Local
The Sunset Shelter Project will move forward with a contract now secured for renovations, Hocking Athens Perry Community Action announced this week. The announcement follows delays on the project due to multiple rounds of unsuccessful contract bidding. (Hocking Athens Perry Community Action)
Former Ohio University head football coach Brian Smith has filed a wrongful termination and breach of contract lawsuit against the university. OU terminated Smith last year, claiming he violated his contract by engaging in a romantic relationship with an undergraduate student and appearing intoxicated at a public event. Smith argues the university did not truly investigate the claims against him. (WOUB)
A person of interest has been arrested in connection with an apartment fire at 15 Cross St. in The Plains last week. A person died in the apartment; their cause of death has not been revealed. (WOUB)
Passion Works announced last week that it will move to a new location. The organization bought a new studio space at 65 N. Court St. outright for $1.5 million. (Athens Messenger)
Construction on the new Athens High School in The Plains continues despite delays. Ground broke for the new school in August 2025. (Athens Messenger)
Regional
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency last week hosted a public hearing regarding a proposal from Google to fill in wetlands to construct a data center in Franklin Furnace. Further comments from the public can be submitted to the Ohio EPA until May 13. (WSAZ)
OhioSE awarded grants to prepare 15 sites throughout southeast Ohio for future industrial development. Among the funded projects is an environmental site assessment in Athens County. (Chillicothe Gazette)
Underground railroad sites throughout Appalachia are now receiving recognition through an Appalachian Regional Commission-funded initiative. A Ripley church is among the sites recently added to the National Park Service Network to Freedom. (WOUB)
State
Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will resign in June. He will take a job with Christian legal group. Yost’s tenure was expected to last through January. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio voters approved 12 of 14 library levies that were on the primary ballot in last week’s elections. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Among the take-aways from last week’s primary: Democrat Sherrod Brown will face Republican incumbent John Husted to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate. Also, Rep. Jay Edwards won his nomination for state treasurer. (Statehouse News Bureau)
A new report from the Ohio Nurses Association found that, among survey participants, 69% of nurses in the state experienced workplace violence last year. (NBC4)
