Columbus
Axios Columbus
Suburban counties growing in Central Ohio
Explore the interactive map. Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Axios VisualsNearly all of the recent Central Ohio population growth is taking place in suburban counties, per Census Bureau data.Zoom in: All the surrounding counties grew by at least 1.7% between 2020 and 2023, while Franklin County recorded a modest 0.1% gain.Tyler's new home of Licking County has grown by around 5,000 residents in that timespan, or 2.5%.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
A real estate reporter's story of buying his first home
After years living in dorms and apartments, I'm proud to have finally purchased my very first home.Why it matters: It's one thing to write about the local real estate scene and another to experience it firsthand.The big picture: I've moved 15 times in 15 years, thanks to college, job changes and greedy landlords.Between high student loan payments, ballooning real estate interest rates and low housing supply, homeownership long felt out of reach.Yes, but: Renting isn't sustainable, either.I ditched my first Columbus apartment after rent suddenly spiked by 55%.The next place tried to illegally raise the rent in the middle of...
The Central Ohio data center boom is straining our power grid
Columbus' data center boom may be running out of juice.Why it matters: Ample, affordable electricity is part of what made the area so attractive to data centers and tech manufacturers in the first place, helping land mega-projects from Intel, Amazon, Facebook and Google.But a 146% expansion of local data center inventory from 2012-2021 has gobbled up much of our excess grid capacity, per a new report by researchers at JLL, a commercial real estate firm that caters to the tech industry.Threat level: The company is warning data center developers that the area's grid capacity will be "constrained" over the next...
Best Day Ever: Donatos Pizza CEO Tom Krouse
Where does Donatos CEO Tom Krouse eat when he's not eating at, well, Donatos?For the latest installment of our Best Day Ever series — and a nod to our weekly Columbites food column — we checked in with the man behind the franchise that brought Columbus style pizza to the masses.🪕 Music to start your day: You cannot listen to bluegrass music and be unhappy. I particularly love Billy Strings and David Grier.WCBE 90.5 always plays great music in the mornings too!🍳 Breakfast: Oat milk cappuccino at The Roosevelt Coffeehouse.If I'm going out for brunch, Northstar is the best! The...
Ohio's weirdest 2024 primary election results
Each election cycle, Axios Columbus scours the state's 88 counties to find the weirdest and most interesting unofficial results.Here's our 2024 primary election list:🔎 Fun with names: Lawrence County Sheriff Jeffery Lawless ran unopposed for another term of tackling lawless behavior.In an O'Brien vs. O'Brien matchup, two days after St. Patrick's Day, Ken defeated John (as well as Don Rankey) in the race for Delaware County treasurer.Jack K. Daniels of New Franklin can celebrate (perhaps with some … whiskey) after winning his primary for the Ohio House's 32nd District.😬 Quite a day: Congressional candidate Derek Myers accidentally conceded his race...
Your guide to a great spring in Columbus
It's time again to say goodbye to those winter doldrums and bask in the joys of spring.Why it matters: It's a season of rebirth and renewal — for us as much as the natural world.There are plenty of spring activities to enjoy, but it can be good for our body and soul to simply get outside and wander.We asked readers for their best springtime suggestions and came up with our own. What you said:Nathan T.: This spring, I'm most looking forward to spending Sunday mornings watching F1 races at Land-Grant Brewing's Beer Garden. Nothing beats some sunshine, cool drinks and...
It wouldn't be that crazy to see an armadillo in Columbus. Here's why.
A recent Reddit post by a driver who swears she saw an armadillo waddling along a Columbus off-ramp got us wondering: Could this be real?Why it matters: We were delighted (and maybe a little alarmed) to learn it wouldn't be the first time one of the critters has turned up in Ohio.By the numbers: There have been two confirmed armadillo sightings in Ohio, per the Department of Natural Resources. Both were reported in 2021 and (rest their little souls) found deceased along interstate highway exit ramps.The intrigue: Armadillos are most closely associated with Texas, but they've been slowly expanding their...
Ohio's tax coffers get a huge sports betting payout
Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Cartogram: Jared Whalen/AxiosOhio received 0.38% of its tax revenue from sports betting in the third quarter of 2023.By the numbers: That places us eighth highest among 43 states with legal betting programs, which includes traditional sports books and pari-mutuel wagering on events like horse racing.Ohioans bet nearly $7.7 billion in the program's first year, or $878 for every resident above the legal betting age of 21.The state raked in $133 million in tax proceeds.What's next: U.S. bettors are expected to wager over $2.7 billion on the 2024 men's and women's March Madness tournaments, the American Gaming Association estimates.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Columbus weekend events: Tim McGraw, a wine walk and a space lesson
👩 Celebrate Women's History Month at the Ohio History Center through the stories of women who shaped our state's past.10am-5pm Friday-Sunday, 800 E. 17th Ave. $10-16, kids under 4 free!🐟 Try a Friday Fish Fry at one of the many churches and organizations across Central Ohio in observance of Lent.Locations and cost vary.🍷 Take a sip and a stroll around the Short North during the Columbus Wine Walk.1-5pm Saturday. $20, tickets include a souvenir cup and wine samples.🎷 Enjoy the sounds of the Roaring Twenties as the Columbus Pride Jazz Band gives its inaugural performance.7pm Saturday, Lincoln Theatre. $17.🤠 Join fellow country music fans for a Tim McGraw concert at Nationwide Arena.7pm Saturday. $40+.🔭 Explore the solar system and snag a pair of eclipse glasses at the Westerville Public Library.4pm Saturday, 126 S. State St. Free!🎻 Hear the duo Black Violin blend "exquisite classical sounds and exhilarating hip-hop beats" at the Ohio Theatre.7pm Sunday, 39 E. State St. $26+.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Ohio hospitals fail price transparency review
A tiny fraction of Ohio hospitals are fully complying with new federal price transparency rules, per the latest review by advocacy group Patient Rights Advocate.Why it matters: Price transparency was supposed to usher in a future where patients could shop around for the best deal on medical procedures.But true competition between healthcare providers remains impossible because so many hospitals are failing to comply, per advocates.What they're saying: "Ohio is probably one of the worst in the country in terms of making prices readily available for patients to see," Cynthia Fisher, the founder and director of Patient Rights Advocate, told Axios....
Ohio hospitals fail price transparency review
A tiny fraction of Ohio hospitals are fully complying with new federal price transparency rules, per the latest review by advocacy group Patient Rights Advocate.Why it matters: Price transparency was supposed to usher in a future where patients could shop around for the best deal on medical procedures.But true competition between healthcare providers remains impossible because so many hospitals are failing to comply, per advocates.What they're saying: "Ohio is probably one of the worst in the country in terms of making prices readily available for patients to see," Cynthia Fisher, the founder and director of Patient Rights Advocate, told Axios....
Estimating Ohio's LGBTQ population
Data: UCLA Williams Institute; Chart: Axios VisualsAn estimated 6.2% of adult Ohioans identify as LGBT, compared with 5.5% nationally.Context: The estimates come by way of the Williams Institute, a UCLA Law think tank.They're based on combined 2020-2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.Zoom in: Younger Ohio residents are more likely to self-identify as LGBT than older residents.17.4% of Ohio adults ages 18-24 identify as LGBT, compared with 3.1% of those 50-64.Reality check: These findings are based on self-reporting, and people in states with hostile attitudes toward queer and transgender communities may be less forthcoming about their identity.What they're saying: "The world is changing around us, and we have to think about what that means to shift environments and policies so that everybody can live well and live safely," Williams Institute research director Kerith Conron tells Axios.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Ohio State gears up for March Madness
The Buckeyes' quest for a national title begins Thursday with a favorable match-up in front of hometown fans.State of play: OSU (25-5)'s women's team is a No. 2 seed in the March Madness bracket, making it one of the favorites for a deep tournament run.The team first takes on No. 15 Maine at noon tomorrow inside Value City Arena. Last-minute tickets are still available.ESPN gives the Buckeyes a 98% chance of victory.Assuming they win, OSU then would host the winner of No. 7 Duke vs. No. 10 Richmond on Sunday.The big picture: It takes six consecutive wins to earn the national trophy.The Buckeyes are said to have around a 29% chance of reaching the Final Four in Cleveland.Unfortunately, the men's team did not qualify for this year's March Madness tournament.Yes, but: It did make the secondary National Invitation Tournament bracket and is still alive after narrowly defeating Cornell on Tuesday.They next face Virginia Tech this weekend. Time and date TBD.What we're watching: If we'll get any last entries to our newsletter bracket challenges for the men's and women's tournaments.Submit picks before the tourneys tip off … Sign-up details here.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Throwback Thursday: The Ohio highway sniper was caught
Twenty years ago this week, the Ohio highway sniper was arrested in Las Vegas — ending a lengthy shooting spree that left one dead and the region paralyzed with fear.Flashback: Charles McCoy spent months firing at moving cars from bridges overlooking some of the area's busiest highways, as well as at several homes and an elementary school.In total, two dozen shootings were reported across Central Ohio between May 2003 and February 2004, per news archives from the Dispatch, which won an award for its sniper coverage.Gail Knisely, 62, of Washington Court House, was shot and killed while riding in a...
Shayla Favor wins Franklin County's Democratic prosecutor primary
In another closely watched race down ballot, Columbus City Council member Shayla D. Favor won the Democratic primary for Franklin County prosecutor, according to unofficial results.Why it matters: If elected in November, Favor pledges to reform the local criminal justice system as the first woman and first Black prosecutor in county history.State of play: The seat is open after incumbent Democrat Gary Tyack decided to retire after one term.As of Tuesday night, Favor had earned 41% of the total vote, defeating Natalia S. Harris, the Delaware city attorney, and Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel for the prosecutor's office.What's next: She...
A 2024 primary election guide for Central Ohio
Contested races for U.S. Senate and Franklin County prosecutor headline today's primary election ballot for Columbus-area voters.Why it matters: Voters will decide the eventual balance of the Senate, a new approach to criminal justice and numerous issues affecting their pocketbooks.How it works: All registered voters are eligible for this primary, not just those tied to a political party.Voters select a Democratic or Republican ballot, or can ask for an issues-only ballot.Find your polling place and view a sample ballot.Remember to bring a valid ID to vote.Zoom in: Entrepreneur Bernie Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose...
Ohio saw a 35% increase in 18-year-old voters over the last few months of 2023
A surge of new Gen Z voters in Ohio has caught the attention of the Civics Center, a nonpartisan group aiming to boost voter registration numbers.By the numbers: From late August to Jan. 6, the number of 18-year-old Ohioans registered to vote increased by 35%, to nearly 50,000 people, the group reports.That's an average of about 3,000 new voters per month.Between the lines: High-stakes political issues — including gerrymandering, abortion access and trans rights — could be a motivator, the group hypothesizes.Yes, but: Just under 32% of eligible 18-year-olds statewide are registered.Franklin County's numbers are slightly higher, at about 34%.What's next: It's too late to register for today's primary election, but there's plenty of time to do it before November's general election.Anyone who will be 18 by Nov. 5 can register now.Register online in a matter of minutes.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Most Ohioans are getting enough exercise
Data: Brigham and Women's Hospital; Map: Axios VisualsMore than half of Ohio's population gets at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week.The big picture: That's right on par with the national average, per new data from Apple and Brigham and Women's Hospital.Why it matters: The data shows that, while we compare well to the U.S. as a whole, too many adults aren't getting the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of exercise a week.But they could hit that number with five 30-minute brisk walks a week. So, yeah. It might be time for a walk break.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Ohio Senate Republican primary: Live results
Data: Associated Press; Chart: Axios VisualsOhio voters are deciding which Republican will challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in what's considered a toss-up November election. Polls close at 7:30 pm.Catch up quick: Brown has been in office since 2007, all while the state has moved towards the right. Three Republicans — state Sen. Matt Dolan, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and entrepreneur Bernie Moreno — are hoping to defeat him in November.Between the lines: Former president Trump threw his support behind Moreno and rallied for him last weekend, but Moreno is seen as the only Trump-backed Senate candidate at risk of losing in a GOP primary.Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine supports Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians baseball team.LaRose oversees the state's election system and helped organized Trump's inauguration, but could not secure the former president's endorsement.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.
Ohio EV drivers enjoy a cheap charging rate
Data: Stable Auto; Note: Does not include Tesla charging stations; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsOhio is one of the cheapest states for charging up an electric car.Why it matters: It turns out there can be big price differences depending on where EV owners are plugging in their autos, Alan Neuhauser reports for Axios Pro: Climate Deals.Those gaps suggest EV charging companies are still figuring out how to price a top-off.By the numbers: In Ohio, it costs an average of $0.38 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to charge an electric car at public charging stations — a price that makes us the 13th least...
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