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Fifty exotic animals were on the loose. Their owner was dead. Muskingum County deputies gunned down tigers, lions and bears in rainy fields about 55 miles east of Columbus, a senseless tragedy that stunned the world.

What happened: 10 years ago today, exotic animal collector Terry Thompson set 50 animals loose before fatally shooting himself on his 73-acre farm west of Zanesville.

Startup funding in Columbus has officially rebounded from a pandemic drop-off last year.

• More than $250 million in investments has gone to area tech companies in Q3 2021, per data from Pitchbook.

Ohio's K-12 school report cards were released Thursday, shining a spotlight on pandemic-related challenges that include spiking absenteeism and a significant drop in statewide test scores.

Why it matters: The state's annual reports provide families and taxpayers a snapshot of their district's academic achievement, spending and demographic data, while also shaping instructional decisions.

Several COVID requirements at Ohio State go into effect this week and next, including mandated vaccines and testing.

Why it matters: These efforts are meant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on a crowded campus with tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff, many of which are traveling for fall break

The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the ice for their 21st campaign with a season opener tonight against the Arizona Coyotes.

Skating the news: Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm at Nationwide Arena.

Health concerns from area families are keeping some children from participating in youth sports, even as recreation departments return to their pre-pandemic league schedules.

Why it matters: The pause in youth sports during the pandemic may have lasting effects on participation rates here and across the country.

• There may also be deeper implications on children's physical and mental health, research shows.

Exactly one year ago today, Gahanna-Jefferson teachers began picketing after 105 days of tense, stalemated negotiations for a new employment contract.

• The strike lasted four school days, ending with a temporary, one-year deal.

State of play: The union is now working under a new contract that was approved in April and runs through June 2024, with 3% annual pay raises and an appendix outlining teaching protocols amid the pandemic.

The number of homicides in Ohio rose last year to its highest mark in three decades and once again exceeded the national rate, according to statistics released by the FBI.

Why it matters: These estimated figures reinforce data showing a surge in homicides and violent crimes the past two years in Columbus and other major Ohio cities.

• Legal experts believe social-economic changes brought about by the pandemic, such as an increase in unemployment, could be behind these spikes, Axios' Russell Contreras reports.