Columbus
Axios Columbus
Retirement is out of reach for many Ohio workers
Data: Axios/Ipsos poll; Chart: Axios VisualsMost Americans want to retire, but only half feel they can save for the future.The big picture: Many working Americans who haven't yet retired say they are unprepared to do so, unsure how to prepare and unsure if they even want to fully retire, according to a new Axios-Ipsos poll.One in five say they don't think they'll ever retire.Just 36% of those 55 and older — nearing typical retirement age — say they'll be able to retire at the time they expected.By the numbers: 30% of working people plan to use a pension to help...
In photos: This year's Ohio State Fair butter cow honors 4 inventors
This year's butter cow display at the Ohio State Fair celebrates Ohio inventors who helped "moo-ve" the world forward.What to expect: Alongside the traditional cow and calf, it features: Garrett Morgan, of Cleveland, with a three-position traffic signal; Josephine Cochrane, born in Ashtabula County, with a hand-powered dishwasher; Thomas Edison, born in Milan, with a lightbulb and phonograph; and James Spangler, of Canton, with a portable vacuum cleaner.By the numbers: The display took about 450 hours and 2,000 pounds of butter to sculpt, per the American Dairy Association Mideast.The cooler is kept at a chilly 46°F.Of note: The lightbulb and...
Your guide to the 2023 Ohio State Fair, from the butter cow to Third Eye Blind
We can smell deep-fried buckeyes from across town, which must mean it's Ohio State Fair week.Driving the news: The 168th annual state fair opens tomorrow for 12 days of entertainment, rides and artery-clogging deliciousness through Aug. 6.This year's butter cow sculpture will be unveiled today. Last year's design featured five young farmers and animals weighing 2,530 total pounds.State of play: Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans will converge on the 360-acre fairgrounds, which are expected to undergo major renovations in the coming years.With sunny (albeit scorching) weather in the forecast nearly every day, this year's fair could break the 2015 attendance...
A Columbus bar wants you to present a "Drunk PowerPoint"
Here's a surefire, if risky, way to fix your fear of public speaking: Add some liquid courage to the mix.What's happening: Taft's Brewporium in Franklinton hosts Drunk PowerPoint the last Wednesday of every month and welcomes presentations and rants on literally any topic.How it works: Show up and sign up, open mic style.Limit your presentation to 10 minutes or less.Don't forget the clip art and snazzy text effects!If you go: 7:30-9pm tomorrow, 440 W. Broad St.Kafe Kerouac near OSU's campus also hosts the event the third Friday of every month.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
A Columbus bar wants you to present a "Drunk PowerPoint"
Here's a surefire, if risky, way to fix your fear of public speaking: Add some liquid courage to the mix.What's happening: Taft's Brewporium in Franklinton hosts Drunk PowerPoint the last Wednesday of every month and welcomes presentations and rants on literally any topic.How it works: Show up and sign up, open mic style.Limit your presentation to 10 minutes or less.Don't forget the clip art and snazzy text effects!If you go: 7:30-9pm tomorrow, 440 W. Broad St.Kafe Kerouac near OSU's campus also hosts the event the third Friday of every month.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Ohio will pay for more students' meals this school year
Thousands more Ohio students will be eligible for free school meals this year due to a new, $8.4 million allotment in the recently signed state budget.Why it matters: Research shows free access to school meals improves students' health and academic achievement.What's happening: Ohio students who apply and qualify for reduced-price meals, based on family income, will now receive the food at no cost to them.That was about 74,000 kids last year — including nearly 8,200 in Franklin County — per Ohio Department of Education data.Previously, those families paid 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast. Now the state...
Our guide to the latest 614 Restaurant Week
It's that time again — the week that we head out and support local restaurants across Central Ohio.What's happening: The biannual 614 Restaurant Week runs through Saturday, with over 150 restaurants offering special three-course meals for $15-50.Proceeds benefit the Family Mentor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to youth nutrition programs.Places we're eyeing:✨ New spots: Popular food trucks Cilantro Latin Fusion and Dos Hermanos now have their own restaurants and are participating.The Cut 132 steakhouse opened earlier this year at Easton Town Center and, if you're in a gambling mood, there's the new Barstool Sportsbook grill inside Hollywood Casino Columbus.🍸 Outdoor dining: Take advantage of the popular patios at Lindey's, Polaris Grill and Milestone 229.😎 Old favorites: Try something new at reliable picks like Cap City Fine Diner, El Vaquero and Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus.Need more inspiration? Read our past reviews of these Restaurant Week options: Alqueria, Moretti's of Arlington and Moran's Bar and Grill.Go deeper: View the map of participating locations.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Worthington doll museum celebrates Barbie's legacy
She's been an astronaut, a presidential candidate, a fashion designer and a rock star — and after this weekend, she could be No. 1 at the box office.Driving the news: Amid this year's "Barbie" movie hype, the Worthington Historical Society is showcasing the Mattel toy's lasting legacy in its Doll Museum's special exhibit room.Why it matters: For 64 years, the world's most famous doll has continued to reinvent herself and connect with new generations of kids and adults alike."She hasn't aged a bit," museum curator Sue Whitaker jokes.Details: The room is mostly full of borrowed items from Ohio collectors. It...
Worthington doll museum celebrates Barbie's legacy
She's been an astronaut, a presidential candidate, a fashion designer and a rock star — and after this weekend, she could be No. 1 at the box office.Driving the news: Amid this year's "Barbie" movie hype, the Worthington Historical Society is showcasing the Mattel toy's lasting legacy in its Doll Museum's special exhibit room.Why it matters: For 64 years, the world's most famous doll has continued to reinvent herself and connect with new generations of kids and adults alike."She hasn't aged a bit," museum curator Sue Whitaker jokes.Details: The room is mostly full of borrowed items from Ohio collectors. It...
Surprise! It's not a boy! Columbus Zoo surprised by birth of baby gorilla
The latest gorilla birth at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was doubly surprising.The intrigue: Zoo staff had no idea new mother Sully was pregnant — because until she recently gave birth, they thought the 8-year-old ape was a male.Context: Young male and female gorillas are about the same size and don’t have prominent sex organs, per the zoo.Sully came from another zoo in 2019 and never needed up-close medical intervention.What they're saying: Mother and baby — both confirmed to be female — are doing well and can be viewed by guests starting at 11am today.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Franklinton historical marker to be restored
It's hard to tell, but a noteworthy historical site lies underneath the overgrown grass on West Broad Street.Driving the news: The marker noting early settler Lucas Sullivant's onetime home is in a state of Ozymandian disrepair, but a local nonprofit plans to restore it.Why it matters: Columbus' 1812 founding is largely traced to Sullivant, who campaigned for the site to become the state capital after laying out nearby Franklinton years earlier.He connected the two communities by building the first bridge over the Scioto River and is credited on the marker with establishing a local court, church and school.Flashback: His home...
Franklin County needs Republican poll workers
Franklin County needs over a thousand more Republican poll workers for the upcoming special election on Aug. 8.Why it matters: Voting precincts rely on workers of both political parties to help ensure impartiality at the polls.State of play: Some counties have had a tricky time finding workers for a summer election added to the calendar just a few months ago, AP reports.The election will feature one statewide issue proposing a higher threshold to amend the Ohio Constitution.By the numbers: Franklin County had enough Democratic poll workers, but was short 1,174 Republicans as of Tuesday.Neighboring Madison County still needed a few more Republican sign-ups, while Licking and Delaware counties needed a few of either party, per the Secretary of State poll worker tracker.Fairfield, Pickaway and Union counties were all set.Of note: Franklin County poll workers undergo paid training and earn an extra $134 for assisting voters throughout the lengthy election day.Lawyers and CPAs can receive continuing education credits for serving.Students as young as 17 can also participate, even if too young to cast a ballot themselves.Interested? Apply online or contact your county's board of elections office.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
The most common ice cream shops in Columbus
Data: Yelp, Axios research; Note: Includes stores categorized as "ice cream" on Yelp that have reviews; Ties were awarded to the more nationally-popular chain; Chart: Kavya Beheraj and Erin Davis/Axios VisualsJeni's may be beloved locally, but it hasn't dethroned Dairy Queen, at least when it comes to sheer number of locations.Scooping the news: Dairy Queen is the most common ice cream chain across the Columbus metro area, per an analysis of Yelp data from Axios' Kavya Beheraj and Erin Davis.The big picture: Dairy Queen also reigns over most of the nation, as it's the most dominant chain in nearly 75% of U.S. counties.Yes, but: Just because a chain is the biggest doesn't mean it's the best.Local shops Double Happy, Little Ladies Soft Serve and Mona's Eats and Treats are one of a kind.What's more: Every Jeni's scoop shop smells like a delicious homemade waffle.Dairy Queen doesn't even serve waffle cones anymore. Just sayin'.📬 We want to know: What's your favorite local ice cream place? Email columbus@axios.com with your suggestions.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Why Columbus is working to lower its speed limits
Data: Streetlight Data; Note: Top 30 cities by population from 2020 U.S. Census; Chart: Axios VisualsColumbus drivers tend to drive faster than the national average on roadways shared with pedestrians, making our streets more dangerous for people on foot.Driving the news: Just 26.7% of Columbus' major pedestrian roadways had average vehicle speeds under 25 mph as of October 2022, compared to the national average of 36%, Axios' Joann Muller reports.The finding is based on a report from StreetLight Data, a company that tracks mobility trends using anonymized cellphone data and other sources.Why it matters: Pedestrians are twice as likely to...
Ohio State is making driverless vehicles smarter
One way our roadways could become safer someday is by removing the variable of human error.Driving the news: New software developed at Ohio State University is aiding the testing of driverless vehicles in safe places, such as empty parking lots, rather than public roads.Why it matters: An increasing number of drivers are afraid of self-driving cars, while carmakers are pushing to add more automated features in newer models, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.How it works: OSU's software immerses the car in a virtual environment by telling it what the road looks like and what cars, pedestrians and potential hazards are nearby...
How to watch the MLS All-Star Game tonight
Two Crew midfielders — Lucas Zelarayán and Aidan Morris — will represent Columbus in Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.What's happening: The 28-player U.S. team will face Arsenal, a powerhouse of the Premier League, the top tier of English soccer.How to watch: The match will be exclusively streamed through Apple TV's MLS season pass at 8pm.It's $15 monthly, or $13 if you already have an Apple TV+ subscription.A subscription for the rest of the MLS season, which runs through late October, is $49 (or $39 for Apple TV+ subscribers).What's next: This time next year, Lower.com Field will be hosting the All-Star Game! Aidan Morris controls the ball in May 2023. Photo: Kirk Irwin/Getty ImagesGet more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Ohio's poverty rate increased for the first time in years
Data: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosThe percentage of Ohioans living in poverty increased year-over-year for the first time in more than a decade, from 12.7% in 2020 to 13.4% in 2021, according to the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) annual poverty report.Why it matters: Without a financial safety net, families are more vulnerable to unexpected life disruptions like a job loss, medical emergency or major expense, like a car breakdown.Meanwhile, many pandemic-era safety net programs are set to end soon, creating further financial instability, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports.By the numbers: Ohio's statewide poverty rate...
Ask Axios: What are people from Columbus called?
Reader Mark M. asks: I got to wondering, what exactly are Columbus residents called? I'm going to hazard a guess though and say Columbusites?👋 Tyler here. Thanks for a question involving one of my favorite dorky words: demonym, the term for natives of a given place.The demonym for Ohio, as an obvious example, is Ohioan.The intrigue: Some demonyms are fun-sounding and roll off the tongue, like Michigander and Connecticuter.In our region, you can find Westervillians, Hilltoppers and, indeed, Columbusites.The bottom line: As Dispatch columnist Joe Blundo once noted, "just be glad that you don't live in Boot Lick."📬 We love answering your questions! What are you curious about? Email columbus@axios.com and we'll try to track down the answer.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Medical marijuana access grows
State regulators have expanded the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, but industry advocates are still fighting for more, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Why it matters: The State Medical Board has full authority over who is able to legally access medical marijuana.State of play: Residents are required to have a certified physician's confirmation that they have a qualifying medical conditions under the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.The number of qualifying conditions continues to grow — it’s now 26 — as residents annually petition the State Medical Board to expand the list.The approval process, which is relatively obscure, earned some...
What's new at the Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fair is in Hilliard through Sunday, with livestock shows, deep-fried delicacies and loads of live entertainment.Why it matters: While the Ohio State Fair may get most of the local glory, county fairs offer a more laid-back experience and give competitors a chance to qualify for state contests."It's small enough to feel intimate, but large enough to have everything you might want," Abby Bates, vice president of the Franklin County Agricultural Society Board of Directors, tells Axios.If you go: 9am-10pm today-Thursday; 9am-11pm Friday-Saturday; and 9am-7pm Sunday. Fairgrounds are at 4100 Columbia St., Hilliard.$10 daily, $43 weeklong pass. Free...
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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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