marking their sixth straight win over a top-five team.

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Quarterback Julian Sayin was steady in his first start, directing the offense to 203 total yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate in the fourth quarter. The sophomore became the first quarterback to win his first start against an AP No. 1 team since Jim Harbaugh did it in 1984 when he led Michigan to a 22-14 win over Miami.

Grambling State is coming off a 55-7 win over Langston in its opener. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - An annual weekend event full of traditions, food, entertainment and much more is returning to Columbus.

The Columbus Oktoberfest is back Friday through Sunday at the Ohio Expo Center, offering a full schedule of activities for all to enjoy. This year, the festival is bringing back its classic foods, beer, specialty desserts, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages.

New this year is the Paint & Sip event, allowing patrons to visit Square Canvas at the festival, where they can create their own artwork while sipping on a festival drink. The paint and sip is being held on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are required for this activity.

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Festival-goers can also participate in the Oktoberfest Meiler Vier, a 4-mile run through the Ohio Expo Center. The run will happen on Friday at 6:15 p.m. Anyone who participates will receive a free beer, complimentary sausage, and free parking at the festival. Registration is currently open for the run, but spots are filling up.

The festival will also have several family-friendly activities including arts and crafts, inflatables on site, learning about different types of trails in Ohio, face painting, and a Sunday Family Funday. Admission to the festival is free, but parking is $15.

Columbus Oktoberfest is also cashless and will only take credit cards for food and beverage purchases. If you forget a credit card, patrons can put their cash on a Fest Card at the souvenir stand in Heidelberg Hall. According to the festival website, a portion of the food and drink proceeds will benefit festival amenities and local charities.

To learn more about Columbus Oktoberfest or to sign up for events, visit the festival's website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former payroll administrator for the Central Ohio Transit Authority is facing multiple felony charges over allegations that she stole more than $12,000. 

On Aug. 26, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Ashanti Powell, 45, of Pickerington, on third-degree felony charges of theft in office and telecommunications fraud, along with a fourth-degree felony charge of tampering with records.

The alleged crimes occurred while Powell worked at COTA from 2019 until her resignation in 2022.

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The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit, a law enforcement division that looks into fraud within government and public agencies, launched an investigation when it flagged potential payroll fraud at COTA, according to a news release. 

The alleged fraud came to light when a former COTA employee received a federal tax form for earnings in 2022, even though he retired in 2019. The former employee contacted COTA in 2023 when he received the tax form, prompting the transportation agency to ask the SIU to investigate, according to Jeff Pullin, a COTA spokesperson.

Investigators discovered Powell entered work hours for two former COTA employees and modified their direct deposit information so that the funds were deposited into her account. 

The division said it also identified other discrepancies with Powell’s payroll, including unapproved pay rates and vacation sell backs – a process in which employees exchange unused vacation days for money.

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Pullin said that since the incident, COTA has implemented “protocols that require more than one administrator to set up a payroll account to prevent fraud.”

Launched in 2019, the SIU has assisted in 143 convictions, resulting in more than $13 million in restitution, the news release stated. The unit said it receives hundreds of tips about suspected fraud each year. 

Powell’s arraignment, or initial court appearance during which she will be formally informed of the charges against her and required to enter a plea, is scheduled for Sept. 8. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University is attempting to stop a Michigan company from trademarking the term "Buckeye Tears."

The Brown Jug, an Ann Arbor bar and restaurant just steps from the heart of the University of Michigan, offers "Buckeye Tears" on draft for $7. On Aug. 19, 2024, The Brown Jug applied to trademark the term for beer and liquor. Although the U.S. allowed The Brown Jug to proceed, Ohio State filed a formal opposition on Wednesday to stop the use.

OSU argued "Buckeye Tears" infringes on the university's copyrights, and the trademark could be incorrectly associated with the university. Ohio State said associating beer and liquor with its athletics program could damage its reputation, and argued the trademark would dilute the strength of the Buckeyes brand.

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Josh Bergen, founder and managing attorney of trademark law firm Gerben IP, said Ohio State will need to prove customers would assume OSU is directly associated with the name.

"Normally, you know, somebody that's referencing a university in a, in a trademark filing has the uphill battle themselves to really get around it," Gerben said. "This is actually a unique case where I think the restaurant would probably have some pretty good defenses available."

Bergen said the term buckeye extends beyond the university and is associated with all of Ohio. In Columbus alone, there are many restaurants that use "buckeye" in their name or on their menu. The term is even a topic among state legislators, who recently introduced legislation to further Ohio's connection to the buckeye by designating a state candy.

Further, Bergen said, the argument is a bit of a "gray area," as OSU is relying on consumer confusion for its argument. He said a Michigan fan walking into The Brown Jug and ordering a pint of Buckeye Tears is likely not under the assumption that Ohio State is selling alcohol under a self-deprecating name.

Bergen did not count Ohio State out completely, however.

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"The university is going to argue, 'Well, they're profiting off of our goodwill. People are still know it's a reference to us,' and so there's arguments on both sides of this thing," Bergen said.

The Brown Jug poked fun at OSU for the filing on social media, writing, "Looks like OSU wants to trademark 'Buckeye Tears'... funny, we've been serving them for years. Stop by The Jug and grab one off the menu -- no paperwork required."

Ohio State has made headlines before for its attention to trademarks. In 2022, Ohio State successfully trademarked the word "THE." The trademark allows Ohio State to control the use of "THE" on clothing and merchandise, so only Ohio State can sell apparel that just reads "THE." Watch coverage of this ruling in the video player above.

Gerben said its past success with patents does not contribute to OSU's filing against The Brown Jug. Rather, he said it highlights the importance Ohio State places on policing its brand. According to the opposition filing, Ohio State's licensing has generated more than $145 million in royalties from $2.2 billion in retail sales.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The historic Columbus building long associated with the now-defunct alternative radio station WWCD is set to be demolished.

The Brewery District site at 1036 S. Front St. will make way for a six-story apartment complex after approval this month of the demolition and development plans by the city's Historic Resources Commission. A project by real estate firm Arcadia Development, the building is slated to include 106 residential units, a pool deck on the second floor, and a parking garage.

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The commission voted 5-2 in favor of the project, subject to additional planning for lighting and signage, which will be reviewed by city staff before final approval. Watch a previous NBC4 report on WWCD's closure in the video player above.

The Brewery District site at 1036 S. Front St. will make way for a six-story apartment complex. (Courtesy Photos/Franklin County Auditor's Office, City of Columbus)

For decades, the Front Street building served as the home for WWCD, known to listeners as CD101, CD102.5, and, most recently, CD92.9FM. The station's closure in April 2024 came after it moved to an online-only format a few months prior. At the time, owner Randy Malloy said the station was unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the 92.9 frequency.

"The time has come that we must announce with heavy hearts that WWCD Radio has played its last song," the closure announcement read. "It has been an incredible journey, one that legend can be told with memoires and cherished moments shared with you that will never be forgotten. Thank you to each and every one of you."

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The frequency owners, Delmar and ICS Communications, at first launched their own alternative station called 93X. They said the new station would keep the alternative format and also place the same emphasis on supporting local artists in central Ohio. But a month later, 93X was gone, replaced by an oldies station branded My 92.9 and, in recent months, a regional Mexican station.

WWCD previously left the airwaves for a brief stint in 2020 after its agreement with owners of the 102.5 frequency ended. But that did not last long, as the station came back on 92.9.

Central Ohio Weather and Radar

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With meteorological fall here and the fall feel in the air, many are wondering if this pleasant late summer weather will continue through fall and into the winter?

First, I say this every year, and it really is good to remind everyone of it: One of the bigger drivers of seasonal outlooks is the forecast for El Niño, La Niña or neutral patterns. No matter the seasonal outlook for our upcoming winter, we can count on warm days, cool days, wet days, dry days and even some snowy days. These occur every winter.

Now, on that note, this past winter did not have many large snow events. In fact, our largest daily snowfall only clocked 2.4" on Jan. 6. However, the two-day event totaled about 4.5" of snowfall and was part of more than half a foot that fell within three days. What is crazy is if you asked most people if the past winter was snowy or not, I am sure almost anyone would say not. However, January saw nearly a foot of snow, more than 2" above normal.

But in general, the season was such a bust (snow-wise), especially in December and February. In those two months, in total, we picked up just more than 2" of snowfall! For the entire winter 2024-25 season (including the 0.1" we picked up in November), we only totaled 14.8" for the season, about a foot below normal. But that was also the snowiest winter we had had in five years, when we had more normal snowfall in 2020-21. We are due for a snowy winter, actually, with the last "snowy" winter (+6" or more) back in 2014-15.

OK, so this time last year, we had more of a stronger El Niño in winter and spring, and then went neutral by this time of the year. The outlook was for us to be in a weak La Niña pattern into winter. Guess what? That is more or less the same forecast again for this year, with a possible even weaker La Niña to near neutral pattern.

So what happens in a La Niña pattern? Generally speaking, a La Niña pattern for the winter will set up in our part of the country with near normal temperatures and wetter than normal conditions for the winter. But this pattern can be highly dependent on where the Polar Jet Stream sets up for the winter. In addition, if fall temperatures trend warmer later into the season, we could have more wide-open Great Lakes, too.

When clipper systems come out of Canada in the winter with wide-open (non-iced-over) lakes, this can lead to heavier-than-normal snowfalls in the lake effect snow zone. On top of that, jet stream locations do not stay in one place for that long no matter the time or the season, and will shift, dip, rise, and sometimes flatten out. This leads to my earlier point that we will still experience the same crazy weather that we do EVERY SINGLE WINTER. We live in a fun part of the country where a small shift in the weather pattern does and will mean a big shift in the weather.

According to the Climate Prediction Center at NOAA, it does appear that we will remain in a weak La Niña pattern for fall into early winter, then the pattern should revert back to a more neutral pattern heading through the bulk of winter for our area.

The three-month outlooks from NOAA for the meteorological winter months of December-January-February look quite similar to last year's forecast for the same period, issued at the same time.

A year ago, our outlook showed a signal for near-normal to slightly better chances of above-normal chances for the three-month period. Temperatures ended up being below normal because of the cold January.

The precipitation outlook does look for a bit better chance for wetter-than-normal weather during the period. Last year, we had a stronger signal for wetter weather, and it did pan out, as we ended the three-month period above normal for precipitation. However, it should be noted that snowfall was well below normal during the period.

Even though January was snowier than normal, the month was still drier than normal for overall precipitation. January 2025 was for sure a colder, drier month, where we were nearly 6 degrees below normal, and almost 2 inches below normal for total precipitation, and 2 inches above normal for snowfall.

The overall outlook from NOAA for the upcoming winter 2025-26 season does appear to be in line with a forecast for a weak La Niña to neutral pattern. Obviously, in any given winter weather season, there are other, more day-to-day and weekly weather variables that we can track as well. These are hard to predict far out, especially this far out. These can have shorter-term impacts on the weather. If one of these features were to cause a strong cold snap or a heavy snowfall, that could greatly impact the final numbers for snow, precipitation, or even, to a lesser degree, the overall temperatures for the three-month winter period.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After a two-week spike of 42 cents per gallon, and a rise is cost in four of the last five weeks, Columbus area gas prices took a dip of nearly 20 cents per gallon.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, gas prices dropped 18.7 cents in the last week to average out at $3.24 per gallon. The current price is 1.6 cents higher than four weeks ago but remains 3.1 cents lower than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.73 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.51, a difference of 78 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also fell by 20.2 cents from $3.35 per gallon to $3.15 per gallon.

Nationally, gas prices fell slightly by 3.4 cents per gallon to average out at $3.15. The price of diesel rose, however, by 1.4 cents, settling in at $3.66 per gallon.

What is price cycling?

Although the state of Ohio hasn’t seen significant decreases of late, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan says that prices throughout the county, including in Ohio, are lower in all but three states.

“With the unofficial end of summer now behind us, we saw the lowest national average price of gasoline on Labor Day since 2020,” De Haan said. “This caps off the most affordable summer at the pump since 2021, with motorists spending $11.3 billion less on gasoline compared to last year.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is reportedly the first state to require artificial intelligence policies in public schools. 

With the passage of House Bill 96 this summer, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce must develop a model policy on AI use for students and staff by Dec. 31. Ohio schools will have until July 1, 2026, to adopt policies. 

Some central Ohio districts already have policies addressing AI. Bexley City Schools considers unauthorized AI use akin to plagiarism. Olentangy schools allow students to use AI in specific circumstances with staff permission. 

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In June, Columbus City Schools’ policy and governance committee discussed developing an AI policy. The board has not approved one, but the policy committee will have another meeting Sept. 9 where the topic could reemerge. 

Canal Winchester Local Schools and Dublin City Schools both have a policy acknowledging the positives of AI in education and grants the superintendent the right to support AI use where appropriate to learning. Students are not allowed to use AI to complete assignments, but they can use it for research and writing assistance, data analysis and comprehension with teacher permission. 

Higher education in Ohio is also a national leader in AI and education. Starting this fall, Ohio State University is requiring all students to use AI in their classes. OSU promises by 2029, all graduates will leave the university “AI fluent,” meaning they are trained to use AI in their respective fields. See previous coverage in the video player above.

The state has already embraced AI possibilities in education. In May 2024, current Sen. and then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted led Ohio’s AI in Education Coalition to develop a strategy for integrating AI into the state’s K-12 education system. 

Labor Day protests call for workers’ rights, school funding

The coalition invited industry and education stakeholders to participate in one of three work groups: industry, operations and instructional. Together, these groups developed several recommendations for Ohio’s education system to be best prepared for AI. The coalition said schools should begin incorporating AI thoughtfully and develop policies quickly. The coalition also encouraged the state to provide support and incentives for AI integration. 

There is also a federal push toward AI in schools. In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing an AI education task force to help schools adjust to new technology. Last week, Melania Trump invited K-12 students to participate in a nationwide contest to use AI tools to solve community issues.

The White House has also encouraged businesses to pledge to invest in AI education, including offering funding, dispersing resources and developing training. As of early August, 110 companies had signed the pledge, including Apple, Amazon, Intel and COSI.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – For the first time this year, the Powerball jackpot has exceeded $1 billion.

After players failed to match all five numbers plus the Powerball in Saturday’s drawing, Monday’s drawing could net someone an estimated $1.201 billion jackpot, the fifth-highest jackpot in the game’s history.

The winning numbers in the Labor Day drawing are 08, 23, 25, 40 and 53, and the Powerball is 05; the Power Play multiplier is 3X.

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While the annuity value of the jackpot is $1.201 billion, the lottery reports that most winners take the cash payment, which, for this drawing, is an estimated $498.4 million. Monday’s drawing will be the 40th drawing since the last jackpot was won on May 31; the most consecutive drawings between winners is 42, which was set in April 2024.

Saturday’s drawing wasn’t a total loss, though: nine tickets won $1 million prizes while three tickets won $2 million by using the Power Play multiplier; none of those tickets were sold in Ohio. There is one Ohio winner holding a $2 million winning ticket, sold for Wednesday’s drawing at a Circle K in Arkon.

Additionally, there were 27 $150,000 prizes and 115 $50,000 prizes sold for Saturday’s drawing. In total, more than 3 million tickets were sold that won $4 or more.

The odds of winning the jackpot – 292.2 million to 1 -- never change, no matter how many tickets are sold. The reason for this is the odds of winning are based on hitting the right combination of numbers, not how many other tickets are vying for the prize. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9.

Powerball tickets cost $2 each and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With many people celebrating Labor Day, protesters are taking to the streets in major cities across the United States.

Across the country, including in downtown Columbus, people protested against President Donald Trump and other billionaires who they said are hurting the working class.

In Columbus, the protest was a chance for many groups to have their voices heard. A main focus of the protest was workers' rights and educators calling on the state government to increase school funding.

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"We're out here today because our communities need to be supported," Central Ohio Rank and File Educators member Kelsey Gray said. "Public education needs to be supported."

Public education was not the only issue people spoke about.

"We are supporting public education; we are supporting our immigrant neighbors and we are supporting the Black community and our trans neighbors as well," Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus organizer Kiera Toliver said. 

Many had signs calling for the nationwide protest theme: workers over billionaires. Others focused on immigration and ICE activity in central Ohio.

"We believe that our tax dollars shouldn't go towards funding ICE, that they should go towards funding affordable housing, free health care, free education, and making sure that all Ohioans have access to good-paying union jobs," Toliver said. 

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Hundreds came to make their voices heard through chants, speeches and signs.

"There's people from all across central Ohio that came out for this, so it's really nice to build community with our neighbors," Toliver said. 

A spokesperson for the White House did not directly address the protests but told NBC News: “No one has done more for working men and women than President Trump.”

NBC4 reached out to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office for a statement about these protests, but has not received a response.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Top health officials in Franklin County are concerned following a spike in overdose deaths last week, when the county reported six deaths in a 36-hour span between Aug. 25 and 26.

“We were on track to have a substantial decrease in overdose deaths,” Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nathaniel Overmire said. “In August, it's been an interesting rise we've seen recently over the last few weeks. It's, it's, we haven't, we've had a disturbing trend of increasing the number of deaths from overdoses.”

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Overmire said they are still testing to find the official cause of the six deaths. However, he said the substances they often see cause many deaths are fentanyl and cocaine.

“So anytime there's a surge like this, it usually means that there's a bad batch,” Overmire said. “Folks are getting illegal drugs from the streets and it's a bad batch. It's not usually mean that more folks are using illicit substances, and so when there's a bad batch, usually that comes with a lot of different worries from me, and I worry that more folks are going to pass away from these illegal substances.”

According to the coroner’s office, preliminary data from the deaths show they happened in different parts of the city.

“It's happening in six different zip codes, and that means everyone should be on alert,” Overmire said. “Everyone should take action.”

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The coroner’s office said the six deaths were in people between 44 and 70 years old. Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts found this concerning.

“The concerning thing about this most recent spike was the age,” she said. “The age of these individuals was much higher than what we typically have been seeing and this opioid epidemic that we've been experiencing for some time now.”

The data does not specify certain drugs as they are still waiting on test results, but it does list white powder and unidentified pills found at almost every incident. 

“We're still seeing continued trends that we were seeing in 2023 and 2024,” Overmire said. “Fentanyl poly-substance deaths continue to be the main drivers for fentanyl plus a stimulant, usually cocaine, is what we're continuing to see in Franklin County.

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“Every day, my office sees overdose deaths, so we're dealing with the surge this week, but every day, I see patients, I like to call them descendants, that are coming through my office and these are people that were alive the previous day,” Overmire added.

Health officials urge users to never take pills that do not come from a pharmacy, and to have Narcan on hand.

“Narcan is readily available,” Roberts said. “You can even buy it in your local pharmacy, but you can also get it for free from the health department, as well as a number of other community service providers in town. If you are interested in getting Narcan from the health department, you can reach out to us by calling 311 and we can get that Narcan to you, as well as some training on how to use it.”

Overmire said that through the first half of the year, there have been 158 overdose deaths in Franklin County.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- The 59th annual Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival was in full swing Monday, bringing thousands of people to Northam Park to experience all things art and culture.

This festival was filled with community members taking in hundreds of artists and vendors, all of whom look forward to the event every year.

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"It's a beautiful, one-day festival,” artist Amy McGraw said. “They've got lots of art, lots of entertainment. So it just, it seems like the locals definitely come out for it." 

Over 120 juried artists lined the streets, selling jewelry, paintings, and usable art. The festival also showcased live local bands and more than 20 food trucks, bringing family, music, and art together for the day.   

“It is well put together, it's organized, and they take care of the vendors," vendor Jill Staggs said. “I mean, it's just a well-run show and a good place, and we love it.” 

There was also a performance by the Upper Arlington High School Chamber Orchestra and a sewing session for attendees. Some vendors said the festival is special because of the sense of community it provides. 

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“I probably had at least a dozen people come up and say, 'Hey, I bought this last year at this show or at a different show, and I use it every day,'” McGraw said. “It's knowing that they appreciate what we do. That means everything.”

More than 15,000 people visit the festival every year, organizers said.