Columbus

blue

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

Axios Columbus Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios Columbus Partners

Columbus Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Columbus with Alissa Widman Neese and Andrew King.

Axios Columbus

Standard

Columbus Members

Membership

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>.

Reviving historic media with OSU's digitization team

Catch a showcase of the team's work at the upcoming Cinema Revival festival.

Culture

There are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="millions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/OSULibraries/posts/do-you-know-how-many-books-we-have-at-thompson-library-about-125-million-there-a/788221573334581/" data-vars-content-id="de330718-e2a5-4a78-8ec2-f2453ec9dc52" data-vars-headline="Reviving historic media with OSU&#x27;s digitization team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/OSULibraries/posts/do-you-know-how-many-books-we-have-at-thompson-library-about-125-million-there-a/788221573334581/" target="_blank">millions</a> of books in Ohio State&#x27;s library system, but countless outdated media gems buried deep in the archives require the help of preservationists to return them to life.Why it matters: Thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic" data-vars-click-url="https://library.osu.edu/archives" data-vars-content-id="de330718-e2a5-4a78-8ec2-f2453ec9dc52" data-vars-headline="Reviving historic media with OSU&#x27;s digitization team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://library.osu.edu/archives" target="_blank">historic</a> audiovisual items are kept at OSU, especially its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="special collections" data-vars-click-url="https://library.osu.edu/special-collections" data-vars-content-id="de330718-e2a5-4a78-8ec2-f2453ec9dc52" data-vars-headline="Reviving historic media with OSU&#x27;s digitization team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://library.osu.edu/special-collections" target="_blank">special collections</a> — and without digitization, these items largely sit unused and forgotten.

Ohio lawmakers may ban high school NIL deals

Currently most states allow teen NIL deals, but that may change.

Ohio high school athletes have been legally able to strike <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="name, image and likeness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/high-school-athletes-nil-deals" data-vars-content-id="b421c559-109c-4d2f-83e1-69fdde964704" data-vars-headline="Ohio lawmakers may ban high school NIL deals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/high-school-athletes-nil-deals" target="_self">name, image and likeness</a> deals for a few months, but a proposed law could make the practice short-lived.

How Columbus-area schools are handling snow day makeups

Why snow day makeup plans in Ohio vary from district to district.

After five snow days last week, area families may be breathing a sigh of relief — but disruptions could continue, depending on how much wiggle room is built into their school&#x27;s calendar.Why it matters: Cancellations uproot more than lesson plans, often creating child care chaos for working parents.

Columbus libraries go beyond books to reengage young people

From archaeology to opera, a library program showed participants what's possible.

Columbus Metropolitan Library has spent recent years helping disconnected teens and young adults get back on track.Why it matters: The effort, part of a national campaign that wrapped up last year, was designed to reach &quot;opportunity youth&quot; — young people aged 16-24 who may be jobless or out of school, and who often face a number of socioeconomic barriers.

Columbus schools cut $50 million — but not high school busing

Ohio's charter school busing rules are fueling debates.

Education

Columbus City Schools will slash $50 million to balance next year&#x27;s budget, but board members <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2021/08/02/columbus-high-schools-wont-use-cota-amid-bus-driver-shortage/5456351001/" data-vars-content-id="80bb7a00-762b-4e9a-aceb-772b98c17d43" data-vars-headline="Columbus schools cut $50 million — but not high school busing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2021/08/02/columbus-high-schools-wont-use-cota-amid-bus-driver-shortage/5456351001/" target="_blank">once again</a> pumped the brakes on eliminating high school busing.Why it matters: Busing is expensive, but changing it has proved disruptive and divisive.

Why Ohio State won't adopt a Native American land acknowledgment

Senate Bill 1 is chilling efforts to honor Indigenous history.

Ohio&#x27;s flagship university doesn&#x27;t have a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="land acknowledgment" data-vars-click-url="https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/land-acknowledgment" data-vars-content-id="37114e1c-8d0b-4bff-9b8c-72ec020d6aa4" data-vars-headline="Why Ohio State won&#x27;t adopt a Native American land acknowledgment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/land-acknowledgment" target="_blank">land acknowledgment</a> — and with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate Bill 1" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/04/ohio-senate-bill-1-dei-ban" data-vars-content-id="37114e1c-8d0b-4bff-9b8c-72ec020d6aa4" data-vars-headline="Why Ohio State won&#x27;t adopt a Native American land acknowledgment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/04/ohio-senate-bill-1-dei-ban" target="_self">Senate Bill 1</a> in place, that&#x27;s unlikely to change.Why it matters: It&#x27;s Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous people.<ul><li>Instead, Ohio State University professors and administrators remain at odds over whether acknowledging who lived here first violates Ohio&#x27;s new anti-DEI law.</li></ul>

Columbus school cuts expected next month

Over 400 jobs could be on the line to close a $50 million deficit.

Tough conversations continue about balancing the Columbus City Schools budget, with a school board vote on cuts expected in December.Threat level: Plans superintendent Angela Chapman <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="presented" data-vars-click-url="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/columbus-city-schools-proposes-cutting-nearly-450-jobs-50-million-budget-shortfall/530-e19e36cb-d708-42f0-8e96-7190ba30abfa" data-vars-content-id="394c20d7-a952-4dce-8007-ff3f3a6b73ca" data-vars-headline="Columbus school cuts expected next month" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/columbus-city-schools-proposes-cutting-nearly-450-jobs-50-million-budget-shortfall/530-e19e36cb-d708-42f0-8e96-7190ba30abfa" target="_blank">presented</a> last week suggested cutting 5% of district staff, or 445 jobs.

Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes

Westerville is the first school income tax approved locally in decades.

Westerville&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="success" data-vars-click-url="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/elections/westerville-city-schools-income-tax-levy-results/530-befb01ad-f8bc-4a03-b9ad-c419b1954263" data-vars-content-id="19994f5e-f8d9-438b-9b0f-07d3fdee94e1" data-vars-headline="Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/elections/westerville-city-schools-income-tax-levy-results/530-befb01ad-f8bc-4a03-b9ad-c419b1954263" target="_blank">success</a> at the ballot box Tuesday is the first new school income tax approved in Franklin County in over 20 years.Why it matters: It likely won&#x27;t be the last, as rising <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property taxes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/30/ohio-tax-levies-election-2025" data-vars-content-id="19994f5e-f8d9-438b-9b0f-07d3fdee94e1" data-vars-headline="Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/30/ohio-tax-levies-election-2025" target="_self">property taxes</a> face <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="increased" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/11/04/columbus-voters-conflicted-on-abolishing-ohio-property-taxes/87064999007/" data-vars-content-id="19994f5e-f8d9-438b-9b0f-07d3fdee94e1" data-vars-headline="Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/11/04/columbus-voters-conflicted-on-abolishing-ohio-property-taxes/87064999007/" target="_blank">increased</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="scrutiny" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-09-23/ohioans-are-paying-eighth-highest-property-tax-rate-in-u-s-school-and-state-money-experts-say" data-vars-content-id="19994f5e-f8d9-438b-9b0f-07d3fdee94e1" data-vars-headline="Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-09-23/ohioans-are-paying-eighth-highest-property-tax-rate-in-u-s-school-and-state-money-experts-say" target="_blank">scrutiny</a> statewide.

Ohio State preps for an AI-driven future

The new "AI Fluency" initiative adds ethics and hands-on training to OSU courses.

Ohio State University is undertaking one of the largest-scale AI implementations in the young life of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="emerging technology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/11/ohio-state-fluency-student-artificial-intelligence" data-vars-content-id="b0f10804-c5fe-4c09-ac94-d7726276e70b" data-vars-headline="Ohio State preps for an AI-driven future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/11/ohio-state-fluency-student-artificial-intelligence" target="_self">emerging technology</a>.Why it matters: OSU is one of the country&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest universities" data-vars-click-url="https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-enrollment-data-highlights-success-at-all-levels-of-student-population/" data-vars-content-id="b0f10804-c5fe-4c09-ac94-d7726276e70b" data-vars-headline="Ohio State preps for an AI-driven future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-enrollment-data-highlights-success-at-all-levels-of-student-population/" target="_blank">biggest universities</a> and one of Ohio&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest employers" data-vars-click-url="https://development.ohio.gov/about-us/research/major-employers" data-vars-content-id="b0f10804-c5fe-4c09-ac94-d7726276e70b" data-vars-headline="Ohio State preps for an AI-driven future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://development.ohio.gov/about-us/research/major-employers" target="_blank">biggest employers</a>, meaning more than 100,000 people are part of a massive embrace of AI.

Throwback Thursday: Ohio State's homecoming cow

Ballot stuffing in 1926 led to udder chaos — and a victory for Maudine.

History

Ohio State celebrates its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="113th homecoming" data-vars-click-url="https://homecoming.osu.edu/2025-homecoming-celebration" data-vars-content-id="46dda54f-0ba1-420a-8c29-2e35e6ff576a" data-vars-headline="Throwback Thursday: Ohio State&#x27;s homecoming cow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://homecoming.osu.edu/2025-homecoming-celebration" target="_blank">113th homecoming</a> this week — though it&#x27;s unlikely to top 1926&#x27;s udder chaos.Flashback: That&#x27;s the year students crowned a cow as homecoming queen after ballot fraud led to a scrapped election.

Education 📚

Reviving historic media with OSU's digitization team

Ohio lawmakers may ban high school NIL deals

How Columbus-area schools are handling snow day makeups

Columbus libraries go beyond books to reengage young people

Columbus schools cut $50 million — but not high school busing