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Athens plastic bag ban is officially dead
Given the political make-up of the Republican-dominated Ohio Supreme Court, Athens will not appeal a court decision that blocked the city from implementing a ban on single-use plastic bags.
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Environmental group weighing another challenge to fracking in the Wayne
The Bureau of Land Management issued a decision in April that would allow fracking in the Wayne National Forest’s Marietta Unit. No new oil and gas leases have yet been approved.
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Planned Parenthood Medicaid funding cuts would be big hit to Athens clinic
A quarter of Athens Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid coverage for their visits.
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Athens vendors may continue providing plastic bags after city loses legal fight
The Fourth District Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision that the city’s bag ban is unconstitutional. The city is considering whether to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
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Meigs County pays $60k for former deputies’ alleged misconduct
A Pomeroy man and his son said the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office violated their civil rights in a December 2022 incident.
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Ohio and Athens County Leagues of Women Voters presents ward map to Nelsonville
Trevor Martin, program coordinator for the Ohio League of Women Voters, invited residents to share their experience in creating the map to the council.
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Athens County Board of Elections issues new guidelines for Nelsonville council seats
The board of elections told city officials that a candidate cannot run for both the statutory and the charter council seats in November.
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Nelsonville ward map to be presented at next council meeting
The Ohio and Athens County Leagues of Women Voters have a draft for a proposed ward map for the city of Nelsonville. Wards can’t be established until 2026 when the statutory government is in place.
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Athens County Public Libraries reacts to final state budget bill
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state biennium budget, but line-item vetoed a provision that would impact LGBTQ+ content at public libraries.
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Local libraries sound alarm over new state budget
Athens County librarians are encouraging the public to ask Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to line-item veto provisions in House Bill 96 that would impact funding and LGBTQ+ content at public libraries.