What a summer it has been.
When I last checked in with readers in May, I wrote about finding my footing as The Dispatch's trending reporter and learning that no two days on this beat look quite the same.
Nearly four months later, that hasn't changed.
Since then, I've covered everything from severe storms and record rainfall to store openings, community stories and a billion-dollar Powerball jackpot. I also took on a new role that has allowed me to tell Columbus stories in an entirely different way.
My trending coverage
Trending reporting often means following the stories people are already talking about and answering the questions they have next.
This summer, that includedfollowing up on a fatal Interstate 71 crash that killed veterinarian Lynnea Soposki, 36; her husband,
chemist Luke Soposki, 37; and their 1-year-old son, Logan. Federal records later showed the truck involved had braking issues. I also reported on the identification of Velina Jeter, a baby found dead in Cincinnati nearly 50 years ago.
I also covered the permanent closure of a Columbus Sonic after a fire, repairs to the Scioto Audubon Metro Park climbing wall, Wayfair's Columbus grand opening and plans for a second location in Dublin.
And as the Powerball jackpot climbed past $1 billion, I kept readers updated on the winning numbers and growing prize.
Weather, weather and more weather
If there was one constant this summer, it was Ohio's unpredictable weather.
In May, Columbus recorded its fourth wettest day in the month. Summer brought stretches of extreme heat before August delivered severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and extraordinary rainfall.
One of my most-read stories compared August 2025, when much of Ohio was battling drought, with August 2026, when some communities were dealing with flooding.
That story, along with my coverage of Wayfair's outlet opening date and Columbus' August rainfall far exceeding normal amounts, were my most read stories since my last Beat Notes.
Beyond the daily stories
This summer also gave me opportunities to step outside the daily trending cycle.
I returned to the Indian Lake area two years after deadly tornadoes devastated communities there to report on how residents have rebuilt. I spoke with members of Columbus' Bhutanese-Nepali community about the impact of Medicaid fraud allegations, and I profiled Ohio astronaut Michael Good as he reflected on his journey from his hometown to NASA.
Each gave me a chance to spend more time with the people behind the headlines.
A few of my favorites
One of my favorite stories began with an unexpected graduation gift:Bruno Mars surprising Hilliard Darby High School's Class of 2026 with free ice cream.
But my biggest project of the summer has been launching Columbus in Color, a Dispatch podcast centered on conversations with the people who give our city its color and help move it forward.
Columbus in Color grew out of my favorite part of being a journalist: sitting down with people, hearing their stories and giving readers− and now listeners− the chance to know the person beyond a headline.
Three episodes in, my hope is to create conversations that reflect the many people and experiences that make up Columbus while making listeners feel like they're sitting right there with us. You can watch or listen to Columbus in Color on Dispatch.com, YouTube, Spotifyand Apple Podcasts, with new episodes released every other week.
What's next?
I'm continuing to grow Columbus in Color and, hopefully, build an audience that sees itself reflected in those conversations.
At the same time, I'll keep doing what this beat has taught me to do: follow what Columbus is talking about, ask what readers want to know next and see where the story takes me.
Feel free to reach out on Facebook @amanii.bayo and, as always, at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: From severe weather to a new podcast, Dispatch reporter shares update
