News Channel 4

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Bob Evans, the chain of family-style restaurants founded and headquartered in central Ohio, has a new owner. New York-based investment firm 4x4 Capital announced on Feb. 4 that it has acquired Bob Evans Restaurants. The deal transfers ownership of the 78-year-old brand from San Francisco-based private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican state lawmakers have proposed legislation that would temporarily increase Medicaid managed care payments to hospitals in some of Ohio's smaller and higher-need counties. Reps. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) introduced on Feb. 3 House Bill 675, dubbed the "Healthier Rural Hospitals Act." The measure directs the Ohio [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A four-vehicle crash in Downtown, Columbus resulted in at least one hospitalization, a fire, and caused Interstate 71 North to close Friday morning. According to police, one vehicle traveling in the wrong direction caused a four-vehicle crash that then started a fire on I-71 North, near the East Broad Street exit. [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio lawmakers are attempting to toughen the penalties for disturbing a religious service by making it a felony. Reps. Johnathan Newman (R-Troy) and Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) introduced House Bill 662 on Jan. 29. The legislation would raise the penalty for intentionally obstructing or interfering with in-person or online religious services from [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - Happy Friday and happy seventh day of the Winter Olympics, which has plenty of action to watch unfold from northern Italy. Ilia "Quad God" Malinin skates for the final time at these games as he looks to land seven quads and a backflip to secure a second gold. We also have [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For nearly 20 years, one question has haunted many people in Columbus: How does someone walk into a building and never walk out?  The disappearance of 27-year-old Ohio State medical student Brian Shaffer is back in the spotlight as surveillance video from the night he vanished circulates across social media. "It's [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In November, voters in Columbus approved a historic $500 million bond package aimed specifically at tackling the affordable housing crisis in central Ohio. On Thursday, community members had their first major opportunity to share ideas on how that money should be spent. More than a dozen people signed up to speak [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio school is celebrating 100 years of Black excellence. That was the theme of Thursday's annual Black History Month program at Centennial High School. Students performed a range of songs, poetry and even a fashion show, highlighting how history connects to students today and how schools support identity and [...]

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- There is a critical need for housing for adults with disabilities, and a new development in Dublin is trying to help tackle that problem and answer the plea from many parents and caregivers asking for a better way. “What happens when we grow older, and he can no longer live with us, and [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It has been one week since the cauldrons of Milan and Cortina were lit to open the Olympics and it's been a whirlwind first week of the games. That journey will continue Friday with six medal events, highlighted by the "Quad God" Ilia Malinin, who looks poised to win men's singles [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A bill in the Ohio Senate would officially declare the state’s priorities when approving new energy projects, but critics say it would limit renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms and ultimately force Ohioans to pay more than necessary for energy.   Proposed by State Senators George Lang (R-West Chester) and [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio just held its annual conference, which brought together hundreds of people all fighting against an issue they said has changed a lot in recent years. “From what we’ve seen in terms of calls to the Ohio problem gambling helpline as well as searches for gambling [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 91-year-old Columbus veteran who has lived independently for years is now facing a very different struggle. When NBC4 Investigates first started looking into this story, this veteran was on the verge of homelessness. Now, he’s able to remain in his home, but his situation highlights the gaps in service for [...]

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) -- A federal judge denied President Donald Trump's request to allow deportations of Haitian immigrants to begin as a court case challenging the move continues. Trump appealed District Judge Ana Reyes' decision on Feb. 6 after she blocked the Trump administration from beginning to deport Haitian immigrants. Haitian immigrants have been protected [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio's richest man was evoked multiple times on the House floor this week as tensions rise over possible "co-conspirators" of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Les Wexner, New Albany billionaire and former head of The Limited Brands, was named by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-California) and Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) on the House [...]

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Council voted unanimously Monday to keep ticket prices for the 2026 Dublin Irish Festival at the same levels as 2025, following a record-setting year for attendance, revenue and cost recovery. Council approved staff recommendations to maintain the current pricing structure, which was last adjusted in 2024, and to continue [...]

A property in the Hilltop neighborhood that has a "long history of drug activity, sex crimes, and squatting" has been boarded up, according to Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein.

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio State student is facing charges related to sexual assault and furnishing drugs to a 13-year-old girl in Athens County. According to court documents, Anthony Boker is accused of purchasing and delivering marijuana to the girl while in Franklin County in October and sexual assaulting her in Athens County in [...]

Valentine's Day weekend in central Ohio is full of activities for all interests, from jazz and theatre performances to sports, film, comedy, and a celebration of Toni Morrison.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- School levy requests are often accompanied by spending details, including how much the district spends on each student. In Ohio, the average school district spends $12,759 per student, according to the Department of Education and Workforce. For central Ohio schools, about half spend more per pupil than the state average. See [...]