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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With yet another win under its belt, Ohio State is sailing into week 12 at No. 1 once again.

Ohio State (9-0,6-0) was named the top-ranked team in the USA Today coaches poll after beating Purdue 34-10 on the road. Saturday's win highlighted Ohio State's ability to win even without a star player, as Carnell Tate was held from the game as a precautionary measure.

With three games left, Ohio State is almost certainly playoff-bound. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the initial playoff poll last Tuesday. Also coming for Ohio State on Sunday is a decision from 4-star DL Emanuel Ruffin. Ruffin, a top recruit, said he will announce his college decision Sunday afternoon. Ruffin decommitted from Colorado on Tuesday, and will choose between Ohio State and Mizzou.

Why didn't Carnell Tate play against Purdue? 2025 coaches' poll rankings (Nov. 9, 2025) 1Ohio State2Indiana3Texas A&M4Alabama5Georgia6Oregon7Ole Miss8Texas Tech9Notre Dame10Texas11Oklahoma12Georgia Tech13BYU14Vanderbilt15Utah16Miami (FL)17Michigan18USC19Virginia20Tennessee21Louisville22Cincinnati23Pittsburgh24Missouri25James Madison

Ohio State will hope for another win Saturday against UCLA at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m., and viewers can catch the game live on NBC4.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police are searching for leads in a homicide in which charges against the original suspect were dropped this summer.

According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, investigators remain focused on the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Jayvon Gore, who was found in the 1400 block of Oakland Park Avenue in North Linden. Gore was taken to a hospital in critical condition but later died in the early hours of June 18.

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The initial findings revealed that several people exchanged gunfire in the parking lot at an afterhours business near the E.Z. Oakland Park Plaza, where Gore had been a customer. Gore was fatally struck, as was the Columbus Division of Fire Station 18, located across the street.

As officers arrived at the scene, several potential witnesses reportedly fled the scene, and police were unable to get any statements. For an earlier report on this story view the video player above.

Three weeks later, a man arrested in connection to a carjacking in the area one month earlier, was also charged in Gore’s murder. However, while the suspect's carjacking case remains ongoing in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, the murder charge against him was dropped, leaving Columbus police with zero leads.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One person was transported to a local hospital in critical condition after a shooting Sunday morning in Franklinton.

Columbus dispatchers said police responded to Schultz Avenue around 7:35 a.m. on reports of a shooting. Dispatchers said upon arrival, they found one person suffering from a gunshot wound. They were transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Police said there was no word on a suspect at this time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It has been more than a week since the November SNAP payments were supposed to come in.

Over one million Ohioans who rely on SNAP assistance are in limbo waiting for their cards to be reloaded. SNAP is the federal food assistance program, paused due to the government shutdown and a judicial back-and-forth about emergency funding. In the mean time, Ohioans are forced to make difficult decisions to keep food on the table.

“I have felt dehumanized. I have felt like the people around me and my community that are struggling, have been dehumanized,” Brooke Rickman, Columbus resident and SNAP recipient, said.

Rickman is a working mother, with a 4-year-old and twins under 1 year. She has relied on SNAP for more than four years.

“All of my bill money goes to bills and so SNAP has been the sole reason that my kids have been fed. The sole reason I’ve been fed. So now we’re kind of in a position where there is no food,” she said.

At the beginning of November, her SNAP card wasn’t reloaded. She is still waiting.

“As much as we hear on the news, like, 'Oh, it's coming or it's happening,' the reality for my family is it isn't happening,” Rickman said.

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It’s forced her to make sacrifices like choosing between food and gas.

“For me, it's not just food," Rickman said. "This impacts my gas. This impacts the ability to pay the rest of my bills because in my household, every dollar has a home and the grocery home was our food benefits and that's gone."

Rickman said she is taking it day by day. She stretched her remaining SNAP balance as far as possible and has relied on help from the community.

“My kids are not being fed because all of a sudden this has lit a fire in me to pull up my bootstraps. I've already pulled them up. That's all I've been doing," Rickman said. "The only way my kids are eating as of right now is the fact that I have a community.”

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A fast-casual chicken salad restaurant is expanding with another central Ohio location in Dublin.

Chicken Salad Chicken will launch a new restaurant at the Shoppes at River Ridge in Dublin, the chain announced late last month. Set to open in early 2026, the 2,552-square-foot restaurant will be located at 4345 W. Dublin Granville Road, south of State Route 161 and east of Riverside Drive.

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Jen Crichfield, franchise owner of Chicken Salad Chick, said in a statement, "as a lifelong member of the Columbus area," she is "thrilled to have opportunity to grow in a place so close to home."

• (Courtesy Photo/Chicken Salad Chick)
• (Courtesy Photo/Chicken Salad Chick)
• (Courtesy Photo/Chicken Salad Chick)

"I am grateful to our hard-working team and loyal guests for making this dream a reality," she said. "Chicken Salad Chick is all about warm hospitality, fresh flavors, and community, and we can't wait to share that experience with our neighbors in Dublin. I look forward to an exciting new year filled with even more opportunities to serve you fresh, made-from-scratch chicken salad."

Chicken Salad Chick is known for its made-from-scratch menu featuring more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors, like the hickory-smoked "Barbie-Q" and the "Fancy Nancy" with Fuji apples, seedless grapes and pecans. A selection of pimento cheese, soups, salads and sides round out the chain's offerings.

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"We're thrilled to welcome Chicken Salad Chick to the Shoppes at River Ridge," said Zach
Graham, senior vice president of commercial real estate and leasing at Crawford Hoying,
owner and landlord at Shoppes at River Ridge. "This concept perfectly aligns with the
experience we strive to provide residents, office workers and visitors alike."

The chain operates several other central Ohio locations, including in Westerville, New Albany and Grandview Crossing. Additional details about the upcoming Dublin restaurant, including official opening dates, will be announced in the coming months.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State faculty have concerns about perceived inequity with the university's new state-mandated intellectual diversity center.

"There's definitely a lack of transparency and a sense of nepotism, a sense of being supported from the outside," Pranav Jani, associate English professor and past president of OSU's faculty advocacy group, said.

The Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society opened its doors this fall. The center was established under a 2023 Republican-backed law that required five public universities to establish intellectual diversity centers to combat "groupthink." See previous coverage of the Chase Center in the video player above.

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Chase Center classes and lectures place an emphasis on intellectual diversity and a "reflective patriotism for America."

“We have the establishment of a center which seems to be very devoted to specific topics and specific text and a specific history and an idea of civics, that, to me, when I put it together with the idea of intellectual diversity, there seems to be a contradiction there,” associate English professor Jill Galvan said.

Jani said he and other faculty have questions about the Chase Center's hiring practices, course approval and budget. Especially after a new law banned DEI and endorsing "controversial beliefs or policies" on college campuses, Jani said it felt like the Chase Center was getting preferential treatment because it is supported by the state.

Ohio allocated $10 million to support the Chase Center, which also receives some funding from Ohio State. From July to September 2025, the center spent $1.5 million on salaries, student aid and supplies. The center employs 26 staff members, including 19 faculty, according to online records. The Chase Center's professors, associate professors and assistant professors have an average salary of $113,269.55.

Jani said he has been with the university for 22 years and only recently hit the $100,000 salary mark. He said there are many reasons for salary adjustment, and Jani said he was in favor of paying professors higher salaries, but it contributed to a feeling of inequality. He said faculty felt Chase Center hires and courses benefited from a simpler approval process than typical university practices.

OSU chief spokesperson Christopher Booker said Chase Center followed a "similar process for course approval as other colleges at Ohio State." Booker said the initial courses, which are underway this semester, began the approval process in January and were available for enrollment in spring 2025. In the spring semester, the center will offer 10 courses.

"Creating a new, rigorous and relevant set of courses takes time and includes university review," Booker said. "These faculty members come from diverse academic disciplines, which reflects part of the Chase Center’s mission."

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For other centers, departments and colleges, budgets are often tied to the number of enrolled students. Jani said faculty sometimes informally calls it a "butts in seats" policy, where classes with too few enrolled students may be canceled because they won't generate a large enough budget for the college.

There are currently three Chase Center courses listed in university course enrollment data for fall 2025. Although the courses had a combined capacity of 54 students, university enrollment numbers show only 28 students are enrolled across all three classes combined.

Jani said the Chase Center has the funding to offer courses regardless of enrollment. He said that can be particularly challenging when professors perceive overlap between Chase Center courses and existing classes offered elsewhere on campus.

For example, the Chase Center will offer "American Religion(s): Fractures and Foundations" in the spring, which will examine the role of religion on American culture and civic life. At the same time, the Center for the Study of Religion will offer "Religion and American Culture," which also examines the intersection of religion and culture in U.S. history.

Although the center is nonpartisan, faculty said the Chase Center appears to have a specific political leaning that is not subject to the same scrutiny as other departments.

"Where are discussions about taxpayer dollars and where the money is going when it comes to the Chase Center? Where are the questions about merit versus government handouts when it comes to the Chase Center?" Jani asked. "I think those are the kinds of questions we should either ask them of everyone, or we should admit there's a political agenda that's being supported."

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WCMH) -- Noticeably during Ohio State's game at Purdue, Carnell Tate has not appeared on the field on any of Ohio State’s first three drives. He is dressed and on the sidelines but does not have his helmet on.

Tate was not listed on the injury report released before the game.

Per the broadcast, Tate is reportedly healthy but did feel some tightness during warmups. Ohio State confirmed that he is being held out of the game as a precaution.

Coach Ryan Day later said at halftime that he was being cautious with using the star wide receiver and that he would not appear at all against the Boilermakers.

Tate, alongside teammate Jeremiah Smith, has become one of the more prolific players for the Buckeyes this season. The junior from Chicago has 39 catches for 711 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season.

In Tate’s absence, junior WR Bryson Rodgers has stepped up and already has one reception for 11 yards through the first half. Smith is leading the receiving corps in catches and yardage, making a touchdown reception in the second quarter.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (WCMH) -- No. 1 Ohio State puts its 12-game winning streak on the line against a Purdue squad desperate for its first Big Ten victory of the season.

The undefeated Buckeyes have won the last three meetings against the Boilermakers, including a 45-0 win in Columbus last year. Purdue has lost seven in a row since winning the first two games of the season.

Quarterback Julian Sayin looks to capitalize off another strong performance, throwing for four touchdowns and missing just three of his 23 passes against Penn State last weekend. Meanwhile, the defense pitched a shutout in the second half against the Nittany Lions, scoring 21 unanswered after leading by just three at the half.

The last time Purdue beat OSU was in 2018, when the Boilermakers kept the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff that year and, ironically, snapped their 12-game win streak.

Scroll below for live updates from the game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Tuesday marks Veterans Day, observed annually on Nov. 11. The federal holiday honors those who have served or are currently serving with the United States Armed Forces.

Communities across central Ohio are recognizing and thanking those military veterans with events and more. See the list of area events below.

National Veterans Memorial and Museum

300 West Broad St. at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday
• MILVETS Veterans Day Rally: A free event featuring entertainment, a free meal and Veteran-related vendors at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, showing appreciation for those who have served to protect this great nation. Activities for all ages, including Santa Claus’ first appearance in Columbus and Veterans recording their stories and donating to “Toys for Tots.”

300 West Broad St. at 11 a.m. on Tuesday
• Veterans Day National Ceremony: Actor Matthew Modine is the ceremony's keynote speaker. The NVMM is currently hosting Modine’s exhibition, titled “Matthew Modine’s Full Metal Jacket Diary,” a collection of photographs he captured during the filming of the 1987 Vietnam War film classic. The Veterans Day ceremony is free, but advance registration is required. There will be a meet-and-greet opportunity with Modine following the ceremony. Admission to the meet-and-greet is $10.

Delaware

Delaware County Fairgrounds Agricultural Center at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday
• The 16th annual breakfast and ceremony features a presentation of “The U.S.S. Squalus & the Diving Bell,” as well as special recognitions for the Veteran of the Year and the Friend of the Veteran of the Year.

Dublin

Dublin Veterans Park, 77 N. High St., 11 a.m. on Tuesday
Veterans Day Ceremony: The event honors all men and women who served our country and their dedication to our freedom. The ceremony will include remarks from veteran Jeff Noble, Council Member John Reiner, keynote speaker Stacia Naquin, and music by Sells Middle School students. In the event of inclement weather, the event will move to the Sells Middle School gymnasium.

Gahanna

Veterans Memorial Park, 73 W Johnstown Road, Gahanna, 11 a.m. on Tuesday
• Veterans Day Ceremony: A heartfelt Veterans Day Ceremony honoring the brave men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. The event will feature speeches, patriotic music, and a moment of silence to reflect on their sacrifice and service.

Grove City

Town Center Park, 3359 Park St., 11 a.m. on Tuesday
• Veterans Day service hosted by the American Legion Paschall Post #164 and Veterans of Foreign Wars 8198.
• The Grove City Welcome Center and Museum is open 10 a.m. to noon.
• Open house at the American Legion Hall, 3363 McDowell Road.

Powell

Downtown Powell, 47 Hall Street at 9 a.m. on Monday
• 9 a.m.: The public is welcome to join the Powell Veterans Committee at the Powell Cemetery to place new American flags at Veteran gravesites in honor of Veterans Day.
• Noon: A luncheon for veterans and their families will follow the ceremony.

Westerville

Veteran's Memorial, 325 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday
• Sunrise Wreath Laying Ceremony: Join fellow veterans and community members to remember and honor all who have served.

Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel 409 Altair Parkway, Westerville, 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday
• Veterans Breakfast: Celebrate and honor heroes from the community. Tickets are available for purchase for $15 at the Westerville Community Center (350 N. Cleveland Ave.). Veterans who show valid identification will receive free tickets at the same location.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A teenager has been arrested after Whitehall police received reports of several individuals talking about guns.

According to a Whitehall police, officers responded Thursday to reports of suspicious activity at John Bishop Park, near the Whitehall Recreation Center. Reports received detailed several juveniles smoking marijuana and talking about guns.

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Upon arrival, police encountered a 16-year-old and recovered a loaded, compact assault rifle similar to an AK-47 with 26 rounds of ammunition in the magazine. Also reported as evidence were tools related to stealing cars.

The teenager was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing criminal tools. It is unknown whether any other suspects were arrested, though no one was reported injured during the incident.

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) – A health-focused fast-casual chain that serves customizable bowls and salads will soon open a location in Dublin.

Roots Natural Kitchen will hold a grand opening at 7048 Hospital Drive on Saturday, when the brand will offer 40% off all meals and allow customers to enter merchandise giveaways, according to a news release. 

The new restaurant will mark the chain’s third location in Ohio. The state’s first eatery debuted at 10 E. 15th Ave. near Ohio State University in 2022, and a second launched at 808 Grandview Ave. in Grandview Heights in May.

Roots Natural Kitchen allows customers to build their own bowls, with a base of rice, grains or greens. Customers can add a variety of vegetables, meats, tofu, beans, nuts and dressings, such as pesto vinaigrette or miso ginger. 

The eatery also has premade options on the menu, including a pesto Caesar salad and a Southern bowl, featuring rice, kale, chickpeas, roasted broccoli, charred corn, lime-pickled onions, cheddar cheese, barbecue tofu and lemon tahini dressing. 

The chain was founded in Virginia in 2015 and has since grown to a total of 17 locations across Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware and West Virginia. The brand is “passionate about making natural food radically accessible,” the news release said. 

Roots Natural Kitchen in Dublin will offer dine-in, pickup, delivery and catering services. Its hours will include Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., along with Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

PITTSBURGH (WCMH) -- Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has been sued for alleged recklessness after a crash this year left three women seriously injured.

Three Indianapolis women filed two lawsuits on Oct. 22 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where the crash occurred, accusing Pryor of acting recklessly by driving his Tesla Cybertruck at a high speed in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood.

A woman and two passengers were headed east in a Nissan Rogue. The women were in a left turn lane with a flashing yellow light and were waiting for oncoming traffic to clear before turning into a gas station parking lot.

Pryor was traveling west in the left lane "at an unsafe rate of speed," approaching two trucks that were stopped at a red light, according to the lawsuit. Pryor then allegedly swerved into the right lane, running the red light and crashing into the Rogue. The vehicle was pinned to a traffic light post and turned on its side.

Screenshot from court documents

Both women had to be removed from the vehicle and were hospitalized with "severe and serious" injuries, according to the lawsuit. The driver of the Rogue suffered a cut involving the muscles and tendons on the right hand, hip pain, and other spine and body trauma.

One passenger suffered injuries including a hernia and fractures to the neck, femur and pelvis, according to the lawsuit. The other passenger suffered femur and nose fractures, among other injuries.

Pryor was not injured in the crash.

The women argue that Pryor's negligence was what caused the crash and their subsequent injuries. They are demanding a jury trial.

Pryor, a Pittsburgh native, played for the Buckeyes from 2008 to 2010 before being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.

At Ohio State, Pryor had a record of 31-4 with 6,177 passing yards, 2,164 rushing yards, and 57 touchdown passes.

Pryor was one of the “Tattoo Five,” members of the 2010 OSU team punished because Pryor, Mike Adams, Daniel “Boom” Herron, DeVier Posey, and Solomon Thomas received improper benefits from a local tattoo parlor owner in exchange for memorabilia.

Pryor was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2011, where he was quarterback from 2011 to 2013 before joining the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals. He switched to wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns in 2015 before joining the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was released in 2019.

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Wolf's Ridge Brewing announced on Thursday it's leading the effort to revamp the Worthington Inn restaurant.

The Columbus-based brewery will expand its craft brewing and cuisine to the historic restaurant at 649 High St. in Worthington this upcoming spring. In the announcement, Wolf's Ridge said its vision for the inn "builds on what the space has always represented: a gathering place rooted in tradition and connection."

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"Rather than reinventing it, Wolf's Ridge is honoring the inn's heritage while reimagining how it can serve the Worthington community -- with high-quality food, genuine hospitality and comfortable atmosphere designed for both everyday moments and special occasions," the statement said.

• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)
• The Worthington Inn at 649 High St. (Franklin County Auditor's Office)

The announcement comes after a relaunched website and new social media pages for the inn began teasing its comeback last month. An Oct. 23 post read, "The Worthington Inn is preparing for its next chapter under local ownership dedicated to preserving its legacy and revitalizing its role as Worthington's gathering place."

Bob Szuter, co-owner of Wolf's Ridge, said in Thursday's announcement that the brewery is "thrilled to join the Worthington community and play a role in bringing new life to such a meaningful local landmark."

"The Worthington Inn has always been a place for connection, and we want to honor that legacy while introducing a fresh, welcoming energy that reflects the heart of this community," Szuter said. "It will become a place where you can enjoy a memorable meal or pause to catch up with a friend across the room, all while experiencing the passion and purpose behind everything we create."

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The brewery's plans for the inn will preserve the building's architecture, while "reintroducing it as a vibrant gathering place for the community," the announcement said. In collaboration with Flat Black Commercial Visuals, the design team behind the Wolf's Ridge Understory location, "the space will blend classic character with a warm, tavern-inspired setting -- evoking the familiarity of New England inns and old English pubs, while offering a distinctly local feel."

"Reopening [the inn's] doors is our way of honoring the memories and traditions that have shaped Worthington, while creating new opportunities for neighbors and friends to gather," said Jerry DePizzo, a member of the inn's new ownership group. "We're excited to invite everyone back to experience the warmth, hospitality, and spirit that make Worthington truly special."

More details about the project, including updates on the brewery's plans for the space and the grand opening date, will be shared in the coming months, the announcement said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Every fall, one of the greatest rivalries, between Ohio State and Michigan, is channeled into a lifesaving cause. The Blood Battle. For 44 years, the blood donation competition has inspired tens of thousands of fans to roll up their sleeves.

The Buckeyes may have lost to the Wolverines on the field last year but when it comes to the battle off the field, they’re on a hot streak, aiming to claim their fourth victory in a row.

“We’re saving more lives so you know we might not win sometimes but we win in a humanitarian sense almost,” said Ella Cindric, a student at Ohio State who donated blood.

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For many Ohio State fans, this rivalry runs deeper than football. It’s in their blood.

“People like to compare other school rivalries but it’s never going to be Ohio State versus Michigan,” she said.

The Blood Battle tradition began in 1966 when a fraternity at Michigan started blood drives. They were so successful that in 1982, they decided to get their rivals involved.

“Not only was the rivalry strong but the need for blood around the holidays is so strong. It was a great way to get the community and the students engaged in donating,” said Heidi Seitz, Regional Manager of Donor Recruitment at Versiti Blood Center of Ohio.

Unlike their dominance on the field, Ohio State is not the all time leader in the Blood Battle. Michigan has won 23 and Ohio State is closing in on them with 19 wins. As of November 5, the Buckeyes are leading by almost 200 units of blood.

“I did it last year too and we won then so we’re trying to get it back this year,” said Zara Shaik, a student at Ohio State who donated blood.

NBC4 crunched the numbers from the start of the Blood Battle to see if there is any correlation between winning the Blood Battle and winning the game. There’s no major correlation but if you’re the superstitious type, Ohio State has won 55.5% of the rivalry games when they also win the blood battle.

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“The rivalry is really exciting. It draws a lot of attention both on the field and off the field and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Seitz said.

She said the rivalry plays a critical role in keeping the blood supply stocked. Last year, around 3,100 pints of blood were collected with the potential of saving more than 9,000 lives.

“Buckeye nation is such a large community that they come and support not only the team but the patients and we really do need that volume,” said Seitz.

The Blood Battle lasts until November 26. Learn more about how to participate here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After NBC4 Investigates' story aired Thursday night, one more local family is a step closer to buying their home.

NBC4 Investigates, Isabel Cleary, showed how dozens of area families entered a lease option program where they pay rent for fifteen years, then have the option to buy the home. However, after fifteen years, more than a dozen families are still waiting and getting no answers.

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Isabel sat down with Homeports CEO, and today, one HOMEport resident tells NBC4 the CEO reached out to let them know that paperwork to start the buying process is on the way. This comes six years after the resident first expected it.

NBC4 Investigates will stay on top of this story as more families wait to buy their homes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Friday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources premiered “Ohio: Wild At Heart”—a 45-minute IMAX documentary showcasing the state’s natural beauty.

After screening the film at COSI’s Giant Screen Theater, Governor Mike DeWine moderated a panel discussion with ODNR Director Mary Mertz, COSI CEO Dr. Frederic Bertley, and Nature Conservancy state director Bill Stanley. 

“I think the only regret we had is there’s so much we couldn’t show,” said DeWine. 

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The documentary, produced by the California studio MacGillivray Freeman Films, cost a little more than $2 million to make and features narration by Ohio State Buckeyes hero Archie Griffin. 

“Ohio is a part of me, and I’m the type of guy that likes to be outside,” said Griffin before the screening. “And to be in our parks here in the state of Ohio I think is just absolutely wonderful.”

The documentary consciously centers on human interaction with Ohio’s natural resources—from mountain biking to birding to veterans who have taken up fly fishing to ease the symptoms of PTSD. One scene depicts the Governor and First Lady Fran DeWine leading a group of kids along a storybook trail. 

“Everything that you can see in this movie, you can visit right here in the state of Ohio,” said DeWine. “They may not be places you’ve been before, but I think it’s going to get people excited about going to different places when they see some of the great beauty that is depicted in this movie.” 

The film also centers on conservation efforts that have notched plenty of wins for Ohio's environment in the last half-century. 

“I think back fifty years ago, when our rivers were polluted, and how Ohioans stepped in, brought them back,” said Griffin. “The bald eagle was getting ready to be extinct and our people pulled together, bald eagles are striving now.” 

Despite the many environmental success stories, recent years have seen shifts in state policy that trouble conservationists. H2Ohio—DeWine’s signature clean water program established in 2019—had its budget cut severely in the most recent state budget.

Then there was also the infamous “Chicken Bill”—a piece of legislation that originally concerned poultry regulations but eventually gained an amendment to allow natural gas drilling under Ohio’s state parks. In 2024, the West Virginia-based company Infinity Natural Resources won a bid to begin drilling in Salt Fork State Park. 

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"Drilling under state parks is always going to be controversial,” said Mertz. “There's only one park there’s drilling under now, we haven’t seen any adverse effects of that. And there’s a lot of drilling that takes place in this state and we take very seriously our obligation at the department to make sure people are safe and it’s well regulated and we are very focused on that.” 

DeWine and Mertz agreed the state is not moving backwards on conservation. 

“We are still investing significantly in our natural resources,” said DeWine. “If you look at our focus on water in the state of Ohio, whether it is making sure the Ohio River, the Miami, as well as the Great Lakes or Lake Erie is in good shape, we continue to invest in that. It might not have been exactly what I asked the legislature to do, but it’s still a huge, historically large investment.”

Ohio: Wild At Heart will be available for public viewing at COSI starting November 8, and will also appear at AMC theaters and science centers across the state.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As people struggle to make ends meet during the shutdown, Columbus Recreation and Parks, along with its partners, are helping connect residents with he resources they need.

Today, the department held a distribution event at the Scioto Southland Recreation Center on Parsons Ave. Residents in need were able to stop by and get food, household cleaning supplies, and even necessities for babies.

Rec and Parks director Bernita Reese tells us events like this would not be possible without the help of the community.

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"When you think about coming together, it's one city. So when we say Columbus, we doing it the Columbus way. So it's partnerships internally from one department to another, but it's also our external partners, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, so it's everybody joining forces to make sure our residents have the essentials to make it from one day to another," said Reese.

There will be two more distribution events next week. Monday's will be held at the Linden Community Center and Wednesdays at the Far East Recreation Center. Both distribution events will run from 2 to 6 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s a tragedy that has puzzled the West Side of Columbus for nineteen years—the disappearance of Andrew Chapman. 

“I was driving past a billboard every single day, and it was the billboard looking for information about Andrew Chapman’s disappearance,” said Rep. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus). 

Cockley eventually got in touch with Chapman’s sister, Aimee, and began talking with her and with other families of people who have disappeared. 

“It’s almost shocking how many people there are that have missing loved ones and unresolved cases,” said Cockley. “Especially in a world right now where there’s technology everywhere, it is mind-boggling, and it’s so sad to me that people still don’t have answers.” 

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Currently, the Ohio Attorney General’s database lists more than a thousand missing persons cases in the state. About 800 of those are children, and about 350 are adults.

After being elected to the House of Representatives in 2024, Cockley and her colleague Rep. Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta) had discussed potential legislation to help reunite families with missing loved ones.

“We actually first connected during our freshman orientation, and we both left a conversation feeling a little bit down but very motivated. And it was a conversation about human trafficking and missing people,” said Cockley. “And I thought to myself, this is a bill that we need to do, and Representative Ritter is the right person to do it with me. Because I could tell that he was empathetic to it.” 

Ritter and Cockley co-sponsored House Resolution 227, which encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to expedite the integration of two national crime databases—the National Crime Information Center and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database or “NamUS.” Merging the two databases would prevent law enforcement from wasting time looking in the wrong place for details on a missing persons case. 

In addition to H.R. 227, Ritter and Cockley introduced House Bill 217, which they now call Andy Chapman’s Act. 

“That is the real meat and potatoes I want to say,” said Cockley. “That would require law enforcement to utilize NameUs, it would allow for an administrative warrant, and then also would acknowledge the need for digitizing records within law enforcement. And those three pieces really emphasize the need for law enforcement to have data that’s easily accessible, clean, and up-to-date, especially for the families that are searching for answers.” 

Andy Chapman’s Act has found support among groups like the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, Freedom a la Carte, and the families of missing persons. In June, Aimee Chapman told lawmakers about her family’s struggles while searching for her missing brother. 

“We were the ones that had to file an estate in Andrew’s name to be able to pull records—records we feel the police should’ve been able to pull in the beginning,” said Chapman. “All of these records that could have been pulled at the beginning, unfortunately, were destroyed by the time we tried to pull them. So we just kept hitting roadblocks over and over. So I feel with this bill it will give police a map on how to follow through with these cases.” 

Both measures appear to have strong bipartisan support at the Statehouse. The House unanimously passed H.R. 227 on Wednesday, and Cockley expects a vote on Andy Chapman’s Act could come as early as next week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- SNAP benefits have been on pause for nearly a week, and it’s still unclear when payments may begin again in the midst of the government shutdown.

Many people in central Ohio rely on SNAP benefits to provide food for their families, and some are now looking to local nonprofits to help.

Stowe Mission on the South Side of Columbus serves a hot meal each weekday. Director of Programs Natalie McCloud said they typically feed between 250 and 300 people a day, but the need is growing.

“Even yesterday we saw a major uptick in the people needing lunch,” said McCloud, “Serving over 420 meals on a lunch that is well above what we've done historically on any given day.”

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It’s a service that many neighbors in South Columbus rely on, and more people are coming with SNAP paused.

“I come here because it's somewhere I can get a meal,” said Geralyn Stancin, who eats lunch at Stowe Mission.

She said that without her SNAP benefits, she is feeling the strain.

“Yeah, it’s hard when they don’t hit,” said Stancin. “I don't even know if they're going to come back. I'm hoping they come back.”

McCloud said Stowe Mission does not want to turn anyone away. The community trusts them.

“We are seeing an increase of people that are requesting services, especially with the panic happening of not knowing when they're going to have, you know, a meal for the coming weeks,” said McCloud.

Volunteers help ease the burden. A local church group helped out on Friday morning, and they made a run to a local store before their volunteer shift when they heard over 400 meals were served on Thursday.

“We don’t want to turn anybody away. Yeah, we would rather have extra and give people seconds, but we don’t want to turn somebody away that’s hungry,” said volunteer Roger Neer.

McCloud said Stowe Mission is relying on other local organizations to keep everyone fed.

“Every day, people being able to add to what we already have will make a difference. And it will help in these times when everyone else is pulling on other major resources,” said McCloud.

Stowe Mission is asking for volunteers, non-perishable food items, and monetary donations during this time.

To learn more or donate, visit Stowe Mission's website here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Friday is the first day air travelers are seeing flight cuts after the FAA announced a decrease to alleviate pressure from the government shutdown.

Local aviation experts say that, although this is inconvenient, it's a decision to ensure the airspace stays safe.

Travelers we spoke with on Friday at John Glenn International Airport say they had a pretty smooth day compared to the turbulence they were expecting.

Jeff Ruby and Sarah Abella say they arrived Friday morning at Chicago Midway Airport expecting a lot of issues.

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“Southwest had texted like every couple of hours yesterday to say if anything's changing, we'll let you know,” Abella said. 

They said their flight to Columbus was smooth as can be. However, they say they have more travel plans coming up.

“We're going to California for Thanksgiving. We're going on a bunch of other trips in the next couple of weeks. So my thought was, I'd like them to get their act together before Thanksgiving starts,” Abella said.

Friday, there was one canceled arriving flight and one canceled departure, both to and from Houston. There were long lines at TSA in the morning, but otherwise, passengers we spoke with say it's been pretty much business as usual.

Dr. Blake Stringer, the director of Ohio State’s Center for Aviation Studies, said this is unprecedented and coming at a time when the aviation industry is facing several stressors.

“There's an anxiety that comes up in the public when we start talking about aviation cuts, especially in a year that has seen a lot of aviation incidents already, especially just, you know, earlier this week,” Stringer said.

He said another stressor is the air traffic controller shortage. He said, though this is creating an inconvenience for many, it's a choice to keep the mess on the ground instead of the skies. 

“So when you begin to have shortages of personnel, but then you also have the added anxiety of not getting a paycheck, so how am I going to cover my bills and feed my family? That becomes a very problematic thing to deal with, and not only the stress of every day making split-second decisions to keep thousands of passengers safe in the air,” Stringer said.

No one has the crystal ball to tell us how long these impacts will last, but people we spoke with hope the upcoming holidays will be an incentive to get back to normal.

“A government shutdown feels kind of like, okay, that's just some distant abstract thing. But then, when it infringes on your own personal plans, then it feels slightly different,” Ruby said.

Columbus airport representatives have not been able to tell us what air traffic controller staffing levels have been like here, but have told us they have been running operations like normal.

Airport officials say the best thing for flyers to do to keep up with potential impacts is to download their airline's app for updates.