Marloes Gordon

Marloes Gordon founded Columbus Frontline to provide independent reporting across Central Ohio. She oversees business operations and long-term strategy, with a focus on transparency and sustainable local journalism.

Power Restored to Thousands After Storms in Pickaway and Fairfield Counties; Hundreds Still Without Power

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Utility workers repairing a damaged transformer in Pickaway County, Ohio.

COLUMBUS – Power companies restored electricity to thousands of homes and businesses Saturday after strong storms caused outages across parts of central Ohio. Data from South Central Power Company shows that outages peaked at about 10,600 customers in Pickaway County and 3,400 customers in Fairfield County Saturday afternoon. Utility crews worked for several hours to … Read more

Ohio Senate Reviewing “Joshua Alert” Bill to Create Missing Child Alerts for Kids With Autism

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A digital emergency alert sign on an Ohio highway displaying information for a missing child.

The Ohio Senate is considering legislation that would create a statewide emergency alert system for missing children with autism and other developmental disabilities, a proposal that previously passed the Ohio House unanimously. House Bill 359 would establish what lawmakers are calling a “Joshua Alert,” a notification system designed to quickly alert the public when a … Read more

Kokosing Offers $100,000 Reward After Construction Worker Jordan Thomas Killed in I-70 Hit-and-Run, Driver Still Missing

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Police looking for a maroon Toyota sedan involved in a fatal I-70 hit-and-run in Columbus

COLUMBUS — Kokosing Construction is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver who struck and killed one of its workers in a downtown Columbus work zone last week and drove away. The victim, Jordan Thomas, 25, died at the scene at 2:12 a.m. on February 28. He had worked … Read more

Flood Watch in Effect for Columbus and Central Ohio Through Thursday Afternoon; Up to 3 Inches of Rain Possible

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Heavy rain and flooded street in Columbus, Ohio during a Flood Watch.

COLUMBUS — The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a Flood Watch for Franklin County and several surrounding counties Wednesday morning, warning that heavy rain and thunderstorms could cause flooding through Thursday afternoon. The watch covers Franklin, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, and Clark counties including Downtown Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Springfield, and Plain City. Flooding Is a … Read more

KeyBank Tower for Sale: Iconic Downtown Building Faces $11.5M Debt Crisis

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The 21-story KeyBank Building at 88 E. Broad St. in Downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The KeyBank Building at 88 E. Broad St., a 21-story office tower across from the Ohio Statehouse in Downtown Columbus, has been listed for sale through Allied Real Estate Advisors while under court-ordered receivership, according to property records and court filings. The building, which has struggled with high vacancy and foreclosure proceedings since 2024, carries … Read more

Columbus Cop Arrested After Strangling Girlfriend Twice Taken Off the Job

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Columbus Police officer Jacob A. Smith's court appearance for strangulation charges.

DELAWARE COUNTY — Jacob A. Smith, 50, a Columbus Division of Police officer, was arrested Saturday in Delaware County and charged with felony strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend twice outside a Polaris-area restaurant, according to court records.Smith was arraigned in Delaware County … Read more