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![A young man stands in shadow as he lets in light through Venetian blinds.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Housing-Story-9755-e1699303065325-900x422.png)
For youth experiencing homelessness in southeast Ohio, a helping hand changes lives
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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MCARTHUR, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Both times Christian Bednarz’s mother kicked him out of the house, it was over a car. The first time, the car in question belonged… Read More
![A door opens into a medical examination room. A sign on the wall reads "Welcome to the Exam Room."](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/clinic-exam-room-1-e1698169722702-900x422.jpg)
A health clinic opens on Logan High School’s campus for staff and students
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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LOGAN, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — A new health clinic aiming to combat a shortage in primary healthcare providers opened Monday on the Logan High School campus. The district built… Read More
![A large number of people sit around tables assembled in a school athletics facility. There is a projector screen in the background.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ymhs-crowd-e1697222469153-900x422.jpg)
Youth mental health summit brings educators and caregivers together in Logan
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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LOGAN, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Roughly 200 mental health professionals, educators and school administrators gathered Thursday at Logan High School for a mental health summit on youth suicide prevention…. Read More
![A Conestoga hut with a wood back, a small elevated window, and a tarp reinforced with wiring and insulation for covering.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_8991-e1697059916324-900x422.jpg)
A small Athens nonprofit is trying to build emergency homeless shelters before winter hits
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — From the outside, the emergency homeless shelter looks like a small greenhouse. The front and back are made of wood, with a tarp in… Read More
![The top of a court filing in federal court against Joseph Lucas.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/lucas-lawsuit-e1693508545457-900x422.png)
The U.S. Justice Department is suing a longtime Athens County landlord for sexual harassment
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The federal government has sued a longtime Athens County landlord for claims of sexual harassment dating back at least two decades. The lawsuit, filed… Read More
![The sign outside of Trimble Local High School. A large bell sits next to it.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Trimble-sign-e1693433954116-900x422.jpg)
New career building resources come to students in Athens and other Appalachian Ohio counties through the GRIT Project
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Trimble High School student Faith Handley knew she wanted to study medicine after graduation. To that end, she hoped to spend four days of… Read More
![The large tourist lodge near Old Man's Cave in the Hocking Hills.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/hocking-hills-lodge-e1692896188208-900x422.jpg)
Economic gains may be exacerbating homelessness in southeast Ohio
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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LOGAN, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The drive out to Old Man’s Cave reveals just how much tourism has changed the Hocking Hills. Signs on State Route 664 advertise saunas…. Read More
![Rep. Jay Edwards and Bruce Nottke chat while walking down a hallway with a glass roof at Tri-County Career Center.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8605-scaled-e1692821473244-900x422.jpg)
Tri-County Career Center aims for a slice of state trade school funding
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Tri-County Career Center is hoping to improve its facilities and equipment with money from the state’s recently passed biennial budget. The budget allocates $300… Read More
![An old mattress with a crumpled red quilt sit abandoned in an overgrown clearing.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_8580-e1692660976534-900x422.jpg)
Athens residents who experience homelessness find they have few places to go for shelter
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Many people facing homelessness in Athens County have nowhere to go for shelter, and local agencies are struggling to find a solution. One of… Read More
![Athens Public Transit buses](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DIGeaCLV0AAb54p-scaled-e1584543093762-900x422.jpeg)
A report highlights how a lack of transportation options can keep southeast Ohio families in poverty
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — It’s hard to go anywhere in southeast Ohio without a car, and the region’s low-income residents are paying the price. According to the 2023… Read More
![A few school desks pushed together.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/classroom_empty_desks-scaled-e1666478656576-900x422.jpg)
Mental health care shortages complicate efforts in schools to help low-income students combat learning loss
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — When schools switched to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, some students just fell off the radar. Fort Frye Superintendent Stephanie Starcher estimated her… Read More
![The 2023 State of Poverty in Ohio report.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-poverty-report-e1689028879388-900x422.jpg)
A new report on poverty in Ohio highlights three areas of pressing need
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Low-income Ohioans are falling behind despite the state’s improving economic prospects, according to the 2023 State of Poverty in Ohio report. The report, issued… Read More
![A sign for the town of Glouster mounted on stone and mortar pillar by the road](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Glouster-City-e1463511881118-900x422.jpg)
Trends at food assistance programs in Glouster indicate food insecurity is on the rise
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Standing by pallets of peanut butter jars and loaves of sandwich bread, Becky Handa did a quick count of her remaining supplies. “We are… Read More
![Food items available at the Mobile food bank site in Gallia County](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Image-from-iOS-scaled-e1665586697653-900x422.jpg)
Food banks in Ohio feel relief as a state budget compromise restores additional funding
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — A conference committee has restored some additional funding for Ohio food banks in the state’s upcoming two-year budget. The House had given the Ohio… Read More
![Shelves at the Southeast Ohio Foodbanks warehouse in Logan are almost entirely empty](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Foodbank-Shortage-thumb-e1686940946464-900x422.jpg)
Ohio Senate’s budget scraps $15 million boost for food banks
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The Ohio Senate has significantly reduced funding for state food banks in its version of the state operating budget. The Ohio House has proposed… Read More
![The Athens County Board of Elections Office](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Board-of-Elections-e1455803714718-900x422.jpg)
Athens Board of Elections alerts voters to the new voter ID law as August’s special election nears
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The Aug. 8 special election will be the first time voters in Athens will have to comply with Ohio’s new voter ID law. Tony… Read More
![A green metal bench sits on a brick path by a tree.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_8173-e1684877186201-900x422.jpg)
Friendship Bench training program helps community members offer a listening ear
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — A community mental health program originating from Zimbabwe has taken root in southeast Ohio. The Athens City-County Health Department decided to bring the Friendship… Read More
![A herd of cows stand on a dirt path through a hilly field.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_7913-1-e1683749792739-900x422.jpg)
A bipartisan proposal in Congress could reshape livestock farming in southeast Ohio
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The building Shawn Donahue chose for his new meat processing facility had sat unused for several years. It showed. When he stood inside and… Read More
![A cow standing on a dirt path to a field looks through a green metal gate.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7934-1-scaled-e1681507262627-900x422.jpg)
Small farms in southeast Ohio see transformative potential in the upcoming farm bill
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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Athens, OHIO (WOUB/Report for America) — A few years ago, Lindsay Klaunig and her partner turned a decrepit plot of country land into a successful local business called Trouvaille Farm…. Read More
![A woman sits at a table. She holds her phone but is looking over her shoulder.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_7739-e1677601422346-900x422.jpg)
Low-income residents face challenges as the SNAP expansion ends
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Expanded SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic are ending this month throughout the United States. The rollback comes at a bad… Read More
![A volunteer peers into the trunk of an SUV being loaded with food at a distribution of the Southeast Ohio Food Bank.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_7499-e1674171247370-900x422.jpg)
Despite some money from the state, the Southeast Ohio Food Bank struggles to meet growing demand
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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POMEROY, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The Southeast Ohio Food Bank has returned to doing mobile food distributions, thanks to support from local partners and the state government. Unfortunately, the… Read More
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_6609-1-e1670953516777-900x422.jpg)
Precarious rental agreements pop up where no one is looking in rural Athens County
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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AMESVILLE, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Manda Gould and Shane Oswalt lived in a rental trailer on Mush Run Road for almost two decades. The only photos they have of… Read More
![A Forest Service sign states that the fire danger is high](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/high-fire-risk-e1668110260663-900x422.png)
Firefighters are battling a forest fire in the Wayne
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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IRONTON, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The Kimble Complex Fire is burning across 1,300 acres in the Ironton Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has… Read More
![The Ohio Statehouse](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ohio-statehouse-credit-daniel-konik-statehouse-news-bureau-e1660923748138-900x422.jpg)
Where the gubernatorial candidates stand on Appalachian Ohio poverty
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — Appalachian Ohio has long struggled economically in comparison to the rest of the state. Today, data from the Appalachian Regional Commission and Feeding America’s… Read More
![Pumpkins and other produce are arranged on the floor of the Chesterhill Produce Auction.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_6613-e1666621827433-900x422.jpg)
An auction in rural Morgan County draws Southeast Ohioans with fresh, local produce
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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CHESTERHILL, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — People can get carried away at the Chesterhill Produce Auction. Perhaps a box of purple sweet potatoes draws their attention. The bidding starts low,… Read More