Columbus
Axios Columbus
Columbus City Schools eyes building closures
Nearly two dozen Columbus City Schools are candidates for closure under a new package of proposals by the superintendent's facilities task force.Why it matters: School consolidation is seen as a way for CCS to manage expenses and rid the district of old buildings needing costly repairs.Driving the news: The task force presented initial recommendations to the school board on Tuesday.The task force was named earlier this year following voters' approval of a CCS levy funding general operating expenses and ongoing facility maintenance.What they're saying: Superintendent Angela Chapman emphasized that no immediate board action would be taken and the district wants...
Bexley High School named second-best public school in Ohio
Data: U.S. News and World Report; Map: Tory Lysik/Axios VisualsOhio's top public high school is Cincinnati's Walnut Hills, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual high school rankings, released last week.Why it matters: Walnut Hills eclipsed Bexley High School, which claimed the top spot last year.Driving the news: U.S. News & World Report ranked nearly 18,000 public schools nationwide. Nearly 9% of Ohio's public schools are ranked among the top 10% nationwide.Schools were measured in the areas of student college readiness, proficiency on state assessments, the breadth of college-level curriculum, and the performance of historically underserved populations.Zoom in: Bexley is the top performing school in the region, ranking No. 2 among Ohio's public schools.Dublin Jerome (10th), Olentangy Liberty (11th), Olentangy (14th), Columbus Alternative (16th), Grandview Heights (19th), Upper Arlington (21st) and Granville (23rd) are other area schools in the state's top 25.
Columbus could have unusually hot summer
A hotter-than-usual summer is likely in Ohio and many other parts of the globe, according to new forecasts and scientific research.Why it matters: Extreme heat is a major public health threat and plays a role in droughts and wildfires.Heat waves also threaten the reliability of the nation's increasingly-strained electricity grid, as thousands of Columbus-area residents experienced last year.😬 By the numbers: Everywhere in the Lower 48 — except for North Dakota and some of its surrounds — is also projected to be hotter than average, but with varying odds.Ohio has a 40-50% chance of seeing abnormally hot temps this summer....
Ohioan Grace Norman seeks 4th Paralympic medal
When Grace Norman competes in the Paralympic Games, she doesn't travel alone.Her parents compile photos of friends, family and hometown scenes for her to display on the walls of her Olympic Village room.What she's saying: "It's always special to see how many people are rooting for me from home," the Ohioan tells Axios.Driving the news: The accomplished paratriathlon competitor from Jamestown, about 40 miles southwest of Columbus, will once again represent Team USA at the Paris Games this summer.Flashback: Norman was born with congenital constriction band syndrome, which led to the amputation of her left leg and right big toe as a child.She later ran track and cross country at nearby Cedarville University, where she attended nursing school.State of play: Norman won a gold medal in the first-ever Paralympic paratriathlon event during the 2016 Rio Games, along with a bronze medal in the 400-meter run.She earned a silver medal in the paratriathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Norman is seen competing in the ITU World Triathlon Para Series in Japan in 2022. Photo: Nobuo Yano/Getty ImagesICYMI: Columbus' blind soccer star, coach ... Local para-rower returning to Paralympics
Columbus' Haxton returning to Paralympics with 2024 Paris games
Blake Haxton is ready for his third Paralympics appearance.Rowing the news: The Columbus native and para-rower will compete in the upcoming Paris Games (Aug. 28-Sept. 8).He earned a silver medal in a canoe sprint event at the 2020 Tokyo Games and previously competed in the 2016 Rio Games.Flashback: Haxton contracted necrotizing fasciitis while in high school, leading to the amputation of both of his legs.He later studied finance and law at OSU while developing his motivational speaking and international rowing career.What he's saying: "My hometown was amazing to me while I was growing up there and they were also amazingly supportive after I got sick," he told Axios at Team USA's recent media summit."The whole time, it really felt like the whole town was behind me."Haxton called himself a "Buckeye for life" and credits OSU for having an accessible campus for those with disabilities.When he's not rowing, Haxton loves visiting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and attending OSU sporting events.His go-to restaurants are Lavash Cafe in Clintonville and Roosters Wings for half Carolina gold, half Hot — "you get a little bit of sweet, little bit of hot."ICYMI: Columbus' blind soccer star, coach
What to do this Mother's Day in Columbus
Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday. Here are some last-minute ideas on how to treat your mom:🍽 Get an early meal. Dozens of restaurants offer special brunches and buffets, from the fancy Refectory ($79) to the family friendly 17 Arrows Craft Kitchen + Bar. ($30-60)🍷 Painting and wine. Try wine and chocolate at Bliss in a Bottle while completing a flower painting.2-3:30pm Saturday and Sunday, Easton Town Center Boutique Patio. $60.🎷 Flowers and jazz. Kelly Crum Delaveris & Trio will perform jazz favorites at the Franklin Park Conservatory.2pm Sunday, 1777 E. Broad St. Concert is free with admission ($16-24).🎨 Hearts and crafts. Enjoy local vendors and a DIY craft station at a Mother's Day Market at LC Dublin.11am-3pm Sunday, 5730 Silver Falls St., Dublin. Free!
Columbus home to blind soccer national team star, head coach
Columbus athlete Noah Beckman and head coach Katie Smith are helping chart a new course for the USA Blind Soccer Men's National Team as it gears up for its first Paralympic Games in 2028.Why it matters: The program is not just developing a new team. It's building traction for blind sports across the country, Smith tells us.State of play: Blind soccer dates back to the 1920s and debuted at the Paralympic Games in 2004.Yes, but: The USA had never competed in the sport until naming its first national team two years ago.It will receive an automatic bid to the '28...
Columbus' newest food hall coming to Grandview Heights
Map: Axios VisualsThe region's food hall boom continues this summer with a new spot in Grandview Heights.What's happening: Little Grand Market is set to open in August at the Grandview Crossing development at the corner of Dublin Road and Grandview Avenue.It will have a dozen vendors, along with a 3,500-square-foot restaurant yet to be announced.Zoom in: Besides a bar and a Bada Bean Bada Booze cafe, four "chef partners" are already locked in:Taesty's, with southern-style classics like chicken wings and baked mac and cheese.Frascati Market, an Italian shop with homemade soups, salads and sandwiches along with premade meals, sauces and cookbooks.Common Rice, offering build-your-own Vietnamese rice bowls with sautéed veggies, herbs and pickled mustard greens.Lan Viet, featuring traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho and banh mi.What's next: More vendors are expected to be announced this month.
Les Wexner is still the richest Ohioan, Forbes says
Forbes is out with an updated ranking of the world's richest people, and the wealthiest Ohioan is no surprise.Follow the money: Les Wexner has once again been dubbed the richest Buckeye with an estimated net worth of $6 billion.Wexner founded L Brands, a retail giant that included Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works.The 86-year-old New Albany resident — whose net worth stayed steady since 2023 — is tied for the title of the 486th-richest person on Earth.Youngstown's Denise York, whose family owns 90% of the San Francisco 49ers, follows close behind Wexner with $5.8 billion.The intrigue: Though he stepped down from L Brands in 2020 amid scrutiny over his connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Wexner has remained active in local education and development projects.Forbes reports his firm helped secure an Ohio site for the Intel chip plants.He was also allegedly involved in a power struggle that led to the 2022 resignation of OSU president Kristina Johnson, per the Dispatch.
Experts want Ohio homeowners to say no to No Mow May
Local lawn care experts want you to think twice before you jump on the #NoMowMay bandwagon this year.The big picture: The campaign has spread widely on social media in recent years, urging people to stop cutting their grass for the month in an effort to boost habitat and food for bees and other pollinators.Reality check: Experts say the mowing hiatus doesn't actually help bees all that much and could ruin your lawn.Zoom in: The Columbus area is home to numerous specialists in the field, thanks to Ohio State University's large turfgrass science department in its College of Food, Agricultural and...
Where Columbus golfers should hit the links
Better weather and OSU golfer Neal Shipley's great run in the Masters tournament might have you stoked to hit the links.Here are three public courses to try, whether you're a duffer or a pro:🙂 For beginners: Wilson Road Golf Course, 1900 Wilson Road.This municipal course is cheap and features a simple, forgiving design — perfect for newcomers who don't want a long day on the course.👍 For solid players: The Virtues Golf Club, 1 Long Drive, Nashport.Located about an hour east of Columbus, Virtues is ranked the 16th best course in Ohio by Golf Digest.💪 For total pros: Pine Hills Golf Club, 433 W. 130th St., Hinckley.Hit the road and try this course about two hours northeast of Columbus, highlighted by our friends at Axios Cleveland as "an ideal blend of old school and new."
Columbus weekend events: COSI Science Festival, Six One Pour and Cinco de Mayo
There's a lot going on around Columbus this weekend. Here's a roundup:🧪 Try hands-on science activities across town and attend a big Saturday celebration with the COSI Science Festival.Friday times and locations vary; 11am-5pm Saturday, 333 W. Broad St. Free!🎲 Play your favorite board games at Buckeye Game Fest inside the Hyatt Regency.9am-midnight Friday, 9am-midnight Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday, 350 N. High St. $15-35 daily, $80-110 weekend pass.🪐 Enjoy a "Knight of Imperial Elegance," a Star Wars-themed "prom party" benefiting local artists.7:30pm Friday, 6155 Huntley Road, Suite J. $25.🤼 May the Faygo be with you as Juggalo Championship Wrestling comes to...
Ohio lawmakers propose another voter ID bill
Ohio's voter ID law could change again under a proposal supported by over a dozen Republicans.Why it matters: House Bill 472 would make it tougher for some Ohioans to register to vote and cast absentee ballots.State of play: Ohio citizens were once able to use a variety of documentation such as utility bills and bank statements to prove their identification and voting address at the ballot box.That changed last year under a new law requiring photo ID to vote in person.Ohioans have still been able to register to vote and cast mail-in ballots by using the last four digits of...
The best time to sell your house in Columbus
Data: Zillow; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsIf last year is any indicator, next month may be the prime time for home listings in Columbus.By the numbers: Homes here listed for sale in June of last year brought in an average of $10,000 more than similar properties listed in the winter, per a new Zillow report.Why it matters: Sellers need all the cash they can get to make their next move more palatable.The big picture: May has long been the best month to list your house in the U.S. But in 2023, sellers made the highest profits in the first two weeks...
Throwback Thursday: Marker honors two great Columbus artists
A marker outside the art museum appropriately highlights two famous artists with Columbus connections.The marker: Roy Lichtenstein and George Bellows at 480 E. Broad St.Flashback: Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was from New York but moved here to study art at OSU, where he later served as an instructor.He eventually became, per the marker, "one of the most acclaimed artists of the Pop Art movement that revolutionized visual culture in the 1960s."His work, often created using a pointillism technique, was inspired by comic books and advertisements.A commissioned sculpture by Lichtenstein, Brushstrokes in Flight, is displayed inside John Glenn Columbus International Airport.Meanwhile, the National Gallery of Art called Bellows (1882-1925) a "quintessential American artist."The Columbus native was initially known for his gritty depictions of urban life, though he later painted landscapes and portraits.4️⃣4️⃣ down, 84 to go.—Thanks to our series sponsor Ohio History Connection. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. The other side of the marker.
Columbus reviewing OSU campus protest arrests
Data: Axios research; Note: Universities with joint encampments reported separately; Locations approximated for clarity; Map: Kavya Beheraj, Tory Lysik and Will Chase/AxiosThe Columbus city attorney's office faces pressure to drop criminal charges against the pro-Palestinian protesters arrested on OSU's campus last week.Why it matters: The city was largely uninvolved with the protests, but is reckoning with an aggressive crackdown from school administrators and police, similar to other university towns.Catch up quick: Students and others protested on the South Oval, urging the university to divest from Israel, which OSU says it cannot do under state law.Campus police, with support from Highway Patrol,...
The 2024 Ohio State Fair concerts, ranked
I admittedly prefer fair food and exhibitions to music and rides, but I know the concert schedule is a big deal for many fairgoers.State of play: The full lineup of shows at the WCOL Celeste Center is now set.Tickets purchased in advance include fair admission.My ranking of this year's schedule:13. KIDZ BOP Live 2024. Please make it stop.6:30pm July 24. $32.12. Boyz II Men. Not my jam, sorry.7pm July 27. $38-48.11. Stephen Sanchez. Don't love his voice.7pm Aug. 1. $40-50.10. Jamey Johnson. WCOL-FM listeners will enjoy it better.7pm Aug. 3. $38-48.9. La Zenda Norteña. Should be a fun show.7:30pm July...
More Ohioans embracing skilled trades
Interest in training for Ohio's skilled trades is steadily growing, state labor data shows.Why it matters: Industries like plumbing, welding and construction need more workers as boomers retire, and younger Ohioans are stepping up to fill the gaps.The big picture: Enrollment in vocational programs and applications for trade jobs are ticking up as younger people look to start their careers without the sky-high cost of a four-year college degree.Enrollment in vocational programs jumped 16% last year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.What they're saying: "We're finally seeing a more than subtle change within our society," says Robb Sommerfeld, co-founder of...
Columbus approves new police union contract
Columbus police officers are getting increased pay and job flexibility under a new collective bargaining agreement approved by the City Council on Monday night.State of play: The agreement, which covers around 1,850 uniformed employees, runs through Dec. 8, 2026.Officers will receive a trio of 5% across the board pay increases expected to cost a total of about $80 million.The first increase is retroactive to Dec. 9, 2023, with the next two coming in December 2024 and 2025.Flashback: A previous version of the agreement stipulated officers could undergo polygraph tests if they are the "primary focus of an investigation, known witness to an incident" or if the officer requests one.The new agreement states polygraph tests "shall not be administered to bargaining unit members."Another change involves a tuition reimbursement program available after the completion of voluntary coursework for those with at least one year of service.Previously, employees had to stay employed with the city for two years after completing their course work or else repay the tuition.The new agreement removes that requirement, freeing officers to leave the department immediately upon completion.
Ohio not among states limiting noncompete agreements
Reproduced from Economic Innovation Group; Note: Income restrictions refer to states where noncompetes are enforceable depending on an employee's income level. Other restrictions include noncompetes for certain types of workers, duration, etc.; Map: Axios VisualsMany states already outlawed or restricted noncompete agreements before the Federal Trade Commission voted last week to ban them.Zoom in: Ohio is not one of them, nor is neighboring Michigan, Pennsylvania or West Virginia.Yes, but: State lawmakers are considering passing restrictions aimed at the health care sector, where these contracts are particularly popular.State Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, a retired physician, proposes to limit such agreements at nonprofit hospitals to six months and a 15-mile surrounding area.What he's saying: The agreements "are inherently anti-free enterprise, and impede an individual's ability to earn a living as he or she so chooses," he said in committee testimony.The other side: The Ohio Hospital Association opposes the bill, calling noncompete provisions "necessary" to protect hospital staffing, particularly in rural areas.The law would "significantly impede their ability to bring health care providers to their communities where they already struggle to recruit new providers."
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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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