Andy Downing

Brent Warren puts Columbus on the map – Matter News The longtime local reporter will celebrate the release of ‘Columbus in 50 Maps’ at Prologue Bookshop tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 2).

Wow, what a great article from @matternews.bsky.social on the book. Thanks @andydowning33.bsky.social for taking the time to talk to me about it (and for coming up with that headline!)

UPDATE: On Monday, a federal judge denied ICE's motion to vacate the order requiring Karki to attend his hearing in federal court, and Karki is now scheduled to present his habeas case in person tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 3). Karki's wife and baby plan to be present in Michigan for the hearing.

Columbus refugee detained by ICE in April faces imminent deportation – Matter News Days before Mohan Karki was set to appear in federal court, his attorneys learned that U.S. authorities plan to deport the Ohio resident to Bhutan on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Emergency appeals have since been...

Days before Mohan Karki was set to appear in court, attorneys learned that authorities plan to deport the Ohio resident to Bhutan on Dec. 2. Emergency appeals have since been filed, while attorneys work to see if Karki will be able to meet with his wife and the infant daughter he has yet to hold.

Bhutanese Nepali refugee faces deportation following April detention by ICE – Matter News Mohan Karki is currently in a Michigan jail under the threat of deportation. His wife, Tika Basnet, continues to push for his freedom while raising the Columbus couple’s newborn daughter on her own.

And here's my July reporting on Karki's initial detention by ICE.

matternews.org/community/bh...

Columbus refugee detained by ICE in April faces imminent deportation – Matter News Days before Mohan Karki was set to appear in federal court, his attorneys learned that U.S. authorities plan to deport the Ohio resident to Bhutan on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Emergency appeals have since been...

Days before Mohan Karki was set to appear in court, attorneys learned that authorities plan to deport the Ohio resident to Bhutan on Dec. 2. Emergency appeals have since been filed, while attorneys work to see if Karki will be able to meet with his wife and the infant daughter he has yet to hold.

Lily Bloom takes control on ‘Spirits’ – Matter News The Columbus musician will join her band in celebrating the release of her debut album at Ace of Cups on Sunday, Nov. 30, supported by opener Straw & the Scarecrow.

Lily Bloom takes control on ‘Spirits’ matternews.org/culture/musi...

Mastered here!
Thanks @andydowning33.bsky.social

The Worker’s View: Herbal Wellness Center employees strike for change  – Matter News Staffers at the East Main Street shop are currently engaged in the longest cannabis worker strike in U.S. history.

Union members at the East Main Street shop are almost two months into a strike that started on Sept. 26, surpassing the successful 45-day picket staged by workers at Green Thumb Industries in York and making it the new longest cannabis workers strike in U.S. history.

matternews.org/community/th...

wanted to write on em for ages. stoked to finally make it happen.

Sanguisugabogg uncovers a horrifying reality – Matter News On its brutal new album ‘Hideous Aftermath,’ the Columbus death metal band finds that these modern times can be more harrowing than the imagined scenarios it presented on past records.

“When I’m home and I’m around my family, I’m a loving guy, and I’m the youth football coach, and I’m this, and I’m that. But the second I’m writing or performing, I’m a deranged psychopath.”

matternews.org/culture/musi...

matternews.org/donate/

you think I haven’t heard of felching? I worked at the lakeview specialty video in chicago for like six years in my 20s. I’ve seen and heard things you couldn’t dream.

donations to @matternews.bsky.social are doubled through december thanks to the institute for nonprofit news.

Local Politics: Accountability can’t exist without transparency – Matter News Columbus City Council’s failure to discuss the allegations against Emmanuel Remy until after November’s election reads as a deliberate decision to protect those in power while keeping residents in the...

Columbus City Council’s failure to discuss the allegations against Emmanuel Remy until after November’s election reads as a deliberate decision to protect those in power while keeping residents in the dark.

A bonus Local Politics column this week from Rachel Wenning.
matternews.org/voices/local...

Bee Humana’s musical act of defiance – Matter News The Columbus trio of Bee Shuman, David Holm, and Sam Brown will celebrate the release of their debut EP in concert at Secret Studio on Saturday, Nov. 22.

“When I first really started playing out in 2019 … I remember saying to somebody, ‘I feel like it’s a political act even to go out there in public and sing in Spanish.’ And now of course it’s 2025, and that feeling is even more so.”

matternews.org/culture/musi...

Local Politics: Accountability can’t exist without transparency – Matter News Columbus City Council’s failure to discuss the allegations against Emmanuel Remy until after November’s election reads as a deliberate decision to protect those in power while keeping residents in the...

Columbus City Council’s failure to discuss the allegations against Emmanuel Remy until after November’s election reads as a deliberate decision to protect those in power while keeping residents in the dark.

A bonus Local Politics column this week from Rachel Wenning.
matternews.org/voices/local...

Local Politics: A step away from the status quo – Matter News The District 7 City Council race stands as the most progress Columbus has made toward a democratic election in years.

This institutionalism is, in part, historical. ... In 1912, voters passed the city’s first charter, which switched the model from ward-based to fully at-large. In order to run city-wide, candidates would need substantially more resources than previously required.

New from @julesaroscoe.bsky.social.

Local Politics: A step away from the status quo – Matter News The District 7 City Council race stands as the most progress Columbus has made toward a democratic election in years.

Politics this month in Columbus: an unassuming end to the city's most contentious election this year might not be as disappointing as you think. matternews.org/voices/local...

30 minutes left to bid!

Saintseneca returns with gratitude  – Matter News The Zac Little-fronted Columbus band will celebrate the release of new album ‘Highwallow & Supermoon Songs’ in concert at Rumba Cafe this weekend.

“At the time that I was writing, or as I would say, finding these songs, I just felt a lot of gratitude, and I enjoyed it just for the sake of singing a song. ... And for me, that’s a pretty profound experience.”

Saintseneca hits Rumba this weekend for a pair of shows
matternews.org/culture/musi...

Trans Day of Remembrance helps to keep alive the memories of those lost – Matter News ‘I don’t want any of to be forgotten, because that’s one of my fears for myself, where if anything happens to me, I’ll simply be gone, and it won’t make a difference.’

“If we give in and we hide, then we are giving them what they want, and that’s not something I’m personally okay with. I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud of who my friends are. And I don’t want to let them win.”

matternews.org/community/tr...

Did you miss out on the auction last night? Here's your second chance to snag some killer art.

Bidding closes at 4 pm, with pickup at Streetlight Guild (1367 E. Main St.) between 4:30 and 6 pm today (preferred) or at 934 Gallery either Friday (6-9 pm) or Saturday (noon to 3 pm).

The Matter News 2025 Silent Art Auction is live, closing at 8 p.m. Winning bids must be picked up either at close of auction tonight or tomorrow between 4:30 and 6 p.m. at Streetlight Guild (1367 E. Main St.). No shipping options are available.

See folks tonight!

app.galabid.com/matter-news-...

Here's a direct link to the silent art auction. Bids open at noon.

You must be able to pick up winning bids at Streetlight Guild at the 8 p.m. close of the auction tonight, or between 4:30 and 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20).

No shipping options are available.

app.galabid.com/matter-news-...

Donate – Matter News Frequently Asked Questions

Support this work with a donation today. Through Dec. 31, all donations to Matter are matched by NewsMatch and this year's Local Match partners: Johnstone Fund for New Music, the Wiley Family Foundation, and Rebecca J. Perry and Ben Towle. matternews.org/donate/

The return of Rambling House Music Bar – Matter News Less than two months after the Old North venue closed in late September, the space is moving toward reopening under new owners but with a familiar look and feel.

“It’s taking what’s been built here and what exists here and helping it grow even more.”

Less than two months after Rambling House Music Bar closed in late September, the space is moving toward reopening under new owners but with a familiar look and feel.

matternews.org/culture/musi...

The return of Rambling House Music Bar – Matter News Less than two months after the Old North venue closed in late September, the space is moving toward reopening under new owners but with a familiar look and feel.

“It’s taking what’s been built here and what exists here and helping it grow even more.”

Less than two months after Rambling House Music Bar closed in late September, the space is moving toward reopening under new owners but with a familiar look and feel.

matternews.org/culture/musi...

Ben Kweller works through grief with the help of friends on ‘Cover the Mirrors’ – Matter News The Texas musician, who visits A&R Music Bar on Wednesday, Nov. 19, wrote and recorded his latest album following the death of his teenage son, Dorian.

“I’m on a tour bus, touring and playing all of these songs. And it’s all been such a blur. And it’s hard to believe all of this has even happened, because I remember being so frozen when he passed away. It’s such a weird thing to move on – I hate the phrase move on – but to go on, to move forward.”

hope to see folks on wednesday.

have myself down to write seven features the same week as the art auction because I am an idiot.

"For Johnson, these pressures are further magnified by what Zora’s House represents...'We can’t fail because we can’t allow people to use Zora’s House as a reason to not fund something else another Black woman wants to do five years from now, 10 years from now,' she said."