Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Voters in the Olentangy area will see a bond issue on the ballot on Tuesday. If passed, it would allow the school district to build two new schools without raising taxes for residents.

Olentangy is a rapidly growing area and hundreds of new students are enrolling in Olentangy schools each year.

Superintendent Todd Meyer said a new elementary school and a new high school are needed to keep up with growth.

The bond issue would raise $235 million to build Olentangy’s 18th elementary and 5th high school.

Ohio Redistricting Commission unveils proposed new Congressional map

Meyer said it’s a no new millage bond.

"There are questions about how can you build two new buildings and ask for no additional millage? Well, the reason why is because we continue to grow as a district. So as we continue to grow, our valuation increases,” said Meyer.

The superintendent said because of Olentangy’s fiscal responsibility and increasing property taxes in the area, the current tax rate provides enough revenue to cover the cost of the new buildings.

“This is the most cost conscious ask that we can ask for to meet the immediate need of our enrollment growth,” said Meyer.

There are Olentangy parents on both sides of this issue.

Felita Moran is a member of Olentangy For Kids and has been advocating for voters to pass the bond issue. She said her daughter has been affected by schools being over capacity.

“Opportunities start to get lost when there's a lot of kids in the school. So as we continue to grow, which we have been growing, there's a need for additional space and additional schools,” said Moran.

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But parent Shane Hritz said he voted no because even though it wouldn’t raise taxes, he wants to see more fiscal responsibility from the district before he’d pass a new levy or bond issue.

Plus he said even more money will be needed if new schools are built.

“A $235 million infrastructure investment is going to take expenses to operate it, add people, staff and everything else. So definitely going to yield future levies as well that are also going to increase our taxes even further,” said Hritz.

Superintendent Meyer said the district has pledged that taxes will not increase for residents. But he also said whether this bond issue passes or fails, a new operating levy will be coming in a few years.

“We will continue to stretch the dollars as far as we can to push that out as far as we can,” said Meyer. “It’s not a matter of if, it's when we have to come back and we will have to come back in the future to operate the entire district.”

If the bond issue passes on Tuesday, construction on the new buildings would begin next year, with the goal of the elementary school opening in 2027 and the high school in 2028.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than a million Ohioans who receive SNAP benefits are preparing to lose those benefits if the shutdown is not resolved by Nov. 1. This leaves local food pantries in a rush to prepare for an influx of visitors.

It’s all hands on deck to keep the shelves stocked at the Dublin Food Pantry. It’s a challenging time as they work to keep up with demand but an act of kindness was enough to keep them optimistic.

“I've been a resident for over 30 years. I have never seen such an outpouring of support for our community and those that are struggling in our community than I've seen in the last 48 hours,” said Julie Erwin Rinaldi, Executive Director of the Dublin Food Pantry.

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That extra pressure is already being felt.

“We're seeing an increase of people who are coming who may not be getting paid because of the shutdown. We're seeing people who have lost their jobs because of the economy,” Rinaldi said.

She said the generosity of the community is what’s keeping volunteers positive. A local meal delivery service, Fit Fresh, donated 112 gallons of milk.

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“I was coming in when they were unloading the milk and our volunteers were so excited because they love to be able to help people and we had not gotten fresh milk in so long,” said Rinaldi.

The owner of Fit Fresh, John Paton, posted about the donation on social media. It caught the attention of many and people from Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and beyond pitched in. He raised around $900.

“Knowing that folks kind of from all over the Midwest have chipped in to help this get going, really makes you realize there's a lot of really wonderful folks in the world that want to take care of people,” Paton said.

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The milk donation went fast but that’s not the end of it. Paton says the money raised is enough to donate half a pallet of milk every week through Thanksgiving.

“If more donations come in, we'd love to do it all the way through Christmas just to make it easier for folks to get through the holiday season,” he said.

Rinaldi said they will be accepting all of the help they can get.

“The best way that the folks can help is basically giving monetary donations, because that goes a lot further than the food donation. Of course, we love getting food donations, don't get me wrong, but a monetary donation goes a lot further because we can buy things at wholesale,” she said.

Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order Thursday which provides $25 million in food assistance to Ohioans.

Facilitated through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, $7 million will be distributed to food banks, and $18 million will go to 63,000 Ohioans at or below 50% of the federal poverty level as part of the Ohio Works First program.

The release did not specify which Ohio food banks will receive funding.

Learn more about how to contribute to the Dublin Food Pantry here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A federal Title IX lawsuit has been filed against Ohio State University and the chairperson of the university’s department of orthopedics, who is accused of sex discrimination and retaliation.

The lawsuit was filed by one of Ohio State’s orthopedic trauma surgeons, who said her personal and professional reputation has been damaged – she was demoted without cause and the harassment is ongoing.

Ohio announces $25M support for SNAP recipients

“I feel that we have so many talented surgeons, male and female researchers, and we really deserve to be able to work in a place that you don't have fear of being able to speak up and to voice concerns,” Ohio State orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Laura Phieffer said.

Phieffer is consistently nationally ranked at the top of her field, even though only 6% of orthopedic surgeons in the United States are women.

“So as a woman coming into the field of orthopedics, I was the first woman faculty here, I was the first female program director here at OSU,” Phieffer said. “At the time, we only had one female orthopedic resident. Over the 14 years, I helped change that landscape by restructuring our residency interviews so that we became more of a diverse residency program.”

To that end, Phieffer was pushing Ohio State to hire a renowned, experienced female surgeon for an open position on the trauma orthopedics. The recruit was qualified and experienced, but at another university where that surgeon was a mandatory reporter, she had reported sexual harassment complaints.

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“When it became clear or known that this was someone who had reported and spoke up against sexual harassment, people came in, started offering opinions who had never worked with her, in a sense, trying to blackball her,” Phieffer said.

Dr. Phieffer said it worked because the chairperson of the department of orthopedics at Ohio State, Dr. Andrew Glassman, stopped the interview process and refused to consider the candidate.

Phieffer spoke out about the situation.

“I spoke directly to Dr. Glassman,” she said.

That was nearly four years ago. The candidate was not hired by Ohio State and everything changed for Phieffer.

“There was a pivotal shift in our relationship after that, and then he really went on a campaign to target me and try to undermine my authority, tried to ruin professional relationships I had at the university, and even went as far as to say falsehoods to national leaders when they came in to do a review of our department, so really jeopardizing my opportunities at OSU and a career elsewhere,” Phieffer said.

Ohio Redistricting Commission unveils proposed new Congressional map

She claims Glassman protected male surgeons but mistreated women. When Phieffer and two other women filed a formal complaint last November, she was demoted and that a less qualified man replaced her as chief of trauma.

“Dr. Glassman warned me when we were having these conversations to be circumspect about me raising any gender bias concerns,” she said. “He basically told me, ‘Don't bring it up. This is not going to work for you.’”

Now she is taking her case to federal court.

“So I hope that there's some guardrails put into place,” Phieffer said. “I do believe that a university should maintain those type of high standards, and so that, that's really what I'm hopeful, that the university does something about this leader.”

Phieffer still works at Ohio State and hopes to be restored to the position of chief of orthopedic trauma.

Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center did not want Glassman to be interviewed, but did issue the following statement:

“The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is committed to a welcoming environment for all employees and has no tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any kind.

“We cannot comment further due to the pending litigation.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A recent close call has the Franklin County Sheriff's Office once again reminding community members not to drink or be under the influence of drugs while driving.

"This is a classic example of why we’re out there," Franklin County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert said.

Ohio announces $25M support for SNAP recipients

FCSO regularly sets up OVI checkpoints around the county. Last Friday, such a checkpoint was set up on Columbus’ south side on South High Street near Dolby Drive. A driver quickly drove through the checkpoint, past deputies, over cones, and into a portable light. They then continued to drive. Some of the situation was caught on FCSO body and dash cameras.

“This is a classic case of somebody who has no regard for their own safety; they're behind the wheel, if they’re willing to potentially strike all of these cones and/or our deputies in the roadway, they’re willing to injure anybody else out there," Gilbert said.

Deputies began pursuing the driver, who ended up crashing into another car about two miles down the road. Video from FCSO showed the driver getting out of his car and running away. Gilbert said the 29-year-old man was arrested about 45 minutes later.

“He admitted to our investigators that he was high and/or drinking throughout the day and that he was operating his vehicle while impaired," Gilbert said.

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A gun was also allegedly found in the driver's car, according to Gilbert. He's facing a total of six charges, including OVI.

“Conversation I had with Sheriff Baldwin, when he reviewed the videos, we’re very fortunate and lucky we’re not here talking about the death of a couple deputies because of this person's actions, getting behind the wheel while impaired," Gilbert said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Airbnb is using AI technology to prevent unauthorized parties at short term rentals this holiday weekend. 

Here in Columbus, police and city leaders have expressed concerns in the past about parties at short term rentals after violent incidents.

Airbnb is expanding its anti-party technology first launched in 2018. They are using AI to detect if a booker is trying to throw a party. The system will flag the company based on a number of things. 

“What we do is that the technology that looks at all the reviews that you've ever had as a guest, looks at where you live, looks at how long you want a book, and how large of a place you want to book and makes a determination that this looks like this might be a party request,” said Vincent Frillici, the Policy Lead for the Great Lakes for Airbnb. “Then we tell them, I'm sorry, the booking is not available. And that's done on a technological basis where they just can't finish the booking.”

Airbnb said they rolled out this expansion last fourth of July and saw a decline through the technology blocking of potential party bookings of 58%.

Over the summer, Columbus police said they planned to meet with short-term rental companies after a shooting at a short-term rental house party on the Fourth of July that left a 17-year-old boy dead. Police have still not said which rental company was in charge of the property in this incident. 

Both police and Airbnb say they have been working together and have had several meetings since the incident. 

They said what's changed is they now have better communication. Airbnb said they have a law enforcement response portal to get in touch with the company instantaneously. 

“It's former law enforcement on the phone right away with the local police saying what's going on? And we can in some situations, provide them information on the guests in those immediately to allow them to assist with their investigation on the site. And we've done training with the Columbus Police within the last year to make sure they know how to use that and how to get in touch with us,” Frillici said.

Airbnb said they are the only short-term rental platform that uses that AI technology. They say they had more than 275,000 bookings in Ohio last year. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission on Thursday unveiled a proposed new Congressional map.

The proposed map has 15 counties that are split, but no county is split more than one time. Thirteen of the 15 districts have 786,630 people, while the other two have 786,629. Six municipalities and 11 townships are split.

Proposed map

Courtesy: Ohio Redistricting Commission

Current map

Courtesy: Ohio Secretary of State

Currently, Republicans hold 10 of the 15 Congressional seats. The proposed map is more GOP friendly, and could see Republicans pick up one to two more seats.

The commission heard testimony about the proposed map on Thursday. Some speakers called the new map a gerrymander and said this proposed map does not represent what Ohioans had in mind when they passed a Constitutional amendment in 2018 to reform the redistricting process.

Gov. Mike DeWine said he is in favor of the proposed map. He said the goal was to propose a map that will get Democrats on board, and it appears that will happen.

The commission has until Friday to approve a map before it would move to the Statehouse, where only a simple majority would be required to pass a new map. Watch previous coverage in the player above.

Ohio announces $25M support for SNAP recipients

A second hearing is required before the map can be approved, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.

Democrats had initially proposed a map that had eight right-leaning seats and seven left-leaning seats. Democrats said Ohio is about 45% blue, while Republicans argued that recent elections show this is a very red state.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission is made up of seven state leaders, including Democrat and Republican lawmakers, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Auditor Keith Faber and Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Ohio is legally -- and the only state -- required to draw a new Congressional map because the 2022 map did not pass with bipartisan support.

Republicans in other red states have redrawn their boundaries mid-cycle at the request of President Donald Trump to help Republicans expand their slim House margin in the midterm elections, where a president's party typically loses seats. That has prompted some blue states, like California, to also attempt to redraw their maps.

This story includes reporting from David Rees and Delaney Ruth.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio has announced the state will provide funding for some SNAP recipients as the government shutdown standoff shows no signs of ending.

In a statement, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, and Ohio Speaker of the House Matt Huffman announced the state will provide $25 million in food assistance ahead of the pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the federal shutdown.

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Facilitated through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, $7 million will be distributed to food banks, and $18 million will go to 63,000 Ohioans at or below 50% of the federal poverty level as part of the Ohio Works First program.

Ohio Works First, funded through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, assists low-income families who meet eligibility requirements, including having minor children in the home; participants take part in job training, education, and community service activities. The state says that among the 63,000 participants are 57,000 children.

In the statement, DeWine and Huffman pointed fingers at Congressional Democrats for the shutdown.

“The easiest and best way to help Ohioans in need of food assistance is for U.S. Senate Democrats to end its filibuster of SNAP benefits and other important federal programs and approve the clean continuing resolution passed by the U.S. House,” DeWine said in the statement.

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Ohio currently has a "rainy day" fund estimated at $3.9 billion, the largest in the state's history. The fund is set aside to "protect the state budget from cyclical changes in revenues and expenses that may occur during poor economic times." The Ohio Senate was "forced to protect" the fund from being used to cover SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

According to the statement, Ohio Works First clients will receive their regular benefits on Nov. 1. Starting Nov. 7, they will also receive an additional weekly benefit equal to 1/4 of the monthly allotment.

Based on the state's estimates, approximately 1.4 million Ohioans receive $264 million in SNAP benefits each month. The average monthly SNAP benefit per person is about $190.

DeWine said that while not all SNAP recipients will receive benefits directly from the state, officials wanted to target the families who desperately needed help.

The shutdown, which started Oct. 1, has left federal employees furloughed, caused national flight delays, left small businesses unable to access loans, and put nonprofits in jeopardy; this weekend, on Nov. 1, SNAP and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding will stop, and open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is set to begin, with enrollees seeing skyrocketing health insurance premiums.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Professional football is coming back to Columbus in March and local fans will have a chance to design and name the new team's mascot.

The Columbus Aviators will join the United Football League for its 2026 season, which will begin on March 27. The league announced on Thursday that fans have the chance to submit ideas for the Aviators' mascot on social media.

If you have a design or a design idea to submit, you can tag the Aviators on Facebook, Twitter/X, or Instagram. A voting link will be shared sometime in November for fans to start voting on concepts for the Aviators' mascot. The winning design will be revealed in December and fans will vote on the name in January.

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The UFL announced the Aviators as one of three new teams joining the 2026 spring season, which includes eight total teams. Louisville and Orlando will also kick off their inaugural seasons with Columbus, along with mainstays Birmingham, Dallas, D.C., Houston, and St. Louis.

During the teams' introductory news conference, former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones, who led the team to the 2014 national championship, was introduced as the team's ambassador.

The Aviators will play its home games at Historic Crew Stadium, which hosted Crew games from 1999 to 2021 before the MLS club moved to Lower.com Field in the Arena District.

This will be the first professional football team in Columbus since the Destroyers of the Arena Football League, who played at Nationwide Arena from 2004 to 2008 and again in 2019.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Three people have been hospitalized after a multi-vehicle crash occurred on Interstate 70 in Downtown Columbus on Thursday morning.

Current traffic conditions in central Ohio

According to Columbus police, two semi-trucks and a sedan were involved in the crash, which took place east of the I-70/71 split on the westbound lanes. Two of the victims are listed in stable condition, with one labeled as critical.

Police said a Hazmat crew has been called to the scene due to a possible fuel leak which has caused the closure of the highway through the downtown area.

A crash between two semi-trucks and a sedan injured three and closed the highway, Oct. 30, 2025. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation)

Traffic is being rerouted to I-71 North and there is not currently a restoration time as to when the highway will be open through the westbound lanes. I-70 East remains open.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One of four escaped inmates from a Franklin County minimum security facility who was later arrested changed his plea in court Thursday.

Court records indicate that 30-year-old Jeremy Bowen pleaded guilty on an escape charge, which stemmed from an incident in May in which four inmates escaped from the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility on Alum Creek Drive.

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Bowen, who escaped with Nikko Burton, Mark Long, and Michael Norton, was the first to be arrested four days after the group reportedly broke a window to flee the facility on May 22.

A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced Bowen to serve two years at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, with 160 days of jailtime credit.

Norton, who pleaded guilty to escape in August, received the same sentence, as did Burton, although Burton’s sentence is to be served consecutively with additional guilty pleas to robbery charges. His total prison sentence is seven years.

Long is still in custody as his case remains pending in court.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A South Korea-based fried chicken chain recently opened its latest central Ohio location in the Grandview Heights area. 

CM Chicken, whose full name is Choong Man Chicken, announced on Oct. 24 that it has begun welcoming customers at 1011 W. Fifth Ave. The location previously housed Greenhouse Canteen and Bar, which closed in November 2023. 

“Step inside and you’ll feel that fun, cozy Korean pocha vibe – neon lights, great music, and of course, the crispiest, juiciest Korean fried chicken in town,” the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post. 

While the chain has branded the new spot as its Grandview location, the restaurant sits north of the city in the Fifth by Northwest neighborhood. 

CM Chicken is known for its fried chicken, which can be coated in a variety of sauces, including spicy garlic, curry and hot honey. The brand also offers "snow onions," which are thinly sliced onions mixed with a sweet, creamy white sauce, for topping fried chicken. Noodle dishes, including ramen and tteokbokki, and sides, such as kimchi, rice, dumplings and shrimp tempura, are available as well. 

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The new restaurant marks CM Chicken’s fourth central Ohio location. The brand debuted in the market at 1132 W. Henderson Road in northwest Columbus in 2021, before adding a Pickerington eatery at 1510 Cross Creeks Blvd. in 2022 and a Westerville location at 5947 S. Sunbury Road in 2023.  CM Chicken has one other Ohio restaurant in Cincinnati.

The chain is also preparing to launch a location at 4009 Broadway in Grove City. An opening date has yet to be announced, but the city’s development department said in a September Instagram post that the eatery is “coming soon.”

CM Chicken was founded in South Korea in 2009, and expanded into the United States with a Virginia location in 2017. The chain has spread to more than 150 locations in South Korea, and about 50 restaurants in the U.S. 

The restaurant on Fifth Avenue is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. It offers dine-in, takeout and delivery, through DoorDash and UberEats.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Meet Stevie! She is available at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

Stevie is an 8-month-old terrier pit bull mix who has been with the shelter for more than a month. Shelter staff said she started out shy but has become outgoing and social with other dogs and people.

Stevie is up for adoption at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

Recently, Stevie went on a 5K run over the weekend, and staff said she did super well. She does great with other dogs that are her size and enjoys meeting new people.

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Staff said Stevie loves to play, she is very food motivated and will eat any treats you give her. Right now, she only knows "sit" but would definitely be able to learn more commands. Overall, she is described as a sweet, nice pup who would really be good in any home.

If you are interested in adopting or fostering to adopt Stevie, you can meet with her at the shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus. For the full list of adoptable dogs, visit the shelter's website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- When Penn State comes to Ohio Stadium on Saturday to take on top-ranked and undefeated Ohio State, at least two of those with the Nittany Lions will be well-acquainted with the Buckeyes.

Penn State (3-4) will be looking at a redshirt freshman to make his second start at quarterback, Ethan Grunkmeyer of Olentangy High School. And in his first season as defensive coordinator is Jim Knowles, who formerly held the same role at Ohio State.

Grunkmeyer was the backup to Drew Allar this season, but he became the starter after Allar -- a Medina native and the 2021 Mr. Football for Ohio -- suffered a season-ending ankle injury. In Grunkmeyer's first start, a 25-24 loss to Iowa on Oct. 18, he completed 15 of 28 passes for 93 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

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He's hoping his second start goes better, especially in front of family.

“Since I was a kid, I dreamed about playing in that stadium," Grunkmeyer told reporters this week. "It's going to be cool to go back home and be able to have the chance to do that. ... The prep is not going to be any different, but I think the opportunity to play in front of my family and people that live back home will be super exciting for me.”

Grunkmeyer's connections to Ohio State run deep. His mother Megan McCabe played basketball for the Buckeyes from 1997 to '99.

But he finds himself in the middle of a season of change for the Nittany Lions, who fired coach James Franklin after 12 seasons right before the Iowa game. Among the changes that Franklin made entering the season was bringing in Knowles as defensive coordinator. Knowles had run the Buckeyes defense for three seasons and was on staff for last season's national championship run.

But the lure for the Pennsylvania native to return to his home state was too strong. He left behind several Ohio State players who were recruited by and played under him.

"It's going to be interesting," safety Caleb Downs said on Wednesday. "I feel like it's another challenge for us. I mean, that's how we're looking at it. I mean, he [Knowles] left last year, and we wish him the best -- but not this week."

Last season under Knowles, the Buckeyes allowed over 17 points only once during the regular season. This season, the Nittany Lions have given up at least 17 in each of the last four games.

"I mean, it's a business," linebacker Sonny Styles said. "People go different places. People elevate to different jobs. And this is what it is. No hard feelings."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Central Ohio is packed with ways to celebrate Halloween and more this weekend.

Whether people are looking for eerie entertainment, cultural experiences or local creativity, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Families can stroll through glowing pumpkins, join Día de los Muertos festivities, or cheer on the Buckeyes, Blue Jackets and Columbus Crew.

This is the final weekend to catch Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory, with more than 700 hand-carved pumpkins, while the Ohio Art Council's 2025 Biennial Juried Exhibition begins at the Riffe Gallery, putting works from Ohio artists on display.

For music lovers, Ekoostik Hookah’s HookahWeen returns to Newport Music Hall, while "The Rocky Horror Show" ends its run on the Short North Stage.

There will be family fun through the weekend with Dave & Boo-ster’s Boo Bash at Dave & Buster’s, the Insect Film Fest at Studio 35 and community celebrations like CMA Community Days: Día de los Muertos at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Additionally, Gallery Hop returns to the Short North with local art and live performances.

Riffe Gallery, 2025 Biennial Juried Exhibition

The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, Tuesdays through Fridays until Jan. 9
• Selected from over 1,900 entries, this exhibition features contemporary art by 61 Ohio artists.

Pumpkins Aglow

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Wednesday through Sunday until Nov. 2
• More than 700 hand-carved glowing pumpkins light up Franklin Park Conservatory during its sixth annual Pumpkins Aglow event. A family-friendly festival that is spooky, but not scary, features themed displays, including pirates, creepy-crawly spiders, dancing skeletons and even aliens landing among the leaves. Nightly roaming entertainment, food trucks, a bar with specialty cocktails, a glass pumpkin pop-up shop, crafts and more. Open hours are 5 to 9 p.m. nightly, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Tickets range from $17.33 to $30.45, including the city's culture fee; check for member discounts.

(Courtesy Photo/Franklin Park Conservatory) Dave & Boo-sters Boo Bash

Dave and Buster's, Friday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m
• Enjoy family-friendly Halloween fun with crafts, activities, and games. Enter the costume contest for a chance to win free game play for a year, enjoy unlimited simulator games, and make memories in a safe indoor environment. The first 100 ticket-holders will receive souvenir cups. Admission is $14.99 and includes three hours of unlimited game play and a Boo Bash voucher valid for 15% off food and nonalcoholic beverage purchases.

HookahWeen

Ekoostik Hookah, Jenny & The StreetWalkers, Newport Music Hall, Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.
• Ekoostik Hookah's 116th performance at the Newport. Costume contest. General admission is $37.45, including fees.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Ohio Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 1, noon
• Ohio State takes on Penn State at Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, OH/USA - OCTOBER 21, 2017: Rotunda entrance to Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University. (Adobe Stock) November Gallery Hop

Short North Arts District, Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.
• Visitors can view new work by various Ohio-based artists at locally owned galleries. This monthly event runs from 4 to 8 p.m. and features a dynamic blend of local creativity and community spirit. Featuring live performances, public art and locally-owned shops and eateries along High Street.

Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues, Star Wars Night

Nationwide Arena, Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
• The force will be strong at Nationwide Arena as Blue Jackets take the ice on Star Wars Night against the St. Louis Blues. Fans will have the chance to meet characters from the Star Wars universe, including Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Stormtroopers, Mandalorians, Bo-Katan Kryze, Imperial Officers and Jawas for photos and immersive encounters. In addition to the game action, fans can purchase a special Star Wars Night ticket package, which includes an exclusive Blue Jackets Star Wars-themed jersey.

'The Rocky Horror Show'

Short North Stage at the Garden Theater, Thursday through Saturday, showtimes vary
• Back for its eighth year, buckle up for a wild ride through the twisted, tantalizing world of “The Rocky Horror Show.” When straight-laced couple Brad and Janet's car breaks down, they find themselves at the mercy of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a mad scientist with a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for creating life. The audience will rock out to “Time Warp,” the ultimate party anthem.  Rated-R Tickets range from $43.35 to $92.75, including fees. Student rush tickets are available at the door two hours before showtime for $20.

CMA Community Days: Día de los Muertos 

Columbus Museum of Art, Sunday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Attendees can celebrate and learn about the history of Día de los Muertos, including a participatory community ofrenda, performances and experiences, art-making, tasty bites and more. This free event is open to all ages; registration is encouraged.

(Adobe Stock) Insect Film Fest at Studio 35  

Studio 35 Drafthouse and Cinema, 3055 Indianola Ave, Columbus, Sunday, Nov. 2, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• A free family event aimed to get viewers excited about insects. Before and between movies, there will be insect-themed activities, arts and crafts, temporary tattoos, raffles, and prizes, as well as the BugMobile, OSU's insect lab parked in front of the theater. Two free movies include Disney's “James and the Giant Peach” at 1:15 p.m. and Guillermo del Toro's “Mimic” at 4:15 p.m.

Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati: MLS Cup playoffs

Lower.com Field, Sunday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.
• The Columbus Crew (No. 7, Eastern Conference) hosts FC Cincinnati (No. 2, Eastern Conference)  for Game 2 in the Round One Best-of-3 series of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati currently holds the series edge following its 1-0 win at TQL Stadium in Game 1 on Oct. 27. Tickets start at $85.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Supporters of a bill that would tighten Ohio's laws on public nudity and "adult cabaret performances" told lawmakers Wednesday the measure is needed to protect children from "obscene" drag queen shows and sexually explicit content in public spaces.

The Ohio House Judiciary Committee heard proponent testimony on House Bill 249, legislation that would prohibit nudity and sexual conduct in public and limit performances deemed "harmful to juveniles." The bill defines an adult cabaret performance as one featuring topless or go-go dancers, strippers, or "entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performers' or entertainers' biological sex."

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H.B. 249 would ban these shows in all locations other than "adult cabarets," meaning "a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant, bottle club or similar establishment." Named the "Indecent Exposure Modernization Act," the bill was introduced in May by Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) and Angela King (R-Celina), with majority Ohio House Republican support. Watch a previous NBC4 report on H.B. 249 in the video player above.

The bill has been condemned by local LGBTQ+ organizations, like Equality Ohio, which argued at the time of legislation's introduction that it would restrict any gender nonconforming performance in public. Dwayne Steward, the group's executive director, said the bill is "a blatant attempt by politicians to suppress cultural expression under the guise of protecting children."

"Across generations from immigrant families, Black communities to LGBTQ+ Ohioans, art has been more than expression; it has been a declaration of existence, resilience, and pride," Steward said. "Drag is a powerful embodiment of that spirit. It is vibrant, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in our cultural fabric. ... Drag isn't just performance, it's power. And it's here to stay."

Jason King, a Celina pastor and city council president, was among those who spoke in favor of the bill on Wednesday. King described drag performances at Celina's Pride event as "filled with obscene sexual gestures, provocative dancing, partial nudity, and obscene signs carried about by adults and children alike." He said one sign at the event contained a sexual reference and image, adding, "All of this was done in our public park with children present."

"Our public parks are specifically designed for individuals and families to congregate in freely and enjoy without the worry of feeling compromised or being violated," King said. "There's a time and a place for [adult-themed performances], if one should choose or prefer such, but not in the presence of children or unsuspecting families using the parks."

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David Mahan, policy director at the Center for Christian Virtue, said Wednesday that critics have misrepresented the bill's intent. "Despite all of the media spin designed to muddy the true intent of this legislation, the bill language could not be any more clear," Mahan said Wednesday.

"H.B. 249 does not ban strip clubs, drag shows or anything of the sort," he continued. "It simply prioritizes the fundamental needs of children over the superficial desires of adults, by applying the standards for 'pandering obscenity' and 'material harmful to minors' currently defined in code, to obscene public performances."

Lawmakers questioned Mahan about how the bill would apply to mainstream music concerts. Rep. Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) asked whether artists like Taylor Swift could face restrictions under the proposal.

"This particular piece of legislation is just dealing with performances that do rise to our current definition of obscenity," Mahan said. "If somebody would decide not to come to this state because they think they may be borderline pandering obscenity, then I don't know if that would be bad for our state. ... I don't think that the bill would prevent most acts from coming to the state of Ohio."

Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) noted that the measure exempts "a bona fide film, theatrical or other artistic endeavor" not considered obscene to minors. "Is it also fair to say then, we know there's not a harm for Beyoncé or Taylor Swift getting arrested in Ohio … is that a fair read?" Stewart asked. Mahan replied, "Yes."

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Kelly Lunneberg of Ashtabula told lawmakers her home overlooks Walnut Beach, where she said her young children have seen "adult entertainment from our own backyard" during Pride events.

"The drag performances held during Pride events at Walnut Beach have featured adult entertainers who engage in indecent and sexually suggestive dancing and attire, despite the events being promoted as 'family friendly,'" Lunneberg said. She added that she has seen children "encouraged to tip money to adult performers."

When asked by Synenberg whether she thinks dressing as a different gender is inherently harmful, Lunneberg replied, "No ... your presenting identity does not have to be different than that of your biological reality. … I think it covers across the spectrum, whether it's what's considered a drag queen, a drag king, or an adult entertainer of any sort -- it's not appropriate in public places, there's a reason we keep it behind closed doors."

Janell Holloway, a Xenia resident, recalled encountering a trans woman named Rachel Glines while changing inside a YMCA women's locker room in 2022. While Glines was charged with public indecency, she was found not guilty by a Xenia judge because her genitals were not directly visible. In a previous hearing, legislators said Glines would've been convicted under H.B. 249, which changes Ohio law from prosecuting exposure of "private parts" to "private area," meaning "the genitals ... where nude or covered by an undergarment."

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"In the weeks following this horrifying experience, I discovered that dozens of women and young girls had also seen [Glines] completely naked in the women's locker room at the YMCA," Holloway said Wednesday. "My life has been forever changed because of that one incident in the women's locker room. I was mocked by the responses I received from the YMCA. And then the justice system failed me."

Like Williams and King's previous proposal, H.B. 249 outlines the following penalties if Ohioans are found violating the legislation:

• A misdemeanor of the first degree if a performance occurs in the presence of a juvenile under the age of 18.
• A felony of the fifth degree if the performance is "obscene."
• A felony of the fourth degree if the performance is "obscene" and occurs in the presence of a juvenile under the age of 13.

H.B. 249 remains under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers are expected to hear opponent testimony at a future hearing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Tuesday, Columbus residents will select three new Columbus City Schools board members to lead after $50 million in budget cuts.

All three Columbus City Schools board members whose terms expire this year are not seeking reelection, so former board president Christina Vera, current board president Michael Cole and board member Ramona Reyes will all leave the board after this year. Voters will choose among six candidates, three of whom are running jointly.

Whoever is elected has a big undertaking ahead. The Board of Education is considering $50 million cuts, including possible closures of additional school buildings and sweeping transportation changes. Although the board will vote on changes before new members are sworn in in January, new board members may have to look at further cuts and handle the results of the current board's decisions. See previous coverage of cuts in the video player above.

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Even before major budget cuts, the district faced uncertainty on the board. Community members were heavily critical of school closures, with board members considering 10 closures and finalizing five. The state of Ohio also pursued legal action against the district over busing changes for private school students.

Below are the candidates hoping to join the board, many of whom are campaigning to improve relationships between the board and the community.

Janeece Keyes

Keyes is the director of provider experience for Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the mother of four district graduates. She is endorsed by the Columbus Education Association, CCS’ teachers’ union. She also boasts endorsements from the Matriots PAC and The Columbus Dispatch. Keyes received 7.17% of the vote in the primary.

Keyes is campaigning for more community involvement, including increased support for parents and teachers. She envisions more professional development and recognition to reinvest in educators. She also suggests providing workshops for parents and increased opportunities for parental involvement.

Mounir Lynch

Lynch is a product of CCS and said he has taught in “nearly every CCS middle and high school” during his role as health educator for Planned Parenthood. His endorsements include former employer Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Asian American Midwest Progressives and Moms Demand Action Gun Sense, along with two individual state legislators. Lynch received 7.58% of the vote in the primary.

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Lynch attributed “many of the current school board’s failures” to a lack of community feedback and participation in key district issues. He said he wants to create a districtwide teacher and parent advisory board to help the board’s decision making. He also wants to expand arts programs and prioritize equity for all demographics of students. Lynch is also campaigning to stand with district unions, increase wages and reduce class sizes to support teachers and staff.

Kimberly Mason

Mason is a former PTO president and a higher education partnership manager with the Ohio Bankers League. She is endorsed by the Matriots PAC and Forward Ohio. Mason received 7.1% of the vote in the primary.

Mason is campaigning for stronger workforce development for students, hoping students will graduate with a clearer career path. She is also campaigning to end “corporate handouts” like tax breaks that she believes drain resources away from schools and communities. Mason also wants to make the board more transparent and increase partnerships with families, teachers and community groups.

Columbus Education PAC

Patrick Katzenmeyer, Jermaine Kennedy and Antionette Miranda are running jointly under the Columbus Education PAC, although voters can vote for individual candidates. The PAC is endorsed by the Franklin County Democratic Party, the Central Ohio Labor Council, the Equity Now Coalition and OAPSE/AFSCME, Ohio’s public school employees union. 

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Patrick Katzenmeyer: Katzenmeyer is a CCS parent and a public project planner. His interest in the board stemmed from a potential school closure in his neighborhood, and he said he is prioritizing planning, parent voices and transparency. He is one of two PAC members endorsed by the district teachers’ union, the Columbus Education Association. Katzenmeyer received 19.12% of the vote in the primary.

Jermaine Kennedy: Kennedy worked as a teacher and principal, and now serves as chief program officer at the Boys & Girls Club. A CCS parent, he wants to fight for families and for equity among students. Kennedy received 18.44% of the vote in the primary.

Antionette Miranda: Miranda is a nationally recognized school psychologist and Ohio State professor who formerly served on the state school board. She said she wants to ensure all students in Columbus get an equitable education. Miranda is the second PAC member endorsed by the CCS teachers’ union, the Columbus Education Association. Miranda received 21.94% of the vote in the primary.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As clocks are turning back this weekend, Ohio lawmakers are urging the U.S. Congress to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, closing the annual period when U.S. clocks "spring forward" in March and "fall back" in November. Yes, this means we get an extra hour of sleep when the clock remains in the secondhand position for another hour. This year's time change is one day earlier than last year's, and is the second-earliest possible date for the end of daylight saving.

The U.S. is once again turning back clocks as the movement to enact permanent daylight saving is growing. In April, a bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers introduced House Concurrent Resolution 10, urging federal legislators to pass the "Sunshine Protection Act," a bill to establish daylight saving as the permanent standard time across the United States.

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Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna), one of the resolution's primary sponsors, said during a May hearing that her interest in daylight saving began when her kids were younger and struggling to adapt to the clock change twice a year. The representative said she started researching and discovered the negative health impacts of the biannual tradition.

"Permanent daylight saving time would provide many benefits including increased evening daylight; more outdoor playtime for children; expanded economic opportunities; energy savings; improved traffic safety; reduced instances of stroke, heart attack and other serious health issues; and reductions in crime," Piccolantonio said.

However, during the resolution's most recent hearing on Oct. 21, some Ohioans argued against perpetual daylight saving. In his testimony, Chardon resident Joe Loyd called on the lawmakers to amend the resolution to instead advocate for permanent standard time, which Loyd said is "backed by science, history and public will."

"Ohioans demand an end to clock changes, favoring permanent Standard Time for its health benefits," Loyd said. "A 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine survey shows 63% national support, citing better sleep, lower heart disease risk, and safer mornings for children -- vital in Ohio, where permanent [daylight saving] could spike accidents by 6% per a 2020 JAMA Pediatrics study."

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Loyd emphasized that Ohio could act now to adopt permanent standard time. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can change to standard time but not daylight saving, which requires a change to federal law to transition to perpetual daylight saving. However, federal legislators may deliver on such a daylight saving law.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump revived calls to "lock the clock" and observe daylight saving permanently. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) then gathered the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in April for a hearing to examine whether the U.S. should abandon the twice-a-year change.

"The House and Senate should push hard for more daylight at the end of a day," Trump wrote on Truth Social in April. "Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, a very costly event."

Cruz's hearing came after Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, which would mean later sunsets in the winter but also later sunrises. For example, the sun rises around 7:15 a.m. and sets around 4:30 p.m. on the first day of winter in New York. The act would change sunrise to 8:15 a.m. and sunset to 5:30 p.m.

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The Ohio House previously passed a daylight saving resolution in 2023, also urging the U.S. Congress to pass a version of the Sunshine Protection Act. The measure was under consideration in Ohio's Senate, but only received one hearing and never passed out of the General Government Committee.

View H.C.R. 10 in full below.

House Concurrent Resolution 10Download

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Efforts to abolish capital punishment in Ohio are heating up with a bipartisan bill that has drawn the support of former lawmakers who helped enact the state's death penalty law decades ago.

Ohio Sens. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) are championing Senate Bill 133, which would ban the death penalty in the state.

Under state law, aggravated murder is the only charge that can warrant the death penalty. Judges can also impose a sentence of life in prison without parole or grant parole eligibility after at least 20 years. The bill maintains the latter sentencing options. 

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Last week, 27 former lawmakers from the 114th General Assembly – the legislature that passed the state’s current death penalty statute – sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of SB 133, which awaits its first hearing. The signers encompass both lawmakers who voted for and against the death penalty's enactment in 1981, the letter states. 

The letter was spearheaded by Marge Koosed, professor emerita at the University of Akron Law School, who interviewed 44 of the 57 surviving former legislators starting in 2021. Fifteen surviving members could not be reached, and a handful declined to sign, according to the document. 

"When those responsible for our current capital punishment system say it must go, our state lawmakers must listen,” said Sean McCann, policy strategist for the ACLU of Ohio. “Ohio’s death penalty is administered arbitrarily and unfairly, fails to deter crime and puts innocent lives at risk."

revised architects letter September 2025.docxDownload

The former lawmakers pointed to concerns about the death penalty contributing to racial and geographic inequalities, its cost, and the possibility of false convictions. 

The 114th General Assembly passed the state's current statute after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a 1974-era Ohio law that mandated capital punishment for most aggravated murder convictions was unconstitutional.

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In a news release, Antonio and Huffman said the death penalty has failed as a deterrent for violent crime and prolonged the suffering of murder victims’ families by dragging them through lengthy appeals processes. The lawmakers additionally cited a 2014 study asserting that at least 4.1% of death row inmates are likely innocent, as well as a poll finding that a majority of Ohioans support ending the death penalty.

Antonio has introduced bills to abolish the death penalty every legislative session since 2011. Huffman also cosponsored a proposed death penalty ban alongside Antonio in the last General Assembly. See NBC4's previous coverage in the video player above.

Ohio has not seen an execution since 2018. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine first issued an execution postponement in January 2019 and has continued to do so in the following years, citing problems obtaining drugs for the procedure. 

While some lawmakers are trying to outlaw the death penalty, others are looking to revive the practice. Reps. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) are backing House Bill 36, which would permit executions by nitrogen hypoxia, a method that kills inmates through nitrogen inhalation, leading to suffocation.

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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is a staunch supporter of the effort, saying the state has failed to keep its promises to the families of murder victims and jurors who were tasked with the “difficult” decision. The “dishonorable” delay could and should be resolved through legislative approval of nitrogen hypoxia, Yost said. 

"Of the 114 people currently on Death Row, 42 of them have no further appeal – that’s more than a third," Yost testified. "All that prevents their sentences from being imposed is the failure of will of this state's government."

Five states have authorized the use of nitrogen hypoxia, which was first used in capital punishment in January 2024. If SB 133 were to pass, Ohio would join the 23 states that have abolished the death penalty. 

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Schools leaders spoke to the community for the first time after pausing the high school redistricting process last week following negative community feedback.

At a school board meeting Wednesday night, Superintendent John Marschhausen said he realized the process was not on the right track after hearing from parents during listening sessions last week.

He said it’s more important to get this right than it is to just get it done.

“There were a lot of things at the beginning of this process that were done by a small number of people. I think we want to frontload the process with input and get that input into the process earlier,”  said Dr. Marschhausen.

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When the redistricting process restarts in the spring, Marschhausen said parent and student voices will be included.

Dublin community members were not shy about their disappointment in the process.

“I’ve been frustrated that it seems like there was an 11th hour disconnect between the school board and the superintendent that led to really a big mess at the final stages of this decision being made,” said Kristie Russ, a parent with two kids at Dublin Schools.

“They need to be more open in this process. We need to have a more collaborative approach to doing this right,” said Mike Skalak, who has two elementary-aged kids in the district.

Reaction to the pause was mixed. Some were relieved while others said they don’t want to prolong the inevitable.

Marschhausen said he also doesn’t want to make the process longer, but it’s clear community input needs to be prioritized.

“We want people to know we listened, that we heard their concerns and their concerns had an impact on what we did as a board and as a leadership team,” said the superintendent.

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Skalak said hearing directly from Marschhausen and board members helped restore his trust in the district.

“The district kind of was called out on some of the things that had happened. And they came back and they said, you know what? We made a mistake and we're ready to right this and do this correctly this time,” said Skalak.

Marschhausen said the school board will be more involved in the redistricting process this time around and that creating at least 20 diverse focus groups will be a priority.

Skalak and other parents are looking forward to being more involved.

“They did address the questions and the concerns that we had. So, yes, I think they're listening. I think they have the ear of the community,” said Skalak.

The superintendent said the winter will be a cooling off period before redistricting restarts in the spring. Elementary and middle school boundaries could be changed as well.

The current boundaries across Dublin will stay in place for the 2026-2027 school year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of children in Ohio could soon lose access to early education and childcare as the federal shutdown drags on. 

"Every day the shutdown continues, it's Ohio families and children who are paying the price," Ohio Head Start Association Executive Director Julie Stone said. "And Head Start is not a political issue. It's a lifeline for the families we serve."

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Seven Ohio Head Start Programs will run out of funds on Saturday, forcing potential closures and furloughs across the state. 

"Our folks are very creative at making things work, but can't operate a program without money to operate it," Stone said. "And that money needs to be allocated as part of either an appropriations bill or a continuing resolution that will get the funding flowing again."

Head Start is a federally funded school readiness program that provides early learning, nutrition and family support services to low-income families in Ohio with children from prenatal to age five.

"We will have no money after the 31st, and that's scary," Coshocton County Head Start Executive Director Susan Craddock said. 

At Coshocton County Head Start, the doors are still open, but the clock is ticking. A recent donation from the community will keep it open until Nov. 14, but it's only a temporary fix. 

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"We cannot run our program on just donations," Craddock said. "It costs about $50,000 a week to keep ourselves open, and that's just paying staff."

The Coshocton County Head Start program currently has about 60 staff members and serves 140 children. According to leaders there, they were already operating in crisis mode due to inflation, and now the shutdown is pushing the program to a possible breaking point. 

"Some of our children, this is the food that they get for the day," Craddock said. "We feed breakfast, lunch and a snack before they go home."

Across Ohio, six other Head Start programs, which along with Coshocton County, collectively serve more than 3,700 children, are facing the same dilemma. Leaders say that for many families, there are no other affordable childcare options to consider.

"Disruption to services means kids are missing out on vital learning," Stone said. "It means that parents who rely on Head Start for childcare to be able to go to work would have to make decisions about whether they go to work or care for their child."

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No new federal funding could also put more than 900 Head Start staff members across the state out of jobs. 

"They've been showing up every day with dedication and professionalism even though they don't know what is in store," Coshocton County Early Head Start Education and Disability Manager Jamie Adkins-Darr said. "They don't know if their next paycheck is secure."

According to Head Start leaders, children can't pause their development for a political gridlock, so they need Congress to act now. 

"Children aren't pawns in the game that the government's playing right now," Craddock said. "Children are our future, and we're kind of playing with their lives right now."

Informal talks are still happening behind the scenes on Capitol Hill as lawmakers search for a way to end the government shutdown, but so far, there have been no formal negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.