Theodore Decker
The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, OH, United States
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Past articles by Theodore:
This marks the end of my run as Dispatch metro columnist
Metro columnist Theodore Decker started at The Dispatch in 2006 as a police reporter. → Read More
In a healthy city, children cannot die by violence on Christmas, NYE
A 16-year-old boy was killed on Christmas and a 15-year-old girl on New Year's Eve in Columbus. We cannot let such violence slip by unnoticed. → Read More
Ukraine War, Kason Thomas abduction put holiday hassles in perspective
It's easy to get sucked into the minutiae of the holiday season. Headlines from Ohio and around the world reminded us last week what really matters. → Read More
Ohio preemption law must fall if cities want local gun restrictions
Columbus and Ohio are fighting over whether the city has a legal right to enact gun legislation. An expert predicts it won't end well for the city. → Read More
Readers share some memories of legendary 'Snow Bowl,' Blizzard of 1950
The Blizzard of 1950 and the Ohio State 'Snow Bowl' walloped Ohio 72 years ago, but for some Dispatch readers, it still seems like yesterday. → Read More
The murders of children, unanswered a year later, should haunt this city
Gunmen ambushed and killed a young man and two children as they sat in a car on the Southeast Side on Dec. 7, 2021. The killers remain at-large. → Read More
Might I suggest that Columbus police no longer high-five extremists
After a Columbus police officer high-fived an extremist at a drag storytime event in Clintonville last weekend, police admitted the "optics" were bad. → Read More
Be thankful we are not facing the Great Thanksgiving Blizzard of 1950
The recent snow in Buffalo, N.Y., seems surreal, especially with winter a month away. But one Thanksgiving, Ohio had a legendary storm of its own. → Read More
Long way to go before parents can trust Columbus City Schools bus plan
Parents of Columbus City Schools students have tolerated months of busing mishaps. The district says things will be fixed in January. Time will tell. → Read More
OSU professor says climate-driven disasters are matter of when, not if
Ohio State University professor Smitha Rao found that the most vulnerable among us are often those least prepared for climate-driven disasters. → Read More
Ginther to start Office of Violence Prevention. Better late than never
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther unveiled plans last week to create an Office of Violence Prevention. It is a good idea, but not exactly a new one. → Read More
On this Election Day, let us heed the sage advice of pop star Katy Perry
Last week, pop star Katy Perry reflected on why she loves print newspapers. But her insights went further, providing us a map for this Election Day. → Read More
Columbus says judge slow to address gun violence; the city should know
Columbus is suing a Franklin County judge for failing to move ahead on its lawsuit against state over gun violence. The city has no room to talk. → Read More
On wrongful convictions and chaotic youth prisons, local reporting vital
It's easy these days to get down on the state of U.S. journalism. Here are a few reasons local reporting still matters. → Read More
Metro Parks backpacking trip offers chance to get lost in the 'wild'
Columnist Theodore Decker thought the Scioto Grove Metro Parks backpacking trail would let the family get away from it all. It didn't disappoint. → Read More
'Rainbow fentanyl' is this year's tainted Halloween candy scare
Legends about tainted candy reanimate every year around Halloween, marching on like a relentless zombie hellbent on alarming parents and guardians. → Read More
Domestic violence survivor hopes to make path forward easier for others
Seventeen years ago, Diona Clark was nearly killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend. In the years since, she's worked to spare others that trauma. → Read More
Theodore Decker: 'Incomplete homicides' show little improvement in terms of city violence
Homicides in Columbus are trending downward from 2021's record high total. Serious assaults, often dubbed "incomplete homicides," aren't as promising. → Read More
Theodore Decker: Dog's cancer diagnosis underscores the bond between people and their pets
Columnist Theodore Decker's dog is in the twilight of her life. A cancer diagnosis made the prospect of losing her soon that much more real. → Read More
Theodore Decker: Campers of Columbus, bring me your tents
Columnist Theodore Decker just figured he would rehab an old tent and find someone on the street who needed it. Then came an email about another tent. → Read More