Gunfire Near Lincoln Park, Housing Bill, Summer Heat, and Young Birder Honored: Columbus Local Pulse

Good morning, this is Columbus Local Pulse for Thursday, June twelfth.

We start today with breaking news from the south side, where Columbus police responded to reports of gunfire near Lincoln Park Pool and the Barack Community Recreation Center on East Woodrow Avenue. Officers arrived to the sound of shots still being fired and, in a tense moment, one officer shot and injured a teen who allegedly had a gun. That individual was rushed to Grant Medical Center and is now in stable condition. Investigations are ongoing, and police are urging anyone with further information to come forward. In other crime news, officers are looking into a hit-skip accident on Ontario Street and a felonious assault on the sixteen hundred block of Lockbourne Road. Public safety officials remind us all to stay alert and report anything suspicious.

From City Hall, housing remains front and center as lawmakers consider Senate Bill 145, which puts housing at the core of our state development strategy. The bill would expand the Welcome Home Ohio Program, offering grants and tax credits for home buyers and renovators, aiming to give more Columbus families a stable foundation and a shot at owning their home. While funding details are still pending, city leaders say this could mean new resources for anyone struggling with rising rents or property taxes.

Turning to the weather, it’s a muggy start but we can expect sunshine throughout the day. Temperatures will climb to the upper eighties and it’ll feel humid, so if you’re planning outdoor activities or heading to a community event after work, stay hydrated. No severe weather is expected, just classic Columbus summer heat.

On the jobs and business front, we’re seeing steady activity across the region with local companies posting new positions across hospitality, tech, and logistics. Our real estate market remains tight, with demand keeping home prices strong and average sale times just under forty days.

For our schools, Columbus just played host to the International Science and Engineering Fair, drawing seventeen hundred students from forty-eight states and more than sixty countries. Local students received honors alongside global peers, shining a light on the city’s growing STEM reputation. In other school news, the Wellington School welcomed a new Head of School, and Columbus City Schools are actively working to enhance campus safety after another report of a gun found on school property.

Culturally, the city is buzzing this week. Festivals are set at Goodale Park, live music returns to the Short North, and you can catch local acts at the Newport Music Hall this weekend. For sports fans, the Crew gear up for a home match at Lower.com Field, while youth leagues celebrate the end of their spring season with several championship games at Berliner Park.

And before we go, a feel-good story to start our day: seventeen-year-old Gahanna student Cora Wallace was just named Young Birder of the Year. She’s identified six hundred ninety-one species across the country, making our community proud and inspiring others to get outside and explore.

This has been Columbus Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.