All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Tuesday morning. 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.
Local
Trimble Local Schools Board of Education voted Monday night to eliminate an additional 13 jobs, continuing the district’s attempts to address a nearly $3 million deficit. (WOUB Public Media)
- Indy context: The board abolished 16 positions and laid off an additional 15 teachers and administrators at its March meeting. The district’s financial woes — caused in part by accounting errors — led the state to declare it in fiscal emergency.
Last Thursday, the Fourth District Court of Appeals heard the City of Athens’ appeal of a local court decision striking down its plastic bag ban. The court will issue a decision in the case in the coming weeks. (WOUB Public Media)
- Indy context: Our legal columnist Tom Hodson breaks down the arguments at play in the appeal – and the case’s statewide importance.
A woman reported being inappropriately touched while helping guests to their seats for a performance at Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, April 17, prompting an investigation by OUPD. No suspect has been identified. (The Post)
Michelle Corrigan, division director of COAD4kids with the Corporation of Ohio Appalachian Development and Mollie Fitzgerald, executive director of the Athens County Economic Development Council and Athens County Port Authority, were among 35 people statewide chosen for the 2025 Leadership Ohio cohort. (Leadership Ohio)
Mary Connolly-Starkey is the new executive director of the Athens County Humane Society, succeeding longtime director Angela Marx. (ACHS)
Regional
Hocking County’s hazard mitigation plan ranks tourism as the county’s number-one hazard. According to the plan, visitors to areas such as the Hocking Hills put strain on infrastructure, emergency services and the environment. Officials are currently gathering public feedback on the plan before sending it to the state and FEMA for final approval. (Logan Daily News)
Pixelle, a 130-year-old paper mill in Chillicothe that was set to close in June, will now stay open until at least December after pushback from local and state leaders who hope to save nearly 1,000 jobs. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Two adults and three children died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside their Gallia County home on SR 7. Authorities believe a generator left running indoors after a recent power outage may have caused the buildup of the colorless, odorless gas. (Scioto Post)
State
The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state as of April 17, including an Ashtabula County outbreak that began with an unvaccinated adult who had recent international travel exposure. Currently, over 800 measles cases span 22 states. (Associated Press)
A federal judge has permanently struck down Ohio’s Social Media Parental Notification Act, which would have required parental consent for children under 16 to access social media platforms, ruling that the law violated First Amendment rights. Litigating as a group, a suit from major tech companies argued the law was vague and infringed upon free speech. (Statehouse News Bureau)
The outcome of an Ohio Supreme Court determination later this month may set an important precedent for same-sex parents in the state. The case involves two parents who had three children through artificial insemination before same-sex marriage was legalized; still unmarried, one is fighting for legal recognition as a parent. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio coroners are pushing back against a provision in the state budget that would shifttheir positions from elected to appointed ones. A letter to lawmakers argues HB 96 would reduce public oversight and increase political influence over death investigations, for which transparency and accountability is critical, especially in cases of foul play or suspicious circumstances. (WCPO)
