Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person is in critical condition early Sunday morning after they were one of two that got shot in a north Columbus neighborhood.

According to a police dispatcher, officers were sent to the 300 block of East 1st Avenue in the Italian Village neighborhood just before 4:45 a.m. Two people were found suffering from gunshot wounds.

Each victim was taken to a hospital with one of them listed in critical condition. The other victim was released from the hospital later in the morning.

No suspect information is available at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the most highly anticipated openers in college football is just one week away when No. 3 Ohio State plays host to No. 1 Texas.

Buckeye Nation is already buzzing, and for freshmen on Ohio State University’s campus, it'll be their first taste of gameday as students inside The Shoe. 

"It’s been my dream school since I was a kid," Ohio State freshman Mouhamed Gueye said. "I'm so excited for this first game."

Thousands of Ohio State freshmen just moved onto campus. For many of them, the top two showdown between the Buckeyes and the Longhorns is more than just a football game. 

"I come from a really small high school," Ohio State freshman Payton Hopkinson said. "My graduating class was like 50 kids, so I'm just really excited to be a part of a super big student section."

Stepping onto campus this fall means finally stepping into a tradition they've only seen from afar. 

"I really love listening to the band," Ohio State freshman Meagan Sharp said. "Their halftime shows, their preseason, their walkout. I love the band live. I adore it."

As the anticipation around the first game of the season builds, so does the confidence.

"Our offense is really strong this year, so I expect to see a great offensive performance," Ohio State freshman Kais Alwawi said.

According to students, the Buckeyes are built to win. 

"We have probably the best wide receiver [Jeremiah Smith] in all of college football history," Ohio State freshman Matt Kotara said. "He's nasty, so it's going to be great to see him throw it. And we got [quarterback Julian] Sayin throwing the football. He's going to be slinging a pigskin right down the field. Touchdown's automatic."

Win or lose next weekend, the freshmen said their first gameday inside The Shoe as students will be unforgettable. 

"It's just a hell of a game opener," Ohio State freshman Eric Leonard said. "The first ever game of being the number one seed versus the number two seed, and I'm just expecting energy, a lot of people in the student section to bring it together and really cheer on our fellow football players."

The students expect Saturday's matchup to set the tone for the season and they have faith in their Buckeyes that it'll work out in their favor.

"I think we're running the natty champ back," Kotara said. "I'm calling it right now. I mean, easily. Michigan? They got nothing."

Ohio State is set to take on Texas at Ohio Stadium Aug. 30 at 12 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State football returns to Ohio Stadium in one week, marking the realization of a childhood dream for one central Ohio native.

On Saturday, the Buckeyes will open up the season against the Texas Longhorns. First to take the field will be The Best Damn Band in the Land. For Gahanna native Joshua Ford, the season marks the realization of a childhood dream: being a drum major for Ohio State University.

“Throughout my entire childhood, I was just surrounded by Buckeye music, you know, going to games, and it really just shaped who I am today, just the Ohio State-loving guy that I am,” Ford said.

The honor runs in the family. He said the goal stemmed from his uncle, Brian Berendts, who was a drum major during the 1992-93 season.

“Then there was a drum major here, Konner Barr, in 2018-19. Just seeing them coming from the same high school I went to and family members that I was like, 'I really want to do this,' and that kind of sparked the whole idea,” Ford said.

Ford is a senior at Ohio State, but said the work toward drum major started well before enrolling as a Buckeye. He started attending Ohio State clinics in high school.

“You can always try and get your high tosses a little bit higher and a little bit more accurate. You can always try and twirl a little bit faster,” he said.

Now he’s gearing up to lead the marching band. That means Script Ohio, the strut down the field, and the famous back bend.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After more than 15 years, NBC4's weekly political program, “The Spectrum,” hosted by Colleen Marshall, is getting a new look and a new name.

Starting Aug. 24, Marshall will host the inaugural episode of “Sunday Briefing.” Viewers can expect the same in-depth reporting, hard-hitting interviews and expert analysis they have come to trust, with more voices from across Ohio. NBC4 is expanding to include voters beyond central Ohio on our Nexstar sister stations' streaming and broadcast platforms.

In the first episode, Marshall will go one-on-one with Democrat Sherrod Brown in his first television interview since launching his comeback bid for U.S. Senate. 

She also talks to former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, who is vying for Ohio Secretary of State in her first statewide election. 

“Sunday Briefing” will examine how the election season could unfold as the pieces of the democratic ticket begin to fall into place. Detailed analysis of exclusive poll results from Emerson College will break down voter sentiments about the likely candidates on both sides of the aisle. 

Democratic strategist David Pepper and Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis weigh in on those polls and discuss whether Gov. Mike DeWine was right to send Ohio National Guard troops to support the federal takeover of Washington, D.C. 

Watch “Sunday Briefing” with Colleen Marshall, Sundays at 10 a.m. on NBC4.

GALENA, Ohio (WCMH) -- The incident is cleared, but residents of the Village of Galena in Delaware County were asked to stay inside or avoid the village square due to an investigation Saturday morning.

Delaware Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jamie Hopps said officials responded to a domestic incident in the square Saturday morning. Hopps said there was no threat to the public, but residents should avoid the area.

Around 10:15, Hopps said the male suspect was peacefully apprehended and is now in custody, with charges pending. On social media, the Village confirmed there were no injuries.

Residents already in the area were asked to stay inside. The square is home to several shops, and the spokesperson said the one nearest to the incident had not yet opened for the day when the investigation began.

Deputies were still actively investigating as of 9:30 a.m.

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) -- Four residents were hospitalized after a house fire in Newark early Saturday morning.

Licking County dispatchers said they responded to the 400 block of Tuscarawas Street around 7:20 a.m. Saturday on reports of a structure fire. Upon arrival, they found two people suffering from burn wounds in the front lawn.

Madison Township Fire Department, which assisted with the scene, confirmed the first two people were transported to a nearby hospital. Madison Township Fire said two others were transported shortly after.

The fire was contained as of 9 a.m. Fire crews are still investigating the cause.

Both victims were transported to an area hospital in unknown condition.

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus man will serve at least 12 years in prison for responding to a breakup by setting her ex-girlfriend's family house on fire and running her car off the road.  

According to the Delaware County prosecutor, Alfredo Salinas-Rosas, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to five of nine charges, including three counts of felonious assault, one count of aggravated arson and one count of trespassing in a habitation.

On Dec. 28, 2024, after his girlfriend broke up with him, Salinas-Rosas drove to her family’s residence, doused the front door in gasoline and set it on fire. The family extinguished the fire before it spread inside.

The prosecutor’s office said that Salinas-Rosas then drove to another former residence of his ex-girlfriend and entered it in the middle of the night.

The following day, he drove to her place of employment and waited outside for her to leave. He followed her and rammed his car into hers several times, causing her to drive off the road, where her vehicle became disabled, court records noted.

Salinas-Rosas was arrested on Dec. 30 and indicted on nine charges the following month. He pleaded guilty in July, with one count each of aggravated arson, burglary, menacing by stalking, and criminal damaging dropped in the plea agreement.

A judge sentenced Salinas-Rosas to 12 to 14½ years in prison. The sentence includes 5 to 7½ years for the arson charge, two years each for the three felonious assault charges and one year for trespassing, all to be served consecutively.

Salinas-Rosas, who will receive 197 days of jail time credit, will then be subject to 2-5 years of post-release control.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An American restaurant and steakhouse with a location in Polaris will soon launch an eatery near New Albany. 

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will begin welcoming customers at 6036 N. Hamilton Road on Monday. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant, which was constructed on a previously undeveloped lot in the Hamilton Quarter retail center, will mark the national chain’s second central Ohio location. The first opened at 8760 Sancus Blvd. in 2014. 

The chain describes itself as “polished casual,” sitting between a traditional casual restaurant and fine dining. The brand is known for its hand-cut, aged steaks and fresh seafood, which are seared on a wood-fired grill fueled by locally sourced lumber.

Firebirds also offers a variety of appetizers, including bacon deviled eggs, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls and seared ahi tuna. An assortment of burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes is also on the menu. 

The new location will feature the brand’s signature “FIREBAR,” which is a full-service bar that features a special menu from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The special menu includes small dishes such as fried cauliflower, prime rib sliders and chicken nachos. 

As with all Firebirds locations, the new Hamilton Quarter restaurant will feature an open flame visible from the dining room, where customers can watch chefs cook. 

Firebirds has five other locations in Ohio, with three in the southwest part of the state and two in the northeast portion. Founded in 2000, the chain has spread to 67 locations across 20 states.

Firebirds near New Albany will offer dine-in, takeout and catering, and will be available on delivery platforms such as DoorDash. The restaurant additionally features a private dining room available for booking.

The new eatery will be open from Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Hamilton Quarter is also preparing to welcome the fast-food chain Culver’s as another dining option this fall.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of constructing a new highway that would span from Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio, and pass through Columbus. 

The agency is conducting a $1.5 million analysis to examine the creation of a corridor called Interstate 73. The highway would primarily run along U.S. 23 – existing portions of the route could be converted into I-73 lanes, depending on ODOT’s findings.

The study is looking into the proposed project’s potential routes and allocation of funding, along with economic and environmental impacts. The department will complete the analysis by the end of 2026. 

“It’s important to remember that this is not a commitment to build the interstate – but strictly informational,” an overview of the study states. “It arms the state’s decision makers with data so they can execute accordingly.”

I-73 is part of a proposed interstate highway project that would connect Michigan and South Carolina, using existing roadways and planned construction. The highway would run nearly 1,000 miles from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Myrtle Beach while passing through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. 

• The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association's proposed highway spanning six states. (Photo courtesy/i73.com)
• The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association's proposed highway in Ohio. (Photo courtesy/i73.com)

A group called the National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association has been pushing for the development of the interstate for decades. The association claims the highway would relieve traffic congestion, create tens of thousands of jobs during its construction and provide coastal regions with a hurricane evacuation route. 

Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced a congressional resolution expressing his support for I-73 in July. Taylor said southern Ohio needs infrastructure to support businesses such as the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon. The site, which began operations in 2023, enriches uranium for use in nuclear reactors.

“An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route,” Taylor said in a statement. 

Parallel to the I-73 study, the department is also working on a $2 billion plan to improve U.S. 23 from Worthington to Waldo by reducing traffic lights, adding interchanges and building overpasses. ODOT has not yet revealed a timeline for construction on these projects.

The I-73 study was funded through House Bill 54, Ohio’s transportation budget for 2026 and 2027 that took effect in June.