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St. Stephen’s Community House will split from Columbus Catholic diocese in 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A partnership built on helping the community is set to enter a new phase after more than 100 years of service. In a statement released Tuesday, the Diocese of Columbus and St. Stephen’s Community House announced that St. Stephen’s will launch as an independent nonprofit organization, no longer serving as a [...]

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Man receives $3 million bond after being arrested in wife's September death

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) β€” A 39-year-old man made his initial court appearance Tuesday morning after being arrested Monday in connection to his wife's death in September. Austen Medek has been charged with murder and received a $3 million cash surety bond in Franklin County Municipal Court. He is accused of killing his wife Michaela Medek, [...]

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Bill requiring free feminine hygiene products in Ohio prisons awaits governor's signature

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A bipartisan Ohio bill that would require correctional institutions to provide free feminine hygiene products to incarcerated women awaits Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature. Lawmakers sent House Bill 29 to the governor’s desk on Dec. 9, after the legislation passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. DeWine has 10 days, [...]

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Ohio 2026 film celebration unveils full slate of movie screenings

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is getting ready for a statewide cinematic celebration next year as part of the U.S.'s 250th anniversary, with hundreds of free movie screenings planned across all 88 counties. The initiative, Ohio Goes to the Movies, kicks off Feb. 11 and runs through October, highlighting films connected to Ohio through actors, [...]

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Federal funding abruptly canceled for key Ohio manufacturing program

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Department of Commerce abruptly suspended millions in funding intended to support Ohio's manufactures, citing a federal review of the program that could take years to resolve. The Department of Commerce said the funding is paused due to an ongoing Office of Inspector General review of Ohio's Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The [...]

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Where to see Mr. Tree, other Lazarus Christmas memorabilia around Columbus

Former Lazarus employee Ronald Rau donated a Santa figure and Snow Queen to the Fran Ryan Center to help recreate the iconic Christmas window displays and SantaLand of the now-defunct Columbus department store.

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When you can and can’t legally use your phone behind the wheel in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Revised Code lays out specific rules for using a mobile device behind the wheel, including addressing whether it is legal to scroll while stopped at a red light or talk on the phone while driving. Ohio implemented a distracted driving law in October 2023, generally banning motorists from using, [...]

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Whitehall council to vote on removing member accused of sexual misconduct

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- Whitehall City Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday night to consider the removal of a councilmember accused of underage sexual misconduct. Councilmember Gerald Dixon was arrested the evening of Dec. 8 on allegations of decades of grooming underage boys. The next morning, he appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court and was [...]

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Central Ohio Jewish community remains alert after Australian shooting

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The central Ohio Jewish community remains on edge after the terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia over the weekend.Β  "You have the shock and then the mourning and then the worry of where else is this going to happen," Katie Rotenberg said. According to JewishColumbus President Julie Tilson Stanley, [...]

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How Columbus aims to protect resident information online

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The City of Columbus said it is strengthening its IT infrastructure to ensure that its policies align with state standards to protect residents' data. This comes more than a year after the city was hit with a ransomware attack that led to half a million people’s sensitive information being posted on [...]

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Warrant Watch: Suspect pulls gun on store clerk; new face takes over Ohio FBI office

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The U.S. Marshals Service and the Columbus Division of Police are teaming up to find a suspect wanted for pulling a gun on a store clerk in November. According to the Marshals Service, Ian Crum, 35, allegedly walked into the Tractor Supply Company store on West Broad Street last month, loaded [...]

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What can Ashville do to stop data center? Nothing, city official says

ASHVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- There is nothing that can be done to stop a data center from coming to northern Pickaway County, according to Ashville Village Administrator Bert Cline. This comes as neighbors in the community are protesting the development. Traveling through the main streets in the village of Ashville this time last year, you’d [...]

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Leaders from dozens of states in Ohio to fight federal overreach

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Statehouse hosted a historic gathering of legislative leaders from across the country Monday, discussing concerns about the increasing power of the federal government. Senate presidents and House speakers from about 40 states met in the chambers of the Ohio House of Representatives, unanimously adopting a nonbinding declaration for the [...]

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Columbus creates LGBTQ+ commission

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For the first time, Columbus has a specific commission to uplift and support the voices of LGBTQ+ people in Columbus. Columbus City Council approved the appointment of 13 members of the LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission, a diverse group with members coming from different backgrounds, races and gender identities. "We will codify that [...]

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Central Ohio school delays and closings for Tuesday, December 16, 2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The cleanup from this past weekend's winter storm continues, prompting several central Ohio school districts to either delay or cancel classes on Tuesday. Up to seven inches of snow blanketed parts of the region on Saturday, accompanied by sub-freezing temperatures. Storm Team 4 forecasts call for temperatures to gradually climb through [...]

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Man charged in deadly shooting near southeast Columbus apartment complex gets life in prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) β€” One of four suspects arrested in the shooting of an unarmed man in southeast Columbus received a life sentence in court Monday afternoon. According to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Caleb Johnson was found guilty in the murder of 25-year-old Jahaan Harris, who was gunned down on June 14, 2024 in [...]

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