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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Columbus. Written by Tyler Buchanan and Alissa Widman Neese.

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Data: Axios research; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

When Black travelers visited Columbus in the mid-20th century, the Green Book showed them places where they'd be most welcome in what was still a heavily segregated society.

One was the Macon Hotel, where legends Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie once played in its popular jazz club.

State of play: The Green Book travel guides, which have received renewed attention thanks to the 2019 Best Picture Oscar winner, ceased publication many decades ago.

But the Macon and several other listed sites are still standing in Columbus' King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood, a prominent commercial area for Black-owned businesses. 

Why it matters: The sites are visible reminders that America's segregated past was not so long ago.

Flashback: Ohio enacted a public accommodations law in 1884 prohibiting public discrimination in places like stores and restaurants.

But the law was not always enforced, and Columbus' Black community still suffered from discriminatory housing rules and segregated schools. 

Driving the news: Axios Columbus reviewed county property records as well as nearly two-dozen Green Book editions printed between 1938-1967 to track the dozens of entries for local restaurants, shops, clubs and hotels. 

Most buildings listed were later demolished, against residents' wishes, via neighborhood development and highway construction.

Zoom in: The Hotel St. Clair, one example, opened in the 1940s to house Black guests forbidden from staying at whites-only hotels. 

The building (now an apartment complex) still stands, as do a pair of former "tourist homes" on Monroe Avenue that are now private residences. 

Three other locations on Long Street and Mount Vernon Avenue that were beauty shops and a tavern now sit vacant. 

And a building once home to Jeters Restaurant was restored by the Columbus Urban League and now serves the community as the Huntington Empowerment Center.

Meanwhile, the derelict Macon Hotel, considered by preservation advocates to be an "endangered building," may also be getting a makeover.

The city's Historic Resources Commission has greenlighted plans to conduct significant repair work in the hopes of someday reopening a hotel, bar and restaurant.

The bottom line: These rehab projects offer hope that other Green Book sites can also be restored to their former glory. 

A derelict brick building that once housed a famous hotel and jazz club. 

The former Macon Hotel and jazz lounge on North 20th Street. Photo: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

Columbus' Green Book history

The sites are visible reminders that America's segregated past was not so long ago.

<p> </p><div><figure><iframe frameborder="0" height="520" id="datawrapper-chart-LO2GJ" scrolling="no" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LO2GJ/1/" title="Columbus Green Book sites still standing"></iframe><figcaption>Data: Axios research; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios</figcaption></figure></div><p>When Black travelers visited Columbus in the mid-20th century, the Green Book showed them places where they&#x27;d be most welcome in what was still a heavily segregated society.</p><ul><li>One was the Macon Hotel, where legends Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie once played in its popular jazz club.</li></ul>

News

Arike Ogunbowale shocked the basketball world when she sank a clutch shot at Nationwide Arena to put her Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2018 national championship game. 

Then, two days later, she did it again — a buzzer-beater to win it all. 

State of play: That epic Final Four was a triumph for local organizers working to make Central Ohio a premier hub for women's sports.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day today by both reflecting on championship events the city has hosted and looking ahead to those planned for the coming years.

Why it matters: These high-profile events inspire the next generation of athletes who get to see world-class competitors up close.

And they have proved to be a major tourism and economic draw for the city.

What they're saying: "We know we can roll out the red carpet better than anyone," Linda Logan, longtime executive director for the Sports Commission, tells Axios.

"We're attracting the best coaches and best athletes to our community because of these programs, because of these opportunities."

By the numbers: The 2018 women's Final Four games generated $21.7 million in visitor spending, per data the Greater Columbus Sports Commission shared with Axios.

The majority (60%) of fans in town to see Connecticut, Notre Dame, Mississippi State and Louisville were first-time visitors to Ohio.

Columbus has also hosted women's collegiate championships in bowling and volleyball.

Flashback: The most significant women's sporting event we've hosted may have been in 2003, when several Women's World Cup matches were played at Historic Crew Stadium.

Yes, but: We're is more than just a worthy neutral site for athletic competitions. Our area has its own bragging rights, too.

Simone Biles — arguably the best gymnast ever — was born here. 

Dublin native Abby Steiner has become a renowned track star. 

Katie Smith, once the all-time scorer in women's professional basketball, played college ball for Ohio State. 

And speaking of the Buckeyes: OSU women's teams won titles last year in pistol shooting, synchronized swimming and ice hockey. 

What's next: Columbus is already gearing up to host the following major events in women's sports: 

April 28-30: USA Volleyball Ohio Valley Region junior volleyball championships 

2024: Division III Women's Basketball Championship, National Collegiate Fencing Championship

2025: Division I Women's Golf Championships (regionals)

2026: National Collegiate Rifle Championships

Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day

Women's sporting events are a major tourism and economic draw for the city.

Players from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team hug in a huddle after scoring a goal

Abby Wambach, No. 20, celebrates scoring against North Korea during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup at Historic Crew Stadium. The U.S. won 3-0. Photo: Mark Lyons/Getty Images

<p>Arike Ogunbowale shocked the basketball world when she sank a clutch shot at Nationwide Arena to put her Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2018 national championship game. </p><ul><li>Then, two days later, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="she did it again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5pcRDZE9Q" data-vars-content-id="78a1c655-3b45-49cd-84a1-8f9eb2da8433" data-vars-headline="Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5pcRDZE9Q" target="_blank">she did it again</a> <em>—</em> a buzzer-beater to win it all. </li></ul>

Sports

It's been 45 years since Ohio suffered its worst blizzard in history. The series of deadly storms brought extremely heavy winds, frigid temperatures and record-high snow drifts.

Thank you to our readers who shared their memories of the Great Blizzard of 1978:

Kyle H.: My dad LOVES to tell the story of how my grandfather made him go into work despite the blizzard. It's brought up at every family reunion. 

He worked at a grocery store and he ended up staying there for three days by himself until the roads were clear enough to get home. 

He owns a "I survived the Blizzard of '78" T-shirt.

Jamie C.: I was 1 the year of the blizzard. My mother and I weathered the storm in our home without power at the top of a very large hill in Muskingum County. 

I was sick with a fever and cough and needed a doctor. Multiple family members and friends tried without success to scale the hill in all manner of vehicles.

My health condition got worse and finally the Ohio National Guard were deployed to our home for a rescue. I was taken to a local hospital where I was treated for pneumonia. My mom is pretty convinced that the Guard saved my life.

As a member of Ohio's COVID-19 pandemic response team, I witnessed our Guard saving many more lives (in ways big and small). I hope that 45 years from now, Ohioans look back and remember that.

Jennifer J.: I was a sophomore in high school in 1978. I had three brothers who all had paper routes (for the Columbus Dispatch, the Citizen-Journal and the weekly Northland News). 

My parents taught us an amazing work ethic, and as a family of nine, we got those papers out. 

I remember walking through drifts that were over my waist!

Stacey R.: I will never forget the Blizzard of '78. I was 11 and Jan. 26 was my brother's 18th birthday. 

I woke up excited there was a birthday (cake!), a snow day, and also our pregnant dog had a puppy overnight. It was amazing. 

I also remember my dad was already at work, that's who he was. He ran a Sohio gas station at the corner of Broad and Gould Roads and he knew people who had to be out would need gas.

Greg N.: I was 9 years old living in Troy. We had three feet of snow against our front door and couldn't open it for three days until a neighbor with a snow blower cleared it. 

I walked up snow drifts right onto the roof of our house … The large piles of snow in the parking lots of shopping centers lasted through July.

Rich G.: I was attending OSU at the time. Emerson, Lake and Palmer were scheduled for a concert at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum. 

Of course a good friend and I had tickets and we weren't going to miss it for the world … Along with hundreds of others, we stood in line in the cold and wind for at least a couple hours before they let us in. 

We exited after 1am to be greeted by strong winds and heavy snow … Got home around 2am, awoke to my alarm at 7:30am to happily discover classes were canceled. 

Life was good that day for a groggy college student.

Jeff K., Class of 1980: In 1978, I was in my third year as a student at OSU. Our dormitory floor, Park 10 on the South campus, had organized a beach party for that Friday.

We had to rally fellow students with cars to attain the required beer kegs from the distributor during the state declared emergency. 

The party was a success, with people showing up in swimsuits, shorts and tank tops despite the outside temperature well below zero. Good times, better memories. 

Kevin B.: The night before the blizzard struck was very warm for January, and a storm with heavy rains dumped a deluge of rain on Central Ohio in a brief period overnight.

The heavy rains had overwhelmed my neighbor's basement's drainage system and sump pump, and as a result she had about 18 inches of standing water in her basement. 

She reached out to my parents in a panic, so my family spent hours that morning hauling buckets full of mucky water out of her basement … the weather took a drastic turn, and within hours the blizzard was setting in upon us. I remember that morning very clearly. Our neighbor was forever grateful to my family for literally bailing her out of a very bad situation.

Everyone of my generation vividly remembers the Great Blizzard of '78, but not many recall the great flood that preceded it by just a few hours. But I will never forget it.

Michele M.: As a kid, there were lots of happy things associated with the blizzard (no school, the epic snowdrifts), but the thing I remember most was my 11th birthday party being canceled. 

It wasn't going to be a big affair, mostly a family party, but I was very upset. I thought at least my Grandma should try and come!

Columbus readers remember the blizzard of '78

It's been 45 years since Ohio suffered its worst blizzard in history.

A father and son posing for a photo, with dad wearing a shirt reading, "I survived the Blizzard of '78."

Reader Kyle and his father, who "survived the Blizzard of '78." Photo: Courtesy of Kyle H.

<p>It&#x27;s been 45 years since Ohio suffered <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="its worst blizzard in history" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/01/25/ohios-worst-blizzard-45-year-anniversary" data-vars-content-id="a1354472-3506-4cf6-9d0d-e0d17fad5b3f" data-vars-headline="Columbus readers remember the blizzard of &#x27;78" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/01/25/ohios-worst-blizzard-45-year-anniversary" target="_self">its worst blizzard in history</a>. The series of deadly storms brought extremely heavy winds, frigid temperatures and record-high snow drifts.</p><ul><li>Thank you to our readers who shared their memories of the Great Blizzard of 1978:</li></ul>

👋 Alissa here. Last Groundhog Day I made the inexcusable oversight of only citing Punxsutawney Phil's forecast in our newsletter. 

A few of you kindly pointed out the error, which I certainly won't make twice.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania's Phil may be nationally famous. But smart Ohioans know our official state groundhog is Marion's Buckeye Chuck, a title Ohio's legislature bestowed upon the original groundhog way back in 1979.

Fans and journalists have passionately debated the rival groundhogs' prognosticating abilities for years.

What we're watching: Event host WMRN-AM is still advertising a live Buckeye Chuck event for 7am Thursday. 

But last week, a spokesperson told the Marion Star it was "unclear" if the groundhog would make an appearance following criticism from PETA and closure of the business that supplied the animal.

📬 We want to know: What forecast will you be watching? Are you on Team Chuck or Team Phil? Email columbus@axios.com.

A statue of a Punxsutawney groundhog wearing a reporter's outfit, holding a notebook. 

Tyler "interviews" a groundhog reporter outside the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper office. 

The heated rivalry between Punxsutawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck

Fans have debated the rival groundhogs' prognosticating abilities for years.

Gobbler's Knob outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

The famous Gobbler's Knob outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Photos: Tyler Buchanan/Axios

<p>👋 Alissa here. Last Groundhog Day I made the inexcusable oversight of only citing Punxsutawney Phil&#x27;s forecast in our newsletter. </p><ul><li>A few of you kindly pointed out the error, which I certainly won&#x27;t make twice.</li></ul>

Things to Do

 Gov. Mike DeWine will issue his annual State of the State speech today at noon from the Ohio Statehouse.

Watch live at OhioChannel.org or on public TV stations.

What we're watching: DeWine is expected to pitch a new affordable housing tax credit as part of his upcoming two-year budget proposal.

He may suggest strategies for publicly leveraging major jobs projects, like the Intel chip plants and Honda's new EV battery factory, into further economic development.

The governor will likely also tout the Imagination Library of Ohio's enrollment milestone and enactment of a new distracted driving law he's long pushed for.

And it's possible he will drum up support for the proposed Ohio State Fairgrounds overhaul. 

DeWine devoted only a small portion of his 2022 speech to the pandemic, instead highlighting other health care needs like mental health spending.

Nor is the governor likely to advocate for further election reforms after recently signing a new law requiring photo ID at the polls, a change that DeWine said settles the issue of election security.

The intrigue: You wouldn't think a governor coming off a landslide re-election victory needs to thread so narrow a needle, especially when his party enjoys supermajorities in both legislative chambers.

But that is still the case for DeWine, who was often at odds with the legislature during his first term — most notably on perceived executive overreach during the pandemic. 

Zoom in: Take gun control, for example. DeWine backed modest regulations following the 2019 mass shooting in Dayton and pressed for them again in last year's address.

Statehouse Republicans ignored those proposals in favor of bills loosening Ohio's gun restrictions, which DeWine signed into law. 

Will DeWine again advocate for laws to reduce gun violence or choose to drop the issue? 

The latest: Continued GOP infighting at the Statehouse won't help DeWine. 

Two factions are battling for control of the House, which may make it even tougher to secure a necessary coalition to carry out the governor's priorities. 

The bottom line: State of the State speeches are more about idealism than realism. 

With the final election of his lengthy political career likely now in the rearview mirror, this address should be his most idealistic yet.

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What to expect during Gov. DeWine's State of the State address

State of the State speeches are more about idealism than realism.

Photo illustration of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine with lines radiating from him.

Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

<p> Gov. Mike DeWine will issue his annual State of the State speech today at noon from the Ohio Statehouse.</p><ul><li>Watch live at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="OhioChannel.org" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiochannel.org/" data-vars-content-id="f3fa96e9-d45e-4e86-aea5-efea5bd82a5a" data-vars-headline="What to expect during Gov. DeWine&#x27;s State of the State address" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiochannel.org/" target="_blank">OhioChannel.org</a> or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on public TV stations" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiochannel.org/programs/channel-locator" data-vars-content-id="f3fa96e9-d45e-4e86-aea5-efea5bd82a5a" data-vars-headline="What to expect during Gov. DeWine&#x27;s State of the State address" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiochannel.org/programs/channel-locator" target="_blank">on public TV stations</a>.</li></ul>

Tyler Buchanan

Featured stories

Columbus' Green Book history

Columbus celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day

The heated rivalry between Punxsutawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck

What to expect during Gov. DeWine's State of the State address

Columbus readers remember the blizzard of '78