What we're watching in August

🎉 This weekend's Pelotonia and Irish Festival are just the beginning.

• A ton of popular annual events are coming up, including the Tomato Festival (Aug. 7-9), Festival Latino (Aug. 9-10) and the Columbus Air Show (Aug. 22-24), plus the Zucchinifest and Greek Festival over Labor Day weekend.

🗳️ Soon we'll know all the local issues on the Nov. 4 election ballot. The deadline to submit them is Wednesday.

🎒 It's back-to-school season — but before classes begin, Columbus' teachers union and administrators still need to hash out a new employment contract.

📱 All K-12 schools must have a policy on student cell phone usage for this academic year.

• This is also the first school year with Senate Bill 1 in effect for higher education.

🐘 Zoo admission will get more expensive starting Aug. 30 after Liberty Township trustees tacked on a $1 fee to help pay for fire and EMS services.

🏈 The Buckeyes are back in just 29 days to defend their national title, with a huge home opener against Texas.