The distribution of white supremacist propaganda in the U.S. reached a record high for the second consecutive year in 2023, incidents which included the dissemination of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ materials.

Why it matters: Ohio ranked second (behind Texas) among all states for events "organized or attended by five or more white supremacist individuals," per the Anti-Defamation League's annual report.

By the numbers: The ADL recorded 7,567 white supremacist propaganda incidents nationwide last year, up from 6,746 in 2022. It's the highest number of annual incidents since the ADL began tracking in 2017.

• The 2023 figures included a 30% increase in antisemitic incidents and a 141% increase in anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda.

Zoom in: Ohio saw 509 documented incidents in 2023, more than double the 211 recorded in 2022.

• Over 100 of those last year took place in Central Ohio.
• Many incidents were associated with white supremacist groups like the National Justice Party and Patriot Front, the latter of which organized a Columbus march of around 80 participants, per ADL.

Threat level: 237 of the incidents documented in Ohio were labeled as antisemitic, with most occurring after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began last fall.

• A Columbus house displaying Hanukkah decorations was egged in December, two days after a local synagogue was targeted with a bomb threat.
• Two Jewish students were assaulted last November and a Jewish center near OSU's campus was vandalized.

The latest: So far, the ADL has documented just 18 incidents of white supremacist propaganda in 2024.

• Yes, but: Kelly Fishman, education director for ADL Cleveland, says those numbers don't take into account data yet to be collected from the FBI, Jewish Federation and other groups later this year.

What they're saying: "It's really important to be looking at these numbers because it's an indication of the impact it can have on all our communities," Fishman tells Axios.

• "You do not have to be Jewish to be impacted by a rise in antisemitism. It's a rise in hate, and that impacts everyone in the community."

Worthy of your time: "White Power Outage: Inside a Hilliard teen's fascist terror plot" by Matter News.

The Columbus Crew is slated to pay its players a combined $15.2 million this season, per figures released by the MLS Players Association.

Context: The number is on the low-end for MLS teams, coming in 21st out of 29 squads.

Yes, but: The Crew's front office apparently knows how to get the best bang for its buck.

• Columbus has won two of the past four MLS Cup titles and is headed to Mexico for the Concacaf Champions Cup final this Saturday.

Zoom in: The team's highest paid player is Diego Rossi, a 26-year-old left wing from Uruguay, with $3.4 million in total compensation.

• He's the 19th-highest paid player in the league.

Follow the money: Two other Crew players are above the million-dollar mark: Cucho Hernández ($2.9 million) and Darlington Nagbe ($1.5 million).

• Most players earn salaries in the six-figure range.
• The lowest compensation package reported for a player is $73,000.

Miami's coin bank: The league's highest-paid player is Lionel Messi, an international superstar who captains Inter Miami and the Argentinian national team.

• He's slated to earn $20.4 million playing in the U.S. this year and has more Instagram followers than you.
• Resale tickets to see Messi play at Lower.com Field in October start at $275.

🚢 A Dayton billionaire wants to take a deep-sea submersible to the Titanic to prove such ocean travel is safe despite a fatal accident last year involving a similar sub. (New York Post)

A pedestrian was killed Tuesday while crossing an area of West Broad Street that lacks safe intersection crossings. (WCMH-TV)

🏛 Federal officials closed a lengthy investigation into former Ohio House speaker Cliff Rosenberger without filing charges. (Associated Press)

• He had faced scrutiny for public travel and spending practices.

❌ The Columbus school board censured member Brandon Simmons over a controversial leaked document tied to him that strategized against opponents of potential school closings. (WBNS-TV)

Like all states, Ohio sends two senators to represent us in Washington, D.C.

Yes, but: What you might not know is the U.S. Capitol building features two other famous Ohioans — in bronze form.

Driving the news: Each state gets to place two statues somewhere inside the Capitol that honor their respective histories.

• A sculpture of the late Rev. Billy Graham was unveiled two weeks ago representing North Carolina.

Zoom in: The Buckeye State is represented by statues of inventor Thomas Edison and former President James Garfield.

Flashback: Edison was born in the small village of Milan near Lake Erie and is famous for inventing the phonograph and incandescent light bulb.

• You can find his bronze statue in the Capitol's National Statuary Hall.

Garfield was born in Moreland Hills, about 13 miles east of Cleveland.

• He was a state lawmaker and congressman before taking office as president in 1881.
• However, he was shot in July that year and died months later.
• His statue can be found in the Capitol Rotunda.

As #NoMowMay comes to a close, we're asking readers: How early in the day is too early to mow?

• Take our poll and make your voice heard. (Closes noon Monday.)

State of play: An early morning start means avoiding hot, humid hours — but a sleepy neighbor may curse your existence.

The intrigue: Columbus' community noise ordinance says the "hourly average sound level" on residential properties can't exceed 60 dBA between 10pm and 7am, measured from within the affected home.

The bottom line: We don't condone mowing by moonlight, but if you've got an ultra-quiet lawnmower, it's technically not forbidden.