Local News Roundup

Learn more about the November election

• Ohio voters will consider whether or not judges should speculate about threats to public safety when considering bail — which is, constitutionally, only supposed to revolve around showing up to the next court date. Local research has shown that bail reform would “mitigate negative health outcomes” of jail time. (Cleveland.com, Policy Matters Ohio)

• State Issue 2 would block Ohio municipalities from allowing noncitizens to vote. But only one town actually wants to do this: Yellow Springs (WOSU)

• Athens County Commissioners (all Democrats) and Auditor Jill Thompson (a Republican, facing a Democratic challenger) bickered over whose fault it is that the county has not been reimbursed for public defenders’ services (Athens Messenger)

• Republicans stump for Tim Ryan (Statehouse News Bureau)

• Explore the backgrounds, ideologies and priorities for the candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice (Ohio Capital Journal/WEWS)

• Three Republican Supreme Court justices up for election or reelection are being accused of violating judicial ethics for telling a PAC that they don’t believe abortion is a constitutional right (Ohio Capital Journal/WEWS)

• The League of Women Voters of Athens County held forums for the races for Athens County Auditor and Athens County Commissioner. Check out the Independent’s reporting on these races: Auditor, Commissioner.

• Statewide candidates answer questions on Ideastream’s The State of Ohio:
  • Ohio State Auditor candidates Keith Faber (R), the incumbent, and challenger Taylor Sappington, the Nelsonville City Auditor
  • Ohio Attorney General candidates Dave Yost (R), the incumbent, and challenger Jeffrey Crossman, a former state representative
  • Ohio Treasurer candidates Robert Sprague (R), the incumbent, and challenger Scott Schertzer, a former mayor of Marion

• A profile of the statewide race between Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) and challenger Chelsea Clark, a city council member in suburban Cincinnati (WLWT)

Our Radar // This Month in Athens County

• After an investigation from the city auditor, Nelsonville is exploring reclaiming some $683,000 owed to it by the trust for a late resident (WOUB)

• Why is it so hard to buy a pawpaw at a grocery store or farmers market? (The Atlantic)

• Federal-Hocking schools opens its first independent middle school since the mid-2000s (WOUB)

• Both of Serah Bellar’s parents have filed self-written motions to dismiss their daughters’ lawsuit over alleged sex abuse within the family (Logan Daily News)

• Local historic preservation agencies are trying to save an old mine adjacent to the Bailey’s Trail System in Chauncey (Press Release)

• Merchants National Bank announced a $30 million program to invest in Athens County businesses, nonprofits, and startups (Merchants National Bank)

• OU alum Prince Shakur is releasing a memoir, the first book to be picked up by Columbus author and MacArthur Genius Hanif Abdurraqib in his new position with Tin House press (Columbus Dispatch)

• The New York Times explores youth homelessness in rural America, including in Trimble (New York Times Magazine)

• The City of Athens has announced its hire of Lacey Rogers as the city’s new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Training Coordinator. Rogers was previously the head of United Campus Ministry until being forced out in a still-controversial decision by the student faith organization’s board. (City of Athens, The New Political)

• A lawsuit filed over the death of Jennifer Ohlinger at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville has been dismissed, with a federal judge finding that there wasn’t evidence of “deliberate indifference” on the part of jail staff (Logan Daily News)

• OU President Hugh Sherman says that the university doesn’t plan to grow, even after accepting its largest-ever freshman class (The New Political)

• Athens’ West Elementary School will be demolished and replaced by a soccer field (WOUB)

• The union representing some custodial and food services workers at OU held a protest against deep staffing cuts (The New Political)

• After some back-and-forth, and years of advocacy, Athens City Council passed a “pay-to-stay” ordinance, making it easier for tenants to avoid eviction (WOUB)

• WOUB will receive some $400,000 from the state for equipment upgrades (Press Release)

• Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, born near what is now Chillicothe, was killed 209 years ago this month, dashing the hopes of many Native tribes for an Indigenous confederacy in what is now the Midwest (Ohio Capital Journal)

• The union representing local Kroger workers, including in Athens, ratified a new contract, narrowly avoiding a strike — but was it due to its leaders selling out, as some reports have alleged? (Athens Messenger, Columbus Free Press)

• Struggling Ohio food banks are receiving less state assistance than they asked for (Statehouse News Bureau)

• The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton is “building an autopsy empire” in Ohio by contracting with 46 Ohio counties, including Athens (Columbus Dispatch)

• The Plains’ own Joe Burrow is launching a new charitable foundation to fight food insecurity and childhood mental health issues (Athens Messenger)

• Ohio’s abortion ban has been blocked indefinitly (Ohio Capital Journal)

• A spokesperson for Gov. Mike DeWine skirted a question about whether or not the governor, running for reelection, will comply with President Joe Biden’s request to pardon cannabis possession-related criminal charges (Cincinnati.com)