Ohio State Fire Marshal issues open burning ban due to drought
By Jack Solon | Sep. 18, 2024The Ohio State Fire Marshal released a no-burn order in some Ohio counties including Athens County due to the recent drought.
LOCAL
Ohio Pawpaw Festival returns for another year
By Maggie Allwein | Sep. 17, 2024'North America’s tropical fruit' brings together communities across eastern states.
SOPEC awarded grant for EV infrastructure
By Maggie Allwein | Sep. 12, 2024The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council was awarded an over $4.1 million grant for the second portion of electric vehicle infrastructure implementation. The corridor project aims to connect Athens and Dayton with enhanced charging port accessibility.
Athens drought upgraded to extreme levels
By Maggie Allwein | Sep. 11, 2024Much of Athens County was deemed to have “exceptional drought” as the State Fire Marshal implemented open-burn bans.
Local businesses hesitate as city appeals plastic bag decision
By Taylor Orcutt | Sep. 10, 2024City Council voted to appeal Judge McCarthy’s decision regarding the plastic bag ordinance, but local businesses are unsure whether or not to return to plastic bags.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital to open Close-to-Home care facility in Athens
By Olivia Gilliand | Sep. 9, 2024The new facility comes as students and community members voice growing concerns over healthcare shortages in the region.
Franklin County judge rules in favor of Ohio abortion rights
By Olivia Gilliand | Sep. 6, 2024Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge David C. Young issued a decision blocking a 24-hour abortion ban passed earlier this year.
Athens Heritage Square Tour promotes local history, community engagement
By Olivia Gilliand | Sep. 5, 2024The City of Athens will host a tour of its historic buildings in the uptown Heritage Square as a voluntary part of the Ohio Open Doors program this weekend. The Ohio Open Doors program is held every two years and ranges from official Ohio History Connection sites to volunteers like Athens.
Parents, OU staff combat on-campus housing concerns
By Olivia Gilliand | Sep. 4, 2024Ohio University undergraduate students moved into on-campus housing just two weeks ago, and OU is striving to make living there as comfortable as possible.
Environmental activist uncovers discrepancy between ODNR records, OOGA statement
By Olivia Gilliand | Aug. 29, 2024An Ohio environmental activist discovered a divide between the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s reports and Ohio Oil and Gas Association statements.
Understanding Ohio’s recreational marijuana regulations
By Olivia Gilliand | Aug. 22, 2024Ohio authorized recreational marijuana sales last week with strict regulations from state, local and institutional levels. With students returning to Ohio University’s campus in less than a week, Athens will see an influx of people from across the country with access to the substance.
Athens to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day
By Olivia Gilliand | Aug. 22, 2024After receiving an Independence Day gift from its sister city, Ostroh, Ukraine, the City of Athens is looking to reciprocate the gesture for Ukraine’s Independence Day on Aug. 24.
National, local news to recap the summer
By Elizabeth Talaga | Aug. 22, 2024Summer may be ending, but as Ohio University students prepare to return to campus and the change of seasons loom, the impact and the headlines of this summer’s news linger. Here are some of the biggest stories to come out of this summer.
Athens City restores City Building bell
By Olivia Gilliand | June 18, 2024Athens restores City Building bell after years of an empty cupola. This is one of many historic preservation projects.
Athens Bread Company reopens with changes
By Olivia Gilliand | June 3, 2024Athens Bread Company reopened after an extended hiatus to learn from other bread makers. Now it’s back open but with some changes to the hours and menu.
ODNR tests for water contamination in Athens County
By Maggie Amacher | May 21, 2024Ohio Department of Natural Resources has plans to test water in the eastern part of Athens County for possible contamination.
Graduate class of 2024 kicks off commencement weekend
By Suzanne Piper | May 4, 2024With the end of the spring 2024 semester at Ohio University comes graduation. The graduate class of 2024 received their doctoral or master’s degrees Friday morning.
Students celebrate last Fest weekend of the year
By Avery St. George and Suzanne Piper | Apr. 21, 2024OU students and guests took their celebratory last week of classes to Palmer Street for the last fest of the 2024 season.
AHRC faces financial strain
By Maggie Amacher | Apr. 17, 2024Athens-Hocking Recycling Center Inc., or AHRC, is facing financial difficulties following the loss of its service contract with the City of Athens.
City Council discusses DORA extension, membership fees
By Elizabeth Talaga | Apr. 16, 2024Athens City Council met Monday to discuss outdoor refreshment areas and paying the 2024 membership fee for the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia.
