😮‍💨 Phew, we made it to Friday.

🌧️ Today's weather: Still storming. A flood watch is in effect through at least this morning, and thousands are still without power.

• The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado struck the South Side on Tuesday and equally strong straight-line winds caused damage in Upper Arlington.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Jerilyn Rademacher and happy early birthday to member Wayne Parker!

Today's newsletter is 1,056 words — a 4-minute read.

NFL training camps give aspiring players a chance to prove they belong in the big leagues — and the United Football League a chance to prove its players do, too.

Why it matters: The Aviators are football-hungry Columbus' first professional outdoor team in 30 years. The league's long-term success depends on proving it can develop NFL talent.

Driving the news: Football's return is inching nearer, and NFL teams are holding training camps across the country.

• At those camps are dozens of UFL players trying to work their way to (or back to) the NFL — a rising number that UFL senior VP for football operations David Dykeman calls "proof of concept."

By the numbers: Nearly 50 players on 2026 UFL rosters were in NFL training camps as of yesterday.

• That includes eight Aviators.
• At least 80 UFL and spring football alumni have NFL contracts, and 22 of 32 NFL teams have now signed a 2026 UFL player.

What they're saying: Those numbers are on pace to beat the mark of 102 players set at the end of the last NFL season, and Dykeman tells Axios the league's reputation has shifted.

• "I started with the XFL in 2022, and back then we were reaching out to agents and players — that pendulum has swung. This has become a real, viable path to the NFL."

Case in point: NFL coaches like Brian Schottenheimer, Dan Campbell and Sean Payton have similarly praised UFL's player development.

Yes, but: Does that make for a better product for fans? Dykeman thinks they appreciate the improving player pool — even if "we hope they're not back next year because they're in the NFL."

• "It's no different than going to a major college game and then seeing a player from Ohio State playing for [an NFL team]."

Zoom in: In their debut season in Columbus, the Aviators averaged 10,362 fans per game, about half of the Historic Crew Stadium capacity.

• That includes drawing 10,705 in their final game despite being the worst team in the league.
• "It's the right market — a place starving for football — and the right venue," Dykeman says. "When you have those, you have long-term success."

What's next: The eight-team league is still growing, with plans to reach 10 teams by 2028, 12 teams by 2030 and 16 teams by 2035.

• "Year-to-year [planning] — those days are over," Dykeman says. "This is long-term sustainability and growth."

Violent crime keeps falling across many of the nation's largest cities, but Columbus' downward trend could bottom out this year, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios.

Flashback: Last year, Columbus homicides hit a 16-year low.

• Major Cities Chiefs Association survey data from the first half of 2026 shows 36 homicides in Columbus, down 10% from the first half of 2025 — suggesting that trend might continue.

Yes, but: July was the city's most violent month so far this year, with over a dozen homicides.

• That put 2026's year-to-date count ahead of 2025 as of two weeks ago, WSYX-TV reported.

What we're watching: Columbus robberies and aggravated assaults were trending higher in the first half of 2026 when compared to 2025, per the data.

The big picture: Nationwide, violent crime was down 8.3% overall and in all four categories (homicides 17.2%, robberies 16.6%, rapes 6.2% and aggravated assaults 5.7%).

Go deeper: Violent crime keeps falling in biggest U.S. cities

🙅 Organizers announced they didn't reach a compromise with Columbus City Council for a Nov. 3 ballot item on local election reform.

• A hearing is scheduled for 5pm Monday at City Hall. (Our City Our Say)

📈 Columbus-based Ivim Health is the state's fastest-growing company, per the annual Inc. 5000 list. The wellness brand joins 38 other local businesses on the list, including Jeni's, Eco Plumbers and Moo Moo Express. (Columbus Business First 🔒)

🏢 Franklin County Municipal Court judges and staff are raising concerns about the city's decision to renovate, not replace, its current building. They're highlighting years of deferred maintenance. (Dispatch)

🚫 International college students won't be able to stay in the U.S. longer than four years — even if their studies aren't finished — per a new Department of Homeland Security rule taking effect Sept. 15. (The Lantern)

Savor the final stretch of summer at a delectable weekend festival.

🚚 Our pick: The Columbus Food Truck Festival.

Zoom in: Over 40 food trucks will roll into the Franklin County Fairgrounds, plus other vendors, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

• The truck list shows food samples priced at $6 each.

The intrigue: Jordan Faeth from "Love is Blind" Season 10 will make an appearance Friday night.

Stop by: 4-10pm Friday and 11am-1opm Saturday, 5024 Northwest Parkway, Hilliard. $10 until 4pm Saturday, then $15. Kids under 11 free.

What else is happening:

🎶 Zac Brown Band plays Nationwide Arena Friday.

🪄 "Miracles and Magic," a star-studded magic-comedy fundraiser, is at the Southern Theater Friday.

🍅 The Tomato Festival returns to Reynoldsburg through Saturday, with Dru Hill and Everclear headlining the live entertainment.

👭 Columbus Women & Girls' Fest celebrates "girl-identified leaders in arts, culture and community" in King-Lincoln Bronzeville on Saturday.

🎭 "Pippin" is at the Short North Stage all weekend, kicking off the theater's 15th season.

We had a hunch this summer's Ohio State Fair might break an attendance record — and now it's official.

Stunning stat: 1,025,190 people passed through the fair gates, the most ever, the fair announced yesterday.

• That's 2% higher than 2023's record of 1,006,228.

Plus: Guests spent over $3.3 million on Midway games and $9.2 million on concessions, also two records.

The bottom line: It looks like those new additions are already paying off.

Thanks to Tyler Buchanan for editing today's newsletter.

Our picks:

🧘‍♀️ Alissa has no plans this weekend — and that's just fine.

🍽️ Andrew is happily living a post-food truck existence.

😉 Tyler is headed to Axios Football League camp.