🏫 Bible study battle

Hello, Monday! How is it already the last day of September?

☁️ Today's weather: Still cloudy, with highs in the 70s. More rain possible.

🎂 Happy birthday to Axios Columbus members Aaron Pickrell and Andrew Springer!

🗳️ Situational awareness: Time is running out to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election. We'll publish a guide soon recapping the key issues that will appear on local ballots.

Today's newsletter is 721 words — a 2.5-minute read.

The Westerville Board of Education is expected tonight to rescind a policy that lets students leave school during the day to receive private religious instruction.

Why it matters: The vote comes as tension simmers in many Ohio districts over student participation in LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based Christian nonprofit group with a rapidly growing footprint.

How it works: LifeWise transports students off campus during the school day for nondenominational Bible study.

• The program serves over 30,000 students in 23 states this school year, up from 13 states last year, the AP reports.
• It's in about 170 Ohio districts, including Columbus and many of its suburbs, according to news reports.

The big picture: Ohio law currently allows the practice with district and parent permission, so long as students don't miss "core" subjects.

• A separate law taking effect Oct. 24 will require districts to adopt a policy that "reasonably accommodates" students' religious practices, including up to three yearly excused absences.
• Ohio lawmakers are considering another bill — similar to one recently adopted in Indiana — that would force districts to permit programs like LifeWise.

Friction point: Critics worry LifeWise is shifting focus and public school resources away from academics at a time when many students are struggling with pandemic-related learning loss.

• Gahanna-Jefferson stopped allowing such programs in 2022 due to concerns about skewed schedules, student liability and disrupted instructional time, per WOSU.

Between the lines: Others argue such programs blur the constitutional separation of church and state and promote Christianity, though a 1952 Supreme Court ruling upheld them.

• The group's opposition to same-sex marriage and transgender identities is also a source of debate.

The other side: CEO Joel Penton told NBC News that offering instruction during the school day makes religion education more accessible, and said the group avoids hot-button topics in its curriculum.

Zoom in: Westerville has permitted access to LifeWise programming since 2022; currently around 300 students participate.

• The board briefly suspended the activity last month and is now considering a ban following heated public meetings.
• Tonight's meeting starts at 6pm at 936 Eastwind Drive and will also stream on YouTube.

🎵 The inaugural Ohio R&B Music Festival is coming to Natalie's Grandview this weekend. (Columbus Underground)

• Grab a standing room ticket for $41.

🤑 New Albany is Ohio's richest town, with a median household income of nearly $225,000, according to census data. (Stacker)

🍞 Ohio is home to many unusual world records, including the largest bread loaf sculpture and the most people opening drink cans simultaneously. (614 Magazine)

🗳️ X (formerly Twitter) suspended journalist Ken Klippenstein last week for sharing Sen. JD Vance's vice presidential vetting document following an alleged Iranian hack of former President Trump's campaign. (Axios)

👋 Alissa here, with a restaurant recommendation for folks who could eat Mexican food for every meal of the day. (Guilty.)

The vibe: El Carajillo Mexican Cafe & Bar debuted inside a cozy Italian Village corner building in May.

• There are few tables inside, but it boasts a spacious patio.
• Breakfast is served starting at 9am, an uncommon feature for a local Mexican eatery. But it's fitting for a place named "carajillo," a coffee drink with liquor.

What I ate: A mid-morning breakfast burrito ($10) at the recommendation of our server, who said she eats one nearly every work day.

• I can see why. It's a dense and filling pick-me-up full of mozzarella, souffled egg, chorizo, potatoes and arugula.
• It paired perfectly with a fresh side salad with cilantro ranch.

Pro tip: Try the iced coffeechata ($5), a unique blend of coffee and horchata, a traditional Mexican sweet rice drink flavored with cinnamon and other spices.

Stop by: 9am-9pm Sunday; 9am-2pm and 4-10pm Monday-Friday; 9am-10pm Saturday. 851 N. Fourth St. Menu.

Twenty years after merging with Bank One, JPMorganChase is helping drive the Columbus economy by:

• Employing more than 18,600 people in the region.
• Operating over 230 bank branches in Ohio.
• Supporting more than 187,000 business clients across the state.

Learn more.

Knowledge is power, and we believe in empowering our community through reliable, local journalism.

Join our membership program for just $50+ a year, and you can support our efforts to keep you in the know of what's happening around town.

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Together, we can ensure our neighbors stay informed.

The intrigue: Somebody took an Upper Arlington library book on a trip to Michigan and accidentally left it at a park trail.

• A fellow traveler from Chicago discovered it and mailed it back, saving the reader a lost book fee.

Worthy of your time: Incredible journey: How an Upper Arlington library book traveled the Midwest, made it back

The Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is expanding its reach in central Ohio, thanks in part to a $10 million commitment from JPMorganChase.

Why it's important: The state faces a significant shortage of affordable housing, and AHT is a key lender to housing projects in the region.

Learn more.

Thanks to Tyler Buchanan for editing today's newsletter.

Our picks:

🎉 Tyler spent the weekend celebrating BGSU's Homecoming!

🦛 Alissa is loving all the Moo Deng coverage, but particularly enjoyed this take from Slate.