The number of homicides in Ohio rose last year to its highest mark in three decades and once again exceeded the national rate, according to statistics released by the FBI.

Why it matters: These estimated figures reinforce data showing a surge in homicides and violent crimes the past two years in Columbus and other major Ohio cities.

• Legal experts believe socio-economic changes brought about by the pandemic, such as an increase in unemployment, could be behind these spikes, Axios' Russell Contreras reports.

By the numbers: Columbus saw a record number of homicides in 2020 (175) and is well on pace to surpass that in 2021.

• The city recorded its 167th homicide this year with a fatal shooting over the weekend, per WBNS.
• Homicide rates per 100,000 Ohioans rose 40% between 2019 and 2020, the biggest increase seen over the past 35 years.
• The rate of violent crime offenses — which include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — rose by 4%.

Yes, but: The overall rate of violent crime in Ohio did not jump last year as much as the homicide rate did, and remains well under the national rate.

Driving the news: The Columbus Division of Police partnered with researchers at the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) to study more than 100 homicides from a nine-month stretch in 2020.

What they found: Seventeen active street gangs with a total of around 480 group members are confirmed to be responsible for 36% of those homicides.

• Another 10% of those homicides have suspected gang involvement, said LaShanna Potts, an assistant police chief, at a recent press briefing.
• "A large percentage of the violence is being driven by a very small segment of this population," Potts said.
• What's next: Potts and other city leaders outlined a number of crime prevention programs being ramped up in the wake of this homicide spike.

Group Violence Intervention, a strategy pioneered by NNSC director David Kennedy, calls for directly engaging with gang members to discourage violence and offer social services help.

The Buckeyes' playoff hopes look a bit more promising after a wild Saturday of college football.

• OSU's blowout victory over Maryland was boosted by a stunning loss by No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Iowa's takedown of No. 4 Penn State.

The latest: No. 6 Ohio State (5-1) now has a 37% chance of making the College Football Playoffs, per ESPN's playoff predictor tool.

The intrigue: As ESPN points out, no team has ever made the four-team playoff with more than one loss.

• That could spell trouble for OSU, which has yet to face Big Ten foes Penn State (5-1), Michigan State (6-0) and Michigan (6-0).

What's next: The Buckeyes have a bye weekend and return to action against Indiana on Oct. 23.

🕯️ Hundreds of parents and students organized a vigil memorializing the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of OSU student Chase Meola. (The Columbus Dispatch)

✈️ Southwest Airlines' ongoing turmoil luckily hasn't caused too much disruption at John Glenn International Airport, with just a handful of flights affected. (WBNS)

🍴 Famed competitive eater Joey "Jaws" Chestnut took his talents to the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship in nearby Jeffersonville and gobbled up more than 16 pounds worth of pie. (614 Magazine)

🃏 Columbus magician Erik Tait will represent a North American team at the competition known as "the Olympics of magic." (Columbus Alive)

Lawmakers now say that a previously-proposed bill allowing victims of Ohio State sports physician Dr. Richard Strauss to hold the university accountable in court was doomed to fail — on purpose. (Ohio Capital Journal)

🖐 Tyler here. Over the course of eight years, I traveled around the state photographing the sites of Ohio's 88 county bicentennial barns.

• The project led me to explore areas of Ohio I had never been to before, including cities and countrysides.

What's happening: As a new travel challenge, I've decided to visit all 121 (and counting) Ohio Historical Markers located in Franklin County.

The (first) marker: The site of the first Wendy's restaurant, 257 E. Broad St., Columbus.

• Dave Thomas opened his first location here in 1969.
• It closed in 2007, with pieces of Wendy's memorabilia moved to the chain's corporate headquarters in Dublin. Now, the building houses The Catholic Foundation of Ohio.

The intrigue: This has to be the only historical marker in Ohio with the phrase "hot 'n juicy hamburger."

One down, 120 to go.

With Halloween fast approaching, it's time to stock up on candy — apparently Blow Pops are in high demand in the Buckeye State.

What's happening: Since 2018, CandyStore.com has compiled a list of the most popular candy in every state using years of sales data.

• And for two years straight, the suckers with bubblegum centers have led Ohio. What gives?

The intrigue: We're skeptical that most trick-or-treaters would be excited to get a Blow Pop in their candy bag when so many superior options — ahem, Reese's Cups — exist.

📬 Prove us right and tell us your favorite Halloween candy by replying to this email.

One final candy take: Well, at least it's not candy corn… (Looking at you, Michigan! 🤢)