Emma G. Wozniak

Columbus-based journalist with a firm belief we all have a story to tell — and a passion for being the mouthpiece through which those stories can be shared with the world.

The Columbus Dispatch •

'Frankenstein rabbits' emerging with black horns on face, neck. Are there any in Ohio?

If you hear the term "Frankenstein rabbits" and assume a new sci-fi flick has hit theaters, think again — there's nothing fictional about these virus-infected bunnies.

Several people near Fort Collins, Colorado, recently reported seeing rabbits with short, black horns growing from their faces and necks. Commonly called "Frankenstein rabbits," these animals are actually suffering from something known as the Shope papilloma virus, a viral skin disease that can cause malignant tumors to grow in ra...
The Columbus Dispatch •

'Most stressful spring of my career:' Wet May and hot June hurt Ohio farm yields

By the time he was 5 years old, Brice Acton knew he would be a farmer.

His father farmed, his grandfather farmed, and so did the two generations before them. As a fifth-generation farmer, he knew exactly what he was signing up for.

Now 38, it's not just the threat of losing money that keeps Acton up at night — it's the weight of more than a century of family legacy resting on his shoulders."There's this deep-seated feeling to not let your ancestors down, those who came before you," Acton said.For...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Ohio has produced more than 2 dozen astronauts. Take a look at their accomplishments

From the Ohio State University Buckeyes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cedar Point, the state of Ohio is known for a lot.

But the Buckeye State hasn't just had an impact on this planet — it's made its mark in space, too.

Long celebrated as the birthplace of aviation, Ohio is home to the first factory-built airplane, as well as 25 astronauts who have logged a total of over 22,000 hours in space, according to a May 2019 NASA report. The space agency's Glenn Research Center also notes that thes...
The Columbus Dispatch •

New John Glenn Columbus International Airport terminal's steel frame begins to take shape

After months of groundwork, the steel skeleton of Columbus' new $2-billion airport terminal is starting to rise.

Construction on John Glenn Columbus International Airport's new terminal began in December 2024, focusing mostly on building a new elevated roadway. But the airport announced in an Aug. 8 Facebook post that crews have now moved to the above-ground phase, during which the terminal'...
The Columbus Dispatch •

From 'aura farm' to 'chat,' here's a crash course in Gen Alpha slang🥀

Attention parents, teachers and anyone else who may be interacting with young teenagers this year: The days of "lit," "no cap" and "bussin" are over.

And if you need proof, just read that sentence aloud to a 15-year-old. The look of pure cringe on their face will say it all.

Just when you thought you had a handle on the "skibidis" of slang past, Gen Alpha is doing what it does best: leaving us all behind with a whole new set of words that sound made up — because, well, they kind of are.

Gener...
The Columbus Dispatch •

AEP reports record profits as customers' bills spike - here's what's happening

As many central Ohioans face skyrocketing electric bills, American Electric Power's reporting of record profits has left those customers fed up with the utility giant.

The company's total second-quarter generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings, which can be understood as net income or profit, more than tripled from the same time last year. AEP reported $1.226 billion this year and $340 million in second-quarter 2024, according to a July 30 AEP news release.

Hundreds of customer...
The Columbus Dispatch •

I-270 fully reopens nearly 11 hours after fatal semi and van crash on Columbus' SE Side

This post has been updated with additional information and to correct incorrect information provided by police.

Interstate 270 southbound near the U.S. 33 interchange has fully reopened nearly 11 hours after a fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer and a van on Columbus' Southeast Side.

The Columbus police Accident Investigation Unit said the crash happened just before 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8 on southbound I-270, about one mile north of Alum Creek Drive and south of U.S. 33 east. A Chevrolet van ha...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Claire's files bankruptcy, may close 1,300+ stores. Here's what to expect in central Ohio

Popular jewelry and accessories chain Claire's filed for bankruptcy again — and several stores across the country will soon dim their signature purple glow.

Most Claire's and Icing storefronts will stay open for now, with only 18 locations slated to close by early September, according to the company's voluntary Aug. 6 filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. No Claire's locations in Ohio are on the initial closure list.However, Claire's also asked the court for permissi...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center rebranded, renovated as part of $14M project

The Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center will have a new look — and a new name — by early September, following $14 million in renovations.

Located at 100 Green Meadows Dr. South in Lewis Center at the corner of Powell Road and U.S. 23, the 20-acre hotel and event complex will soon be rebranded as The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center, according to a press release from the property's owner, Nationwide Realty Investors. Brian Ellis, NRI president, told The Dispatch the hotel and event center alread...
The Columbus Dispatch •

What's Up With That? Has Columbus seen more wind than usual in recent years?

It seems that the Columbus area has become more windy in the past few years. Is there any data to support that?

As an intern reporter, I am no stranger to the weather.

Whether it's ranking the coldest Mays in Columbus history or compiling lightning safety tips, it's a sort of rite of passage for young journalists like me to be assigned climate-related coverage like this.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a task I take on with contempt. In fact, I was often told by a college journalism professor that the...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Ohio State-area apartments keep getting fancier and pricier. Inside the luxury housing boom

While exploring off-campus housing options, August Tucker was confronted with two starkly different versions of student life.

A rising Ohio State University third-year student, Tucker could’ve spent $500 a month to share a modest, slightly weathered home with two roommates near South campus, a roughly 20-minute walk to class.

Or, he could’ve chosen a one-bedroom apartment with access to a rooftop pool and Jumbotron, sauna and yoga studio, in-house cafe and bar and a pet spa, all mere steps from ca...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Polaris Fashion Place sold to international real estate firm

One of central Ohio's most popular malls has been bought by an international real estate development company.

Polaris Fashion Place, located at 1500 Polaris Parkway in Columbus, was officially acquired by O'Connor Capital Partners as of July 23, according to a press release from the same day.

The shopping center's previous owner, the Columbus-based Washington Prime Group, had announced plans to sell the north suburban mall and its 70 other shopping centers nationwide — eight of which were in Ohio...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Westerville Schools adds earned income tax to November ballot after unanimous vote

Westerville residents will vote on a 0.75% earned income tax levy in November after the Westerville City School Board of Education unanimously approved adding it to the ballot.

If passed by voters, the levy would generate roughly $24.3 million a year, which Superintendent Angie Hamberg said would mostly go toward preventing additional staff layoffs and maintaining smaller classroom sizes. Amid inflation, increasing student needs and changes to state funding, Hamberg said Westerville Schools has...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Trump administration order to end specialized LGBTQ+ suicide hotline takes effect

Members of the LGBTQ+ community no longer have access to specialized service through the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — announced a month ago that it would no longer fund the national crisis lifeline's "Press 3" option, which allowed individuals who called 988 to be connected with counselors specifically trained to assist LGBTQ+ youth. The service e...
The Columbus Dispatch •

EPA data shows high pollution risk ratings for site of Franklinton chemical leak

Data shows GFS Chemicals, the manufacturing plant behind a July 14 chemical leak — later identified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as hydrogen bromide — had a pollution risk rating more than 114 times higher than the Franklin County median in 2021.

The U.S. EPA uses Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators, or RSEI, to compare how different industrial sites may affect human health, factoring in the amount of chemicals released, their toxicity and how many people are exposed. From 20...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Ohio EPA reveals what chemical was released in GFS gas leak that shut down Franklinton

The July 14 chemical leak at GFS Chemicals that resulted in a shelter-in-place order for people in Franklinton involved hydrogen bromide, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency told The Dispatch.

An on-scene coordinator with Ohio EPA's Office of Emergency Response was informed that a hydrogen bromide solution began to fume into the air during a "routine process" within GFS Chemicals' manufacturing building, located at 777 River St. next to Franklinton Cemetery, Ohio EPA said in a July 15 statem...
The Columbus Dispatch •

GFS Chemicals, which released gas cloud in Franklinton, has had past Ohio EPA violations

A Columbus chemical manufacturer behind the release of a toxic gas cloud on Monday, July 14, that led to a shelter-in-place order for people in Franklinton has a prior history of environmental violations, a Dispatch review shows.

GFS Chemicals, whose company offices are located at 851 McKinley Ave., has received 10 notices of violation from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency over the past decade, each listing multiple Ohio Administrative Code or Ohio Revised Code violations found during r...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Rabbit sightings in Columbus area hopping up from steady population growth; what we know

Three years ago, Rebecca Tien had what she called a “little farm” in the backyard of her home in Columbus' Clintonville neighborhood.

With seven garden beds measuring 8 feet by 3 feet each, Tien’s plot blossomed with everything from strawberries to potatoes to summer squash and watermelon.

Now, all that remains in her backyard are three tomato plants. The rest, she said, have been eaten, almost entirely by rabbits.“We’ve been planting for 15 years,” Tien said. “Last year, they decimated our garden...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Columbus, county say Hilltop store sold stolen goods, seek 'public nuisance' declaration

The city of Columbus and Franklin County have filed a lawsuit accusing the owner of a Hilltop store of selling stolen products.

Herbert's Market, located at 1121 Sullivant Ave., is named in the complaint, filed by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla Favor.

The lawsuit aims to have Herbert's declared a public nuisance and accuses owner Ahmad Arman of a "clear and repeated pattern" of taking stolen goods and reselling them for profit, according to a July...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Is driving slow in the left lane illegal in Ohio? Here's what the law says

We've all been there: late to work, foot on the gas, and up ahead, a left-lane lingerer coasting five under the speed limit like they're on a scenic tour of Interstate 270.

Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won't leave the left lane. For Ohioans, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law.

Much to the chagrin of those Ohioan loiterers, the left lane on multi-lane roads like the I-270 outerbelt can — for the most part —...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Columbus nonprofit plans warehouse, showroom renovations with $2M in city funds

When Nick Bankston was young, his mom took him to the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio — a Franklinton nonprofit that collects gently used furniture for families in need.

A middle-schooler at the time, Bankston saw the trip as an errand, nothing more than "another thing [we] had to do."

That was until he got to pick out his own bed. Not just any bed, but a queen-size, double pillow-top bed. Suddenly, the experience became less of a chore."It's kinda cool when you're a kid and you get to go pick your...
The Columbus Dispatch •

How do Columbus locals feel about America? The short answer is, 'It's complicated'

Once a year, Americans from all walks of life flock to local parks, spread blankets, unfold lawn chairs and settle in for what an outsider might see as an oddly childish fascination with blowing things up in the sky.

Fireworks.

For some, the Fourth of July is nothing more than this — an excuse to gather with loved ones and revel in the sights, sounds and smells of a fireworks show that entrances young and old alike. For others, this tradition runs deeper.Though the Fourth of July has historically...
The Columbus Dispatch •

What you need to know about lightning safety amid severe thunderstorms in Columbus

For years, various sayings and myths have downplayed the threat of lightning.

But after two females were struck near a north Columbus high school soccer field June 29, leaving one critically injured, it's important to remember how real that danger can be.

The incident, which took place outside Northland High School, is a reminder that lightning strikes do happen — and knowing how to stay safe is essential.According to a CDC report from April 2024, the chances of being struck by lightning in a give...
The Columbus Dispatch •

Columbus airport CEO to retire amid progress on new $2B John Glenn airport terminal

The head of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority is retiring after securing the final approval for a $2 billion terminal project launched under his leadership.

Joseph Nardone, president and CEO of CRAA, announced June 26 that his eight-year tenure would be coming to a close, according to a press release from the airport authority. The CRAA Board of Directors will launch a national search to identify who will step into the lead role next, with Nardone keeping the position until the leadership...
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