*Finalist in the Society of Professional Journalists' Region 4 2025 Mark of Excellence Awards*

In 1903, Ohio State and the Dairy Processors of Ohio hosted a butter sculpting contest with no restrictions on subject matter; the selected piece would be displayed at the Ohio State Fair.

There was one entry in particular that stood out from the rest — a life-sized cow and calf, submitted by A.T. Shelton & Company, a butter distributor. Little did they know, their winning entry would spark over a century of butter creations, becoming an iconic tradition at the fair.

Now, year after year, a gr...

Noelle Meister, a fourth-year in social work, began betting on baseball just under a year ago after receiving a referral for FanDuel from her friend.

At the time, she had little to no knowledge of the sport.

“It was just starting to be baseball season and that’s when a lot of the promotions were happening, so like, 30 percent profit boost if you bet on this MLB game,” Meister said. “So I just started to track stats [and] everything, and I just grew my knowledge from there.”

Meister is one of...

For 10 seasons now, the hit Netflix dating show “Love Is Blind” has asked contestants the question: could you fall in love with someone without ever seeing their face?

Victor St. John, an assistant professor in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, sought to find out after his friend suggested he check out the application.

“One of the things I quickly noticed was that [the application] really forced you to think about yourself in a very introspective way, in terms of just what your romanti...

This story contains mentions and details of rape, sexual abuse and suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, help is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which can be reached at (800) 656-4673 or via their online chat hotline.

‘Surviving Ohio State,’ a documentary on the Dr. Strauss scandal, aired Tuesday on HBO and their streaming service, Max. Throughout the film, each interviewee—ranging from journalists to survivors to a civil rights lawyer—...

Season 15 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Miss Continental 2012, Sasha Kekauoha — best-known by her drag name, Sasha Colby — will stop at the Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus Tuesday at 8 p.m. as part of her Stripped II tour.

Following the success of the first leg of the Stripped tour, the drag queen has taken center stage again, expanding to 30 cities as opposed to the first leg’s 22. Colby said for this tour, she’s shifted the show’s content, drifting away from the original, more person...

“I am the sea / In my depths all treasures dwell / Have the divers asked about my pearls?” — Hafiz Ibrahim.

This poem is echoed throughout the quietly devastating film that is “All That’s Left of You,” which premieres in Columbus at Gateway Film Center Thursday at 7:15 p.m. The film follows generations of a Palestinian family as they navigate the hardships they’ve faced under Israel’s occupation, beginning in 1948 with the Nakba and Israel’s establishment and ending in 2022.

It’s the latest fr...

Ohio’s longest-running lesbian bar, Summit Station — originally called Jack’s A Go-Go — will be the focal point of an upcoming documentary, “Free Beer Tomorrow.”

The film honors the historical landmark that served as a safe haven for the queer community in Columbus for nearly four decades, featuring testimonials from its patrons and owner, Petie Brown. It officially closed in 2008 and is now home to the Summit Music Hall, which is northeast of campus.

While the film is still in the post-produc...

From buying a new outfit to furnishing a living room, thrift stores have always been crucial in helping people live comfortably and affordably.

But, some go above and beyond in satisfying the customer — one store in particular even offers free and accessible healthcare for community members.

Out of the Closet, located at 1230 N. High St., must be succeeding in customer satisfaction, as for The Lantern’s 2025 Best of OSU special edition, the Ohio State community named it as the best secondhand...