All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Tuesday morning. Click the links for the most up-to-date information. The Athens County Independent believes the cited sources of information are reliable; however, these sources are responsible for the accuracy of their own reporting.
Submit news and information to info@athensindependent.com by noon on Mondays for inclusion in Tuesday’s issue of The Scoop.
Local
- A civil rights lawsuit against the city of Nelsonville filed by two former city residents appears to have been settled. (Logan Daily News)
- Indy context: We’re working to obtain a copy of the settlement — stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out our previous coverage of the suit.
- Ohio University won this year’s Mid-American Conference football championship — its first MAC championship win since 1968. (Ohio University)
- The Athens Planning Commission has taken issue with a proposed affordable housing complex off of Hooper Street, citing issues with zoning changes, public transportation and safety for pedestrians. The development would add 50 to 80 apartments and five to 10 single-family homes on about 18 acres. (WOUB)
- Nelsonville voters decided to change their government structure, but confusion surrounds the process of implementing this change — including how to hold necessary elections. (WOUB)
- Indy context: City council’s judiciary committee recommended that the city appeal an order to place the issue on the Nov. 5 ballot to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Tri-County Career Center in Nelsonville is updating its security systems to implement AI gun detection technology. The technology identifies weapons using already-installed security cameras with a new program called ZeroEyes. School leadership praised the enhanced measure, which sends alerts to a remote operating center with a picture of the person, last known location and gun type. (ABC6)
State
A newly House-approved bill would allow school districts to expel any student posing severe threats and require them to undergo psychiatric assessment. The district’s superintendent would ultimately determine if a student shows “sufficient rehabilitation” to return to school. One Democratic opponent worried the legislation doesn’t offer appropriate mental health protections and will disproportionately impact students of color. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign House Bill 111 into law, increasing penalties for third-degree felony domestic violence and creating presumptive prison terms for repeat offenders. Advocates say the legislationwould give domestic violence survivors more time to establish long-term safety plans.(Statehouse News Bureau)
An Ohio Supreme Court “non-decision” leaves county probate courts to determine whether transgender Ohioans can change the gender marker on their birth certificates. Legal experts say this will disproportionately affect Black transgender Ohioans and people in rural, conservative counties. Free legal clinics are available across the state. (The Buckeye Flame)
Ohio Senate Republicans proposed significant changes to the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana law. The changes would limit home cultivation and increase the tax rate by 5%. Simultaneously, a bipartisan effort to ban products containing delta-8 THC continues. (Ohio Capital Journal)
