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
There is no truth to rumors that circulated last week about ICE raids at Ohio University and in Athens, according to officials. (WOUB)
Nelsonville residents are devising a new strategic plan to guide the city, under the direction of the city manager. Locals hope the plan can help the city improve its reputation. (WOUB)
Nelsonville sued to prevent the certification of certain candidates who won this month’s general election as part of a contested, planned transition in the city’s form of government. Nelsonville moved to dismiss the suit, though it was not immediately clear why. Another lawsuit challenges the city’s efforts to back out of the planned government transition. (WOUB)
Body camera footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows multiple alleged drunk drivers moving improperly through an emergency scene in Athens Oct. 26, after a patrolman’s vehicle was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver. (Ohio State Highway Patrol)
Athens Public Transit was awarded $160,000 to add a 30-foot bus to its fleet in an effort to reduce overcrowding and meet growing demand. (Ohio House of Representatives)
Regional
Hocking County short-term rentals could soon face stricter regulations via a new ordinance proposed by officials to address safety concerns related to tourism. Proposed rules include driveway standards and occupancy limits. (WOUB)
State
Regulators have ordered FirstEnergy to pay $250 million in penalties to the state and Ohio customers after finding the energy company misused customer-collected funds and breached state rules through the House Bill 6 bribery scandal. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Gov. Mike DeWine announced he has extended 150 Ohio National Guard troops’ stay in Washington, D.C. until the end of February. (Statehouse News Bureau)
The Ohio Rail Development Commission approved $81 million in rail infrastructure projects, including expansion and rehabilitation of rails and rail bridges. (Ohio Rail Development Commission)
Bills:
- Five property-tax reform measures have been sent to DeWine’s desk. The proposals would empower county officials to pare back previously approved levies, create room for tax reductions, limit tax bill growth to the rate of inflation, and shift the burden of proof in valuation disputes. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- The Ohio Senate passed a bipartisan bill overhauling state child-custody law, including a requirement that the courts start from the assumption that both parents should be involved in raising a child unless it harms the child. (NBC4 WCMH)
- Ohio Republicans in both the house and senate voted to eliminate the four-day grace period for mail-in absentee ballots, a bill now headed to Gov. DeWine’s desk. (Statehouse News Bureau)
- House Republicans proposed a bill to classify abortion pills among drugs that would require an in-person doctor visit to be prescribed. (Statehouse News Bureau)
Let us know what's happening in your neck of the woods!
Get in touch and share a story!
