Ohio
Is your Ohio homeowners insurance spiking? Blame increasing tornadoes, storms
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Here are some stories you may have missed on Dispatch.com and in the Columbus Dispatch newspaper.
More tornadoes and severe weather may translate to pricier home insurance for central Ohioans —but there are things homeowners can do to curb rising costs.
Across the United States, annual insurance premiums for typical homeowners increased by an average of $648, or 24%, from 2021 through 2024, according to a report released in April by the Consumer Federation of America, a national nonprofit established in 1968 to advance consumer interests through research, advocacy and education. In Ohio, premiums increased 23% in that same time period while in Columbus they rose by 16%, the report shows.
In large part, the rise was driven by more frequent storms doing more damage throughout the country and not just in areas often hit by hurricanes or wildfires, said Sharon Cornelissen, director of housing at the Consumer Federation of America. And while it may appear that worse weather has spared some states, Cornelissen said that won’t always be the case.
“Florida is just the canary in the coal mine. Price pressures continue to rise and we’re seeing more and more disasters happening all over the country,” Cornelissen said. “No state is a climate haven. There is no such thing.”
In 2024 alone, Ohio saw 82 tornadoes, which put the state at 10th in the nation for the most twisters that year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The year’s total was the highest number of tornadoes Ohio has seen since at least 1950, the earliest year for which data exists on the NOAA website.
A number of tornadoes touched down in central Ohio and in the Indian Lake area about 75 miles north of Columbus in March 2024. Last year’s twisters came five years after a 2019 tornado leveled homes across the City of Dayton and several of its suburbs.
The tornadoes, coupled with damaging rain, flooding and hail can all drive up the price of coverage as insurers are are forced to pay for more repairs or entire home replacements, said Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Pennsylvania-based Insurance Information Institute.
In fact, insured losses from U.S. natural disasters exceeded $100 billion in 2024 for the third time in at least four years, he said.
“If you’re in kind of the same category as tornado alley, that’s a lot of activity… if it was not a historic level of tornadoes, it was pretty close,” Friedlander said of Ohio in 2024. “When you’re seeing a large volume of loss like that, insurers are going to take that into account when they’re determining rates.”
Central Ohioans who have seen their insurance costs rise more than they can afford should shop around for coverage, Friedlander said. Ohio, which is home to Nationwide Insurance and Grange in Columbus and Progressive in the northeast part of the state, has a strong insurance market and plenty of local and national options, Friedlander said.
Even if homeowners can afford their plan’s price increase, Friedlander said they should check in with an agent every year to ensure their policy still has an adequate level of coverage to cover the total loss of a house.
For homeowners who want to get even more proactive, Friedlander said some insurance companies will also work with clients to take preventative measures and potentially lower their insurance costs.
Roofs and windows, for example, are one of the most vulnerable parts of homes in the path of strong winds or tornadoes, Friedlander said.
But, Friedlander said homeowners can have the connections between the walls and roof of their houses strengthened so they don’t get blown away as easily. Upgrading windows with stronger glass, a common practice in areas where hurricanes are more likely, could also be a way to lower the cost of home insurance, Friedlander said.
Reinforcing a roof or replacing windows, however, can be costly and not an expense every homeowner can easily afford, Cornelissen said.
Instead, Cornelissen suggested states consider creating grant programs to help fund such home improvements or explore the idea of offering zero interest loans to homeowners who are interested in fortifying their roofs and windows. There also needs to be more information made public on why insurers are increasing premiums or denying coverage to some homeowners so that researchers can asses what’s going on.
If nothing is done, Cornelissen argued that rising insurance prices will prove to be unsustainable for most homeowners in the long run.
“This will price more people out of homeownership,” Cornelissen said. “Pretty much no ZIP code is escaping this fate… This is a call to action.”
Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.
Ohio
Is Ohio State football playing today? What’s next for Buckeyes in playoff schedule | Sporting News
It’s a college football Saturday, but Dec. 13 is just a little bit different.
Ohio State and all its other College Football Playoff competitors will be on the couch.
The Army-Navy game highlights the day.
There’s also the first bowl game, the LA Bowl between Boise State and Washington.
And the FCS Playoffs roll on, as well.
Is Ohio State playing today?
No, Ohio State isn’t playing on Saturday, Dec. 13.
The CFP isn’t underway, and the Buckeyes have a bye in that even when it gets started.
When is Ohio State’s next game?
Ohio State won’t play again until Dec. 31.
That’ll be the Cotton Bowl.
They don’t know their opponent yet, either. It’ll depend on the CFP opening round matchup between Miami and Texas A&M.
MORE: Donovan Mitchell ties Jayson Tatum on an NBA record list
How it Happened
125 – (1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3
Robinson opened the scoring with a takedown followed by a McCrone escape to send the bout to the second with NC State up 3-1. McCrone chose top to open the second after Robinson deferred choice. Robinson got the reversal to lead 5-2 after a McCrone escape. Robinson added a takedown to lead 8-2 after five minutes. Starting neutral, Robinson made it 11-2 with a takedown. McCrone escaped but with a point for riding time, Robinson won by major decision, 12-3.
133 – (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1
After two minutes, Davino scored the opening takedown for a 3-0 lead to go to the second. Davino chose bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 4-0 lead. Davino added a late takedown to lead 7-0 after two periods. Redding escaped to start the third to make it 7-1 Buckeyes. That’s the way if ended for a Davino win by decision, 7-1.
141 – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6
Mendez went on top 3-1 with a takedown and Jack escape. Mendez added another takedown on the edge of the mat to finish the period up 6-1. Mendez added three takedowns quickly to jump to a 15-4 advantage. Another pair of takedowns ended the match for a Mendez win by technical fall, 21-6.
149 – (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3
There was no scoring in the opening the period. Stiles chose bottom to open the second and took the 1-0 lead with an escape for the only points of the middle period. Buesgens evened the bout at 1-all with an escape to open the third. Stiles was awarded a takedown that was challenged by NC State but upheld after video review for a 4-1 lead for the Buckeyes. Buesgens scored a late reversal but Stiles held on for a 4-3 win by decision.
157 – (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1
Cannon struck first with a late takedown for a 3-0 lead. Cannon chose bottom to start the second after Arrington deferred. Cannon scored a reversal for a 5-0 advantage after five minutes. The third period started neutral before a Cannon takedown made it 8-0. Arrington earned an escape but with a point for riding time, Cannon got the win by major decision, 9-1.
165 – (19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5
Denny got on the board first with a takedown at the edge of the mat. Gallagher escaped to make it 3-1 Wolfpack at the end of the opening period. Gallagher closed the gap with an escape early in the second before taking the lead with a takedown to make it 5-4 after a Denny escape. The third started with Denny choosing bottom. He tied it at 5-all with an escape. The match then went to sudden victory. Denny got the win by decision, 6-5 when Gallagher was called for stalling.
174 – (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4
Neither wrestler scored in the opening three minutes. Kharchla got the reversal for the first points of the match. Singleton then escaped to make it 2-1 Buckeyes. Kharchla scored a takedown to make it 5-2 after a Singleton escape. Singleton chose bottom to start the third and escaped to cut it to 5-3. Kharchla quickly added a takedown for an 8-4 advantage and a win by decision.
At 174, No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) earns an 8–4 decision over No. 3 Matthew Singleton (North Carolina State). pic.twitter.com/Zz1SBQeaIT
— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) December 13, 2025
184 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1
Fishback opened the scoring with a takedown at the edge of the circle. Cates escaped before another Fishback takedown made it 6-1 before the end of the first. Fishback upped the lead with an early escape before adding another takedown for a 10-1 lead. Fishback finished off the match to win by major decision, 12-1.
197 – (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4
Just a minute into the bout Geog scored the opening points with a takedown. Howle escaped before Geog added a takedown and a four-point nearfall to lead 10-1 after three minutes. Howle added an escape point to open the second. Geog, leading 10-2, escaped to open the third before adding a takedown for a 14-3 advantage. Another takedown got the win by major decision, 17-4.
HWT – (2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1
Trumble jumped to a 3-0 lead with a takedown and built nearly 90 seconds of riding time before a Feldman escape make it 3-1. Trumble escaped to open the second to take a 4-1 lead into the third. Trumble finished off the match with a 5-1 win by decision with a point for riding time.
Up Next:
Ohio State will travel to Nashville Dec. 21 for the 2025 Collegiate Duals where they will take on Little Rock and No. 3 Iowa State.
| Wt. | No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 9 NC State | OSU | NCST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | (1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3 | 0 | 4 |
| 133 | (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1 | 3 | 4 |
| 141 | (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6 | 8 | 4 |
| 149 | (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3 | 11 | 4 |
| 157 | (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1 | 15 | 4 |
| 165 | (19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5 | 15 | 7 |
| 174 | (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4 | 18 | 7 |
| 184 | (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1 | 22 | 7 |
| 197 | (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4 | 26 | 7 |
| HWT | (2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1 | 26 | 10 |
| Attendance: 3,895 |
#GoBucks
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio Goes to the Movies, the statewide film festival launching in February, is coming into focus. Organizers have released the initial schedule for the nearly yearlong event. Part of the state’s America 250 celebration, it will bring more than 280 screenings to all 88 counties. Each film is tied to the Buckeye State in some way, and all screenings are free.
“Ohio has played a significant role in the history of American film and continues to attract talent, productions and storytelling that resonate around the world,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “Ohio Goes to the Movies ensures that residents in every community can participate in the America 250 celebration and rediscover the films that connect us.”
From classic movies starring or made by Ohioans to Hollywood blockbusters shot in downtown Cleveland, the lineup highlights the depth of the state’s influence on the film industry. The festival is also meant to encourage movie fans to explore the state by attending screenings all over Ohio.
Here’s a list of events planned for Northeast Ohio’s seven-county region.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Feb. 12. Phoenix Theatres Great Northern Mall.
“Major League.” March 1. Cinemark Strongsville at SouthPark Mall.
“Draft Day.” March 1. Cinemark Valley View.
“Welcome to Collinwood.” March 12. Cleveland History Center.
“Major League.” April 5. Capitol Theatre.
“Cool Hand Luke.” April 12. Cedar Lee Theatre.
“Draft Day.” April 23. Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square.
“Toy Story 2.” June 24. Chagrin Documentary Film Festival HQ.
“The Scarlet Letter.” July 11. Cleveland Silent Film Festival at Cleveland Public Library.
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” July 11. Great Lakes Science Center.
“More Than a Game.” Sept. 11. AMC Ridge Park Square.
“Superman.” Sept. 18. AMC Westwood Town Center.
“Passing Through.” Sept. 19. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque.
“Kill the Irishman.” Oct. 6. Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore.
GEAUGA COUNTY
“A Christmas Story.” June 11. Mayfield Road Drive-In Theatre.
LAKE COUNTY
“White Boy Rick.” March 11. Regal Willoughby Commons.
“Superman.” April 8. Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium.
“Air Force One.” July 7. Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center.
LORAIN COUNTY
“The Princess Bride.” April 22. Apollo Theatre.
“The Hunger Games.” Sept. 18. Regal Cobblestone Square.
MEDINA COUNTY
“Major League.” March 7. Hickory Ridge Cinema.
“Draft Day.” Sept. 12. Regal Medina.
PORTAGE COUNTY
“Unstoppable.” Feb. 22. Atlas Cinemas Barrington.
“Dog Man.” March 8. The Kent Stage.
“The Philadelphia Story.” March 19. Kent State University Museum.
“A Christmas Story.” June 10. Midway Twin Drive-In Theatre.
SUMMIT COUNTY
“The Big Short.” Feb. 21. Regal Hudson.
“The Avengers.” April 12. Akron Civic Theatre.
“Howard the Duck.” May 21. The Nightlight Cinema.
“Down by Law.” June 13. Akron–Summit County Public Library Main.
For a complete guide, go to ohiogoestothemovies.org.
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