Don't be surprised to see a wave of Memphis blue or Vermont green around the Arena District this week.

Dribbling the news: March Madness is back in Columbus, with our city hosting games in both the men's and women's basketball tournaments this weekend.

• On top of that, the Ohio State women's team plays its first tournament game (and, hopefully, second!) at home.

Why it matters: In a city without a pro basketball team, the coming week is your best chance to see the top collegiate teams in the country up close.

State of play: This marks the fifth time Columbus has hosted men's tournament games.

• The last was in 2019, which generated millions in local spending, per the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

Men's tournament

The Buckeyes didn't make March Madness this year, but you can still enjoy the novelty of unique matchups at Nationwide Arena.

The schedule: Eight teams play here on Friday:

• 12:15pm: No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC
• 2:45pm: No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont
• 6:50pm: No. 1 Purdue vs. the winner of No. 16 Texas Southern and Fairleigh Dickinson
• 9:20pm: No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic

Details: Winners play Sunday for a chance to reach the Sweet 16.

• Tickets are available for three sessions, each netting you a pair of games: Friday afternoon, Friday evening or the Sunday contests.

Plus: A Party on the Plaza is planned throughout Friday outside Nationwide Arena, featuring tournament games on a large TV and public drinking, as the Arena District's DORA is in place.

Women's tournament

The Schottenstein Center will first host Thursday's play-in game at 7pm between 11-seeds St. John's and Purdue.

• The winner takes on North Carolina at the Schott this Saturday at 4pm.

Also that day: The No. 3 Buckeyes (25-7) facing No. 14 James Madison at 1:30pm.

• Saturday's winners play a second-round contest on Monday, with the winner going to the Sweet 16.

Details: Tickets to attend both Saturday games are $20.

• A bundle including the Monday game is $35.

Looking ahead: The women's Final Four returns to Columbus in 2027.

Ohio is one of 20 states where Walgreens won't dispense abortion pills, despite a recent FDA policy change allowing pharmacies to do so across the U.S.

Why it matters: Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, the confusing fight over access to abortion pills is escalating — leaving many patients in the dark.

• About half of Ohio abortions in 2021 were non surgical, per state data.

Catch up quick: Walgreens' controversial announcement last week comes after 20 Republican attorneys general, including Ohio's Dave Yost, sent a letter to Walgreens and CVS warning of potential legal consequences for dispensing mifepristone.

• For years, Ohio has required a physician to be present when a patient takes the first dose in a medication abortion, so the FDA change wasn't expected to affect local access.

Meanwhile, an impending federal court ruling in Texas could restrict access to mifepristone — used with misoprostol in first-trimester abortions — nationwide.

Separately, Ohio abortion rights advocates can now begin collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that would preserve statewide access to abortion.

Go deeper: How abortion pills work and why they're in the spotlight

Pickaway County sheriff's deputies shot and killed an aggressive zebra that had earlier attacked its owner. (WCMH-TV)

🎨 Franklinton artists are questioning their futures after owners of art studio 400 West Rich announced steep rent hikes. (Matter News)

🏭 The new American Nitrile Plant in Grove City is making 3 million nitrile gloves per day for medical, government and industrial use.

• Its ribbon cutting was yesterday after first starting production last November. (WSYX-TV)

🙏 Sanborn Wood, known as "The Godfather of the Short North," died last week at the age of 84.

• He was inducted into the Columbus Hall of Fame in 2020 for helping transform the Short North into a "premiere" arts and business district. (Dispatch)

🤵 Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine describes his colorful sense of fashion, cultivated after the NHL instituted a game-day dress code. (Columbus Monthly)

It's your lucky day! We've pulled together a list of the best local St. Patrick's Day events this weekend:

☘️ Watch the downtown parade organized by the Shamrock Club of Columbus.

• Steps off at 11:30am Friday near Genoa Park. Ends at the Convention Center. Free!

🇮🇪 Celebrate your heritage at the Irish Family Reunion after Friday's parade.

• Purchase food or bring your own!
• $8-15 at the Convention Center's Battelle Ballroom. Kids under 5 free!

🍺 Drink green beer and bar crawl.

• Crawl With Us: 4pm-midnight Friday and Saturday. $25-30. Includes a drink.
• Social City: noon-8pm Saturday. $30. Includes a T-shirt and koozie.
• PubCrawls.com: 1-8pm Saturday. $15.

🕵️ Solve a murder mystery during the Shamrock Stalker dinner show.

• 6-9pm Friday at Schmidt's, 240 E. Kossuth St. $60.

🎵 Sham-rock to Celtic music by Ohio bands at Friday concerts.

• Scully (3pm) and Mad Maudlin (7pm) at Tara Hall, 274 E. Innis Ave. $10. Kids free!
• The Drowsy Lads at Natalie's Grandview, 945 King Ave. 8:30pm. $20, standing room only.

More events, including parties at local bars

💼 Check out who’s hiring on our Job Board.

1. Managing Agency Counsel (Attorney 5) at State of Ohio.
2. Architecture Associate at Meyers + Associates.
3. Business Systems Analyst at City of Columbus.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Heads up, speed demons: Take your foot off the gas when driving through downtown.

• Council voted last month to lower the downtown speed limit from 35 to 25 mph in an effort to cut down on serious traffic accidents, especially those involving pedestrians.