Recent public-news developments around this place, gathered from public sources.
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.
WOSU Public Media · Sep 29, 2026Columbus 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.
WOSU Public Media · Sep 29, 2026The 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.
CW Columbus (cwcolumbus.com) · Sep 24, 2026CAPA 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.
Columbus Navigator · Sep 26, 2026Nib used AI to summarize the linked public news sources. No Juncture editor reviewed this brief. AI summaries can miss context or make mistakes, so check the original sources before acting on this information.
Local stories gathered from public news sources while this area builds its own coverage.
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) reported that over 6% of its trips were missed from January to August. COTA CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler stated the agency is working on reliability, partly blaming electric buses and other factors. She assured riders a plan is in place for improvements.
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Flyers advertising the Ku Klux Klan were found overnight in Worthington, with similar flyers reported in other central Ohio neighborhoods. The NAACP Columbus branch condemned the materials, while Columbus City Schools also issued a statement against hate.
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An orchard owner in southeast Ohio reports that invasive ambrosia beetles have killed an estimated 75% of his pawpaw trees. These beetles drill into the bark and cultivate a fungus, causing widespread damage to the native fruit's source. The farmer is now experimenting with new strategies like drainage systems.
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The drowning death of a 2-year-old at a North Columbus retention pond is prompting questions about current city codes. Officials confirmed the pond was compliant with regulations, but the tragedy has sparked discussion online regarding potential additions like perimeter fencing. The City of Columbus has hundreds of these ponds due to its flat landscape.
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CAPA hosted a free birthday celebration at the century-old Palace Theatre on September 26, letting visitors tour the venue, pose onstage and catch pop-up performances marking its 1926 opening.
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The city closed 17th Avenue and Velma Avenue near the Ohio Expo Center starting September 24 through late October to accommodate the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, which organizers expect to draw over 500,000 visitors.
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Summarized from public news sources, not original Juncture reporting. Open the linked sources for the full story.
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