Editor’s Note: Beat notes is a weekly feature from Dispatch journalists who share what’s been happening in their area of coverage and upcoming events. This week we hear from Jordan Laird, who covers government and politics.
From soccer to health care, jail policies to elections, I get to cover a bit of everything as your local government reporter.
Last month, I broke the story that the Haslam Sports Group and Mayor Andrew Ginther were lobbying city council for millions in capital dollars for facilities for a potential pro women’s soccer team, but a majority of council members rejected the proposal. About a month earlier, I dug into the mayor’s annual budget draft to report on its proposed cuts to health centers serving uninsured patients and more
My work takes me inside City Hall and out into the community. Here’s a peek at how I do it.
How the Dispatch got the story on the Haslams’ ask of City Hall
For several weeks, the Haslam Sports Group and Ginther’s administration met privately with council members, seeking $25 million from the city and $25 million from Franklin County to help fund facilities for a potential National Women’s Soccer League franchise.
I got wind of these meetings on a Friday. Come Monday morning, after an unrelated press conference, I asked the mayor directly. Ginther confirmed the plan for a public-private partnership.
I asked two council members present at the event and immediately heard resistance. I set out to survey as many members as I could at that evening’s council meeting and I confirmed at least five, a majority, would vote against the current ask.
My story published Tuesday morning with a splash. The council went on to weigh an alternative plan to fund facilities with a ticket tax at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
How the Dispatch reported on the budget and possible health care cuts
Covering the annual city budget process can be a dry affair. But this year, there were some painful cuts on the table. When I heard that the city could cut funding to health centers serving low-income and uninsured patients, I visited one of the PrimaryOne Health clinics on the West Side.
There, photographer Doral Chenoweth and I observed Dr. Gregary Graves, director of vision services, care for longtime patient Brenda Case. Their interaction put faces to a pending City Hall decision.
Ultimately, city council restored some of the dollars PrimaryOne Health was seeking, but not all of it.
Got a story tip for me? Reach out to jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow me on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Behind the scenes on how The Dispatch covers City Hall
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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