Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Columbus fugitive still loose three years after deadly Westland ambush

Also check out Jeopardy! Bar League on the Columbus Patch calendar

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Tuesday September 8th Patch AM
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Good morning Columbus! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Columbus fugitive still loose three years after deadly Westland ambush
  • Columbus driver left in unsafe car after terrifying I-71 incident
  • How COTA's new Line 30 could change your daily commute

Also on today's calendar: Cat Funk and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What happened to the pregnant cat that ate yarn? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny, warm and humid, with a high of 86 and low of 70 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Wednesday: Hot; breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 92, low: 71.
  • Thursday: Cloudy, a thunderstorm; humid, with a high of 75 and low of 60 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Columbus man who allegedly 'ambushed' wife in deadly shooting considered armed and dangerous (fox8.com) — A Columbus woman was fatally shot at her Westland home in 2023, and police say her estranged husband, Jose Antonio Gomez-Santana, is still on the run and considered armed and dangerous. Columbus police and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers are asking west side residents, especially near Galloway Road, to share any tips that could help locate him, with cash rewards available for useful information.
   

2. 'This could kill me,' Metal object hits women's car when driving on I-71 (abc6onyourside.com) — A Columbus woman driving on I-71 near Fifth Avenue says a fast-flying metal object slammed into her car, deploying airbags and breaking her seatbelt, yet her insurer has so far declined coverage without proof of where it came from. Nearly six weeks later she's still driving the damaged vehicle to multiple jobs, worried about her safety and frustrated by the lack of help.
   

3. COTA launches new route from Hilliard to Downtown (nbc4i.com) — A new COTA Line 30 route now links Hilliard, Downtown Columbus State, and Upper Arlington every 30 minutes, seven days a week, giving Columbus riders more direct options to work, school, and shopping. The expansion is part of the broader LinkUS plan to improve transit, walking, and biking access across central Ohio while reducing dependence on cars.
   

4. Columbus man to spend 21 years in prison for fatal shooting (nbc4i.com) — A Columbus man has been sentenced to 21 to 26½ years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in a 2024 West Side shooting. The case stems from an argument on Cliff Creek Drive, and he'll also face two to five years of post-release control after prison.
   

5. Black Tech Week announces move from Cincinnati to Columbus after 5-year run (wlwt.com) — A major national conference, Black Tech Week, is leaving Cincinnati and relocating to Columbus in July 2027, bringing thousands of Black tech professionals, founders, and investors to the city. Organizers say Columbus' growing tech ecosystem, capital, and culture made it the right next home. Residents can expect a week of networking, workshops, and entrepreneurial energy centered right here.
   

📸 Around Columbus

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Happy dating anniversary!
    My wife and I have been together for 20 years (married 12) (Nextdoor Eastland-East)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    A dog who went missing in Columbus, OH, has been safely reunited with their family after 2 hours, 36 minutes. Message from Finder: "Friend found… (Nextdoor South Campus)
  • Columbus City Schools posted a job opening for Substitute Custodian (SY26-27) in Columbus. Apply here.
  • National Beverage Corporation posted a job opening for Machine Operator in Columbus. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbus here.

Ok Columbus! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: She had mittens! (Thank you April M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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