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Getting a library copy of "The Odyssey" is proving to be quite the journey these days.

Why it matters: Interest in the 2,700-year-old tale is on the rise, causing library waitlists for the book to grow by the day.

By the numbers: The Columbus Metropolitan Library collection has over two-dozen versions across all formats, though nearly all were unavailable as of Monday afternoon.

The intrigue: One of the most in-demand editions is Emily Wilson's translation — which Nolan credited with inspiring his film.

CML has nearly 200 holds for 47 copies of the book, with around double the holds for the eBook edition.

Yes, but: You can try this "always available" eBook courtesy the Libby reading app.

"The Odyssey" is hard to find at Columbus libraries

Getting a copy of the 2,700-year-old tale is proving to be quite the journey.

Illustration of a book smiling and reading another book. 

Getting a library copy of &quot;The Odyssey&quot; is proving to be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="quite the journey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/29/odyssey-christopher-nolan-free-library-borrow" data-vars-content-id="01717a0d-0420-4382-9101-8f0c2a2161f5" data-vars-headline="&quot;The Odyssey&quot; is hard to find at Columbus libraries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/29/odyssey-christopher-nolan-free-library-borrow" target="_self">quite the journey</a> these days.Why it matters: Interest in the 2,700-year-old tale is on the rise, causing library waitlists for the book to grow by the day.

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Columbus students are performing better in core subjects and graduating at a record-high rate, but the district is still not meeting the overall state standard.

Why it matters: The annual state report card, released Tuesday, offers another mixed bag for Ohio's biggest school district.

Columbus City Schools is boasting about progress made, though more budget cuts on the horizon could hamper that momentum.

State of play: Columbus received a 2.5-star grade — an improvement from 2 stars last year, but still below 3 stars, which reflects meeting state standards.

School districts across Franklin County fared well, per an Axios review of state data. No local district received a worse rating than last year and four others gained ground (South-Western, Hilliard, Whitehall and Reynoldsburg).

Zoom in: K-3 literacy remains a weak spot for Columbus, though older elementary school kids made great strides in both language arts and math. High school students saw the biggest progress in geometry and American history.

And the district gets solid marks for preparing students after graduation, particularly for those entering the trades.

Between the lines: The district's graduation figures are below state expectations, but trending upward.

The 84.6% four-year on-time graduation rate for the class of 2026 was the highest in district history.

What they're saying: The district is "not satisfied with 2.5 stars," superintendent Angela Chapman said in a statement that echoed lingering criticism of the state report card system.

"As with any broad review of a large, complex organization, this report does not show the behind-the-scenes work behind gains in mathematics and reading, as well as increases in graduation rates."

Search for a district or school building's report card

Columbus schools see improvement in 2026 state report card 

Other Franklin County districts did well, too. Here's how to search for your rating.

Illustration of a chalkboard in the shape of an upward arrow.

Columbus students are performing better in core subjects and graduating at a record-high rate, but the district is still not meeting the overall state standard.Why it matters: The annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state report card" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/15/ohio-school-report-cards-2025-district" data-vars-content-id="12d6b00e-cb4c-492b-bd58-23b7339d8107" data-vars-headline="Columbus schools see improvement in 2026 state report card " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/15/ohio-school-report-cards-2025-district" target="_self">state report card</a>, released Tuesday, offers another mixed bag for Ohio&#x27;s biggest school district.

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Data: GasBuddy; Chart: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday approved a three-month suspension of the state gas tax.

Why it matters: Ohio gas prices remain high, but the tax holiday gives relief of 38.5 cents per gallon of gas and 47 cents for diesel.

Follow the money: The tax pays for roads and bridges, which initially made DeWine hesitant to pause it.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers opted to use $725 million from the state's reserve to cover the lost funding, Signal Ohio reports.

Expect savings to start on Sunday, per Cleveland.com.

Yes, but: A smaller federal gas tax remains in place.

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Ohio suspends gas tax for 90 days

Drivers should expect savings to start this weekend.

Illustration of a gasoline price sign with symbols indicating swear words as the listed prices. 

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday approved a three-month suspension of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state gas tax" data-vars-click-url="https://tax.ohio.gov/business/motor-fuel-tax" data-vars-content-id="39c4ef05-9db6-4428-8918-4e739583e6f3" data-vars-headline="Ohio suspends gas tax for 90 days" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tax.ohio.gov/business/motor-fuel-tax" target="_blank">state gas tax</a>.Why it matters: Ohio gas prices <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remain high" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/04/columbus-gas-prices-are-climbing-again" data-vars-content-id="39c4ef05-9db6-4428-8918-4e739583e6f3" data-vars-headline="Ohio suspends gas tax for 90 days" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/04/columbus-gas-prices-are-climbing-again" target="_self">remain high</a>, but the tax holiday gives relief of 38.5 cents per gallon of gas and 47 cents for diesel.

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Ohioans love to read, so we'd love to see what their bookshelves look like!

Organized, cluttered, doesn't matter. Email us at columbus@axios.com your photos and we'll share some in an upcoming Axios Columbus newsletter. 

More reading recs (or gift ideas) from my house's shelves:

👍 A local author: "A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance." If Hanif Abdurraqib writes it, I buy it. (And love it.) That simple.  

👧 For your smart niece/nephew: "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." So good, it gets a shoutout in "The Office."  

🌊 The perfect dad book: "Isaac's Storm." You can't go wrong with Erik Larson, and this early one about the Galveston, Texas, hurricane is a breezy, fascinating read. 

😭 A novel to cry to: "A Little Life." Hanya Yanagihara's "poignant and beautifully written story ... will stay with me a long time," says my wife, Jessica.  

Row of colorful books on a low shelf beside a beige damask wall, with a beige curtain on the left and a potted plant on the right.

The latest fiction reads of Tyler's wife, Jessica.

"A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance."

"From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler."

Show us photos of your bookshelves

Ohioans love to read, so we'd love to see what their bookshelves look like.

Two photos of bookshelves on a blue background. Left: tall wooden shelf crowded with books; a "Simplify" title visible. Right: close-up of colorful spines, including Ohio-themed titles.

Tyler's non-sports collection — that gets its own bookshelf — with a special row of Ohio books and authors. Photos: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ohioans love to read" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/09/18/ohio-leads-library-checkouts-books-ebooks" data-vars-content-id="5fc7f95c-cd1e-498e-b3cf-62f0fcc250cd" data-vars-headline="Show us photos of your bookshelves" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/09/18/ohio-leads-library-checkouts-books-ebooks" target="_self">Ohioans love to read</a>, so we&#x27;d love to see what their bookshelves look like!<ul><li>Organized, cluttered, doesn&#x27;t matter. Email us at columbus@axios.com your photos and we&#x27;ll share some in an upcoming Axios Columbus newsletter. </li></ul>

Data: StreetLight; Graphic: Jim Sergent/Axios

Columbus residents walk about a half-mile per day on average, according to a new StreetLight report.

Why it matters: Even a short daily walk can do wonders for your health, and the data shows we could be lacing 'em up a little more often.

By the numbers: The average Columbusite walks 168 miles over the course of a year.

That can seem pretty far: It's the straight-line distance all the way to Pittsburgh.

Yes, but: On a daily basis, it's just the equivalent of one lap around Ohio Stadium.

The intrigue: Residents of Orlando, Florida, log over 650 miles walked per year. Perhaps waiting in line at Disney counts?

💭 Tyler's thought bubble: The pandemic had me feeling too sedentary, so I took up a goal of 10,000 daily steps a few years ago.

I've only missed a handful of days in the past few years (mainly owing to illnesses).

I'll admit: I was initially motivated by the satisfaction of reaching that nice round number.

Over time, it's led to a broader change in mindset. I usually take the stairs, prefer a longer route when possible, and pace the house while on the phone.

I don't sweat about the 10,000 number anymore. My new habits get me there one way or another.

Two more tips from this humble step counter:

🔁 Build a habit. Maybe it's a regular walk to start the day, or a daily constitutional after dinner.

Whatever works for your schedule and interests, stick to it.

👟 Consider a walking pad. I bought one of these cheap mini treadmills and it's proven very useful.

I walk during longer work meetings, at night when watching a ballgame, or whenever I'm too chicken to face the winter cold.

How (and where) do you get your steps? Email us at columbus@axios.com and we'll share your thoughts with fellow readers.

Columbus residents walk half a mile a day

Even a short daily walk can do wonders for your health.

Illustration of a sneaker with a logo in the shape of a EKG line

Columbus residents walk about a half-mile per day on average, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new StreetLight report" data-vars-click-url="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/measuring-walking-and-biking-miles-traveled-ebook" data-vars-content-id="9c6eeb37-f35b-4445-866a-8942276d8907" data-vars-headline="Columbus residents walk half a mile a day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/measuring-walking-and-biking-miles-traveled-ebook" target="_blank">a new StreetLight report</a>.Why it matters: Even a short daily walk <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="can do wonders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/08/14/fast-walking-improve-longevity-prevent-death" data-vars-content-id="9c6eeb37-f35b-4445-866a-8942276d8907" data-vars-headline="Columbus residents walk half a mile a day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/08/14/fast-walking-improve-longevity-prevent-death" target="_self">can do wonders</a> for your health, and the data shows we could be lacing &#x27;em up a little more often.

Health

Bar chart shows the five cities where residents walk the most – Orlando, Boston, Anaheim, New Orleans and Tampa Bay – and the least: San Jose, Fresno, Colorado Springs, and Bakersfield and Stockton Calif.

How much walking we do in Columbus&nbsp;

A line chart that compares monthly average regular unleaded gas prices in Columbus and nationally from October 2025 to September 2026. Columbus ranges from $2.76 in December 2025 to $4.69 in May 2026. National prices range from $2.82 in January 2026 to $4.48 in May. Both rise sharply in spring.

Tyler Buchanan

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