WOUB News & Culture

07/22/2025

Experts estimate just 1 in 4 low-income households eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rental assistance get the benefits. And now Hopkins is at risk of losing her home, as federal officials move to restrict HUD policy.

Amid a worsening national affordable housing and homelessness crisis, President Donald Trump’s administration is determined to reshape HUD’s expansive role providing stable housing for low-income people, which has been at the heart of its mission for generations. The proposed changes include a two-year limit on the federal government’s signature rental assistance programs.

At a June congressional budget hearing, HUD Secretary Scott Turner argued policies like time limits will fix waste and fraud in public housing and Section 8 voucher programs.

“It’s broken and deviated from its original purpose, which is to temporarily help Americans in need,” Turner said. “HUD assistance is not supposed to be permanent.”

But the move to restrict such key subsidies would mark a significant retreat from the scope of HUD’s work. Millions of tenants moved in with the promise of subsidized housing for as long as they were poor enough to remain qualified, so time limits would be a seismic shift that could destabilize the most vulnerable households, many unlikely to ever afford today’s record-high rents.

New research from New York University, obtained exclusively by The Associated Press and published Thursday, found that if families were cut off after two years, 1.4 million households could lose their vouchers and public housing subsidies — largely working families with children. This would lead housing authorities to evict many families, the report said.

President Donald Trump’s administration is determined to reshape the expansive role providing stable housing for low-income people HUD has.

07/22/2025

Amesville is one of many volunteer fire departments across Ohio struggling with lowered recruitment numbers and rising costs.

On Saturday, residents gathered to celebrate the 75th Annual Amesville Firemen Festival. While the festival began as a way to raise money for the department, it has become more about the community. Rising costs have made it impossible to fund the department through the festival alone.

“We make a little money, don’t get us wrong,” said Ames-Bern Fire Chief Brad Maxwell. “But it wouldn’t fund our department with today’s prices.”

Meanwhile, the fire department has seen its numbers decline for decades. In the 1980s, Maxwell estimates, they had about 40 firefighters. Today, the department has about 10 firefighters under ideal conditions.

Nationwide, volunteer fire departments have seen their number fall by 220,850 between 1984 and 2020, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. During that time, the United States’ population increased by 95 million. Maxwell believes the change comes from a mindset shift, and he hopes he can recruit more firefighters.

Amesville is one of many volunteer fire departments across Ohio struggling with lowered recruitment numbers and rising costs.

07/22/2025

Passion Works Studio artist Jerry “JJ” Johnson has a new display opening at Jackie O’s Brew Pub in Athens.

“Drawing the Cards: Major Art-Cana” features Johnson’s interpretation of the Arcana from tarot—a series of symbolic figures traditionally used for reflection and storytelling.

The display highlights archetypes such as The Fool, The Empress, and The Magician through Johnson’s vibrant and expressive style.

The display will be up from July 25 through August 22 at Jackie O’s Brew Pub.

A free public opening reception will be held Friday starting at 6 p.m.

Passion Works Studio presents "Drawing the Cards: Major Art-Cana," a JJ Johnson exhibit inspired by tarot imagery.

07/22/2025

Today looks picture perfect with sunny skies and highs in the upper 80s. The evening will be on the cooler side with overnight temperatures in the low 60s.

A shift begins tomorrow with hotter and muggier weather moving in as the week progresses.

07/22/2025

The Ohio House was set attempt a veto override on some of Gov. Mike DeWine’s 67 budget line-item vetoes—specifically, three related to property tax measures that were passed as part of the new two-year $60 billion budget. But they only took up one of them.

Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) said homeowners will see spikes in their property bills again next year if lawmakers don’t override DeWine’s vetoes.

“We are in a crisis and when you are in a crisis, you act immediately,” Thomas said in the floor debate.

But Thomas noted this veto, which restricts the power of school districts and others to pass emergency and other kinds of levies, will only affect elections going forward, not past voter-approved levies.

“It doesn’t decrease funding whatsoever in January,” Thomas said.

Democrats, including Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), said an override will hurt communities and schools: “The governor saw through this effort and so do we.”

“Today was a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. And people spoke for the last few weeks. The public pressure worked. It kept the majority from having the votes they needed to override two of the three vetoes,” Isaacsohn said. “So we came here to vote on a veto override that will provide no property tax relief and you don’t need to take my word for it. The bill’s sponsor stood up and said, ‘This is not relief.’ And yet, we used taxpayers resources to bring us all back to vote on what was ultimately political theater.”

The Ohio House was set attempt a veto override on some of Gov. Mike DeWine’s 67 budget line-item vetoes. But they only took up one of them.

07/21/2025

Right at the sound of “go” Jeeps were zooming over hills, splashing through mud and even flying through the air.

At the Athens County fairgrounds earlier this month, Jeep Invasion brought Jeep lovers from across the state together to have some fun — all for a good cause.

“We’ve been playing in mud ever since I was that tall and big enough to do it. Now we’ve turned it into a hobby, and now we’ve turned that hobby into something that we can give back to the community,” Kevin Yost said.

Yost has been jeeping for around 45 years and spent the weekend showing off his jeep skills while supporting the local first responders. All proceeds made at the event go toward York Township’s Box Five Rehab Unit.

Organizer and volunteer firefighter Dawn Deputy says Box Five fully relies on donations for support. “When we do controlled burns they come out, set up tents for us to sit under, cooling fans, water, Gatorade, snack, just stuff that we need to rehab to be ready to go and fight fire,” Deputy said.

This is Athens County Jeep Invasion’s third year and the first time it’s been upgraded from a one-day to a three-day event. Each year the organizers choose an organization to send proceeds to.

Right at the sound of “go” Jeeps were zooming over hills, splashing through mud and even flying through the air.

07/21/2025

A state appeals court has ruled the city of Athens’ ban on plastic bags is unconstitutional.

The court said in its decision last week the ban directly conflicts with a state law that gives people the choice to use whatever bag they please.

The Athens City Council passed the ban in May 2023, and it took effect in January 2024. The state sued to stop it and last August an Athens County judge struck down the ban.

On appeal, the city argued the state law giving people the right to use plastic bags violates home rule, which allows local governments to pass their own rules provided they don’t conflict with state laws.

There is no conflict in this case, the city argued.

It’s not enough that a local rule conflicts with a state law. The law has to be part of a comprehensive legislative enactment, meaning the state has essentially covered the field on an issue and left no room for local governments to make their own rules that conflict with what the state has done.

The state did not do this when it comes to plastic bags, the city argued.

The state’s bag-choice guarantee is part of a law that addresses recycling and litter prevention, which is part of a broader set of laws addressing solid waste management.

But giving people the right to use a plastic bag is about personal choice and has nothing to do with recycling or litter or solid waste management more broadly, the city argued.

The appeals court disagreed. The court echoed the state’s argument that plastic bags will eventually become part of the solid waste stream. So their use, including the right to use them, is a solid waste issue, the court said.

The court said in its decision last week the Athens ban directly conflicts with a state law that gives people the choice to use whatever bag.

07/21/2025

When the LGBTQ+ Community Center of Darke County was still in the works, a local resident in the LGBTQ community died by su***de.

“The su***de was related to not being accepted for his identity,” said Beka Lindeman, the rural support center’s outreach coordinator. “And so that just really kind of hit hard even though it wasn’t personally connected to us that this is happening right here. We gotta move.”

It motivated the southwest Ohio center to provide peer to peer support groups and to open the center on Fridays after midnight, when su***des are more likely to occur.

And they directed people in crisis to the nation’s su***de hotline, 988, where callers could press 3 to talk to counselors who were specifically trained to help LGBTQ+ youth and who often came from similar backgrounds.

The Trump administration announced the elimination of that LGBTQ-specific service last month. As of Thursday, the “Press 3” option has gone dark.

“To pull the plug on that funding, we’re literally taking away somebody’s lifeline,” Lindeman said.

A federal Health and Human Services spokesperson declined an interview on the changes but told the Ohio Newsroom in an email that the “Press 3” option has run out of its congressionally directed funding. They say continuing to fund it could threaten to put the entire crisis line in danger of massive reductions in service.

The Trump administration announced the elimination of that LGBTQ+ service last month. As of Thursday, the “Press 3” option has gone dark.

07/21/2025

Walking into the gardens at Lilyfest, you’re immediately hit by the sweet smell of flowers, the light breeze under the tall trees and the soft sound of music.

This and more is what visitors experienced at the annual Lilyfest. Held the second weekend of July, the annual festival gives people a space to showcase their crafts and connect with nature.

Alesia Miller with the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Program says people from all ages come out to the fest. “They learn how to craft with nature and hopefully get more in touch with nature,” Miller said.

Over 60 artists and musicians came out to showcase their best work at the festival. From wind chimes and fairy gardens to Appalachian-style music, the festival had it all.

The festival provides visitors with an opportunity to experience regional arts and music as well as experience the environment firsthand. Taking place across 3 acres of gardens with flowers all around, people were able to take a relaxing walk in between viewing the work from local artists.

Held the second weekend of July, the annual Lilyfest gives people a space to showcase their crafts and connect with nature.

07/21/2025

We are lining up for beautiful start to the work week! Sunny skies and less humid air will be the main story with highs around the mid 80s today.

The heat and humidity will return as we get to the middle of the week with temperatures reaching the low 90s.

Rain stays away for a majority of the work week with storm chances arriving Friday.

07/21/2025

Crime rates in several southeast Ohio counties have dropped significantly over the past decade, contrary to public opinion that crime is increasing.

Data collected from the FBI Crime Data Explorer for Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Vinton and Washington counties show violent crimes and property crimes fell drastically between 2014 and 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. Most noteworthy are the high percentage differences from the peak crime years in each of these counties during this period.

Athens County, the most populous in the region, saw a 35.2% decrease from its peak in 2015. Neighboring Washington and Vinton counties reported even steeper declines: Washington County’s crime rate dropped from its peak in 2015 by over 50%, and Vinton County’s crimes were down by almost half from its 2018 peak.

Meanwhile, Meigs County, which has been hit hard by the opioid crisis, has experienced a steady decline in crime rates. From its peak in 2014, it dropped by 39% in 2023. Similarly, Hocking County has seen its crime rate fall 55.7% from its peak in 2018.

Criminologist Francis Cullen of the University of Cincinnati noted that this regional drop reflects broader national trends. “Starting in the late 1990s, crime started to fall in the United States, particularly violent crime. The thing that really caused the crime to go way up was the pandemic. And now that the pandemic has subsided, America is turning back to its normal self.”

Cullen noted, however, that there is a public perception that crime is on the increase. He suggests that media coverage and political rhetoric are to blame. News outlets prioritize violent crime stories for their shock value and politicians also amplify crime fears, particularly in their portrayal of immigrants, Cullen said.

Crime rates in several southeast Ohio counties have dropped significantly over the past decade, contrary to opinion that crime is increasing.

07/18/2025

The Athens Artist Memorial Project - AAMP has launched a summer 2025 fundraising campaign to support arts access in Southeast Ohio.

From now through August 31, all donations to AAMP will be tripled thanks to matching contributions from Lucian and Lori Spataro and Roy Whitmore.

AAMP provides funding for creative opportunities—including music lessons, classroom supplies, and scholarships—for those who might not otherwise have access.

AAMP’s mission is to support the arts in memory of local artists who have passed, such as beloved Athens songwriter J.D. Hutchinson. Recent projects include a $500 donation to the Athens High School art club and scholarships for high school students pursuing careers in the arts.

The campaign offers donors the chance to triple their impact and support the next generation of artists in the region.

Athens Artists Memorial Project's summer campaign triples donations to expand arts access in memory of local artists.