Ohio Senate Reviewing “Joshua Alert” Bill to Create Missing Child Alerts for Kids With Autism

A digital emergency alert sign on an Ohio highway displaying information for a missing child.

The Ohio Senate is considering legislation that would create a statewide emergency alert system for missing children with autism and other developmental disabilities, a proposal that previously passed the Ohio House unanimously. House Bill 359 would establish what lawmakers are calling a “Joshua Alert,” a notification system designed to quickly alert the public when a … Read more

Kokosing Offers $100,000 Reward After Construction Worker Jordan Thomas Killed in I-70 Hit-and-Run, Driver Still Missing

Police looking for a maroon Toyota sedan involved in a fatal I-70 hit-and-run in Columbus

COLUMBUS — Kokosing Construction is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver who struck and killed one of its workers in a downtown Columbus work zone last week and drove away. The victim, Jordan Thomas, 25, died at the scene at 2:12 a.m. on February 28. He had worked … Read more

Flood Watch in Effect for Columbus and Central Ohio Through Thursday Afternoon; Up to 3 Inches of Rain Possible

Heavy rain and flooded street in Columbus, Ohio during a Flood Watch.

COLUMBUS — The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a Flood Watch for Franklin County and several surrounding counties Wednesday morning, warning that heavy rain and thunderstorms could cause flooding through Thursday afternoon. The watch covers Franklin, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, and Clark counties including Downtown Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Springfield, and Plain City. Flooding Is a … Read more

KeyBank Tower for Sale: Iconic Downtown Building Faces $11.5M Debt Crisis

The 21-story KeyBank Building at 88 E. Broad St. in Downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The KeyBank Building at 88 E. Broad St., a 21-story office tower across from the Ohio Statehouse in Downtown Columbus, has been listed for sale through Allied Real Estate Advisors while under court-ordered receivership, according to property records and court filings. The building, which has struggled with high vacancy and foreclosure proceedings since 2024, carries … Read more

Columbus Cop Arrested After Strangling Girlfriend Twice Taken Off the Job

Columbus Police officer Jacob A. Smith's court appearance for strangulation charges.

DELAWARE COUNTY — Jacob A. Smith, 50, a Columbus Division of Police officer, was arrested Saturday in Delaware County and charged with felony strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend twice outside a Polaris-area restaurant, according to court records.Smith was arraigned in Delaware County … Read more

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect for Columbus as Snow and Fog Create Hazardous Conditions; Warm-Up Coming This Week

Snow and fog on a Columbus, Ohio highway during a winter weather advisory.

COLUMBUS — A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Franklin County until 11:00 a.m. Monday as light snow and patchy fog create slick conditions across Central Ohio, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Temperatures at John Glenn Columbus International Airport dropped to 22°F early Monday morning, with a wind chill making it … Read more