Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Did Franklin County Children’s Services miss warning signs before Eva’s death?

Happening soon: The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show on the Columbus Patch calendar

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Saturday December 13th Patch AM
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Good morning Columbus! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Did Franklin County Children’s Services miss warning signs before Eva’s death?
  • How will $10 million change Columbus homeownership options?
  • How a Columbus mother pushed for arrests in her son’s murder.

Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Columbusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Columbusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Snow and flurries, up to 1", with a high of 33 and low of 7 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Sunday: Frigid; breezy in the morning, temps: high: 18, low: 3.
  • Monday: Mainly cloudy and very cold, with a high of 23 and low of 19 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Accountability sought after mother's guilty plea highlights FCCS failures (abc6onyourside.com) — A Columbus mother’s guilty plea in her daughter’s death is prompting renewed scrutiny of Franklin County Children’s Services and how it handled repeated warning signs. Local officials describe new tools and potential collaborations with hospitals and schools, while Eva Bretz’s family and state reviewers question whether the child-welfare system acted quickly or thoroughly enough to protect at-risk kids in Columbus.
   

2. Columbus City Council approves $10 million for affordable housing (10tv.com) — Columbus City Council has approved $10 million for the Central Ohio Community Land Trust, boosting construction of below-market homes for local families earning up to 120% of area median income. The funding will support new builds in neighborhoods like Linden and help more residents, like one Columbus family featured, move from renting to long-term homeownership stability.
   

3. Mother reacts to arrests made in son's murder (nbc4i.com) — Columbus residents are seeing movement in a long-unsolved 2021 killing, as two suspects have now been arrested in the death of 29-year-old Keishawn Riley outside Columbus Square Bowling Palace. His mother describes years of pushing detectives and prosecutors for progress and now hopes to help other families advocate for justice. The case continues through the courts.
   

4. 2026 Arnold Classic Announces Bodybuilding Rosters (generationiron.com) — Columbus will again host the Arnold Sports Festival from March 5–8, 2026, bringing one of bodybuilding’s biggest stages and a record $1.5 million prize purse to town. Seven divisions, including a stacked Men’s Open and returning stars like Ashley Kaltwasser and Sam Sulek, are set to draw fans and competitors from around the world downtown.
   

5. Outdoor animals and freezing temperatures (nbc4i.com) — With freezing temperatures settling in around Columbus, local Humane agents are bracing for more calls about pets left outside and are reminding residents what Ohio law actually requires for outdoor shelter. They explain why straw beats blankets in the cold, what help they can offer owners, and share the number to call if you’re worried about an animal’s safety.
   

📸 Around Columbus

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Does anyone know why all the Starbucks locations in the area are closed?
    Bethel Road and Tremont Road have been closed for a week, and I see today that West Henderson is now closed as well. I looked it up online but… (Nextdoor Linworth Village)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Momo, a cat who went missing in Columbus, OH, has been safely reunited with their family after 56 minutes. Message from Owner: "Our cat, Momo, has… (Nextdoor Academy/Crossing Creek)
  • Buffalo Lodging Associates, LLC posted a job opening for Part time Hotel Night Auditor in Columbus. Apply here.
  • YMCA of Central Ohio posted a job opening for Gym Monitor - North YMCA in Columbus. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbus here.

Ok Columbus! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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