Weekend Roundup: Murder Plea, Road Updates, Tech Growth, and Community Events

Good morning, this is Columbus Local Pulse for Saturday, December 20. We start with breaking news from our courts. Rebecca Auborn pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault for intentionally overdosing men she met in northeast Columbus. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost praised the airtight investigation by BCI and Columbus Police, saying it brings justice to grieving families. She faces sentencing on February 20. On the roads, watch for changes today. The flyover ramp opens on I-70 near Third Street, but the Third Street ramp closes for bridge work, so plan alternate routes around downtown. Yesterday, I-670 West shut down near John Glenn International Airport for hours during a death investigation that police say appears to be a suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 anytime. City hall updates hit voting rules. Governor DeWine reluctantly signed a bill ending Ohios four-day grace period for mail ballots, meaning they must arrive by Election Day. He worries a Supreme Court ruling could create chaos otherwise, but voting rights groups call it a barrier for thousands of voters. Our job market buzzes with tech growth. Columbus ranks as the sixth largest data center market globally, fueling over 1,100 new jobs from state projects in data and digital health. Hims and Hers plans a 200 million expansion in nearby New Albany, adding about 400 jobs in life sciences. Meanwhile, data center proposals face pushback in places like Ashville south of us over power demands. New business perks up too. Barrio Burrito Bar just opened another spot in Central Ohio, expanding from Delaware. On real estate, median home prices hover around 350,000 dollars, steady amid the boom. Weather today brings chilly highs near 35 degrees with light snow flurries that could slick side streets like High and Broad. Bundle up for outdoor errands, and expect clearer skies tomorrow. Sports quick hit: Local schools report strong wrestling wins at the district level. Community events ahead include holiday markets at North Market this weekend and a free concert at Express Live next Friday. For a feel-good story, Paradigm Health in Columbus raised 78 million to advance cancer research, making therapies more accessible right here. Crime in the past day stays low key beyond the highway incident, with no major alerts from Columbus Police. Thanks for tuning in, listeners, and remember to subscribe for daily updates. This has been Columbus Local Pulse. Well 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.