WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is notifying the public today that it will close its offices nationwide on Friday, May 24th as a result of government-wide automatic spending cuts that took effect on March 1, 2013. ...

James Mason, owner of Gene Walker’s Café on Long, relaxes in front of his business hoping more neighborhood residents come out and support community businesses like his on Long Street. Mason stocks his café with locally branded food, art from local artisans and live jazz on the sidewalk most Thursdays. ...

Workers are finishing up the playground for summer at the Blackburn Community Center at 263 Carpenter Ave. ...

Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home, and its sponsors prepare for Rebuilding Together’s National Rebuilding Month. ...

Recognizing the many benefits of community gardens, the city of Columbus and Franklin County announced recipients of their joint community garden grants program. $53,200 in funding was allocated to 42 local community gardens this year. ...