The Columbus Dispatch

1 day ago | dispatch.com | Cole Behrens

Columbus City Schools has dissolved its equity office and moved employees into another department, the district said. According to CCS Chief of Staff Mike De Fabbo, employees who were part of the district's equity department have been combined with the district's "Whole Child Supports" department, "to align the work" with the board's whole child support guardrail.

1 day ago | dispatch.com | Bailey Gallion

Following the deaths and injuries of multiple Ohio sheriff's deputies and police officers in May, the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police is advocating for stricter penalties for violent criminals. The Ohio FOP launched the "Protect Ohio Police" political action committee, pushing for increased bail and sentences for violent offenders. The FOP criticized politicians for insufficient support of law enforcement and for not condemning anti-police rhetoric.

2 days ago | dispatch.com | Cole Behrens

The Ohio Senate wants to amend the state's religious release bill to prevent districts from prohibiting religious release time groups like LifeWise from providing students with materials or limiting the amount of times a student can attend a program. The amendments to the state budget bill proposed in the Ohio Senate Finance Committee would require school districts to permit students to bring external educational and program materials into school.

2 days ago | dispatch.com | Bailey Gallion

When Daniel “Weston” Sherrer was 6 years old, his teacher gave his class an assignment asking them to describe what they wanted to do when they grew up. He wrote that he wanted to be a police officer. “My big dream is to be a policeman,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost read from the assignment written by the young Sherrer.

3 days ago | dispatch.com | Jim Weiker

One Columbus-area company fell off the latest Fortune 500 list while another took its place. The Columbus fragrance retailer Bath & Body Works dropped off the annual list after landing at No. 484 last year. Meanwhile, the Westerville manufacturing firm Vertiv, which serves the data center industry, inched onto the lineup at No. 471. With the swap, central Ohio continued to place five companies in the ranking, which is based on 2024 revenue.