The Athens County Independent believes the cited sources of information are reliable; however, these sources are responsible for the accuracy of their own reporting.
Local
Athens City Council is considering a hiring freeze due to a drop in city cash reserves. The city’s budgetary concerns may also affect city funding for the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia, which oversees development of the Baileys Trail System. (WOUB)
Athens County Children Services added a new school outreach worker to serve the Tri-County Career Center at the beginning of the year. ACCS’s school outreach program offers food and resource assistance and social and emotional support in Athens County school districts. (Athens County Children Services)
Audiences have one more weekend to catch ABC Players’ production of “Gypsy” at Stuart’s Opera House. The production follows striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee and her mother, Rose. Jenn Fritchley will play Rose — 35 years after she performed in a Long Island production of “Gypsy” alongside her father, and her mother as Rose. (ABC Players)
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson spoke with Ohio Capital Journal about his February trip to Athens’ Ukrainian sister-city, Ostroh. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Athens Conservancy board member Sam Gutekanst worked with Ohio University students to date trees and learn about the ecological history of the conservancy’s Lindy Roosenburg Preserve near Chauncey. The oldest tree they identified was a chestnut oak over 140 years old. (Athens Conservancy)
Athens County’s 2022 comprehensive financial report received an achievement award in governmental accounting and financial reporting from a professional organization. (Government Finance Officers Association)
The Jackie O’s beer “Underdog” will raise funds for the Athens County Humane Society — and your pet could be on the label, if you submit a photo and make a small donation to the organization. (Athens County Humane Society)
WOUB has begun releasing a podcast, “150 Days,” which follows the story of Theresa Fogel, whose children were removed by Athens County Children Services based on unsubstantiated abuse allegations. (WOUB)
State
The November election could reshape the Ohio Supreme Court, with two Democratic incumbents facing Republican challengers. Learn about the candidates on the ballot in today’s primary election. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill last week specifying 10 principles of free-market capitalism that must be included in required financial literacy classes. (Statehouse News Bureau)
DeWine declared a state of emergency in 11 central Ohio counties after last week’s tornadoes and severe storms, which caused three deaths in Logan County. (Associated Press)
The Ohio Attorney General rejected for the eighth time an effort to bring before voters a constitutional amendment ending qualified immunity for police officers and government employees accused in shootings and other actions. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Ohio has six laws on the books used to criminalize living with HIV, with over 200 recent prosecutions. Meet Caymir Weaver, a 23-year-old currently in an Ohio prison for exposing someone to HIV — even though there was “little to no risk” of transmission, and Weaver’s partner didn’t contract the virus. (Buckeye Flame)
Students of color and low income and disabled children are more likely to be disciplined in Ohio schools, according to a report by the Children’s Defense Fund. The organization says the pattern contributes to the state’s “community-to-prison pipeline.” (Ohio Capital Journal)
