Columbus

Columbus voters will decide two charter amendments that would change how residents elect members of the city council. Issue 8 would limit voting to district residents, while Issue 9 would expand the council and add at-large seats. Voters can choose yes or no on both issues, giving residents a direct say in council elections.

Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Education Association, the teachers' union, reached an agreement on health insurance premiums. Under the deal, participating members will see premiums rise no more than 8% in 2027. The cap lets both sides avoid potentially costly surcharges, keeping insurance costs more predictable for participating school employees.

The city closed 17th Avenue and Velma Avenue near the Ohio Expo Center starting September 24 for the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. The closures last through late October, and organizers expect more than 500,000 visitors to attend the event. Residents and drivers near the Expo Center will need alternate routes while both streets stay closed.

CAPA hosted a free birthday celebration at the century-old Palace Theatre in downtown Columbus on September 26. Visitors toured the venue, posed onstage and watched pop-up performances marking the theater's opening in 1926. The free event gave residents a chance to see the 1926 downtown venue up close.