Local
The body found in the Hocking River in June has been identified as Jarrod Joe Taylor. An autopsy revealed no signs of foul play or foreign trauma. The Athens County Sheriff’s Office seeks information from anyone who had contact with Taylor from early 2024 until June. (Athens County Sheriff)
Burr Oak State Park has posted signs warning guests about the potential for toxic algae blooms in the lake. (WOUB)
Athens County Commissioner candidates Charlie Adkins and Jon Rose squared off at a public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Athens County. (WOUB)
The City of Athens opened a new Fitness Court near the Stimson Avenue Bridge, along the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. (The Post)
The Athens Police Department says it has no record of reports of multiple break-ins at off-campus housing. One victim says they tried to report thefts at their home but got no answer when they called APD. (The Post)
Regional
Hopewell Health Centers has laid off 35 employees amid budget shortfalls that Hopewell’s CEO attributes to a fight between the federal government and pharmaceutical companies over drug prices for Federally Qualified Health Centers. (WOUB)
State
Stubborn drought and shifting weather patterns in Ohio are affecting North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw. Growers report earlier harvests and bitter-tasting fruit, likely caused by the extreme weather conditions. (AP News)
- Indy context: Pawpaw trees in Southeastern Ohio are further threatened by the destructive ambrosia beetle.
Issue 1, a redistricting reform amendment that will appear on the ballot in November, has sparked controversy across the state. The amendment would prohibit current or former politicians and lobbyists from deciding district lines. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Indy context: A battle between backers of Issue 1 and the GOP-led Ohio Ballot Board hinges on one word: “gerrymandering.”
This November, Ohioans will vote on levies for 27 public library systems, many of which are already struggling as state funding has dwindled. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Indy context: Athens County Public Libraries has a levy on the ballot locally. Stay tuned for our coverage.
A nonprofit representing Springfield Haitians has filed criminal charges against Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance for spreading false and racist statements about Haitian immigrants. A Clark County judge will determine if arrest warrants will be issued. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio sales of recreational marijuana have surpassed $76.2 million in just two months. The state now has 124 operating dispensaries, with more to come. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Indy context: Two Athens-based dispensaries began recreational sales in early August.
Two Ohio legislators want to prohibit manufacturers of imitation meat and egg products from using terms such as “omelet” or “bratwurst” to describe their products. It also would prohibit public schools and universities from buying “misbranded” food and exclude them from coverage by WIC, a food assistance program. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Hundreds of residents of Cleves, Ohio, were asked to evacuate after a chemical leak from a defective railcar. Officials say the scene is now safe. (CNN)
