The Columbus Dispatch
FEMA change curtailed pre-flood buyout grants
A week after severe flooding sent feet of water surging into the Peggys Cove cul-de-sac in Reynoldsburg, residents worked around the wreckage of their lives, throwing water-soaked appliances into vehicles and trimming their lawns amid discarded...
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War a big focus in Ohio’s Senate race
Sherrod Brown condemned a Republican Ohio senator for failing to push back against a war in the Middle East. There was no plan to win, he told NPR, or a plan to exit. The year was 2006. The opponent was then-u.s. Sen. Mike Dewine, who lost reelection...
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More data centers seeking to use natural gas power
Data centers are under fire for a variety of reasons: noise, water and electricity consumption, secretive development deals and generally pushing their way into rural Ohio and reshaping its landscape. A recent poll showed more people would support a...
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OSU’S first day of school
Ohio State University welcomes more than 8,000 new incoming students to campus Aug. 25 for the first day of fall semester. OSU President Ravi Bellamkonda said this incoming class includes students from 47 U.S. states and 36 countries. “If you know...
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From drought to deluge
A year after central Ohio endured one of its driest Augusts on record, repeated storms have drenched the region this month, causing flooding and pushing Columbus toward the opposite end of the record books. John Glenn Columbus International Airport,...
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Testimony starts in New Albany warehouse shooting trial
Two of the people wounded inside a New Albany warehouse said they saw Bruce Foster approaching the office they were in on the night of Feb. 4, 2025, but they had no idea he was going to shoot them. Foster, 30, is charged with aggravated murder,...
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Protected ravine proposal sparks pushback in Clintonville
Some residents of Columbus’ Clintonville area are pushing back on a proposal to build a roadway through a protected ravine that would connect the Ohio State School for the Blind and Ohio School for the Deaf campuses. h The protected land in question is...
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ODOT studies flood control on part of I-70
The Ohio Department of Transportation is currently studying flood mitigation for a stretch of Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake that had to close Aug. 20 into Aug. 21 due to surging river levels, according to an ODOT spokesperson. The flooded areas of...
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Will Acton be Ohio’s first elected female governor?
Ohio is one of a dwindling number of states that have never elected a female governor or U.S. senator. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton is trying to change that. h On the campaign trail, Acton doesn’t talk much about potentially...
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Future of planned Peninsula grocery store remains unclear
In September 2025, city leaders unveiled plans for what they said was a long-sought amenity for Downtown residents – a grocery store they could walk to, to be situated in Franklinton’s Peninsula development. But nearly a year later, following an...
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In the storms’ aftermath
In the Columbus area and across much of the Buckeye State, residents spent much of Aug. 12 assessing and addressing damage from strong storms the day before, as local officials declared a state of emergency. For many looking at the damage aftermath,...
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Thunderstorms, possible tornado strike the Greater Columbus area
Heavy rain and strong winds, including at least one possible tornado, rocked the Greater Columbus area Aug. 11 in a series of brief but damaging storms. Winds gusted up to 82 miles per hour at the John Glenn International Airport as a band of severe...
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Team tracking black bears as they roam state’s forests, fields
As residents are reporting more bear sightings across Ohio, wildlife biologists are trapping, tagging and tracking the black bears as they roam the fields and forests. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Gantchoff lab at the University of...
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Helping to make lives entertaining
In 2005, a young couple stood on the streets of a then-busy downtown Columbus passing out flyers. Just as fast as someone reluctantly grabbed one flyer, another would be tossed, slowly drifting to the ground. The couple was not deterred. They picked...
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Gunshot detection tech ignites controversy
When gunshots ring out on America’s streets, bystanders face an instant, high-stakes dilemma. h Do I call the cops? Were those even gunshots? Maybe it was just fireworks. h Every moment of hesitation risks a delay in medical treatment or gives a...
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BACK TO WORK
Ohio State began preseason football practices on Aug. 6 in preparation for the season opener against Ball State on Sept. 5. The Buckeyes, with 51 new players, are ranked No. 1 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time since 2015. See more...
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Miller’s seat could flip to Dems
Rep. Max Miller’s decision to stay in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District race despite domestic abuse allegations could put a safe Republican seat in play, threatening the GOP’S control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “It’s the wrong year for a...
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UNCERTAINTY
Facing uncertainty over 2026 funding from Franklin County, the Community Shelter Board is moving to cut about 43% of Franklin County’s yearround adult shelter capacity while continuing to ask the county for additional funding. More people will be...
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NO LIMITS
More than 8,00 riders participated in the 2026 Pelotonia on Aug. 1-2, cycling routes that ranged from 17 miles to 165 miles. The annual ride has raised more than $350 million for cancer research since its inception in 2009. Money goes directly to the...
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Attack sparks fears wars could merge
WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States insisted that leaders in Kyiv are not playing “a game of chess” with their recent drone strike on an Iranian ship and have no interest in leveraging their conflict with Russia into a wider, global...
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PLENTIFUL PICKIN’
On the corner of Town Street and Martin Avenue sits a small U-pick garden. The tiny, but robust, garden has a little bit of everything. h Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, collard greens, radishes and more fill the green space. h The garden exists...
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Let the fun begin!
The Ohio State Fair opened July 29 with the debut of the new Ohio Showcase building, featuring an immersive 360degree film on Ohio history, interactive exhibits and other attractions championed by Gov. Mike Dewine. Outside the new building, performers...
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CCS looks to fire HR exec
A Columbus City Schools human resources administrator could be fired after the district said her dealings with an insurance consultancy firm cost the district $40 million, according to an external forensic audit. However, Courtney Hale, the executive...
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AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FUTURE
Jimmy Carter was president. Sixty-six U.S. hostages had been held in Iran’s U.S. Embassy. Home computers were a promising, yet geeky, novelty, appealing mostly to hobbyists. h It was May 1979, and a 900-square-foot store called Micro Center opened...
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Penthouse in a storied skyscraper is for sale
A chance to own a coveted piece of the Columbus skyline is on the auction block. The two-story penthouse atop Downtown’s storied Leveque Tower is a two-bedroom, 21⁄2-bathroom condominium with panoramic views of the city and Scioto River. Online...
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Having fun at the Franklin County Fair
The 2026 Franklin County Fair ends July 26 after a week of exciting events including a demolition derby, harness races and more. Animals are a large attraction at the county fair, giving attendees an up-close look and chance to pet livestock. Children...
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‘Outpouring of love and support’
HAMDEN – Standing at the long metal counter inside Hammond Hardware Store, Melissa Hammond cut a strip of maroon ribbon and tied it to the top of a cellophane-wrapped gift basket. The basket was full of bagged coffee beans, candies, locally sourced...
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GEESE-BUSTERS
Donning a bright yellow vest and paddling her way through the water, Elle – a 2-year-old border collie – has her sights set on the prize: a flock of Canada geese just a few yards ahead. h As a herding dog tasked with rounding up geese, Elle is doing...
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Ramaswamy’s net worth has surged
Having clinched the Republican nomination in May, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is poised to become Ohio’s first billionaire governor if he prevails in his tight race against Amy Acton. While state financial disclosures offer a limited view of his net...
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‘Most significant ... legislation’
Central Ohio may be uniquely positioned to benefit from a new, sweeping federal housing law – one that local leaders say aligns with strategies already underway across the region. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law July 11 despite...
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Republicans take aim at Acton’s work history
Dr. Amy Acton’s time as state health director was memorable, marked with frequent public health orders and daily news conferences as Ohioans grappled with how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her tenure was also short-lived. She served as health...
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Telling the stories of Whitehall, Bexley, and the Near East Side
I cover breaking news for The Columbus Dispatch in addition to covering Columbus' East and Northeast sides, Bexley, and Whitehall. Needless to say, covering breaking news while covering these areas and beyond keeps me busy. My workday usually begins...
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RAISING A STINK
A rare and endangered flower that gives off the pungent scent of rotting flesh bloomed this week at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The titan arum plant, also known as the “corpse flower,” is native only to rainforests on the...
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‘A bad perspective of the community’
When Megh Adhikari opened a certified letter from the Ohio Department of Medicaid early last month, he knew his business was about to change. h The letter informed the assistant administrator of Medina Home Healthcare LLC that, effective immediately,...
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Trump shifts course on plan for Hormuz
President Donald Trump on July 14 quickly walked back his proposal to charge a 20% fee on ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, saying he will instead look to make “trade and investment deals” with Middle East nations that use the critical...
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Housing could replace surface lots near Main Library branch
A developer’s plan for a high-profile housing development in the center of Downtown’s Discovery District may begin to transform a pockmarked landscape of surface parking lots into housing, retail and parking options near the Columbus Metropolitan...
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March of robes
Michael Donnelly is used to speaking to the public through his judicial opinions. No more, the former Ohio Supreme Court justice said. So Donnelly, along with a bipartisan group of sitting and retired state and federal judges, did what their...
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Covering regional trends has been fun, enlightening
Since I last wrote one of these columns, my beat has shifted to cover more regional and suburban trending news around Columbus and Ohio. I’m also enjoying continuing to write some stories based on data around Columbus and elsewhere. I’ve been having...
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Fragile ceasefire seems to collapse
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.s.-israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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Past and present collide on city’s Near East Side
Tom Dillard and Lawrence Auls, who have lived in Columbus’ Near East Side for a combined 125 years, have seen firsthand how the area has changed over the decades. h Dillard and Auls, who are ages 82 and 83, respectively, reflected on a time when there...
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BIGGER SAFETY NET?
Central Ohio’s safety net is already struggling to catch all the residents who need help with food, housing, health care, childcare, elder care and lots of other expenses that have outpaced wages. As the federal government cuts funding for social...
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Symbol of community
With three empty tubes of yellow acrylic paint on his left and a canvas standing taller than him on his right, Talle Bamazi sat in his studio and focused on the work in front of him. “Talle” was painted in white, with slow, swift brush movements, in...
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SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
The 56 steps, cut from pink granite, ascend to a neoclassical temple that seems plucked from ancient Greece and deposited on a Kentucky hilltop. One for each year of President Abraham Lincoln’s life. h If the first eight steps, rising amid the site’s...
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How this reporter covers area transportation and Columbus neighborhoods
If you’ve been following my work closely (which I’m not sure anyone does except for my mom), you might have noticed that the topics I cover changed over the past month. I still cover transportation, which includes all things roads, trains, bikes and...
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Columbus dedicated new park for bicentennial
The U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 was a monumental, year-long celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Coming in the aftermath of the turbulent 1960s, the political disillusionment of the Watergate...
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Reflecting on Columbus in 1976
A lot can change in 50 years. When the United States celebrated the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1976, Columbus was smaller by just about any measure. Its geographic footprint was tinier, its population a...
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Child endangerment case riles officials
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said that if 16 children who were rescued from a home in Vinton County June 30 were rescued even 24 hours later, the case could have been fatal. At a noon press conference July 1 at the University of Rio Grande...
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‘We can’t sleep’
SPRINGFIELD – After the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end temporary protected status, federal officials say Haitians in the U.S. have two options: apply to stay or leave. On CNN’S State of the Union on June 28, Homeland...
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FUNDING THE FUTURE
Rising above the tree line along Spring Street and Cleveland Avenue in the corner of a former campus parking lot, the 80,000-square-foot structure doesn’t look like much more than concrete and steel beams. But by next fall, the building will house...
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Making way for the new
The skyline on Columbus’ Near East Side is changing as crews dismantle the former Latitude Five25 apartment towers. h Demolition, which began in May, is expected to wrap in the fall. Formerly a public housing complex known as Sawyer Towers, the twin...
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If it’s local you want, we’ve got it.
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U.S. attacks Iran after drone strike on cargo ship in strait
WASHINGTON – The U.S. military attacked Iran on June 26 in response to an Iranian drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, throwing the fate of the interim peace deal recently agreed between the two countries into question. U.S. Central...
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Dewine vetoes bill on absentee voting
Gov. Mike Dewine rejected an effort by Ohio’s Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten the rules for mail-in voting. Dewine vetoed legislation that would require photo ID to vote absentee starting in 2027. GOP lawmakers fast-tracked the bill in...
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City limits plate reader sharing
Amid concerns that federal immigration authorities could access Columbus’ license plate camera data, as they have elsewhere, the Division of Police has clarified how it’s restricting data sharing. The division paused nationwide sharing of its Flock...
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TOP ATHLETES
Central Ohio’s top high school athletes, coaches and teams – the best of the best for 2025-26 – were honored June 22 at Upper Arlington High School. h Watterson’s Michael Boyle, Olentangy Liberty’s Elena Aldrink, Watterson football coach Brian Kennedy,...
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HELPING TO EASE THE CRUNCH
With a historic half-billion dollars from voter-approved housing bonds to work with, the city of Columbus is attempting to include smaller developers and reach more neighborhoods. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s administration opened a new round of...
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P R I D E
Hundreds of thousands of marchers and spectators from across Ohio celebrated the LGBTQ+ community on June 20 by taking over part of High Street and Goodale Park for the 2026 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March. It’s the second-largest pride...
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Dispatch reporter makes sense of the area’s rapid growth
Since becoming a Dispatch reporter in the early 1990s, I’ve written thousands of stories, not all of them easy to cover. And not all of them captivating. Spanning a variety of news beats and topics, communities and personalities, each assignment has...
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GETTING READY
The Columbus Air Show, presented by Scottsmiracle-gro, will take to the skies again June 20 and 21 at Rickenbacker International Airport. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds — seen here performing practice survey flight maneuvers in F-16 Fighting Falcons...
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Celebrating freedom
More than 100 people gathered June 15 in front of Columbus City Hall to celebrate the day federal troops informed enslaved African Americans in Texas that they were free – two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The June 15...
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GOING DIGITAL
Your local Kroger is going digital. By the end of 2027, all 115 Columbusdivision Kroger stores will sport electronic shelf pricing labels, rather than physical paper ones, for their products. It’s a rollout the Cincinnati-based grocery chain says will...
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Dewine wants lawmakers to abolish death penalty in Ohio
Gov. Mike Dewine is urging lawmakers to repeal the death penalty more than four decades after he helped bring capital punishment back to Ohio. In a June 16 news conference, Dewine said he no longer believes the death penalty is a deterrent for violent...
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Local Somalis ‘disappointed’ after referee denied U.S. entry
The Somali national soccer team was among the 163 national teams that did not make the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a potential disappointment for the roughly 60,000 Somali Americans who call central Ohio home. But one of Somalia’s own still found a place on...
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