COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohioans could see $900 million in federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits finally reach their pockets, after the state Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging Gov. Mike DeWine's 2021 decision to end the program early. Lower courts have ruled that DeWine violated state law by stopping the payments, which provided an [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers are considering new requirements for schools, public libraries and state agencies that use online research databases, marking the latest in a series of proposals aimed at restricting material deemed inappropriate for minors. House Bill 583 would require any vendor providing an online database to Ohio institutions to block access [...]

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen is set to open its second central Ohio restaurant this month, celebrating the launch with meet-and-greets featuring former Ohio State football players. The location at 36 N. High St. in Dublin will open on Nov. 25 and marks the Los Angeles-based brand's second in Ohio, following its [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio bill introduced last month aims to increase transparency in ticket sales and curb deceptive practices by third-party resellers. House Bill 563, sponsored by Rep. Mark Hiner (R-Howard), would require ticket sellers and online marketplaces to disclose the total cost of tickets, including fees and surcharges. The legislation also prohibits [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus Metropolitan Library employees announced Tuesday that they are working to form a union, joining the Ohio Federation of Teachers amid a growing wave of organizing across central Ohio's public library systems. In a statement released by the Columbus Metropolitan Library Organizing Committee, workers said they represent a range of departments [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Rambling House Music Bar, the Old North venue that closed last month after more than a decade of business, announced Tuesday it will reopen in December under new ownership. In a social media post, Rambling House, located on East Hudson Street, near Indianola Avenue, said Michelle and Tucker Bohm have taken [...]

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Panini Opa, a locally owned Mediterranean restaurant, plans to open at North Market Bridge Park this month, the market announced. The restaurant, known for Greek-inspired dishes and casual service, is renovating its space at 6750 Longshore St. and expects to open just before Thanksgiving. The expansion marks Panini Opa's first location [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A redevelopment plan aims to transform the long-vacant Cooper Stadium site into a mix of housing and retail, marking the most ambitious proposal for the property in years. The concept, submitted to the city by Arshot Investment Corp., calls for a four-story apartment building with 213 units on the 47-acre Columbus [...]

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local developer is seeking tax incentives for a pair of projects that would bring a boutique hotel and two new restaurants to Powell, marking the latest step in the city's push to remake its downtown. Transform Construction has submitted plans for a two-story restaurant at 147 W. Olentangy St. and [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Attorneys called a former Ohio police officer and use-of-force expert to the stand on Monday in the murder trial of Connor Grubb, the police officer who fatally shot Ta’Kiya Young in a Kroger parking lot in 2023. Grubb, 31, is charged with four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) urged lawmakers this month to support three bills that would give employers tax credits for offering bonuses tied to childbirth, marriage and fertility treatment coverage -- proposals that drew questions over how much they would cost the state. Williams presented sponsor testimony on Nov. 5 before [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio House Democrats have introduced legislation that would require landlords to notify tenants of rent defaults before filing for eviction, a proposal its sponsors say would give struggling renters a fair chance to stay in their homes. House Bill 553, introduced in October by Reps. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), would [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers are weighing a proposal that could add a constitutional right to hunt and fish, a measure supporters say would preserve part of the state's economy and heritage. Senate Joint Resolution 8, introduced in October by state Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), seeks to amend the Ohio Constitution to recognize [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus-based barbecue chain Ray Ray's Hog Pit is closing three of its central Ohio locations, including two full-service restaurants that opened this year. Owner James Anderson announced Thursday that the company's Johnstown and Marion restaurants shuttered on Wednesday, and its Linworth food truck parked outside Aardvark Wine & Beer will close [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Supporters of an Ohio bill say setting aside a day to honor Henrietta Lacks would both celebrate a woman whose cells transformed modern medicine and acknowledge the injustices she endured. Senate Bill 111 would designate Oct. 4 as "Henrietta Lacks Day" in Ohio. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A bill to make buckeye candy Ohio's official state treat is heading to a Senate vote after The Buckeye Lady and Anthony-Thomas Candy Company joined others in supporting the measure during testimony this month. Sponsored by Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), Senate Bill 247 passed out of the Senate Government Oversight and [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Franklin County officials plan to demolish the former Downtown jail next year, clearing the way for a potential mixed-use redevelopment that could include an early learning center for county and city employees. The three-phase proposal, presented to the city's Downtown Commission on Oct. 28, outlines a yearlong demolition process for the [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Advocates behind a proposed constitutional same-sex marriage amendment in Ohio said their campaign will press on, even after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to revisit the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The court's action left intact Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark ruling that originated in Ohio and [...]

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) -- 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 [...]