Your Week in Columbus: A wrapup of some of the top news stories we're covering
Dear Subscriber,
The Columbus Dispatch newsroom is filled with talented, local journalists dedicated to keeping you informed, entertained and connected to the community. We do that by providing stories that are the most meaningful for you, and by providing in-depth coverage. There have been many events demanding attention this week. Here's what we've been working on:
We started the week on a positive note when staff writers Megan Henry and Cole Behrens reported that the teachers and other members of the Columbus Education Association voted to approve a new, three-year contract with Columbus City Schools. The 4,500-member union — which represents teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, psychologists and other education professionals — voted during a meeting at Huntington Park last Sunday, and teachers and students returned to classrooms on Monday.
On Tuesday, crime reporters Bethany Bruner and Cole Behrens chronicled the events after a fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Donovan Lewis, an unarmed Black man. Columbus police say officers were at the scene to arrest Lewis on multiple warrants, including domestic violence, assault and felony improper handling of a firearm. Police bodycam footage shows an officer opening a bedroom door in an apartment and immediately shooting Lewis, who was in bed. Lewis appeared to be holding a vape pen before he was shot, said Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant. No weapon was found. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigations is investigating the shooting, and the Lewis family has asked that any protests be peaceful.
If you call 911, you expect to have someone answer the phone immediately. But a lack of dispatchers at the Columbus 911 Emergency Communications Center has the city Department of Public Safety aggressively trying to hire people to fill openings as answering times and nonemergency hang-ups increase. Although Columbus' Emergency Communications Center meets state standards for responding to 911 phone calls, data reviewed by The Dispatch shows that declines in the percentages of calls answered within 15 or 20 seconds and a larger number of nonemergency calls ending before a call taker picks up the phone.
In honor of Black Philanthropy Month in August, business writer Erica Thompson put the spotlight on the history of the month and what the lasting legacy means. She also put the spotlight on 13 Black philanthropists in Columbus and the impact they made — and continue to make in the Columbus area. Paying it forward and giving back to the community are common threads among the people Thompson highlights.
In the world of arts and entertainment, fall is super-busy. In the coming months, there will be a wealth of powerhouse music performances in the city: Eric Clapton, Keith Urban and The Who, to name a few. Add to that, a plethora of classical music, theater, comedy, dance, visual arts events and author visits, and central Ohioans have many options to choose from in the next couple of months. Don't miss our fall arts and entertainment guide for highlights of the season.
And we would be remiss if we didn't highlight the dynamic sports coverage by our team. From high school football coverage to pre- and post-game analysis of the Ohio State University vs. Notre Dame game, our sports writers have been hard at work to bring fans the stories that they love to read. And the coverage extends well beyond football. For a look back at the week, be sure to visit Dispatch.com and catch up on all events.
Becky Kover
Features editor
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Your Week in Columbus: An end to the teachers' stroke, 911 calls, more
