Local
The 53rd Athens International Film and Video Festival will be held this week at Athena Cinema on Court Street, featuring 200 films from nearly 60 countries. (WOUB)
An Ohio University professor is researching cheaper and safer ways to remove decaying pipes and other aging infrastructure from under roadways, which could help avoid traffic closures and delays. (WOUB)
The 4th District Court of Appeals said it cannot take on a Nelsonville government case. Margarita Nguyen and Carol (Sue) Powell of Nelsonville sued the city, claiming they were wrongfully removed from the city council. The court cannot rule, the appeals court said, because the two seats no longer exist. (WOUB)
- Indy context:Two years ago, amid the dispute over Nguyen’s and Powell’s seats, the city government reached new heights of dysfunction, with Nelsonville police officers attending council meetings to maintain order.
Campus Heights apartment complex off Richland Avenue in Athens is under foreclosure after its New York-based owner was arrested for participating in a multimillion dollar loan scheme. The complex consists of student rentals and low-income housing. The potential sale should not affect those paying rent with vouchers, but the impact on those paying privately is unclear. (WOUB)
A town hall and information session last week hosted by Parents United for Public Schools brought together parents and advocates to discuss local school budget issues and other concerns. (The Post)
OU will sunset 32 programs by mid-August, following guidelines established by Senate Bill 1. Students in the programs set to be eliminated or combined will be able to complete degree requirements; incoming applicants will be offered alternatives. (The Post)
- Indy context: Some OU professors worry that cuts to programs, along with other impacts from Senate Bill 1, will harm the student experience.
Regional
Eligible workers laid off from the former paper mill in Chillicothe will receive about $2,000 in severance, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno announced last week. Other former workers may receive more, and additional funds may be paid out in 2030. (Signal Ohio)
State
State Senator Stephen Huffman has proposed a bill to establish a constitutional right to fish, hunt and harvest wildlife in Ohio. (The Post)
Three Republican senators haveintroduced bills to curb sports betting. The legislation would prohibit bets on college games, regulate how often and how frequently Ohioans can cast bets, and outlaw sports gambling online by disallowing the practice outside of casinos. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio treasurer candidateJay Edwards reportedly received more than 40 gifts worth at least $3,100 from politically connected individuals, but later said some may not have actually been given. His statements have raised questions about the accuracy of his required financial disclosure. (Signal Ohio)
All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Monday afternoon. 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.comby noon on Mondays for inclusion in Tuesday’s issue of The Scoop.
