Columbus news

• Snow cover is lacking in central Ohio

  25-12-2016 23:14
  
  Christmas 2016 is almost over and done, and it's been characterized by warmer-than-average weather. Monday is expected to be even warmer.
  The lack of snow may have put a damper on your Christmas morning, especially if you were hoping for a white Christmas.
  The official definition of a white Christmas is one with “a snow depth of one inch or more on Christmas morning” or at 7:00 a.m.
  According to the climate records, we only see them here in central Ohio 25 percent of the time. But if
  
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• Doppler 10 Forecast: A warm start to last week of the year

  25-12-2016 21:25
  Today:Windy & warm with near-record heat.Rain arrives in the mid-afternoon, a stray rumble of thunder can’t be ruled out.High 62.South winds 10-20 mph.
  Tonight: Scattered showers early then temps will fall quickly.Low 36.West winds 10-15.
  Tomorrow: Skies will turn partly cloudy through day, cooler.High 42.West winds 7-11 mph.
  Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies and above average highs.High 43.South winds 4-8 mphWeather Resources: Interactive Radar | Weather Warnings | Closings, DelaysSpecia
  
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• Best wishes pour in for Carrie Fisher after medical emergency

  25-12-2016 20:24
  
  Tributes and well-wishes poured in for “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher, who was spending Christmas in intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a medical emergency on a flight Friday evening.Todd Fisher, the actress’ brother, said his sister is receiving excellent care, but little information about her condition was known to the public.“Princess Leia can survive anything!” wrote one fan on Twitter. “Hold on, Carrie Fisher. We’re taking y
  
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• What is Donald Trump doing for Christmas?

  25-12-2016 20:15
  
  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Donald Trump kicked off Christmas on Saturday night by attending midnight services at an Episcopal church in Palm Beach, Florida.The president-elect and his wife, Melania, went to the two-hour service at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Some members of the congregation stood and applauded as they walked in. The soon-to-be first couple were married at the church in 2005.Church Rector James Harlan spoke to the congregation about the need to make room for God in one&rsquo
  
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• Queen Elizabeth skips Christmas service over illness

  25-12-2016 20:12
  
  SANDRINGHAM, England – A heavy cold kept Queen Elizabeth II from attending the traditional Christmas morning church service near her Sandringham estate in rural Norfolk, England.It is extremely rare for Elizabeth to miss the service, which is a cornerstone of the royal family’s Christmas celebrations and brings the monarch into contact with local residents who gather outside for a glimpse of her.“The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist w
  
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• Christmas blizzard in western U.S. could make some travel "dangerous if not impossible"

  25-12-2016 20:06
  
  CHICAGO – It’ll be a white Christmas for the northern Plains and some Western states, but forecasters warn blizzard conditions could make holiday travel in the region extremely treacherous.The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for most of North Dakota, western South Dakota and a small section of eastern Montana through Monday, with expected snow totals of 8 to 15 inches and winds up to 55 mph.The weather service warns that will make travel “very dangerous if no
  
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• Photo: A Christmas smooch from the pooch

  25-12-2016 17:42
  
  Michele Cutler and Scarlet, a 12-year-old Weimaraner therapy dog, were among the volunteers on Christmas Day at the 31st Annual Bethlehem On Broad Street event Downtown at the First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St.
  
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• Family takes essentials directly to homeless each Christmas

  25-12-2016 14:12
  
  On the day after Christmas in 2005, Karry Ellis sat by himself in his home. His six children were out socializing, and he was alone with his thoughts. He very much missed his wife, Martha, who had died of breast cancer the year before. Ellis couldn’t stop thinking about her, but his thoughts also fixed on a homeless young couple with a baby whom he had run across just a few days before Christmas while on duty as a Columbus assistant fire chief.
  
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• Ohio’s crime lab struggles with persistent problems

  25-12-2016 14:07
  
  As Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and top officials at the state’s crime lab prepared for their first public comments about an embattled former forensic scientist, they decided to stress how much has improved. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation is more professional, accredited and ethically sound. What happened during G. Michele Yezzo’s 33-year career, which ended with her retirement in 2009, does not happen today.
  
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• Man crams Harrison West yard with salvaged or homemade Christmas decorations

  25-12-2016 14:07
  
  Ervin Anderson isn't sure why he loves Christmas so much. He just always has, ever since he helped his grandmother decorate her tree when he was a toddler. Anderson still decorates. And decorates. And decorates. From the street curb to the roof pitch, Anderson's home in the Harrison West neighborhood is emblazoned in lights.
  
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• 3 killed, child critically injured in I-270 crash on South Side

  25-12-2016 14:04
  
  Three people died and a child was critically injured Saturday afternoon in a crash on I-270 West on the South Side.
  
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• The Top 10 Parks in Columbus

  25-12-2016 14:00
  While Central Ohio offers little in the way of topographical variety, it does have a healthy dose of parks and greenspaces spread throughout the multi-county region. This year, when our readers and contributors were surveyed about their favorite parks for relaxation and recreation, they picked a metro park for the first time over a city-run […]
  
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• Long ago, Santa lived in Columbus

  25-12-2016 13:54
  Editor's note: This story first appeared in The Dispatch on Christmas Day 2005. In the spirit of the season, we share it with you again today.
  
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• Pets donning ugly Christmas sweaters for worthy causes

  25-12-2016 13:30
  
  Ugly Christmas sweaters aren’t just for people any more.Pets are joining the party -- and helping to support worthy causes.‘Tis the season to mix and mingle at ugly sweater parties, and some people cant resist making their pets participate.“Shes a family member so we have our own ugly sweaters so we buy one for her as well,” said dog owner Cassidy Hart of Washington, D.C. A fundraiser for the Humane Rescue Alliance gave people a chance to put their pets in party outfits a
  
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• Turkey arrests 1,656 social media users since summer

  25-12-2016 13:22
  
  Turkish authorities have formally arrested 1,656 people in the past six months for allegedly supporting terrorist organizations or insulting officials on social media, and are investigating at least 10,000 others, the Interior Ministry said Saturday.In a statement it said legal action had been taken against 3,710 people identified by police. Beside those arrested, 1,203 people were released on probation, 767 were released and 84 others are still in detention.Charges include provoking hatred amon
  
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• Sri Lanka claims world's tallest artificial Christmas tree

  25-12-2016 13:18
  
  Sri Lanka unveiled a towering Christmas tree, claiming to have surpassed the world record despite constructions delays and a shorter-than-planned finished product.The 73-meter (238-foot) artificial tree in capital Colombo is 18 meters (59 feet) taller than the current record holder, organizers said. The tree's steel-and-wire frame is covered with a plastic net decorated with more than 1 million natural pine cones painted red, gold, green and silver, 600,000 LED bulbs and topped by a 6-meter (20-
  
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• The holiday shopping season is losing some of its power

  25-12-2016 13:14
  
  The holiday shopping season is losing some of its power in the year's sales.November and December now account for less than 21 percent of annual retail sales at physical stores, down from a peak of over 25 percent, and experts believe it'll keep dropping. Those extra percentage points would have translated into an extra $70 billion more in buying for last year, says Michael Niemira, principal at The Retail Economist.The season had steadily gained in importance and peaked in the early '80s, befor
  
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• Popular mobile game 'Pokemon Go' lands on Apple Watch

  25-12-2016 13:11
  
  The popular mobile game "Pokemon Go" is now available on the Apple Watch, squashing rumors that the game's maker was scrapping such plans.The game involves catching digital pocket monsters in an augmented-reality version of your surroundings. The Apple Watch version will let you discover nearby Pokemon and collect special items, such as potions, from nearby "PokeStops." But once you encounter a Pokemon, you will need to use your iPhone to catch it.Still, the Apple Watch should make it easier for
  
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• Pope wishes Christmas peace to those scarred by war

  25-12-2016 13:04
  
  Pope Francis has wished Christmas peace for people scarred by wars and those who lost loved ones to terrorism that he says is sowing "fear and death" in many cities and countries.Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Sunday, Francis cited those suffering through the Syrian war, especially during the "most awful battles" in Aleppo. He pressed the international community for a negotiated solution. He urged Israelis and Palestinians to abandon hate and revenge.He also lamented t
  
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• Top 10 Arts & Culture Institutions in Columbus

  25-12-2016 13:00
  
  Columbus is a city with a solid (and growing) list of arts and culture institutions that includes a range of museums, art collections and other cultural hubs. And for the third year in a row, our readers and contributors have selected the Columbus Museum of Art as the number one space in the city to […]
  
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• Outdoors | Whitetail hunters, cicadas had very good year in Ohio

  25-12-2016 12:36
  
  The stretch of Lake Erie supplying Toledo with water did better during the summer than it did the summer before and the summer before that. And so, at least compared with the previous season, did whitetail hunters. Cicadas got the 17-year itch, and a couple of fish records got scratched.
  
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• John Switzer | From the Stump: Christmas memory becomes fonder as years go by

  25-12-2016 12:31
  
  We all have memories of Christmases past, and they come sweeping back over us at this time of year. One of the Christmas memories I’ve been thinking about lately has a bit of a twist. It once was my worst Christmas memory, but over the years it has evolved into one of my best.
  
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• Student hurt in Ohio State attack healing through ballet

  25-12-2016 12:02
  
  COLUMBUS, Ohio - Kerri Riccardi Strausbaugh's first class at Ohio State University didn't start until 10:20, and it was a "dark day" - one without practice - at the studio where she is a ballet dancer.So on Nov. 28, the same as every other Monday, she parked her car and headed on her 20-minute walk to her math class in Caldwell Laboratory.
  
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• Dentists provide free care to needy on annual Care Day

  25-12-2016 12:02
  
  James Hansen rose early on Saturday to make it to Comfort Dental by 6:45 a.m. On this Christmas Eve, he wasn't worried about getting a stocking filled. Instead, he was having two cavities filled. Hansen was one of several dozen patients who benefited from Comfort Dental's Care Day at the Colorado-based chain's location in the Columbus Square shopping center in Northland.
  
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• Top 10 Coffee Shops in Columbus

  25-12-2016 12:00
  
  
  The people of Columbus love coffee. That was evidenced first hand at the inaugural Columbus Coffee Fest earlier this month where a sold-out crowd of 1,300 locals gathered to caffeinate themselves by tasting the best offerings from Columbus and Ohio roasters. When asked about their favorite shop in our annual reader survey, voters and contributors […]
  
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• Capitol Insider: Ohio House Speaker Rosenberger noncommittal on e-school funding

  25-12-2016 11:56
  
  House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, didn’t offer criticism of ECOT or Ohio’s other online schools as they struggle to justify their enrollment numbers and face the prospect of repaying tens of millions of dollars to the state.
  
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• Online donations help Ohio State museum buy cabinet for rare tetrapod collection

  25-12-2016 11:44
  
  Ten years ago, a brief videotape of what was said to be an ivory billed woodpecker surfaced and became the birding equivalent of capturing Elvis, alive and kicking, on film. The woodpecker is still believed to be extinct, but there is a place nearby where you can see the bird and its brilliant red Mohawk. The ivory billed woodpecker resides, preserved for all time, inside a cabinet at Ohio State University’s Museum of Biological Diversity.
  
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• Ohio’s new laws: Are you affected?

  25-12-2016 11:38
  
  The three-week lame-duck legislative session that ended in mid-December saw the passage of more than 50 bills that touch Ohioans in a wide variety of ways. Those new laws matter to you if you …
  
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• Theodore Decker commentary: When it comes to Christmas traditions, final word on tree toppers is ‘finial’

  25-12-2016 11:27
  
  Our tree this year is a concolor fir about 6 feet tall, glistening with tinsel and colored lights and, I’m told, topped with sacrilege.
  
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• Whitehall craft brewery 2 Tones falls short of first-year goals

  25-12-2016 11:24
  
  Brewing beer isn't the hardest part of starting a brewery; making money brewing beer is. "I thought brewing would take up the majority of our time," said Anthony McKeivier, co-founder of 2 Tones Brewing Co., which opened in Whitehall this year, "but selling the beer takes up most of our time."
  
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• ‘Urban’ is the word among central Ohio developers

  25-12-2016 11:24
  
  Urban projects will remain hot in 2017 — whether they are actually in an urban area or not. Older, close-in suburbs of Columbus such as Whitehall are seeing more "infill" development, while newer suburban areas in Dublin and around the shopping areas of Easton and Polaris are reverse-engineering city centers where they have not existed.
  
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• Some central Ohioans show Christmas spirit year-round

  25-12-2016 11:01
  
  If you look around this holiday season, you’ll spot the givers. Each Christmas, stories pop up about Secret Santas who pay off layaway bills at department stores, or about kind strangers who hand out hundred-dollar bills to people in need. There are toy drives and special holiday dinners for the homeless. Most of the time, we never learn the names of these anonymous angels. Although they deserve credit, they don’t ask for it.
  
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• Letter: Cemetery is community treasure

  25-12-2016 08:26
  
  The Dispatch welcomes letters to the editor from readers. Typed letters of 200 words or fewer are preferred; all might be edited.
  
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• Debris from missing Russian plane found at sea

  25-12-2016 07:19
  
  The Latest on the crash of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft (all times local):9:45 a.m.The Russian Defense Ministry says rescuers have found fragments of the Tu-154 plane that was carrying 91 people en route to the Russian military base in Syria.The ministry said earlier that the plane disappeared from radars shortly after takeoff from the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Sunday. It carried eight crew and 83 passengers, including members of the world-famous Alexandrov military choir.The ministry says res
  
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• Authorities: 3 dead, 1 critical in Ohio crash

  25-12-2016 04:54
  The Franklin County Sheriff's Office says the driver of a Ford Explorer traveling eastbound in Jackson Township around 3:40 p.m. Saturday lost control and crossed a grass median, entering the westbound lanes. A Honda Civic with three occupants then hit the vehicle.
  
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• You can now watch NBA games with courtside views, thanks to virtual reality

  25-12-2016 04:25
  
  The NBA is upping its game, giving fans a whole new perspective. Thanks to virtual reality technology, fans who might never have a chance to get to an NBA game can now feel like they’re in the stands, or even courtside. All you need is a subscription to the NBA League Pass, a virtual reality headset, and the free app “NextVR” on your smartphone. CBS News correspondent Dana Jacobson gave the technology a try. “I mean, the players are like, there. I should be touching them
  
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• Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in packed St. Peter's Basilica

  25-12-2016 04:16
  
  VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis urged Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus by thinking about the plight of today’s children, bemoaning how some must escape bombs or flee in migrant boats and how others are prevented from being born at all. Francis celebrated a somber Christmas Eve Mass in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica, processing to the altar behind cardinals draped in golden vestments as the Sistine Chapel choir sang “Gloria” and the church bells rang out across Rome.
  
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• One person critically-injured in east Columbus shooting

  25-12-2016 03:25
  
  COLUMBUS - One person was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after a shooting in east Columbus.Columbus Police says it happened on the 1500 block of East Main Street near Miller Avenue around 8:45 p.m. Saturday.Leonard Franklin, 29, was taken to Grant Medical Center, where his condition improved.Police have not identified a suspect.Stay with 10TV and 10TV.com for updates.
  
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• One critical after shooting in east Columbus

  25-12-2016 03:25
  
  COLUMBUS - One person is in critical condition after a shooting in east Columbus.Columbus Police says it happened on the 1500 block of East Main Street around 8:45 p.m. Saturday.One person was taken to Grant Medical Center.No other information was immediately available.Stay with 10TV and 10TV.com for updates.
  
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• Westbound Lanes of I-270 South Side re-open after fatal crash

  25-12-2016 03:19
  
  Three people died and a child was critically injured Saturday afternoon in a crash on I-270 West on the South Side.
  
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• "Christmas miracle" after missing Pa. family found in snowy Arizona forest

  25-12-2016 03:01
  
  JACOB LAKE, Ariz. -- An Arizona sheriff’s official says it’s “a Christmas miracle” that searchers found a Pennsylvania woman and her family stranded in a snowy Arizona forest after their vehicle got stuck before a severe winter storm hit the area.
  Coconino County Deputy Jim Driscoll says 46-year-old Karen Klein of Easton, Pennsylvania was found exhausted at a closed Grand Canyon National Park early Saturday morning after she hiked 27 miles.
  Other searchers located her hus
  
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• Army mom gets her homecoming wish

  25-12-2016 02:57
  COLUMBUS - Perhaps no time of the year is more important to be with family than the holidays.
  "I'm waiting for my husband Harrison," said Bethany De La Cruz of Lancaster.
  She couldn't wait for her husband to get off the plane so she could hug man she fell in love with.
  "We've been married two years and the last time I saw him was a week ago. He's been a blessing," she said.
  Of all the hugs at the airport, one stood out. A bear hug from an Army mom who welcomed home her youngest son.
  "It feels aw
  
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• Boy, Grandmother, Uncle killed in Christmas Eve fire

  25-12-2016 01:56
  
  MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. -- A 5-month-old boy, his grandmother and his uncle died in a fire on Christmas Eve in Pennsylvania, authorities said.The blaze was reported shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday in a two-story home in Stowe Township, near Pittsburgh. The county medical examiner's office identified the victims as Linda Tschudi, 50, Michael Tschudi Jr., 29, and 5-month-old Gabriel Glikis.Fire Marshal Martin Jacobs said the child was found on the second floor and the adults were found at the bottom of th
  
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• Best-selling author returning to Ohio to try to help

  25-12-2016 01:10
  After writing and talking repeatedly about the problems facing the kind of people he grew up with, best-selling author J.D. Vance is coming back to his home state to try to do something to make things better. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy," with colorful tales and observations from his life in the Ohio Rust Belt city of Middletown and his familial home in rural eastern Kentucky, was among 2016's most prominent nonfiction books.
  
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• Skywatch: Stargazing will be easier this week

  25-12-2016 00:34
  
  When the clouds break long enough for you to catch a glimpse of the night sky this week you may notice a few more stars than you saw a few weeks ago.
  As the moon wanes we’ll see less light pollution making star gazing easier this week.
  If you’re out early on Monday a fingernail moon will sit near one of the famous planets in the solar system.
  Saturn will be near the horizon and it along with the moon and Antares, the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius, will form a triang
  
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• 4 dead in Christmas Eve shooting near Wilson, North Carolina, police say

  25-12-2016 00:34
  
  WILSON, N.C. -- Wilson County authorities say four people died in a shooting.
  Local media outlets report the shooting occurred Saturday afternoon just east of Wilson.
  Sheriff’s spokeswoman Wanda Samuel says law enforcement officials are in the process of identifying the victims and notifying their families.
  No details have been released yet.People living in the neighborhood had many questions as they tried to wrap their minds around what happened, CBS affiliate WNCN reported.“It&rsqu
  
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