Jackson Hall

Full-time diarist, part-time journalist

The Lantern •

Sister rivalry, unbreakable bond: Exploring Ellie and Ava Wagner’s collegiate dance journey

Growing up, sisters Ellie and Ava Wagner were inseparable, choreographing routines in their living room and celebrating each other’s triumphs at regional dance competitions.

Now, as rivals on two of the nation’s biggest college dance teams — Ellie Wagner with Ohio State and Ava Wagner with the University of Minnesota — they’ve found themselves on opposite sides of the stage, but never on opposite sides of their bond.

This year, Ellie Wagner’s team added another national title to Ohio State’s l...
The Lantern •

Matt Rife ignites conversations about comedy and cancel culture following Netflix special

Columbus-born comedian Matt Rife has raised some eyebrows in the aftermath of his most recent comedy special.

Titled “Natural Selection” and released Nov. 15, the Netflix stand-up show garnered immediate criticism over Rife’s purportedly sexist and insensitive comments toward domestic abuse victims. Linda Mizejewski, an Ohio State professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies with a specialization in comedy and popular culture, and Hayden Moncada, president of Buckeye Standup Comedy Club,...
The Lantern •

To buy or not to buy: How fall aesthetics can affect consumer behavior

Upon hearing the word “fall,” certain images often come to mind, from amber leaves to apple orchards.

The autumn season, however, is also associated with numerous material goods: a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, salted maple ice cream from Trader Joe’s and a cranberry orange seltzer candle from Bath & Body Works being a few examples.

Many companies employ curated aesthetics as marketing tools to increase sales, Alexandra Suer, a senior lecturer in Ohio State’s Fashion and Retail Studies p...
The Lantern •

Black student-led newspaper Our Choking Times revisited in latest Thompson Library exhibit

In 1970, Black students at Ohio State founded Our Choking Times, a publication designed to critique the university’s lack of diversity and provide a platform for marginalized voices.

More than 50 years later, a new exhibit at Thompson Library explores the student-run newspaper’s impact, showcasing its contributions to activism, cultural expression and community-building.

Housed in the Ohio State University Archives, Our Choking Times covered racial inequities on campus, from the university’s l...
The Lantern •

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Columbus Metropolitan Library partner for new rock ‘n’ roll exhibit

Good, old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll is rolling into the Columbus Metropolitan Library — literally.

CML and Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have partnered to present a new exhibit titled “Part of the Machine: Rock and Pinball,” which is now open at the Main Library at 96 S. Grant Ave. Running through May 22, the free exhibit includes playable pinball machines, music memorabilia and events for all ages, said Jun Francisco, the Hall of Fame’s director of collections management.

Francisco said...
The Lantern •

SASHA and AROUSE team up for a night of music, comedy and advocacy to cap off 2025 Sex Week

Ohio State’s Student Advocates for Sexual Health Awareness and AROUSE Student Radio are coming together to host a sex-themed variety show Saturday.

The event will be hosted at Kafe Kerouac — located at 2250 N. High St. — starting at 7:30 p.m., according to an Instagram post from AROUSE and SASHA. Acts will encompass poetry, comedy, music and more.

Tickets are priced at $8 per person, and all proceeds will be donated to the Abortion Fund of Ohio.

Sydney Heckeler, a fourth-year in international...
The Lantern •

Momentum Ballet Company to perform ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Saturday at Ohio Union

With graceful turns, sweeping lifts and a tale as old as time, Momentum Contemporary Ballet is putting a fresh spin on a childhood classic.

The student-run ballet group Momentum Contemporary Ballet will present “Beauty and the Beast” Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Performance Hall, with doors opening at 5 p.m., according to the group’s ticketing Google form. The free show marks the culmination of a semester-long rehearsal process and features original choreography inspired by both ball...
614NOW •

200-year-old Central Ohio inn sold to new owners

A new owner is stepping in at one of Central Ohio’s most iconic properties.


The Buxton Inn in Granville, which first opened in 1812, has been sold to a group tied to the former owners of the Worthington Inn, according to a report from The Reporting Project.


The buyer, Worthington-based New England Development Company, is taking over after the property spent months on the market with several price cuts before drawing multiple offers.


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614NOW •

Ohio mail carrier charged with OVI while driving postal truck

An Ohio postal worker is facing charges after allegedly driving a mail truck while under the influence.


According to a report from Fox 8 News Cleveland, the incident occurred in Braceville, where deputies found the mail truck off the roadway and in a yard. Authorities said the driver appeared intoxicated, and additional reports indicate she was found passed out inside the vehicle.


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614NOW •

Three Ohio Chefs tapped as James Beard Award finalists

Three Ohio chefs are headed to the national stage after earning nominations for the 2026 awards from the James Beard Foundation, one of the highest honors in the culinary industry.


The annual awards recognize standout chefs and restaurants across the country, celebrating excellence, leadership and innovation in the independent restaurant industry. Winners will be announced June 15 at a ceremony in Chicago.


In the Best Chef: Great Lakes category (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio), Cleve...
614NOW •

East side hotspot reopens after temporary closure due to fire

East Market has reopened after a lightning strike caused a fire that temporarily shut down operations earlier this week.


According to Aubrey Stevens, director of development and asset management at East Market, the roof above the Railhouse section was struck by lightning around 11:15 p.m. while the market was open. The market hall itself had already closed for the evening at the time of the incident.


The Columbus Division of Fire responded quickly and extinguished the fire, preventing dama...
614NOW •

Popular Northeast Ohio fruit bowl cafe coming to High Street with first Columbus location

The Fruit Stand, a northeast Ohio-based fruit bowl and smoothie cafe, is expanding to Columbus with a new location in the Short North.


The shop, located at 1130 N. High St., will mark the brand’s first location outside of northeast Ohio. An official opening date has not been announced, though founder and owner Jason Carpinelli said he is aiming for a mid-April launch.


“Columbus has been on our radar for a while,” Carpinelli said. “It’s a fast-growing city with a strong mix of college stude...
The Lantern •

Ohio State a cappella groups Scarlet Fever and Sound of Science to face off in ‘Pitch Perfect’-style riff-off Thursday

Ohio State’s a cappella scene is gearing up for a night of high-energy performances and friendly competition, as Scarlet Fever and Sound of Science will take the stage for a “Pitch Perfect”-inspired riff-off Thursday.

Hosted by the Ohio Union Activities Board, the event will take place at the U.S. Bank Conference Theater in the Ohio Union, located at 1739 N. High St. According to a Feb. 12 OUAB Instagram post, doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the two a cappella groups performing at 7 p.m. bef...
The Lantern •

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins, Ohio State’s Paranormal Club welcomes all

Halloween may be over, but for Ohio State’s Paranormal Club, spooky season never ends.

The Paranormal Club, which meets every other Thursday in the Enarson Classroom Building, is a student organization dedicated to researching and discussing the various paranormal phenomena in which its members express interest, Matthew Takacs, the club’s president, said. With its founding principles being friendship and acceptance, the club offers a place for students to pursue interests they might not otherwi...
614NOW •

64 calves, worth over $100K, stolen from Ohio farm overnight

An Ohio farmer is searching for answers after 64 calves worth more than $100,000 were stolen overnight from a Coldwater farm earlier this week.


According to reports from WHIO-TV and WDTN, the 13-week-old Holstein steer calves disappeared sometime between 10 p.m. on May 2 and 6 a.m. on May 3 from a farm near Coldwater, Ohio, roughly two hours northwest of Columbus. 


Authorities said each calf is worth about $2,000, bringing the estimated loss to well over six figures.


Mercer County Sheri...
614NOW •

Hot Head Burritos founder Ray Wiley dies at 60

Ray Wiley, founder, president and CEO of Hot Head Burritos, has died at age 60, according to an online obituary.


Wiley founded the Dayton-based fast-casual chain in 2007. Known for its customizable burritos, bowls and tacos, Hot Head Burritos has grown from a single Dayton restaurant to more than 85 locations across eight states.


Before launching Hot Head Burritos, Wiley spent more than 30 years as a Subway franchisee and operator. In 2015, he also co-founded Rapid Fired Pizza, helping exp...
614NOW •

After 30 years, Southeast Columbus YMCA closes amid sustainability concerns

The Jerry L. Garver YMCA, a longtime community fixture in southeast Columbus, officially closed its doors on May 30 after serving residents for three decades.


The closure follows a decision announced earlier this year by the YMCA of Central Ohio, which cited facility limitations, declining usage and operational challenges as factors in determining that the location could no longer be sustainably operated. The organization said the move is part of a broader long-term strategy aimed at expandin...
614NOW •

New Iraqi cafe serving waffles, crepes, speciality coffee drinks now open

Hilliard’s newest Middle Eastern cafe is officially celebrating its grand opening this weekend.


AlSindabad Cafe, located at 4562 Cemetery Rd. in Hilliard, will hold its grand opening celebration May 23 from noon to 1 a.m., according to social media posts from the business.


The cafe serves Iraqi coffee, specialty drinks, waffles, crepes, pastries and other desserts in a modern lounge-style setting. The business first announced plans to open earlier this year before quietly beginning service...
614NOW •

North American Tree Climbing Championship coming to Ohio for first time ever

Competitive tree climbing makes its Ohio debut this weekend. And yes, climbing trees can be competitive. 


From May 15-17, the 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship will bring professional arborists from across the U.S. and Canada to The SEED Campus, a new arboriculture training and research campus operated by The Davey Tree Expert Company in Kent.


Hosted alongside the International Society of Arboriculture and its Ohio chapter, this year marks the first time the event has landed i...
614NOW •

Wings, Mac Bowls and more: Ohio fried chicken chain opens Columbus-area location

A growing Ohio chicken chain is expanding again.


OX-B’s will open its first Marion location on May 20, marking the brand’s seventh overall restaurant. The new spot is located at 172 S. Main St. in downtown Marion.


Doors open at 11 a.m., and the restaurant plans to offer free food from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during its grand opening celebration. Guests can also enter giveaways throughout the day for merchandise, gift cards, coupons and a chance to win free wings for a year.


Owner Joe Holbrook...