What we're watching in Columbus this June
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
A new month is here, so we're looking ahead to what will be making headlines and dominating conversations.
🏳️🌈 Festival season: June is peak outdoor event season in Central Ohio.
- Arts Festival, June 6-8
- Stonewall Columbus Pride, June 13-14
- Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, June 13-15
- Buckeye Country Superfest, June 21
- Juneteenth Ohio Festival, June 21-22
- ComFest, June 27-29
- Plus: A few events remain from our spring festival guide.
🏫 School closures: The Columbus Board of Education voted to close five schools last year, and superintendent Angela Chapman is scheduled to share a realignment plan and next steps.
🦦 New zoo region: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will open its new $40 million North America Trek after a delay caused by a construction mistake and a rainy spring.
💨 Cannabis law changes: Ohio lawmakers appear close to passing Senate Bill 56, which would change and restrict various elements of marijuana legalization.
🎓 Higher education changes: Controversial Senate Bill 1 goes into effect June 27, overhauling Ohio laws for colleges and universities.
- The bill outlaws faculty strikes, bans diversity initiatives and requires an "American civil literacy" course.
💰 A new budget: Gov. Mike DeWine has until June 30 to sign a new two-year state operating budget, which has already sparked plenty of debate.
⚡️ Expensive electricity: Central Ohio's largest energy supplier, American Electric Power, has warned customers their bills will go up starting this month due to an increase in supply charges.