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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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A closer look at Ohio's new political maps

The maps are set to be in place for the rest of this decade.

News

Columbus' nightlife is bouncing back

Square transactions after 7pm now exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Columbus sees momentum for local tree growing plan

The city is eyeing over 96,000 potential planting sites.

What makes Ohioans want to stay (and leave)

Axios readers describe the reasons they stayed put or moved away.

Food insecurity is rising again in Ohio

Households are struggling at a level not seen since America's recovery from the Great Recession.

The Columbus Blessing Boxes Project began in 2018 with just three locations stocked with free food for those in need.<ul><li>Now, the nonprofit has 100 boxes, which are like little free libraries for food, scattered throughout Central Ohio.</li></ul>Why it matters: An increasing number of Ohioans are struggling to pay for food amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="inflation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/inflation-cpi-economic-data-2023-prices" data-vars-content-id="275c9d56-ed91-475d-808c-3aedeb3f3211" data-vars-headline="Food insecurity is rising again in Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/inflation-cpi-economic-data-2023-prices" target="_self">inflation</a> and the end of some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pandemic-era benefits" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/02/23/snap-benefits-pull-back-ohio-hunger-columbus" data-vars-content-id="275c9d56-ed91-475d-808c-3aedeb3f3211" data-vars-headline="Food insecurity is rising again in Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/02/23/snap-benefits-pull-back-ohio-hunger-columbus" target="_self">pandemic-era benefits</a>.

A chart showing how the percentage of food insecurity in Ohio and the U.S. generally declined from 2012 to 2021 but is on the rise again. 

5 turkey trots races in Columbus

Lace up your sneakers for these local races.

Culture

If you&#x27;re looking to stay active during with the holidays approaching, lace up your sneakers for these local races:

Illustration of a the bottom half of a turkey in running shoes

Columbus hospitals relieving $335M in medical debt

The partnership with the city will impact many Columbus residents.

Four regional hospitals are relieving medical debt accrued by hundreds of thousands of Columbus residents, local officials announced yesterday.Why it matters: Medical debt is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leading cause of bankruptcy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/07/21/americas-alarming-medical-debt" data-vars-content-id="4488eb20-f761-477f-ad04-d25991d79b85" data-vars-headline="Columbus hospitals relieving $335M in medical debt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/07/21/americas-alarming-medical-debt" target="_self">leading cause of bankruptcy</a> in America, with major physical and emotional tolls on patients&#x27; health.

Illustration of a medical red cross attached to a chain and anklet which has been opened by a key

Columbus arborists are starting to see an urban forest for the trees.Driving the news: A citywide plan is underway to preserve public trees and plant new ones, while local leaders will eye code changes this fall to protect tree coverage.

Illustration of a pen with a tree growing out of the top.

COVID hospitalizations are up in Ohio

A new variant, EG.5, may be causing the nationwide wave.

COVID

COVID-19 hospitalization rates across Ohio are ticking up amid a late-summer wave sweeping the country.Why it matters: Most Americans have put the virus in their rearview mirrors, leaving the nation both mentally and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="practically ill-prepared" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/04/covid-uptick-cases-hospitalization-future" data-vars-content-id="e0ce1093-3f0e-40d6-8e36-7ae776692ade" data-vars-headline="COVID hospitalizations are up in Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/04/covid-uptick-cases-hospitalization-future" target="_self">practically ill-prepared</a> for another surge of cases.

Maternal mortality rates are highest for Black women in Ohio

They are over five times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than the state average.

Health

Black women in Ohio are more than five times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than the state average, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new JAMA study" data-vars-click-url="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2806661" data-vars-content-id="f90eb7fe-9fe9-41ef-a866-87de89f1b050" data-vars-headline="Maternal mortality rates are highest for Black women in Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2806661" target="_blank">a new JAMA study</a> spanning 1999-2019.Driving the news: Ohio&#x27;s overall maternal mortality rate rose from 10.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1999 to 10.8 in 2019.

1 year in, 988 hotline offering more accessible hope

The state is planning a public awareness campaign for the hotline service.

Some call in the midst of a major personal crisis. Others are simply having a bad day.<ul><li>No matter the circumstances, the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7, personalized aid to all Ohioans in need.</li></ul>

Illustration of a phone with the wire in the shape of a heart.

Columbus rolls out e-bike incentive program

Starting today, residents can apply for city funding to buy new e-bikes.

It will take intentional choices to move Columbus away from being a &quot;car-centric city,&quot; City Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla says, but a new e-bike incentive program&#x27;s roll out is one more step — or pedal — in the right direction.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heavy focus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/06/16/columbus-safer-streets-bicycling-2023" data-vars-content-id="58a9722c-3894-4864-a75f-82671bd75fe5" data-vars-headline="Columbus rolls out e-bike incentive program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/06/16/columbus-safer-streets-bicycling-2023" target="_self">heavy focus</a> on improving bicycle travel this summer furthers city goals of boosting residents&#x27; health, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reducing traffic congestion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/02/15/columbus-traffic-congestion-index" data-vars-content-id="58a9722c-3894-4864-a75f-82671bd75fe5" data-vars-headline="Columbus rolls out e-bike incentive program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/02/15/columbus-traffic-congestion-index" target="_self">reducing traffic congestion</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lowering carbon emissions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/04/21/columbus-earth-day-2022" data-vars-content-id="58a9722c-3894-4864-a75f-82671bd75fe5" data-vars-headline="Columbus rolls out e-bike incentive program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/04/21/columbus-earth-day-2022" target="_self">lowering carbon emissions</a>.

Columbus researchers achieve medical breakthrough

They developed a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Breakthrough research at Nationwide Children&#x27;s Hospital has produced a long-awaited treatment for a rare genetic disorder seen in young kids.Driving the news: The FDA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently approved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapy-treatment-certain-patients-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy" data-vars-content-id="5667eada-25a6-4db2-b4e6-307d69653097" data-vars-headline="Columbus researchers achieve medical breakthrough" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapy-treatment-certain-patients-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy" target="_blank">recently approved</a> Elevidys, the first gene therapy meant to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in 4- and 5-year-old patients.

a stethoscope with a glowing lightbulb at the end of it 

Columbus State to expand its health care programs

$25 million from OhioHealth will help make it possible.

Columbus State Community College <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced a plan yesterday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cscc.edu/about/news/2023/ohio-health-columbus-state-partnership.shtml" data-vars-content-id="a67f003d-da55-40bf-a054-faed276e4b8a" data-vars-headline="Columbus State to expand its health care programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cscc.edu/about/news/2023/ohio-health-columbus-state-partnership.shtml" target="_blank">announced a plan yesterday</a> to expand its health care programs, bolstered by a $25 million endowment from OhioHealth.Why it matters: The investment aims to stave off worker shortages for local health care providers and offer area residents more opportunities to pursue high-paying careers.

A rendering of a proposed OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences on Columbus State Community College's campus

Health 🩺