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.
Submit news and information to info@athensindependent.com by noon on Mondays for inclusion in Tuesday’s issue of The Scoop.
Local
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred this morning in Athens. (OSHP)
Athens County will receive over $1 million from the Ohio Department of Development to rehabilitate and repair homes in partnership with the cities of Nelsonville and Athens. Three homes are renter-occupied and 22 are owner-occupied. (Ohio Department of Development)
A 125-year-old building in Glouster financed to be renovated by HAPCAP and provide secure sleeping units has encountered construction delays after recognizing that significant structural issues will require additional funding, which the Athens County Board of Commissioners has approved. (Athens Messenger)
A new emergency warming center in Athens has opened, providing shelter and resources to the local unhoused population. Hosted in a former fire station, operated by the Gathering Place and backed by strong community support, the center includes showers, a kitchen, beds, and plenty of hot food. (WOUB)
- Indy context: The warming station comes from a partnership between the city and the Gathering Place.
Passion Works and Appalachian Children Coalition will each receive grant funding from AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation to broaden their impact, in recognition of their work to mitigate and prevent adverse childhood experiences in the region. (AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation)
AI-generated local newsletters operating in over 350 U.S. communities use misleading and false information, including fake reader testimonials, to look like a locally created news product. The newsletter’s sole producer sells advertising and solicits donations, placing his product in direct competition to locally owned and human reported news outlets. (NiemanLab)
- Indy context: Athens is among the communities in which the AI-generated local news look-alike operates.
State
Ohio families who lost loved ones due to police officers’ actions criticized a recent legal change that will allow police departments to charge members of the public for fulfilling public records requests for police bodycam footage. (Ohio Capital Journal)
State lawmakers are looking to follow President Trump’s lead in banning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities. (Signal Cleveland)
Following the federal election and amid new abortion restrictions in the state, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio reported a 200% increase in IUD insertions at some health centers in December 2024, compared to the month prior. The long-term reversible contraceptive option is increasingly popular nationwide, according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio has joined three other states in suing federal agencies to exclude certain immigrants from the U.S. Census counts. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost argues that includingundocumented and temporary visa holders violates the 14th Amendment and unfairly shifts political representation. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Let us know what's happening in your neck of the woods!
Get in touch and share a story!
