Matter News
matternews.bsky.social
Matter News
@matternews.bsky.social
Independent, nonprofit news org in Columbus, Ohio, covering arts, music, culture and community.
“It’s like conservative Christians have never thought about Jesus as an immigrant before, and as a Brown child that lived in Palestine. … Even some of the people I was raised with, I’ve had to block them on Facebook. I almost can’t believe we grew up reading the same Bible, taught by the same nuns.”
Gaye Reissland leaves no doubt about the circumstances shaping her work – Matter News
The Columbus artist, who will take part in Aminah Day at the King Arts Complex this weekend, has taken to writing on the back of each canvas, explaining in detail the circumstances that gave rise to h...
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February 17, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Aileen Day and cohost Maia Warner-Langenbahn launched the "People of Agency" podcast out of a belief that it’s easier to advocate for our institutions once you know their history.

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‘People of Agency’ traces the history of USPS and finds lessons for today – Matter News
Aileen Day and cohost Maia Warner-Langenbahn launched the podcast out of a belief that it’s easier to advocate for our institutions once you know their history.
matternews.org
February 13, 2026 at 3:27 PM
“There are so many people who don’t think teenagers care about what’s going on, and maybe those people seeing us do this will spark a whole different movement,” D’Nice said. “Maybe because we started something, the adults will want to take action, too.”

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‘If the adults don’t, kids will’: Columbus students continue to protest ICE – Matter News
‘I definitely think this is only the beginning, and it’s going to grow bigger and more powerful as more people speak up.’
matternews.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:46 PM
One of the most dangerous things about America’s relationship with drug use is the co-occurring social stigma associated with addiction and recovery – deeply held beliefs rooted in moralizations that are often used as cudgels and as frameworks for bad policies.

New from @jackshuler.bsky.social.
Ohio’s Recovery: The past, present, and future of the overdose crisis – Matter News
Fewer people are dying from overdose, but the policies and the social determinants of health did not vanish.
matternews.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:59 PM
“I mean, what else am I going to do? If it fails, it fails.. … And I knew it was a massive gamble. But I’d rather have gambled on the culture that exists here, and that can exist and thrive here, than have not.”

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No Place Gallery turns 10 – Matter News
‘Between Fields and What Isn’t: A Decade Inside No Place’ will take over a pair of galleries beginning on Thursday, Feb. 12, with an opening reception running from 4-7 p.m. at Beeler Gallery and then ...
matternews.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Matter News
columbus!
on the lookout for a new labor columnist. feel free to message me or drop a comment if you know of any local writers who might be a good fit.
February 10, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Matter News
Collective bargaining can protect journalists from arbitrary firings, stagnating wages, and unsafe or exploitative working conditions. But a union contract cannot fix a broken funding model argues Will Klatt.

matternews.org/voices/opini...
Opinion: When unionization isn’t enough – Matter News
Collective bargaining can protect journalists from arbitrary firings, stagnating wages, and unsafe or exploitative working conditions. But a union contract cannot fix a broken funding model.
matternews.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:52 PM
“I did not provide any clinical care for Jeffrey Epstein or any of his victims,” Landon wrote in a statement issued in response to an interview request sent by Matter News to the Wexner Medical Center, which declined further comment.

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Longtime OSU Wexner Medical Center doctor received payments from Epstein – Matter News
Dr. Mark Landon, the chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and a faculty member at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center since 198...
matternews.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Collective bargaining can protect journalists from arbitrary firings, stagnating wages, and unsafe or exploitative working conditions. But a union contract cannot fix a broken funding model argues Will Klatt.

matternews.org/voices/opini...
Opinion: When unionization isn’t enough – Matter News
Collective bargaining can protect journalists from arbitrary firings, stagnating wages, and unsafe or exploitative working conditions. But a union contract cannot fix a broken funding model.
matternews.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:53 PM
“Having a job is horrible. Not having a job is horrible. … And that sort of thing used to bog me down, where now I’m like, this is actually kind of fucking hilarious. We’re just these horrible little meat puppets that drive to work and pay taxes to pay for terrible wars all over the world.”
Unemployee rages against the daily grind on ‘Cassette Tape’ – Matter News
Longtime Columbus musicians Bo Davis, B.J. Holesapple, and Mat Bisaro make a marvelous racket on their debut release, which will be available for preorder beginning on Saturday, Feb. 14.
matternews.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 PM
“Some of these more simplified [paintings], they’re cool, but they’re more focused on formalist aspects: tone, perspective, weight – that kind of thing. And I wanted to focus more on plants as characters, thinking about them as going through the same strife and struggles that we do.”
Aaron Troyer brings a colorful cast of characters to life in ‘False Meridian’ – Matter News
The artist’s new duo exhibition with Jolene Powell kicks off with an opening reception at Brandt Gallery tonight (Friday, Feb. 6).
matternews.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Matter News
February 5, 2026 at 8:37 PM
“We want this to be a hub where people can meet and share their art,” Theresa Ann said, “but also a launching pad to bring music and art to places it typically wouldn’t be able to go.”

matternews.org/community/th...
The Ambry Library prepares to open its doors to the Linden community – Matter News
Opening Saturday, the arts-focused space will serve as an intimate concert venue, a gallery, and a library, as well as a center for community gathering and education.
matternews.org
February 5, 2026 at 8:31 PM
“We tell them to continue to lay low. Because you cannot give yourself the luxury of living as if everything was normal,” Dorsainvil said.

New at Matter News from Hamilton Nolan, originally published at How Things Work.

matternews.org/community/wa...
Waiting for judgment in Springfield, Ohio – Matter News
Harsh times for America's most famous Haitian community.
matternews.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM
As a region, we brag about our growth, but we have a small-town view of our transportation needs. Columbus remains one of the largest cities in the world without intercity rail connections – largely because of recent governors who were indifferent or even hostile to rail.

New from Brian Williams.
On Development: Cars can’t take us where we need to go – Matter News
The billions of dollars of new road improvements cited in MORPC’s analysis 26 years ago have already been spent, and now we’re still looking at the same challenges with more people and more roads.
matternews.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:25 PM
“Even in this crazy environment and in these crazy times, I feel like a really fortunate person, because I love my family so much. And so, I was just trying to juggle those two emotions, where half the record is what the hell is happening? But the other half is love.”

matternews.org/culture/musi...
Billy Peake holds to hope while navigating these ‘Manic Waves’ – Matter News
The Columbus musician will celebrate the release of his new solo LP in concert at Natalie’s Grandview on Saturday, Feb. 7.
matternews.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Matter News
Given the WaPo disaster, I’m re-posting my starter pack of indie journalists—it probably needs an update so give me a shout to add folks.
#wapo #journalism
go.bsky.app/A2UpMn5
February 4, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Matter News
There’s a long history of this kind of work in communities across America – underground mutual aid that often cuts against laws and norms.

New from Jack Shuler.

matternews.org/voices/just-...
‘Just regular people’ – Matter News
There’s a long history of underground mutual aid in America that often cuts against laws and norms.
matternews.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
There’s a long history of this kind of work in communities across America – underground mutual aid that often cuts against laws and norms.

New from Jack Shuler.

matternews.org/voices/just-...
‘Just regular people’ – Matter News
There’s a long history of underground mutual aid in America that often cuts against laws and norms.
matternews.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Matter News
“Many of our rights have been won through peaceful disobedience, working-class struggle, and people demanding an end by withholding their labor,” Pham said.

New from Jen Bryant.

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Activists call for nationwide general strike to protest ICE, Columbus answers – Matter News
In addition to the general strike, a protest will take place at 3 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 30) at the Ohio Statehouse.
matternews.org
January 30, 2026 at 1:26 PM
“Many of our rights have been won through peaceful disobedience, working-class struggle, and people demanding an end by withholding their labor,” Pham said.

New from Jen Bryant.

matternews.org/community/ac...
Activists call for nationwide general strike to protest ICE, Columbus answers – Matter News
In addition to the general strike, a protest will take place at 3 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 30) at the Ohio Statehouse.
matternews.org
January 30, 2026 at 1:26 PM
In preparing for “Grindstones & Rhinestones,” Caroline Crow began to revisit Dolly Parton’s version of “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos).” “And I’m definitely thinking about the ICE presence in Columbus and Minneapolis, especially this past weekend, with the second shooting in two weeks.”
‘Dolly Parton is in the foundation of society’: Columbus musicians pay tribute to the country great – Matter News
‘Grindstones and Rhinestones,’ set to take place at Natalie’s Grandview on Friday, Jan. 30, features performances from Moe Reen, Mery Steel, and the Hen & the Crow.
matternews.org
January 28, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Matter News
War on Cars accomplished through Level 3 Snow Emergency - 🥳
War on Cars event cancelled due to Level 3 Snow Emergency - 😭

Thanks to our friends at @matternews.bsky.social for this article!
January 26, 2026 at 3:41 PM
There’s certainly some irony in a visit from "The War on Cars" podcast hosts Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon being canceled by a Level 3 snow emergency that prevented drivers from taking to the road on Sunday.

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Even cities as auto dependent as Columbus can imagine ‘Life After Cars’ – Matter News
There’s certainly some irony in a visit from ‘The War on Cars’ podcast hosts Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon being canceled by a Level 3 snow emergency that prevented drivers from taking to the road on...
matternews.org
January 26, 2026 at 1:31 PM