Local News

COLUMBUS, Ohio) — A Columbus physician and his medical clinic were found guilty today of overbilling Medicaid by $1.5 million, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced. A Franklin County jury convicted Dr. Robert Florea and his company, Buckeye Health and Research, each of one count of Medicaid fraud, a third-degree felony. Both defendants were indicted in December 2022. Investigators with …

Liberty Road has re-opened a week ahead of schedule following the completion of a culvert replacement project. Crews Tuesday completed road base and berm reconstruction following installation of the prefabricated concrete structure under the roadway, and it was re-opened again to traffic between Slack Road and Hull Drive. Work began Sept. 23. The culvert is a major pathway for runoff from …

Victims of violent crime can be hesitant to pursue charges or testify in court – thinking they might not be believed or because they’re afraid of retaliation. For people who encounter violence by someone they know, the concerns compound. They may worry the offender won’t be convicted or, alternatively, want to protect the offender because of their relationship. Having someone …

As Halloween approaches, AAA reminds ghosts and goblins, trick-or-treaters, parents, and party goers too, of the dangerous traffic safety concerns associated with the holiday. Increased pedestrian activity and the potential for impaired driving converge this week as Halloween activities begin on the holiday itself (Thursday, October 31) and in some cases into the upcoming weekend as Halloween parties continue. Halloween …

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With Halloween this week the Ohio Department of Commerce is providing guidance to ensure Ohioans are able to celebrate a fun and safe holiday – and also do so legally. Commerce has created a Halloween Safety Guide that features important information and legal reminders from its Divisions of Cannabis Control, Liquor Control, and State Fire Marshal to keep the holiday both spooky …

Licking County Health Commissioner, Chad Brown, announced today the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awarded $55,000 for federal traffic safety funding to the Licking County Health Department (LCHD) for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025.  The traffic safety grant funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The purpose of the funds is to support …

COLUMBUS – Today, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced more than $12 million is being invested to aid communities with fixing or replacing aging bridges on local roads. ODOT’s Municipal Bridge Program, an annual grant for local municipalities to apply for to pay for projects on bridges under their jurisdiction, is awarding $12.4 million to eight …

As Halloween creeps closer, fire safety hazards lurk among many of the holiday’s festivities and celebrations. According to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), between 2018 and 2022, an annual average of 835 home structure fires began with decorations, resulting in three deaths, 30 injuries, and $14 million in direct property damage. Nearly half (47 percent) of these fires occurred because the decorations …

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn today announced an investment of $63 million dedicated to projects that improve roadway safety. Funding from ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program will support 19 safety projects in 14 counties, including the construction of a dozen roundabouts and the installation of several cable barriers. “We’re always looking at how …