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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.

Crew ticket prices test fan loyalty

Some Columbus fans say rising costs are changing how often they can attend matches.

News

Since moving to a new Arena District home in 2021, the Crew has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="built momentum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/10/23/columbus-crew-2025-attendance.html?csrc=6398&amp;taid=68fc55d456d86e0001708546&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthemTrendingContent&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" data-vars-content-id="299f6024-2780-40b8-802b-421bd9e73bd0" data-vars-headline="Crew ticket prices test fan loyalty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/10/23/columbus-crew-2025-attendance.html?csrc=6398&amp;taid=68fc55d456d86e0001708546&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthemTrendingContent&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank">built momentum</a> on packed crowds and good atmosphere — but is it waning?Why it matters: Some fans say they&#x27;re being priced out, while others worry costs are stalling that momentum.

Ohio stars lift U.S. hockey to gold sweep

Zach Werenski and Laila Edwards delivered key assists.

Both U.S. hockey teams brought home the gold from Milan with dramatic 2-1 overtime wins over Canada — and that&#x27;s thanks to some big assists <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="from Ohio" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/02/06/ohio-winter-olympics-representation-milan-2026" data-vars-content-id="3397ff2b-510e-4654-92fb-618d7976bf44" data-vars-headline="Ohio stars lift U.S. hockey to gold sweep" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/02/06/ohio-winter-olympics-representation-milan-2026" target="_self">from Ohio</a>.Why it matters: The men&#x27;s victory ended a 46-year drought, their first gold since the 1980 &quot;Miracle on Ice.&quot;

Poll: Should Les Wexner's name stay on buildings?

Scrutiny is growing over the donor's Jeffrey Epstein ties.

Ohio State&#x27;s new University Hospital welcomed its first patients over the weekend as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="over 100 protesters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2026/02/22/ohio-state-remove-les-wexners-name-jeffrey-epstein-ties/88811310007/?tbref=hp&amp;utm_source=dispatch-extra-credit-strada&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=baseline_greeting&amp;utm_term=newsletter-greeting&amp;utm_content=ncod-columbus-nletter38" data-vars-content-id="f8c0237d-c20c-4d3e-a37b-f2ea01981431" data-vars-headline="Poll: Should Les Wexner&#x27;s name stay on buildings?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2026/02/22/ohio-state-remove-les-wexners-name-jeffrey-epstein-ties/88811310007/?tbref=hp&amp;utm_source=dispatch-extra-credit-strada&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=baseline_greeting&amp;utm_term=newsletter-greeting&amp;utm_content=ncod-columbus-nletter38" target="_blank">over 100 protesters</a> demanded that Les Wexner&#x27;s name be removed from it.State of play: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/oust-wexner-banner-ohio-state-connection-to-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/530-57218834-3b7a-4af3-b120-a23c4ff8a7af" data-vars-content-id="f8c0237d-c20c-4d3e-a37b-f2ea01981431" data-vars-headline="Poll: Should Les Wexner&#x27;s name stay on buildings?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/oust-wexner-banner-ohio-state-connection-to-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/530-57218834-3b7a-4af3-b120-a23c4ff8a7af" target="_blank">debate</a> over the billionaire donor&#x27;s naming rights likely isn&#x27;t going anywhere, amid renewed scrutiny over his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ties to Jeffrey Epstein" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/02/18/les-wexner-jeffrey-epstein-ties-testimony" data-vars-content-id="f8c0237d-c20c-4d3e-a37b-f2ea01981431" data-vars-headline="Poll: Should Les Wexner&#x27;s name stay on buildings?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/02/18/les-wexner-jeffrey-epstein-ties-testimony" target="_self">ties to Jeffrey Epstein</a>.

The latest on Columbus' new Black history museum

The future museum will preserve part of historic Poindexter Village.

Surrounded by blocks of matching, modern apartments, two historic brick buildings on Champion Avenue stand as anchors to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another era" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/02/18/bronzeville-ohio-black-history-month" data-vars-content-id="94455647-9ce7-4d7e-b64a-b914b317829d" data-vars-headline="The latest on Columbus&#x27; new Black history museum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/02/18/bronzeville-ohio-black-history-month" target="_self">another era</a>.Why it matters: They&#x27;re the last remnants of Poindexter Village, one of the country&#x27;s first public housing projects and a cornerstone of the local Black community.

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.

Kilbourne Run Sports Park's $40 million soccer upgrade

Columbus hopes the park will become a regional soccer hub.

Columbus is nearing completion on the $40 million redevelopment of Northland&#x27;s Kilbourne Run Sports Park that should bolster Central Ohio&#x27;s sports scene in 2026.Why it matters: Youth sports are a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major economic driver" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/30/youth-sports-private-equity" data-vars-content-id="6c1030df-6580-46ee-8120-8b9de7d1b0ec" data-vars-headline="Kilbourne Run Sports Park&#x27;s $40 million soccer upgrade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/30/youth-sports-private-equity" target="_self">major economic driver</a>, and the city hopes Kilbourne Run can be for soccer what the popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lou Berliner Sports Park" data-vars-click-url="https://columbusrecparks.com/facilities/rentals/sports/berliner-2/" data-vars-content-id="6c1030df-6580-46ee-8120-8b9de7d1b0ec" data-vars-headline="Kilbourne Run Sports Park&#x27;s $40 million soccer upgrade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://columbusrecparks.com/facilities/rentals/sports/berliner-2/" target="_blank">Lou Berliner Sports Park</a> is to baseball and softball.

Cooper Stadium's future could take a cue from Indy

Luxury Stadium Lofts show what's possible for Cooper Stadium.

With another redevelopment plan for Cooper Stadium <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in the news" data-vars-click-url="https://ballparkdigest.com/2025/11/04/yet-another-run-at-cooper-stadium-redevelopment/" data-vars-content-id="7e3461a1-61a4-4f43-84ea-c624d098a8a7" data-vars-headline="Cooper Stadium&#x27;s future could take a cue from Indy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ballparkdigest.com/2025/11/04/yet-another-run-at-cooper-stadium-redevelopment/" target="_blank">in the news</a>, a success story in Indianapolis offers a glimpse of what could be.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been 17 years since the Clippers played in Franklinton, and it&#x27;s easy to lose hope that the partially demolished ballpark will ever become more than an eyesore.<ul><li>But <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another restoration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.indystar.com/story/life/home-garden/2013/12/01/lofts-give-new-life-to-historic-bush-stadium/3799605/" data-vars-content-id="7e3461a1-61a4-4f43-84ea-c624d098a8a7" data-vars-headline="Cooper Stadium&#x27;s future could take a cue from Indy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.indystar.com/story/life/home-garden/2013/12/01/lofts-give-new-life-to-historic-bush-stadium/3799605/" target="_blank">another restoration</a> shows it&#x27;s not too late for a comeback.</li></ul>

Columbus' growth could strain its water supply

Residents, data centers, farms and manufacturers like Intel are all tapping the same supply.

Columbus&#x27; explosive growth could someday strain our water supply without more planning, warns a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Alliance for the Great Lakes report" data-vars-click-url="http://greatlakes.org/wateruse" data-vars-content-id="c591a52b-94a3-490e-a28f-97bdda15ed61" data-vars-headline="Columbus&#x27; growth could strain its water supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://greatlakes.org/wateruse" target="_blank">new Alliance for the Great Lakes report</a>.Why it matters: Residents, <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="c591a52b-94a3-490e-a28f-97bdda15ed61" data-vars-headline="Columbus&#x27; growth could strain its water supply" 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>, farms and manufacturers such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Intel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/10/intel-ohio-timeline-delay-grant-funding" data-vars-content-id="c591a52b-94a3-490e-a28f-97bdda15ed61" data-vars-headline="Columbus&#x27; growth could strain its water supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/10/intel-ohio-timeline-delay-grant-funding" target="_self">Intel</a> are all tapping the same supply — and if it can&#x27;t keep up, that could result in higher bills, shortages or restrictions.

6-state highway plan could relieve Route 23 pressure

The proposed route would link Michigan to South Carolina and include new stretches in Ohio.

A proposed six-state highway involving Ohio is meant to boost commerce and give vacationing Midwesterners a direct shot to Myrtle Beach.Why it matters: The new route could help relieve Delaware County roads that are bursting at the seams.

How data centers impact Ohio's electricity prices

New AEP Ohio rules make tech companies pay more of rising costs.

Electricity prices are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surging" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/04/electricity-costs-bills-data-centers-ai" data-vars-content-id="3f264b70-2ec4-4c36-9dc1-a0af07b85e57" data-vars-headline="How data centers impact Ohio&#x27;s electricity prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/04/electricity-costs-bills-data-centers-ai" target="_self">surging</a> due to anticipated demand from <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="3f264b70-2ec4-4c36-9dc1-a0af07b85e57" data-vars-headline="How data centers impact Ohio&#x27;s electricity prices" 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>, but new rules in Ohio will make tech companies shoulder more of the cost.Why it matters: Higher bills are stressing Central Ohioans&#x27; budgets as pretty much everything else <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gets more expensive, too" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/31/fed-inflation-trump-tariffs" data-vars-content-id="3f264b70-2ec4-4c36-9dc1-a0af07b85e57" data-vars-headline="How data centers impact Ohio&#x27;s electricity prices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/31/fed-inflation-trump-tariffs" target="_self">gets more expensive, too</a>.

New Polaris owner still believes in malls

A fresh era of investment is coming for the Columbus mall.

Polaris Fashion Place&#x27;s new owners, investment firm O&#x27;Connor Capital Partners, say it will enter a fresh era of investment after purchasing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the mall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/12/12/malls-shopping-trampoline-escape-rooms-things-to-do" data-vars-content-id="23fbd2d6-7e1d-4510-8087-340f6688ac2d" data-vars-headline="New Polaris owner still believes in malls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/12/12/malls-shopping-trampoline-escape-rooms-things-to-do" target="_self">the mall</a> in full on Wednesday.Why it matters: Polaris has faced an uncertain future since previous owners Washington Prime Group laid off 139 employees and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/central-ohio-news/polaris-fashion-place-other-ohio-malls-to-be-sold-corporate-staff-face-layoffs/" data-vars-content-id="23fbd2d6-7e1d-4510-8087-340f6688ac2d" data-vars-headline="New Polaris owner still believes in malls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/central-ohio-news/polaris-fashion-place-other-ohio-malls-to-be-sold-corporate-staff-face-layoffs/" target="_blank">announced</a> plans to sell the mall in April.

What happened to Columbus' directional malls

Our shopping scene was once dominated by a quartet of "directional" malls.

History

The mall, once a crucial part of American life, has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="struggled and evolved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/04/shopping-malls-lifestyle-experiences-gym-entertainment" data-vars-content-id="d41792ca-f651-4889-b79e-4fc1c7144d4e" data-vars-headline="What happened to Columbus&#x27; directional malls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/04/shopping-malls-lifestyle-experiences-gym-entertainment" target="_self">struggled and evolved</a> for years.Flashback: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Our shopping scene" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/07/25/polaris-fashion-place-sale-new-owner-mall" data-vars-content-id="d41792ca-f651-4889-b79e-4fc1c7144d4e" data-vars-headline="What happened to Columbus&#x27; directional malls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/07/25/polaris-fashion-place-sale-new-owner-mall" target="_self">Our shopping scene</a> was dominated by a quartet of directional malls and a bustling downtown shopping center, all of which have disappeared.

How Columbus is helping residents get tech savvy

ConnectUs aims to close the digital divide for low-income residents.

Smart Columbus wants to give free digital skills training to 10,000 Central Ohioans by the end of 2027 through a new program announced Thursday.Why it matters: The nonprofit estimates 75% of jobs will require advanced digital skills by 2030. The employment gap is widening for people without them.

Development 🏗️

The latest on Columbus' new Black history museum

Sneak Peek: Rev1's new Franklinton home

Kilbourne Run Sports Park's $40 million soccer upgrade

Cooper Stadium's future could take a cue from Indy

Columbus' growth could strain its water supply