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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 5

Pickerington's school levy fails by about 250 votes

Plus, Columbus child poverty jumps and New Albany picks a new police chief.

The CBUStoday team1 story14 sources3 min read

SchoolsTop story

Pickerington's school income tax levy fails by about 250 votes, and activities are suspended

The levy fell just short

about 250
votes it was rejected by
$21 million
a year it would have generated, about
.75%
income tax, for 10 years

Sources: 10TV, NBC4 WCMH-TV

If you have a kid in Pickerington schools, the cuts have started. Voters rejected the district's .75%, 10-year income tax Tuesday by about 250 votes, less than 1% of the vote. The levy would have generated about $21 million a year, according to the district. Fox 28 says the public library's property tax also failed by a narrow margin.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek called the margin "razor, razor thin." Upper Arlington, Bexley and Southwest Licking also had school tax issues fail.

4districts with school tax issues that failed Tuesday

Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Bexley and Southwest Licking all lost.

Source: NBC4 WCMH-TV

  • Suspended Wednesday: all extracurriculars except varsity sports
  • Still running through the holidays: some musical and theater programs
  • Possible next try: a May ballot issue

In South-Western City Schools, voters approved Issue 6, and the district plans to replace two high schools. A new Grove City amendment may require an extra vote, though, which could affect timelines.

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News Notes

Child poverty

Columbus' child poverty rate jumped from 13.4 percent to 18.2 percent from 2024 to 2025, new census data shows. That's about 90,650 children, up from about 66,873. The CW Columbus

Columbus' child poverty rate rose while the U.S. rate fell

Children in poverty

20242025
Columbus 13.4%U.S. 15.5%
18.2% +4.8 pts14.8% −0.7 pts

Source: The CW Columbus

View as table
20242025Change
Columbus13.4%18.2%+4.8 pts
U.S.15.5%14.8%−0.7 pts

Champion's Bridge

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett cut the ribbon Wednesday on a Child Wellness Campus on Dublin Granville Road for children entering protective custody. It has three buildings, and the first starts with 20 beds, though officials plan to limit it to 10 children at first. NBC4 WCMH-TV

New Albany

New Albany selected Brian Spoon as its next police chief, the city announced Wednesday. Spoon has been assistant chief of the Westerville Division of Police since 2022, and he's set to start in early December. NBC4 WCMH-TVThe Columbus Dispatch

CAVA

CAVA opened in Upper Arlington at 1603 W. Lane Ave., its fifth Columbus-area restaurant this year. It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 614NOW

Buckeyes

Ohio State plays Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 7. Jay Timmons, who missed the loss at USC, has practiced this week and wasn't on the initial availability report. Coach Ryan Day said, "We'll have to see how the next 48 hours go." Brandon Inniss and Ian Moore are questionable, according to Cleveland.com, and Lettermen Row says the Buckeyes' playoff hopes ride on the game. USA TODAYCleveland.comLettermen Row

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The Wrap

Record shops have a way of making an afternoon disappear, and Used Kids Records on Summit Street just got a nod for it. It won best small business in The Lantern's 2026 Best of OSU edition with 231 votes, and it sells used and new vinyl, CDs and audio equipment. Time to go crate digging.

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Every source in this edition14 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  3. 10TV10tv.com
  4. 10TV10tv.com
  5. Fox 28myfox28columbus.com
  6. The CW Columbuscwcolumbus.com
  7. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  8. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  9. The Columbus Dispatchdispatch.com
  10. 614NOW614now.com
  11. USA TODAYusatoday.com
  12. Cleveland.comcleveland.com
  13. Lettermen Rowon3.com
  14. Columbus events calendarcbustoday.5amcity.com

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CBUStodayto me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Pickerington's school levy fails by about 250 votes

Plus, Columbus child poverty jumps and New Albany picks a new police chief.

The TLDR

  1. Pickerington's school levy fails by about 250 votes
  2. South-Western voters approve Issue 6 for two new high schools
  3. Columbus' child poverty rate rises to 18.2 percent
Read this edition

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