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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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New Columbus program lets residents decide the budget

Residents can submit community ideas for $9 million in city funding.

News

Columbus begins a financial experiment this week, handing over the keys to a portion of the city&#x27;s budget to the public for the first time.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s inaugural participatory budget represents a small fraction of its overall budget — but it&#x27;s meant to give residents a direct say in community investment.

How Columbus is making composting easier

We tried the city's free compost drop-offs. Here's what we learned.

Columbus residents have composted about 400,000 pounds of food waste since the city started rolling out free public drop-off sites <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three years ago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/06/12/ask-axios-columbus-ohio-composting-sites" data-vars-content-id="e7f685ed-d90d-4d12-8b0b-b6a3ce5e06a6" data-vars-headline="How Columbus is making composting easier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/06/12/ask-axios-columbus-ohio-composting-sites" target="_self">three years ago</a>.Why it matters: Food is the most common divertible material dumped in the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, at a rate of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly 1 million pounds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/22/columbus-landfill-trash-recycling-compost" data-vars-content-id="e7f685ed-d90d-4d12-8b0b-b6a3ce5e06a6" data-vars-headline="How Columbus is making composting easier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/22/columbus-landfill-trash-recycling-compost" target="_self">nearly 1 million pounds</a> daily.

Ohio tops the nation in ACA enrollment drop

Expiring subsidies led Ohio to lose 32.4% of its enrollment between February 2025 and 2026.

Ohio has seen the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nation&#x27;s largest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/where-obamacare-enrollment-is-plummeting?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="dd92196a-735c-4bfb-b54d-fdda25f0da68" data-vars-headline="Ohio tops the nation in ACA enrollment drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/where-obamacare-enrollment-is-plummeting?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top" target="_self">nation&#x27;s largest</a> percentage decline in residents covered by Affordable Care Act plans as a result of federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="subsidies allowed to expire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/05/republicans-aca-health-care-subsidies" data-vars-content-id="dd92196a-735c-4bfb-b54d-fdda25f0da68" data-vars-headline="Ohio tops the nation in ACA enrollment drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/05/republicans-aca-health-care-subsidies" target="_self">subsidies allowed to expire</a> this year, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal data" data-vars-click-url="https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-beneficiary-enrollment/health-insurance-marketplace/health-insurance-exchanges-monthly-effectuated-enrollment/" data-vars-content-id="dd92196a-735c-4bfb-b54d-fdda25f0da68" data-vars-headline="Ohio tops the nation in ACA enrollment drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-beneficiary-enrollment/health-insurance-marketplace/health-insurance-exchanges-monthly-effectuated-enrollment/" target="_blank">federal data</a>.Why it matters: Expiration of the subsidies has resulted in tens of thousands of Ohioans losing health care access in a state that already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="struggles with health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/08/state-health-rankings-2026-healthiest-places-to-live" data-vars-content-id="dd92196a-735c-4bfb-b54d-fdda25f0da68" data-vars-headline="Ohio tops the nation in ACA enrollment drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/08/state-health-rankings-2026-healthiest-places-to-live" target="_self">struggles with health</a>.

An ice cream showdown to be Central Ohio's best

It's Graeter's vs. Handel's for reader favorite.

Food and Drink

Earlier this week, we <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="asked" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/07/06/central-ohio-best-ice-cream-flavor" data-vars-content-id="b7f9bd0f-1671-4fcc-b47c-f81f8c944cbc" data-vars-headline="An ice cream showdown to be Central Ohio&#x27;s best" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/07/06/central-ohio-best-ice-cream-flavor" target="_self">asked</a> our readers for the best single ice cream flavor in Central Ohio to commemorate National Ice Cream Month.⚔️ The intrigue: It&#x27;s a scoop-off.

Exploring the empty, iconic Longaberger basket building

The unique Newark landmark is up for sale again.

Real Estate

As a Central Ohio native, I have been fascinated by the Longaberger Basket Building for decades. I finally got a tour inside, and it felt like a pilgrimage. Why it matters: Long vacant and recently for sale once more, the basket is perhaps Ohio&#x27;s most <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="well-known" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/realestate/ohio-basket-building-for-sale.html" data-vars-content-id="c0a7793e-d3fa-479d-bd04-6c0665460ff9" data-vars-headline="Exploring the empty, iconic Longaberger basket building" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/realestate/ohio-basket-building-for-sale.html" target="_blank">well-known</a> oddity.

The Longaberger Basket Building's history and future

After a decade sitting vacant, what comes next for the basket with it up for sale?

History

The Longaberger Basket Building opened as the company&#x27;s Newark headquarters in 1997, welcoming hundreds of employees.Flashback: The $30 million building was the crown jewel of founder Dave Longaberger&#x27;s empire, founded in 1973 in nearby Dresden.

Despite more inventory, home prices continue to rise

Central Ohio homes are staying on the market longer, but buyers aren't seeing price relief.

Central Ohio homes are staying on the market longer and inventory is increasing, yet prices are still rising.Why it matters: Columbus <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="badly needs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/05/19/ohio-affordable-housing-gap-cost" data-vars-content-id="42311bba-9a27-439a-81ce-016edb95a1ec" data-vars-headline="Despite more inventory, home prices continue to rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/05/19/ohio-affordable-housing-gap-cost" target="_self">badly needs</a> more available houses, and an increase in properties for sale should trigger price declines — but the latter is not yet borne out in the market.

Franklin County home values keep going up

New valuations will arrive in June, affecting 2027 tax bills.

Heads up, Franklin County homeowners: There&#x27;s a good chance your property value is going to rise <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/08/08/franklin-county-home-values-2023" data-vars-content-id="c284c988-3eb7-4353-b292-143cb67aaf5f" data-vars-headline="Franklin County home values keep going up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/08/08/franklin-county-home-values-2023" target="_self">again</a>.Why it matters: A home&#x27;s appraised value affects sale prices and how much owners pay in property taxes.

Local office space holds steady as U.S. vacancies rise

National rates hit a record high, but Columbus bucked the trend.

Office vacancy rates nationwide hit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a record high" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/office-vacancies-moodys-real-estate" data-vars-content-id="99dcb2c7-a2e8-4537-a1fa-8d2dc85cab76" data-vars-headline="Local office space holds steady as U.S. vacancies rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/office-vacancies-moodys-real-estate" target="_self">a record high</a> in the first three months of the year — but not in Columbus.Why it matters: At a time when many companies <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="don&#x27;t need" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/16/work-from-home-offices-remote-work-census" data-vars-content-id="99dcb2c7-a2e8-4537-a1fa-8d2dc85cab76" data-vars-headline="Local office space holds steady as U.S. vacancies rise" 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">don&#x27;t need</a> as much office space, the local market appears to be holding steady.

Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs

Sales dropped in Franklin County last month while surrounding areas saw steady growth.

The Central Ohio <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/19/why-more-central-ohio-home-sales-are-falling-apart" data-vars-content-id="870e4a6b-0949-4994-82a7-27f8e4e462bc" data-vars-headline="Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/19/why-more-central-ohio-home-sales-are-falling-apart" target="_self">housing market</a> is shifting away from the city, with sales moving to the suburbs as prices continue to increase.Why it matters: After a harsh winter, the spring housing market is heating up.<ul><li>The market&#x27;s adjusting to pent-up demand and the reality of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high interest rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/fed-powell-interest-rate" data-vars-content-id="870e4a6b-0949-4994-82a7-27f8e4e462bc" data-vars-headline="Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/fed-powell-interest-rate" target="_self">high interest rates</a> and low inventory.</li></ul>

The latest on "Rambling House South" and City Winery

Here's where the two delayed South side projects stand now.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great Southern Metro Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/02/great-southern-metro-park-soft-opening" data-vars-content-id="eee973ce-da5a-41a4-94e8-e52f748206aa" data-vars-headline="The latest on &quot;Rambling House South&quot; and City Winery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/02/great-southern-metro-park-soft-opening" target="_self">Great Southern Metro Park</a> is just one example of renewed interest in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South Side redevelopment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/10/17/south-side-projects-to-watch.html" data-vars-content-id="eee973ce-da5a-41a4-94e8-e52f748206aa" data-vars-headline="The latest on &quot;Rambling House South&quot; and City Winery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/10/17/south-side-projects-to-watch.html" target="_blank">South Side redevelopment</a>.The latest: An entertainment venue, tentatively called &quot;Rambling House South,&quot; is preparing to break ground this summer following a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2022 announcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/02/rambling-house-south-entertainment-complex-planned-south-side/6976634001/" data-vars-content-id="eee973ce-da5a-41a4-94e8-e52f748206aa" data-vars-headline="The latest on &quot;Rambling House South&quot; and City Winery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/02/rambling-house-south-entertainment-complex-planned-south-side/6976634001/" target="_blank">2022 announcement</a>, John Lynch tells Axios in an email.

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.

Lake Erie private island hits the market for $5 million

Mouse Island once served as the "Summer White House" for President Hayes.

The Mar-a-Lago of the late 1800s was on Lake Erie — and if you&#x27;ve got a spare $5 million lying around, it could be yours.The intrigue: Mouse Island was once the &quot;Summer White House&quot; of Ohio-born President Rutherford B. Hayes, per a Lake Erie Shores and Islands <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blog post" data-vars-click-url="https://www.shoresandislands.com/blog/post/the-summer-white-house-rb-hayes-connection-to-shores-islands-ohio/" data-vars-content-id="5f7dc626-9fe5-4278-84d8-776147a3100a" data-vars-headline="Lake Erie private island hits the market for $5 million" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.shoresandislands.com/blog/post/the-summer-white-house-rb-hayes-connection-to-shores-islands-ohio/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.

Why more Central Ohio home sales are falling apart

Central Ohio homebuyers are walking away from more contracts amid shifting market dynamics.

More <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homebuying" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/04/homebuyer-age-first-time" data-vars-content-id="392ad6f1-d5a1-4146-a4f6-f74d32fc069b" data-vars-headline="Why more Central Ohio home sales are falling apart" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/04/homebuyer-age-first-time" target="_self">homebuying</a> contracts in Central Ohio and beyond are being canceled, according to a new Redfin <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/contract-cancellations-september-2025/" data-vars-content-id="392ad6f1-d5a1-4146-a4f6-f74d32fc069b" data-vars-headline="Why more Central Ohio home sales are falling apart" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/contract-cancellations-september-2025/" target="_blank">report</a>.Why it matters: The uptick in cancellations is an indicator of a widening rift between the expectations of buyers and sellers, and could signal that buyers are clawing back some leverage.

A line chart that tracks quarterly office vacancy rates nationally and in Columbus from Q1 2016 to Q1 2026.It remains above the national rate throughout, until matching the national 21% in Q1 2026.

Office vacancy rates

Data: Moody's Analytics REIS; Note: National rate is based on rates in 79 markets; Chart: Alissa Widman Neese/Axios

Real Estate 🏠

Exploring the empty, iconic Longaberger basket building

The Longaberger Basket Building's history and future

Despite more inventory, home prices continue to rise

Franklin County home values keep going up

Local office space holds steady as U.S. vacancies rise