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Axios Columbus
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.
Keep an eye out for poison hemlock
The plant that may have killed Socrates could also be growing in your backyard.The big picture: Poison hemlock has spread widely in central Ohio over the past few years. But experts say it remains a largely underappreciated hazard in the area.Why it matters: It's one of the deadliest plants in North America, so you should probably at least know how to recognize it.State of play: Poison hemlock is a highly invasive ornamental that contains a potent poison that, yes, was said to have been used by the Athenians to execute Socrates.And Michael Hogan, an agriculture extension agent at OSU, tells...
Columbus eaters say let's do lunch — on the weekend
Data: Square; Chart: Jacque Schrag/AxiosRestaurant spending in Columbus is shifting slightly from weekday lunch hours to the weekends, per new Square data.Why it matters: It's a reflection of pandemic behavior changes — and an important insight for restaurants as they adapt to survive and thrive.By the numbers: Weekday lunch's share of overall restaurant transactions fell locally from 23% in 2019 to 17% last year, based on data from establishments using Square.By contrast, the weekend's share grew from 31% to 37% in that time frame.The same trend is playing out nationwide, but the shift in Columbus is a bit more pronounced.🍻...
New Metro Parks canopy walk opens today
Metro Parks' newest and tallest trail opens Friday morning with a 10am ribbon cutting at Blacklick Woods.The intrigue: The new canopy walk stretches 530 feet and features a 55-foot-tall observation tower, a cargo net hammock and a kids play area.An elevator makes it accessible for visitors with disabilities.If you go: The attraction will be open daily from 9am-7pm (through August) and 9am-5pm (September-March) at 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg.
Columbus weekend events: Sonic Temple, Taco Fest and a "Major League" star
🎵 Catch Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and dozens of others during the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at Historic Crew Stadium today through Sunday.Gates open 11am daily, 1 Black and Gold Blvd. $130+ for single day passes.✒️ Learn about the art of tattooing and other forms of body modification at the Hell City Tattoo Festival.Noon-11pm today and Saturday, noon-8pm Sunday. 350 N. High St. $25-30 day pass, $75 weekend pass.🛍️ Shop at over a dozen vendors at Plus Fest: Evolution, an outdoor market for plus-sized fashion.11am-4pm Saturday, 924 W. Broad St. Free!🏴☠️ Walk the plank at the inaugural Buckeye...
Scioto Mile Fountain to reopen with public festival
The Scioto Mile Fountain in Bicentennial Park will reopen next Friday after a costly reconstruction project.Driving the news: A ribbon cutting is planned at noon on May 24, followed by a two-day Fountain Fest that will host food trucks, live music and free ice cream.State of play: The $15 million renovation project, funded equally by the city and the private Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, is turning the fountain into a year-round attraction.It will feature new lighting and water features, plus additional seating and shady areas.If you go: Fountain Fest runs noon-7pm Friday, May 24, and 11am-7pm Saturday, May 25.The splash pad will be open 11am-7pm daily from May 24-Sept. 2.During colder months, there will be non-interactive water and light shows.
Historical Columbus sites face demolition
A downtown block of High Street and a unique bakery building in Driving Park made this year's Preservation Ohio list of the most endangered historic sites in the state.Why it matters: The list seeks to draw attention to important sites facing neglect and demolition.State of play: Preservation Ohio has published the annual list since 1993 and claims the attention has helped save several buildings, including the Athenaeum on North Fourth Street.Driving the news: This year's list includes 14 properties, ranging from a one-room schoolhouse in Akron to a rural museum honoring A.B. Graham, an Ohioan who founded the 4-H program.Threat...
Legacy of Brown v. Board in Columbus schools
Friday marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which outlawed racial segregation in public schools.Why it matters: This was a major milestone in the Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for integration in Columbus schools, though systemic inequities in American education still persist, seven decades later.Flashback: Columbus City Schools and other districts remained segregated for years after the ruling as integration efforts faced significant resistance.The turning point came in 1977 when trailblazing federal judge Robert Duncan ruled the local school board was illegally maintaining segregated schools.Columbus challenged the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld Duncan's ruling.A new school busing program launched in 1979 with mostly peaceful results.Yes, but: Integration drove many white families to the suburbs over the following decades, furthering a racial and economic divide.Columbus ended the busing program in 1996 in favor of a neighborhood school model.The big picture: Local officials are still reckoning with past discriminatory policies like redlining and community destruction to build highways.Go deeper
Ohio experiences rise in road rage shootings
Data: The Trace via Gun Violence Archive; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosThe number of road rage shootings in Ohio each year has more than tripled over the past decade.Threat level: The numbers mirror a nationwide surge in gun violence stemming from traffic disputes, per an analysis of Gun Violence Archive (GVA) data by gun violence newsroom The Trace.By the numbers: Ohio experienced five road rage shooting incidents in 2014, according to the data.In 2023, the number had risen to 17.Zoom in: A shooting last year on I-270 in Columbus injured a 25-year-old man and 1-year-old child.A shooting on I-670 in November killed...
Ohio restaurants battle against $15 minimum wage
Restaurant waitstaff are about to find themselves at the center of a major political fight over Ohio's minimum wage.Why it matters: With a median wage of $13.79 per hour, food prep and serving jobs are the lowest-paid category of employment in the state, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Driving the news: A ballot initiative aimed at raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour has sparked a surprise counter proposal from the GOP that also calls for a $15 minimum wage.The big difference: The ballot initiative includes tipped workers, like waiters. The GOP bill, backed by the state's restaurant industry,...
Columbus e-bike rebate program returns
Columbus' e-bike subsidy program is returning for a second year.Pedaling the news: Columbus City Council voted Monday to invest $500,000 more toward the program, which offers rebates of at least $500 for low- and middle-income residents to buy e-bikes at local shops.Flashback: Last summer's initial pilot proved popular, per Smart Columbus, a local innovation lab partnering with the city on the program.Columbus received over 1,300 applications within the first 24 hours and wound up issuing nearly 300 vouchers.Around two-thirds of those vouchers have since been redeemed.What they're saying: Hailey Allison, director of operations for Smart Columbus, told Council the vast majority of recipients reported they could not have otherwise afforded e-bikes, which cost much more than regular bicycles.If you're interested: The application portal will reopen in late summer at columbusebikes.com, Allison tells us.Those who applied last time will need to do so again to verify their income and residency.The city expects to give out around 350 more e-bike vouchers.
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