Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day

1 big thing: It's Girls and Women in Sports Day

Players from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team hug in a huddle after scoring a goal

Bonus: Future championships coming to town

Arike Ogunbowale, No. 24, of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hoists the NCAA championship trophy as confetti falls

Columbus' most romantic restaurant

2. Columbus' most romantic restaurant

The interior of the Refectory, with a bar, exposed wood ceiling beams and stained glass windows

3. Nutshells: Almond things considered 

Illustration of a pattern of buckeye nuts, increasing and decreasing in size in diagonal waves.

Plan your future

Black History Month events in Columbus

4. Black History Month events in Columbus 

Illustration of the state of Ohio lit by red, green and yellow lights.

💘 Happy Wednesday! It's the first day of February. 

☀️ Today's weather: Don't let that sun deceive you. It's only going to warm up to 29° today.

🗓 Situational awareness: Today is the first day of Black History Month! Scroll down for our list of upcoming local events.

Today's newsletter is 918 words — a 3.5-minute read. 

This newsletter was edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Kate Sommers-Dawes and Keely Bastow.

🙄 Tyler low-key hates the multi-week break before the Super Bowl.

🎵 Alissa is listening to Green Day's "Nimrod" 25th anniversary edition and is really loving this rare demo.

Columbus

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Columbus. Written by Tyler Buchanan and Alissa Widman Neese.

Axios Columbus

What to expect during Gov. DeWine's State of the State address

1 big thing: What to expect during today's State of the State

Photo illustration of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine with lines radiating from him.

2. Highlights from other governors' speeches

Ohio politicians George Voinovich and Mike DeWine

3. Nutshells: Today's consequent-shell news

Illustration of a smartphone in the shape of the flag of Ohio, with the flag onscreen.

The heated rivalry between Punxsutawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck

4. Your favorite furry forecaster

Gobbler's Knob outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Take your career to the next level

5. Photo quiz: Now you know your ABC history 

Large concrete sculptures of a blue "A" in the foreground and a red "C" and green "B" in the background on their sides

6. 📸 Photo to go: No Super Bowl return

Bengals players Sam Hubbard and Joe Burrow on the field. 

⛅️ Today's weather: A high of 28 and partly sunny.

🚗 Situational awareness: Columbus is hosting a public hearing at 5:30pm tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall to consider reducing downtown speed limits to 25 miles per hour.

🗓️ It's a great day to contribute to our newsroom by becoming a member! 

Today's newsletter is 916 words — a 3.5-minute read. 

🥁 Tyler is sad to hear about the death of Cleveland's legendary baseball drummer John Adams.

⚾ Alissa found this gem of a photo from when she met him back in July 2012 after a game.

Testing ChatGPT's Ohio smarts

1 big thing: Testing ChatGPT's Ohio smarts

Animated gif of a computer screen that reads "A.I" with the "I" as a blinking cursor

Orchards, improv and plays: What to do this weekend

2. What to do this weekend

A row of white, pink and purple orchid blossoms

3. Nutshells: Cashew of the day

Illustration of a buckeye nut bouncing across the screen.

4. ☀️ Chart du jour: A winter heat wave

New jobs to check out

5. 🍺 Hoppy news to go 

Canned WeldWerks beer six-packs in cardboard boxes with orange plastic holders

🤫 Well, hello there, Friday! Don't tell anyone, but you're our favorite.

🥶 Today's weather: A high of just 20° and sunny.

👎 Situational awareness: Both Buckeye Chuck and Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter weather yesterday. Sigh.

Chuck appeared solely in stuffed animal form, though, so maybe that doesn't count?

🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Columbus member Don Ribar! 

Today's newsletter is 814 words — a 3-minute read. 

🏈 Tyler loves this story from our Miami colleagues locating the exact beach dune where Tom Brady announced his retirement. 

🖤 Alissa asked ChatGPT to write an emo song about Columbus and is very pleased with the result.

Ohio's education culture war

1 big thing: An education culture war

Illustration of red and blue broken pencils.

Charted: Guns at Ohio's airports

2. Charted: Guns at the airport 

3. Nutshells: Boiling down today's news

Illustration of a cardinal dressed as Guy Fieri. 

How to make money on Blue Jackets game-day promotions

4. 🤑 CBJ bargains

Boone Jenner celebrates with teammate Andrew Peeke after scoring a goal while fans cheer

Is a new job in your future?

5. Photo quiz: It's as easy as …

Large sculptures of a blue "A" straight up and a green "B" and red "C" on their sides

🌧️ Today's weather: Possible rain and light snow throughout the day. High of 36. 

Situational awareness: Ky'air Thomas, one of the local twin babies abducted last month and later found at the Dayton airport, died over the weekend.

The cause of death is not yet known. A police investigation is ongoing.

Today's newsletter is 834 words — a 3-minute read. 

This newsletter was edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Keely Bastow and David Chiu.

 😂 Tyler loves this weird Twitter account depicting Bengals QB Joe Burrow as a Civil War-era soldier.

📬 Alissa is wondering how many of you have side hustles after reading this story from Axios Cleveland. Hit reply and tell us about it.

Columbus' Green Book history

1 big thing: Our Green Book history

2. Hospital ➡️ Hotel ➡️ Apartments 

A 4-story brick building housing the St. Clair apartments. 

3. Nutshells: Buck-eye object!

Illustration of a cardinal flying across the screen, leaving a trail writing the word cbus.

Where student loan forgiveness stands in Ohio

4. Where student loan forgiveness stands

Illustration of a ball and chain replacing the tassel of a graduation cap, with the chains breaking.

A new career is waiting for you

5. ⚽ Almost Crew time 

A Columbus Crew fan holds up a sign reading, "We Love Ya!"

Happy Thursday! OK, campers, rise and shine — and don't forget your booties because it's cold out there today.

That's right, woodchuck-chuckers, it's Groundhog Day!

🌤 Today's weather: Mostly sunny! High of 38.

🎵 Sounds like: "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher.

Today's newsletter is 879 words — a 3.5-minute read. 

When it comes to the Buckeye Chuck vs. Punxsutawney Phil debate, readers Della P. and Loreen R. are watching Chuck's forecast today, while David D. is on Team Phil, saying, "Chuck is a wannabe." Ouch. 

😎 Tyler just realized MLB opening day is next month. 

🍪 Alissa is looking for Girl Scout cookies. If you're selling, hit reply.

So here's a tribute, dear Ohio, to thee; A state of grace, where beauty meets reality.

These lovely lines of poetry didn't come from any Buckeye State bard. They were written by a robot.

State of play: ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, is breaking the Internet with instantaneous replies that are far more advanced than any previous AI tool, Axios' Erica Pandey, Dan Primack and Ina Fried report.

The free (for now) service offers seemingly endless possibilities, from answering simple questions to writing essay-length responses to any prompt you can think of.

The big picture: ChatGPT has already been used by realtors to write house listings, newsrooms to publish AI-generated stories and has even passed an MBA exam given by a Wharton School professor.

Major school districts and universities across the country have already banned the tool over plagiarism concerns, though it appears no Ohio institution has taken that step yet. 

What we did: We spent a recent afternoon testing the chatbot's Midwestern knowledge and sensibility. 

It knew all about buckeye candies, the State Fair's butter cow and correctly identified Ohio's Three C cities.

Asked for local restaurant recommendations, it suggested The Guild House, Hot Chicken Takeover and Basi Italia.

👋 Tyler here. Things got interesting when I asked for more creative answers, like telling me a funny story about the Ohio Statehouse.

The punchline: They make laws there and then Ohioans break them across the street at the bar.

Later, I asked it to write a haiku about the Scioto Mile deer statues:

Yes, but: The bot's developer, OpenAI, acknowledges it "can occasionally produce incorrect answers."

Such was the case when ChatGPT declared Columbus' nickname to be "The Buckeye State."

And it wrongly claimed Amtrak operates a passenger rail line through town via the "Ohio State University route," which very much doesn't exist. 

Go deeper: Learn more about what AI chatbot technology might mean for the future in Axios AM's recent takeover issue, and read this ChatGPT sonnet about Ohio:

Oh Ohio, thou state of rolling hills and streams,

Thou art a land of beauty, rich in history,

With cities bright, where industry and culture gleams,

And countryside, with peaceful, pastoral majesty.

From Cleveland to Cincinnati, with heart and soul,

Thou hast a spirit that refuses to be still,

With music, art and sports that make thee whole,

And Buckeyes proud, with courage and with will.

Thy seasons change, from winter's frosty air,

To summer's warmth, and autumn's colorful hues,

Thou art a place where people gather and they care,

A home to those who love thy rolling views.

A state of grace, where beauty meets reality.

Read a haiku or sonnet on Ohio by the now-famous AI chatbot.

<p><em><strong>So here&#x27;s a tribute,</strong> dear Ohio, to thee; A state of grace, where beauty meets reality.</em></p><ul><li>These lovely lines of poetry didn&#x27;t come from any Buckeye State bard. They were written by a robot.</li></ul>

News

Data: Axios research; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

When Black travelers visited Columbus in the mid-20th century, the Green Book showed them places where they'd be most welcome in what was still a heavily segregated society.

One was the Macon Hotel, where legends Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie once played in its popular jazz club.

State of play: The Green Book travel guides, which have received renewed attention thanks to the 2019 Best Picture Oscar winner, ceased publication many decades ago.

But the Macon and several other listed sites are still standing in Columbus' King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood, a prominent commercial area for Black-owned businesses. 

Why it matters: The sites are visible reminders that America's segregated past was not so long ago.

Flashback: Ohio enacted a public accommodations law in 1884 prohibiting public discrimination in places like stores and restaurants.

But the law was not always enforced, and Columbus' Black community still suffered from discriminatory housing rules and segregated schools. 

Driving the news: Axios Columbus reviewed county property records as well as nearly two-dozen Green Book editions printed between 1938-1967 to track the dozens of entries for local restaurants, shops, clubs and hotels. 

Most buildings listed were later demolished, against residents' wishes, via neighborhood development and highway construction.

Zoom in: The Hotel St. Clair, one example, opened in the 1940s to house Black guests forbidden from staying at whites-only hotels. 

The building (now an apartment complex) still stands, as do a pair of former "tourist homes" on Monroe Avenue that are now private residences. 

Three other locations on Long Street and Mount Vernon Avenue that were beauty shops and a tavern now sit vacant. 

And a building once home to Jeters Restaurant was restored by the Columbus Urban League and now serves the community as the Huntington Empowerment Center.

Meanwhile, the derelict Macon Hotel, considered by preservation advocates to be an "endangered building," may also be getting a makeover.

The city's Historic Resources Commission has greenlighted plans to conduct significant repair work in the hopes of someday reopening a hotel, bar and restaurant.

The bottom line: These rehab projects offer hope that other Green Book sites can also be restored to their former glory. 

A derelict brick building that once housed a famous hotel and jazz club. 

The former Macon Hotel and jazz lounge on North 20th Street. Photo: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

The sites are visible reminders that America's segregated past was not so long ago.

<p> </p><div><figure><iframe frameborder="0" height="520" id="datawrapper-chart-LO2GJ" scrolling="no" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LO2GJ/1/" title="Columbus Green Book sites still standing"></iframe><figcaption>Data: Axios research; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios</figcaption></figure></div><p>When Black travelers visited Columbus in the mid-20th century, the Green Book showed them places where they&#x27;d be most welcome in what was still a heavily segregated society.</p><ul><li>One was the Macon Hotel, where legends Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie once played in its popular jazz club.</li></ul>

Arike Ogunbowale shocked the basketball world when she sank a clutch shot at Nationwide Arena to put her Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2018 national championship game. 

Then, two days later, she did it again — a buzzer-beater to win it all. 

State of play: That epic Final Four was a triumph for local organizers working to make Central Ohio a premier hub for women's sports.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day today by both reflecting on championship events the city has hosted and looking ahead to those planned for the coming years.

Why it matters: These high-profile events inspire the next generation of athletes who get to see world-class competitors up close.

And they have proved to be a major tourism and economic draw for the city.

What they're saying: "We know we can roll out the red carpet better than anyone," Linda Logan, longtime executive director for the Sports Commission, tells Axios.

"We're attracting the best coaches and best athletes to our community because of these programs, because of these opportunities."

By the numbers: The 2018 women's Final Four games generated $21.7 million in visitor spending, per data the Greater Columbus Sports Commission shared with Axios.

The majority (60%) of fans in town to see Connecticut, Notre Dame, Mississippi State and Louisville were first-time visitors to Ohio.

Columbus has also hosted women's collegiate championships in bowling and volleyball.

Flashback: The most significant women's sporting event we've hosted may have been in 2003, when several Women's World Cup matches were played at Historic Crew Stadium.

Yes, but: We're is more than just a worthy neutral site for athletic competitions. Our area has its own bragging rights, too.

Simone Biles — arguably the best gymnast ever — was born here. 

Dublin native Abby Steiner has become a renowned track star. 

Katie Smith, once the all-time scorer in women's professional basketball, played college ball for Ohio State. 

And speaking of the Buckeyes: OSU women's teams won titles last year in pistol shooting, synchronized swimming and ice hockey. 

What's next: Columbus is already gearing up to host the following major events in women's sports: 

April 28-30: USA Volleyball Ohio Valley Region junior volleyball championships 

2024: Division III Women's Basketball Championship, National Collegiate Fencing Championship

2025: Division I Women's Golf Championships (regionals)

2026: National Collegiate Rifle Championships

Women's sporting events are a major tourism and economic draw for the city.

Abby Wambach, No. 20, celebrates scoring against North Korea during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup at Historic Crew Stadium. The U.S. won 3-0. Photo: Mark Lyons/Getty Images

<p>Arike Ogunbowale shocked the basketball world when she sank a clutch shot at Nationwide Arena to put her Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2018 national championship game. </p><ul><li>Then, two days later, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="she did it again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5pcRDZE9Q" data-vars-content-id="78a1c655-3b45-49cd-84a1-8f9eb2da8433" data-vars-headline="Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5pcRDZE9Q" target="_blank">she did it again</a> <em>—</em> a buzzer-beater to win it all. </li></ul>

Sports

👋 Alissa here. Last Groundhog Day I made the inexcusable oversight of only citing Punxsutawney Phil's forecast in our newsletter. 

A few of you kindly pointed out the error, which I certainly won't make twice.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania's Phil may be nationally famous. But smart Ohioans know our official state groundhog is Marion's Buckeye Chuck, a title Ohio's legislature bestowed upon the original groundhog way back in 1979.

Fans and journalists have passionately debated the rival groundhogs' prognosticating abilities for years.

What we're watching: Event host WMRN-AM is still advertising a live Buckeye Chuck event for 7am Thursday. 

But last week, a spokesperson told the Marion Star it was "unclear" if the groundhog would make an appearance following criticism from PETA and closure of the business that supplied the animal.

📬 We want to know: What forecast will you be watching? Are you on Team Chuck or Team Phil? Email columbus@axios.com.

A statue of a Punxsutawney groundhog wearing a reporter's outfit, holding a notebook. 

Tyler "interviews" a groundhog reporter outside the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper office. 

Fans have debated the rival groundhogs' prognosticating abilities for years.

The famous Gobbler's Knob outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Photos: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

<p>👋 Alissa here. Last Groundhog Day I made the inexcusable oversight of only citing Punxsutawney Phil&#x27;s forecast in our newsletter. </p><ul><li>A few of you kindly pointed out the error, which I certainly won&#x27;t make twice.</li></ul>

Things to Do

 Gov. Mike DeWine will issue his annual State of the State speech today at noon from the Ohio Statehouse.

Watch live at OhioChannel.org or on public TV stations.

What we're watching: DeWine is expected to pitch a new affordable housing tax credit as part of his upcoming two-year budget proposal.

He may suggest strategies for publicly leveraging major jobs projects, like the Intel chip plants and Honda's new EV battery factory, into further economic development.

State of the State speeches are more about idealism than realism.

<p> Gov. Mike DeWine will issue his annual State of the State speech today at noon from the Ohio Statehouse.</p><ul><li>Watch live at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="OhioChannel.org" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiochannel.org/" data-vars-content-id="f3fa96e9-d45e-4e86-aea5-efea5bd82a5a" data-vars-headline="What to expect during Gov. DeWine&#x27;s State of the State address" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiochannel.org/" target="_blank">OhioChannel.org</a> or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on public TV stations" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiochannel.org/programs/channel-locator" data-vars-content-id="f3fa96e9-d45e-4e86-aea5-efea5bd82a5a" data-vars-headline="What to expect during Gov. DeWine&#x27;s State of the State address" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiochannel.org/programs/channel-locator" target="_blank">on public TV stations</a>.</li></ul>

Tyler Buchanan

Stories

Testing ChatGPT's Ohio smarts

Columbus' Green Book history

Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day

The heated rivalry between Punxsutawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck

What to expect during Gov. DeWine's State of the State address

Newsletter editions

🤖 We quiz ChatGPT

📗 Green Book sites

⛹️‍♀️ Final Four memories

🥊 Chuck vs. Phil

🏒 Score some free food