RC Diggers & Cafe has opened on Bethel Road in northwest Columbus, combining coffee and desserts with an indoor sandbox where guests can operate remote-controlled excavators, loaders and dump trucks. The construction-themed cafe is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A new Columbus cafe is pairing coffee and desserts with remote-controlled construction equipment, giving customers an interactive alternative to a traditio

The Neon Raccoon food truck has launched in central Ohio, serving made-from-scratch smashburgers, smoked wings, grilled cheese and fries. The Westerville-based business now makes recurring stops in Powell and downtown Columbus while booking private events. A new central Ohio food truck is bringing smashburgers, smoked chicken wings and loaded grilled cheese sandwiches to customers across the Columbus area.

Mikey’s Late Night Slice will reopen in Grandview Heights on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 1312 Grandview Ave. The Columbus pizza chain will offer New York-style slices, late-night service, opening-day giveaways and plans to add lunch hours as it expands across central Ohio. Grandview Heights opening set for July 31 Mikey’s Late Night Slice will return to Grandview Heights, Ohio, with a new restaurant at 1312 Grandv

Ohio McDonald’s ratings averaged 3.25 stars across 193 locations and 346,236 reviews, tying Wisconsin and South Carolina for the nation’s third-lowest score. Toledo ranked lowest in Ohio, Parma led the state, and Hawaii topped the national rankings overall. Ohio McDonald’s average 3.25 stars McDonald’s restaurants in Ohio received one of the lowest average customer ratings in the United

Indian-origin Ohio State student Sarosh Sheth, 21, was killed near the Columbus campus after a Mustang allegedly ran a red light and struck pedestrians. The driver faces an OVI charge while police await toxicology results.   Crash near Ohio State campus COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University neuroscience student Sarosh Sheth, 21, was killed after a Ford Mustang

The Columbus bed bug ranking remained No. 8 on Orkin’s 2026 list, while Cleveland placed fourth. Six Ohio cities reached the top 50, leading all states in representation in a ranking based on residential and commercial treatments from May 2025 through May 2026. Columbus and Cleveland remain in the top 10 Columbus remained No. 8 on Orkin’s 2026 ranking of U.S. cities with the most bed bug tr

A Bucyrus Ohio train derailment prompted evacuations late Sunday, July 5, 2026, after officials warned of a possible chemical leak from a tanker car. The Norfolk Southern derailment happened around 8:40 p.m. EDT near Whetstone Street and Auto Avenue in Bucyrus, a city in Crawford County, Ohio, according to local officials cited by WSYX. Nineteen train cars came off the tracks, including at least one tanker carrying hydrochloric acid. Bucyrus Ohio derailment leads

Columbus gas prices dropped sharply last week, giving central Ohio drivers some relief after one of the most expensive Fourth of July holiday weekends on record. According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, the average price of gasoline fell 19.1 cents per gallon last week to $3.61 per gallon. The reported Sunday average was 51 cents lower than one month earlier, but still 73 cents higher than the same time one year ago. Columbus

Three central Ohio men are accused in a $340,729 credit card fraud case tied to alleged Synchrony Bank account takeovers, according to Franklin County investigators. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what authorities described as a Columbus-area scheme involving fraudulent address changes, replacement credit cards and retail purchases at stores including Lowe’s, Walmart and Kroger. Central Ohio Credit Card Fraud Case Involves Account Takeov

An Ohio motel fire killed three members of an Indian family from Gujarat after flames broke out at the Econo Lodge in Wooster, Ohio, officials said. The fire was reported at about 1:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the motel, located about 60 miles south of Cleveland. Ohio Motel Fire Kills Gujarat Family in Wooster The victims were identified as Hiteshbhai Suthar, his wife Hinaben Suthar, and their 20-year-old daughter Ishani S

Columbus Red, White & BOOM fireworks are set to draw a massive crowd to the Scioto Mile, with music, vendors, a parade and a major riverfront fireworks display planned. The full calendar date was not included in the source information, but the event is scheduled for the Friday referenced in the material. Organizers expect more than 400,000 people to gather in downtown Columbus, Ohio, making traffic, parking, heat and crowd movement key con

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for Ohio governor has reported $509,473 in credit card payments, drawing scrutiny over how the expenses were disclosed in state campaign-finance filings. The Republican nominee’s campaign charged $280,892 to an American Express card since April, according to an Ohio Capital Journal review of campaign reports published Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Ramaswamy campaign spending draws disclosure questions

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio governor campaign finance reports show Democrat Amy Acton raised roughly $11.5 million from donors in 2026, compared with about $9.6 million for Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, according to a Signal Ohio review of state filings. Ramaswamy nevertheless held a much larger cash reserve, reporting about $26.8 million on hand compared with Acton’s $8.1 million. His advantage was driven largely by a $25 million personal loan to his campaign. Ohio g

Harvest Pizzeria plans to open restaurants in New Albany and Hilliard, adding two communities to its central Ohio network. The company has not provided a calendar year or exact opening dates for either location. Harvest Pizzeria expansion reaches New Albany first The New Albany restaurant is planned for 24 E. Main St., the former home of 24 Main, a bar and restaurant that closed in 2025. Harvest said the location is expected to open in the fall, although

Things to do in Columbus June 25-28 include ComFest, major concerts, collector-car auctions, free movies and family activities across the city. The four-day lineup runs from Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, June 28, 2026. Things to Do in Columbus June 25-28, 2026 Collector Cars, Movies and Soccer The Barrett-Jackson Columbus Auction brings collector cars and automobilia to the Ohio Expo Center from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Th

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the Ohio absentee ballot ID bill and a separate electric submetering measure on Wednesday night, June 24, 2026, blocking changes that would have affected mail voters and renters across the state. The Republican governor announced the vetoes in Columbus after the Ohio General Assembly ended its latest work period. No additional legislative sessions were scheduled until after the November election. Why DeWine vetoed the Ohio absentee bal

Mount Carmel’s Franklinton ER closure is scheduled for Aug. 22, followed by the opening of a walk-in primary and preventive care hub in Columbus on Aug. 24. The health system said the shift is intended to improve access to routine care while reducing avoidable emergency department visits. What the Franklinton ER closure means for patients The emergency room at the former Mount Carmel West campus will stop operating on Aug. 22. The nearest emergency dep

Grocery Outlet is Ohio’s fastest-growing brand in Yelp’s 2026 analysis, placing ahead of 7 Brew, Wingstop, Smoothie King and Paris Baguette. Yelp released the report on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, after comparing business and consumer activity in 2025 with 2024. The ranking combined net new business openings, changes in Yelp searches and consumer activity, including business-page views, photo uploads and reviews. Why Grocery Outlet ranked No. 1 in Ohio

The Columbus gas prices summer outlook is improving as pump prices retreat from recent highs. Still, analysts say drivers may wait several months before prices return to levels seen before March. Columbus gas prices summer outlook points to gradual declines Gas prices in Columbus, Ohio, have fallen at several stations, giving motorists some relief after a sharp increase. Drivers said prices approached $5 per gallon during the surge. Zac Bruney

Columbus residents should expect Juneteenth 2026 closures and service changes on Friday, June 19, affecting mail, trash pickup, COTA buses, libraries, banks and city parking. Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. The holiday became a federal observance in 2021. Columbus Juneteenth 2026 Closures for Mail and Banks USPS post offices will