Nearly 83% of domestic flights from John Glenn International Airport departed on time last November, slightly better than the national rate.

The big picture: Nationwide, airlines performed admirably throughout the fall of 2022, with on-time departure rates at or above 80% between September and November, per the latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

• That's up significantly from last summer, when staff shortages and foul weather combined to muck up the complex, interconnected web that is the air travel system.

Zoom in: Across our 28 Axios Local cities, the Washington, D.C. area's Dulles International Airport had the best on-time performance in November, at 88%.

• Denver — where brutal storms often snarl wintertime operations — had the lowest, at 76%.

Yes, but: This dataset doesn't include December's air travel meltdown, particularly at Southwest Airlines, which led to thousands of cancellations and delays nationwide, including locally.

Be smart: Because airlines' systems and routes are so interconnected, problems at one airport or region tend to cascade across the country.

• On-time performance also tends to dip in the busy summer and winter seasons.

What we're watching: How airport performance might be impacted by increasing demand.

• The number of air travelers through Columbus continues to climb since 2020's pandemic disruptions, with 2022's 7.75 million passengers representing a 27% increase over 2021.
• But that's still just 87% of 2019's record number of total travelers.

Yesterday, we invited you to guess the whereabouts of this jazzy sculpture.

✅ Several of you correctly placed it on Long Street, across the road from the Lincoln Theatre.

• It is located on the former Empress Theatre site, a popular music and movie venue.

Details: Local artist Omar Shaheed sculpted "Jazz Duets" to pay tribute to the music's importance in Black culture and in Columbus history.

• Columbus was an important Midwestern stop for bandleaders during the Jazz Age around a century ago.

What he's saying: "When you carve different stones, it generates a rhythm — music. It's like you're dancing with the stone, and you and the stone become one," Shaheed said in an article about the piece by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

👏 Congratulations to reader Kevin B., today's winner! We'll be in touch to send over some Axios swag.

🥁 Speaking of the Lincoln Theatre …

Our ongoing historical marker tour brings us to a cultural anchor of the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood.

The marker: The Lincoln Theatre at 769 E. Long St., Columbus.

Why it matters: The National Register of Historic Places calls it "one of the best remaining vestiges of early 20th century African-American history in the city."

Flashback: It opened in 1928 as the Ogden Theatre and Ballroom to serve Black entertainers and patrons barred from white-only theaters elsewhere in town.

• With a unique Egyptian Revival architectural style, the Lincoln hosted many famous jazz performers like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Etta James — some of whom stayed overnight at nearby Green Book sites.
• A very young Sammy Davis Jr. is said to have made his first public performance on the Lincoln stage.

The intrigue: The Lincoln shut down in the 1970s after highway planners divided and devastated the surrounding neighborhood via the construction of Routes 70 and 71.

• It sat vacant for decades until then-Mayor Michael B. Coleman spearheaded a restoration effort and 2009 reopening.

The latest: The theater has returned to its former glory under management by the public Columbus Association for the Performing Arts.

• Besides hosting music and dance performances, the Lincoln also provides year-round arts education programs for children and free workshops for local artists.

2️⃣8️⃣ down, 95 to go.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost dropped trespassing charges against the NewsNation reporter arrested last week at an East Palestine train derailment press conference. (AG Yost)

🎓 A dozen people close to outgoing OSU president Kristina Johnson and the university shared opinions on why she's leaving, ranging from conflicts with billionaire Les Wexner and his board of trustees allies to disagreements over her leadership style and political views. (🔒 Dispatch)

🍔 Preston's, the popular food cart and former North Market vendor known for its smash burgers, opened its own restaurant in Clintonville. (614 Magazine)

📚 Columbus Metropolitan Library is hosting a series of author talks to celebrate its 150th anniversary, including an event with Julia Quinn, the writer behind the bestselling "Bridgerton" series. (CityScene Magazine)

💼 Check out who’s hiring now.

1. Business Marketing Communications & Branding Director at Vantage Specialty Chemicals.
2. System Technician at Breezeline.
3. Marketing Specialist SEO at Micro Center.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

We're thinking of spring, and so are Ohio's MLB teams.

Driving the news: The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians report to Goodyear, Arizona, this week and next for spring training camp ahead of their March 30 season openers.

• Enjoy these spring training snapshots from yesteryear: