Alissa Widman Neese

5 days ago | axios.com | Alissa Widman Neese |Arika Herron

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/AxiosThe Midwest is emerging as one of the nation's fastest-growing data center hubs, with development stretching from Kansas and Iowa to the Great Lakes states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Why it matters: Data centers power the AI boom — but their soaring energy and water demands often go unreported and the benefits for local communities are unclear because data centers create few permanent jobs.

5 days ago | axios.com | Alissa Widman Neese

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/AxiosThe internet's latest obsession is a wild hypothetical: 100 unarmed men versus one gorilla, who wins? Why it matters: It probably doesn't, but nothing brings people together like a wacky online debate. So we asked the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's expert to weigh in. The big picture: Gorillas live in African rainforests and are the largest primates on Earth. A silverback, a group's dominant male, tops out around 450 pounds.

1 week ago | axios.com | Alissa Widman Neese

1 week ago | axios.com | Alissa Widman Neese

The City of Columbus is working to replace over 300,000 aging water meters across Central Ohio — a switch that's unexpectedly flooding some customers with higher water bills. Why it matters: The new meters are more accurate and efficient, eliminating the need for manual readings, per the city. They'll be more user-friendly, eventually featuring a new online customer portal, and will allow the city to switch from quarterly to monthly billing.

1 week ago | axios.com | Sam Allard |Alissa Widman Neese

Illustration: Maura Losch/AxiosIt's primary Election Day, and for many local voters there's only one item on the ballot: State Issue 2. Why it matters: If OK'd by voters, it would authorize the state to allocate $2.5 billion over 10 years to fund public infrastructure projects to improve bridges, roads, sewers and water lines. In case you missed our recent explainer, the State Capital Improvement Program dates back to 1987, and it's been renewed at the ballot box about every 10 years.