Jordan Laird
@lairdwrites.bsky.social
(She/her) dog and cat mom, The Columbus Dispatch reporter covering city and county government
The federal government is looking to open new law enforcement offices in 20 U.S. cities, including Columbus.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Federal law enforcement looking to open new offices in Columbus and 19 other U.S. cities
Federal law enforcement is looking to open new offices in 20 U.S. cities, including Columbus, as the president takes aim at Democrat-led communities.
www.dispatch.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The federal government is looking to open new law enforcement offices in 20 U.S. cities, including Columbus.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Two Columbus leaders besides Mayor Andrew Ginther appear to be setting themselves up for a 2027 mayoral run with aggressive fundraising.
Plus, they didn’t exactly deny it when I asked.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Plus, they didn’t exactly deny it when I asked.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Who's running for Columbus mayor in 2027? Fundraising reports hint who might
Besides Mayor Andrew Ginther, two Columbus leaders are also aggressively fundraising. See who might run for mayor in 2027.
www.dispatch.com
August 4, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Two Columbus leaders besides Mayor Andrew Ginther appear to be setting themselves up for a 2027 mayoral run with aggressive fundraising.
Plus, they didn’t exactly deny it when I asked.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Plus, they didn’t exactly deny it when I asked.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Fact check: while hosting the OSU championship team, Trump said he won Columbus by a lot.
He actually lost Columbus by a lot while winning Ohio.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
He actually lost Columbus by a lot while winning Ohio.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Fact check: Did JD Vance graduate from Ohio State in 2 years? Did Trump win Columbus?
Fact Check: While welcoming OSU's champions at the White House, President Trump made claims about Ohio and graduate J.D. Vance. Were they true?
www.dispatch.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Fact check: while hosting the OSU championship team, Trump said he won Columbus by a lot.
He actually lost Columbus by a lot while winning Ohio.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
He actually lost Columbus by a lot while winning Ohio.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Jordan Laird
In a citywide effort with South Side Thrive, our team helped make Parsons Ave cleaner and safer. @lairdwrites.bsky.social highlights the initiative👇
Columbus sends city 'strike force' to help clean up Parsons Avenue, more areas planned
Columbus leaders have launched a project that gives extra TLC to certain corridors in need, starting with Parsons Avenue on the South Side.
f.mtr.cool
April 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
In a citywide effort with South Side Thrive, our team helped make Parsons Ave cleaner and safer. @lairdwrites.bsky.social highlights the initiative👇
Reposted by Jordan Laird
The Dispatch's @lairdwrites.bsky.social on the current protest movement against President Trump in Central Ohio with responses from lawmakers some accuse of avoiding the public. www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Frustrated by Trump and Musk, central Ohio protesters push for senators' attention
A "town hall" using ChatGPT and missing posters show some central Ohioans are frustrated with their Republican Congress members and they're getting creative.
www.dispatch.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Dispatch's @lairdwrites.bsky.social on the current protest movement against President Trump in Central Ohio with responses from lawmakers some accuse of avoiding the public. www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Jordan Laird
An exclusive report from @lairdwrites.bsky.social www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Ohio city sues Trump, Musk over DOGE freeze on already spent forestry grant
Columbus is joining other cities and nonprofits to sue Trump, Musk and DOGE for cutting their grants — in Columbus' case, a grant for tree planting.
www.dispatch.com
March 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
An exclusive report from @lairdwrites.bsky.social www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
I was sitting in a meeting this morning when all of a sudden this happened. It was upsetting to say the least.
March 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I was sitting in a meeting this morning when all of a sudden this happened. It was upsetting to say the least.
First in the Dispatch: DOGE claims cost savings for a Columbus office move planned years ago.
Just another example of what’s happening nationally: DOGE claiming credit for something that had nothing to do with it while not being transparent.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Just another example of what’s happening nationally: DOGE claiming credit for something that had nothing to do with it while not being transparent.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
DOGE claims cost savings for Columbus bankruptcy court move planned years ago
DOGE says that they're saving $1.5 million a year on terminating a lease in downtown Columbus. But that office was already planning to move.
www.dispatch.com
March 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
First in the Dispatch: DOGE claims cost savings for a Columbus office move planned years ago.
Just another example of what’s happening nationally: DOGE claiming credit for something that had nothing to do with it while not being transparent.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Just another example of what’s happening nationally: DOGE claiming credit for something that had nothing to do with it while not being transparent.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
ICYMI: No diversity or equity talk at an MLK event?
Pointing to Trump’s DEI orders, the Columbus VA told their scheduled keynote speaker at their MLK lunch, Commissioner Kevin Boyce, not to talk about DEI so Boyce withdrew, according to Boyce.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Pointing to Trump’s DEI orders, the Columbus VA told their scheduled keynote speaker at their MLK lunch, Commissioner Kevin Boyce, not to talk about DEI so Boyce withdrew, according to Boyce.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Diversity discussion banned at Columbus VA MLK lunch, Ohio official says
Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce says Donald Trump's orders around DEI had a chilling effect on free speech at a Central Ohio VA event.
www.dispatch.com
January 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
ICYMI: No diversity or equity talk at an MLK event?
Pointing to Trump’s DEI orders, the Columbus VA told their scheduled keynote speaker at their MLK lunch, Commissioner Kevin Boyce, not to talk about DEI so Boyce withdrew, according to Boyce.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Pointing to Trump’s DEI orders, the Columbus VA told their scheduled keynote speaker at their MLK lunch, Commissioner Kevin Boyce, not to talk about DEI so Boyce withdrew, according to Boyce.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
From Italian art museums to Moroccan gardens to a South African safari, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, president of the US Conference of Mayors, spent more than one-fifth of 2024 (78 days) traveling for work. Here’s where he went and who paid.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Mayor Ginther spent 78 days away from Columbus in 2024. Here's where he went and who paid
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther spent more than one-fifth of last year traveling, including to Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Morocco and South Africa.
www.dispatch.com
January 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
From Italian art museums to Moroccan gardens to a South African safari, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, president of the US Conference of Mayors, spent more than one-fifth of 2024 (78 days) traveling for work. Here’s where he went and who paid.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Last night, Columbus City Council voted to settle three claims against the city, including with two women who alleged sex discrimination within city departments.
Settling sex discrimination claims in the Division of Fire and Public Health cost $125k
t.co/ApdXSzso9o
Settling sex discrimination claims in the Division of Fire and Public Health cost $125k
t.co/ApdXSzso9o
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/01/06/columbus-settles-claims-including-sex-discrimination-claims-garbage-truck-injury/77439433007/
t.co
January 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Last night, Columbus City Council voted to settle three claims against the city, including with two women who alleged sex discrimination within city departments.
Settling sex discrimination claims in the Division of Fire and Public Health cost $125k
t.co/ApdXSzso9o
Settling sex discrimination claims in the Division of Fire and Public Health cost $125k
t.co/ApdXSzso9o
Columbus City Council passed three new ‘Housing for All’ ordinances last night around providing attorneys in eviction court and regulating landlords and predatory wholesalers.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Columbus Council takes aim at region's housing crunch with multiple new laws
Columbus City Council passes a slew of housing-related legislation aimed at decreasing evictions and regulating landlords and wholesalers.
www.dispatch.com
December 17, 2024 at 3:22 PM
Columbus City Council passed three new ‘Housing for All’ ordinances last night around providing attorneys in eviction court and regulating landlords and predatory wholesalers.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Pandemic federal funds are going away. Leaders of Columbus' homeless shelters are calling for more local funding, or they warn more people, including families with children, will end up living outside.
They also want increased funding to prevent homelessness.
t.co/mLEtHMuOVx
They also want increased funding to prevent homelessness.
t.co/mLEtHMuOVx
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/12/12/columbus-homeless-shelters-asking-millions-more-funds-as-problem-grows/76893106007/
t.co
December 12, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Pandemic federal funds are going away. Leaders of Columbus' homeless shelters are calling for more local funding, or they warn more people, including families with children, will end up living outside.
They also want increased funding to prevent homelessness.
t.co/mLEtHMuOVx
They also want increased funding to prevent homelessness.
t.co/mLEtHMuOVx
The city of Columbus posted notices Monday that it planned to evict six homeless camps on city property in one week, impacting at least 40 people living in the camps.
The deadline has been delayed after a heated council meeting but the sweeps are still happening.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
The deadline has been delayed after a heated council meeting but the sweeps are still happening.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
Activists upset as Columbus plans to evict 6 homeless camps, one ejected from City Council
Columbus plans to evict 6 homeless camps. The Dec. 2 deadline to leave was moved back after outcry, but activists say the sweeps need to stop.
www.dispatch.com
November 26, 2024 at 8:09 PM
The city of Columbus posted notices Monday that it planned to evict six homeless camps on city property in one week, impacting at least 40 people living in the camps.
The deadline has been delayed after a heated council meeting but the sweeps are still happening.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
The deadline has been delayed after a heated council meeting but the sweeps are still happening.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...
My first post on here! Some data analysis my colleague Anna Lynn Winfrey and I did: Trumpiest, bluest cities in Franklin County? Here's how your neighborhood voted in 2024
www.dispatch.com
November 21, 2024 at 3:13 PM
My first post on here! Some data analysis my colleague Anna Lynn Winfrey and I did: Trumpiest, bluest cities in Franklin County? Here's how your neighborhood voted in 2024