Columbus
Axios Columbus
Columbus explores new future for namesake statue
A series of public events aiming to rethink how we celebrate our city's people and namesake have been scheduled for the next few months.Catch up quick: The Reimagining Columbus project is nearly four years in the making, following the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue outside City Hall in June 2020.The goal is to determine how and where the city could tastefully showcase the 1955 statue again, while also promoting local diversity through other public art.A $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation and $1.5 million from the city are supporting the project.What they're saying: This is an "opportunity to...
More Franklin County poll workers needed for 2024 primary election
Elections would be impossible without the efforts of poll workers at thousands of voting precincts across Ohio.State of play: Franklin County is well on its way to meeting a goal of training 5,300 poll workers for the primary, Board of Elections spokesperson Aaron Sellers tells Axios.But the county is still recruiting more through targeted text messages and phone calls to local registered voters.Details: Poll workers are paid to complete pre-election training, set up a precinct the night before voting and help citizens vote during a 15-hour Election Day shift.Ohioans as young as 17 are eligible and some professionals, like lawyers and CPAs, can earn continued learning credits.What they're saying: Sandy Pinkerton has been a poll worker since 2014 and now serves as a voting location manager.Those at her Hilliard polling place take pride in making elections run smoothly, Pinkerton tells us, and she encourages others to participate."You get to answer the question, 'What did you do to defend democracy today?' … I worked as a poll worker."Learn more about being a poll worker and sign up.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Where to watch the April 8 total solar eclipse in Ohio
If you haven't made plans for April 8's total solar eclipse, it's crunch time.Why it matters: The once-in-a-lifetime experience is a major tourism boon — and lodging in prime viewing locations and protective glasses are going fast.The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806. The next one won't be until 2099.The big picture: Preparations for April's festivities are a year in the making.Last year, Ohio lawmakers approved $1 million in the state budget for eclipse security in anticipation of the large crowds and potential emergency-related costs.Most local school districts have already canceled classes for the day.The latest:...
Where to find eclipse glasses in Columbus
Don't wait till April to buy eclipse glasses or you likely won't find any.Why it matters: Looking at the eclipse without proper glasses could damage your vision.To ensure safe viewing, you must wear ones that meet international standard ISO 12312-2.Be smart: Counterfeit products are flooding the market and you may not be able to tell if the glasses are a scam.Some reputable sources:Columbus library branches, starting March 18 — free!World of Photography, 1104 Goodale Blvd., Grandview. $5.Group packs from COSI. Minimum of 30, $75.A list of American Astronomical Society-approved vendors.Pro tip: Many viewing parties will offer glasses, but recommend bringing your own if possible.What they're saying: "By mid-March 2024, we expect to start hearing reports about various sellers running out of stock," Richard Tresch Fienberg, a senior adviser at the American Astronomical Society, tells Axios' Analis Bailey. "It'll get worse the closer we get to April 8."Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Where to find eclipse glasses in Columbus
Don't wait till April to buy eclipse glasses or you likely won't find any.Why it matters: Looking at the eclipse without proper glasses could damage your vision.To ensure safe viewing, you must wear ones that meet international standard ISO 12312-2.Be smart: Counterfeit products are flooding the market and you may not be able to tell if the glasses are a scam.Some reputable sources:Columbus library branches, starting March 18 — free!World of Photography, 1104 Goodale Blvd., Grandview. $5.Group packs from COSI. Minimum of 30, $75.A list of American Astronomical Society-approved vendors.Pro tip: Many viewing parties will offer glasses, but recommend bringing your own if possible.What they're saying: "By mid-March 2024, we expect to start hearing reports about various sellers running out of stock," Richard Tresch Fienberg, a senior adviser at the American Astronomical Society, tells Axios' Analis Bailey. "It'll get worse the closer we get to April 8."Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Where to find eclipse glasses in Columbus
Don't wait till April to buy eclipse glasses or you likely won't find any.Why it matters: Looking at the eclipse without proper glasses could damage your vision.To ensure safe viewing, you must wear ones that meet international standard ISO 12312-2.Be smart: Counterfeit products are flooding the market and you may not be able to tell if the glasses are a scam.Some reputable sources:Columbus library branches, starting March 18 — free!World of Photography, 1104 Goodale Blvd., Grandview. $5.Group packs from COSI. Minimum of 30, $75.A list of American Astronomical Society-approved vendors.Pro tip: Many viewing parties will offer glasses, but recommend bringing your own if possible.What they're saying: "By mid-March 2024, we expect to start hearing reports about various sellers running out of stock," Richard Tresch Fienberg, a senior adviser at the American Astronomical Society, tells Axios' Analis Bailey. "It'll get worse the closer we get to April 8."Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbus weekend events: World's Toughest Rodeo and a Valentine's Day haunted house
⚜️ Enjoy falconry, fencing, and other medieval hobbies during OSU's Mini Renaissance Faire at the Ohio Union.9am-7pm Friday and 8:30am-6pm Saturday, 1739 N. High St. Free!🎭 Embrace the dark comedic stylings of The Addams Family at the Van Fleet Theatre.7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 2pm Sunday, 549 Franklin Ave. $20-23.😱 Feel your heart racing inside Love Is In the Scare, a Valentine's Day-themed haunted house.Friday-Sunday. $30-34. Reservations required.🐦 Bring your binoculars and hiking shoes to the annual Great Backyard Bird Count at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.1pm Saturday, 400 W. Whittier St. Free! Registration required.🤠 Dig in your heels and watch the World's Toughest Rodeo inside Nationwide Arena.7:30pm Saturday. $24-124.📖 Celebrate Toni Morrison Day at the Bexley Library with readings from local authors and poets.1:30-4:45pm Sunday, 2411 E. Main St. Free!📆 Reminder: More free popup concerts, poetry performances, and art workshops are planned this weekend to celebrate Black History Month. A list of events.🏐 Plus, coming up: The Columbus Fury pro volleyball team plays its inaugural home match Wednesday at Nationwide Arena.Snag tickets and how to watch from home.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Blame in pedestrian crashes can depend on location, OSU research finds
Data: Stiles and Miller, 2024, "The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation"; Chart: Axios VisualsWho is to blame when a car strikes a pedestrian is largely dependent on where in Columbus the crash occurs, a new study by two OSU researchers finds.Why it matters: Such crashes are startlingly frequent, but researchers suggest the city can mitigate these road hazards through safer infrastructure choices.State of play: Columbus is relying on its Vision Zero safety plan to improve streets and intersections over the coming years.But transit activists want the city to take...
Ohio Supreme Court rules against WFH refunds
Cities such as Columbus don't owe money to people who worked from home outside city limits in 2020, but paid city income taxes, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled yesterday.Why it matters: An opposite ruling could have resulted in refunds for many Ohioans — and city governments would have forfeited millions of dollars.Catch up quick: During the state's stay-at-home order, a law temporarily allowed cities to collect income taxes from employees of businesses within city limits, even if they worked remotely elsewhere.A man from Blue Ash alleged this was unconstitutional, after his request for a refund from nearby Cincinnati was denied.The...
Ohio Supreme Court rules against WFH refunds
Cities such as Columbus don't owe money to people who worked from home outside city limits in 2020, but paid city income taxes, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled yesterday.Why it matters: An opposite ruling could have resulted in refunds for many Ohioans — and city governments would have forfeited millions of dollars.Catch up quick: During the state's stay-at-home order, a law temporarily allowed cities to collect income taxes from employees of businesses within city limits, even if they worked remotely elsewhere.A man from Blue Ash alleged this was unconstitutional, after his request for a refund from nearby Cincinnati was denied.The...
Throwback Thursday: Buster Douglas' major boxing upset
Oddsmakers said James "Buster" Douglas had virtually no chance of beating Mike Tyson.But the Columbus native overcame those odds 34 years ago this week in one of heavyweight boxing's greatest upsets.Flashback: Douglas was a youth boxing champ who also won a state basketball title with Linden-McKinley High School in 1977.He rose up the boxing ranks until getting a chance to face Tyson for the world title in Tokyo.Between the lines: The fight came during a difficult year for Douglas, who had separated from his wife and was grieving his mother's death.The Ohio History Connection notes that Douglas was motivated during...
Report retracted: Gender dysphoria diagnoses rise in Ohio
Editor's note: After this article was published Jan. 19, 2024, the company that was the source of the data, Definitive Healthcare, retracted its report and removed the link to the findings.Axios pressed Definitive Healthcare for an explanation multiple times. On Feb. 2, the company sent Axios a statement: "Upon review, we determined that the analysis cited in the referenced article was below our standards, so we elected to retract the article."Based on that statement, Axios is no longer confident in the report. For transparency, the original article remains below. The map has been removed.Gender dysphoria diagnoses in Ohio jumped by...
Why women are winning real estate
View an interactive map. Data: LendingTree; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosSixty years ago, women couldn't get a credit card or mortgage without a male cosigner.Now, the nation's share of single women homeowners eclipses that of single men, and overall homeownership is majority female, Axios' Brianna Crane writes.Why it matters: The gender pay gap and inequitable caregiving responsibilities have historically served as barriers for women.But the rise in homeownership accompanies a strong shift toward women-led households, both single and married, Urban Institute researcher Jung Hyun Choi tells Axios.In 1990, less than a third of total households reported being headed by female breadwinners. In...
Historic German Village home with second-biggest lot up for sale
Rare is the German Village home that really lets you stretch your legs, but a property with the neighborhood's second biggest lot is up for sale.On the market: A four-bed, five-bath brick house overlooking Schiller Park at 117 E. Deshler Ave., listed for $2.2 million.Details: The 3,720-square-foot Victorian-style home dates back to 1886 and features stained glass windows, a renovated kitchen, three fireplaces and luxurious living spaces.Amateur sommeliers will appreciate the wine cellar that holds up to 2,500 bottles. A look at the wine cellar.The intrigue: The outside is perhaps the biggest surprise for a home within the historic — but cramped — neighborhood.The double lot includes copious patio space, a private garden and a two-car garage with an attached greenhouse.Listing agents: Jeffery Ruff and Marilyn Vutech of Cutler Real Estate.More photos A look at the backyard, greenhouse and garage.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Historic German Village home with second-biggest lot up for sale
Rare is the German Village home that really lets you stretch your legs, but a property with the neighborhood's second biggest lot is up for sale.On the market: A four-bed, five-bath brick house overlooking Schiller Park at 117 E. Deshler Ave., listed for $2.2 million.Details: The 3,720-square-foot Victorian-style home dates back to 1886 and features stained glass windows, a renovated kitchen, three fireplaces and luxurious living spaces.Amateur sommeliers will appreciate the wine cellar that holds up to 2,500 bottles. A look at the wine cellar.The intrigue: The outside is perhaps the biggest surprise for a home within the historic — but cramped — neighborhood.The double lot includes copious patio space, a private garden and a two-car garage with an attached greenhouse.Listing agents: Jeffery Ruff and Marilyn Vutech of Cutler Real Estate.More photos A look at the backyard, greenhouse and garage.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Ohio's UFO hotspots, mapped
Data: National UFO Reporting Center, U.S. Census; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsWe're far away from Area 51, but Ohioans reported seeing their fair share of unidentified flying objects in recent years.Why it matters: Discussion and reports of UFOs — or the more modern term, UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomenon) — have become more mainstream as lawmakers and others push for answers.Zoom in: Residents in the Columbus metro area reported 751 sightings between 2000 and 2023, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.That's 34.7 sightings per 100,000 residents, which is more or less the national rate (34.3).The intrigue: Sightings are more common in rural, southern Ohio counties.These happen to feature less light pollution, but it's also near where the Mothman was first spotted. Just sayin'.The UFO capital of Ohio appears to be Guernsey County, with a chart-topping 151 sightings per 100,000 residents.🤔 Our theory: That county is located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77.Maybe it's just aircraft following the highways?An interactive map of UFO sightings across the U.S.Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Guernsey County is at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77, not 70 and 71.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbus' Species X Brewery crafts beer with AI-generated recipes
Columbus' newest brewery has a futuristic way of crafting its beer menu — and even has its sights set on outer space.Why it matters: Species X Brewery is the latest local business to experiment with artificial intelligence, developing drink recipes that founder Beau Warren admits he could have never come up with.State of play: The brewery touts itself as "part taproom, part research hub" that is "exploring uncharted territory to craft visionary beers."The menu features two beer series, Carbon and Silicon, representing the duality of humans and computers.Warren created the Carbon beers himself, while making the Silicon series "to spec"...
A first look at the future CMH airport terminal
Plans for a new terminal at John Glenn International Airport are progressing, with a new website to track updates and check out renderings.Why it matters: Our region's soaring air travel demand is driving the $2 billion project to replace the current terminal, which opened in 1958.What to expect: The modernized terminal will feature one large, streamlined concourse instead of three separate ones. It'll add seven additional gates, for 36 in all, with room for expansion.New food and beverage options are planned, along with a 5,000-car parking garage.Between the lines: Local labor unions are pushing for a community benefit agreement to ensure area workers are hired at fair wages for the project.What's next: Terminal construction is expected to start later this year, atop two parking lots. The parking garage is planned for the current McDonald's site.The expansion's targeted opening is 2029 — the airport's 100th anniversary. An overview of the new CMH terminal, which will feature additional gates.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Last-minute Valentine's Day date ideas in Columbus
Just because you forgot to make a dinner reservation doesn't mean Valentine's Day must be a disappointment.Be smart: Skip the crowded restaurants and impress your date with one of these ideas tomorrow evening — and make it look like you planned it.Of note: Prices are per person.Hearts and crafts:🎨 Paint a pine tree on side-by-side canvases at Brush Crazy.5:30-9pm. 1299 Bethel Road. $35.Bonus: BYOB!💘 Create heart-themed art with Craft Your Night at BrewDog's Short North location.6:30-8:30pm, 1175 N. High St. $40.🔨 Complete a project from the Maker's Social DIY bar while sipping on screwdrivers.Reservations available 7:45-9pm. 461 W. Rich St....
New program offers Ohio kids free admission to museums, historic sites
Source: America 250-Ohio; Map: Deena Zaidi/Axios VisualsGrowing up, Paul LaRue's family preferred cheap picnics at historic sites like Big Muskie's Bucket to a lavish Disney World vacation.Now the State Board of Education president hopes a new statewide program will encourage families to similarly take advantage.Why it matters: It's critical the next generation of Ohioans learn our history and where we came from — and that often requires going beyond the classroom, civic leaders say.What's happening: The program offers fourth graders free admission to nearly 20 museums and sites across the state, from the National Veterans Memorial and Museum near downtown...
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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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