Axios Columbus

April 03, 2026
You made it through another week, Columbus!
☔️ Today's weather: Rainy and windy with a high around 80.
🎂 Happy birthday to our member Christine Williams, and happy early birthdays to Darby Schaaf, Gary Gillett, Curt Sienkiewicz, and James Ford!
🐰 Happy Easter to all who are celebrating this weekend!
🎶 Reminder: Vote in the final round of our best music venue bracket by noon today!
Today's newsletter is 1,116 words — a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Why Ohio banned its smelliest tree
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's also one of the most noticeable plants in Central Ohio — among the first trees to bloom each spring and arguably the smelliest.
You've probably walked or driven past a blooming Bradford pear tree this week.
- Their skinny trunks and fluffy white blooms have a distinctly idyllic look, and there are thousands around Columbus.
👃 The intrigue: The tree's most notorious characteristic is its smell when blooming.
- It's been likened to rotting fish, dirty socks and, perhaps most commonly, certain unmentionable bodily fluids.
Flashback: The Bradford pear is a variety of Callery pear, which arrived on the continent from China in the mid-20th century.
- People were annoyed by "the slippery mess caused by pear fruits littering sidewalks," so the Bradford variant — marketed as sterile — and its inedible, slightly toxic fruit grew in popularity.
Yes, but: Unfortunately, it can cross-pollinate with other species, and its seeds are easily spread by wind and birds.
Threat level: That's the main reason the tree is problematic, Ohio Department of Agriculture director Brian Baldridge tells Axios.
- "These are easy to transmit, easy to germinate. And then what happens is they have the ability to push out some of our native species that have been here a long time."

What they did: Ohio was the first state to ban the planting of new Callery pears starting in 2023.
- Others have followed suit.
- Baldridge says the state now encourages replacing existing trees, and works with nurseries to ensure they're out of the retail market.
What you can do: Removing Bradford pears from your property would be ideal — but be sure to treat the stump with herbicide or remove the root system, or it will come right back.
- Ohio State horticulturists recommend substituting native ornamental trees like the serviceberry, white eastern redbud, Carolina silverbell or sweet bay magnolia.
The bottom line: Baldridge hopes people will take initiative and consider removing existing trees, but the problem isn't bad enough to require it — yet.
- "We're not coming in with the heavy hand of government and saying, 'You've got to remove them out of your yard.' We're not at that point yet. We think removing it from retail is a great starting point."
2. 🎳 A pro bowling doubleheader
Columbus is the capital of the bowling world this weekend.
Rolling the news: Columbus Square Bowling Palace hosts a doubleheader of Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) events.
Currently underway is the 2026 Pilgrim's PBA Ohio Classic, the first PBA event in Columbus in six years.
- The 120-person tournament has a $200,000 prize pool and culminates in a championship airing on the CW Sunday at 4pm.
But the weekend headliner is the PBA's USA vs. The World showdown, an international team competition similar to golf's Ryder Cup.
- The competition blends singles, doubles and team play, with bowlers from Australia, Canada, England and Sweden.
- The event includes practice rounds Friday night before the main event Saturday at 2pm, which airs on CBS and Paramount+.
3. ⚽️ The Crew is still winless
The Crew season is still young, but the team already desperately needs a win.
Catch up quick: Through five games, Columbus has had one of the worst starts in MLS.
- The Crew has lost three and drawn two to open 2026, and its 2 points are above only the five-loss Philadelphia Union at the bottom of the standings.
- They average just one goal per game.
Between the lines: It's a season of transition for the Crew, and they're still figuring it out.
- New head coach Henrik Rydström has been tinkering with lineups and formations, and his style of play and preferred players are still unclear.
- New signings, including headliner André Gomes, have yet to leave a mark.
State of play: The Crew offense is not working.
- Star Diego Rossi hasn't had a shot on target in three matches.
- Striker Wessam Abou Ali has scored three goals, but looks disconnected from the attack.
- Second-highest paid player Daniel Gazdag, who was deeply disappointing in 2025, can't even get on the field — he's played just 72 minutes.
Yes, but: The MLS season is long and 60% of the league makes the playoffs.
- In 2023, Sporting Kansas City became the first team to go winless in its first 10 matches and still qualify.
What's next: The Crew visit Atlanta United Saturday at 7:30pm.
🗓️ The big picture: This is MLS's last season in its current format before the league switches to a summer-spring calendar in 2027.
- Earlier this month, they announced plans for a mini "sprint season" between February and April of next year.
4. 🐰 Mapped: We love peanut butter bunnies

DoorDash analyzed which Easter basket treats over-index by state, and Reese's is the national MVP, with Peanut Butter Bunnies uniquely popular here and across the country.
5. 🎟️ Weekend picks: Games galore
April is not known as the greatest sports month, but this weekend is packed with competition.
🌭 Our pick: Catch a game — no matter which sport you're into.
🧢 It's the first homestand of the year for the Clippers, who host the Indianapolis Indians each day.
- Sunday features an on-field egg hunt and visit from the Easter Bunny.
⚾️ Ohio State baseball has its own homestand against Maryland today through Sunday.
🏐 The Columbus Fury hosts the San Diego Mojo in Major League Volleyball play tonight, then the Grand Rapid on Sunday.
🏀 The Columbus Wizards play the St. Louis Griffins at Otterbein University's Rike Center.
🏈 The Aviators make their home debut against the DC Defenders tonight.
- We'll be there — catch our take on the experience next week.
🏒 The Blue Jackets try to stay in playoff contention Saturday night against Winnipeg.
🛼 Ohio Roller Derby takes on the Black Rose Rollers Saturday.
What else is happening:
🐣 The zoo hosts Eggs, Paws and Claws today and Saturday, featuring the Easter Bunny and other characters.
🎶 R&B legend Patti LaBelle plays the Mershon Auditorium tonight.
🖤 Scene kids from the 2000s can relive the glory days at A&R Music Bar, with the Warped Tour Tribute tonight or Emo Nite Saturday.
🎸 Kyle Gass of Tenacious D plays Rumba Cafe Saturday night.
Thanks to Tyler Buchanan for editing today's newsletter.
Our picks:
👋 Alissa is back!
🧑🚀 Andrew still hasn't caught "Project Hail Mary" yet.
🎳 Tyler misses bowling and wants to go!
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