All information is current as of The Scoop’s production on Wednesday 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.
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Local
President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned those convicted or awaiting trial for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally at the Capitol, including two Athens County residents and one Logan resident. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
The Ohio Auditor of State has placed the Trimble Local School District under fiscal watch. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The move follows the state auditor’s placement of the district in fiscal caution; next comes fiscal emergency. The state will help the district develop a fiscal recovery plan.
Athens City Council discussed plans to upgrade three bridges in Athens, including a full rehabilitation of the Stimson Avenue bridge. (WOUB)
The former Court Street site of the Import House remains partially vacant as Stephen’s on Court, a popular Athens bar, renovates part of the space it has acquired. Locals now consider the best use for the remaining area, including an expressed hope for a new business that “isn’t a bar or smoke shop.” (The Post)
Scholarships, faculty positions, and a new institute for aging research will be part of Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine as a result of a $70 million gift from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, intended to enhance primary care and expand research on health challenges in the region. (Ohio University)
OU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter seeks to make Athens a sanctuary city for transgender people, as state and federal legislation targets trans rights. (The Post)
Region
A former Gallia County high school wrestling coach has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 2004. His wife is also serving a prison term for her role in the couple’s sex crimes, which occurred from 2003 to 2016. (WSAZ)
Hocking County will pay the state $1 for the former Hocking Correctional Facility near Nelsonville. The county plans to convert the facility into a regional women’s jail and treatment center. (The Logan Daily News)
The death of a 37-year-old woman staying in a tent in Wood County, West Virginia, highlights the severe challenges faced by unhoused individuals in the Ohio Valley region during extreme weather conditions. (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
- Indy context: Warming centers currently open in Athens County: Nelsonville First Christian Church, at 200 Fort St. open 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. daily through today, Wednesday, Jan. 22; Athens County Emergency Warming Center, at 61 Columbus Road open 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Contact the Athens County Emergency Management Agency at 740-592-3276 for further assistance.
State
Two former FirstEnergy executives, Charles Jones and Michael Dowling, were indicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering charges for their roles in a $60 million bribery scheme that utilized dark money groups to influence Ohio legislation and enrich themselves. Each faces up to 20 years in prison. (Ohio Capital Journal)
The state of Ohio is offering funding and tax credits to a defense manufacturer to build a plant in Pickaway County. The plant would produce drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles that allow “a single person to control a cloud of drones or a large group to participate in controlling a single aircraft.” The state has not revealed the scope of the incentive package. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Gov. DeWine announced that Lt. Gov Husted will replace now-Vice President JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. Husted will need to run in a special election in 2026 to retain the seat. The move opens up the 2026 governor’s race, as Husted was already raising funds to run. (Statehouse News Bureau)
As lawmakers prepare for the upcoming budget season, new Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman suggested they should not continue the state’s Fair School Funding Plan. The plan considers both property taxes and income when determining state funding to K-12 schools and funds specific programs in districts. Huffman supports using taxpayer dollars to provide vouchers for private school tuition. (Statehouse News Bureau)
One of the executive orders President Donald Trump issued this week pauses funding from a federal program that supports construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. That program made Ohio home to one of the country’s first electric vehicle charging stations. While the order itself may not ultimately have much effect, advocates fear that Trump will ultimately jeopardize jobs in Ohio’s EV industry. (Inside Climate News)
