When Columbus residents in crisis dial 911 in a few years, their options for help will look different if a ballot measure passes in May.

Why it matters: The city charter amendment would establish a 24/7 program connecting some callers to resources beyond police, such as social workers and experts in mental and behavioral health.

• It would also, for the first time, enable those teams to respond to nonviolent calls without a police officer joining them.

Catch up quick: The city already has some alternative response programs but they're not 24/7, so coverage gaps exist, a recent review from consultant Mission Critical Partners found.

• Activists have pushed for more coverage for years, but this is their first attempt at a citywide vote.
• The goal is to unite and expand existing services under a new "department, division or office," while also creating an advisory board, per the ballot language.

The big picture: Supporters say police-free alternatives better meet callers' needs and reduce unnecessary police interactions, which sometimes escalate into violence.

• These programs have gained traction in many places since George Floyd's death in 2020.
• Early research suggests they're successfully connecting people to care but are struggling to scale.
• Columbus would be the first U.S. city to enshrine a program in its charter, campaign organizer Emily Cole tells Axios.

The intrigue: City officials and the Columbus Safety Collective compromised on the May 5 local ballot language and jointly kicked off the campaign. It doesn't appear to have any organized opposition.

• The deal included $1 million in new funding, for $8.8 million total in this year's budget.

Yes, but: That's still less than an eventual $12 million commitment petitioners sought in an initial proposal.

• The final, agreed-upon ballot language does not specify funding amounts.

What they're saying: "We wanted to work in partnership with the city on implementation, to ensure this program is fully scaled and fully available for anyone in Columbus to get the care they need," Cole says.

What's next: The goal is to expand the program by 2028 and have it fully operational by 2030.

• Early and absentee voting is underway. The primary election is May 5.

Ohio's problem gambling advocates support new proposals to prohibit online sports betting and limit other wagers, but question whether they'll be adopted or make a meaningful impact.

Why it matters: Legalized sports gambling has made millions for Ohio, but it's also created an explosion of problem gambling.

Driving the news: Three Republican lawmakers are introducing the "Save Ohio Sports Act" to outlaw bets placed on phones, restrict the amount and frequency of wagers, limit sports book ads, and prevent using credit cards to gamble.

Catch up quick: Ohio launched legalized sports betting on mobile apps and in casinos in 2023.

• Gov. Mike DeWine said last year that he regrets it.
• Ohioans have bet $26 billion since legalization, said state Rep. Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky), a bill sponsor.

Between the lines: Ohio's sports gambling legalization was always problematic, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio executive director Derek Longmeier tells Axios.

• "We advocated for a slower, gradual entry. But at the time, they were looking for the 'more the merrier' approach."

A ban on credit cards is "an easy thing" to agree on, he says, also advocating for setting mandatory in-app betting limits upon download.

Yes, but: Longmeier thinks a mobile betting ban is "not realistic," based on its popularity.

• Even if banned, he suspects people would just install VPNs or use illegal markets.
• And wagering limits applied by sports books, he says, are undermined by the existence of more than a dozen different apps.

The bottom line: Ohio's gambling laws have been constantly debated and changed since the 2012 rollout of casinos. Longmeier hopes those changes can slow down and let support systems catch up.

• "It just seems like such huge pendulum shifts, and I think the real change is going to come somewhere in the middle."

Go deeper

🏟️ Ohio State plans to survey fans about potential Ohio Stadium renovations, including premium seating and standing-room-only tickets. (Dispatch)

🚔 Columbus Aviators head coach and former Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr. was charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas Saturday before the team's game in Dallas. (WSYX-TV)

• Offensive coordinator Todd Haley handled head coaching responsibilities Sunday.

📈 Over 600,000 Ohio workers would benefit from increasing Ohio's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2030, rather than the projected 2034, per a new report. (Ohio Capital Journal)

🎨 A new sculpture coming to Dublin this spring is modeled after Jack Nicklaus' golf swing. (Dublin Arts)

• Meanwhile, four new sculptures are planned for Goodale Park. (Columbus Underground)

Hummingbirds are on the move and should be arriving in Central Ohio soon.

Flying the news: After migrating thousands of miles, they're going to be hungry. Now is the perfect time to put out a feeder.

• One was already spotted in Lancaster, per Hummingbird Central's migration map.
• Last year, mid-to-late April was when most birdwatchers reported first sightings.

Pro tip: The Audubon Society suggests mixing 1/4 cup of sugar with 1 cup of boiling water to make hummingbird "nectar" and discourages using red dye.

Go deeper: Check out Alissa's window bird feeder recommendations and learn how to attract hummingbirds to your yard.

The Blue Jackets' playoff hopes fizzled last night, as a Philadelphia shootout win officially eliminated them from contention.

Flashback: Just a few weeks ago, the Jackets were one of the hottest teams in the league and appeared destined for the postseason.

Instead, they nosedived, resulting in a sixth-straight season of no playoff appearances.

• 😬 ... hang in there, fans.