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
Recycle Ohio Grants for 2025 have been awarded to fourteen governments, businesses, schools, and nonprofits in southeast Ohio for 2025. Grantees working in Athens County include Hocking College, the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District, Southeast Ohio Recycling Terminal, Rural Action, the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services and Hocking College. (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency)
Due to quirks with Nelsonville’s transition to a new form of government, the city could be entirely without a council in the month of December due to a councilmember’s planned resignation. (WOUB)
Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed Ava Wood as the new student trustee to the Ohio University Board of Trustees. Wood is an environmental studies major in the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College, with a focus on land preservation and environmental justice. (Ohio University)
Regional
A federal judge has fired the company managing 55,000 claims as part of the $600 million East Palestine train disaster settlement due to delays and poor handling of claims, with a new firm set to take over. (Marietta Times)
State
Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation to increase penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The proposed changes aim to improve student safety and reduce incidents by enhancing enforcement tools like automated cameras. (Statehouse News Bureau)
The Ohio Senate has passed its version of the state budget and returned it to the House, triggering a conference committee to reconcile differences. Key disputes include funding levels for education, health care, and child care. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Proposed in the state budget are cuts to Ohio Medicaid services that would impact individuals with disabilities, including the loss of home- and community-based care and employment support. (Ohio Capital Journal)
