Good morning, Franklin County. Talk about dropping the ball. While Ohio State's championship football team stands ready to celebrate, Columbus city leaders seem to have misplaced their party-planning playbook. The same downtown streets that rolled out the red carpet for our soccer champs remain conspicuously quiet, leaving Buckeye Nation wondering why their historic victory isn't worthy of the same fanfare.
And speaking of questionable decisions, one local shoplifter apparently missed the memo about his Walmart ban, turning a simple duffle bag heist into his latest brush with the law. Meanwhile, political anxieties are driving record numbers of women to Planned Parenthood, with some Ohio centers reporting a 200% spike in birth control appointments - proving that election results can impact everything from healthcare choices to retail security measures.
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
🏈 Columbus snubs Ohio State champions, denying football team victory parade. Despite the Buckeyes' national championship victory, city leadership has failed to organize a downtown celebration - a stark contrast to the parade held for the local soccer team's single championship. The city's inaction has sparked frustration among fans, especially given that Columbus has a perfect downtown street for such an event. Local resident Joshua Mathias voiced his disappointment, calling out what he describes as "feckless city leadership" in handling the celebration of one of Ohio's most beloved sports programs.
🏪 Banned Walmart shopper busted again, this time for duffle bag heist. Seth Stires, 33, was arrested after allegedly stuffing merchandise into two duffle bags and fleeing through a Columbus store's fire exit. The January incident came just weeks after Stires signed an agreement banning him from all Walmart locations. His extensive criminal record includes multiple theft charges at various retailers, with guilty pleas for burglary, assault, and vandalism stretching back to 2010. While the stolen duffle bags were worth $35, the value of their contents remains unknown.
🩺 Trump's election sparks massive surge in birth control appointments at Planned Parenthood. Some Ohio centers witnessed a staggering 200% increase in IUD insertions during December, as women rush to secure long-term contraception amid political uncertainty. The spike mirrors similar patterns from Trump's 2016 victory, when daily contraceptive insertions jumped 21.6%. Healthcare providers report patients specifically citing political concerns and fears about future reproductive rights access. The administration's immediate actions have amplified these concerns, with the government's reproductive rights website already being taken offline.
🏒 Hockey Scoreboard
The New Albany Eagles soared past Upper Arlington 3-1 in a battle of Columbus-area hockey heavyweights, improving their impressive record to 21-3. The Golden Bears (20-5) will look to bounce back against St. Charles tomorrow, but for now, the Eagles reign supreme on the ice.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Upper Arlington (20-5-1) | ||
@ New Albany | L 3-1 | |
Thomas Worthington (5-18) | ||
vs Worthington Kilbourne | W 2-0 | |
Worthington Kilbourne (14-9-1) | ||
@ Thomas Worthington | L 2-0 | |
New Albany (21-3) | ||
vs Upper Arlington | W 3-1 |
🏀 Basketball Scoreboard (Boys)
In a jam-packed Saturday of Columbus-area hoops, Reynoldsburg Raiders (15-0) stole the show with a commanding 72-51 victory over LeBron's alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary, while Dublin Scioto squeaked past East 59-56 in the day's closest contest. The undefeated Columbus Academy Vikings (15-0) continue to lurk in the shadows, setting up what could be an epic collision course with Reynoldsburg in the postseason.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Beechcroft (6-10) | ||
vs Western Hills | L 72-63 | |
East (7-5) | ||
vs Dublin Scioto | L 59-56 | |
Independence (2-16) | ||
vs Cristo Rey | W 70-28 | |
South (9-6) | ||
@ Walnut Ridge | L 63-58 | |
Walnut Ridge (13-3) | ||
vs South | W 63-58 | |
Upper Arlington (10-4) | ||
vs Grove City | W 48-41 | |
Thomas Worthington (7-8) | ||
vs Worthington Kilbourne | W 53-48 | |
Worthington Kilbourne (7-9) | ||
@ Thomas Worthington | L 53-48 | |
Hilliard Bradley (5-10) | ||
vs Newark | L 47-44 | |
Dublin Scioto (4-11) | ||
@ East | W 59-56 | |
Grove City (5-10) | ||
vs Upper Arlington | L 48-41 | |
Franklin Heights (8-5) | ||
@ Bexley | W 63-38 | |
Reynoldsburg (15-0) | ||
vs St. Vincent-St. Mary | W 72-51 | |
Bexley (5-11) | ||
vs Franklin Heights | L 63-38 | |
Whitehall-Yearling (3-13) | ||
@ Eastmoor Academy | L 75-57 | |
Columbus International (0-12) | ||
@ Horizon Science Academy | L 59-23 |
🏀 Basketball Scoreboard (Girls)
In a trio of Columbus-area showdowns, Upper Arlington's Golden Bears (18-1) continued their dominant run with a 40-32 victory over Bishop Watterson, while Centennial Stars edged Lincoln Lions 69-64 to improve to an impressive 12-1. Meanwhile, Dublin Scioto's rough season continued as they fell to Washington Court House 56-45, proving that the Blue Lions' home court remains a tough place for visitors to steal a win.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Centennial (12-1) | ||
vs Lincoln** | W 69-64 | |
Africentric Early College (13-5) | ||
vs Westerville South | L 54-38 | |
Upper Arlington (18-1) | ||
@ Bishop Watterson | W 40-32 | |
Worthington Kilbourne (12-4) | ||
@ Thomas Worthington | W 48-31 | |
Thomas Worthington (4-12) | ||
vs Worthington Kilbourne | L 48-31 | |
Dublin Scioto (6-11) | ||
@ Washington | L 56-45 | |
Lincoln (10-6) | ||
@ Centennial** | L 69-64 | |
Westerville South (13-4) | ||
@ Africentric Early College | W 54-38 | |
Grove City (14-2) | ||
@ St. Francis DeSales | W 61-55 (OT) | |
Graham Local (9-11) | ||
@ Shawnee | W 48-44 |
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Updated brick home with yard: This beautifully updated brick home, priced at $264,900, features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a new roof, and modern amenities like stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Enjoy the large fenced yard and one-car garage.
Fixer-upper with great potential: This charming fixer-upper in Hilliard is listed at $320,000 and features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a fenced-in backyard, all just a stone's throw from town conveniences. It’s being sold as-is, inviting you to explore its potential.
Updated ranch near schools: This charming 3-bedroom, 2-bath ranch at 7861 Narrow Leaf, listed for $430,000, features an open concept design, a full basement, and a garage lift for wheelchair accessibility, all on a corner lot. Freshly updated with new flooring and paint, this home includes appliances and is conveniently located near Licking Heights West Elementary School.