Latest news with #ColumbusZooandAquarium
Axios
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
What we're watching in Columbus this June
A new month is here, so we're looking ahead to what will be making headlines and dominating conversations. 🏳️🌈 Festival season: June is peak outdoor event season in Central Ohio. Arts Festival, June 6-8 Stonewall Columbus Pride, June 13-14 Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, June 13-15 Buckeye Country Superfest, June 21 Juneteenth Ohio Festival, June 21-22 ComFest, June 27-29 Plus: A few events remain from our spring festival guide. 🏫 School closures: The Columbus Board of Education voted to close five schools last year, and superintendent Angela Chapman is scheduled to share a realignment plan and next steps. 🦦 New zoo region: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will open its new $40 million North America Trek after a delay caused by a construction mistake and a rainy spring. 💨 Cannabis law changes: Ohio lawmakers appear close to passing Senate Bill 56, which would change and restrict various elements of marijuana legalization. 🎓 Higher education changes: Controversial Senate Bill 1 goes into effect June 27, overhauling Ohio laws for colleges and universities. The bill outlaws faculty strikes, bans diversity initiatives and requires an "American civil literacy" course. 💰 A new budget: Gov. Mike DeWine has until June 30 to sign a new two-year state operating budget, which has already sparked plenty of debate.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Final report on Columbus Zoo leadership theft released
POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio Auditor of State released the final report from the investigation into the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, more than four years after news first broke about top executives stealing $2.3 million from the zoo. The special audit into the zoo led to the convictions and prison sentences for five former zoo leaders who used zoo money for personal purchases for ten years. Ohio's power grid operator warns of potential power shortages this summer The executives paid for suite tickets for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ohio State games, 2016 World Series tickets, One Direction concert tickets, vacations to Florida and limo services. The final report included emails from the executives showing how they attempted to conceal the purchases by saying they were to entertain zoo donors and board members. For their roles in the $2.3 million theft, former CEO Tom Stalf was sentenced to seven years in prison, former CFO Greg Bell received three years in prison and the former Director of Marketing Pete Fingerhut got five years behind bars. Combined, the men are paying back nearly $1.5 million in restitution. The other two executives involved, Grant Bell and Tracy Murnane, received little to no jail time and are paying back much less in restitution. New 'The Office' spinoff series to be set in Ohio Ohio Auditor Keith Faber said current zoo leadership and the board of directors have made changes to make sure fraud like this does not happen again. 'This is a cautionary tale for everybody,' Faber said. 'Being on a nonprofit board is not just a ceremonial position. You get to just rubber stamp what the executives do. You have a real oversight role.' The CEO of the Columbus Zoo, Tom Schmid, said the zoo is now focused on oversight for leaders and transparency. There is an ethics hotline for anonymous reporting, documentation on all transactions, a reduction in spending limits, and personal purchases are now prohibited. 'It's a new day, we have new leadership in place, we have a more engaged board of directors, we have dozens of new policies and procedures. I can assure you, under my watch, that this will not happen again,' Schmid said. Faber said these new safeguards will better protect the zoo. A rare wildflower that is only known to grow naturally in Ohio blooms in May 'I have confidence that the people of Ohio can say that the zoo has put its past behind it and has a structure in place that is going to make it much more difficult for somebody to lie, cheat, and steal and get away with it at the zoo,' Faber said. Faber added that the previous Board of Directors should have noticed something was off with former leadership's spending. The final report from the auditor included prevention recommendations to the zoo, and Faber said almost every recommendation has been followed. The full report is available to read by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Construction setback pushes opening date for new Columbus Zoo exhibit
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is pushing back the opening of its new North American Trek exhibit. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Zoo officials cited recent construction issues as one of the factors in the decision, our news partners at WBNS reported. TRENDING STORIES: Student dies after accidentally falling from balcony during senior class trip Police looking for man, woman accused of paying $1K less for items after altering barcodes Local village council member dies at 54 The exhibit was supposed to open on May 23. A new opening date has not been announced at this time. In a statement obtained by WBNS, zoo officials said crews accidentally cracked a viewing window in the black bear habitat during the final stages of construction. Additionally, the persistent rain over the past few months contributed to the decision. When it opens, the exhibit will allow visitors to see new habitats and animals native to North America. WBNS reported that it includes Mexican wolves, bald eagles, black bears, and North American river otters. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Columbus Zoo to open new $40 million North America Trek expansion this month
After years of anticipation, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has officially announced an opening date for the first phase of its renovated North America Trek region. On May 23, the zoo will host a special community dedication ceremony at 10 a.m., after which guests can enter and explore the trek themselves. The redesigned region — which has been in the works since 2021 and represents one of the largest long-term projects the zoo has seen in over a decade — will mimic the feeling of a national park, from the Great Smoky Mountains' forest-covered peaks to the American Southwest's rocky cliffs, according to a zoo news release Tuesday. Jen Fields, the zoo's director of communications, said in an email this first phase of the renovation of the zoo's oldest region cost roughly $40 million and covers eight acres of land. The second phase — which is currently in the planning stages and does not have a confirmed timeline — will cover an additional six acres, Fields said. The trek will also feature the Ohio Center for Wildlife Conservation, a new area that teaches about and features local endangered animals, such as Plains garter snakes and freshwater mussels. 'This transformation revitalizes the Zoo's oldest region, originally opened in 1985, into a conservation-focused destination filled with naturalistic design, winding trails, and unforgettable views—all created with animal well-being at the heart of every design,' the zoo reported in a Tuesday Facebook post. Prior to the North America Trek's debut, the zoo's most recent major addition was Adventure Cove, a $40-million project that opened in 2020, Fields said. She said this expansion is one of the zoo's largest capital projects since its Heart of Africa region opened in 2014. Though the trek's 'core experience' is ready, there are still final touches that will likely not be completed by the May 23 opening date, the post states. Specifically, certain animal species may not be visible to guests as they continue to settle into their new habitats. The region's newly featured species include Mexican wolves, bald eagles, river otters, black bears and more, according to the zoo's release. The second phase of the region's expansion will feature updated habitats for animals like wolverines, moose, reindeer and more. The trek, designed by PGAV Destinations and built by Pepper Construction, was developed with sustainability and the animals' well-being as the top priorities. 'Reclaimed soil, rescued trees, ADA-accessible pathways, green roofs, and naturalistic landscapes all contribute to a space that is both beautiful and ecologically responsible,' the zoo's release states. Emma Wozniak is a summer reporting intern at The Dispatch and can be reached at ewozniak@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo to open North American Trek in major expansion
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Columbus Zoo postpones opening of $40 million North America Trek
Less than one week after announcing an official opening date, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has postponed the opening of its North America Trek. Director of communications Jen Fields said in an email Monday that a broader review of the trek's progress was prompted after a viewing window in the new area's black bear habitat was accidentally cracked by construction crews. Though black bear Stevie had not yet moved into the habitat and there were no animal safety concerns, this incident — coupled with the impact of this season's ongoing rain — led to the delay. Columbus Zoo's North America Trek: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium prepare for opening of North America Trek 'After thoughtful consideration, we have made the proactive decision to postpone the opening of North America Trek,' Fields said. 'A new date has not yet been confirmed, but we anticipate opening the region in late June.' The $40 million, eight-acre expansion was set to open May 23, marking one of the largest long-term projects the zoo has seen in over a decade. Fields said the decision to delay the trek's opening reflects the zoo's commitment to both its animals and its community. 'Delaying the opening allows each species the time and space needed to fully acclimate to their new habitats—an essential step for their comfort, health, and long-term success,' Fields said. 'It also ensures we deliver the immersive, thoughtfully designed experience our community expects and deserves.' In the meantime, Fields said the zoo remains open and will announce a new opening date for the North America Trek when it's been determined. Emma Wozniak is a summer reporting intern at The Dispatch and can be reached at ewozniak@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo's new North America Trek postponed; no new date announced
