Local
The Federal Hocking Board of Education voted to make high school senior projects optional for the first time since the 1990s. The decision comes after feedback from parents, community members and teachers expressing dissatisfaction with the projects’ current state, but left at least one educator “shocked.” (WOUB)
Three Athens High School football players have sued the school district over their suspensions from the football team. Two were suspended for drug use and the third for crimes admitted to in juvenile court. (WOUB)
Two Appalachian Ohio coalitions, the River Hills Prevention Connection and the Adams County Youth Prevention Coalition, were awarded $1.25 million in grants to support their efforts in reducing alcohol misuse. (Ohio University)
Ohio Humanities launched the Descutner-Burnier Awards to honor individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the humanities in Ohio. The awards are funded by an endowment from long-time Athens residents David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier. (Ohio Humanities)
Gifts to the Athens Conservancy’s Bluebell Fund will be matched dollar for dollar through Dec. 31, up to a total of $50,000. (Athens Conservancy)
Regional
The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission approved a proposal to open 62 acres of the Leesville Wildlife Area for fracking, despite public protests. This decision allows parties to bid for the mineral rights, which is a part of a larger effort to expand oil and gas extraction in the region. (Ohio Capital Journal)
State
A Hamilton County judge indefinitely blocked Ohio’s six-week abortion ban, affirming that abortion is a state-constitutionally protected right for Ohioans. The ruling will stand unless Attorney General David Yost appeals the decision within 30 days. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio spent nearly $1 billion on private school voucher scholarships in the 2024 fiscal year, the first full year in which the vast majority of Ohio families were eligible for the vouchers. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio’s Attorney General David Yost indicted six non-citizens for illegal voting, including one who has been dead for nearly two years. Ohio Democrats see this as prosecutorial overreach and question the handling of voter irregularities. (Statehouse News Bureau)
