Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why ODOT is begging Columbus drivers to stop stopping on interstates

Happening soon: 76 FENCE Greater Columbus Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the Columbus Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday August 20th Patch AM
Thursday August 20th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Columbus! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why ODOT is begging Columbus drivers to stop stopping on interstates
  • How Columbus City Schools can upgrade buildings while facing a $50M deficit
  • How a Columbus-led study says patients really feel about AI care

Also on today's calendar: 76 FENCE Greater Columbus Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Columbus Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Columbus Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Columbus. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Humid with a t-storm in spots, with a high of 80 and low of 63 degrees.
  • Friday: Partly sunny, a shower or two, temps: high: 84, low: 63.
  • Saturday: Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two, with a high of 81 and low of 60 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Quit randomly stopping': ODOT urges drivers to never stop on the interstate after another incident (fox8.com) — State transportation officials are warning Columbus-area drivers to never stop in interstate travel lanes after a red SUV halted on I-670, triggering a crash and near-miss with a semi. With similar incidents already reported on I-71 in Columbus, ODOT urges confused or lost drivers to keep moving and exit or pull over safely instead.
   

2. Columbus City Schools welcome students back to renovated buildings amid financial woes (abc6onyourside.com) — Columbus City Schools are welcoming students back Thursday to freshly renovated buildings even as the district wrestles with a projected $50 million budget deficit and rising health insurance costs. Leaders say the upgrades, funded by a voter-approved permanent improvement levy, won't trigger classroom cuts, but they're warning that unstable state funding and benefits expenses will shape tough financial decisions this school year.
   

3. Study explores AI in healthcare (nbc4i.com) — A Columbus-based team at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center found Americans are using AI tools to understand symptoms and test results, yet growing fewer want hospitals relying on AI in their care. Local physician Dr. Hiten Patel says AI can help with access issues, but stresses it should support, not replace, your doctor's judgment.
   

4. Leaked memo about data centers shows GOP worried about Ohio's U.S. Senate race (news5cleveland.com) — Columbus-based coverage highlights how Ohio's U.S. Senate race is being reshaped by controversy over tax breaks and utility costs tied to data centers across the state. A leaked Republican memo calls data centers a "sleeper issue," while Sherrod Brown's ads hammer Jon Husted's record and Gov. Mike DeWine defends the facilities' economic value.
   

📸 Around Columbus

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbus

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Columbus Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Columbus PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • There's still time to join us for a free community program for people living with eczema on Sat., 8/22! —Nancy Balik Read on Patch
  • My beautiful granddaughter at her baby shower.
    That's right folks. I'm going to have a great grandson soon! (Nextdoor Scioto Village)
  • I'm looking for a spiritual and close knit church group to go to.
    I was raised Catholic, but I don't feel that it fits me that well, and I am looking for another church. I believe in God, and I also like metaphysics… (Nextdoor Worthington Woods)
  • Sysco posted a job opening for Transportation Clerk in Columbus. Apply here.
  • Saia posted a job opening for FT Dockworker - Columbus, OH 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Columbus