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

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Meet Tater, Grandview's newly elected dog mayor

Central Ohio's most important pre-Election Day race has been decided.

News

We&#x27;re still a month from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Election Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/11/ballot-issues-2026-bexley-upper-arlington-south-western-levy" data-vars-content-id="ac7370cb-9e32-45d1-8ba4-a4811f3fa157" data-vars-headline="Meet Tater, Grandview&#x27;s newly elected dog mayor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/11/ballot-issues-2026-bexley-upper-arlington-south-western-levy" target="_self">Election Day</a>, but one community has already chosen its new leader. 🗳️ State of play: Grandview pups have been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="campaigning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/09/24/grandview-dog-mayor-election-vote" data-vars-content-id="ac7370cb-9e32-45d1-8ba4-a4811f3fa157" data-vars-headline="Meet Tater, Grandview&#x27;s newly elected dog mayor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/09/24/grandview-dog-mayor-election-vote" target="_self">campaigning</a> for the title of the city&#x27;s first-ever Dog Mayor.

Flu season is getting underway earlier than usual

What Ohio doctors are seeing and how you can keep yourself healthy.

The flu is getting an early start in Columbus and around the country this year.Why it matters: Does it feel like you keep hearing about friends and family getting sick? It&#x27;s a good reminder to get a flu shot.

Spirit Halloween haunts former local stores 

The Halloween retailer has been climbing inside the vacated homes of a Columbus original.

Spooky season means the return of Spirit Halloween — and here in Central Ohio, the purveyors of costumes and ghostly decor are haunting the former homes of one of Columbus&#x27; recently departed companies.Why it matters: It just doesn&#x27;t feel like October until you drive by a big-box store you once knew and think, &quot;Wait, that&#x27;s a Spirit Halloween now?&quot;

OSU med student takes on the Ironman World Championship

A former Ohio state champion swimmer, Matthew Marquardt aims to win the world's most grueling endurance competition.

An Ohio native hopes to win one of the world&#x27;s most grueling sporting events this weekend — before returning to Columbus to finish becoming a doctor.Why it matters: Matthew Marquardt is seeking to become the first American man since 2002 to win the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ironman World Championship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona" data-vars-content-id="346dae3e-2637-4449-a8ed-1a672a9e0893" data-vars-headline="OSU med student takes on the Ironman World Championship" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona" target="_blank">Ironman World Championship</a>, being held Saturday in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kona, Hawai&#x27;i" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2019/10/14/ironman-world-championships" data-vars-content-id="346dae3e-2637-4449-a8ed-1a672a9e0893" data-vars-headline="OSU med student takes on the Ironman World Championship" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2019/10/14/ironman-world-championships" target="_self">Kona, Hawai&#x27;i</a>.

Monday is Ohio's voter registration deadline

It's the deadline in order to vote in the 2026 general election on Nov. 3.

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.How to register: You can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="do so online" data-vars-click-url="https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/" data-vars-content-id="16d18e4d-6261-438f-917f-1b1c6ddf2877" data-vars-headline="Monday is Ohio&#x27;s voter registration deadline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/" target="_blank">do so online</a> or at your <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="county board of elections office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ohiosos.gov/directories/county-boards-of-elections" data-vars-content-id="16d18e4d-6261-438f-917f-1b1c6ddf2877" data-vars-headline="Monday is Ohio&#x27;s voter registration deadline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ohiosos.gov/directories/county-boards-of-elections" target="_blank">county board of elections office</a>.

Grandview is choosing its first Dog Mayor 

Five finalists are in a showdown to be Grandview's first four-legged official.

Five pup politicians are in the running to become Grandview Heights&#x27; first Dog Mayor.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Wag" data-vars-click-url="https://www.itsthewag.com/" data-vars-content-id="8cb3a828-5636-4314-bf1f-955c9f18d0ce" data-vars-headline="Grandview is choosing its first Dog Mayor " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.itsthewag.com/" target="_blank">The Wag</a> dog park and bar partnered with the city to hold the first Dog Mayor election.

Amy Acton incident spotlights threats public officials, candidates face

Hostility is changing how local leaders engage with civic life.

The recent confrontation involving an armed man and governor candidate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Amy Acton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/01/07/amy-acton-ohio-governor-run-campaign" data-vars-content-id="3c2a1f63-d840-4cde-8532-5f40c9edc63c" data-vars-headline="Amy Acton incident spotlights threats public officials, candidates face" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/01/07/amy-acton-ohio-governor-run-campaign" target="_self">Amy Acton</a> at a campaign stop illustrates a broader climate of threats and harassment facing public officials nationwide.Why it matters: Physical violence is much less common, but research suggests concerns about hostility are having a chilling effect on how elected officials interact with the public.

Ohio made it harder to challenge local decisions with a referendum

Residents now need far more signatures, but some communities are pushing to change that.

Worthington residents collecting signatures for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a development-related referendum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/09/10/worthington-clashes-over-proposed-redevelopment" data-vars-content-id="8583621a-fa3a-4585-84a2-9e941b6af106" data-vars-headline="Ohio made it harder to challenge local decisions with a referendum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/09/10/worthington-clashes-over-proposed-redevelopment" target="_self">a development-related referendum</a> face a much higher bar than they would have this time last year.Why it matters: Ohio&#x27;s latest state budget more than tripled the signatures required for local referendum petitions to reach the ballot — from 10% to 35% of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial election.

Two visions for Columbus council could clash in November

Although two conflicting issues can pass, only one can prevail.

Efforts to reform Columbus City Council&#x27;s election system could soon get more complicated, with two dueling ballot items looking increasingly likely in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="November" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/11/ballot-issues-2026-bexley-upper-arlington-south-western-levy" data-vars-content-id="c2f24cb4-e4a3-4a5d-9152-fb72943d5713" data-vars-headline="Two visions for Columbus council could clash in November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/08/11/ballot-issues-2026-bexley-upper-arlington-south-western-levy" target="_self">November</a>.Why it matters: The situation could muddy a grassroots effort to overhaul how council is elected — and potentially trigger a legal battle if voters approve conflicting proposals.

What's on the Nov. 3 ballot in Central Ohio

Voters will decide school levies, bond issues, income tax and more.

Election

Races of national importance are already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heating up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/07/29/ohio-political-ads-brown-husted-acton-ramaswamy-2026" data-vars-content-id="da6a3416-c400-4998-a815-77d8846e95f1" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s on the Nov. 3 ballot in Central Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/07/29/ohio-political-ads-brown-husted-acton-ramaswamy-2026" target="_self">heating up</a> in Ohio, but several local issues are also worth watching as the Nov. 3 general election approaches.Reminder: The deadline to register to vote <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is Oct. 5" data-vars-click-url="https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/" data-vars-content-id="da6a3416-c400-4998-a815-77d8846e95f1" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s on the Nov. 3 ballot in Central Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/" target="_blank">is Oct. 5</a>, and you can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="view your sample ballot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ohiosos.gov/directories/sample-ballot" data-vars-content-id="da6a3416-c400-4998-a815-77d8846e95f1" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s on the Nov. 3 ballot in Central Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ohiosos.gov/directories/sample-ballot" target="_blank">view your sample ballot</a> now.

Columbus voters expand 911 alternatives

Plus: A quick recap of other 2026 primary election results in Central Ohio.

Columbus voters agreed to expand city programs offering 911 callers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="alternatives to police" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/04/14/911-alternative-police-response-ballot-measure" data-vars-content-id="5b5276b0-34fd-45e8-992c-12765f8a88c9" data-vars-headline="Columbus voters expand 911 alternatives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/04/14/911-alternative-police-response-ballot-measure" target="_self">alternatives to police</a>, such as social workers and mental health experts, according to Tuesday&#x27;s unofficial election results.Why it matters: The Issue 5 charter amendment enables two firsts — 24/7 services and response teams for nonviolent calls with no police involvement.

A last-minute guide to Tuesday's primary

Polls close at 7:30pm. Here's what to know before you vote.

Don&#x27;t forget to stop by the polls Tuesday and cast your vote.

Columbus voters could create police-free 911 options

A May 5 ballot measure would also expand crisis teams to 24/7.

When Columbus residents in crisis dial 911 in a few years, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="their options" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/25/police-alternatives-november-ballot-proposal-ohio" data-vars-content-id="8b0d4e32-8108-4c99-b966-df01b62f179c" data-vars-headline="Columbus voters could create police-free 911 options" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/25/police-alternatives-november-ballot-proposal-ohio" target="_self">their options</a> for help will look different if a ballot measure passes in May.Why it matters: The city charter amendment would establish a 24/7 program connecting some callers to resources beyond police, such as social workers and experts in mental and behavioral health.

Election 🗳️

Obama and Trump bring presidential star power to Ohio's midterm races

Meet Tater, Grandview's newly elected dog mayor

Monday is Ohio's voter registration deadline

Why some Ohio voters are seeing double at the mailbox

Grandview is choosing its first Dog Mayor