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 members are split over whether to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings. Some said last week that reciting the pledge promotes unity, and others argued it could make people uncomfortable or excluded. (WOUB)
NCAA basketball games were allegedly rigged by bettors and players, including a March 2024 Ohio University game, a federal gambling investigation revealed. Prosecutors say a group of fixers bribed players from multiple schools to underperform so they could profit on bets against those teams. No OU players have been charged. (Associated Press)
Addiction recovery nonprofits in Athens briefly lost access to federal funding after a mass termination notice was sent to organizations nationwide last week. The funding was restored within a day, but local providers said the disruption caused fear and uncertainty for services supporting people in recovery. (WOUB)
A federal grand jury indicted Michael McKee on charges including aggravated murder and aggravated burglary in the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of his ex‑wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband, Dr. Spencer Tepe, an Athens dentist. (WOUB)
Andres Sagastume, a 23-year-old former West Virginia State University football player, was found guilty of rape for assaulting an Ohio University student when visiting Athens in 2024. He will be sentenced this week. (Athens County Prosecutors Office)
Regional
A planned hydrogen hub in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle is on hold, according to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, because regional demand for hydrogen is not yet sufficient. (The News & Sentinel)
State
A Texas-based energy company received approval to frack more than 170 acres of public land in the Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County. Residents and environmental advocates have expressed concern about the impact of drilling. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio Republicans proposed a bill to require state‑funded child care centers to install video cameras with footage accessible to the state. The bill would allow the attorney general to stop payments and pursue charges when fraud is suspected. The bill is one of two currently proposed by GOP members to curb alleged childcare fraud. (The Statehouse News Bureau)
Supporters of two proposed Ohio constitutional amendments—one for same‑sex marriage protections and one against discrimination—report strong backing in rural and conservative areas as they gather signatures to get the amendments on the November ballot. (The Statehouse News Bureau)
Deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Madison Sheahan has resigned to run for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, challenging long‑time Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur this fall. (Associated Press)
Note: This post was updated Sunday, Jan. 25 to correct an error. Andres Sagastume attended West Virginia State University, not West Virginia University.
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