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Axios Columbus
Columbus' fastest-growing demographic groups
Data: U.S. Census; Note: Estimates include people reporting one race alone; Hispanic individuals are also included in other categories, as they may be of any race; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosIt's well reported that Central Ohio's population has burgeoned over the past 20 years, but new census data offers a snapshot into how we're growing.By the numbers: Our Hispanic, Asian and mixed-race populations increased by the greatest percentages β 261%, 206% and 190%, respectively β from 2000-2022.Our overall population grew 29%, to 2.2 million people.That's compared with a nationwide population growth of 18%.Of note: The Columbus metro area is still predominantly white, making up 73% of our population, slightly lower than the nationwide percentage.
Ohioans owe $63.5 billion in student loans
Data: Federal Student Aid; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosLast week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that President Biden's student debt relief plan is unconstitutional has axed loan forgiveness for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans.Why it matters: Federal student loan payments are due in October for the first time since the pandemic began, and millions of Americans will likely struggle to make them, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports.Catch up quick: Biden's program would've canceled up to $10,000 for individual borrowers making under $125,000 per year, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.By the numbers: Ohio has the nation's sixth-highest number of borrowers (over 1.8...
What's in (and not in) Ohio's two-year, $86 billion state budget
The two-year, $86 billion budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine this week includes social safety net spending and a universal voucher program supporting enrollment in private schools.Three other pieces of the new budget:π΅ Tax cuts. Lawmakers passed income tax cuts for individuals earning above $26,050 a year, though the biggest breaks are expected to go toward wealthy Ohioans.The budget also exempts most businesses from paying the commercial activity tax and exempts baby products from sales tax collection.These cuts will cost Ohio nearly $2.6 billion in revenue over the next two fiscal years, budget analysts estimate.π» Social media crackdown. Kids under...
Leagues Cup coming to Lower.com Field in late July
Saturday is your last chance to catch a regular-season Crew match for a little while.What's happening: MLS teams will take a break from their normal schedules July 21-Aug. 19 to compete in the 2023 Leagues Cup, a 47-team inter-league tournament between the MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.Zoom in: Lower.com Field will host at least two Leagues contests featuring the Crew β 7:30pm July 23 (St. Louis City) and 8pm July 31 (Club AmΓ©rica, based in Mexico City).If the Crew win, more may be scheduled locally.State of play: The MLS season is a little over halfway finished.The Crew are fourth in the Eastern Conference, meaning if the season ended today they'd comfortably make the playoffs. The top nine of 15 teams qualify automatically.What we're watching: How long the sellout streak continues.The team has already set a new franchise record with nine sellouts this year β including the last eight consecutive matches β and there's still plenty of season left to play.If you go: 7:30pm Saturday vs. New York City. Standing room only, $40. Resale tickets start at $37.
Issue 1's impact goes beyond abortion rights
The upcoming August special election has turned into a political Rorschach test.Supporters and opponents of Issue 1, the lone statewide ballot item proposing a higher threshold to amend the Ohio Constitution, see in it what they want to see.Why it matters: The political agendas surrounding Issue 1 run counter to Republican lawmakers' original justification of protecting the constitution from out-of-state interests.Instead, supporters see the threshold change as valuable toward fending off specific policy proposals from Ohioans β including abortion access and a higher minimum wage.Catch up quick: Issue 1 would make it harder to amend Ohio's constitution by requiring approval...
Columbus researchers achieve medical breakthrough
Breakthrough research at Nationwide Children's Hospital has produced a long-awaited treatment for a rare genetic disorder seen in young kids.Driving the news: The FDA recently approved Elevidys, the first gene therapy meant to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in 4- and 5-year-old patients.Why it matters: Around 20,000 children around the globe are diagnosed with DMD each year.The genetic condition gradually weakens muscle, potentially leading to fatigue, loss of motor skills, heart problems and breathing issues.What happened: Developing this treatment has long been a dream of Jerry Mendell, a principal investigator at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute's Center for Gene Therapy who has researched DMD for over 50 years."This is what I've devoted my life to," Mendell said in a Nationwide Children's news release.He co-invented Elevidys alongside Louise Rodino-Klapac, a former Nationwide Children's researcher now with Sarepta Therapeutics.FDA licensed the treatment to Sarepta, which operates a gene therapy research facility near Easton.
What OSU learned about Columbus "ghost neighborhoods"
AI-powered technology continues to help Ohio State researchers better understand the loss of diverse neighborhoods from our city's past, Axios' Ayurella Horn-Muller writes.Why it matters: This work is not only used to reflect on past generations' decisions, but also has practical application for modern-day urban planning.Flashback: We told you last year how the OSU team began making 3D maps of "ghost neighborhoods" using Sanborn fire maps dating to the 1800s.The latest: In a PLOS ONE study published last week, researchers examined adjacent neighborhoods of Hanford Village and Driving Park that once housed a predominantly Black community on Columbus' Near East...
We sampled Ohio's Good Food Award winners
π Alissa here. With folks firing up their grills to celebrate July Fourth, I was inspired to combine two local delicacies to create an American classic.Grilling the news: Two area businesses received Good Food Awards this year, which recognize the top craft foods nationwide.North Country Charcuterie won for its wagyu beef bacon, and Black Radish Creamery had two award-winning cheeses, red bandit cheddar and raclette.What I did: Combined the bacon and cheddar and grilled up a bacon cheeseburger!Well, technically my husband grilled, and I provided creative direction.Quick take: The cheese's smooth, mild tang paired perfectly with the smoky-sweet bacon, prepared with brown sugar, ground coffee and pepper.Both snacks also stand strong on their own.Pro tip: Cook the bacon in the oven at 375Β° for 10 minutes to prevent charring.If you go: Black Radish Creamery has a cheese shop in the downtown North Market.Order items online from North Country Charcuterie and pick them up near Grandview, 1145 Chesapeake Ave., Suite E. A bacon cheeseburger with award-winning toppings, fresh off the Neese backyard grill.
3 fun facts about top Blue Jackets draft pick Adam Fantilli
The Columbus Blue Jackets' mediocre season netted a top-level draft pick fans hope will be a key piece in the team's ongoing rebuild.Who we picked: Adam Fantilli, a phenomenal goal-scorer who was named in April the top men's college hockey player in America.What to know about Adam:A native Canadian, he attended the same boarding school in New Hampshire as renowned criminal defense attorney F. Lee Bailey, whose clients included O.J. Simpson and Patty Hearst.His collegiate debut for Michigan came at just 17 years old β playing alongside his brother, Luca.He's a Chipotle spokesperson with a preference for chicken and steak bowls topped with queso.
Slammers has been serving epic pizza for 30 years
π Alissa here. As soon as I saw the bubbling cheese, I knew the rumors were true.Slicing the news: Shortly after moving to Columbus, before even learning Slammers was a historic lesbian bar, I heard about its pizzas.A few days after interviewing the management about the bar's longevity, I went back to finally try one.What I ate: The 12-inch pickle pie ($18.75), with white sauce, mozzarella, cheddar, dill and pickle chips.The dill was so strong its scent wafted through the air. Perfection.Disclaimer: There's no limit to how many dill pickles I can eat. But don't worry, they offer traditional pies too.Between the lines: Fluffy pizza is hard to find around these parts, with Columbus-style pizza known for being cracker thin β much to my chagrin.Slammers serves the best of both worlds: not too thin or too doughy, and amazingly cheesy.Moore told me the recipes date back to the bar's beginnings.The bottom line: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The lasting legacy of Columbus' Summit Station bar
The newest historical marker in town honors a bar that one former patron called the "soul of the lesbian community."The marker: Summit Station at 2210 Summit St., now a music hall.This is the first LGBTQ+ historical marker in Columbus and just the third in all of Ohio.Flashback: Summit Station operated between 1980 and 2008 as a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ residents.It was a true neighborhood bar that hosted first dates and breakups, celebrations and wakes, festive concerts and fundraisers to pay for customers' medical treatments.What they're saying: Julia Applegate, a regular at Summit Station who helped organize and fundraise for the marker, says a documentary about the bar is in the works."It's hard to put into words what that place meant to [the lesbian community]," she tells Axios."You were never alone when you walked in there."The big picture: There's an irony, Applegate believes, in the decline of lesbian-centered spaces just as more Americans are accepting of LGBTQ+ rights."We can blend in anywhere," she says. "It's an unintended consequence of broader social acceptance."Applegate hopes more historical markers will be installed to better recognize the city's LGBTQ+ history.
Lesbian bars are disappearing, but Slammers is going strong
Since opening in 1993, Slammers has welcomed downtown patrons with the slogan "all walks, one groove" β a motto that continues to evolve.Driving the news: The country's lesbian bars are dwindling, but Slammers is thriving as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. It's Ohio's only lesbian bar and one of just 27 nationwide, per the Lesbian Bar Project.Why it matters: Queer people and businesses face an "unprecedented" spike in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, per the Human Rights Campaign.These physical spaces have provided connection, protection from prejudice and a place where patrons can be authentically themselves.The big picture: Many factors are driving the nationwide...
Former House Speaker Larry Householder sentenced to 20 years
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a $60 million legislative bribery plot.State of play: The 64-year-old Republican had requested a much shorter sentence, but Judge Timothy Black noted the large amount of money involved and Householder's obstruction while on the witness stand. Via Twitter.Catch up quick: Householder was convicted of racketeering for taking bribes from FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for passing a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout bill in 2019.Former Ohio GOP chair Matt Borges was also found guilty of racketeering and will be sentenced Friday.What's next: The former speaker may still appeal his conviction. He has argued the bailout bill was sensible policy and his private dealings with FirstEnergy officials were legal political acts.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.
Larry Householder sentenced to 20 years in prison
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a $60 million legislative bribery plot. State of play: The 64-year-old Republican had requested a much shorter sentence, but Judge Timothy Black noted the large amount of money involved and Householder's obstruction while on the witness stand.
Ohio Statehouse faces budget deadline on massive spending bill
State lawmakers have until tomorrow night to pass a massive two-year budget, but they might not meet the deadline.Why it matters: The state budget features consequential spending decisions and serves as a repository for other policies lumped into the legislation that could impact schools, law enforcement and even teens' social media usage.State of play: Like a procrastinating essay writer, the state legislators may try to buy themselves more time to negotiate by passing a temporary spending bill.It's not just the two parties at odds β Republicans could have enough votes to pass a budget without any Democrats, but there's fighting...
Where to watch Independence Day fireworks
July 4 is still a few days away, but local Independence Day celebrations will light up the sky all weekend long.Our suggestions:β½ Red, White & Crew, 7:30pm SaturdayThe Crew vs. the New York Red Bulls, with post-game fireworks.It's sold out, but resale tickets start at $40.ποΈ Red, White & Boom, 10pm MondayThe obvious choice, if you're OK with big crowds.Check out our first-timers' guide from last year, head downtown to the Scioto River, and witness the Midwest's biggest and brightest fireworks display.π Trek to the suburbs, all weekendMost communities don't try to compete with Boom, but you can navigate their scaled-back celebrations with less stress.A local events list from WCMH-TV.𧨠DIY β but be safe!We recommend leaving pyrotechnics to professionals.But, technically, New Albany, Reynoldsburg and Whitehall residents can launch fireworks on private property tomorrow through July 5, due to a change in state law.A list of communities with bans.
Road trip idea: Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm
π Alissa here with a weekend getaway recommendation. I hope you like purple!What's happening: Through July 9, Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm near Dayton is letting visitors pick bundles of blooms ($10 each) from the field near its picturesque purple barn.It's a relatively straight shot on I-70, less than an hour west of Columbus.Quick take: I visited last Sunday to grab a bundle to dry and use as a decoration.I'd drive back just for the lavender lemonade, though. I grabbed a bag of mix so I can make my own at home.If you go: 10am-4pm Thursday-Saturday, noon-4pm Sunday. 6360 Fowler Road, Enon. Sunset Ridge grows nine varieties of lavender (eight purple, one white) and sells its lemonade by the glass, near a lavender-themed gift shop.
Columbus' mosquito season is getting longer
Data: Climate Central; Chart: Axios VisualsDon't forget your bug spray if you're spending lots of evenings outdoors this summer.Driving the news: Columbus' number of "mosquito days" β those with the hot, humid weather in which the flying insects thrive β is half a month longer than a few decades ago, according to a new analysis from nonprofit climate news group Climate Central.Why it matters: Mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, Zika and more.Ohio had seven human West Nile cases and one death last year.By the numbers: Columbus logged 149 mosquito days in 2022, compared with 133 in...
Mosquito season is getting longer
Don't forget your bug spray if you're spending lots of evenings outdoors this summer. Driving the news: Columbus' number of "mosquito days" β those with the hot, humid weather in which the flying insects thrive β is half a month longer than a few decades ago, according to a new analysis from nonprofit climate news group Climate Central.
Columbus State to expand its health care programs
Columbus State Community College announced a plan yesterday to expand its health care programs, bolstered by a $25 million endowment from OhioHealth.Why it matters: The investment aims to stave off worker shortages for local health care providers and offer area residents more opportunities to pursue high-paying careers.The college is currently turning some potential students away due to capacity limits, president David Harrison said at an event detailing the plan.Details: Columbus State will build a new 80,000-square-foot facility, the OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences, and also renovate existing classrooms and labs. The new facility is expected to open as early as 2027.The project will cost at least $85 million, funded by a 2020 voter-approved bond.OhioHealth's gift β the largest in college history β will be used to hire more faculty and staff.What's next: The goal is to double health care graduates in 10 years, specifically in nursing, surgical technology, medical imaging, respiratory therapy and sterile processing.What we're watching: Harrison said he thinks "there is an opportunity for a debt-free degree" program for Franklin County as part of the expansion.Get more health news in your inbox with Axios Vitals.
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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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