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Pro football returns to Columbus for Aviators home debut

We took in the experience of watching Columbus' newest team.

News

Columbus has a professional football team again. Why it matters: In a town enthusiastic about the sport, Friday marked the first outdoor pro football game in Columbus <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in 34 years" data-vars-click-url="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/tonight-34-years-later-professional-outdoor-football-is-back-in-columbus-nfl-ufl-sports-today-espn-broadcast-event-game-athletes" data-vars-content-id="dea41af6-b9b4-4cec-8b15-d9da299bea25" data-vars-headline="Pro football returns to Columbus for Aviators home debut" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/tonight-34-years-later-professional-outdoor-football-is-back-in-columbus-nfl-ufl-sports-today-espn-broadcast-event-game-athletes" target="_blank">in 34 years</a>.

What's on the May 5 primary ballot

Voters face school levies, a police response amendment and more.

Early voting is underway for the May 5 primary election, kicking off a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="busy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/02/12/ohio-2026-elections-yost-larose-sprague-faber" data-vars-content-id="0a156d75-86bb-4a77-bc19-55e9c67eb430" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s on the May 5 primary ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/02/12/ohio-2026-elections-yost-larose-sprague-faber" target="_self">busy</a> midterm year.Why it matters: While statewide races like governor and U.S. Senate will likely grab the spotlight, there are plenty of local issues being decided now.

At long last, Buc-ee's brings BBQ and hype to Ohio

The Huber Heights store marks Buc-ee's debut in Ohio — and the Midwest.

Business

Ohio has its first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Buc-ee&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/09/11/columbus-dayton-business-development" data-vars-content-id="0aa83960-fdc8-49bb-8070-6cb90afa08b0" data-vars-headline="At long last, Buc-ee&#x27;s brings BBQ and hype to Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/09/11/columbus-dayton-business-development" target="_self">Buc-ee&#x27;s</a> — the Texas-born mega travel center known for turning gas stops into full-blown day trips.Why it matters: The massive 74,000-square-foot gas station on steroids opened this week in Huber Heights (near Dayton), marking Buc-ee&#x27;s debut in Ohio — and the Midwest.

How Columbus water helps breweries make better beer

On National Beer Day, take a moment to appreciate our water.

Enjoying a local beverage on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Beer Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brewersassociation.org/events/national-beer-day/" data-vars-content-id="8adf4f65-133b-41ee-9444-6d6fddf9a650" data-vars-headline="How Columbus water helps breweries make better beer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brewersassociation.org/events/national-beer-day/" target="_blank">National Beer Day</a>? Take a moment to consider the most important ingredient in Columbus beer: our water.Why it matters: Beer is over 90% water, and Columbus gives brewmasters — from small craft breweries to massive distributors — a big advantage.

Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom

Megan Turner says there's a right book for everyone and is opening a bookstore to help people find it.

Megan Turner believes &quot;there&#x27;s a right book out there for everyone&quot; — she&#x27;s soon opening a local bookstore to help people find it.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rooted Books" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rootedbooksco.com/" data-vars-content-id="418ee5f5-41de-4ca5-a51b-337c776906e5" data-vars-headline="Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rootedbooksco.com/" target="_blank">Rooted Books</a> joins a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="number of Black-owned bookstores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/black-owned-bookstores-survival" data-vars-content-id="418ee5f5-41de-4ca5-a51b-337c776906e5" data-vars-headline="Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/black-owned-bookstores-survival" target="_self">number of Black-owned bookstores</a> nationwide.

Massive Anduril weapons plant preps for production

Fury autonomous drone production is set to begin months ahead of schedule.

Anduril&#x27;s Arsenal-1 factory near Rickenbacker is about to start production, and leaders of the autonomous weapons manufacturer believe it will produce superior weaponry at a fraction of the cost and time other companies require.Why it matters: The project promises to be one of the biggest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="job creation" 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="447a9b30-d5e4-4c79-b224-9bb94678b677" data-vars-headline="Massive Anduril weapons plant preps for production" 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">job creation</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="economic development" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/16/anduril-weapons-factory-ohio-brose" data-vars-content-id="447a9b30-d5e4-4c79-b224-9bb94678b677" data-vars-headline="Massive Anduril weapons plant preps for production" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/16/anduril-weapons-factory-ohio-brose" target="_self">economic development</a> projects in Ohio&#x27;s history and comes with a massive tax break from the state.

Restaurants shift from raising prices to cutting costs

"It's not price gouging," an industry leader says. "They're trying to survive."

Many independent restaurants say they&#x27;ve hit a pricing ceiling — even as sales and traffic stabilize, according to the James Beard Foundation&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="annual industry report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jamesbeard.org/impact/research-and-reports/2026-independent-restaurant-industry-report" data-vars-content-id="b2e5fb7c-2090-4e77-ae40-7c51fa0efb99" data-vars-headline="Restaurants shift from raising prices to cutting costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/impact/research-and-reports/2026-independent-restaurant-industry-report" target="_blank">annual industry report</a>.Why it matters: Survival tactics of the past few years — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/trump-tariffs-chocolate-prices-valentines-day" data-vars-content-id="b2e5fb7c-2090-4e77-ae40-7c51fa0efb99" data-vars-headline="Restaurants shift from raising prices to cutting costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/trump-tariffs-chocolate-prices-valentines-day" target="_self">higher prices</a> and delivery expansion — are losing effectiveness, leading operators to reset the math.

Why Amazon's data centers face opposition in Hilliard

A proposal would use natural gas fuel cells to generate power.

As more Ohio communities <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="push back" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/04/ohio-data-center-boom-moratorium-laws" data-vars-content-id="3e6fc170-23d8-4300-8e34-793065d938cd" data-vars-headline="Why Amazon&#x27;s data centers face opposition in Hilliard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/04/ohio-data-center-boom-moratorium-laws" target="_self">push back</a> against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" data-vars-content-id="3e6fc170-23d8-4300-8e34-793065d938cd" data-vars-headline="Why Amazon&#x27;s data centers face opposition in Hilliard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" target="_self">data centers</a>, a plan to power Hilliard&#x27;s new Amazon campus with natural gas fuel cells is the latest local flashpoint.Why it matters: The dispute highlights ongoing tension over how the energy-hungry centers popping up everywhere will be powered.<ul><li>It also raises a new question: How much can local officials control what&#x27;s built?</li></ul>

Ohio's data center surge faces local resistance

Nearly 300 centers are operating or planned as lawmakers debate new limits.

Ohio&#x27;s data center <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" data-vars-content-id="041f3b35-4c34-41f6-8068-7d9f9dbfc5ac" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s data center surge faces local resistance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" target="_self">surge</a> isn&#x27;t slowing down any time soon.By the numbers: About 200 centers are currently operational and around 100 more planned or under construction, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" data-vars-content-id="041f3b35-4c34-41f6-8068-7d9f9dbfc5ac" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s data center surge faces local resistance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" target="_self">an analysis</a> shared with Axios in December.

COhatch fuels expansion with a focus on suburbs

Expect its new "anchor" headquarters in Dublin by the end of 2027.

A decade after launching and six years after the pandemic-era pivot to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remote work" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/16/work-from-home-offices-remote-work-census" data-vars-content-id="c2356723-01ed-47e9-b2e7-ccf4e4258a47" data-vars-headline="COhatch fuels expansion with a focus on suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/16/work-from-home-offices-remote-work-census" target="_self">remote work</a>, Columbus&#x27; largest coworking brand is still growing and adapting to a new era.Why it matters: COhatch has grown from a single Worthington location to a network of around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="40 spaces" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cohatch.com/locations/" data-vars-content-id="c2356723-01ed-47e9-b2e7-ccf4e4258a47" data-vars-headline="COhatch fuels expansion with a focus on suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cohatch.com/locations/" target="_blank">40 spaces</a> spread across seven states amid the pandemic, return-to-office mandates and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high-profile coworking industry failures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/07/wework-bankruptcy-filing" data-vars-content-id="c2356723-01ed-47e9-b2e7-ccf4e4258a47" data-vars-headline="COhatch fuels expansion with a focus on suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/07/wework-bankruptcy-filing" target="_self">high-profile coworking industry failures</a>.

The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is

The fund has raised $356 million and invested nearly $200 million across 12 counties.

Less than two years after its public launch, The O.H.I.O. Fund has invested nearly $200 million into companies and real estate projects in the state — and its leaders say that pace is going to speed up.Why it matters: Tech and startup investment remains <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concentrated on the coasts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/30/ohio-venture-capital-angel-investors-rev1-vc" data-vars-content-id="5a08bbd0-549d-41a1-a051-7096b63da213" data-vars-headline="The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/30/ohio-venture-capital-angel-investors-rev1-vc" target="_self">concentrated on the coasts</a> and on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI software" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" data-vars-content-id="5a08bbd0-549d-41a1-a051-7096b63da213" data-vars-headline="The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" target="_self">AI software</a>, but TOF is investing at home in fields ranging from manufacturing and dog food to biopharmaceuticals and finance.

Les Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, explained

Wexner is set to testify as pressure mounts over the Epstein files.

Politics & Policy

Embattled billionaire Les Wexner is scheduled to testify Wednesday about his association with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jeffrey Epstein" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/epstein-files" data-vars-content-id="e56841ff-1263-428f-853c-f33094fc48c6" data-vars-headline="Les Wexner&#x27;s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, explained" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/epstein-files" target="_self">Jeffrey Epstein</a> as public pressure mounts on the L Brands founder and his many Columbus connections.Why it matters: Wexner permanently shaped Central Ohio. He&#x27;s Ohio&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="richest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/05/03/les-wexner-richest-ohio-billionaire-forbes-list" data-vars-content-id="e56841ff-1263-428f-853c-f33094fc48c6" data-vars-headline="Les Wexner&#x27;s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, explained" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/05/03/les-wexner-richest-ohio-billionaire-forbes-list" target="_self">richest</a> person and an international business titan whose influence extends well beyond our state.

Sneak Peek: Rev1's new Franklinton home

One of Ohio's most prominent venture development studios debuts its new headquarters.

Rev1 Ventures, Central Ohio&#x27;s largest state-funded <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="entrepreneurial organization" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" data-vars-content-id="c0d82ac1-2e90-42f8-9918-c306748842ae" data-vars-headline="Sneak Peek: Rev1&#x27;s new Franklinton home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" target="_self">entrepreneurial organization</a>, has moved its headquarters to Franklinton as part of new-look expansion plans.Why it matters: Rev1 is one of Ohio&#x27;s most prominent venture development studios and the state&#x27;s top seed-stage investor. Its portfolio companies generate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="billions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rev1ventures.com/startup-impact/" data-vars-content-id="c0d82ac1-2e90-42f8-9918-c306748842ae" data-vars-headline="Sneak Peek: Rev1&#x27;s new Franklinton home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rev1ventures.com/startup-impact/" target="_blank">billions</a> in value.

Axios Cleveland

Ohio among states refusing to let Live Nation off the hook

Cleveland

A U.S. map showing states suing to break up Live Nation/Ticketmaster. States are colored by attorney general party affiliation. The map shows 20 states + D.C. with a Democratic attorney general involved and seven with Republican AGs.

Business 🏦

At long last, Buc-ee's brings BBQ and hype to Ohio

Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom

Massive Anduril weapons plant preps for production

Ohio among states refusing to let Live Nation off the hook

Restaurants shift from raising prices to cutting costs