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
Athens City Council reconsidered the city’s 2026 budget last week, just one month into the new year. The council approved changes to ensure the city has cash on hand to pay employee medical costs. (WOUB)
- Indy context:The council requested a hiring freeze to avoid cutting positions in the face of higher expenses.
Cool Digs announced it will close its storefront on East State Street. The store will move to Peddler’s Junction, located in the Athens mall. (Cool Digs)
The Dairy Barn Arts Center announced that darren lee (dee) miller has been named its executive director. (The Dairy Barn Arts Center)
Regional
Researchers continue to examine impacts from air and water contamination in East Palestine, where a train derailed three years ago, releasing over one million pounds of vinyl chloride into the environment. Ongoing studies include those focused on pet dogs and human liver health. (Allegheny Front)
State
A new analysis of government data shows thousands of Ohioans who are eligible for SNAP benefits aren’t enrolled in the program. The coverage gap is likely to grow after historic federal cuts to the program last year. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Around 150 Ohio National Guard members that were sent to Washington D.C. by Gov. Mike DeWine at the request of the U.S. Secretary of the Army will return in March. The federal government requested last August that Ohio guard members be stationed in the capital city for 30 days. (Statehouse News Bureau)
From the Statehouse:
- Democrats have introduced at least a half-dozen bills and one resolution to rein in data center development in Ohio, including proposed legislation to assert that counties, townships and cities have the right to refuse projects. Ohio has the sixth most data centers in the country. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Two Republican representatives have introduced a bill to ban name, image and likeness deals for middle and high school athletes, arguing that Ohio public schools receive taxpayer money to educate students, not help them earn money. (Statehouse News Bureau)
- Republicans have introduced a House bill that would make it a fifth-degree felony to “obstruct” or “interfere with” a religious service in Ohio. The offense is currently a first-degree misdemeanor. The bill comes as a response to protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota. (The Statehouse News Bureau)
- House Democrats plan to introduce multiple bills related to ICE in Ohio, including proposals to ban agents from wearing face coverings and limit the state’s power to gather, share and disperse data about citizenship or immigration status. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- House Republicans, meanwhile, have introduced four bills designed to compel local cooperation with ICE. (WSYK)
