Axios Columbus

May 22, 2026
You made it to Friday, Columbus.
π Today's weather: Rain is back β and it appears to be sticking around the entire long weekend.
π Happy birthday to our member Dan Bowerman, and happy early birthday to Spencer Wood and Judy Stolar!
ποΈ Situational awareness: We're off Monday for Memorial Day.
Today's newsletter is 1,048 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: OSU's world-renowned museum returns
One of Columbus' best-kept secrets marks the start of a new era this weekend, reopening at Ohio State with a new look, new exhibitions and an internationally recognized headliner.
Why it matters: The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is the world's largest collection of comics and cartoon art, an archive that draws experts and enthusiasts from all over the world.
Zoom in: You may have walked past the museum without ever realizing it. The modest space is nestled inside the High Street-facing Sullivant Hall on campus.
- Inside, the collection contains more than 3 million objects, ranging from newspaper comic strips and graphic novels to journals and artists' drawing desks.
- The gallery contains only a fraction of the collection's most interesting and popular items β the rest is open for appointments from researchers, historians, families and comic lovers.

Flashback: The museum was established in 1977 thanks to a massive collection donated by Ohio-born cartoonist Milton Caniff, an OSU alumnus.
- Originally called the Milton Caniff Reading Room, it was renamed in 2009 to honor his mentor, Billy Ireland, a longtime Columbus Dispatch cartoonist.
The latest: The museum has been closed since November, undergoing building upgrades and a layout change while leaders shift the way visitors will experience its collection.
- The space now centers around the "Story of Comics" exhibition, a trip through 400 years of comic history over a variety of mediums and storytelling methods.

What they're saying: The museum's newest era is an attempt to embrace both fun and historical elements of the art, says Caitlin McGurk, curator of comics and cartoon art.
- "This is one of the few museums where you come and hear people laughing," she says.
The intrigue: The space isn't just about niche or historical work β heavy-hitters have their own dedicated exhibitions.
- One gallery is a dedicated "Calvin & Hobbes" space featuring a collection of originals from Bill Watterson, who has a longtime relationship with the museum.
The headliner of the new space is "Life Is Complicated," featuring the work of cartoonist Chris Ware, who wrote and designed the exhibition himself.
- The exhibition has been touring Europe for years, and Ware chose OSU as its final and only American stop.

The bottom line: Next year, the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary β and with a new look and a renewed focus, it may just get the acclaim it deserves.
- "We are a Mecca for people who love this," McGurk says.
π If you go: Open 1-5pm Tuesday-Sunday, 1813 N. High St. Free!
2. β½οΈ How much will that road trip cost?


It's National Road Trip Day, but thanks to gas prices, your excursion might be a little more expensive than you're used to.
Why it matters: This Memorial Day is projected to be the busiest travel weekend of all time, and if you're setting off in a car, it will hit your wallet harder than last year.
The latest: A gallon of gas in Franklin County will cost you an average of $4.85, according to local GasBuddy data as of yesterday.
- That's the highest average cost of gas on May 21 since GasBuddy started recording data in 2008.
- It's up more than $1.75 from last year's average of $3.08.
The big picture: Gas now costs at least $4 per gallon in every U.S. state.
- That's due, in large part, to the ongoing war in Iran.
3. π¬ It's not just gas prices β¦
Regardless of gas prices, owning a car has gotten a lot more expensive in recent years.
Why it matters: Columbus is car-centric, so ownership is non-negotiable for most of us.
By the numbers: The average monthly payment for a new vehicle in Ohio is now $663, according to new data from car research site Edmunds.
- For a used vehicle, it's $511.
- Your mileage may vary, though, depending on vehicle type β a new truck, for example, averages $800, while a new car is $595.
The big picture: Nationally, an average vehicle payment is $770 new and $560 used.
- The higher costs are driven by several factors, especially higher sticker prices and interest rates.
Stunning stat: Add up gas, insurance, repairs and sticker prices, and the cost of owning one vehicle is up 47% since 2020, per Navy Federal Credit Union.
- That's faster than either inflation or wages have risen.
It's no surprise, then, that more Americans are falling behind on payments or staying out of the market altogether.
- The average age of vehicles on the road hit a record-high 13 years last year.
4. Nutshells: Your local news roundup
πͺ A new bipartisan bill would require Ohio boards of elections to offer voters accommodations to reduce the amount of time they spend standing in line at the polls. (WCMH-TV)
π The lawsuit challenging Ohio's EdChoice school voucher system continues making its way through the court system.
- A judge declared the program unconstitutional last year, but the state is appealing β and it's likely the case will go before the Ohio Supreme Court. (Statehouse News Bureau)
πΉ Huli Huli Tiki Lounge opened a downtown offshoot of its popular Powell bar and restaurant. (Columbus Underground)
5. Weekend picks: Pay your respects
Central Ohioans will honor and remember fallen U.S. service members in a variety of ways over Memorial Day weekend, but one tradition stands out for its visually striking tribute.
πΊπΈ Our pick: Westerville's Field of Heroes
Zoom in: A field of over 3,000 flags dedicated to veterans will stand all weekend long.
- Anybody can walk among the flags, illuminated at night and the backdrop for various events during the day.
Stop by: Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Ave.
What else is happening:
π₯³ Festival season is officially in full swing: the Asian Festival, Ohio Black Expo and Jeni's Strawberry Jam are Saturday and Sunday.
βΎ The Clippers are at home Friday-Sunday, with Star Wars Night and fireworks Saturday.
π€Ό WWE Raw is at the Schottenstein Center Monday night.
πββοΈ Several local pools and splash pads will open β but check the forecast first.
Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing today's newsletter.
Our picks:
π Alissa is forever grateful her 17-year-old Ford Fusion is still kicking (for now).
πΌοΈ Andrew loved touring the museum and will be back!
π Tyler returns next week.
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