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Axios Columbus
"Pocket Park" coming to the University District
The newest park in Columbus may be tiny, but it would definitely make Leslie Knope proud.Why it matters: The Iuka & Waldeck Pocket Park is located in the densely packed University District, which lacks many public green spaces.Project organizers hope to show how even a small piece of land can be transformed for the public's benefit.State of play: Indianola Presbyterian Church, at 1970 Waldeck Ave., wanted to turn its front lawn into a community space, so it asked the University District Organization (UDO) for help.A $15,000 beautification grant from the city and the nonprofit Neighborhood Design Center is paying for...
ComFest, a motorcycle music rally and other Columbus weekend events
☮️ Celebrate community at ComFest, featuring a new Silent Disco and Sing Out Stage for local musicians this year. Noon-11pm today, 10am-11pm Saturday and 10am-6pm Sunday, Goodale Park. Free!. Performance schedule. 🏍️ Rev your engines at the inaugural Buckeye Motorcycle and Music Rally, with performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank...
Local pup Primo wins big at Purina competition
Primo, a papillon from Delaware, won the small agility competition at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional last weekend in Huntington Beach, California.How it works: The goal is to make it through an obstacle course with jumps, tunnels and other obstacles, as fast and with as few mistakes as possible.Primo's human is Sarah Rutland.What's next: The competition airs Sept. 8 on NBC at 1pm and will be streamed on Peacock.See Primo on the winner's podium on Facebook
Where to (soon) buy legal weed in Columbus
The state has started doling out its first recreational marijuana licenses, revealing where Ohioans may soon be able to make their first purchases.Why it matters: The regulatory process has been moving quickly since applications opened on June 7.Some in the industry are speculating sales could begin in a matter of days.How it works: The new dual-use licenses will allow existing medicinal marijuana dispensaries to also sell to recreational customers.But before they can start, licensed businesses must clear one final hurdle by obtaining a separate state certificate of operation. None statewide had as of yesterday, a state Division of Cannabis Control...
DeWine doesn't plan to issue marijuana pardons
Gov. Mike DeWine has no immediate plans to grant mass pardons for Ohioans with minor-level marijuana offenses as other governors have done, Axios has learned.Why it matters: Pardons have been issued as a form of criminal justice reform in some states with legalized recreational marijuana, but they can be controversial.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recently pardoned more than 175,000 marijuana convictions, saying this "must go hand-in-hand" with the rollout of that state's recreational market.Driving the news: DeWine doesn't plan to issue blanket pardons as recreational sales begin, spokesperson Dan Tierney told Axios, but the administration is monitoring possible action taken by state lawmakers.State of play: Ohio now lets those of age to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis in most forms.Lawmakers have proposed various bills that allow past convictions on minor possession charges to be expunged, but none have reached the governor's desk for a signature."That impacts their employment opportunities," Rep. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) told WCMH-TV in April. "It impacts housing and obviously higher education as well."
The Columbus-area village that was once an amusement park
Our Franklin County Historical Marker Tour is taking a fun trip to the site of a former theme park.The marker: Minerva Amusement Park/The Green Line at 2920 Minerva Lake Road.Flashback: It all started with a missed train. Hundreds of Westerville residents with 1891 State Fair tickets were left stranded when a train headed to the fair didn't stop for them.Angry discussions eventually led to Garry Waldo Meeker's creation of an electric railway between Westerville and Columbus.The intrigue: To encourage ridership, Meeker built an amusement park on a plot of farmland he owned along the route.Minerva Park first opened in 1895 toward the end of the Gilded Age, a time when Americans learned to enjoy the benefits of public recreation.The park featured a small zoo, a bird museum, scenic views and a 2,500-seat theater for vaudeville performances. The "Scenic Railway" roller coaster at Minerva Amusement Park. Photo courtesy Columbus Metropolitan LibraryYes, but: It only lasted for seven seasons, with patrons drawn instead to the larger Olentangy Park operating in present-day Clintonville.Years later, Minerva Park turned into a housing subdivision and the village was incorporated in 1940.4️⃣6️⃣ down, 82 to go.
Columbus' unaccompanied migrant children
Explore the interactive map. Data: U.S. Department of Human Health and Services via N.Y. Times; Note: Includes places that have received at least 100 unaccompanied migrant children; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosColumbus received 1,628 of the 530,000-plus unaccompanied migrant children who arrived in U.S. cities between 2015 and 2023, mostly from Central America, according to new federal data.Why it matters: The children are an especially vulnerable group as federal, state and city leaders spar over sheltering foreigners and asylum seekers who have crossed the border without permission.By the numbers: Cincinnati also received a sizable share of unaccompanied kids during this time span...
Charted: Central Ohio's seasonal home sales
Data: CoreLogic 2024; Chart: Jacque Schrag/AxiosHere's a way to visualize the seasonal rise and fall of our hot local housing market.The big picture: 2024 is shaping up to be another year of sluggish home sales nationwide, according to a recent CoreLogic report, as elevated mortgage rates dampen the appeal and affordability of home buying.Yes, but: Home sales in the high-demand Columbus metro area still trended slightly upward this spring, as is typical, even as prices continued to rise.By the numbers: Columbus Realtors recorded 7,516 closed sales in the region between March-May of this year, a 5.5% increase over the same period last year.Area home sales set a record high for median price last month, at $330,000.Compared with other major cities, though, our homes still come at a bargain. The national median sales price last month was $419,300.The bottom line: If you're hoping to buy a house this year, competition is heating up again, alongside the weather.
Columbus' top 10 longest heat waves
Data: NWS; Table: Axios VisualsLast week's sweltering temperatures set the stage for a steamy summer, but they didn't set local records, per National Weather Service data.By the numbers: This month's seven straight days with maximum temperatures over 90 degrees — June 16-22 — didn't even crack the top 10 for Columbus' longest heat waves.None of that week's high temperatures set a record for the particular date, either.Yes, but: This extreme heat is still out of the ordinary. A normal maximum temperature for June in Columbus is 81.5 degrees.What's next: We should hopefully be back to that soon, with high temperatures expected to be in the 80s again starting tomorrow.Go deeper: "The coolest summer of the rest of your life," in nationwide photos.
Columbus City Schools could decide on building closures this week
Tomorrow's Columbus school board meeting is expected to be tense as a task force of community members brings forth long-awaited recommendations on building consolidation.Why it matters: Any proposal, if approved, would shutter multiple schools — sending students elsewhere and permanently changing the district's footprint.Zoom in: Initial proposals the task force presented last month offered nine different scenarios, potentially affecting 20 schools.Catch up quick: Columbus City Schools has unsuccessfully tried to consolidate its facilities for years — and its most recent effort, which began in February, has been filled with controversy.Teachers union president John Coneglio resigned from the task force in...
Columbus public school enrollment on the decline
Data: Brookings; Note: Does not include charter schools, virtual schools, alternative schools and adult centers; Chart: Axios VisualsDeclining enrollment is prompting school closures here and in other large cities across the country, new data shows.Why it matters: State education funding is based on student enrollment, and local property taxes are often levied to make up for lost funding.Broadly, declining enrollment can lead to cuts to staff and programming s a result of lower demand.Zoom in: Columbus City Schools lost 3,420 students between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years, a 7% drop.Cleveland's public schools also lost nearly 3,000 students (8%).The big picture: Public districts across the U.S. lost 3.2% of students during that time frame, Axios' April Rubin reports.Bigger drops were recorded in urban districts compared to those in smaller, suburban communities.Rural districts' enrollment actually increased 2% in that time span.State of play: A Brookings Institution analysis released last month found parents have been turned off from traditional public schooling since COVID and are seeking more flexible options, including home schooling and private and charter schools.
Columbites: Try these Central Ohio meal kits
If you enjoy subscription boxes like HelloFresh and Home Chef, here's a tasty and affordable local alternative to try.What I ate: A Parmesan-and-mushroom Dutch baby, which is a baked, eggy pancake with savory toppings.It's the meal kit of the month from Local Matters, a nonprofit working to increase Central Ohioans' access to healthy food.How it works: Order kits online for just $10 apiece and a bright green Veggie Van will deliver them for free within the I-270 Outerbelt.💭 My thought bubble: The recipe was less precise than the strict HelloFresh formulas I'm used to and provided a bit more of some...
Ohio faces record level of tornadoes in 2024
Data: National Weather Service; Chart: Axios VisualsIt's only June, but Ohio has already tied its record for the most tornadoes in a year.Why it matters: Climate change is affecting the likelihood, severity and duration of some extreme weather events — like the recent sweltering heat wave — and may also be affecting where they occur.The big picture: A new study shows "Tornado Alley" is shifting eastward, bringing more twisters into more populated areas in the Midwest and Southeast, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.The researchers also found a transition away from warm-season tornadoes toward the cold season between 1951-2020.By the numbers: This...
Melanoma cases on the rise in Ohio
Doctors are diagnosing Ohioans with melanoma at a higher rate than the national average. Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers, it's responsible for the large majority of skin cancer deaths. By the numbers: Ohio averaged 25.3 melanoma cases per 100,000 people between 2016-2020,...
Buckeye Country Superfest, the Violent Femmes and more to do this weekend
🇮🇹 Get a culinary, musical and literary taste of Italy during New Albany's Rose Run Fest. Times and locations vary all weekend. Some events are free, others require tickets. 🎭 Dream along with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" performed by the Evolution Theatre Company. 7pm tonight...
Why Columbus is funding AI projects for social workers
Columbus is spending millions of dollars on new artificial intelligence to help the city's most vulnerable and the social workers who support them.Why it matters: The programs are part of a broader regional effort to reduce poverty, though a lead organizer acknowledges that this new technology can only do so much in the face of major systemic problems.State of play: Smart Columbus, a nonprofit focused on digital equity, is spearheading two city-funded projects meant to streamline the social services sector, executive director Jordan Davis tells us.One is a new AI tool to automate social workers' administrative tasks to reduce burnout...
Franklin County residents due $343 million in unclaimed funds
Ohio is holding more than $343 million owed to Franklin County residents, most of whom probably don't even know they're missing money.That's $343,077,408.09, to be exact — and some of it might be yours.How it works: Banks and businesses regularly send unclaimed funds to the state from places such as inactive financial accounts or uncashed last paychecks.The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds holds the money until its rightful owner submits a request.Franklin County has the second-highest amount of unclaimed funds statewide, per figures released last week.Follow the money: Go to missingmoney.com to see if you're owed anything.🤑 Flashback: We promise it's legit. Alissa completed the process last year and earned nearly $28!
Statehouse Roundup: What Ohio lawmakers have been up to this term
The two-year state legislative term is nearly 75% over and lawmakers are headed on a lengthy summer break after next week.Why it matters: Although the Ohio Statehouse is not as productive as in the past, members are still reshaping Ohio in a variety of important ways.Major laws already signed by the governor this term include:🏛 A spousal exception for rape and other sex offenses has been removed from state law.📱 School districts are required to limit cell phone usage in classrooms.🧠 A new civic center at OSU will promote "intellectual diversity."🐄 The 360-acre state fairgrounds site is undergoing significant renovations...
Ohio pro tips for dealing with skunks near your house
"You're going to smell them long before you see them … these stinky animals live right in our neighborhoods, so let's find out how we can co-exist with them."Barbara Ray, Dublin's nature education coordinator, on YouTube.What they're spraying: Ray says skunks typically live in woodland areas, but over time have become more comfortable around humans.She offers tips for dealing with skunk traffic around your home:🧹 Keep the yard clean. Skunks target berries that fall from trees, along with seeds below bird feeders.🐶 Protect Fido. Flick the lights on and off a few times before letting dogs outside at night to shoo away skunks.This prevents them getting startled by your pooch and spraying the yard.😲 Don't panic. "Generally, seeing a skunk is not a problem," Ray says. "They really mind their own business for the most part."She recommends calling a group like the Ohio Wildlife Center if you encounter a skunk that appears sick.
We tried the new Triple Berry Frosty at Wendy's
When Wendy's debuted its Strawberry Frosty in 2022, it was serving up a "most-requested item."The latest: With Triple Berry Frosty's recent debut, now the Dublin-based chain's sixth seasonal flavor, I have to wonder … Did anyone really ask for this?Of course, I still bought one.Dig in: The polarizing dessert is boldly fruit-forward: a sweet but tart combination of strawberry, blackberry and raspberry.My questionable, tart-loving taste buds found it inoffensive but also unremarkable.Some folks, however, are comparing it to revolting cough medicine.The intrigue: One thing people are asking for is the Vanilla Frosty's return, so much that it's addressed on the restaurant's website.Good news, vanilla fans — it's due back later this year.Bonus review: Tyler recently tried the Saucy Nuggs, another new menu item available in seven flavors. He tells me they're a "cheap substitute for boneless wings."Whether that's good or bad is for you to decide. A four-piece will cost you $2.69.
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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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