Columbus Local Pulse: Honoring Airman Tyler Simmons, New OSU Leadership, and Community Spirit

Good morning, this is Columbus Local Pulse for Saturday, March 14. We start with heartbreaking breaking news from overseas. NBC4 reports three Ohioans, including 28-year-old Airman Tyler Simmons from Columbus, were among six killed when a U.S. refueling plane crashed in Iraq yesterday during operations against Iran. Tyler, an Eastmoor Academy football star and dedicated family man, dreamed of flying since childhood. Our hearts go out to his family gathering in grief tonight—we honor his service and sacrifice. Shifting closer to home, Ohio State University just named Ravi Bellamkonda as its next president, skipping a broader search, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. This could shape campus life and research funding for us here in central Ohio. City Hall updates include a key vote yesterday approving new bike lanes on High Street from campus to Downtown, easing commutes and boosting safety for our daily rides. Weather today brings mild temps in the low 50s with scattered showers around Scioto Mile—pack rain gear for outdoor plans, but expect clearing skies by afternoon for a drier weekend outlook. New business buzz: A fresh coffee shop, Brew Haven, opens Monday on Parsons Avenue in Brewery District, while the old diner on Main Street near German Village shutters after 40 years. Jobs look steady with about 1,200 openings listed downtown, rounded up, especially in tech and healthcare per local boards. Real estate heats up too—median home prices hover around $320,000, up 5 percent, drawing buyers to Short North condos. Sports note: Eastmoor Academy's basketball team punched a spot in regionals with a 65-60 win Thursday. Crime report from the past day stays low-key—Columbus police arrested two in a non-violent theft near Easton Town Center, no major alerts, keeping our streets safe. Upcoming, join the free St. Patrick's fest tomorrow at Franklinton Square with live music. And a feel-good story: Neighbors rallied to rebuild a playground at Indianola Elementary after storm damage, opening next week—pure community spirit. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for daily updates. This has been Columbus Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.