All articles tagged with #columbus
A person was shot and killed on Columbus' north side early Wednesday along Migration Lane near Sunbury Road, behind a Walmart on Morse Road; police say no suspects have been identified and the investigation is ongoing.
The National Women’s Soccer League approved an 18th team in Columbus, owned by Haslam Sports Group with the Edwards family and Nationwide, for a record $205 million expansion fee. The club will play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and begin play in 2028, with a new practice facility and stadium upgrades funded in part by $50 million in public funding ($25 million each from Franklin County and Columbus). The Haslams’ investment also includes contributions to the NWSL Foundation.
Columbus was awarded the NWSL’s 18th franchise, set to debut in 2028 with home games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The ownership group is led by Jimmy and Dee Haslam alongside Nationwide and other partners, and the city of Columbus and Franklin County will each contribute $25 million toward a new training facility and stadium upgrades, financed by bonds repaid with a 2% ticket tax; the team must stay in Columbus for 25 years or funds can be clawed back. The deal includes a reported $205 million expansion fee (a league record) and an expected $300+ million total investment. The franchise will be referred to as Columbus NWSL 2028 until fans help choose a final name, with $28 deposits for tickets available online; a last-minute amendment required identifying a replacement site for McCoy Park if needed.
A basement fire at The Thurman Cafe in Columbus's German Village caused structural damage to the historic landmark; there were no injuries, and staff and patrons were evacuated while investigators determine the blaze's cause.
A marble Columbus statue, a replica of one toppled in Baltimore in 2020, was installed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, loaned by the Italian American Organizations United. The move signals the Trump administration's effort to honor Columbus amid ongoing debates over his legacy and Indigenous Peoples Day, which Biden has designated but Trump disputes.
Trump installed a 13-foot Christopher Columbus statue on the White House grounds—a replica of a Baltimore monument destroyed in 2020—bearing an inscription about its destruction and resurrection and rededicated in 2025; the White House calls Columbus a hero, underscoring ongoing debates over his legacy and Indigenous Peoples Day.
A marble statue of Christopher Columbus was placed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, a replica loaned by Italian American Organizations United. The move, backed by the Trump administration, underscores ongoing debates over Columbus’s legacy and Indigenous Peoples Day, with Columbus praised by supporters and criticized for conquest and exploitation by opponents.
A 13-foot replica of Christopher Columbus, toppled in Baltimore during the 2020 protests, has been installed outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds. The installation, brought to Washington by the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations with White House involvement, is part of Trump-era efforts to reinstall statues removed after the Floyd protests and to honor Italian American heritage ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary. The statue sits near the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery and is fenced off from close public viewing.
Franklin County officials warn of a scam text claiming unpaid parking or toll fines, threatening payment or court appearance; the Franklin County Municipal Clerk’s Office and Ohio Attorney General’s Office say to ignore suspicious texts and verify any fines through official channels.
More than 30 Columbus City Schools received emailed bomb threats, including Indian Springs Elementary. Police and state authorities searched the Ohio Statehouse with no devices found, as the FBI and local partners investigate hoax threats across Central Ohio. Springfield’s Clark County offices closed early and downtown areas were restricted during the incident; officials stress the threats are hoaxes and a federal crime.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther asked residents to stay home and stay informed as crews press on with emergency snow removal after a major snow event; one plow driver was hospitalized after a T-bone crash, trash pickup will proceed Tuesday with recycling delayed by a day, and frigid temperatures with subzero overnight lows and wind chills are forecast for the rest of the week.
Amid a winter storm bearing down on Ohio, Kroger is closing 115 stores in its Columbus Division early on Sunday; a WSYX report lists the affected locations and notes the weather disruption.
Kroger will close all Columbus Division stores at 6 p.m. Sunday due to the winter storm, with normal reopening on Monday; Giant Eagle is also closing early. Central Ohio counties are under Level 2 or 3 snow emergencies as several inches to a foot of snow falls, with brutal cold expected afterward.
A Franklin County, Ohio grand jury indicted Michael McKee, a Chicago vascular surgeon, on aggravated murder and aggravated burglary while using a firearm in connection with the December 30, 2025 killings of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband, dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, in their Columbus home. McKee was arrested in Rockford, Illinois, and extradition to Ohio is anticipated; he appeared in court and waived an extradition hearing. Two children were unharmed in the home; investigators found no weapons at the scene. He is jailed in Winnebago County and due back in court in January if not extradited first.
Columbus’ Franklin County grand jury indicted Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon living in Chicago, on aggravated murder and aggravated burglary with a firearm for the December 30 killings of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe in their Columbus home. McKee was arrested in Illinois; authorities say video linked him to the Tepes’ home and a firearm found at his Illinois residence matched evidence at the scene. He remains in custody with a next hearing in Winnebago County on January 23. The Tepes’ two young children and their dog were unharmed, there was no forced entry, and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center is cooperating with the investigation.