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You can now explore Columbus' newest Metro Park

Great Southern Metro Park on the South Side officially opens April 1.

News

Columbus&#x27; newest Metro Park officially opens in a month — but visitors can already enjoy some of it as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="progress continues" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/03/15/great-southern-bank-run-metro-parks" data-vars-content-id="2f4aceb8-8817-47d8-9f9d-274cedde0623" data-vars-headline="You can now explore Columbus&#x27; newest Metro Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2024/03/15/great-southern-bank-run-metro-parks" target="_self">progress continues</a>.Why it matters: Great Southern Metro Park adds green space to an underserved South Side neighborhood and will eventually connect to downtown via the Scioto Trail.

The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is

The fund has raised $356 million and invested nearly $200 million across 12 counties.

Less than two years after its public launch, The O.H.I.O. Fund has invested nearly $200 million into companies and real estate projects in the state — and its leaders say that pace is going to speed up.Why it matters: Tech and startup investment remains <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concentrated on the coasts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/30/ohio-venture-capital-angel-investors-rev1-vc" data-vars-content-id="5a08bbd0-549d-41a1-a051-7096b63da213" data-vars-headline="The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/30/ohio-venture-capital-angel-investors-rev1-vc" target="_self">concentrated on the coasts</a> and on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI software" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" data-vars-content-id="5a08bbd0-549d-41a1-a051-7096b63da213" data-vars-headline="The O.H.I.O. Fund puts its money where its mantra is" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/20/startup-funding" target="_self">AI software</a>, but TOF is investing at home in fields ranging from manufacturing and dog food to biopharmaceuticals and finance.

Ohio's data center surge faces local resistance

Nearly 300 centers are operating or planned as lawmakers debate new limits.

Ohio&#x27;s data center <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" data-vars-content-id="041f3b35-4c34-41f6-8068-7d9f9dbfc5ac" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s data center surge faces local resistance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" target="_self">surge</a> isn&#x27;t slowing down any time soon.By the numbers: About 200 centers are currently operational and around 100 more planned or under construction, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" data-vars-content-id="041f3b35-4c34-41f6-8068-7d9f9dbfc5ac" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s data center surge faces local resistance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" target="_self">an analysis</a> shared with Axios in December.

Why Amazon's data centers face opposition in Hilliard

A proposal would use natural gas fuel cells to generate power.

As more Ohio communities <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="push back" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/04/ohio-data-center-boom-moratorium-laws" data-vars-content-id="3e6fc170-23d8-4300-8e34-793065d938cd" data-vars-headline="Why Amazon&#x27;s data centers face opposition in Hilliard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/04/ohio-data-center-boom-moratorium-laws" target="_self">push back</a> against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" data-vars-content-id="3e6fc170-23d8-4300-8e34-793065d938cd" data-vars-headline="Why Amazon&#x27;s data centers face opposition in Hilliard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/28/central-ohio-data-center-boom" target="_self">data centers</a>, a plan to power Hilliard&#x27;s new Amazon campus with natural gas fuel cells is the latest local flashpoint.Why it matters: The dispute highlights ongoing tension over how the energy-hungry centers popping up everywhere will be powered.<ul><li>It also raises a new question: How much can local officials control what&#x27;s built?</li></ul>

Remembering the Statehouse's 17-day "sleep-in" protest

A Massachusetts woman spent over 2 weeks in the Rotunda for a religious cause.

History

Ohioans don&#x27;t get <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="much sleep" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/17/ohio-sleep-bedtime-apple" data-vars-content-id="2940237a-055e-4db5-bd3a-eeaef09c96a0" data-vars-headline="Remembering the Statehouse&#x27;s 17-day &quot;sleep-in&quot; protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/17/ohio-sleep-bedtime-apple" target="_self">much sleep</a>, but one protestor got plenty while carrying out a Statehouse &quot;sleep-in&quot; back in 1978.Flashback: Rita Warren, a Massachusetts woman who led the Christian Civil Liberties Union, pushed for an Ohio law to mandate that public schools allow a silent moment for prayer.

Westerville schools may halt religious teaching absences

The religious program LifeWise Academy — and debate over it — is growing fast.

Education

The Westerville Board of Education is expected tonight to rescind a policy that lets students leave school during the day to receive private religious instruction.Why it matters: The vote comes as tension simmers in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="many Ohio districts" data-vars-click-url="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/hilliard-school-board-approved-religious-release-policy-discusses-lgbtq-badges-lifewise-academy-community-inclusion" data-vars-content-id="76499501-80ff-4e0b-8226-b3d5c98ae66d" data-vars-headline="Westerville schools may halt religious teaching absences" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/hilliard-school-board-approved-religious-release-policy-discusses-lgbtq-badges-lifewise-academy-community-inclusion" target="_blank">many Ohio districts</a> over student participation in LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based Christian nonprofit group with a rapidly growing footprint.

Half of Ohioans almost never attend religious services

Religious service attendance has been dropping nationwide for decades.

Religion

Around half of Ohio adults say they never or seldom attend church or religious services, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Axios analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/27/church-religious-services-american-attendance-drop" data-vars-content-id="ad5ec442-0744-4b59-b9e4-e653f355b427" data-vars-headline="Half of Ohioans almost never attend religious services" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/27/church-religious-services-american-attendance-drop" target="_self">new Axios analysis</a> of Household Pulse Survey data.Why it matters: More than three-quarters of Americans say religion&#x27;s role in public life is shrinking, per a recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pew Research Center survey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/03/15/8-in-10-americans-say-religion-is-losing-influence-in-public-life/" data-vars-content-id="ad5ec442-0744-4b59-b9e4-e653f355b427" data-vars-headline="Half of Ohioans almost never attend religious services" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/03/15/8-in-10-americans-say-religion-is-losing-influence-in-public-life/" target="_blank">Pew Research Center survey</a> — the highest level since the group first started tracking such sentiment in 2001.

Ask Axios: Why did the Christmas Corner move?

The historic Nativity display is now at 212 E. Broad Street.

Holidays

Reader Kellie G. asks: Do you guys know why State Auto isn&#x27;t putting up their annual giant Nativity display this year? It looks like much of the display is showing up next to St. Joseph&#x27;s Cathedral.