The Columbus Dispatch
Celebrating freedom
More than 100 people gathered June 15 in front of Columbus City Hall to celebrate the day federal troops informed enslaved African Americans in Texas that they were free – two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The June 15...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOING DIGITAL
Your local Kroger is going digital. By the end of 2027, all 115 Columbusdivision Kroger stores will sport electronic shelf pricing labels, rather than physical paper ones, for their products. It’s a rollout the Cincinnati-based grocery chain says will...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dewine wants lawmakers to abolish death penalty in Ohio
Gov. Mike Dewine is urging lawmakers to repeal the death penalty more than four decades after he helped bring capital punishment back to Ohio. In a June 16 news conference, Dewine said he no longer believes the death penalty is a deterrent for violent...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Local Somalis ‘disappointed’ after referee denied U.S. entry
The Somali national soccer team was among the 163 national teams that did not make the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a potential disappointment for the roughly 60,000 Somali Americans who call central Ohio home. But one of Somalia’s own still found a place on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How this Dispatch reporter covers crime and public safety
If you are a frequent early-morning reader of Dispatch.com, you’re probably familiar with my byline. I’m the first reporter online in the mornings, starting my workday at 6 a.m. I catch up on whatever has happened since our nighttime reporter clocked...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
“The WNBA belongs in Columbus.”
Talking about landing a women’s professional basketball team in Columbus
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump says he canceled new strikes on Iran
President Donald Trump on June 11 said he has canceled the latest wave of airstrikes he threatened on Iran, citing productive discussions with the nation’s leaders and a potential peace deal in the works. “Based on the fact that discussions with the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Study: Ohio has enough water for data centers
Ohio has enough water for its data centers and its communities for the near term, but whether water infrastructure and public trust can keep pace will determine the industry’s future, a statewide report found. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce released a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A ‘best-in-class’ goal
Mccoy Park could soon be the site of state-of-the-art, heated soccer fields and a two-story, 45,000 square-foot training facility for Columbus’ newest professional sports team. The Haslam Sports Group shared its plans for a National Women’s Soccer...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘An example of how to contribute to society’
Josh Stroud twisted the wrench, tightening the wheel to the lawnmower before standing up. The 15-year-old had just finished putting together his second lawnmower of the day, a shiny red push mower that he and other teens would use to mow nearby...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
If it’s local you want, we’ve got it.
Our Sunday refresh offers more local news and sports, as well as “Weekend Exclusive” content to help you navigate your lives. So enjoy your Sunday reading filled with stories that will inspire, educate, inform and entertain you.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TEEING OFF INTO THE WEEKEND
The Memorial Tournament continues through June 7 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. As always, legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, an Upper Arlington native, is the host of the tournament, which was first played in 1976. Gates open at 9 a.m. June 6...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Federal officials, state leaders unveil fraud crackdown in Ohio
Fourteen people face charges in Ohio after the Trump administration accused them of stealing nearly $60 million through government programs and other fraud schemes. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, joined by Ohio leaders and federal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Time for golf, fans
Celebrities joined PGA Tour players for the Workday Golden Bear Pro-am at the Memorial Tournament on June 3 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. Actor Chris Pratt was a fan favorite as he signed autographs and participated in an impromptu Irish...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The antidote to hate is visibility’
At a time when Columbus leaders fear that LGBTQ+ rights are under attack nationally, the city kicked off the first night of Pride Month with a visible display of support: illuminating City Hall in rainbow colors. “The antidote to hate is visibility,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
All eyes are now on Ohio’s Husted vs. Brown showdown
Sherrod Brown toured a Guernsey County farm on a recent spring afternoon, taking in the cows and rolling hills that surrounded him. This wasn’t another day of retired life for Brown, the 73-year-old former U.S. senator from Ohio. It was part of his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
She gave everything to help these kids
Charlene Porter was well into her 60s before anyone called her “mom.” Now, two little boys use the word to refer to her frequently. “Sometimes I look at them and think: ‘They’re really mine. I don’t have to give them back,’” Porter said of her...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
When it comes to senior living, one size does not fit all.
As a life plan community, Ohio Living Westminster-thurber’s campus is designed to provide the housing option that’s right for you, right now.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Double killing suspect had faced prior charges
A Columbus man charged with killing his wife and her young daughter previously faced accusations of strangling and assaulting the woman, according to court records reviewed by The Dispatch. Derrick Marcus Green, 35, faces two charges of murder in the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Intel’s Apple deal could renew hopes for delayed Ohio plants
Intel has reportedly reached a preliminary deal to make computer chips for Apple products, according to national and local sources. It’s important news for officials who had been relying on company statements to justify their optimism about the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Heavy rains batter region, lead to flash flood warning
Heavy rain pounded central Ohio again May 27 with the National Weather Service issuing a flash flood warning after 2 to 3.5 inches of rain fell on some areas of the region. State Route 104 was closed during the morning hours after water blocked the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Columbus considers giving up its water utility control
Decades ago, Columbus mayors used the city’s water supply as a powerful bargaining chip to force communities to submit to annexation into the city. h Those days are gone. Today, Columbus Water & Power has contracts with about 30 municipalities to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
City pays special tribute to airman
This year, Memorial Day carried a different weight for Mylo Simmons. It’s his first since losing his son, Tyler – and he and his family are honoring the holiday while, as he put it, “learning to live a new normal.” “It gives a whole new meaning to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Blackout license plate bill advances
Ohio is one step closer to offering the popular blackout license plates. The Ohio Senate unanimously advanced Senate Bill 358 on May 20, which would allow drivers to purchase license plates with a black background, white lettering and no designs. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
If it’s local you want, we’ve got it.
Our Sunday refresh offers more local news and sports, as well as “Weekend Exclusive” content to help you navigate your lives. So enjoy your Sunday reading filled with stories that will inspire, educate, inform and entertain you.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Most expensive summer ever’
Memorial Weekend will launch a costly summer as gas prices soar and inflation jumps to its highest level in three years. Inflation in the United States is up 3.8% from a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It hasn’t been that high...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CHANGE OF PLANS
When Honda Motor Co. in Japan announced March 14 that it was scrapping plans for three electric vehicles to be made in Ohio, local officials remained outwardly optimistic, despite Honda being told to retool its manufacturing plants in Marysville and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
He’s a champ!
Ray Sharp, Ohio State University’s head mascot coach, pulled out a dry erase marker and walked to the whiteboard inside the St. John Arena conference room. “What are the four elements of a great mascot skit?” he asked the nine members of the Brutus...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘There’s no one here’
One of the main entrances to The Mall at Tuttle Crossing is seen. It’s 3:30 p.m. on a Friday, but it feels like closing time at the Mall at Tuttle Crossing. h Silver security gates seal off dozens of storefronts, many of which are vacant. Escalators...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Electric costs are up
Electricity prices in the Buckeye State are skyrocketing – but how much can be attributed to Ohio’s data center boom is a matter of debate. h From February 2025 to February 2026, Ohioans’ electricity bills rose a whopping 22%, according to data from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Football is Buckeye mascot’s moment
The roar of the crowd was reduced to a single voice echoing around Ohio Stadium as one of college football’s greatest ambassadors began to make his famous prediction live from the field on ESPN’S College Gameday. It’s a scene that has repeated itself...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Reporter shares 2026’s biggest stories in education and what’s next
Editor’s Note: Beat notes is a weekly feature from Dispatch journalists who share what’s been happening in their area of coverage and upcoming events. This week we hear from Cole Behrens, who covers K-12 education in central Ohio. He has been at The...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Sizable ceremony
Columbus State Community College had a lot to celebrate at its 211th commencement ceremony, but at the top of the list was its record-breaking graduating class. More than 1,400 Columbus State students petitioned to graduate at the spring commencement...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘It’s kind of scary sometimes’
The sun had barely risen and Tyler Wisman was already vomiting inside Ohio Stadium. h Wisman, an Ohio State University senior, and the rest of the Brutus Buckeye mascot team got to the ’Shoe just before dawn for one of their weekly summer conditioning...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OH, DEER!
Columbus residents can no longer legally put out snacks for deer, but accidentally feeding the deer with your garden doesn’t count. Following vehement calls for deer population control from Clintonville residents, a majority of whom said in a survey...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Amazing young people’
Ohio State University’s 12,315 graduates were certainly the center of attention at spring commencement May 10. But moms were easily a close second. Ohio State’s largest annual graduation ceremony fell on Mother’s Day this year, the first time since...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ai-integrated cameras raise alarms
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States. h Few could have predicted that they would one day also double as nodes for surveillance. h In thousands of towns and cities across the United States, automatic license plate readers have...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A look at how we cover breaking and trending news
It’s never a dull moment in the world of trending news. From breaking developments to communitydriven stories, the past few months on the trending and breaking beat have been a wonderful bundle of urgency, range and a focus on what matters most to...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Ceremony honors Ohio officers killed in 2025
A day after his killer pleaded guilty in court, Morrow County Deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer was honored at a memorial ceremony for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. “Yesterday, I am pleased to report that his killer accepted...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Expensive celebration
The late afternoon sunshine poured through the windows of Ohio State University’s Longaberger Alumni House as a steady stream of doctoral students, just days away from commencement, waited in line to try on their academic regalia. Sabrina Durso could...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ramaswamy wins GOP nod for governor
It’s official: Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will face off against Democrat Dr. Amy Acton in the race to replace Gov. Mike Dewine. Ramaswamy, 40, of Upper Arlington, easily defeated his primary foe, Casey Putsch, after a roller coaster GOP...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Primary voters discuss issues with an eye toward November midterms
A steady yet slow stream of voters headed to polling locations around the Columbus area May 5 to cast ballots in what were largely expected to be uncompetitive primary elections. At the Linden Community Center on Briarwood Avenue, polling location...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OSU head commits to 36 sports ‘as long as we’re able to compete’
Ohio State University President Ravi Bellamkonda said he is committed to maintaining all of its current 36 Division I sports teams – with a caveat. In a sit-down interview May 1 inside the president’s offices, Bellamkonda told reporters that he wants...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RARE BUT MORE DEADLY
Wrong-way crashes in Ohio are rare, but much more likely to be fatal than a regular crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. There have been two fatal crashes related to wrong-way drivers in April in the Columbus area. One driver...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hendrickson breaks down consumer issues for you
In April, I celebrated two years of working for The Columbus Dispatch. In that time, my beat has shifted and changed with the needs of our newsroom. What hasn’t changed is that journalism, ultimately, is a public service. Last year, I transitioned...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Iran submits peace plan; Trump not seeking Congress’ approval
President Donald Trump showed no signs of trying to obtain congressional approval for the war in Iran despite reaching the 60-day deadline to do so, and a maritime blockade remained in effect as the president expressed doubt about Iran’s efforts to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Failure of access’
After school, the new turf soccer fields built at Kilbourne Run Sports Park by the city of Columbus and the Crew are filled with young club teams – from suburbs like Dublin, New Albany and Lewis Center. Soccer-loving Munir Ali, 8, who lives within...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HOUSING BOOM
As central Ohio clamors for more housing, the city of Delaware is in the midst of its own housing boom. It seems like every few weeks another housing development is proposed in Delaware city. In just the last few months, the city has received plans...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Yep. I built that’
As Dalanda Kounta carefully lowers the circular saw into a wooden beam, shoots nails into a board up high in a boom lift or frames a doorway, she’s imagining the day she’ll be able to go inside the completed building she’s helping to renovate and point...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ISSUE 5 UP FOR VOTE
Columbus primary voters will be asked May 5 whether they support sending clinicians, rather than police officers, to respond to nonviolent mental health crises. h Issue 5 was initiated by the Columbus Safety Collective, which includes ACLU of Ohio and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dispatch reporter covers Delaware County, eastern Columbus suburbs
Columbus Dospatch Editor’s Note: Beat notes is a weekly feature from Dispatch journalists who share what’s been happening in their area of coverage and upcoming events. This week, we hear from Maria Devito, who covers Delaware County and eastern...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Lawmakers pitch days for Hayes, Armstrong
State Sen. Bill Demora was fuming as he left a committee hearing reviewing whether to commemorate a Charlie Kirk Memorial Day in Ohio. “We’re gonna honor some guy who never lived in Ohio, worked in Ohio, went to school in Ohio,” said Demora, a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ex-deputy faces murder charge as retrial begins
Was the December 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. a justified tragedy, as a former Franklin County Sheriff ’s deputy’s attorneys say, or the overzealous actions of law enforcement? A jury of nine women and three men will be asked...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ramaswamy speaks at Ohio State event
Data centers. Paying for tax cuts. The future of Ohio’s universities. Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy fielded questions about some of the state’s hottest topics at a Turning Point USA event at Ohio State University. Ramaswamy, a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Columbus lands NWSL team, set for 2028 debut
Columbus is getting a National Women’s Soccer League team. The NWSL announced on April 21 that Columbus was awarded its 18th franchise, less than two months after it was reported Haslam Sports Group had submitted a bid to bring a professional women’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Giving animals the love they need for 45 years
Jean Marmie pauses at the entrance to a door with her name painted across it, swinging it open to see her current favorite dog anxiously awaiting her behind the metal bars of a kennel. h Eleanor, a 9-year-old caramel-colored mutt, excitedly moves her...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Marathon continuing to shape Findlay home
This story is part of the Iconic Brands series, a USA TODAY Network project showcasing the companies and brands that helped shape the nation’s identity, economy and culture. The series celebrates American ingenuity with a deeply reported examination of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
If it’s local you want, we’ve got it.
Our Sunday refresh offers more local news and sports, as well as “Weekend Exclusive” content to help you navigate your lives. So enjoy your Sunday reading filled with stories that will inspire, educate, inform and entertain you.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to commercial vessels April 17 – then threatened to again close the global shipping lane if the United States did not end its blockade on Iranian ports and ships. It was the latest back-and-forth...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pence talks Iran war, conservatism, faith
Former Vice President Mike Pence supports the United States’ military force in Iran, defended his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and shared how he became conservative during a discussion at Denison University. Pence was the featured speaker as part of the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Protecting history
A fast-growing metro park district in Delaware County is set to open its newest park later this year, seeking to preserve green space in one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. Mccammon Creek Park, 6844 Bale-kenyon Road in Orange Township,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
9-vehicle I-71 crash kills Ohio couple, their 1-year-old child
Three people were killed and three people were injured in a nine-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 near U.S. 36/State Route 37 in Delaware County on the evening of April 11. A 2006 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling northbound on I-71 at around 6:27...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CELEBRATING 100
In 1926, a farmer filed an auto claim with a small, Ohio-based insurer that would become the nation’s third largest mutual insurance company still standing after a century of service. In 2026, Nationwide Insurance has grown from a $10,000 pool for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A LEGACY LIVES ON
For 26 years, the Columbus police fallen officers memorial has stood in Genoa Park near the Scioto River as a monument to those who died while serving their city. h It has remained unchanged for a decade − the longest span since its installation. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
If it’s local you want, we’ve got it.
Our Sunday refresh offers more local news and sports, as well as “Weekend Exclusive” content to help you navigate your lives. So enjoy your Sunday reading filled with stories that will inspire, educate, inform and entertain you.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iran says it will exert authority over strait
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei signaled April 9 that the country will continue to exert authority over the Strait of Hormuz, an outcome experts fear could lead to higher fuel prices for the foreseeable future. “We will definitely...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ODOT planning a record $3.4B of roadwork in central Ohio in 2026
The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to spend a record-breaking $3.4 billion on nearly 1,000 construction projects in 2026, including dozens of projects in central Ohio, the department has announced. The 977 projects involve 739 bridges and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump threats to Iran more hostile
President Donald Trump, ahead of his April 7 deadline for Iran to make a deal, issued a stark warning that a wave of expected U.S. military attacks on critical infrastructure would leave the country unable to recover. “A whole civilization will die...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump promised massive Ohio power plant, but doubts linger
Armed with gleaming shovels, federal and local officials hoisted dirt at a groundbreaking for a $33 billion natural gas-fueled power plant in Pike County on March 20. Under a backdrop of U.S. flags, there was live music, speeches and seemingly endless...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CCS spends $33M on buildings it will close
Columbus City Schools has spent over $20 million in improvements since 2020 on four buildings it plans to demolish. According to records obtained by The Dispatch, the district has spent $33.3 million in total across eight schools it plans to close or...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
When it comes to senior living, one size does not fit all.
As a life plan community, Ohio Living Westminster-thurber’s campus is designed to provide the housing option that’s right for you, right now.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
2 U.S. fighter jets downed over Iran
Two days after President Donald Trump vowed in an address to hit Iran “extremely hard,” two U.S. fighter jets went down over Iran, according to the White House and media reports. One crew member was rescued from a two-seated F-15E fighter jet that was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)