Andy Downing

lord this is bleak

just overheard someone talking about a restaurant and they described it as “like applebees when applebees was good” and is that a thing

Wise from Ohio starts a new ‘Chapter’ – Matter News ‘Chapter 88,’ released digitally today (Friday, Aug. 1), finds the Columbus rapper reckoning with the man he once was while simultaneously positioning himself for whatever might come next.

“You often hear people say, ‘I’m just like that. This is who I am, and I’ll never change.’ And I’m not that,” he said. “I’m definitely not who I was yesterday, and I’m anxious to see who I’ll be tomorrow, because life changes fast.”

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"The fear is that students who object to the class content will use SB1 evaluations to pressure the college into repercussions against professors, ranging from forced curriculum changes to potentially not being rehired...'I think the intention is to silence faculty voices,' Schmerr said."

less than stoked about launching our year-end fundraising campaign in this environment tbh

pulling for wosu to raise the funds needed to cover the $2 million the feds pulled from it while simultaneously daydreaming about what even a fraction of that would do in growing matter news.

Cringe.com :: The Columbus Sound Columbus, Ohio Music Calendar and Resources

A reminder that the Cringe.com live events calendar is now available at Matter News and has just been updated with events through Sunday, Aug. 17.

matternews.org/calendar/

The expanding worlds of artist Tiffany Lawson – Matter News A new exhibition dubbed ‘What If I Told You It Was Freedom’ and opening at Streetlight Guild on Friday, Aug. 1, serves as a showcase for both the Columbus artist’s impressive world-building skills and...

A new exhibition dubbed ‘What If I Told You It Was Freedom’ and opening at Streetlight Guild on Friday, Aug. 1, serves as a showcase for both the Columbus artist’s impressive world-building skills and her thought-provoking intentionality.

matternews.org/culture/art/...

The Worker’s View: SB1 throws Central Ohio Technical College union contract into turmoil – Matter News While the college and the faculty union have traditionally operated as partners, new state legislation ostensibly geared toward rolling back DEI initiatives has left the two groups at an impasse.

While the college and the faculty union have traditionally operated as partners, new state legislation ostensibly geared toward rolling back DEI initiatives has left the two groups at an impasse.

Read the new Worker's View column from Mandy Shunnarah.

matternews.org/voices/the-w...

The future is going to be many things, and culturally impoverished is one of them.

GCAC halts 2025 grant programs in response to Franklin County cutbacks – Matter News ‘We are living in unprecedented times, with nonprofit organizations in all sectors being adversely impacted by state and federal funding cuts, and communities and residents experiencing the trickle-do...

Earlier today (Wednesday, July 30), GCAC followed up with a lengthier, more detailed statement in which it attributed the cuts to a handful of factors but especially to a recent decision made by Franklin County to pause $4 million in anticipated county funding to GCAC.
matternews.org/culture/art/...

Resonating with Bill Fox – Matter News Before a Columbus show at Ace of Cups, the Cleveland singer-songwriter with a cult following speaks about the new album he resurrected from the ‘junkyard.’

“I’m not an eclectic musician or artist or songwriter at all,” Bill Fox said. “I’m very rooted in tradition.”

Before a Columbus show at Ace of Cups, the Cleveland singer-songwriter with a cult following speaks about the new album he resurrected from the ‘junkyard.’

matternews.org/culture/musi...

Columbus comics community cleans up at the Eisner Awards – Matter News Winners with local ties included Billy Ireland founder Lucy Shelton Caswell, who was inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame, ‘Bone’ cartoonist Jeff Smith, and Billy Ireland curator Caitlin McGurk, amon...

Columbus cleaned up at the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, with winners announced during a ceremony held this year at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 25.

matternews.org/culture/colu...

Local Politics: The Franklin County Democratic Party keeps its thumb on the scale – Matter News There was plenty of gnashing of teeth and rending of garments on social media following last week’s FCDP vote to endorse Tiara Ross over Jesse Vogel in the District 7 City Council race. Some of it, od...

There was plenty of gnashing of teeth on social media following last week’s FCDP vote to endorse Tiara Ross over Jesse Vogel. Some of it, oddly, from party insiders who got exactly the result they wanted but were forced to listen to justified criticism for a few minutes.

New from Rachel Wenning.

The wheels on the bus: Community Grounds prepares to go mobile – Matter News Following a decade as a brick-and-mortar, the South Side coffee shop and community space is closing its doors on August 5 in preparation for a new life as a cafe-on-the-go housed in a converted city b...

“I’ve always wanted Community Grounds to feel like a place where folks can settle in. So, when you ask about those things I want to carry forward [into the new mobile shop], the essence will remain. … And while it won’t look the same, I hope it’s familiar enough that it still feels like here.”

Clipse returns in fighting form at YS Firehouse – Matter News In advance of a nationwide tour kicking off in Boston on Aug. 3, the Virginia duo visited Yellow Springs, Ohio, for an intimate concert in support of new album ‘Let God Sort Em Out.’

Both, however, were clearly enjoying the moment, their frequent between-song smiles betraying the sense of joy each must have felt once again being in the other’s company, the duo’s return to the stage arriving in the wake of a nearly 15-year stretch in which the two traversed individual paths.

Clipse returns in fighting form at YS Firehouse – Matter News In advance of a nationwide tour kicking off in Boston on Aug. 3, the Virginia duo visited Yellow Springs, Ohio, for an intimate concert in support of new album ‘Let God Sort Em Out.’

Both, however, were clearly enjoying the moment, their frequent between-song smiles betraying the sense of joy each must have felt once again being in the other’s company, the duo’s return to the stage arriving in the wake of a nearly 15-year stretch in which the two traversed individual paths.

two writers on the byline!

hey thanks columbus dispatch

Golomb brings the good vibes with ‘The Beat Goes On’ – Matter News ‘Making sure you feel good before trying to take care of gigantic, enormous problems seems like a pretty good first step to me, whether that’s being in love or playing music or getting stoned.’

this (great) album is out today, with a release show tonight at dick's den
matternews.org/culture/musi...

Qamil Wright finds her place of comfort – Matter News Following a challenging stretch of years, the Columbus singer has emerged with ‘Comfort Food I: Appetizers,’ the first in a planned trio of albums.

“When it’s all said and done, I want to leave this place empty. And, having my kids watch me, I want them … to see me happy and thriving and taking risks on myself, so that they’ll be empowered to do the same.”

Qamil's “Comfort Food I: Appetizers,” is out today.

matternews.org/culture/musi...

Dual Urban Arts Space exhibitions transcend borders – Matter News Though billed as separate exhibitions, ‘Fragmented-Recaptured’ and ‘Cartography’ feel innately connected, both exploring the concept of physical place and the sometimes-catastrophic impacts that geo-p...

Though billed as separate exhibitions, ‘Fragmented-Recaptured’ and ‘Cartography’ feel innately connected, both exploring the concept of physical place and the sometimes-catastrophic impacts that geo-political lines can have on those people who dwell within a given land
matternews.org/culture/art/...

insanity.

bought a ticket to review a concert this weekend and writing implements are listed under prohibited items and that's an entirely new one for me

Dual Urban Arts Space exhibitions transcend borders – Matter News Though billed as separate exhibitions, ‘Fragmented-Recaptured’ and ‘Cartography’ feel innately connected, both exploring the concept of physical place and the sometimes-catastrophic impacts that geo-p...

Though billed as separate exhibitions, ‘Fragmented-Recaptured’ and ‘Cartography’ feel innately connected, both exploring the concept of physical place and the sometimes-catastrophic impacts that geo-political lines can have on those people who dwell within a given land
matternews.org/culture/art/...

The Men Trump Deported to a Salvadoran Prison On March 15, President Donald Trump’s administration sent more than 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been t...

Hot off the @propublica.org presses: We're publishing bios of all 238 of the Venezuelan men who Trump sent to CECOT in an interactive database: projects.propublica.org/venezuelan-i...

A different justice: The HALT Fentanyl Act traffics in fear, not fact – Matter News ‘We know that prohibition itself is what's causing the crisis.’

Susan Ousterman used the word “performative” when describing the HALT Fentanyl Act. ... The law criminalizes more people and spreads stigma and fear of people who use drugs, she said, adding, “We know that prohibition itself is what’s causing the crisis.”

New from @jackshuler.bsky.social.

we'll certainly be talking about this in our monthly community conversation at two dollar radio hq tomorrow.