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
Ongoing renovation of the historic Lostro building in Uptown Athens continues to receive community pushback, with complaints about restrictions to pedestrian traffic and worsening parking constraints. Residents and business owners also have raised concerns about a tax incentive granted to the project’s developers by the Athens County commissioners. (WOUB)
- Indy context: A January meeting brought at least 150 people together to discuss the loss of local businesses in Athens in recent years.
Local teachers are concerned for transgender youths’ safety as a new state law — starting July 1 — will require schools to inform parents of any child’s “request … to identify as a gender that does not align with the student’s biological sex.” Teachers fear outed transgender students may face physical danger at home. Meanwhile, another law will restrict students’ bathroom use. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The Independent reported on Ohio’s “Bathroom Bill” in December 2024. At the time, Athens City Schools were unsure how to implement the bill, since it conflicts with federal Title IX protections.
Regional
A former Morgan County school board president and business owner, Heather Hill, has announced her plan to run for Ohio governor as a Republican. She is the third declared Republican candidate in the race. (NBC4)
Eighty probationary employees were laid off from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service in Parkersburg last week, according to a union official. The losses may be the result of broader job cuts by the federal government, or influenced by a visit from the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by presidential adviser Elon Musk, which reportedly came to the bureau offices last week to access a government payment system. (Marietta Times)
State
A bipartisan Senate bill would cover payment for public school breakfast and lunch for all public students, legislation that co-signers wish to see included in Ohio’s next two-year state operating budget, which is due July 1. The last state budget raised eligibility, but fell short of providing universal free school meals. (Ohio Capital Journal)
After winning in court earlier this month, a group of Ohio plaintiffs wants Gov. Mike DeWine to release the unused $900 million in unemployment funds his administration rejected from the federal government in 2021. DeWine appealed the court’s decision. (Ohio Capital Journal)
A new legislation proposal would alter Ohio’s marijuana law that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023. Senate Bill 56 would reduce the number of plants adults can grow, lower THC limits and expand buffer zones between retailers. Cannabis reform activists and the ACLU say such changes would re-criminalize certain behaviors and undo the state’s marijuana reform progress. (Filter Mag)
In a related story, a senator has introduced a bill to alter OVI conviction standards for cannabis intoxication. (The Statehouse News Bureau)
Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced on Monday he is running for Ohio governor. Ramaswamy joins Attorney General Dave Yost and Heather Hill in the GOP race to replace Gov. Mike DeWine. (WLWT)
