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Fat Arnie's a worthy competitor for Columbus' sandwich crown

A former Chapman's chef brings gourmet pedigree to pub sandwiches

Food and Drink

Columbus loves a good sandwich, and a relatively new contender is coming for the crown.Dig in: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fat Arnie&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fatarnies.com/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fatarnies.com/" target="_blank">Fat Arnie&#x27;s</a> opened <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="late last year" data-vars-click-url="https://614now.com/2025/food-drink/former-chapmans-eat-market-employee-launching-new-clintonville-sandwich-this-month" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://614now.com/2025/food-drink/former-chapmans-eat-market-employee-launching-new-clintonville-sandwich-this-month" target="_blank">late last year</a> in a humble window inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rafter&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/raftersbeerpub/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/raftersbeerpub/" target="_blank">Rafter&#x27;s</a> pub in Clintonville, but the kitchen has some pedigree.<ul><li>One of its founders, Christopher Beardman, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was a chef" data-vars-click-url="https://columbusunderground.com/restaurant-review-sandwiches-and-more-at-fat-arnies-ma1/" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://columbusunderground.com/restaurant-review-sandwiches-and-more-at-fat-arnies-ma1/" target="_blank">was a chef</a> at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dearly departed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/10/06/chapmans-metsis-bj-lieberman-restaurant-ohio" data-vars-content-id="a20333cb-2af7-4fd8-925b-c2471bf8fcd5" data-vars-headline="Fat Arnie&#x27;s a worthy competitor for Columbus&#x27; sandwich crown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/10/06/chapmans-metsis-bj-lieberman-restaurant-ohio" target="_self">dearly departed</a> Chapman&#x27;s Eat Market.</li></ul>

Explore these hidden gems on Ohio State's campus

Thompson Library, Mirror Lake top readers' list of favorites.

Things to Do

👋 Hello from the top of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thompson Library" data-vars-click-url="https://library.osu.edu/locations/thompson" data-vars-content-id="2f004d12-8b7a-4462-b3f2-54d5df2a3272" data-vars-headline="Explore these hidden gems on Ohio State&#x27;s campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://library.osu.edu/locations/thompson" target="_blank">Thompson Library</a> — one of several scenic spots readers recently suggested we explore.Behind the scenes: Like the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Museum of Biological Diversity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/27/ohio-state-museum-of-biological-diversity" data-vars-content-id="2f004d12-8b7a-4462-b3f2-54d5df2a3272" data-vars-headline="Explore these hidden gems on Ohio State&#x27;s campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/27/ohio-state-museum-of-biological-diversity" target="_self">Museum of Biological Diversity</a> we recently toured, a lot happens on Ohio State University&#x27;s campus beyond classroom lectures.

Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs

Sales dropped in Franklin County last month while surrounding areas saw steady growth.

News

The Central Ohio <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/19/why-more-central-ohio-home-sales-are-falling-apart" data-vars-content-id="870e4a6b-0949-4994-82a7-27f8e4e462bc" data-vars-headline="Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/11/19/why-more-central-ohio-home-sales-are-falling-apart" target="_self">housing market</a> is shifting away from the city, with sales moving to the suburbs as prices continue to increase.Why it matters: After a harsh winter, the spring housing market is heating up.<ul><li>The market&#x27;s adjusting to pent-up demand and the reality of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high interest rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/fed-powell-interest-rate" data-vars-content-id="870e4a6b-0949-4994-82a7-27f8e4e462bc" data-vars-headline="Central Ohio home sales shift to the suburbs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/fed-powell-interest-rate" target="_self">high interest rates</a> and low inventory.</li></ul>

Ohio's new women's monument takes shape

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the new Statehouse statues.

Decades before women won the right to vote, Ohio was a hub for progressive conventions where they pressed for equal rights.Why it matters: That <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="history" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/13/ohio-statehouse-ladies-gallery-women-legislators" data-vars-content-id="af6b4be5-6df7-4882-9d66-ed86139aafd1" data-vars-headline="Ohio&#x27;s new women&#x27;s monument takes shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/13/ohio-statehouse-ladies-gallery-women-legislators" target="_self">history</a> of activism isn&#x27;t reflected on Capitol Square, where monuments and portraits mostly honor men. But soon, that will change.

Ohioans reflect on COVID's lasting impact

Readers describe long COVID and loss, plus new jobs and perspectives.

Despite COVID-19 mostly disappearing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="from daily conversation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-state-covid-19-pandemic-research-history" data-vars-content-id="8ef80231-29c2-46cc-af40-29dd236e6194" data-vars-headline="Ohioans reflect on COVID&#x27;s lasting impact" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-state-covid-19-pandemic-research-history" target="_self">from daily conversation</a>, it hasn&#x27;t disappeared from daily life. And it turns out many of our readers still want to talk about it.Why it matters: The pandemic was both universal and deeply personal. Discussing our experiences can help us process what happened and learn from it.

Why we don't talk about COVID anymore

An Ohio State expert says moving on too quickly has consequences.

Six years ago this week, COVID-19 dominated daily life. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Schools" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-covid-history-lessons" data-vars-content-id="19ebde6e-18f4-496a-b160-8eff8cdf9dae" data-vars-headline="Why we don&#x27;t talk about COVID anymore" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-covid-history-lessons" target="_self">Schools</a> closed, headlines tracked cases, and Ohio reported its first deaths and postponed a primary election.Why it matters: Today, the pandemic that killed over 1 million Americans and reshaped society has largely faded from public conversation.

How Ohio schools teach COVID, 6 years later

The pandemic is becoming history — but it's also students' lived experience.

Six years later, COVID is already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="becoming history" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-state-covid-19-pandemic-research-history" data-vars-content-id="73ac31cb-fa05-4110-ad5d-75f49bb447f7" data-vars-headline="How Ohio schools teach COVID, 6 years later" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2026/03/18/ohio-state-covid-19-pandemic-research-history" target="_self">becoming history</a> — but how schools teach it is still evolving.

Flashback: Ohio's initial COVID-19 response was 5 years ago

Friday marks 5 years since one of the first Ohio COVID-19 press conferences.

COVID

On this date five years ago, state leaders held one of the first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 press conferences" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiochannel.org/video/governor-mike-dewine-update-on-state-response-to-coronavirus" data-vars-content-id="9f50f6e2-c1e4-436c-8603-29d2ca96560f" data-vars-headline="Flashback: Ohio&#x27;s initial COVID-19 response was 5 years ago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiochannel.org/video/governor-mike-dewine-update-on-state-response-to-coronavirus" target="_blank">COVID-19 press conferences</a> at the Ohio Statehouse.Flashback: Sans masks and social distancing, Gov. Mike DeWine, then-health director Amy Acton and others spoke mainly of new virus testing capabilities.

Acton announces run for Ohio governor

She led the Ohio Dept. of Health during the initial COVID-19 response.

Politics

Amy Acton, the former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state health director" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/01/27/democrats-fauci-ohio-senate-race" data-vars-content-id="de11fa8a-8125-425c-9238-791e40ce1d00" data-vars-headline="Acton announces run for Ohio governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/01/27/democrats-fauci-ohio-senate-race" target="_self">state health director</a> who led Ohio&#x27;s initial COVID-19 response, has announced a campaign for governor, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per AP" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-governor-ohio-democrats-amy-acton-1c3c315b8534d3ac677fce3f77abca56" data-vars-content-id="de11fa8a-8125-425c-9238-791e40ce1d00" data-vars-headline="Acton announces run for Ohio governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-governor-ohio-democrats-amy-acton-1c3c315b8534d3ac677fce3f77abca56" target="_blank">per AP</a> and other reports.Why it matters: The Democrat hopes to leverage her pandemic popularity and name recognition to flip the governor&#x27;s seat in 2026 after four terms of Republican control.

The cure for long COVID may come from Ohio

OSU researchers are using a $15 million grant to find it.

Ohio State researchers are working toward a cure for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long COVID" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/16/long-covid-test-treatment-vaccine" data-vars-content-id="8338aaad-6760-46d2-8d1a-20d4192961ab" data-vars-headline="The cure for long COVID may come from Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/16/long-covid-test-treatment-vaccine" target="_self">long COVID</a>, supported by the school&#x27;s largest grant ever received for an infectious diseases study.Why it matters: Long COVID is a complex condition <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="disabling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/06/long-covid-cdc-data-disabling" data-vars-content-id="8338aaad-6760-46d2-8d1a-20d4192961ab" data-vars-headline="The cure for long COVID may come from Ohio" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/06/long-covid-cdc-data-disabling" target="_self">disabling</a> millions of Americans that scientists have struggled to understand.

The Midwest’s worsening food insecurity

Ohio ranks high among our neighbors and nationwide.

Food insecurity is worsening most drastically in the Midwest post-pandemic, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/06/food-insecurity-united-states" data-vars-content-id="70d4c0e1-22c5-45a7-b27b-b6bd6243769d" data-vars-headline="The Midwest’s worsening food insecurity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/06/food-insecurity-united-states" target="_self">new report</a> from Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.Why it matters: Ohio ranked third among our Midwestern neighbors for food insecurity in 2022 and 14th overall nationwide.

Franklin County still spending pandemic funding

Federal funding is paying for infrastructure needs and other projects.

Franklin County still has millions of dollars in pandemic relief money to spend in the coming three years, Axios has learned.Why it matters: Years after the final pandemic lockdown, local governments are still using relief funds to support public services and make infrastructure improvements.

Homelessness on the rise in Ohio, per report

The 2023 figure includes hundreds of homeless minors and veterans.

Ohio&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/15/homelessness-increase-rent-crisis-2023" data-vars-content-id="5322688e-f612-4500-aeee-3f519010bc45" data-vars-headline="Homelessness on the rise in Ohio, per report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/15/homelessness-increase-rent-crisis-2023" target="_self">homelessness</a> rate has been on the rise since 2017, reversing a yearslong trend of declining numbers, per federal data.Why it matters: U.S. homelessness reached a record high in 2023, Axios&#x27; April Rubin writes, as Americans grapple with an escalating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://kenaninstitute.unc.edu/commentary/the-affordable-housing-crisis-in-2023-where-do-we-stand-and-what-are-the-solutions/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="5322688e-f612-4500-aeee-3f519010bc45" data-vars-headline="Homelessness on the rise in Ohio, per report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kenaninstitute.unc.edu/commentary/the-affordable-housing-crisis-in-2023-where-do-we-stand-and-what-are-the-solutions/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">housing crisis</a> and the expiration of COVID-era <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="safety nets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/poverty-income-inflation-health-insurance-pandemic-biden" data-vars-content-id="5322688e-f612-4500-aeee-3f519010bc45" data-vars-headline="Homelessness on the rise in Ohio, per report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/poverty-income-inflation-health-insurance-pandemic-biden" target="_self">safety nets</a>.

Flu season is here — plus COVID and RSV, too

Pre-pandemic winter virus patterns appear to be returning, the CDC says.

Odds are you know somebody who&#x27;s recently felt under the weather, with a post-holidays spike in respiratory viruses sweeping across the country.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="This year&#x27;s virus season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/get-vaccinated.html" data-vars-content-id="b3c37c95-91f7-4529-9aa2-99ece754ca79" data-vars-headline="Flu season is here — plus COVID and RSV, too" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/get-vaccinated.html" target="_blank">This year&#x27;s virus season</a> appears to be returning to patterns typically seen before the pandemic — which means a peak may be a little while away yet.

COVID 🦠

Ohioans reflect on COVID's lasting impact

Why we don't talk about COVID anymore

How Ohio schools teach COVID, 6 years later

Flashback: Ohio's initial COVID-19 response was 5 years ago

Acton announces run for Ohio governor