The Columbus Crew signed Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Méndez as a Designated Player on a multi‑year deal. The transfer is subject to medical and visa clearance and could see him available after the World Cup break.

Major downtown streets will be closed and transit altered for Red, White & BOOM! on July 3; expect bridge restrictions and heavy crowds.

Fox in the Snow will debut an Upper Arlington café on July 11 at 1510 W. Lane Ave., a 74-seat build-out that makes it the chain’s seventh central‑Ohio location.

Bombay House, a family-run upscale Indian restaurant, is moving into the former Winking Lizard spot at Polaris with a pan‑India menu and Mumbai street food. The Kondhare family says the new location will include a full bar and handcrafted cocktails.

Reynoldsburg will limit its Civic Park fireworks to residents and invited guests after a large brawl at a nearby festival. Free wristbands are required and available through July 2.

A federal grand jury returned a 30‑count indictment in Columbus alleging sex‑trafficking, MDMA distribution and illegal firearms dealing; six defendants are local residents. Arrests were executed across multiple states.

Police responded to reports of multiple shots along Hilton Avenue in Wynnton on Monday afternoon; no injuries were reported and detectives are seeking tips.

The Scarborough Magic Mountain Fun Center will close after July 5, ending decades of family birthday parties, arcade nights and go‑kart races.

Grove City Council meets tonight to review a proposed community center and continue a charter review of the city's form of government. Agenda, livestream and public-comment links are posted.

A new Ohio Senate measure would require a 50% capacity factor and round‑the‑clock dispatchability for "reliable" power — a change critics say could block many utility‑scale solar and wind projects.

A proposed bill would dedicate about $50 million to buy land or secure easements to expand public hunting across Ohio amid worries about shrinking access. Supporters say the money could reopen parcels that were once open to hunters.

Brief funnel clouds could appear along the I‑70 corridor this afternoon; spotters already reported one near Vandalia. Officials say these features are usually short‑lived.

A $29.5M renovation will reinvest in the Westin Great Southern, downtown Columbus' oldest surviving hotel, following a 2025 sale.