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
Crime rates in Athens County declined significantly over the past decade, dropping 35.2% between 2015 and 2023, according to data collected by the FBI Crime Data Explorer. That mirrors both national and regional trends. (WOUB)
Rita Nguyen was found not guilty of disturbing a lawful meeting after her April arrest at a Nelsonville City Council meeting, where she refused to stop speaking when asked. Nguyen says she was wrongfully removed from the council last year, and is fighting to regain her position via an appeals court case. (WOUB)
- Indy context: Nguyen interrupted the swearing-in of new council members in April, a moment at which the frequently turbulent council reached new levels of chaos.
Ohio University has hired contractors to plan a full renovation of Alden Library, built in 1968. The planning phase is set to begin in August and last until June 2026. (Ohio University)
Many deer deaths have been reported in Coolville and surrounding areas, with one positive case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease detected. The disease does not affect humans. (Marietta Times)
- Indy context: Athens County saw a historic outbreak of EHD in fall 2022, with impacts on livestock.
Regional
West Nile Virus has been detected in a mosquito pool in Vinton County; its health department says there are no human cases. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The Athens City-County Health Department runs its own program to monitor mosquito-borne illnesses.
A new film commission has launched with hopes of boosting filmmaking opportunities in southeast Ohio and is seeking state and national film associations. (The Statehouse News Bureau)
Washington County oil and gas producers continue to sound the alarm over fracking wastewater, which they report spreading underground and rising to the surface through their wells. Residents are also concerned about possible drinking water contamination. (Farm and Dairy)
- Indy context: The ODNR has suspended several fracking waste injection wells in recent years over the underground migration of the highly toxic waste, including in Athens County. The ODNR said it did not find evidence of drinking water impacts after studying water wells in Torch and surrounding areas.
State
An Ohio judge ruled that the state’s private school voucher program is unconstitutional because it violates the state constitution’s requirement for a “thorough and efficient system of common schools.” The program will keep running while the state appeals the decision. (Associated Press)
Rep. Jim Jordan was deposed last week in a federal sex abuse case, concerning late Ohio State University team doctor Richard Strauss, who sexually abused hundreds of former student athletes throughout his decades-long career. Ex-wrestlers claim Jordan, a 10-term Republican congressman who served as the team’s assistant coach from 1986–1994, knew about the abuse and didn’t speak out. (Associated Press)
Gov. Mike DeWine has spoken out against a proposal that would permit casino gambling and lottery games on phones and laptops in Ohio, saying he believes it would cause “pain and suffering in regard to gaming addiction.” If passed, the bill would allow the state to impose a 28% tax on already-operating online gambling. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio’s two-year operating budget includes $20 million to promote the role of fathers in families; the initiative is supported by faith-based groups. The funds are in addition to millions already allocated for fatherhood programs. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio students in kindergarten through third grade will receive comprehensive eye exams and glasses at school through a $10 million program enacted in the two-year state operating state budget. The program increases access to vision care in rural communities like Vinton County –– the only Ohio county with no optometrists. (Ohio Capital Journal)
