(WTAP) – Here’s a look at your afternoon headlines and weather for Tuesday, April 24.
Stretch of 80-degree days continues Highs are expected to reach the mid-80s Tuesday and the upper 80s Wednesday, with Wednesday’s heat forecast to break the daily record high of 84 set in 2024. A shower or thunderstorm was possible Tuesday, with the possibility of gusty winds in stronger storms. Another round of rain was expected late Thursday into Saturday, with Saturday bringing the best chance of rain as a cold front moves through. Temperatures were expected to fall back into the 60s Sunday and early next week.
Ohio 211 expansion to reach all 88 counties In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente announced a partnership to expand Ohio 211 service to all 88 counties by the end of June. Ohio 211 is a free, 24/7 helpline that connects callers to resources including nutritional assistance, housing and shelter, medical services, government programs, transportation, legal assistance, counseling, disaster recovery and other everyday needs. Officials said the effort will unify 13 regional 211 providers into a statewide system and extend coverage to 30 counties where service was limited or unavailable. The partnership also expands access to the department’s Family and Customer Support Call Center after normal business hours. Ohio’s 211 centers handled 797,169 contacts in 2025 and identified 809,120 needs, according to the announcement.
Ravenswood council won’t allow members to lead prayers In Ravenswood, the Freedom From Religion Foundation said it had pressed the city to stop prayers led by council members, citing a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals precedent addressing legislator-led prayer. Mayor Josh Miller said the city had already addressed the issue in 2017 and that current practice allows members of the public to offer an invocation. If no one from the public volunteers, the council observes a moment of silence, he said.
Former Parkersburg South teacher pleads guilty to sexual abuse charges A former Parkersburg South High School teacher, Dwain Sponseller, entered an Alford plea Monday to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse on the day his trial was scheduled to begin in Wood County Circuit Court. An Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty while maintaining innocence but acknowledging prosecutors have enough evidence to likely win a conviction at trial. Sponseller faces one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 on each of the felony counts. He also will be placed on the West Virginia Sex Offender Registry for life and could be placed under supervised release for up to 50 years after release from prison, prosecutors said. He was indicted in September 2024 on 16 counts. His sentencing is scheduled for July 24.
One Tank Trip: Columbus gallery showcases glass artists from around the world For travelers looking for a cultural stop, Hawk Galleries in Columbus presents glass as fine art, featuring work from artists around the world. Owner Tom Hawk said the gallery, opened in the late 1980s, seeks “museum caliber” artists as well as emerging talent and hosts events that bring artists in to discuss their process and inspiration. Hawk said the internet has shifted the business from primarily central Ohio sales to a national audience.
Work begins on William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge deck replacement Work was expected to begin this week on a deck replacement project on the William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge in Ravenswood. Triton Construction Inc. received an $11.265 million contract awarded in December 2025 to replace the steel grid central span with a lightweight concrete deck, and the remaining spans will receive a concrete overlay. The 2,710-foot bridge, built in 1981, carries U.S. 33 across the Ohio River. Contractors plan to work on one lane at a time and use traffic lights at each end to control traffic. The work is expected to be complete in late November 2027.
Jesterville Road bridge closes indefinitely A bridge on Wood County Route 4/4 (Jesterville Road) was closed indefinitely Tuesday because of structural damage. The bridge is about 2.5 miles from West Virginia 68. Officials said it will remain closed until repairs can be made. Motorists were directed to follow a detour from County Route 4/4 to County Route 4 (Ridge Road) south to County Route 10 (Rosemar Road), then east to WV 68. If you see an error in our reporting, please send us an email by clicking here! Copyright 2026 WTAP. All rights reserved.
