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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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Fat Arnie's a worthy competitor for Columbus' sandwich crown

A former Chapman's chef brings gourmet pedigree to pub sandwiches

Food and Drink

Columbus loves a good sandwich, and a relatively new contender is coming for the crown.Dig in: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fat Arnie&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fatarnies.com/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fatarnies.com/" target="_blank">Fat Arnie&#x27;s</a> opened <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="late last year" data-vars-click-url="https://614now.com/2025/food-drink/former-chapmans-eat-market-employee-launching-new-clintonville-sandwich-this-month" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://614now.com/2025/food-drink/former-chapmans-eat-market-employee-launching-new-clintonville-sandwich-this-month" target="_blank">late last year</a> in a humble window inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rafter&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/raftersbeerpub/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/raftersbeerpub/" target="_blank">Rafter&#x27;s</a> pub in Clintonville, but the kitchen has some pedigree.<ul><li>One of its founders, Christopher Beardman, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was a chef" data-vars-click-url="https://columbusunderground.com/restaurant-review-sandwiches-and-more-at-fat-arnies-ma1/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://columbusunderground.com/restaurant-review-sandwiches-and-more-at-fat-arnies-ma1/" target="_blank">was a chef</a> at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dearly departed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/10/06/chapmans-metsis-bj-lieberman-restaurant-ohio" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/10/06/chapmans-metsis-bj-lieberman-restaurant-ohio" target="_self">dearly departed</a> Chapman&#x27;s Eat Market.</li></ul>

Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom

Megan Turner says there's a right book for everyone and is opening a bookstore to help people find it.

Business

Megan Turner believes &quot;there&#x27;s a right book out there for everyone&quot; — she&#x27;s soon opening a local bookstore to help people find it.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rooted Books" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rootedbooksco.com/" data-vars-content-id="418ee5f5-41de-4ca5-a51b-337c776906e5" data-vars-headline="Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rootedbooksco.com/" target="_blank">Rooted Books</a> joins a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="number of Black-owned bookstores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/black-owned-bookstores-survival" data-vars-content-id="418ee5f5-41de-4ca5-a51b-337c776906e5" data-vars-headline="Columbus part of Black-owned bookstore boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/black-owned-bookstores-survival" target="_self">number of Black-owned bookstores</a> nationwide.

Why Ohio banned the smelly, ubiquitous Bradford pear

Even after a ban, these pungent invasive trees are hard to stop.

News

The days are heating up, the sun is out longer and the smells of spring are in the air. Or is that just the smell of a Bradford pear tree?Why it matters: The tree is a troublesome invasive species, but it&#x27;s also one of the most noticeable plants in Central Ohio — among the first trees to bloom each spring and arguably the smelliest.

Save The Crew inspires national bill to keep teams local

Lawmakers want communities to get first shot at keeping their franchises.

The movement that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="saved the Columbus Crew" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2018/12/28/save-crew-timeline-columbus-efforts/6437639007/" data-vars-content-id="7a06f254-015a-47a2-95f4-7a60cad121a3" data-vars-headline="Save The Crew inspires national bill to keep teams local" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2018/12/28/save-crew-timeline-columbus-efforts/6437639007/" target="_blank">saved the Columbus Crew</a> has inspired national legislation to help other cities do the same.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Home Team Act" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/04/01/casar-sanders-bill-sports-team-relocation-spurs" data-vars-content-id="7a06f254-015a-47a2-95f4-7a60cad121a3" data-vars-headline="Save The Crew inspires national bill to keep teams local" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/04/01/casar-sanders-bill-sports-team-relocation-spurs" target="_self">Home Team Act</a>, newly introduced in the U.S. House, would require owners of professional sports teams to give their community a chance to buy the team before relocating — a move inspired by Save The Crew and an Ohio law.

Why you should plan your fall wedding around Ohio State football in 2025

Sports

If you&#x27;ve contemplated skipping somebody&#x27;s big day because it&#x27;s game day, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="you&#x27;re not alone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/27/wedding-dates-college-football-2025" data-vars-content-id="92833bc2-0a2d-4eb1-b206-332853dd59c5" data-vars-headline="Why you should plan your fall wedding around Ohio State football in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/27/wedding-dates-college-football-2025" target="_self">you&#x27;re not alone</a>.Why it matters: Fall wedding season&#x27;s clash with football season is a tale as old as time in Buckeye country.

Ohioans are putting a ring on it

Nearly one-third of residents have been married at least once, as of 2022.

Just over 31% of Ohioans over 15 years old have tied the knot at least once as of 2022, American Community Survey data shows.Why it matters: June is a popular wedding month and plenty of Ohioans might be adding to that statistic in the coming weeks.

Axios Cleveland

Ohio takes the pods: "Love Is Blind" Season 10 recap (so far)

Cleveland

A map of the U.S. that shows the percentage of adults who’ve been married at least once, with the highest rates in the central U.S.. Wyoming leads the U.S. at 34.6 percent, with Washington D.C. in last place at 20.4 percent.

Weddings

Ohio takes the pods: "Love Is Blind" Season 10 recap (so far)

Why you should plan your fall wedding around Ohio State football in 2025

Ohioans are putting a ring on it