An Ohio State freshman says she escaped a man masturbating along the Olentangy Trail between Tuttle Park and the Dodridge bridge; police searched the area but made no arrest.

A new CASPR scorecard gives Ohio a poor grade on online‑gambling safety and estimates about $533 million a year flows out of the state to out‑of‑state betting apps.

A 19-year-old was arrested after a 2025 attack on a COTA driver, investigators say bus-camera and phone data were central to the case. Court proceedings begin on March 13.

Police photos show a stolen vehicle that fled a traffic stop and struck a car carrying a mother and four children in east Columbus. A 14-year-old was hospitalized and charged.

House Bill 292 would set up an Ohio Defense Commission and Fund to help local businesses land military contracts. Supporters promise jobs, critics decry the funding plan. The move now heads to the Senate after a heated House vote.

JobsOhio and Ohio Life Sciences chose New Albany for a $30M training center to teach cGMP and lab skills. The city is pitching in $5M to help build and operate the facility.

Flood Watch through 1 p.m., heavy showers and patchy fog may cause localized flooding. Allow extra travel time on wet roads.

A bipartisan Senate bill would create statewide referral teams, telehealth peer support and initial funding to link mothers who screen positive for perinatal behavioral health conditions to care.

Court filings say a Georgia man was indicted on murder and weapons counts in the October killing of 18‑year‑old Demetrese Norvett in Bexley.

USDA approved Ohio’s request to bar soda and pop purchases with SNAP, set to begin Oct. 1, 2026. State officials cite health goals while advocates warn of costs and stigma.

New Albany’s Abercrombie & Fitch posted record fiscal 2025 net sales — roughly $5.3B — driven by Hollister growth and a strong fourth quarter. Management also repurchased about $450M in stock.

A 345‑acre Millersport tract is listed for $125M, directly across from a planned $2.1B Vantage data center — a sale that raises questions about power, zoning and local impacts.

A London man was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder after investigators reclassified his wife Rachel Long’s Oct. 23, 2025 death as a homicide following an autopsy and a months‑long probe.