Columbus police investigate an accidental shooting in the Hilltop area of West Columbus.
Juvenile Critically Injured in Accidental Shooting in West Columbus
A juvenile is in critical condition following an accidental shooting in the Hilltop area of West Columbus on Friday evening.
Columbus police responded to the 200 block of South Wheatland Avenue at 6:26 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered a minor suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital, where they remain in life-threatening condition.
The Columbus Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating the incident due to the severity of the injury. Preliminary findings indicate the shooting was accidental and involved family members. No charges have been filed at this time.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Vogel at 614-645-4217, the Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.
The FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World was unveiled during Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Draw in Washington, D.C., honoring global peace initiatives through football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised President Donald Trump’s diplomacy, including recent ceasefire deals like the Congo-Rwanda agreement. Trump highlighted his focus on saving lives over awards and claimed to have ended eight conflicts. The ceremony mixed formal announcements with lively moments, including Trump dancing to “Y.M.C.A.,” before revealing the group stage draw for the 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Key matchups include the U.S. facing Paraguay, Australia, and a playoff team.
CMHA addresses widespread December rent delays caused by HUD funding disruptions.
HUD Delays Affect December Rent Payments for Thousands of Columbus Tenants
Columbus, Ohio — Thousands of residents across Franklin County are still waiting for December rent payments as the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) continues to face federal funding delays from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As of December 4, CMHA confirmed that more than 13,000 Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenants have not had their rent paid because HUD has not released the full monthly allocation required for the program. The issue is nationwide, according to the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), which reports similar delays among other housing authorities.
The Housing Choice Voucher program helps low-income renters by allowing tenants to pay an income-based portion of their rent while CMHA covers the rest using federal funds. CMHA stressed that landlords are not permitted to evict tenants due to the temporary payment delay. To keep renters stable, the agency has also provided utility assistance so residents can stay current on essential bills.
Tenants are encouraged to continue paying their usual portion of rent while CMHA waits for HUD to release the withheld funding. Once those funds are received, CMHA says it will immediately distribute full payments to affected landlords.
HUD announced on December 1 that agencies with deficits in their Housing Assistance Payment budgets would experience delays. Payments are expected to reach banks by the end of this week or early next week, though banks may require additional processing time before transferring funds to individual agencies. NAHRO also warned that similar delays may occur in January.
This is not the first time CMHA has experienced payment disruptions. In early 2024, the agency ended a contract with the private company managing its voucher program after ongoing complaints about late payments, lost paperwork, and communication issues. Although CMHA resumed internal management in March, some landlords continued to face delays due to a major software transition. Several rental payments were still unresolved as late as July.
CMHA says its priority remains protecting tenants’ housing stability and ensuring landlords are paid as soon as federal funding becomes available.
Ohio’s Kelli Johnson adds holiday cheer while decorating the White House Red Room.
Central Ohio Residents Help in White House Christmas Decorations
The White House’s “Home is Where the Heart Is” holiday theme is making its way to central Ohio in a special way this year.
Every year, volunteers from across the United States are selected to help decorate the White House for the holiday season. This year, one of those volunteers was Kelli Johnson, the wife of Ohio Representative Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe).
Kelli applied online in August and was chosen to join the holiday décor team in Washington, D.C. She spent two days assisting with festive preparations that bring the historic home to life each season.
“We helped with all of the lighting,” Johnson said. “All the Christmas trees are real, and the scent throughout the White House is incredible because of that. Being in D.C. is always exciting, but being inside the White House and contributing to the holiday traditions was truly rewarding.”
Her team worked on decorating the iconic Red Room, adding a personal touch from Ohio to one of the nation’s most cherished holiday displays.
22-year-old Dana Henry Identified as victim in Fatal Thanksgiving Day Crash in Franklin Township
Columbus Man Identified in Fatal Thanksgiving Day Crash in Franklin Township
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in a two-vehicle collision in Franklin Township on Thanksgiving Day. Investigators report that the crash occurred after a driver ran a red light, leading to a serious impact and a collision with a traffic pole.
According to authorities, 22-year-old Dana Henry of Columbus’ Near East Side was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened around 3:11 p.m. on Nov. 27 at the intersection of Georgesville Road and West Broad Street.
A sheriff’s crash report indicates that Henry was traveling eastbound on West Broad Street in a 2014 Honda CR-V when he drove through a red light. At the same time, a 2008 Acura MDX heading west on West Broad Street was turning south onto Georgesville Road and collided with Henry’s vehicle.
Following the impact, the Honda overturned and struck a metal pole positioned at the corner of the intersection.
Franklin Township medics pronounced Henry deceased at 3:25 p.m. A passenger in Henry’s vehicle was transported to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in critical condition. The Acura’s driver and a passenger were taken to OhioHealth Doctors Hospital with minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit at 614-525-6113.
Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State running back, appointed to the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board.
Maurice Clarett Appointed to Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board
Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State University (OSU) standout running back and now respected mentor, continues to make a positive impact in Columbus, Ohio. On December 2, the Franklin County Commissioners officially appointed Clarett to the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board of Trustees.
The board, responsible for overseeing the county-owned Clippers Triple-A baseball team, is composed of seven volunteers serving three-year terms. Clarett expressed his gratitude on social media, stating, “Thank you to the Franklin County Board Of Commissioners for appointing me to the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board. It’s an honor to serve on the board.”
Clarett made a name for himself as a freshman at OSU in 2002, helping lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. Although his career faced challenges, including suspensions and legal issues, Clarett has turned his life around. Since his release, he has become a motivational speaker and mentor to student-athletes nationwide.
About a year ago, OSU football coach Ryan Day welcomed Clarett back to the program, where he now provides guidance and mentorship to current Buckeyes players, inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Clarett’s appointment to the Parks and Recreation Board highlights his continued dedication to serving the Columbus community and supporting local sports initiatives.
Emergency responders clear wreckage after a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on I-77 in Virginia.
Columbus Man Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Virginia Highway
A man from Columbus has died following a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 77 in Virginia over the weekend.
According to the Virginia State Police, the Columbus resident was identified as the driver who lost his life in a crash involving a pickup truck, a tractor-trailer, and a Tesla.
Troopers arrived at the scene at 5:07 a.m., finding multiple vehicles damaged near the State Route 683 overpass. Initial findings indicate that a pickup truck traveling in the left lane struck the rear of a tractor-trailer before veering into the median.
Moments later, a 2020 Tesla attempting to shift from the left lane to the right reportedly hit a second tractor-trailer, then swerved back into the left lane and collided with the first tractor-trailer. The Tesla’s driver, 26-year-old Dylan Hammond of Columbus, was wearing a seatbelt and had to be removed from the vehicle by the Hillsville Fire Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities report that icy roads and winter weather conditions may have contributed to the deadly crash.
The interstate remained closed for several hours as emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage. Other drivers involved sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals.
E&H Ace Hardware store in the Dublin Plaza shopping center Tuesday evening
Ace Hardware Store Heavily Damaged by Fire at Dublin Shopping Plaza
The Washington Township Fire Department is investigating a fire that caused significant damage to a hardware store at a busy shopping plaza in Dublin, Ohio.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Dublin Plaza located at 299 W. Bridge St., according to Washington Township Fire Chief John Donahue. The fire was first reported when an alarm activated at a nearby business. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered an active fire inside the E&H Ace Hardware store.
According to Chief Donahue, crews found flames burning through the store’s mansard roof near Frantz Road. Due to the intensity of the fire, the amount of damage, and the presence of propane tanks and other combustible materials inside the hardware store, the blaze was elevated to a second-alarm fire.
Firefighters evacuated several stores throughout the plaza as they worked to contain the fire. Dublin Plaza is home to more than a dozen businesses, including a nail salon, Subway, Kroger, a Taekwondo studio, a pizza restaurant, a clinic, and a gourmet chocolate shop. Power was temporarily shut off to the area during the emergency response.
Although the fire was eventually brought under control, officials have not confirmed how long full extinguishment took. Damage estimates are still pending, but the hardware store is expected to remain closed through Dec. 3.
The interior and roof of the store suffered heavy destruction. Fire crews from the Columbus Division of Fire and the Norwich Township Fire Department assisted Washington Township firefighters at the scene.
Snow in Central Ohio? Counties Declare Emergencies Ahead of Winter Storm
Snow Emergencies Issued Across Central Ohio as Winter Storm Approaches
Several counties across central Ohio have issued snow emergencies as a winter storm prepares to move into the region. The National Weather Service has placed the entire area under a Winter Weather Advisory, which is expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning.
Meteorologists report that the heaviest snowfall will continue into the Tuesday morning commute. Franklin County is forecast to receive between 2 to 4 inches of snow, potentially causing hazardous road conditions.
Southeastern counties are expected to see even higher totals. Areas south of Lancaster — including Hocking, Vinton, and Athens counties — may experience between 4 to 8 inches of accumulation. These counties, along with others, have already issued Ohio Snow Emergencies in preparation for worsening travel conditions.
Rep. Ilhan Omar faces renewed scrutiny as President Trump repeats allegations about her citizenship.
Could Rep Ilhan Omar Be Deported? Inside the Allegations About Her Marriage and Citizenship
President Donald Trump has reignited controversy surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar, once again questioning the Minnesota congresswoman’s path to U.S. citizenship. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump repeated allegations that Omar entered the United States through a fraudulent marriage arrangement and insisted she should be removed from the country if the claims are true.
Trump also criticized the Somali community in Minnesota, announcing on social media that he plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals in the state. As Democratic leaders, including Omar, defend Minnesota’s Somali population, online rumors resurfaced claiming that Omar could face deportation through possible revocation of her citizenship.
Omar, who arrived in the United States in 1995 and later became a naturalized citizen, has long dismissed accusations that she used a false identity to obtain asylum. The allegations claim she entered the U.S. under a family name that was not her own, a story first circulated by an online blog. The blog alleged that members of Omar’s biological family applied for asylum under different surnames and that some were relocated to the United Kingdom.
The rumors also rehashed claims involving Omar’s past marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, alleging he was her biological brother — a claim Omar strongly denies.
According to immigration law, a naturalized citizen like Omar cannot be deported unless the government proves in court that she intentionally misrepresented critical information during the citizenship process. Omar has previously responded to online speculation, stating that she is unbothered by such rumors and confident in her legal status.
