Local
Richland Avenue restaurant Purple Chopstix is closed indefinitely following flood damage last week, owners announced. (Purple Chopstix)
Ohio University’s Board of Trustees approved tuition, housing and meal-plan increases for incoming students beginning this fall. Undergraduate tuition for new Athens-campus students will rise 3% for Ohio residents and 5% for nonresidents, while room and board rates will increase 3.2%. (Ohio University)
Gov. Mike DeWine signed a $3.7 billion capital budget that includes funding support for Athens County, including for Stuart’s Opera House, the Athens History Center, ACEnet, Ohio University’s McClenaghan Center, housing administered by SAOP, and recovery housing at The Woods at Dairy Lane. (WTAP)
Athens woman Jennifer Sweat was sentenced to in-patient treatment following her conviction in a jury trial on various misdemeanor and felony charges, related to a drunken encounter in July 2025. (WOUB)
- Indy context: Sweat refused a plea deal from the prosecutor’s office, which then lodged new – and more serious – charges against her. Sweat arguedthat the prosecutor’s office had retaliated against her for pursuing her constitutional right to a jury trial, though the judge in the case was not convinced by her claim of prosecutorial misconduct. Sweat was found guilty on some of the more serious charges, and Sweat’s attorney said at the sentencing hearing thatSweat will appeal based on her claims of prosecutorial misconduct.
Regional
Elementl Power plans to build a utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in Meigs County, along the Ohio River. The project will require numerous approvals, and construction is currently slated to run from 2030 to 2034. (PR Newswire)
State
Ohio lawmakers and education officials are weighing new limits on use of artificial intelligence in K–12 classrooms. Districts face a July deadline to adopt policies governing artificial intelligence and screen time in schools. (NBC4i)
A federal appeals court upheld Ohio’s law requiring age verification and parental consent for social media use by children under 16. The decision allows the law to take effect, after it was previously blocked. (Statehouse News Bureau)
New Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said he will continue to enforce the state’s death penalty law despite Gov. Mike DeWine’s call to abolish capital punishment. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Farmers markets around southeast Ohio will see fewer senior voucher recipients this season after federal COVID-era funding expired. (WOUB)
A budget correction bill in Ohio includes a one-time property tax credit for some elderly and disabled homeowners, aimed at offsetting rising property tax burdens. (Statehouse News Bureau)
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.com by noon on Mondays for inclusion in Tuesday’s issue of The Scoop.
