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Anduril tapping Ohio schools for factory talent pipeline

Why the autonomous weapons plant is connecting with high schools and colleges.

News

Autonomous weapons manufacturer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Anduril" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/01/31/anduril-arsenal-1-project-plant-ohio-tax-breaks" data-vars-content-id="889e9caa-84b6-4034-8ea1-1a136efaf997" data-vars-headline="Anduril tapping Ohio schools for factory talent pipeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/01/31/anduril-arsenal-1-project-plant-ohio-tax-breaks" target="_self">Anduril</a> is reaching into Central Ohio high schools and colleges to create a talent pipeline for its $1 billion facility.Why it matters: The defense startup&#x27;s massive Pickaway County plant — already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="producing drones" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/23/anduril-factory-rickenbacker-facility-production" data-vars-content-id="889e9caa-84b6-4034-8ea1-1a136efaf997" data-vars-headline="Anduril tapping Ohio schools for factory talent pipeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/23/anduril-factory-rickenbacker-facility-production" target="_self">producing drones</a> — is one of the biggest economic development projects in Ohio history.<ul><li>And as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="war continues in Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" data-vars-content-id="889e9caa-84b6-4034-8ea1-1a136efaf997" data-vars-headline="Anduril tapping Ohio schools for factory talent pipeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_self">war continues in Iran</a>, its weaponry is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in the spotlight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/axios-show-palmer-luckey-anduril-ai" data-vars-content-id="889e9caa-84b6-4034-8ea1-1a136efaf997" data-vars-headline="Anduril tapping Ohio schools for factory talent pipeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/axios-show-palmer-luckey-anduril-ai" target="_self">in the spotlight</a>.</li></ul>

The other Ohio-Michigan rivalry: Weed prices

Even on 4/20, marijuana in Ohio is much pricier.

It&#x27;s 4/20, one of the busiest days of the year for marijuana dispensaries, but &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="celebrating" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/17/420-origins-lore-bay-area" data-vars-content-id="c33dee1b-c399-46ae-a385-675f605ec803" data-vars-headline="The other Ohio-Michigan rivalry: Weed prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/17/420-origins-lore-bay-area" target="_self">celebrating</a>&quot; in Ohio will cost much more than up north.Why it matters: That&#x27;s by design. Ohio&#x27;s recreational marijuana rollout has been a deliberate slow burn, with steady, tightly controlled growth since <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sales began" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/08/09/ohio-legal-marijuana-where-how-buy-weed" data-vars-content-id="c33dee1b-c399-46ae-a385-675f605ec803" data-vars-headline="The other Ohio-Michigan rivalry: Weed prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/08/09/ohio-legal-marijuana-where-how-buy-weed" target="_self">sales began</a> in August 2024.

NWSL group faces pushback over public park space

Leaders say they want to include public amenities, but can't commit just yet.

The ownership group <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="working to bring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/04/13/eagles-face-uncertainty-as-columbus-eyes-pro-womens-soccer" data-vars-content-id="415b71b1-e173-4fee-92dc-e2373645cac5" data-vars-headline="NWSL group faces pushback over public park space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/04/13/eagles-face-uncertainty-as-columbus-eyes-pro-womens-soccer" target="_self">working to bring</a> a National Women&#x27;s Soccer League (NWSL) team to Columbus says it&#x27;s committed to providing public park space, but can&#x27;t commit to specifics.State of play: Columbus City Council is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expected to vote Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://columbus.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1405774&amp;GUID=97843B71-BC32-40FF-8EF8-6DC0060E2DFD&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=" data-vars-content-id="415b71b1-e173-4fee-92dc-e2373645cac5" data-vars-headline="NWSL group faces pushback over public park space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://columbus.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1405774&amp;GUID=97843B71-BC32-40FF-8EF8-6DC0060E2DFD&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=" target="_blank">expected to vote Monday</a> on a deal that would give McCoy Park land to the ownership group.

Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken

The comfort food experts expanded to three locations with a Gahanna spot.

Food and Drink

It&#x27;s a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tough time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/12/02/hot-chicken-takeover-ohio-rebranding-menu-review" data-vars-content-id="189e8c04-1700-4081-984e-487228a12ea5" data-vars-headline="Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/12/02/hot-chicken-takeover-ohio-rebranding-menu-review" target="_self">tough time</a> for Columbus <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fried chicken" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/the-crispy-coop-to-close-at-the-end-of-the-month/" data-vars-content-id="189e8c04-1700-4081-984e-487228a12ea5" data-vars-headline="Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/the-crispy-coop-to-close-at-the-end-of-the-month/" target="_blank">fried chicken</a>, so I tried an increasingly popular spot that restored my faith in my favorite comfort food.Dig in: In just a few years, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Soul 2 Go Café" data-vars-click-url="https://soul2goohio.com/" data-vars-content-id="189e8c04-1700-4081-984e-487228a12ea5" data-vars-headline="Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://soul2goohio.com/" target="_blank">Soul 2 Go Café</a> has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expanded" data-vars-click-url="https://soul2goohio.com/columbus-soul-2-go-cafe-locations" data-vars-content-id="189e8c04-1700-4081-984e-487228a12ea5" data-vars-headline="Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://soul2goohio.com/columbus-soul-2-go-cafe-locations" target="_blank">expanded</a> from a single carryout kitchen in Milo-Grogan to a full-service downtown spot.

Ohio State grad leads Artemis II return

The NASA mission's lead flight director, Jeff Radigan, is a Buckeye.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artemis II" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-distance-record-apollo-13" data-vars-content-id="f0a93341-efd8-4661-9396-212f95c41269" data-vars-headline="Ohio State grad leads Artemis II return" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-distance-record-apollo-13" target="_self">Artemis II</a> crew is set to return to Earth today — and the person from mission control ensuring everything goes smoothly learned the ropes in Ohio.Catch up quick: Jeff Radigan, the mission&#x27;s lead flight director, earned his bachelor&#x27;s and master&#x27;s degrees at Ohio State in the early 2000s. He joined NASA in 2008.

Aerospace

Ohio State grad leads Artemis II return