Ohio News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Electric bills may be increasing again in 2026 for AEP Ohio customers. The company filed an application for a base rate increase in late May of this year and now, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will hold two public hearings in Columbus to hear testimony from AEP customers. Columbus StandUp launched a campaign [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While the Ohio Legislature still has not reached an agreement on regulating hemp products in the state, a deal agreed to by the U.S. Senate to reopen the government includes a surprise provision that effectively bans intoxicating hemp products nationwide. “This is not something we anticipated,” said Michael Tindall, executive director [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In any emergency, time is of the essence. “If anyone has called 911, the next thing you’re doing is waiting and waiting and waiting, what seems like an eternity for help to arrive, right?” said Angie Canepa, the Deputy Director of First Responder Communication Initiatives for the Department of Administrative Services. [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The government shutdown impacted the National Veterans Memorial and Museum’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday when a military band was not able to perform. So, the Ohio State University Alumni Band stepped in on short notice to help. The Alumni Band plays the Star-Spangled Banner pretty frequently, so when members [...]

MARION, Ohio (WCMH) -- Marion County has some of the most SNAP recipients in central Ohio, and many are still waiting on those benefits amid the government shutdown, but a local nonprofit is delivering hope and meals. “We go around ice cream truck style, so we drive around and instead of playing your usual ice [...]

PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) — A family-owned restaurant in Pataskala continued its longstanding tradition of giving free meals to veterans on Veterans Day. “Thank you for your service, I appreciate it," Steve Butcher, co-owner of the Nutcracker Family Restaurant, said as he went from table to table Tuesday morning. At each stop, he heard about local [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- If you are a victim of identity theft, there is now one less protection in place. An important reporting resource, almost five weeks into the government shutdown, cannot be accessed. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission logged more than one million identity theft reports, but right now, if you’re a victim, [...]

Santa Claus has arrived in central Ohio and will be available for visits and photos at a variety of festive events, including light displays, shopping centers, sensory-friendly options, pet-friendly events, and more.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Wayfair is moving forward with plans to open its first brick-and-mortar Ohio furniture store in the Columbus area. The online home store announced on Nov. 6 it will launch its newest namesake retail location at 1552 Gemini Place, just off Interstate 71 and next to Polaris Fashion Place, in late 2026. [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus food truck known for its birria ramen and tacos is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant. AJ’s Tacos will soon launch at 3307 Sullivant Ave. on the West Side. The business is owned by married couple Rachael and Agustin Aguirre. The duo is targeting Nov. 22 for their [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After another dominant performance on the road, No. 1 Ohio State returns to Ohio Stadium for one final homestand in the regular season. Coach Ryan Day will talk with reporters on Tuesday from the team room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, previewing this weekend's matchup with UCLA. You can watch [...]

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) -- A family-owned Newark pizza spot is temporarily closed to move locations, announcing the change with a social media post that denounced foreigners. In a now-deleted post, Circles & Squares Pizza said it will be moving out of its current location, 81 Calburn St., but does not know where it will reopen [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Old North building previously home to Rambling House Music Bar, the venue that welcomed Columbus artists for more than a decade before closing last month, has a new owner.

The venue's former building at 310 E. Hudson St. was acquired on Oct. 31 by a new owner under the name "Rambling House Hudson LLC," according to Franklin County auditor's office records. The transfer was recorded for $0 and marks the first time the property has changed ownership since 2019, when it moved to "Rambleon Properties LLC" for $270,000.

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It's unclear if the new owner, whose listed address leads to an Upper Arlington home, is attempting to reopen the music bar or repurpose the building. Rambling House hasn't posted on social media since its closure.

Rambling House Music Bar at 310 E. Hudson St. (Courtesy Photo/Rambling House Music Bar)

The acquisition follows Rambling House's early September announcement that it would shut its doors for good in early October, after co-owner Geoff Wilcox said in June that the bar would be listed for sale. The announcement said Rambling was still searching for a buyer, and it would "provide favorable terms to anyone committed to reopening the music venue."

"Community isn't a building. It's the people that make it," the social media post said. "For 11+ years, Rambling House Music Bar has been a gathering place for some of those amazing individuals, indescribably talented artists and the most magical memories imaginable."

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Shows at Rambling ran as scheduled through September, and those who purchased tickets for a concert past the closing date automatically received a refund. Rambling House Soda, the bar's affiliated craft soda company, remains open.

"We are overflowing with gratitude for you. Help us close this chapter the right way by coming out to show love to your favorite faces behind the bar, at the door and in the sound booth," the September post said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – At recent hearings, supporters of an Ohio bill allowing pregnant women to use accessible parking argued that the measure would make the state more family friendly, while others warned it could limit parking options for people with disabilities.

House Bill 450, sponsored by Reps. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) and Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), would allow pregnant women to obtain a removable windshield placard permitting them to use accessible parking.

To obtain the decal, pregnant women would have to submit an application to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, including confirmation that they are pregnant from a health care provider and their due date. The legislation tasks the BMV with determining the size, form, material and color of the decal, which would cost $8.

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The placard would be valid for one year, and women could apply for it at any point in their pregnancy. The permit would not be renewable, but women could obtain another for a subsequent pregnancy. 

Proponents of the measure had the opportunity to speak at an Oct. 28 hearing, and opponents at a Nov. 4 hearing. Groundwork Ohio, a nonprofit that aims to improve the lives of young children and families, was among those in favor of the proposal. 

“Pregnancy is a time of heightened physical vulnerability and risk,” said Caitlin Feldman, senior director of policy. “By easing the logistical physical burdens of parking and walking from remote lots, the state of Ohio would be recognizing the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women while aligning with other statewide priorities to make Ohio a more family-friendly state.”

Pam Bell, a midwife in the Cincinnati area, also testified in support of the bill, stating that even pregnancies without complications can result in mobility issues. She said postpartum women may be recovering from lacerations or a cesarean section. 

How to keep your home heated through the winter

“Regularly needing to walk distances further than 200 feet is difficult and may delay or complicate healing after delivery,” she said. “Providing closer, more accessible parking is supporting our pregnant and postpartum population in a concrete way.”

The final proponent testimony came from Marsha Forson, an associate director with the Catholic Conference of Ohio. Forson said accessible parking for pregnant women fosters a sense of “communal solidarity” and contributes to the “safety and well-being” of mothers. 

Conversely, the United Spinal Association, a national nonprofit representing wheelchair users, testified against the measure. Stephen Lieberman, senior director of advocacy and policy, said people with disabilities across the country have continually reported issues with the availability of accessible parking spaces. 

Current federal standards require between 2% and 4% of all parking to be accessible spaces. The United Spinal Association gathered data from state agencies across 20 states, and found that nearly 10% of registered vehicles can legally use accessible parking. In Ohio, that figure is nearly 13% – "far beyond” what current standards can support, Lieberman argued. 

“We firmly believe that expanding eligibility to parking in accessible parking spaces without increasing the proportion of those spaces in parking lots, garages and in on-street parking just exacerbates the existing accessible parking problems in Ohio,” Lieberman said. 

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Cure SMA, a nonprofit supporting those affected by spinal muscular atrophy, expressed similar concerns, while testifying as an “interested party,” rather than an opponent or proponent. Sarah Bellish, manager of policy and advocacy, encouraged the committee not to expand eligibility for parking placards without increasing the number of accessible spaces. 

“In 2023, there were 127,439 births in the state of Ohio,” Bellish said. “Adding this many additional vehicles to the already limited pool of accessible parking spaces, though well-intentioned, would make it significantly harder for individuals with disabilities to find available spots.”

The Ohio BMV currently offers three types of removable windshield placards to residents who have a disability that limits their mobility. These permits include a standard placard that expires after 10 years, priced at $5, a temporary placard that expires within six months ($5) and a permanent placard with no expiration date ($15). Residents must also apply for these placards and provide proof of their condition from a medical provider. 

HB 450 awaits additional hearings before the House and Senate could vote on the proposal. If passed by the Statehouse, the bill would then head to Gov. Mike DeWine for final approval. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As expected, central Ohio gas prices are on the rise due to refinery issues in the Midwest and an unexpected spike in demand nationwide.

According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, gas prices have risen 9.6 cents from last week, averaging out at $3.03 per gallon. The current price is 18.8 cents per gallon higher than four weeks ago as well as 7.2 cents higher than this time one year ago.

Columbus Gas Prices Tracker

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.67 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.39, a difference of 72 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also jumped by 12.2 cents to reach $3.03 per gallon.

Nationally, gas prices experienced a smaller increase of 4.8 cents per gallon to average out at $3.03, and the price of diesel followed suit, climbing by 6.5 cents, settling in at $3.73 per gallon.

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Experts said last week that prices in the Midwest were expected to rise due to unforeseen refinery issues in the region, but the government shutdown also added to the demand across the country, with flight cancellations resulting in far more auto travelers.

“Refinery issues in the Great Lakes and West Coast have kept prices elevated, and gasoline inventory data from the government showed another large weekly drop in supplies, which has temporarily propped up prices, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With thousands of flight cancellations reported due to potential FAA flight cuts, there could be slight shifts in gasoline demand, which may limit any near-term declines.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio spent nearly $1.1 billion on state voucher programs last year, with most support going to Christian schools.

According to newly released state data for the 2024-2025 school year, Ohio spent $1.095 billion on its scholarship programs last year, 71% of which was paid to EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp programs. See previous coverage of the programs in the video player above.

Total voucher participation increased by more than 15,000 students, most of whom were not registered as low-income by the state. Further, nearly all of the EdChoice schools with the most students or that received the most in-state funding were Christian schools.

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Ohio offers five state voucher programs, which provide scholarships to K-12 students to attend private and charter schools. The programs, particularly EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp, are divisive, with some saying they make learning more accessible to families and others arguing they take away money and resources from public schools. In all, Ohio offers five scholarships:

• Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (JPSN), which provides scholarships for K-12 graders who have an individualized education program
• Autism Scholarship, which funds students with autism who want to attend a special education program other than the one offered at their public school district
• Cleveland Scholarship, which is for Cleveland Municipal School District students who have low-income status and want to attend private school
• Education Choice Scholarship (EdChoice), which gives low-income public school students the chance to attend private school
• Education Choice Expansion (EdChoice-Exp), which gives any student the chance to attend private school with at least part of their tuition covered by the state, regardless of income.

EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp are by far the most popular programs, although all five saw an increase in participation from fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025. Fiscal year 2025 refers to the 2024-2025 school year, with both starting in July 2024 and ending in June 2025.

The full scholarship for EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp is $6,166 for grades K-8 and $8,408 for high school. To qualify for the full amount, families' household income must be at or below 450% of the federal poverty level. For the 2025-26 school year, a family of four would need to make $144,675. Families with higher incomes receive smaller, prorated scholarships.

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Families at or below 200% of the federal poverty level -- $64,300 for a family of four -- do not have to pay any additional tuition beyond the scholarship. These families are considered low-income by the state. In the 2024-25 school year, only about 11% of EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp families were considered low-income.

School Choice Ohio President Eric "Yitz" Frank told NBC4 in March that many families choose not to declare their income status but still have need for the program, so low-income data might be skewed. NBC4 was not able to independently verify that claim, as it is not reported in state data.

For EdChoice-Exp, there were 89,226 participants who were not low income, more than all EdChoice-Exp participants in the 2023-2024 school year combined. It's evidence the program is still seeing significant growth; about 22% of all EdChoice participants and 25% of EdChoice-Exp participants were new to the program.

Some schools were more popular than others for voucher participation, and all of the schools with the highest participation were religious schools. NBC4 analyzed all EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp schools with more than 300 student participants and found none were secular.

The pattern continued with schools that received the most money from the voucher program. Of the 100 highest-paid EdChoice and EdChoice-Exp schools, there were 97 Christian schools, two Jewish schools and one Muslim school. The top 100 schools received a combined $248 million, and the top 34 highest paid schools were all Christian.

Payments to primarily religious schools are a common criticism of the voucher program. When asked, state representatives told NBC4 the payments do not violate the state's responsibility to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding religious programs. Instead, representatives said they give the scholarships directly to Ohioans, who in turn choose how to spend them.

In June, a Franklin County judge ruled that the voucher system is unconstitutional, agreeing with a coalition of dozens of public schools and the Coalition for Adequacy and Equity of School Funding. The "Vouchers Hurt Ohio" lawsuit had been underway for several years, alleging the state is unfairly allocating public funds to nonpublic schools.

The judge stayed her decision so the scholarships could continue until a higher court ruled. Shortly after, the state appealed her ruling, and the case will continue in court.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As temperatures drop, making sure your home heating system is running safely is about more than just comfort; it's about protecting your family. 

"You don't want to find out you have an issue with your furnace when it's 10 degrees outside and 3 in the morning," Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing technician David Gerogiorgis said. 

Gerogiorgis performed a routine inspection for homeowner Jason Willis in Dublin on Monday.

"Safety, especially when you have kids or pets and a family, you want to make sure that safety is of utmost importance, so definitely want to make sure your units are running up to code and making sure there's no fire hazards or any safety potential issues there," Willis said. 

Gerogiorgis said some big things to look out for are corrosion or water marks near your furnace. Those are signs your system may not be venting properly. 

"More modern units will have a digital readout and that will give you some kind of an inclination of what's going wrong," Gerogiorgis said.

Another big safety concern is carbon monoxide, which furnaces create as a byproduct of burning fuel. 

"Metal pipes will oftentimes, over their lifespan, corrode, potentially open up holes and cracks which lets carbon monoxide leak into the basement," Gerogiorgis said.

That's why he encourages all of his clients to put a detector near their heating system. 

"A lot of people will have carbon monoxide detectors up around the bedroom spaces in second floor homes," Gerogiorgis said. "The concern there is that by the time that detectors going off, the basement area or the first floor is already full."

Another thing to pay attention to is your air filter.

"By keeping your furnace filter clean, you're going to make sure that you're keeping particulate dust and matter out of your air supply and off of the motor components and electrical components within the furnace," Gerogiorgis said. "That's going to help extend the lifespan and, overall, make the system that more efficient."

According to Gerogiorgis, it doesn't require a professional to check the condition of your filter.

"Take the filter out of the furnace, hold it up to a light, and if the light comes through freely, you're in pretty good shape," Gerogiorgis said. "If you hold it up to the light and you see the outlines of dirt, debris where the light is coming through muted, or the filter looks furry and gray, it's time to replace it."

Ultimately, when it comes to your heating system, a little preventative maintenance can go a long way. 

"They're expensive pieces of equipment," Gerogiorgis said. "By investing a little bit every year, you make sure that the system runs well, that your family is safe and comfortable, and that you can push the lifespan of that furnace by an additional 80%."

While technicians help homeowners prevent costly and dangerous issues, other programs like the state's Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program) are helping families stay warm when the bills themselves become a burden. 

"If you're having a disconnect or about to be disconnected, but let me also add or you're running out of bulk fuel again, coal or wood, we're able to step and work with your vendor or utility company to help keep the lights on and the gas going," Breathing Association president Dr. Iyaad Hasan said. 

The program opened Nov. 1 and offers one-time assistance to income-eligible Ohioans facing utility shutoffs, low fuel supplies or service transfers. 

"This program is dire," Hasan said. "As an individual, everybody needs security, not just a home, but you need utilities within your home. You need to stay warm during the winters and cool during the summers."

To qualify, a household must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty line, which is around $56,000 for a family of four. Last year, more than 73,000 households in Ohio received help totaling more than $25 million in benefits. This year, experts expect demand to be even higher. 

"These times are trying for all of us, and especially as we move into the colder months," Hasan said. "But more and more individuals nowadays are calling than we ever have."

Franklin County alone averages 30,000 families relying on this help each winter.

Ohioans can start their application online but must schedule an appointment with their local energy assistance provider to complete the application. Depending on the agency, the appointment may be in person, on the phone, or remotely. The application and list of providers can be found online at energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Clients need to bring copies of their most recent energy bills, a list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members, and proof of disability, if applicable.

For more information about the Winter Crisis Program, visit this link. The program runs through March 31.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- People have been without their SNAP benefits for more than a week, making it harder for them to get basic food.

Because of the government shutdown, many families in central Ohio are trying to feed multiple people without the benefits they typically receive. For families with children, that burden may be even greater.

“Starting as a kid, it really affects your ability to grow and thrive,” Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said. “How can you pay attention in the classroom if you're hungry and if your stomach is growling?”

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Roberts, the City of Columbus, and the Franklin County Public Health Department have teamed up for pop-up food distribution events for SNAP recipients. At Monday’s event in Linden, many parents and their children came through to pick up food.

“Food is fuel,” Roberts said. “It helps us. It nourishes our body. It nourishes our blood and things. All that good stuff that we need. It's the fuel we need to keep our bodies moving.”

SNAP recipients at the pop-up event took home enough non-perishable food items, produce and frozen meals for four people.

Events like these are helping single mom Briance McGee keep her five kids fed without her SNAP benefits.

“They didn’t ask to be in this world, but they’re here, so I got to provide for them,” McGee said.

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She said she has been making sure her kids get all the nutrients they need, even without SNAP assistance.

“We eat a lot of fruits and vegetables,” McGee said. “We’re not pork eaters, so we eat turkey and sometimes a little bit of chicken, but mostly fruits and vegetables.”

Roberts said these are exactly the foods children should be eating. That’s why people attending the food distributions are supplied with proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and veggies.

Roberts said the most important thing parents can do for their children is keep them hydrated.

“Well first of all, they want to make sure they're hydrated, and you can do that with water; you don't have to have juice,” Roberts said.

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Even though SNAP benefits are paused, WIC has not been affected by the government shutdown and is still accessible.

The City of Columbus and Franklin County Public Health had one more food distribution pop-up event scheduled, set for Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. at the Far East Recreation Center. It is open for SNAP recipients only.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For young adults living with lifelong medical conditions, leaving the care of pediatric specialists can be both emotional and overwhelming. A new program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is helping to make that transition easier.

The Complex Care Clinic is designed to help patients with chronic childhood-onset conditions -- such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and congenital heart disease -- move from pediatric to adult medical care while maintaining the coordinated, specialized support they’ve grown up with.

David Phillips, who was born with spina bifida, said the transition from pediatric to adult care was a challenge.

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“Up until middle school, I had 15 surgeries and then more past that,” Phillips said. “Now that I’m becoming an adult, you want to be heard and say, ‘I know my body - let’s work as a team to fix what’s wrong.’”

Dr. Katrina Johnson, an assistant professor at Ohio State and one of the clinic’s founders, said that many young adults lose access to cohesive care once they age out of children’s hospitals.

“Right now, it’s fragmented,” Johnson said. “Around age 18 to 26, they’re told they need to find an adult doctor. It can be scary, you don’t know where to go.”

Johnson’s inspiration for the clinic dates back to her teenage years, when she was an intern at a pediatric office and noticed the gap in care between pediatric and adult medicine.

“We’ve made it really simple,” Johnson said. “At Nationwide Children’s, we have one referral that’s placed directly to Ohio State. When their doctor decides it’s time to transfer, the referral goes to us automatically.”

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Each patient is paired with a case worker to help manage appointments, transportation, and communication needs before the first visit. The goal is to eliminate barriers and create a seamless transition for patients and families.

Phillips now serves as an ambassador for the clinic and encourages others not to lose hope.

“For people making the transition, I say don’t give up,” he said. “There’s always a solution, especially with help from people like Dr. Johnson.”

Johnson said that seeing patients gain independence while staying connected to the care they need has been deeply rewarding.

“It’s not perfect yet,” she said. “But being able to sit down with someone who has struggled or felt unheard and help them bridge that care, I often have to keep myself from tears of joy.”

For more information about the Complex Care Clinic, visit the Wexner Medical Center website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The back-and-forth on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for Ohio residents took another step Monday when the state announced partial payments will be distributed this week.

In a social media post, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services announced that starting this week, families who receive SNAP benefits will receive no more than 65% of the usual benefits. The payment is based on federal guidelines from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

According to ODJFS, households that haven't received their November benefits yet will start seeing partial payments this week, as early as Wednesday, while those whose normal payment date hasn't happened yet will receive their payments on their regularly scheduled day. Some households, depending on income and eligibility, may not receive benefits, ODJFS added.

The announcement comes after a back-and-forth between court rulings and administration edicts starting at the beginning of the month and throwing SNAP recipients into a state of uncertainty. The Trump administration initially said it was halting SNAP payments until the government shutdown ended; a court ruled that the administration must fund the benefits.

Jockeying between the administration and the courts ended on Monday, when, after the United States Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request to halt benefits, bumping the matter to a lower court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected the administration's request, moving the plan for partial payments forward.

SNAP was paused due to the federal government shutdown; the U.S. Senate is currently in the process of ending the shutdown.

SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program, gives people in need a set amount of money every month to purchase groceries. In 2024, approximately 1 in 8 Americans -- 41.7 million people -- received some SNAP benefits. In Ohio, approximately 1.4 million of the state's 11.9 million people -- nearly 12% -- receive SNAP benefits.