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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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What the Ohio State Fairgrounds may look like

Ohio plans to reimagine the entire 360-acre fairgrounds in Columbus.

News

Columbus homicides are trending up in 2023

Guns, more domestic violence are big factors, police say.

Local doll museum celebrates Barbie's legacy

Amid the movie hype, explore 64 years of Barbie history.

Columbus' biggest ice cream chains, ranked

Jeni's is beloved, but it can't dethrone Dairy Queen.

Food and Drink

Tell us which football team you root for

Sports

We&#x27;ve got a question for our Columbus-based football fans: Which NFL team has your rooting interest this fall?<ul><li>Is it the Browns, Bengals or Steelers?</li></ul>

Illustration of a football on a red carpet

Jackets coach denies prying on players' photos

Mike Babcock, Jackets players say recent podcast allegations are false.

New Blue Jackets&#x27; head coach Mike Babcock is denying allegations he pried into players&#x27; cellphone pictures upon joining the team this summer.Why it matters: The unsubstantiated claim of misconduct puts Columbus in the hockey spotlight ahead of a much-needed rebuilding season.

Buckeyes return home to Ohio Stadium to take on Youngstown State

Both teams enter the game with 1-0 records.

Buckeye fans are sure to give the visiting Penguins a cold reception at tomorrow&#x27;s home opener against Youngstown State.If you&#x27;re going: Gates open bright and early at 10am for a noon kickoff.

What to know about the Buckeyes' season opener

Plus: The best local spots to watch Saturday's road game.

Third time&#x27;s the charm, right?What&#x27;s happening: The Buckeyes kick off their season tomorrow at Indiana University with the number three looming large.

What to watch this weekend: "BS High"

A must-see documentary on Ohio's Bishop Sycamore scandal.

A fascinating and heartbreaking documentary about an infamous Columbus high school that never actually existed is now streaming on MAX.Catch up quick: The aptly named &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BS High" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hbo.com/movies/bs-high" data-vars-content-id="b19fbfde-e713-460d-9025-ff907f5267fc" data-vars-headline="What to watch this weekend: &quot;BS High&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/bs-high" target="_blank">BS High</a>&quot; details the saga of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bishop Sycamore High School" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/01/bishop-sycamore-img-football-espn?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_columbus&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="b19fbfde-e713-460d-9025-ff907f5267fc" data-vars-headline="What to watch this weekend: &quot;BS High&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/09/01/bishop-sycamore-img-football-espn?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_columbus&amp;stream=top" target="_self">Bishop Sycamore High School</a>, a phony private online school launched in 2019 that existed solely as a means for young men to play football.

A line of football players prepares for kickoff on a football field

Vote for OSU in Axios Local's college football tradition bracket

The Buckeyes face up against Notre Dame in Round 2.

Culture

All right Buckeyes fans, it&#x27;s your time to shine.What&#x27;s happening: With college football on the horizon, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Local cities are competing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/21/vote-best-college-gameday-traditions-united-states" data-vars-content-id="119ecd30-abb7-4c27-bc4f-61389388b9ad" data-vars-headline="Vote for OSU in Axios Local&#x27;s college football tradition bracket" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/21/vote-best-college-gameday-traditions-united-states" target="_self">Axios Local cities are competing</a> to see which school has the best game day traditions.

It's "Hell Is Real" soccer rivalry weekend

The two rivals will face off on Sunday night.

&quot;Hell Is Real,&quot; the famous I-71 billboard claims, and so too is the growing sports rivalry between the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati.Kicking the news: The teams battle again Sunday evening for the annual &quot;Hell Is Real&quot; derby.

Buckeyes ranked No. 3 in AP preseason poll

Georgia is No.  1 and That Team Up North ranks second.

The Associated Press released its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="preseason Top 25 poll" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" data-vars-content-id="f29fbc0e-0151-4c31-8419-57a15b0823bf" data-vars-headline="Buckeyes ranked No. 3 in AP preseason poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" target="_blank">preseason Top 25 poll</a> Monday, another sign college football&#x27;s return is inching ever closer.State of play: Ohio State is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ranked No. 3" data-vars-click-url="https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/football/ohio-state-buckeyes-ranked-third-ap-top-25-poll-georgia-bulldogs-michigan-wolverines" data-vars-content-id="f29fbc0e-0151-4c31-8419-57a15b0823bf" data-vars-headline="Buckeyes ranked No. 3 in AP preseason poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/football/ohio-state-buckeyes-ranked-third-ap-top-25-poll-georgia-bulldogs-michigan-wolverines" target="_blank">ranked No. 3</a>, behind No. 1 Georgia and … That Team Up North. Sigh.

Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord (No. 6) calls a play during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers

Ohioans bet big in first 6 months of sports wagering

Online sports books are dominating the Ohio betting market.

Ohio sports betting has declined as an early flood of promotions has given way to a quieter summer without most major sports in action.Why it matters: The first six months have proven we&#x27;re a sports betting heavyweight, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis from industry tracker Covers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.covers.com/betting/betting-revenue-tracker" data-vars-content-id="e598e568-a7c9-4668-bf4e-d0eca3dba705" data-vars-headline="Ohioans bet big in first 6 months of sports wagering" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.covers.com/betting/betting-revenue-tracker" target="_blank">analysis from industry tracker Covers</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state data shows" data-vars-click-url="https://casinocontrol.ohio.gov/Compliance/MonthlyRevenueReports.aspx" data-vars-content-id="e598e568-a7c9-4668-bf4e-d0eca3dba705" data-vars-headline="Ohioans bet big in first 6 months of sports wagering" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://casinocontrol.ohio.gov/Compliance/MonthlyRevenueReports.aspx" target="_blank">state data shows</a>.

A bar chart showing Ohio sports betting declining over the first six months of 2023. 

Runners strive to be the Last Buckeye Standing

Runners at Alum Creek State Park could compete for multiple days straight.

An epic endurance test steps off this weekend at Alum Creek State Park with one simple but harrowing goal in mind: be the last one still running.Pacing the news: This Saturday&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Last Buckeye Standing" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32302969.50/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ3JlZW5zd2VsbC5jb20vZXZlbnQvbGFzdC1idWNrZXllLXN0YW5kaW5nLWJhY2t5YXJkLXVsdHJhLyZzPTEyNDUwMSZuPWE0YWIwOTUyJnQ9NmRmZGViNTk5ZjlmN2M4YTUyZGI4ZTMyYmQ1Y2ViMDNkMmUzMjgyNyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/61143c39cd4dcd37e13a7294Bd503d60a" data-vars-content-id="eed24e44-c173-4d66-ab40-e2f157b0b384" data-vars-headline="Runners strive to be the Last Buckeye Standing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32302969.50/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ3JlZW5zd2VsbC5jb20vZXZlbnQvbGFzdC1idWNrZXllLXN0YW5kaW5nLWJhY2t5YXJkLXVsdHJhLyZzPTEyNDUwMSZuPWE0YWIwOTUyJnQ9NmRmZGViNTk5ZjlmN2M4YTUyZGI4ZTMyYmQ1Y2ViMDNkMmUzMjgyNyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/61143c39cd4dcd37e13a7294Bd503d60a" target="_blank">Last Buckeye Standing</a> differs greatly from traditional races and is not for the faint of heart.

Sports 🏅