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Axios Columbus
Columbus embraces the wacky beauty of Banana Ball
The Savannah Bananas rehearsal begins six hours before first pitch with a tuba, stilts and a plethora of silly hats.Why it matters: The Bananas World Tour, which just swept through Columbus for three days of sold-out, high-octane baseball comedy performances, reminds us all to let loose sometimes and enjoy the show.The intrigue: The team is deliberate with its word choices — the Bananas rehearse (not practice) for their nightly shows (not games).Umpires dance, players toss bananas around the field and the two teams even broke into a spontaneous dodgeball match near home plate.Bananas we spoke with did not begrudge being...
National Association of Realtors settles major lawsuit over real estate agent compensation
The National Association of Realtors recently agreed to settle a big lawsuit that questioned how real estate agents are paid — and who foots the bill.The big picture: If approved, come summer, agents won't be able to make offers of compensation in the Multiple Listing Service, the database where real estate agents post homes for sale.Why it matters: The seemingly small change is causing major confusion.How it works (currently): Sellers and their broker negotiate a fee, and that broker decides how much profit they want to share with the buyers' agent.That number is advertised in the MLS listing, and the...
Columbus downtown drinking zone set to open Friday
Data: City of Columbus; Map: Axios VisualsDowntown visitors can finally sip wine or taste a beer while strolling the Scioto Mile and Capitol Square.Driving the news: A new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) begins today in downtown Columbus and Franklinton.Why it matters: The Center City DORA is meant to encourage more people to visit downtown in the evenings and on weekends.Local leaders want to significantly increase the downtown population and make it a more pedestrian-friendly destination.State of play: Columbus City Council approved the DORA last month, saying no public money will be needed to operate the program.It joins over a...
Midwesterners spend less on streaming services
Data: Tubi; Note: Includes people who stream video at least one hour a week; Chart: Axios VisualsHere's even more evidence we're cutting the cord in favor of TV alternatives: Midwesterners are spending $580 per year on streaming services.The big picture: We spend less than some other American regions pay, according to The Harris Poll on behalf of Tubi, a free, ad-supported streaming service.Ohioans are saving around $105 annually compared to people in the Northeast, who spend the most at nearly $685 per year, or $57 a month.
Columbus weekend events: Asian Festival, Zoo's "Unextinct" and Jeni's Strawberry Jam
⛲ Take a run through the new Scioto Mile Fountain during the two-day Fountain Fest in Bicentennial Park.Noon-7pm today; 11am-7pm Saturday, 233 Civic Center Dr. Free!🎉 Celebrate warmer weather with Whitehall's Big Summer Kickoff at John Bishop Park.5-8pm tonight, 4862 Etna Rd. Free!🐘 Catch the final weekend of the Columbus Zoo's nighttime light show, "Unextinct."8-10:30pm tonight (adults only), Saturday and Sunday, 4850 W. Powell Rd. $19-39, does not include zoo admission.🔮 Go back in time with Ohio Village's opening day exposition, featuring vintage baseball, a petting zoo and a 19th-century magic show.10am-5pm Saturday, 800 E. 17th Ave. $10-16, kids under 4 free!🥋 Enjoy traditional martial arts, dances and culture at the Asian Festival held at Franklin Park.10am-8pm Saturday, 10am-6pm Sunday, 1755 E. Broad St. Free!🍦 Grab a scoop at Jeni's Strawberry Jam at Land-Grant Brewing.11am Saturday and Sunday, 424 W. Town St. Free!🎤 The Ohio Black Expo's Riverfront Culture Fest showcases over 100 Black-owned vendors, performers and family activities at Genoa Park.11am Saturday, noon Sunday, Genoa Park. $20-35, children under 11 free!🏊♀️ Take a swim at the Dodge, Driving Park, Glenwood and Tuttle pools, opening for the season this weekend.Noon-6pm Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday, locations vary. $1.
Columbus Metropolitan Library reckons with high e-book costs
High e-book prices are forcing local librarians to make tough choices as the popularity of digital checkouts surge.Why it matters: Ongoing price disputes between libraries and book publishers threaten to limit patrons' access.👀 Eye-popping stat: Locally, digital checkouts are on the verge of surpassing physical materials.Digital materials accounted for 48% of all checkouts at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) in 2023, the library system tells Axios.Yes, but: There's a significant price difference between physical books and their digital counterparts.It costs the library $75 to get a single digital license of Harlan Coben's latest novel, "Think Twice." The e-book can be checked...
Car crashes prompt relocation of Columbus veterans memorial
Columbus is paying to restore and relocate a North Linden veterans memorial that has been repeatedly struck by vehicles in recent years.Driving the news: City Council voted to approve a $90,581 contract with E&L Cemetery Services for the work.State of play: The Linden War Memorial at 2652 Cleveland Ave. has long paid tribute to veterans of the two World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.It's located on a triangle-shaped lot without any barricades, which has proved to be an issue.Flashback: A vehicle crashed into the monument in 2019, cracking the stone and toppling over several plaques. Columbus and E&L Cemetery Services repaired it.Two years later, another driver struck the monument and destroyed its entire left half.This is around the time a vehicle ruined a historical marker for early settler Lucas Sullivant on West Broad Street.What they're saying: The plan is to restore and move the memorial to nearby Linden Park.The decision followed years of talks between city officials and local groups, North Linden Area commissioner Ben Keith wrote on X, but it has still drawn criticism, as seen in the post below. Via X.
Savannah Bananas coming to Columbus this weekend
The Arena District is about to get a whole lot more yellow.Driving the news: The Savannah Bananas will play three exhibitions with their unique Banana Ball rules at Huntington Park this weekend.The bad news: The games sold out months ago. If you're like us and didn't win the ticket lottery, you're out of luck.State of play: Resale tickets have surfaced online for hundreds of dollars, but the Bananas warn: "We actively identify and cancel tickets which are associated with distribution on third-party sites. Those people are icky."Yes, but: You can still watch the games online, the team tells us.The Friday contest will be broadcast on Bally Sports' free Stadium app, while the Saturday and Sunday games will be streamed live on YouTube.
Ohio ban on youth gender-affirming care still on hold
An Ohio law prohibiting gender-affirming health care for children remains on hold following a ruling Wednesday from the Ohio Supreme Court.Why it matters: The decision is a victory for transgender youth and their families, ACLU said in response to the news.Catch up quick: The law also prevents transgender athletes from playing on girls' and women's K-12 and college sports teams. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the legislation, but state lawmakers voted to override DeWine.It was set to go into effect last month, but Franklin County Judge Michael Holbrook temporarily blocked it to allow for a legal challenge.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed an emergency motion with the state supreme court to overturn Holbrook's decision, arguing that "one judge from one county does not have more power than the governor's veto."The latest: The state supreme court denied that motion, meaning the law will stay on hold until July, when the next hearing is scheduled in county court, WBNS-TV reports.The big picture: Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, consider this type of care to be medically necessary and potentially lifesaving for transgender youth.
Columbus is a top spot for pet-friendly living
Data: Zillow/BARK; Chart: Axios VisualsMore than 61% of Columbus' Zillow rental listings are pet friendly, a figure that easily puts us a paw or two ahead of the national average of 55%.Why it matters: The number of renters with dogs and other pets is climbing and the rental market is responding.59% of renters nationwide reported having a pet last year, up from 46% in 2019, per Zillow.Stunning stat: Twice as many renters filter for pet-friendly listings than for any other amenity on the Zillow website, according to the company.
All aboard the Indy Fever bandwagon!
Ohio does not have a WNBA team, but there's plenty of time to jump on the Caitlin Clark bandwagon and support the Indiana Fever.Why it matters: Interest in women's sports is at an all-time high, fueled in part by Clark's record-setting college basketball career.State of play: Indy is the closest WNBA city to Columbus, an approximately 2.5-hour drive west on I-70.The team held the lucky No. 1 draft pick this year and selected Clark after the Iowa Hawkeyes finished runner-up in the March Madness tournament.While the rookie's star power is leading to skyrocketing ticket prices at Fever road games, the home game prices at Gainbridge Fieldhouse are more manageable.📺 Fever games are broadcast on a variety of networks and streaming services, including ESPN, ABC, CBS, ION, NBA TV and Amazon Prime Video.Check the scheduleThe intrigue: Indiana's roster also features two former Buckeyes in guards Kelsey Mitchell and Celeste Taylor.Mitchell is the all-time leading scorer in OSU history, while Taylor was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in her final collegiate season.
Columbus Mayor Ginther urges embrace of zoning reform, LinkUS
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther urged residents to embrace the city's zoning overhaul and vote to invest in local infrastructure in his State of the City address last night.Why it matters: It was an agenda-setting opportunity for Ginther's third term, which began in January.Below are his priorities:👁️ Eyes in the sky: Columbus will have centralized monitoring of hundreds of downtown security cameras by early next year.He highlighted the city's drop in homicides this year, while acknowledging a string of recent deadly shootings.A new police substation in the Hilltop will also open next year and a Real Time Crime Center in North...
What Axios Columbus readers think about cellphones in schools
Earlier this week, we reported on a new state law requiring school districts to limit students' cellphone usage.Here's what you think about the issue of phones in schools:Kurt M.: I have a sophomore and 8th grader who attend Columbus City Schools.I think CCS has a sound policy of not allowing cellphones during the school day. If they were available, they would be a distraction for students.Our justification as parents for allowing them to bring devices to school is to be able to communicate with us as needed when they are available … I think they are responsible enough to...
Ohio EV buyers turn to used cars
Electric vehicles are accounting for a larger and larger slice of used car sales.By the numbers: EV sales made up 4.3% of sales on used car sales platform Carvana in the first quarter of 2024 — up from 1.8% in the same period last year.Why it matters: It's another sign that there's finally a decent market for used electric cars — important for the overall EV transition, as new electric models still tend to be prohibitively expensive for many would-be buyers.Zoom in: In Ohio, EVs accounted for 2.9% of Q1 used car sales on Carvana — respectable, but far lower...
4 Ohio festivals to visit this summer
If you need travel ideas, check out these unique, upcoming festivals within an hour's drive of Columbus:🍦 Utica Ice Cream Festival: A weekend of sweet treats with five different ice cream eating contests.11am-7pm May 25 and 26; 11am-4pm May 27, 11324 Mt. Vernon Road, Utica.🚂 Dennison Railroad Festival: Four days of family fun in and around the village's Railroad Depot Museum.5pm May 30-June 1 and noon on June 2, Center Street, Dennison.✨ Oorang Bang: Local music, a car show and cow plop drop (look it up) await in the Marion County village of La Rue.3-11pm June 7, 7am-11pm June 8, 350 N. High St., La Rue.🎵 Logan Washboard Arts & Music Festival: The gathering celebrates the town being home to the last washboard factory in America.June 13-15, Main Street, Logan.
Weekend road trips to take in Ohio this summer
Ohio touts being "The Heart of It All," and if you're still wondering what "it" is, we suggest traveling the state to find out.Driving the news: Today is Ohio Tourism Day and all sorts of travel agencies and attractions will celebrate the occasion outside the Ohio Statehouse from 11am-2pm.Why it matters: Tourism is a $38 billion industry in Ohio that supports hundreds of thousands of hospitality jobs.State of play: The Buckeye State spends millions each year convincing outsiders to visit and even relocate here.If ads and billboards aren't enough, we're also redesigning our highway rest stops to better appeal to...
Ohio cracking down on cell phone usage in schools
A new state law requires school districts to limit students' cell phone usage in schools, but local officials still have the final say.Why it matters: The law is meant to curb distractions and keep kids focused in the classroom, Gov. Mike DeWine says.The shift to "phone-based" childhoods is making our kids sick and miserable, argues one prominent social psychologist in a recent book investigating the recent surge in teen mental illness, an issue the governor referenced in his signing statement.Driving the news: DeWine signed House Bill 250 last week, which mandates each district adopt policies to emphasize that cellphone usage...
The top Ohio baby names of 2023
Sorry, Liam and Olivia. Two others once again topped the list of most popular baby names in Ohio last year. By the numbers: Oliver was first overall with 600 newborn boys sharing that name, per the Social Security Administration. Charlotte was the No. 1 girl name at 510 babies. The...
Homes you can buy in Columbus for $310,000
A 2,100-square-foot house in Forest Park, a four-bedroom house with a three-car garage in Grove City and a Short North condo all have the same asking price.What's happening: If you're looking for a new home at our area's current median sales price, the options vary widely.By the numbers: Central Ohio had a median sales price of $310,000 in March, per Columbus Realtors.That's up 8.4% over the same month last year.Homes that sold in March were on the market for an average of 33 days.Zoom in: Here are a few local homes for sale around that price:4172 Ashgrove Drive, Grove City...
Columbus sisters learning the "Royal Rules of Ohio" on new reality TV show
A new Columbus-based reality show follows three local sisters learning the "Royal Rules of Ohio."The intrigue: The show debuted last week and features the descendants of Ghanaian royalty who moved here around 25 years ago.It depicts the Agyekum sisters balancing lavish lifestyles while abiding by their native Ghana's customs.What they're saying: "The world isn't ready for the Agyekums. We're taking over the world. I feel like it's something the world hasn't even seen yet, so they need to be prepared," one of the stars, Thelma Agyekum, told WPVI-TV.How to watch: New episodes are televised on Freeform at 10:30pm on Wednesdays and are available on Hulu the next day, per 614 Magazine.
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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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