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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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Why we don't talk about COVID anymore

An Ohio State expert says moving on too quickly has consequences.

News

Six years ago this week, COVID-19 dominated daily life. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Schools" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-covid-history-lessons" data-vars-content-id="19ebde6e-18f4-496a-b160-8eff8cdf9dae" data-vars-headline="Why we don&#x27;t talk about COVID anymore" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-covid-history-lessons" target="_self">Schools</a> closed, headlines tracked cases, and Ohio reported its first deaths and postponed a primary election.Why it matters: Today, the pandemic that killed over 1 million Americans and reshaped society has largely faded from public conversation.

At City Club, a rare public clash over homelessness policy

NEOCH and Downtown Cleveland Inc. leaders traded perspectives on new seasonal shelter.

A confrontation at the City Club of Cleveland this month exposed a simmering feud over how the city addresses homelessness.State of play: The Superior Arts District in downtown Cleveland has become ground zero for the tension after the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="opened a seasonal shelter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/01/06/neoch-seasonal-shelter" data-vars-content-id="6730ee75-fe42-41fd-aa48-3d5dcb6fa64c" data-vars-headline="At City Club, a rare public clash over homelessness policy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/01/06/neoch-seasonal-shelter" target="_self">opened a seasonal shelter</a> there in January.

Ohio lawmakers grappling with how to regulate AI

The majority say they use AI in their work.

Some Ohio lawmakers are embracing AI, while others — including one Columbus Democrat — are working to limit harm done by the technology.Why it matters: Confusion and indecision persist on how AI <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="should be regulated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-columbus-3f925d20-d9da-11f0-87c3-ebe17279ed99.html?chunk=2&amp;utm_term=emshare#story2" data-vars-content-id="25e97a10-272b-48ef-8c76-75718321feaf" data-vars-headline="Ohio lawmakers grappling with how to regulate AI" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-columbus-3f925d20-d9da-11f0-87c3-ebe17279ed99.html?chunk=2&amp;utm_term=emshare#story2" target="_self">should be regulated</a>, and who should do the regulating.

Byrne's Pub in Grandview is "where the Irish meet"

Enjoy hearty classics and live Irish bands at this local staple.

Food and Drink

If you&#x27;re craving Irish tastes and tunes this time of year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Byrne&#x27;s Pub" data-vars-click-url="https://byrnespub.com/" data-vars-content-id="1fa4eb12-2b59-4395-97ba-c12aa10bb961" data-vars-headline="Byrne&#x27;s Pub in Grandview is &quot;where the Irish meet&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://byrnespub.com/" target="_blank">Byrne&#x27;s Pub</a> in Grandview is the perfect place to raise a pint.

After vendor shakeup, micromobility use dips

A report shows trips fell 19% as Columbus enforces parking and ADA rules for rented scooters and bikes.

A year after launching new bike and scooter share partnerships, Columbus is seeing a decrease in riders as the city continues to try to rid sidewalks of obstructive and annoying devices.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deals with Veo and Spin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/27/veo-scooter-bike-vendor-rental-ohio" data-vars-content-id="7b16f20e-6f58-4460-99e8-f3d35d26dcd3" data-vars-headline="After vendor shakeup, micromobility use dips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/27/veo-scooter-bike-vendor-rental-ohio" target="_self">Deals with Veo and Spin</a> shifted the city&#x27;s micromobility paradigm by limiting the number of companies operating scooters, bringing in revenue and formalizing standards and fines.

Ohio's funny highway signs aren't going anywhere

New federal rules urge simpler signs, but aren't a ban on humor.

Holiday travelers probably saw highway signs declaring &quot;Santa sees you when you&#x27;re speeding&quot; and &quot;only the menorah should be lit — drive sober.&quot;Why it matters: Two years ago, reports warned of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a federal &quot;ban&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/17/federal-highway-administration-ban-funny-electronic-signs/72253799007/" data-vars-content-id="f686986f-4f9d-47f5-bdc4-fa3d552e3391" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s funny highway signs aren&#x27;t going anywhere" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/17/federal-highway-administration-ban-funny-electronic-signs/72253799007/" target="_blank">a federal &quot;ban&quot;</a> on humorous digital highway signs taking effect this past weekend.<ul><li>But like a tire, it seems the warnings were a bit … inflated.</li></ul>

Why it's hard to get your joke on an Ohio highway sign

ODOT accepts sign ideas from the public, but few make the cut.

Coming up with those clever safety messages <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="you see on highways" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/01/20/ohio-funny-highway-signs-federal-guidelines" data-vars-content-id="87015fae-8d2f-4d6d-b3fc-bacabb6d049d" data-vars-headline="Why it&#x27;s hard to get your joke on an Ohio highway sign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/01/20/ohio-funny-highway-signs-federal-guidelines" target="_self">you see on highways</a> is a surprisingly thorough process, with a state transportation officials planning the schedule weeks in advance.The intrigue: Drivers can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="submit their own ideas" data-vars-click-url="https://zerodeaths.transportation.ohio.gov/create-your-message.aspx" data-vars-content-id="87015fae-8d2f-4d6d-b3fc-bacabb6d049d" data-vars-headline="Why it&#x27;s hard to get your joke on an Ohio highway sign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://zerodeaths.transportation.ohio.gov/create-your-message.aspx" target="_blank">submit their own ideas</a> — nearly 400 did last year, public records show.

Columbus gas prices hit 3-year low

Drivers are paying around $2.60 a gallon — 60 cents cheaper than last year.

Central Ohio gas prices kicked off 2026 at their lowest point in at least three years, per GasBuddy data.By the numbers: Local prices have been hovered around $2.60 per gallon over the past week — around 60 cents cheaper than this time last year.

How Columbus airfares compare to Cleveland and Cincinnati

CMH is Ohio's priciest major airport, despite its convenience.

If you&#x27;re planning to fly out of town in the new year, road-tripping to another major airport might save you some cash.By the numbers: Columbus&#x27; airport fares average about $404 in recent years, slightly higher than the nationwide average of about $392.

Snow it all: How to track Columbus plows in real time

Skip the group chat. These sites show plows and road priority.

There&#x27;s no need to pester your Facebook friends with &quot;How are the roads?&quot; posts the next time it snows.Be smart: Several communities offer interactive maps where residents can monitor road treatments in real time.

Columbus schools cut $50 million — but not high school busing

Ohio's charter school busing rules are fueling debates.

Education

Columbus City Schools will slash $50 million to balance next year&#x27;s budget, but board members <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2021/08/02/columbus-high-schools-wont-use-cota-amid-bus-driver-shortage/5456351001/" data-vars-content-id="80bb7a00-762b-4e9a-aceb-772b98c17d43" data-vars-headline="Columbus schools cut $50 million — but not high school busing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2021/08/02/columbus-high-schools-wont-use-cota-amid-bus-driver-shortage/5456351001/" target="_blank">once again</a> pumped the brakes on eliminating high school busing.Why it matters: Busing is expensive, but changing it has proved disruptive and divisive.

Why we're always stuck in traffic

Columbus drivers wasted a record 59 million hours in traffic last year.

No, you&#x27;re not imagining it — Columbus traffic is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="getting worse" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/28/traffic-congestion-getting-worse" data-vars-content-id="908700b1-a03d-4a49-9409-3f610f38db8f" data-vars-headline="Why we&#x27;re always stuck in traffic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/28/traffic-congestion-getting-worse" target="_self">getting worse</a>, and a little weird.Why it matters: A surge of remote work during the pandemic made it seem like we might have left rush hour behind. But instead, it&#x27;s back, longer and less predictable.

Federal EV tax credits expire, but Ohio offers no relief

Ohio drivers face EV fees with fewer incentives.

Federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="are dead" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/08/trump-biden-ev-tax-credits-states" data-vars-content-id="b9d99513-0cec-4f31-b6b8-63440cbc01fa" data-vars-headline="Federal EV tax credits expire, but Ohio offers no relief" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/08/trump-biden-ev-tax-credits-states" target="_self">are dead</a>, and there&#x27;s no state tax break to speak of in Ohio.Why it matters: The rewards and penalties on EVs reflect an industry in flux, as policymakers try to balance environmental goals with the need to pay for roads and other critical infrastructure.

Pair of Ohio passenger rail plans pick up steam

But it will likely take years before Ohio sees any new trains.

Tracks have been laid for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new passenger railways" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/03/ohio-passenger-rail-amtrak-plan-train" data-vars-content-id="ce97a661-aa56-4d71-a2b5-f1259ddb4d09" data-vars-headline="Pair of Ohio passenger rail plans pick up steam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/09/03/ohio-passenger-rail-amtrak-plan-train" target="_self">new passenger railways</a> across Ohio — but a long and uncertain path still lies ahead.Why it matters: Ohio has the fourth-highest mileage of train tracks in the country, but a woefully underdeveloped passenger rail network, a transit option that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="residents want" data-vars-click-url="https://etcinstitute.com/directionfinder2-0/ohio-department-of-transportation-odot/" data-vars-content-id="ce97a661-aa56-4d71-a2b5-f1259ddb4d09" data-vars-headline="Pair of Ohio passenger rail plans pick up steam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://etcinstitute.com/directionfinder2-0/ohio-department-of-transportation-odot/" target="_blank">residents want</a> expanded.

Transit 🚗

After vendor shakeup, micromobility use dips

Ohio's funny highway signs aren't going anywhere

Why it's hard to get your joke on an Ohio highway sign

Columbus gas prices hit 3-year low

How Columbus airfares compare to Cleveland and Cincinnati