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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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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>.

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.

Backyard apartments aim to ease Columbus housing shortage

The city may allow ADUs to boost affordable housing options.

Columbus may soon allow residents to turn their backyard garages and carriage houses into independent apartments.Why it matters: Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like these could be a small, but useful step toward easing Columbus&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing shortage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/23/mayor-andrew-ginther-500-million-bond-affordable-housing-ohio" data-vars-content-id="e81fc86a-baf9-41e4-8000-a26cce9ea47b" data-vars-headline="Backyard apartments aim to ease Columbus housing shortage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/23/mayor-andrew-ginther-500-million-bond-affordable-housing-ohio" target="_self">housing shortage</a>.

How investors affect Columbus' housing market

Investors often buy homes in cash and in bulk — outcompeting average families.

Over 7% of Columbus-area homes sold in Q1 2025 went to institutional investors, straining our already strapped <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/30/home-prices-fall" data-vars-content-id="1f42e32b-5f93-4565-8e1f-e6a9d9df5cf5" data-vars-headline="How investors affect Columbus&#x27; housing market" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/30/home-prices-fall" target="_self">housing market</a>.Why it matters: Investors like hedge funds, private equity firms or real estate investment trusts often buy homes in cash and in bulk — outcompeting average families, especially first-time homebuyers.

Columbus weighs tougher short-term rental rules

See which Columbus area cities allow or ban Airbnb and Vrbo.

The city of Columbus is considering cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo while state lawmakers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="are again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/05/12/ohio-cities-regulating-short-term-rentals-bill" data-vars-content-id="17419fa9-0eb7-4f9d-ba9b-728e563a755e" data-vars-headline="Columbus weighs tougher short-term rental rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/05/12/ohio-cities-regulating-short-term-rentals-bill" target="_self">are again</a> proposing taking that authority away.Why it matters: Several local communities have restrictions aiming to improve public safety, preserve residential neighborhoods&#x27; character and ease the local housing crisis.

April home sale prices dip, first time since 2013

Columbus was the only Midwest metro where prices dropped year-over-year.

The median <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="price" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/04/rent-vs-buy-gap-widens" data-vars-content-id="9e0c09c7-797e-4fe2-8adf-8547beb94b75" data-vars-headline="April home sale prices dip, first time since 2013" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/06/04/rent-vs-buy-gap-widens" target="_self">price</a> of Columbus-area homes sold in April was 1% lower than a year earlier, per Redfin data.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been over a decade since sale prices last dropped year-over-year in April, typically considered the kickoff of homebuying season and when prices start to climb.

Few Columbus homes for sale have swimming pools

This heat wave may have you thinking about getting a home with a pool.

Real Estate

If you&#x27;re in the market for a new home, this heat wave may have you thinking about one with a pool.Yes, but: You may have to look around for a while.

Rare Lustron home for sale in Clintonville

It's one of just 2,500 built by a defunct local company — and it's in great shape.

Here&#x27;s your chance to own a quirky piece of history: A Lustron home is currently for sale in Clintonville.Why it matters: It&#x27;s one of about 2,500 built by a defunct Columbus company that tried to revolutionize the housing market with affordable, prefabricated models made of enameled steel.

Tiny apartments are gaining traction in the Midwest

More renters nationwide are trading square feet for good locations at cheaper prices.

Tiny apartments are becoming more popular in the Midwest, though Columbus has a ways to go before we start competing with West Coast hotspots like Seattle and San Francisco.Why it matters: Micro-housing is generally more affordable than traditionally sized apartments, making it attractive to renters willing to sacrifice space for location and price.

Real Estate 🏠

Les Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, explained

Lake Erie private island hits the market for $5 million

Why more Central Ohio home sales are falling apart

Backyard apartments aim to ease Columbus housing shortage

How investors affect Columbus' housing market