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 County’s first baby of the new year was born at 1:51 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital to Shelbi Dailey and Blade Brinker. The family received a gift basket from the Guild of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. (OhioHealth)
While we were out:
- Total Media laid off local radio hosts Steven Figiel, Don Holbert and Carl Blalock from WATH. (Athens Messenger)
- Indy context: Not long after Total Media acquired WATH and WXTQ in 2023, the company fired two local DJs, while another also left the station.
- Andrea Townsend, originally from Logan, Ohio, was chosen as the new superintendent of the Tri-County Career Center. Townsend will start in May, after current superintendent Connie Altier retires. (The 360)
Region
Residents near the entrance to Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County were evacuated on Jan. 2 after a fracking well pad exploded. U.S. Route 22 was closed until the resulting fire went out more than 12 hours later. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. (WOSU Public Media)
While we were out:
- Rumors of retaliation against inmates at Ross Correctional Institution have spread following a fatal attack on a guard. (The Columbus Dispatch)
- The state sanctioned two former Hocking County officials. The Ohio State Auditor issued a finding for recovery of nearly $25,300 against former county commissioner Jessica Dicken, who was convicted in August 2024 of using a county credit card to pay for personal expenditures (Ohio Auditor of State). Meanwhile, the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recommended that the Ohio Supreme Court suspend former county prosecutor Ryan Black’s law license for two years due to sexual harassment and fostering an unprofessional work environment. (The Columbus Dispatch) Note: This item has been updated to reflect a correction in the Dispatch’s story.
State
Law enforcement agencies can now charge the public up to $750 per records request for footage from body cameras. The Ohio Legislature passed a bill authorizing the charges during a late-night session; Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law on Jan. 2. (News5Cleveland)
Despite Republicans’ pre-election rhetoric about the potential for voter fraud, Ohio’s audit of the Nov. 5 general election results confirmed nearly 100% accuracy. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Nearly 150,000 Ohioans will benefit from the newly passed Social Security Fairness Act, which eliminates provisions that reduced their retirement funds. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on Jan. 5, ensuring public employees receive full Social Security benefits. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio’s minimum wage increased on Jan. 1 to $10.70/hour for nontipped employees and $5.35 per hour for tipped employees. The increase applies to any business with gross receipts greater than $394,000 per year. Businesses with lower revenues are tied to the federal minimum wage standard of $7.25 per hour; that rate also applies to workers age 14 or 15. (Ohio Department of Commerce)
While we were out:
- Ohio lawmakers passed about two dozen bills in a marathon lame duck session, including measures requiring schools to notify parents if a child identifies as LGBTQ+, criminalizing sexual extortion and allowing the permanent expulsion of “dangerous” students. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Gov. DeWine signed a bill requiring prosecutors to report medical professionals indicted or convicted of sexual battery to the State Medical Board of Ohio. He also is expected to veto a different bill that supporters claim guarantees “medical free speech.“ (Statehouse News Bureau)
- Amazon Web Services plans to invest up to $23 billion in Ohio by 2030, significantly increasing the state’s energy demand to support the new data centers. (Statehouse News Bureau)
