Superman heads back to Ohio, Clintonville's deer debate goes official, and Nine Inch Nails hits the Schott.

🌧️ Good morning, Columbus. Grab an umbrella — it's a soggy Wednesday with light rain all day. We're starting at a cool 50° and climbing to 61°, but that 100% chance of rain means you'll want the jacket with a hood.

📍 Superman sequel returns to Ohio — but with a much smaller footprint

James Gunn is bringing the Man of Steel back to Ohio, but this time he's not sticking around. A sequel to 2025's Superman — filming under the code name "Exodus" — has been awarded $1.9 million in state tax credits and will shoot in Cincinnati this summer. The production is scheduled for 61 days of preproduction starting June 15, followed by just five days of actual shooting in August.

That's a sharp departure from the first film's Ohio run. Superman racked up 201 days in state, hired more than 3,000 Ohio residents, and pulled in $11 million in tax credits. This time around, the production anticipates hiring only seven Ohio residents and about a dozen out-of-staters. The total budget is listed at $330 million.

The biblical code-name pattern continues — "Genesis" for the first film, "Exodus" for the sequel, which is set for release in July 2027. The application lists the same key players: Gunn directing, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan reprising their roles as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and Angela Boehm Casting handling local extras.

The first film shot at Cleveland landmarks like Public Square and Progressive Field, plus Cincinnati's Union Terminal — the building that inspired the Justice League's headquarters in the 1970s animated series. The sequel's Ohio locations haven't been announced yet.

Bottom line: Ohio landed the Superman sequel, but it's more of a cameo than a starring role this time. Five shooting days and seven local hires won't move the needle the way the first production did — but it keeps Cleveland-created Superman tied to his home state.

📍 Clintonville takes another swing at its deer problem

The city held a community conversation Wednesday night after releasing results from its citywide deer management survey, and the message was clear: more than 70% of respondents want the deer population to decrease. Of the nearly 4,000 people who weighed in, Clintonville residents made up the majority, with six in ten Clintonville respondents reporting they see deer daily.

The meeting, hosted by City Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, broke residents into small groups to discuss options that are already legal in Ohio: culling, hunting, and no-feed ordinances. But feelings are mixed. Some residents say they enjoy seeing the deer. Others, like Clintonville resident Helen Anne Sweeney, are frustrated. "We're losing money. The deer are sick, they're hungry. They cause all kinds of just utter destruction in the neighborhood," she told NBC4.

Day-Achauer said the city is intentionally moving slowly after watching Worthington's deer management effort spark backlash last year. "We felt we were fortunate to have Worthington jump into this before we did, so we could see the responses that people had," she said. But some residents think the deliberation has gone on too long — Sweeney noted the issue has been talked about for five or six years.

Columbus City Council partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio State University for the survey. According to Day-Achauer, there's no deer management policy currently in the works at the city level. Leaders plan to review Wednesday's feedback before determining next steps.

Bottom line: Clintonville has been circling this issue for half a decade, and Wednesday's meeting suggests we're still in the "let's talk about it" phase. At some point, the city will have to decide if it's willing to act — or if residents' property concerns will continue without a management plan.

📍 Ohio lawmakers want tougher penalties after crossing guard gets hit, fined driver $48

Two state legislators introduced a bill this month that would make it a first-degree misdemeanor to disobey a school crossing guard — a direct response to a Warren County case where a driver hit a crossing guard and walked away with a $48 fine. House Bill 690, sponsored by Reps. Tom Young and Andrea White, would also double fines for violations in school zones during reduced-speed hours.

The bill was announced at a Statehouse press conference featuring Becky Evans, a former Franklin City Schools volunteer crossing guard who was struck by a driver. "It's kind of like a slap in the face. I was only doing my job protecting my kids," Evans said. She and the bill's sponsors pointed to research indicating that more than 225 crossing guards nationwide have been hit by cars in the past decade, with many drivers facing only minor citations or no penalty.

Under the proposal, crossing guards would be explicitly authorized to direct, stop, and control traffic at crosswalks. The bill would also establish penalties for anyone who harasses, intimidates, or interferes with a guard performing official duties. Kettering Police Chief Chip Protsman called it "an important bill to protect our crossing guards" and said the injuries suffered by guards due to careless and distracted drivers are "unacceptable."

The bill awaits assignment to a House committee.

Bottom line: A $48 fine for hitting a crossing guard protecting children highlights a gap in current law. The bill addresses a real problem — crossing guards directing traffic deserve clearer legal protections and violations should carry meaningful consequences.

⚡ Quick Hits

• New school opens in Pickerington. Pickerington Central Junior High School opened Wednesday after three years of planning and construction. The building features limited entry points, section-by-section lockdown capabilities, a robotics lab, and touchscreens in every classroom. All students start classes there Monday, and the public can tour the facility Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 457 Lockville Rd.

• Les Wexner's Epstein testimony draws skepticism. House Democrats expressed doubts about Wexner's six-hour congressional deposition Wednesday, in which the Ohio billionaire denied knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Rep. Dave Min said Wexner's claim that he didn't remember seeing girls or hearing anything about Epstein "is not plausible." Wexner has never been charged in connection with Epstein's crimes.

• Ban-the-box bill draws mixed reactions. Senate Bill 143, which would prohibit private employers from asking about criminal history on initial job applications, received its fourth hearing last week. Supporters say it gives people with records a fair shot. Opponents, including property management groups, say it creates liability risks and wastes time for employers and applicants alike.

• Adorable dog up for adoption. Meet Mr. Dr. Professor (yes, really), an eight-month-old pup at the Franklin County Dog Shelter who's bouncy, goofy, and ready to find a family that will keep him active. He came in shy back in December but has come out of his shell. Visit the shelter's website for details.

🎟️ Out & About

NEEDTOBREATHE: The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour | Tonight, 7:30 PM | Mershon Auditorium — Acoustic show with opener Philip Bowen. $1 per ticket goes to the band's FOR OTHERS foundation. From $35.

Nine Inch Nails: Peel It Back Tour | Friday, 8 PM | Schottenstein Center — Trent Reznor brings NIN back to Columbus with Boys Noize opening. From $78.

New Edition with Boyz II Men & Toni Braxton | Saturday, 8 PM | Schottenstein Center — The New Edition Way Tour brings three of music's most enduring acts to Columbus. From $65.

Disney On Ice: Mickey's Search Party | Through Sunday, showtimes vary | Nationwide Arena — Mickey and friends search for Tinker Bell in an interactive ice show. From $45.

📜 On This Day

On February 19, 1803, President Jefferson signed the act approving Ohio's boundaries and constitution. Congress wouldn't officially recognize Ohio as a state until 1953 — meaning we were accidentally a non-state for 150 years.

That umbrella's not optional today. Stay dry out there.

See you tomorrow.