Columbus
Axios Columbus
Report: Franklin County tree coverage improved, but still has room to grow
Data: Columbus & Franklin County Tree Canopy Assessment 2011-2021; Table: Axios VisualsFranklin County communities need to take action to protect and grow the area's tree coverage, a new environmental report urges.Why it matters: Columbus has its own tree plan in place, but this countywide study will direct other communities where to target new planting efforts.What they did: Researchers used aerial tracking technology to map the tree canopy in dozens of cities, villages and townships, comparing data from 2021 and a decade prior.What they found: Trees covered 24% of the county in 2021, an increase of 2.8% compared to 2011.This surprised...
Bloomberg donates to help Columbus reduce emissions
The charitable organization founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will spend $200 million to help leaders in Columbus and 24 other cities tap into federal funding opportunities to cut their emissions, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes.Why it matters: The funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies could allow these cities to grow their building and transportation networks in ways that limit greenhouse gas emissions.State of play: The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative offers not just funding but a small team of project managers to help Columbus as it works toward a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.Future projects could include construction of new affordable, zero-emission housing and investing in electric vehicles, per Mayor Andrew Ginther's office.What they're saying: "It is impossible to deny the impacts of climate change in Columbus," Ginther said in a statement."We are proud to have been selected for this important initiative, and we are eager to step up our efforts to further reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience — particularly among our most vulnerable neighbors."Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Bloomberg donates to help Columbus reduce emissions
The charitable organization founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will spend $200 million to help leaders in Columbus and 24 other cities tap into federal funding opportunities to cut their emissions, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes.Why it matters: The funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies could allow these cities to grow their building and transportation networks in ways that limit greenhouse gas emissions.State of play: The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative offers not just funding but a small team of project managers to help Columbus as it works toward a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.Future projects could include construction of new affordable, zero-emission housing and investing in electric vehicles, per Mayor Andrew Ginther's office.What they're saying: "It is impossible to deny the impacts of climate change in Columbus," Ginther said in a statement."We are proud to have been selected for this important initiative, and we are eager to step up our efforts to further reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience — particularly among our most vulnerable neighbors."Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
How Ohio benefits from the latest Congressional spending bill
Legislation averting a federal government shutdown includes billions of dollars for Ohio lawmakers' pet projects.Why it matters: The Buckeye State is set to get more than $300 million in funding for construction projects and community programs as part of the deal, per an Axios review of congressional records.Here's a quick look at some of what that new federal spending will pay for in the Columbus area:🚧 Wider streets: A $5 million earmark proposed by Rep. Mike Carey and Sen. Sherrod Brown will help pay for a third lane going each direction on Alum Creek Drive near Rickenbacker airport as well...
Ohio state flag ranked 5th-best in the Midwest
Consider us biased, but we think the Ohio state flag is the best in the nation.Driving the news: A prominent Midwestern-themed social media page evidently disagrees, ranking us fifth out of a dozen states.We're behind Illinois (eagle with runny nose), Missouri (two fat bears), North Dakota (another eagle, how original) and No. 1 Iowa (eagle carrying sky banners).Flashback: We took over 100 years of statehood to come up with something unique.The result was America's only state flag not shaped as a rectangle.Fun fact: Did you know the red and white circles represent both the O of Ohio and a buckeye?The bottom line: At least this gives us something to argue about besides the existential debate over who is a Midwesterner.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
New report highlights Columbus' ever changing downtown
An entirely new neighborhood built on the Scioto Peninsula. A $100 million "urban pathway." And the potential return of passenger rail service.Why it matters: There's so much change on the horizon for downtown Columbus and so many development goals set by local leaders, making it worth taking a regular view from 1,000 feet to track our progress.Driving the news: The Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District recently released its 2023 report on the "State of Downtown Columbus."Here's what we learned from the 48-page report:🏗 Construction is everywhere. Nearly two-dozen projects totaling over $1 billion are currently being built, from the massive...
Columbus salaries not keeping up with U.S. averages
Data: Glassdoor; Chart: Kavya Beheraj and Alice Feng/AxiosAerospace and defense workers had the highest average salaries in Central Ohio last year, but they still lagged behind national wages, according to an Axios analysis of Glassdoor data.What they did: The analysis reviewed salaries of local jobs listed on Glassdoor last year.Threat level: No average salary in any industry came close to the over $90,000 needed as of last August to afford the median-price local home of $331,000.The intrigue: Insurance is the only top-paid Columbus career ranking noticeably higher than the national average.With the headquarters of Nationwide, Grange, State Auto and Encova all based here, perhaps that isn't too surprising.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbites: Eclectic Diner & Sweeterie is the real deal
I drove past the Eclectic Diner & Sweeterie on Route 23 for over a decade before finally making a pit stop.Shame on me for taking so long. This place is the real deal.✅ Classic diner boxcar shape? Check.Saturday Evening Post covers and a framed guide to the 1946 Ohio State Fair on the wall? You bet.Condiments, syrup and napkins conveniently placed on every table? God bless America.The intrigue: Befitting the name, you'll find unusual stuff on the Eclectic menu, including ahi tuna avocado toast, brunch roast beef, asparagus fries and wild mushroom rotini.I don't mind when diners branch out like this, so long as they get the classic stuff right.To borrow a phrase, get yourself a diner that can do both. This place does.What we ordered: My wife went with a traditional breakfast platter ($10.99) — my goodness, those potatoes — while I tried and loved the zucchini quinoa burger ($9.99) topped with garlic aioli.Our side of blueberry zucchini bread ($3.29) was a surprise hit. I'd wait in congested Route 23 traffic for another slice.If you go: 755 Route 23, Delaware. 7am-3pm, Monday-Saturday. You can spot this diner from Route 23 in Delaware.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Titanic exhibit on display at COSI through September
Hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic go on display at COSI this weekend.Why it matters: The traveling exhibit includes rarely displayed artifacts, per the museum, including one of the massive cranes used to lower the ship's lifeboats.The exhibit also includes a complete set of whistles recovered from the ship's smoke stacks.What to expect: Prepare for an immersive experience, COSI spokesperson Kristy Williams says.She highlights a reproduction of the ship's grand staircase and an ice wall that lets people experience exactly how frigid the water was the night of the wreck."It's so surreal because you think about what you would do in that situation and how you would feel," she says.Flashback: This is the third time the Titanic exhibition has returned to COSI.The 2005 local debut drew a record breaking 226,000 visitors during its six-month run, prompting an encore exhibition in 2010, per the Dispatch.If you go: The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through Sept. 2.Time ticket bundles are $45 for adults and $40 for youths, which get you into the museum and the Titanic exhibit.COSI members can reserve exhibition tickets for $10 each.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbus Metropolitan Library program lets you decide what's historic
The Columbus Metropolitan Library maintains a vast digital collection of 1.75 million old photos, postcards and newspapers — and now invites the public to add their own.Why it matters: The library system's My Upload program offers residents the chance to preserve memories and community landmarks for generations to come.How it works: Residents can upload digital files of local photos, concert programs, ticket stubs and anything else of interest.They can be old images or those taken as recently as today.Librarians review all submissions to make sure they're relevant to the area.Anyone can submit — you don't need to have a library...
Columbus weekend events: St. Patrick's Day parade, classic rock and a beer festival
🎨 Get creative with other artists at the monthly Boxland Media Studios' https://www.boxlandmedia.com/events#calendar-d879a75d-d6ae-415f-8a8c-864af95d749b-event-lplr820w-1707512400-1709931600.4-6pm Friday, 6155 Huntley Road, Suite J. Free!☘️ Celebrate the greenest and grandest day of the year with Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade.Festivities start at 7am Saturday, parade at 11am, downtown Dublin. Free!🏒⚽ Cheer on the Jackets and Crew in an Arena District double header as the respective teams celebrate kids day and Star Wars night.Puck drop is 12:30pm Saturday at Nationwide Arena. Kick off is 7:30pm at Lower.com Field. Jackets tickets $35+. Crew tickets $35+.🎵 Go Now! to hear the classic rock group Moody Blues perform at the Ohio Theatre.8pm Saturday, 39 E. State St. $20+.🐶 Hear another classic band, Three Dog Night, explain why one is the loneliest number at Mershon Auditorium.8pm Saturday, 1871 N. High St. $45+.🍺 Taste any of 150 local beers at COSI after hours during the Columbus Brew Fest.8-11pm Saturday, 333 W. Broad St. $55+ in advance, includes sample tickets. No door ticket sales.🏆 Watch the 96th Academy Awards with fellow movie lovers at the Gateway Film Center.Doors open at 4:30pm Sunday, 1550 N. High St. $75, includes parking and drink tickets.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
3 Democrats are seeking Franklin County prosecutor nomination
The three Democratic candidates for Franklin County prosecutor want to reform the office to rebuild public trust and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system.Why it matters: The office handles a variety of important criminal cases and investigations, some involving law enforcement officers.This is perhaps the highest profile local race on the upcoming primary ballot, with the winner likely to prevail in November and become the first Black prosecutor in county history.State of play: Shayla D. Favor, Anthony Pierson and Natalia S. Harris all filed to replace Democratic incumbent Gary Tyack, with attorney John Rutan running unopposed on the...
A history of equality at Otterbein
Our Franklin County Historical Marker Tour heads north to one of the oldest universities in the region.The marker: Otterbein University, across from Courtright Memorial Library in Westerville.Flashback: The university was founded in 1847 and named after Philip William Otterbein, a German American pastor who started a predecessor to the United Methodist Church.It was a coeducational campus from the beginning, with two women in the first graduating class.The intrigue: Early university officials were involved in emancipation, per a school history, assisting people fleeing slavery along the Underground Railroad.Fun fact: Famous alumni include Columbus native and MLB star Paul O'Neill and composer Benjamin Hanby ("Up On the House Top").The university received national attention for hosting a presidential debate in 2019.4️⃣2️⃣ down, 86 to go.Thanks to our series sponsor Ohio History Connection. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
What's in Columbus' billion-dollar 2024 budget
A record-setting Columbus operating budget will pay to hire more police officers, set up shelters during extreme weather and fund other local priorities like infant health programs in the year ahead.Why it matters: The budget, passed by City Council on Monday, features $1.2 billion in general fund spending, paid for mostly by residents' income and property taxes.The increase of around $50 million from last year's budget stems partly from a projected jump of 29% in property tax collections thanks to rising property appraisal values.Zoom in: City Council passed $18.5 million in amendments to Mayor Andrew Ginther's budget proposal to promote...
Ohio political donors favor Trump in 2024 race
Data: Federal Election Commission; Note: Individual contributions of less than $200 are not required to be reported to the FEC; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosThe Donald is dominating among Ohio's biggest political donors.The big picture: Former President Trump has raised nearly twice as much as President Biden among Ohio residents who contributed $200 or more this election cycle, per Federal Election Commission data.Between the lines: That's a reversal of fortune compared to nationwide numbers, where Biden leads Trump in fundraising by $17 million.Zoom in: Trump drew support from nearly 52,000 Ohio donors — far more than his competitors.Nikki Haley reported 11,491 large donations in Ohio and Biden's campaign reported 7,787.Honorable mention: Columbus' own Vivek Ramaswamy was a hit with statewide donors before he dropped out of the GOP primary.He counted large donations from 2,768 Ohio residents, and we were his fourth most successful state for fundraising, behind California, Florida and Texas, per FEC data.What's next: The March 19 primary is just under two weeks away.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
COTA bus ridership climbing since pandemic drop
Data: COTA; Chart: Axios VisualsAnnual ridership is moving in the right direction for the Central Ohio Transit Authority, though it remains well below pre-pandemic levels, per data shared with Axios.Why it matters: Public transit is key to cities' broader health and vibrancy.It makes for cleaner, greener communities, opens up possibilities for those who can't afford a car, and frees up parking lots for other uses like housing or public gathering spaces.By the numbers: Last year, the transit authority saw more than 11 million riders — a nearly 22% increase since hitting its lowest point in 2021.Yes, but: Ridership is just...
Columbus' cold streaks are getting shorter
Data: Climate Central; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosIf this winter's weather has felt more erratic than usual, it's not just in your head.By the numbers: Columbus' cold weather streaks have gotten six days shorter on average since 1970, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report from a new Climate Central analysis.Why it matters: Few people love cold snaps, but they are essential for some farmers, winter sports lovers and those who enjoy a good backyard snowball fight.What they did: Climate Central defines a "winter cold streak" as "at least two consecutive December-February days with average temperatures below the 1991-2020 winter normal average temperature" at a given location.Zoom in: Last year's longest streak in Columbus lasted six days, from Jan. 30-Feb. 4.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbus now bans employers from asking applicants about pay history
Columbus employers are now prohibited from asking applicants about their salary history, under a new law that went into effect Friday.Why it matters: The ordinance, passed unanimously by City Council a year ago, calls requesting past salary information a "common practice" that can "perpetuate historical inequities that women, especially women of color, face in the job market."Median earnings have historically been lower for women than for men.Zoom in: Under the ordinance, employers with at least 15 workers cannot ask applicants for their salary history, nor inquire with their other workplaces.Employers are also barred from searching "publicly available records or reports...
Columbites: A new home for House Tacos
A couple years ago, I was the only customer of a novel "sober bar" on South Fourth Street and incorrectly predicted it would grow with time.The latest: I recently grabbed lunch at the spot's replacement, House Taco, and was once again the only person there.Have I become the kiss of death for this address?Hopefully not, because the food was pretty great. I'm going double or nothing on predicting a successful future.What we ordered: There's all the normal taco types and fixings, but I tried (and loved) the special "crunch magic taco" ($5.75) with charred chicken and seasoned corn chips.The queso...
Lessons from a Columbus Symphony morning dress rehearsal
I enjoy hearing the Columbus Symphony perform, but am often too busy to attend weekend concerts.So I went to my first Friday morning dress rehearsal as part of our "Never Have I Ever" series.Why it matters: It is a mesmerizing experience to watch and hear true artists at work.The intrigue: The Ohio Theatre was surprisingly crowded with retirees, families and student field trips. I even saw a well-behaved baby in the balcony.My $16 seat, which came with complimentary doughnuts and coffee, would have cost $84 for a normal show.What they said: "You know this is just a practice, right?" guest...
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Axios Columbus, anchored by Tyler Buchanan and Alissa Widman Neese, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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