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
Ohio University’s award-winning Director of Athletics Julie Cromer announced she will depart for a new position at Louisiana State University after nearly six years in her role in Athens. During her time, Bobcat sports won multiple MAC Championships. (WOUB)
Integrated Services for Behavioral Health said it provided care to residents and first responders on the scene of and following a police standoff at Beasley Mills apartment complex in Athens. An ISBH representative said that moving forward, mental health professionals in the area will “gauge” what residents and responders need to provide care accordingly. (The Athens Messenger)
- Indy context: The hours-long standoff was prompted by a report of a man having shot a woman at the apartment complex. On Thursday, officials told the Independent the woman was in stable condition. The man suspected of shooting her was “believed to have taken his own life,” according to Athens Police Department Chief Nick Magruder.
Regional
The Hocking Hills Tourism Association announced a grant initiative that will allow agencies to support high-tourism periods through funds to purchase equipment, conduct training, and strengthen emergency response capacity. (The Logan Daily News)
The East Palestine school district said in court documents that Norfolk Southern broke promises and intentionally misled the district. Specifically, the district said the company failed to produce a $30 million community wellness center or reimburse the district for expenses related to the 2023 train derailment and chemical disaster. (Marietta Times)
State
New bills before the state legislature:
- Democratic lawmakers are putting forth a bill that would prevent oil and natural gas drilling under Lake Erie and state parks. Gov. Mike DeWine decided in 2023 to allow for natural gas drilling on public lands. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- A new bipartisan bill would allow families of children with complex medical needs to be prescribed pediatric extended care, for which Medicaid can cover costs, by creating licenses for facilities that provide those services. The change would give families options beyond hospitals and allow parents greater flexibility to work. (Statehouse News Bureau)
- Mental health days may be afforded to K-12 students in Ohio if a new Democrat-sponsored bill — the third of its kind to go before the state legislature — were to pass. (Statehouse News Bureau)
A program that caps abandoned wells in Ohio has plugged about 2,300 in the last five years. Abandoned wells pose environmental, public health and safety risks, as they can contaminate water and emit methane into the air. The state uses drones and data to identify orphan wells. Additionally, people can notify the Ohio Department of Natural Resources if they think orphan wells are on their property. (Ohio Capital Journal)
A winning $250 million bid will bring the Women’s National Basketball Association’s 16th franchise team to Cleveland beginning in the 2028 season. The move marks the WNBA’s return to the city after a former team folded in 2003 under then-owner Gordon Gunn. (The Buckeye Flame)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in July approved the sale of one of the nation’s dirtiest coal-fired electricity generators in the U.S., the General James M. Gavin Power Plant along the Ohio River. Environmentalists worry the plant won’t improve its practices under new ownership, as it was exchanged between private equity groups. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio Equal Rights will try to get two amendments on 2026 ballot to challenge the ban against same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution and the other to expand discrimination protections. The group will not challenge Ohio Ballot Board’s decision to split the bill from one to two distinct pieces of legislation. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Consumers will no longer have to pay subsidies for two 1950s-era coal plants when a new law takes effect this week. Ohio subsidized the plants through House Bill 6, the controversiallaw at the center of a corruption and bribery scandal. (Canary Media)
