Nora Igelnik

Journalist and Editor

The Columbus Dispatch •

See cancellations for outdoor activities in Columbus due to wildfire smoke

Numerous activities around Columbus and central Ohio have been canceled or moved indoors on Friday, July 17, as smoke from Canadian wildfires led the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to issue another statewide air quality advisory for Friday, July 17, the second consecutive day.The current Air Quality Index (AQI) in Columbus as of 5:15 p.m. was 272, and although dropping, is considered dangerous by AccuWeather. Any exposure to the air, even for a few minutes, can lead to serious health effec...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Smoke from Canadian wildfires pushes Columbus air quality to worst-ever record

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has resulted in the worst air quality index in the Columbus area since the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission began keeping records in 1999.

The AQI reached 554 at 6 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at Finland Elementary School on the city's Southwest Side, according to MORPC data. That is considered "hazardous" to everyone using the National AQI Index.

At 12:40 p.m., the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Columbus was 295, considered "very unhealthy."

The previous recorded...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Timeline of Siders family from 2008-2026 reveals addresses, truancy

Birth certificates and other public records provide some insight into what the Siders family's life looked like for years before the June 30 rescue of 16 children from a home officials described as "deplorable" in the small town of Hamden in Vinton County.

Gary Siders Sr., 74, and Christina Siders, 66, along with Gary Siders Jr, 36, and his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, have been charged with 16 counts each of endangering children following the discovery of the children, ranging in age from 18 mon...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Heat wave to break soon as Canadian wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air

The state of Ohio is currently under an air quality advisory by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and it is unclear when exactly the impact of smoke from Canadian wildfires will let up.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has issued an air quality alert for Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin and Licking counties until midnight tonight. Levels of ozone within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

The Ohio EPA expects the Air Quality Index to fall into the "unhealthy" r...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Gateway readies for 'movie of the year' as Nolan fans seek out 70mm 'Odyssey' showings

Christopher Nolan would prefer for everyone to see his latest film, "The Odyssey," an adaptation of Homer's epic, on a 70mm IMAX screen, as it is the first narrative film to be shot entirely using IMAX cameras.Unfortunately, Ohio does not have that option for its residents. The closest moviegoers can get to Nolan's vision of a higher-resolution and expanded picture is to see the film at the independent, nonprofit Gateway Film Center, which offers non-IMAX 70mm showings.Those who seek the full IM...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Ohio State, nonprofits raise alarm over new Trump rule that could limit grants

Eighty Columbus nonprofit organizations signed a letter, drafted by the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, that was submitted as public comment July 13 challenging new changes to how grant programs are approved based on their alignment with President Donald Trump's policies.

Changes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, announced May 29, would require grant programs to align with presidential administration's policies and priorities, no...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Rob Lowe and Chris Pratt promote Dublin parks in Instagram video

Dublin's Parks & Recreation department is leaning on two Hollywood faces to promote their services during Parks & Recreation month.

In a video posted to the city's Instagram account, Rob Lowe and Chris Pratt of NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation" fame discuss the best parks department, followed by Dublin Parks employees highlighting the city's recreational amenities and making references to the iconic series.

Pratt and Lowe were recently in Dublin in early June for the Memorial Tournament where...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Got tech? Micro Center Columbus flagship store plans grand re-opening

This story previously said the Micro Center's location was in Hilliard. It is located in Columbus, while Micro Center corporate offices are in Hilliard.Micro Center, the computer retail chain homegrown in Columbus, has announced the city's flagship location will host a grand re-opening next month.The store at 747 Bethel Rd. will remain open during a comprehensive remodel before the Aug. 22 re-opening event, according to a press release. Renovations will include an upgraded Build Your Own departm...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Heat wave overwhelmed Columbus shelter waitlist, prompting new caps

The intense heat wave that hit central Ohio last week also triggered a surge in need for shelter beds.Columbus City Councilmember Melissa Green was featured at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum July 8 on the subject of community safety nets. Green, who is also chair of the council's Health, Human Services & Equity Committee, said the waitlist for shelter beds reached 600 people in Franklin County last week, higher than normal.To address this issue, changes are being made to improve the accuracy...
The Columbus Dispatch •

See our complete coverage of the Vinton County child endangerment case

The case of 16 children rescued from "deplorable" conditions in a home in small and rural Vinton County has caught local, state and national attention.Four adults – Gary L. Siders Sr., 73, Gary L. Siders Jr., 36, Christina Siders, 67, and Elizabeth Siders, 33 – were arrested and charged with 16 counts of felony child endangerment June 30.Dispatch journalists have been working around the clock to research and report every aspect of the case that Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described as "pur...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Gov. DeWine signs bill to ensure consequences for catalytic converter theft

Ohio is cracking down on the sale and purchase of stolen catalytic converters.Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 210 into law July 7, putting clear limitations on how catalytic converters − a part of a vehicle's exhaust system that often contains precious metals like rhodium, platinum and palladium − should be handled on the open market.In June 2024, House lawmakers tried to make it more difficult to sell catalytic converters that were stolen from vehicles, but no bill was signed into law.Scrap...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Columbus police investigate July Fourth weekend fights, crime in Short North

Columbus police are seeking the public's help to identify individuals responsible for turning a July 4 celebratory weekend into youth violence and reckless discharge of fireworks in the Short North Arts District.Sgt. Joe Albert said in a statement to The Dispatch that police are actively investigating a series of incidents that occurred in the Short North neighborhood during the holiday weekend. Videos have been circulating on sites like Facebook and Reddit of fights breaking out, people shootin...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Despite high cost of childcare, Ohio subsidy program faces low adoption

A family-owned pediatric dentistry office in Mahoning County, Melissa Mullane Padgett, DDS, employs mostly women, the majority of whom are moms.

The practice is one of only 22 employers in the state participating in a little-known childcare subsidy program: Child Care Cred.

The program started as a one-year, $10 million pilot, with employer applications closing in May. But low participation has left funds available for spending, and the program now runs through June 2027.

As it stands now, fe...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Get ready for a hot, humid Fourth of July. See the forecast

To many Ohioans' dismay, the July Fourth holiday will be celebrated during an intense heat wave.A heat dome caused by air warming as it comes down to the earth's surface has the city slowly trudging through each day with heat indexes over 100 degrees. The scorching temperatures even led Columbus to waive pool admission fees and extend hours.Expect a high of 96 on July 3, with a nighttime low of 74. The heat index, or "real feel," will be 108, according to AccuWeather.The day will bring partly su...
The Columbus Dispatch •

White Castle offers to host Taylor Swift wedding in humorous X post

Columbus-based White Castle has a proposal for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's upcoming wedding.

While the couple hasn't confirmed the day of their nuptials, rumors have been circulating of a Fourth of July weekend celebration.

TMZ has reported Swift is building a castle and garden inside of Madison Square Garden. That gave the locally based fast food chain an idea.

In response to the news from the entertainment media site, White Castle replied on X ,"If you wanted to get married in a castle,...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Social media reactions to Blue Jackets, Zach Werenski trade drama

According to media reports, Zach Werenski wanted traded, then he rejected a proposed trade to the Dallas Stars, and then he issued a statement that said he wanted to win in Columbus.Werenski, 28, has spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but in all that time, he's never given fans such a case of whiplash. You could see that online.Here's a roundup of some of the social media reactions.Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at nigelnik@dispatch.com.

According...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Birdcall chicken chain eyes Ohio in Midwest expansion

There's a new chicken sandwich coming to town.The Colorado-born fast-casual chain Birdcall is pursuing a major Midwest expansion plan, with a goal of adding 100 locations across six states by 2031. The chain hopes to bring between six and eight restaurants to Columbus.Birdcall specializes in chicken sandwiches, tenders, tots, nuggets, milkshakes and more, according to a press release. Besides Columbus, the company hopes to add five to six restaurants in Cleveland and six to eight spots in Cincin...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Upscale Indian restaurant serving diverse flavors opening near Polaris

Taking the place of a former Winking Lizard location is a new upscale Indian restaurant, Bombay House Restaurant & Bar, located at 496 Polaris Pkwy.

The Winkling Lizard at Polaris, part of an Ohio chain focused on beer and wings, closed its doors in 2023, leaving the property vacant. Bombay House, set to open in July, is taking over a part of that space to bring a variety of Indian dining and cocktail options to Columbus.

The idea for Bombay House, run by the Kondhare family, was inspired by t...
The Columbus Dispatch •

iHeartMedia layoffs hit Columbus stations, per reports

Sprawling layoffs at iHeartMedia – parent company of iHeartRadio – have reached Columbus, impacting stations WNCI, WODC and WCOL, according to industry reports.

Chris Davis has departed from his role as afternoon host at hit music station 97.9 WNCI and midday host on classic hits 93.3 "The Bus" WODC, according to RAMP (Radio and Music Pros). Davis had worked with the company for 25 years.

Joe Kelly is departing from multiple roles at WNCI and Country 92.3 WCOL, where he was a midday host, acco...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Highway to hot sauce? Semi leaks Frank's RedHot onto I-71

As if the heat wave wasn't bad enough, some drivers unexpectedly dipped their wheels into a pool of Frank's RedHot.

A semitrailer carrying 40,000 pounds of Franks's Redhot hot sauce began leaking the sticky substance while traveling north on Interstate 71 around 5 p.m. June 30 in northern Delaware County. The truck eventually got off at the Pilot truck stop around the U.S. 36 and State Route 37 exit.

"Our crews were out on the highway trying to track it down and actually were able to follow th...
The Columbus Dispatch •

What is Ohio's Greatest Home Newspaper? Dispatch featured on 'Jeopardy!'

Your very own local newspaper found its way onto the long-running quiz show "Jeopardy!" June 29.Contestants Sarah Streicher, Jeff Price and Adam Remsen were faced with this clue: "Newspapers for Columbus, Ohio & St. Louis feature this word in their names."The answer? (Or the question, given the nature of the game.)"What is 'Dispatch?'" As in The Columbus Dispatch and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.The game included seven triple stumpers and came down to Final Jeopardy. Remsen, an attorney and theater p...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Oprah Winfrey features family of Monique and Spencer Tepe, slain Columbus couple

A Columbus double homicide that made national news over the winter also caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey.

The television icon talked to Maddie and Rob Misleh, sister and brother-in-law of slain Columbus dentist Spencer Tepe, on a June 23 episode of her podcast.

The couple, who also recently talked to a Netflix podcast about the deaths of Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique, sat down virtually with Winfrey to discuss the alleged abuse Monique Tepe experienced at the hands of her ex-husband,...
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