Local
A ballot initiative to revamp Nelsonville’s city government appears unlikely to make the fall ballot, after the city appealed a court decision compelling the council to send the citizen-led initiative to the Athens County Board of Elections. The ballot issue could appear in a future election ballot. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The city has relied on a 2015 ordinance regarding a similar ballot initiative to say it didn’t need to send the issue to the board of elections.
The majority of local fracking waste injection wells are now suspended, after a decade of environmental activism. Ohio Capital Journal looks at the history of Athens County’s injection wells and the fight against them. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Indy context: Take a deep dive into the suspension of local wells and concerns around their impact on water quality with the Athens County Independent’s award-winning coverage.
As a result of waste migrating underground, oil companies have filed lawsuits against injection well operators in Athens, Meigs and Washington counties. The oil companies argue that fracking waste injection has ruined oil and gas extraction from parts of the region. (Athens Messenger)
A judge has ruled in favor of Ohio University in a lawsuit brought by the family of Collin Wiant, a Sigma Pi fraternity pledge who died in 2018 after inhaling nitrous oxide at a fraternity party. The attorney for Wiant’s family called the decision a “joke,” saying the university should have known about a pattern of hazing at the fraternity because it had received complaints over a five-year period. Wiant’s family intends to appeal the decision. (10TV)
Community Food Initiatives Director Maribeth Saleem Tanner resigned from the organization effective August 31. CFI is searching for her replacement. (Community Food Initiatives)
The Nelsonville Division of Fire is among the top departments in the state for the quality of its fire protection efforts, according to the company Verisk. The department’s ranking will help residents see lower insurance premiums. (Nelsonville Fire Department)
One month after the first-ever Porchfest, organizers already have a date for next year’s: May 18, 2025. Organizer Rob Delach is building off the event to highlight the importance of porches to community more broadly; he convened a community discussion on the topic, and is proposing changes to city zoning code. (WOUB)
- Indy context: Check out photos from this year’s Porchfest.
Hocking College will hold the Appalachian Artificial Intelligence Conference in October to support AI adoption among regional industries. (Hocking College)
Ohio University’s High School Journalism Workshop brought 80 students to campus last month to learn about the field. (Ohio University)
State
Starting today, Ohioans can purchase recreational marijuana from select dispensaries across the state — including at Debbie’s Dispensary in Athens. (News5Cleveland)
Ohioans are visiting food banks in record numbers amid rising cost of living. (Statehouse News Bureau)
