Ohio
Franklin County exits extreme drought, but some parts of Ohio still exceptionally dry
Video: Lynd Fruit Farm running low on apples for picking due to drought
Multiple “U-pick” orchards and farms around central Ohio are closing their apple picking early after a historic drought led to reduced or early crops.
Ohio’s drought continues to move in a positive direction, even before Thursday’s wet weather.
A new drought map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows extreme drought retreating from Franklin County and an increasing amount of the state’s area experiencing no drought whatsoever.
Franklin County is now experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, or D1 to D2 on the drought monitor’s scale.
Ohio’s exceptional drought area in southeast Ohio has shrunk and areas in northeast and southwest Ohio experiencing no dryness at all continued to expand on this week’s map.
Additionally, the state’s Drought Severity and Coverage Index score, an overall measure of the state’s drought conditions, is down to 219 from 247 a week prior. A zero on the scale means the state is experiencing no dryness at all while a 500 means the entire state is experiencing exceptional drought.
For comparison, here’s how the state looked at the peak of the drought on Sept. 24.
Columbus rainfall that occurred after Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. will be reflected on next week’s map.
Speaking of rainfall, here’s what you can expect from the weather for the week, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Columbus weather for the week of Nov. 14, 2024
- Thursday: There will be showers, mainly before 11 a.m. The high will be near 53. Wind gusts up to 24 miles per hour are possible. The chance of precipitation is 80% and between a tenth and a quarter inch of precipitation is possible.
- Thursday Night: There’s a chance of showers, mainly before 9 p.m. It’ll be cloudy with a low around 48. The chance of precipitation is 30% and less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is expected.
- Friday: It’ll be mostly cloudy with a high near 55.
- Friday Night: It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 44.
- Saturday: It’ll be partly sunny with a high near 55.
- Saturday Night: It’ll be partly cloudy with a low around 40.
- Sunday: It’ll be partly sunny with a high near 62.
- Sunday Night: It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 51.
- Monday: It’ll be mostly sunny with a high near 62.
- Monday Night: It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 46.
- Tuesday: Showers are likely. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a high near 63. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: Showers are likely. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 52. There’s a chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday: There’s a chance of showers. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a high near 60. The chance of precipitation is 40%.
NHart@dispatch.com
@NathanRHart
Ohio
Police release video showing person of interest in killing of Ohio dentist and his wife
Authorities investigating the apparent shooting deaths of a dentist and his wife in Ohio released security video Monday of a person of interest in the case.
Columbus police said the video was recorded between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Dec. 30 in an alley next to the Columbus home of Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39.
In a statement, the police department said investigators believe the couple were killed on the top floor of their home during that three-hour window.
The brief video shows a person walking in the alley wearing light-colored pants and a hooded dark jacket.
The department asked the public for information about the identity of the person and said detectives are following up on numerous tips.
Authorities discovered the Tepes’ bodies after several 911 calls from colleagues and loved ones on the morning of Dec. 30. Among the callers was a friend who reported having found Spencer Tepe’s body next to his bed.
The couple appeared to have been shot, according to an incident report.
The Franklin County coroner’s office told NBC Chicago on Monday that the pair died in an apparent homicide by gunshot wounds, adding that the case is not finalized and that additional reports are pending.
Three 9 mm shell casings were found in the family’s home, a preliminary investigative report shows. The couple’s two young children were in the house unharmed.
Authorities have not identified a possible motive. The police department previously said it does not believe the killings were a murder-suicide.
Spencer Tepe worked at a dental practice in Athens, Ohio, where he focused on comprehensive dentistry and implant therapy, according to a company biography.
The Tepe family has described the pair as “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others.”
“Our family is devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of Spencer and Monique,” the family said in a statement.
Ohio
Ohio State vs Nebraska live score updates, highlights, how to watch game
Ohio State’s men’s basketball players were on the bus to the airport after having won at Rutgers when they switched on the Nebraska-Michigan State game. The drive from Piscataway to Trenton allowed the Buckeyes to see the Cornhuskers prevail in the final seconds and improve to 14-0 with a 58-56 win against the Spartans.
Now, Nebraska brings the nation’s longest winning streak to the Jerome Schottenstein Center, presenting a challenge Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said is one his team is excited for.
“When they saw they won, (our players were) was excited about how big of an opportunity this is for us,” Diebler said Jan. 4. “It’s an early-season Big Ten game, but it’s one at home and it’s one against a team that’s established themselves. You have a top-10 team coming into your building, it’s a huge opportunity and our guys know that. We’ll be ready for it.”
Ohio State is 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after the Jan. 2 win against Rutgers.
Follow along with all the action at our Dispatch live game blog below.
The Buckeyes will be wearing some new Nike shoes for the Nebraska game, as the team showed in a video posted to social media.
Neither team has any surprises on its official availability report. Ohio State is still without Josh Ojianwuna (knee surgery) and Myles Herro (redshirt), while Nebraska’s Henry Burt is out. None of the three have played in a game this season.
Ohio State vs Nebraska score updates
This section will be updated when the game begins.
- Date: Monday, Jan. 5
- Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET
The Ohio State vs Nebraska game starts at 6:30 p.m. from the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
- TV Channel: FS1
- Livestream: Fox Sports App
- Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)
The Buckeyes’ 14th game of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season will air nationally on FS1. Brandon Gaudin and Steve Smith will call the game from the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream Ohio State vs. Nebraska
- Series record: Ohio State leads 22-8
- Ohio State’s last win: March 4, 2025 (116-114, 2OT, in Columbus)
- Nebraska’s last win: Feb. 9, 2025 (79-71 in Lincoln)
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Jan. 4
Spread: Ohio State by 2.5
Over/under: 154.5
Moneyline: Ohio State (-140) | Nebraska (+115)
Ohio State men’s basketball schedule
- Oct. 26 – Ohio University (exhibition) W, 103-74 (takeaways)
- Nov. 3 – IU Indy, W, 118-102 (takeaways)
- Nov. 7 – Purdue Fort Wayne, W, 94-68 (takeaways)
- Nov. 11 – Appalachian State, W 75-53 (takeaways)
- Nov. 16 – Notre Dame, W 64-63 (takeaways)
- Nov. 20 – Western Michigan W, 91-58 (takeaways)
- Nov. 25 – Mount St. Mary’s W, 113-60 (takeaways)
- Nov. 28 – at Pitt L, 67-66 (takeaways)
- Dec. 6 – at Northwestern W, 86-82 (takeaways)
- Dec. 9 – Illinois L, 88-80 (takeaways)
- Dec. 13 – vs. West Virginia (Cleveland Hoops Showdown, Cleveland) W, 89-88, 2OT (takeaways)
- Dec. 20 – vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic, Atlanta) L, 71-70 (takeaways)
- Dec. 23 – Grambling State W, 89-63 (takeaways)
- Jan. 2 – at Rutgers W, 80-73 (takeaways)
- Jan. 5 – Nebraska
- Jan. 8 – at Oregon
- Jan. 11 – at Washington
- Jan. 17 – UCLA
- Jan. 20 – Minnesota
- Jan. 23 – at Michigan
- Jan. 26 – Penn State
- Jan. 31 – at Wisconsin
- Feb. 5 – at Maryland
- Feb. 8 – Michigan
- Feb. 11 – USC
- Feb. 14 – vs. Virginia (Nashville Hoops Showdown, Nashville)
- Feb. 17 – Wisconsin
- Feb. 22 – at Michigan State
- Feb. 25 – at Iowa
- March 1 – Purdue
- March 4 – at Penn State
- March 7 – Indiana
Buy Ohio State vs. Nebraska men’s basketball tickets
- In ‘fascinating’ hoops era, Ohio State’s Jake Diebler wants clarity
- At Rutgers, Jake Diebler, Ohio State celebrated another Big Ten road win
- Could Ohio State men’s basketball add a player to its roster midseason?
- After last year, Ohio State enjoying less chaotic locker room situation
- Ohio State’s ‘loyal, humble’ Bruce Thornton to have prep jersey retired
- How is Ohio State’s Devin Royal handling his position change so far?
- Pointed talks with Jake Diebler fueled Brandon Noel’s breakout game
- Ohio State’s Christoph Tilly, John Mobley battle injuries at Northwestern
- What will happen to the naming rights to Ohio State’s Value City Arena?
- Freshman Amare Bynum bringing dunks, scoring and ‘joy’ to Ohio State
- Ohio State’s Devin Royal gifts new jerseys to Pickerington Central
- On memorable evening, Ohio State pays tribute to Jerry Lucas with statue unveiling
- Alex Smith celebrates reaching milestone, signing to play basketball for Ohio State
- After signing for Ohio State, five-star forward Anthony Thompson has prolific game
- BTN analyst Raphael Davis says Ohio State will earn double bye in conference tournament
- Who is Ohio State’s best shooter? Dunker? Dresser? The Buckeyes sound off in annual poll
- Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton talking trash, playing freer and ready for his senior year
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
Ohio
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