Thursday, September 24, 2026·Focal News
Columbus's independent voice
Local
Rob Page resigned as Canal Winchester High School’s football coach and intervention specialist after a district investigation substantiated reports of unprofessional conduct involving a student-athlete. Defensive coordinator Corey Coe will lead the team for the rest of the season.
Politics
A multimillion-dollar campaign is sending Central Ohio residents texts promoting artificial intelligence and data-center…
Local
The Bureau of Land Management has leased 2,777 acres in Wayne National Forest for $11 million, setting up a possible expansion…
Local
Contract talks between Columbus City Schools and its employees’ union have stalled over changes to the district’s self-funded…
Local
Weeks of rain are delaying harvests, worsening crop disease and threatening soil health across Ohio. At the Farm Science Review…
Politics
Ohio Republican leaders and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy are seeking a 90-day suspension of the state’s gasoline and…
Local
Ohio State University’s international student population fell 12.7% this fall to 5,234, the lowest level since 2010. The decline…
Politics
A newly introduced Ohio House bill would allow trained pharmacists to provide certain oral contraceptives to adults without a…
Local
An 18-year-old driver died and two juvenile passengers were hospitalized after a pickup truck left Mink Street and struck trees,…
Local
Hilliard City Council is expected to approve a transfer of about 333 acres to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks,…
Local
Thousands of Columbus City Schools employees could pay as much as $550 more per month for health insurance beginning Jan. 1 if…
Local
Franklin County Municipal Court will remain closed to the public through Friday, Sept. 25, because of emergency building…
Sports
The Columbus Crew fired Crew 2 coach Federico Higuain after an alleged physical interaction with a female referee and comments…
Politics
Ohio legislative leaders plan a special session next week to consider pausing the state’s 38.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax amid…
Politics
Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency Tuesday for 18 Ohio counties hit by severe September storms, directing state…
Local
Nationwide Children’s Hospital will share the top spot in Ohio and the Midwest in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 pediatric…
Local
Nathan Bridges, 24, pleaded guilty to felonious assault in the hospitalization of a 2-year-old boy who suffered multiple serious…
Local
A person died Monday night after being shot in west Columbus, police said. Officers were called to the 200 block of North…
Sports
Federico Higuain received a two-game suspension after an Aug. 23 match following an alleged physical and sexist interaction with…
Local
The U.S. Marshals Service is asking for the public’s help locating Trey Morris, who is wanted in connection with two 2025…
Politics
Ohio’s ban on intoxicating hemp products remains unenforced six months after the state’s cannabis law took effect, as lawsuits…
Local
Ohio has recorded 180 confirmed measles cases across 15 counties during the state’s third outbreak of 2026. Health officials and…
Local
Weekend storms prompted rescues, evacuations and emergency shelter operations in Pickaway and Hocking counties, while flood…
Local
Two Columbus men have been arrested and charged in connection with an August shooting near Gibbard and Washington avenues that…
Local
Anduril plans to begin producing its ALTIUS 600 autonomous weapon at the company’s $1 billion Arsenal-1 complex near…
Local
A Groveport Madison school bus crashed into a utility pole Monday morning near Chatterton and Fleet roads in Blacklick Estates.…
Politics
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said Sept. 21 they would sue the Trump administration after their White House credentials were revoked…
Politics
Ohio will switch back to standard time on Nov. 1 unless Congress changes federal law, but lawmakers are debating whether the…
Local
The average price of regular gasoline in the Columbus area climbed to $4.52 per gallon last week, according to a GasBuddy survey…
Politics
Ohio voters will choose between incumbent Justice Jennifer Brunner and Republican challenger Colleen O’Donnell, as well as…
Local
Two defendants tied to separate Vinton County cases are scheduled for court hearings Monday, months after 16 children were…
Local
Converse has withdrawn an international campaign featuring Aespa musician Karina after online viewers said its imagery evoked Ku…
Sports
Ohio State dropped two spots to No. 7 in the latest AP Top 25 despite a 59-3 win over Kent State. Texas remained No. 1, while…
Local
Brock Free, 20, died after a Chevrolet left U.S. 62 in Union Township early Sunday and overturned multiple times. The Wilmington…
Local
A flood watch remains in effect through 8 a.m. Monday across most of Ohio as showers and isolated storms move back into the…
Sports
Mohamed Farsi and Brais Méndez scored in the second half as Columbus defeated CF Montreal 2-0 Saturday night. Patrick Schulte…