The Athens News - Regional NEWS

Regional report shows illegal drugs ‘highly available’

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

The latest state report on substance abuse released on Friday shows that crack cocaine, bath salts, heroin, marijuana, prescription opioids, sedative-hypnotics and a drug used to treat heroin addiction all remain “highly available in the Athens region.”

Study projects eventual economic benefits from shale drilling boom

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

A new study has concluded that, as many people have long suspected, the state of Ohio is poised on the brink of a huge expansion in its oil-and-gas drilling industry, based on exploitation of shale be

Meigs judge cites health reasons for exit, despite high court probe

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

Since The Athens NEWS reported on its website Monday that long-time Meigs County Common Pleas Judge Fred W. Crow III had resigned under a cloud, local and regional news outlets have jumped on the stor

Local state rep proposes ban on private ownership of large exotic animals

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, has proposed legislation that would ban private ownership of large, exotic animals in Ohio. The proposed legislation comes in the wake of the incident in Muskingum County Wednesday Wednesday in which a collector of exotic animals killed himself after releasing 56 of the animals at his farm near Zanesville.

How has the oil and gas boom affected other areas?

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

The oil and gas boom that's looking over Athens County's shoulder has stirred a lot of attention in our area lately, most of it negative. There's good reason for that, based on reported environment

Hundreds rally to get fired up against S.B. 5

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

An estimated 1,500 people from multiple southeast Ohio counties braved the damp and chill in Gallipolis Saturday afternoon to hear politicians and organizers urge them to get out the vote and overturn

BLM preparing to auction oil and gas leases in Wayne forest

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

The federal Bureau of Land Management is ready to auction more than 3,000 acres of the Wayne National Forest for oil and gas leases, as part of a larger three-state auction involving a total of almost

Oil & gas frenzy could shake up leasing market here

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

Opinions differ on when, whether, and to what extent a statewide and regional boom in oil-and-gas drilling will hit Athens County.

On the assumption that it will eventually get here, however, a statewide farmers advocacy group will be in Athens Tuesday, to share tips with local property owners on what to do if they’re approached about leasing their land for drilling.

Kasich defends budget proposal

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CDT

The administration of Ohio Gov. John Kasich is saying that its budget proposal, rolled out last week, will not only balance the current biennial budget, which faces an $8 billion shortfall, but also will fix long-term structural problems in Ohio’s system of funding government.

Stewart cites amendments as swaying him in favor of S.B. 5

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CST

State Sen. Jimmy Stewart said Saturday that amendments to Senate Bill 5 that kept collective bargaining for wages and working conditions persuaded him to favor the legislation when it passed last week with a 17-16 vote.

Budget cuts threaten clinic

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

A new location for the community health-care facility in Meigs County, as well as a variety of community health services in the area, are being threatened, with federal budget proposals targeting the programs for $1.3 billion in cuts.

Johnson says bill saves coal jobs; critics say it endangers water

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

A bill amendment sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Poland, that he says will protect over 20,000 coal-related jobs was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

Stewart non-commital, Phillips critical, on bill to eliminate public-employee collective bargaining

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

As protests rage in the capital and lawmakers flee the state of Wisconsin in attempts to block passage of a bill that eliminates collective bargaining for state employees, Ohio is gearing up for a fight of its own over the same issue.

Gibbs ready to help scrap ‘disaster’ of Obamacare

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 CST

On Wednesday, Republicans officially took over control of the U.S. House of Representatives after scoring a number of victories in November that brought them a 242-member majority in that chamber for the 112th Congress.

State appeals ruling in Morgan Co. election case

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 CST

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office is appealing a ruling by an Athens County judge in a lawsuit over funding for the Morgan County Board of Elections.

Lame-duck Space slams GOP; incoming Gibbs gets committees

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

With very little time left in office, U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, is hammering Republicans for playing politics. At the same time, Congressman- elect Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, who defeated Space in November, is getting committee assignments.

Area state-level legislators take on leadership positions in next session

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

This area’s legislators in the Ohio Statehouse have now both secured leadership positions for the upcoming 129th General Assembly.

Big wind post-mortems

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CDT

Weather forecasters Andy Roche and Nick Webb of the National Weather Service's Charleston Forecasting Office hosted a presentation Friday at Ohio University on the Sept. 16 storm activity to explain the complex process for classifying storms and issuing warnings.

Giant solar project planned for southeast Ohio site

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

Hundreds of green jobs are coming to southeast Ohio now that American Electric Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Turning Point Solar LLC to announce the largest commercial solar development east of the Rockies.

Morgan County Elections Board sues commission in Athens County court

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

The Morgan County Board of Elections filed a motion Friday with the Athens County Common Pleas Court, seeking a court order to force the Morgan County Commissioners to provide more funds for the board's handling of the upcoming general election there.