Local
Dawn Deputy, former Fiscal Officer at the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and current treasurer at The Plains Volunteer Fire Department, has filed with the Board of Elections to participate as a write-in candidate in the upcoming general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. She is vying for the office of Athens County Treasurer. (Dawn Deputy for Athens County Treasurer)
Athens area residents convened at the Athens Community Center to express their views on the Athens Hocking Solid Waste District’s proposed parcel fee. The district aims to implement a $24 annual fee as part of its 15-year financial strategy, which involves acquiring and operating the Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The parcel fee would apply to improved parcels only — parcels with a temporary or permanent structure. The district is working to purchase the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center, and it may collect a parcel fee for its operations, per state law.
Regional
At the inaugural Infectious Diseases in Appalachian Ohio Summit, Timothy McDermott, a leading authority on ticks and tick-borne diseases, discussed the 35-fold increase in Lyme disease cases in the state over the past 13 years. Approximately 9% of Americans may have had Lyme disease, primarily transmitted by deer ticks, without even realizing it. (Ohio University)
A local artist transformed a school bus into a mobile art studio for children in Southeast Ohio. This initiative aims to bring creative opportunities to underservedcommunities, allowing children to engage in artistic activities and explore their talents outside traditional classroom settings. (WOUB)
State
Ohio legislators have passed a $4.2 billion capital budget, directing significant funds towards community projects such as the Cleveland Land Bridge, the Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio House Republicans added an anti-LGBTQ+ provision to an unrelated bill, bypassing the usual legislative process for vetting. Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) proposed amending SB 104, a bill updating the College Credit Plus Program, to include HB 183, an anti-transgender “bathroom bill.” This bill would prohibit transgender individuals in Ohio schools from using multi-person restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. (The Buckeye Flame)
Before their summer recess, the Ohio House also passed several other bills, including the Enact Campus Act mandating colleges to adopt policies against racial, religious, and ethnic harassment. They also approved legislation allowing survivors of human trafficking to apply for expungement of misdemeanor and felony convictions incurred during their trafficking. Additionally, the house passed bills to address potential increases in teacher licensure fees, prohibit sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion, and advance the recognition of the walleye as Ohio’s state fish. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Despite issuing a call for applications three weeks ago, no recreational cannabis dispensaries have opened in Ohio. This delay is causing concerns and frustrations among both prospective businesses and consumers. The complexity of the licensing process and regulatory challenges are cited as reasons for the delay in implementing Ohio’s recreational marijuana program. (Cleveland.com)
Following two mass shootings over one weekend in Columbus and Dayton, both cities are urging representatives for improved gun safety regulations. However, the Republican supermajority in the statehouse argues that such measures won’t effectively address the issue. (Ohio Capital Journal)
