Gas prices surge, Gulf allies vie for continued conflict
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER
6 Mon _________________
War with Iran causes concern for midterms
The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran is causing concern for Republicans heading into the midterm election season. President Donald Trump ran on the promise of lowering costs and ending wars, but is now in a war with Iran and energy prices are soaring, according to The Associated Press.
The war in Iran is not very popular in the U.S., and is getting less popular by the day as Trump’s rhetoric concerns Americans. The war comes about six months before ballots will be cast for Congressional elections and governorships. Republicans, who currently control all branches of government, are in danger of losing important seats and handing more power to Democrats.
According to the AP, Republican leaders are privately stating that the House will be lost, and Democrats have a chance of winning the Senate, as GOP leaders desperately avoid the Iran war in their talking points.
7 Tue __________________
New footage from Minneapolis sheds light on ICE activity
A video released by the city of Minneapolis shows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement chase and scuffle ending in a shooting. The nonfatal shooting happened in January, and the federal officers were suspended, the AP reported.
The incident is a part of Trump’s continued effort to crack down on immigration in Minnesota, which has brought backlash from many Americans. In the video, federal officers chased a Venezuelan man to his residence. The officers shot another Venezuelan man who lives there.
The authorities dropped the charges against both men in February and are investigating the two officers on whether they lied under oath about the details of the incident, according to the AP. The New York Times reported on the footage, raising concerns about why the case against the men took weeks before being dropped.
The authorities were accusing Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar SosaCelis of beating an ICE official with a broom handle and snow shovel during the encounter. Sosa-Celis was shot in his right thigh, and the scene quickly became filled with protestors.
pg 2
Thousands of Ohio acres approved for fracking
The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission approved more than 8,500 acres of state land for fracking in a 20-minute meeting on March 27. The approvals included 8,233 acres of the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County and 513 acres of Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County.
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process that forces a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the earth to crack rock formations and extract natural gas and oil, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Now that the nominations are approved, the bidding process begins. Karina Cheung, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, discussed what that process will look like.
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER continued pg 4
Moms Weekend encourages family time
FIONA PETTICREW HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Ohio University’s Moms Weekend led to packed streets, with moms traveling to spend time with their Bobcats. Moms could be seen relaxing on Greek house porches, wearing matching T-shirts or sipping a drink on Court Street. Attractions like the Athens Farmers market and International Street Fair were also open.
continued pg 3
Ohio House passes bill restricting drag
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER
Ohio House Bill 249 is a piece of legislation that would place higher restrictions on public drag performances across the state.
The bill, known as “Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act,” restricts drag performers, go-go dancers, strippers and exotic dancers from performing in any public space where minors may be present and anywhere apart from “adult cabaret” venues, as passed by the House.
Proponents of the bill argue it is necessary to protect children from indecent exposure and preserve innocence.
5
Break the Record UNC Chapel Hill disgraces collegiate journalism
On April 1, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, and its late-night show “Hill After Hours,” released a series of offensive content for April Fool’s Day.
The Daily Tar Heel released a series of satire articles with the intention to “highlight the
centuries of
first of two apologies. “We intended to depict ‘moral outrage transformed into
art.’”
Map courtesy of ODNR & Ohio.Gov
Drag queen "Judy Chiffon" performs at the Welcome Week Drag Show in the Baker Ballroom in Athens, Aug. 30, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
(MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Festival of Color photo gallery / pg. B7
Ohio run rules Bowling Green / pg. B2
8 Wed __________________
Clay Fuller wins Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House seat
Republican Clay Fuller won Marjorie Taylor Greene’s U.S. House seat Tuesday. Fuller is a Trump endorsement and was set to win the deep red district by 12 points, according to the AP.
Fuller said his win proves Trump’s power, claiming he will be on Capitol Hill to have his back every single day. While Fuller touts Trump’s power and influence, his recent rhetoric concerning the Iran war has caused concern among Republicans.
Some Republicans, even in Fuller’s district, agreed the war has gone too far and are concerned with Trump’s moves in the Middle East, the AP reported. Fuller now serves the rest of Greene’s term after she resigned earlier this year, joining the Republican majority in the House.
9 Thur __________________
Bondi to avoid appearing in House committee
Former Attorney General Pam Pondi will not appear at a House committee deposition next week into how the Jeffrey Epstein investigation was handled, the Department of Justice has indicated.
According to the Justice Department, because Bondi was subpoenaed in her capacity as attorney general and she no longer serves after being removed from the position last week, she will not attend.
The Justice Department and Bondi faced substantial backlash for how they handled the Epstein files. Bondi was subpoenaed and deposed last month in a bipartisan vote from the Republican-led committee, according to the AP.
Those on the committee, including South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who initiated the motion, stated she will not be able to escape the subpoena and will have to attend the deposition, the AP reported. She said Bondi was summoned by her name and not by her title as attorney general.
10 Fri _____________________
JD Vance heads to Middle East for peace talks
Vice President JD Vance went overseas Friday to engage in peace talks with
Iran, aimed at ending the ongoing war. Vance, a more skeptical supporter of the conflict, traveled to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, according to the AP.
His departure comes as the temporary ceasefire seems to be on the verge of collapsing. The White House has not provided details about how the talks are being formatted.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner joined Vance on the trip. Trump expressed his confidence in the talks. He also said the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed, bringing rising gas prices in the U.S., will be opened soon.
12 Sun ___________________
Iran-US ceasefire talks end with no agreement
The 21-hour ceasefire talks in Pakistan between the U.S. and Iran ended without an agreement, the AP reported. Trump has threatened the U.S. Navy will begin enforcing a blockade to stop ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade is another move by the Trump administration to remove Iran’s main source of leverage, as the Strait of Hormuz ships abound 20% of global oil supplies. It is not clear how the blockade will be done, but it could cause more disturbance in the global energy market, according to the AP.
According to Trump, the talks could not be carried through due to Tehran’s continued interest in nuclear power. He threatened strikes on civilian infrastructure and reiterated the statement he made previously, when he said a “whole civilization will die tonight.”
@FINNSMITH06 FS227223@OHIO.EDU
Blotter: Sick raccoons, drugs in the car, warrants of the week
KAITLIN HOGG | NEWS STAFF WRITER
3 Fri ___________________
Sick raccoon
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s office responded to Bean Hollow Road in Athens following a report of a sick raccoon.
The raccoon could not be located, so no further action was taken.
Drugs in the car
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop at the car wash in The Plains and discovered the driver was in possession of illegal substances.
The substance is being sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and charges are pending in relation to the results.
4 Sat __________________ Cyberthreats
Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding cyber threats.
The caller told deputies the threats began on a video game and then continued through Facebook. The caller was told to block the individual on both platforms.
I just need a ride
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to state Route 690 in Athens in relation to a suspicious individual.
The caller told deputies an individual came to their house and asked for a ride home. Deputies then spoke with the individual, who said they had gone to a store and their ride had left without them. Deputies gave the individual a ride home.
5 Sun _________________ Just listen to your parents!
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to McDonald Street in The Plains following a juvenile complaint. It was determined on the scene the juvenile was not listening to their parents’ request. Deputies spoke with all involved parties, and the juvenile complied.
Cat rescue Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Glouster to help a cat that had its head stuck in a fence.
Upon arrival, the cat was already rescued.
6 Mon __________________ Warrants of the week
The Athens County Sheriff’s office has warrants of arrest out for Maximo Hernandez and Jason Smith.
Smith is wanted for two counts of possession of drugs. Hernandez is wanted for two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and two counts of operating a vehicle impaired.
Anyone with information on either individual is to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Stop acting like a child
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Vore Ridge Road in Athens regarding a man throwing rocks at a car.
Deputies spoke with all involved parties and took a report.
Got you!
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to Laurel Lane in Athens after a 911 hangup call.
On the scene, it was determined the issue was an inactive dispute. One of the involved parties was found to have an active warrant out for her arrest from Meigs County, so Robin Wallace was arrested and taken to the county line to be put into Meigs County police custody. Patrol resumed.
7 Tue ____________________
Stop yelling!
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Dollar General in The Plains after a report of two men yelling at each other outside the store. By the time deputies arrived, the men left.
Not suspicious, just a nap
Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to High Street in Glouster following a complaint of a suspicious vehicle.
Deputies on the scene located an individual asleep behind the wheel, with the individual stating he was just taking a nap.
Deputies called in the Ohio State Highway Patrol to further examine the man, and it was determined he was cleared to drive.
8 Wed ___________________ A-OK!
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to state Route 691 in Nelsonville regarding a well-being check.
Deputies on the scene spoke with the guardian and the woman and determined everything was in order and there were no issues.
I’m walking here!
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to U.S. Route 32 in Albany after getting a report of an individual walking on the road.
Deputies made contact with the individual and learned nothing criminal had taken place.
9 Thur ___________________
Put that away Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to state Route 144 regarding a man exposing himself. It was reported the man left the scene before deputies arrived, but at the scene, deputies spoke with the other involved parties.
While deputies were speaking to the parties, the man returned and was promptly trespassed from the property by the deputies. Patrol resumed.
Chekov’s Gun Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to Lake Hill Road following a report of a recovered gun.
Deputies on the scene determined it was a BB gun, so it was collected and put into evidence.
Maybe drunk driving Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to The Plains following a report of a potential drunk driver sitting in a parking lot.
Deputies searched the area but did not locate such an individual.
Mom’s Weekend/continued from pg 1
The International Street Fair was on the corner of East Union Street and South College Street, and a crowd of people could be seen dancing and enjoying the food and culture around them. Many mothers and daughters got matching henna tattoos at the fair and walked through the street, enjoying their time together.
Events from both OU and local businesses were popular, and many students took the time to bring their mothers to their favorite places throughout campus. Ava Delfre, a freshman studying business, took her mother, Michele Delfre, to Nelson Hall, where she ate for free, and to Court Street Coffee.
Ava Delfre said the timing of Mom’s Weekend was nice, as it occurs at the end of the year and is a good time to spend time with her mother, especially since she has not had the chance to travel home.
“All my friends’ moms were coming, and I hadn’t been home in a while,” Ava Delfre said. “So it’s just a homesick feeling, so I think her being here makes it better.”
Ava and Michele Delfre were also holding matching flower bouquets, which they assembled at Baker University Center. They mentioned how they wanted to visit The Athena Cinema and watch “Mamma Mia,” but they were not sure if they would have the time.
Michele Delfre said she and her family live in North Carolina, and she liked being able to see what her daughter eats at the dining halls and how she lives at OU. For the rest of the day, Michele Delfre said they planned on going to dinner with Ava Delfre’s roommates and their mothers, whom she was excited to meet earlier that day.
“I think it’s great for the community to have all the extra people in, but also for everyone to spend time with their daughters in their own natural environment, just to see a little piece of their life,” Michele Delfre said.
Michele Delfre also enjoyed the nature surrounding OU, and said she had a whole bag of peanuts with her for the squirrels, as well as a banana for the deer. Unfortunately, she did not see any wildlife, which she said might have been because of the live music from the International Street Fair.
Jackie O’s Taproom also had live music at its Moments with Moms event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The event supported Passion Works Studio and was covered in paper chains, along with other Passion Works art pieces.
There was also a raffle at the event for a chance to take home a self-care basket, a Passion Works basket, a charcuterie basket and an OU basket. Some groups were sitting and conversing with other families while enjoying their food and pints from Jackie O’s. One of the performances was from the band Hourglass, which performed several well-loved covers and originals to keep
the audience upbeat and cheerful.
Kate Tocke, a senior studying journalism and sports management, is a member of Hourglass, and described their style as “indie meets blues, meets rock, meets a little bit of everything.” Her favorite song they performed was their original “Flowers,” and mentioned their Palmer Fest show, occurring April 18th at noon, at 27 Palmer St., Unit B.
Tocke said her mother was in town for the weekend, and they were “enjoying the sunshine,” visiting the Athens Farmers Market and going shopping in the area. She said Moms Weekend is special because it allows students to introduce their friends to their mothers.
“I’m from New York, so I don’t really get to go home as much as I want to,” Tocke said. “So I’m very happy to see her, and we’ve been hanging out. It’s my last one, so it’s a little bittersweet, but I’m having a really good time so far.”
Several other events rounded out Mom’s Weekend. On Sunday, Baker Center hosted a Brunch and Bouquets from 10 a.m. to noon in the Baker Ballroom, which was free for all who were interested
in celebrating their mother alongside flowers and food. Outdoor Pursuits hosted a Moms Weekend Zip-Lining event at the Ridges Saturday and Sunday, requiring a $20 registration fee before their 1,000-foot ride.
@FIONAPETTICREW2 FP074825@OHIO.EDU
Pg. 1 - People look at ceramic pieces for sale during the Spring Ceramics Sale by the Ohio University Ceramics department in front of the Jennings House, April 11, 2026, on Union Street. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Top. - People gather during Ohio University’s International Street Fair, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Athens, Ohio. (DANNY ARENSBERG | FOR THE POST)
Bottom. - People sit around the Sailors and Soldiers Monument on College Green during Moms Weekend, April 11, 2026, in Athens, on Union Street. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
T-shirts designed for Mom’s Weekend sit outside of 10 West Clothing Co., April 11, 2026. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
‘The choice is Joyce’: A look into the 20-year-old’s run for Ohio House
KAITLIN HOGG | NEWS STAFF WRITER
The state of Ohio is no stranger to young political candidates. Ohio’s youngest elected official is Ben Nguyen, who was elected to the Tri-State School Board in 2025. Nguyen won his race at 18 years old and studies finance at Miami University.
Young candidates in the state have done well in the past. Republican Sen. Niraj Antani, who represents Ohio’s 6th District, started in the House at 23 years old. Sam Lawrence ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2022 as a 19-year-old, although he lost his race.
Sam Cao also ran for the House in 2022, at just 17 years old.
State Rep. Thomas Hall was first elected at age 25, following his education at Miami University, and Jena Powell won her House of Representatives election in 2018 at age 24.
Even Ohio University has seen its share of politicians throughout the years.
Former OU student Rhyan Goodman ran for the House during his junior year of university and was elected. However, he resigned before a formal vote count following a scandal within the Student Senate.
Now, another Bobcat is stepping up to the plate, hopeful to get elected.
James Joyce, a junior studying computer science and artificial intelligence, is running for the Ohio House of Representatives for the 95th District.
“I have not been to other counties as much as I want to be, and that is something that I’m looking to definitely step up in the summer when school subsides for a little bit,” Joyce said.
Joyce also said he has known for a while that politics would be part of his life and career.
“I’ve known that I’ve wanted to participate in politics for a while,” Joyce said. “I didn’t quite know how that was going to look, and then it was talking a lot with my high school history teacher that kind of led to me knowing that this was something I wanted to do, so last year (I (knew) State Representative is the position that would be best for me to fit into for the first time.”
Joyce is not running unopposed. His opponent is Paul Cameron, an activist and organizer, and a Progressive candidate from Belmont County. Joyce said he and Cameron have spoken before, and both men participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Athens League of Women Voters.
The forum took place Monday, April 6, and candidates spoke about their platforms and what prompted them to run for office.
- James Joyce “
We need drastic change in this country, and I’m hoping that I can help be part of that change”
The 95th district covers the city of Athens and the eastern part of the county, as well as parts of Noble, Morgan, Harrison, Guernsey and Belmont County. Joyce said it is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from one end of the district to the other, and gerrymandering has become a major problem for the district.
Joyce said he knows it is a lot of work to be a full-time student and to campaign for office, but he is glad to do it.
“I wanted to see more and more Progressive ideology pushed within our society, (I’m) tired of seeing the status quo, one party taking things further into harm of the citizens and a second party not doing much to stop that,” Cameron said in the forum. “I felt that it was time to step up and do something.”
Other sections of the forum looked at how the candidates would handle financial issues, as well as health care, which are two major problems across the Appalachian region.
Joyce said his overall platform is economics and education-based. He said the cost of utilities is something he is
Fracking/continued from pg 1
“If a bid is selected, a lease is executed between the selected company and the state agency that owns the property,” Cheung wrote via email. “The lease currently has a primary development term of five years, with an option to renew the lease for an additional three years by paying the state an additional lease bonus.”
The decision angered many environmental activists across the state. By way of Ohio law, the commission is mandated to listen and consider all public comments. Cheung said public comment is one of the nine factors that members of the commission must consider before approving nominations.
“So for these last five nominations, the four of Egypt Valley and the one of Salt Fork, 13,137 people filed public comments opposed to this, and this commission took about 13 minutes,” Cathy Cowan Becker, board president of Save Ohio Parks, said. “It takes 13 minutes to decide to approve well over 8,700 acres.”
Becker said Save Ohio Parks is deeply concerned with the process the commission engages in, saying they simply rubber-stamp whatever they are told.
“Our tax dollars pay for it,” Cowan Becker said. “We use it, we’re the ones who use our parks and wildlife areas. And this land was set aside in the public trust. It is supposed to be protected for future generations, and this is not doing that. This agency is not doing that.”
As it stands now, ODNR has lease agreements for a total of about 6,251 acres. Four units have wells that have been drilled on acreage, including seven wells at Valley Run Wildlife Area, two wells at Zepernick Wildlife Area and four wells at Salt Fork State Park. A concern shared by many environmentalists with fracking procedures is water contamination and brine migration. That is when the fluids used in the injection process unintentionally migrate to existing gas wells or drinking water aquifers.
greatly focused on during his campaign.
“The main thing that I’m fighting to address is the cost of utilities,” Joyce said in an interview with The Post. “The way that I’m hoping to solve this problem is by increasing access to renewable energy sources like solar power.”
Education, particularly the public education system, is another issue where Joyce is putting a lot of focus.
“I’m very tied to education,” Joyce said.
“I want to be a teacher one day … The foundation of any well-functioning democracy is a well-educated citizenry. It is a citizen that’s supposed to hold the government accountable, so education is extremely important, and I believe that currently, our public school system is underfunded and failing, and so I want to address the needs of the public school system.”
Cameron, in the forum, also brought up some of the issues currently plaguing the Southeastern Ohio region, including education.
“My policy priorities, we (Southeast Ohio) have a lot of problems facing us, we have a poverty problem, we have a lack of available jobs, decent-paying jobs, lack of resources, education,” Cameron said. “There are so many different aspects, but what I see as the main core
of things is our communities … People have to drive further and further (for resources), and costs are rising.”
To increase jobs and businesses, Cameron said there has to be a focus on community revitalization.
Joyce said he is aware his age could be a deterrent for some voters, but he encourages them to look at his policies. He said his stances on education and the environment should draw in younger voters, while his economic policies should appeal to the older demographic of voters.
“Why me?,” Joyce said. “Because those who are currently in power have been in power for a long time, and as far as I know … the outlook of the nation, the outlook of the state, has not gotten better over 20 years, so it’s time for something new. It’s time for a change. It’s time for a different approach, and that’s what I’m hoping to be … We need change. We need drastic change in this country, and I’m hoping that I can help be part of that change.”
The primary election is May 5, and absentee and early voting began April 7. For more information on where to vote, go to the Athens County Board of Elections website.
John Stolz, a professor of biology and environmental science at Duquesne University, previously worked as the director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education. Stolz has conducted studies across Ohio, recently looking at injection wells.
“The industry will claim that there’s never been any evidence of water contamination; this is false,” Stolz said. “And secondly, that what goes on at depth never impacts the surface. Well, that’s wrong too, because we know that … there are incidents of failed casings.”
According to Stolz, he has recorded times when fluids have migrated and posed a risk to and damaged public and private drinking water.
Athens experienced issues with water contamination in 2024, when ODNR conducted well water testing after
discovering toxic waste from fracking injection wells might have spread underground, according to a previous report from The Post.
The Environmental Working Group found the water in Athens complied with federal health-based drinking water standards, but discovered 12 contaminants, 11 of which are cancercausing.
Stolz commented on the danger posed to drinking aquifers when fracking goes wrong, discussing a recent case in Pennsylvania.
“I’ve had numerous publications and peer-reviewed journals on things that have gone terribly wrong,” Stolz said. “The latest was an incident in New Freeport, Pennsylvania, that happened in 2022, where a company was fracking a well at 7800 feet depth, and it communicated, in other words,
fluids and pressure communicated with an abandoned gas well to the surface … and there were fluids that were spewing out at the surface. And as a result, the watershed was basically destroyed.”
Stolz also discussed how state lands were created to provide recreational enjoyment for everyone. He said putting fracking operations and other industrial development removes that.
“The purpose of your state game lands and parks were created for a reason, and it’s not okay to have industrial development within these facilities,” Stolz said. “And lastly, it is just ignorance at this point to think that nothing bad could happen, because it does happen, and it happens repeatedly, so that there are things that will happen during the development within you know these areas.”
Photo provided by James Joyce
The Ascent Resources Cypress Pad, a natural gas and oil well operated by Ascent Resources, on Dickerson Church Road, Oct. 16, 2025, in Cadiz, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Drag ban
The sponsors of the bill, Republican Reps. Angela King of District 84 and Josh Williams of District 44 did not respond for comment.
“Parents across Ohio want to know their children are safe and not exposed to adult performances or imagery,” King said in a statement. “This bill closes loopholes in our law, strengthens protections for minors and ensures that private spaces remain just that— private. Ohio must remain a place where families feel confident their children can simply be kids.”
Many disagree with her statement, claiming drag performances that are more explicit and catered to adults do not allow children to be present.
Drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, Andrew Levitt, who performs under the name “Nina West,” gave a testimony opposing the bill. Levitt grew up in Ohio and lives in Columbus. Levitt emphasized that Ohio is home to ideals of acceptance, love and freedom.
“Don’t tell the next generation of kids from small town Ohio that they need to hide their light under a bushel,” Levitt said in a testimony. “Tell them that Ohioans like you, like me, believe in the power of joy, hope, love, individual freedom. Because not only are those values of drag. They are values of our great state of Ohio.”
Jack Wilburn, an alumnus of Ohio University, performs as a drag queen in Ohio under the name “Evelyn Everything.” Wilburn started drag in Athens in 2022 and now performs full-time. He argued against King’s statement, likening the different types of drag to how movies receive ratings.
“There are rated G movies for children, there are rated R movies for adults,” Wilburn said. “And I think drag operates and functions in a really similar capacity. I think some drag entertainment is supposed to be performed at a nightclub, is designed and curated for an adult audience, but things like story hours are there for children to experience.”
Wilburn added when he is booked for an all-ages show, he spends a lot of time ensuring his outfits are concealing and he conducts himself appropriately.
Sean McCann, policy strategist with
the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, said the bill would expand the already active restrictions Ohio has.
“The legislature, the sponsors of the bill, like to paint this picture that it’s cut and dry,” McCann said. “What’s obscene and what’s harmful to juveniles…but the reality is that these are still vague legal standards that now we would be expanding pretty drastically with the new offenses created in House Bill 249.”
McCann said the preexisting laws in action are sufficient enough to regulate performances not fit for minors to protect their innocence.
“Ohio law already prohibits indecent exposure,” McCann said. “The sponsors have tried to claim that they’re adding an important clarification to the law about private area versus private parts and that they’re modernizing the law, and the reality is that the current law is sufficient to prohibit what they’re
trying to protect children from.”
Violators of the bill could face a firstdegree misdemeanor if a performance happens in front of a juvenile. If the performance is obscene, the charge would be a fifth-degree felony and if a performance is obscene and happens in front of someone under 13 years old, the charge would be a fourth-degree felony, according to the bill’s proposal.
The issue would impact every corner of Ohio. Wilburn discussed the importance of drag art in the southeast Ohio area, emphasizing the prevalence in Athens.
“Drag in Athens is meaningful, not only to the city and not only to the college, but also to the entire region of southeastern Ohio,” Wilbrun said.
“Because I don’t think there are all that many venues, spaces or opportunities for entertainers in that region. So Athens serves as a sort of homing
beacon for all of them.”
First Amendment concerns are also on the table, with the ACLU of Ohio mentioning the dangers of enacting legislation that would include restrictions on speech and performance, according to an ACLU news release.
“Drag is just like all sorts of forms of art and artistic expression, in that it is protected by the First Amendment,” McCann said. “The First Amendment protects all sorts of art forms and forms of expression, including, but very much not limited to, drag.”
If passed, the bill would likely impact outdoor pride events, including the Stonewall Columbus Pride March in June. The House passed the legislation on March 25 with 63 votes in favor and 32 votes against. It has now been introduced in the Senate and awaits referral to a committee.
Top. Current state of the bill. Image courtsey of the Ohio House.
Left. Rep. Williams speaking on the House floor. Photo courtsey
The Post
Artemis II reminds us we can do hard things
For 10 days, four astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans ever have, orbiting the Moon and returning home safely in a mission that marked a historic step forward in space exploration.
While the technical achievements of Artemis II are remarkable, including the distance traveled and the complexity of the mission, its significance extends far beyond numbers and engineering milestones. At its core, the mission served as a powerful reminder that humanity is still capable of doing hard things, even in moments when the world feels uncertain.
This reminder feels especially important now. Global conflict, including ongoing instability in the Middle East and tensions surrounding the war in Iran, continues to dominate headlines and shape daily life. These realities can create a sense that the world is increasingly divided and that progress is difficult to achieve. Against that backdrop, Artemis II offered a different perspective, not by ignoring those challenges, but by demonstrating what is possible when people work together toward a shared goal.
From more than 250,000 miles away, pilot Victor Glover described that perspective in deeply human terms, explaining that from space, Earth
appears as one unified place rather than a collection of borders and divisions, saying “you are special in all of this emptiness.”
This idea, often referred to as the “overview effect,” has been described by astronauts for decades, but Artemis II brought it to a new generation in real time. As millions of viewers followed along, the mission created a rare collective experience that allowed people to momentarily step outside of their daily concerns and consider a broader, more unified view of humanity.
At the same time, the mission was not defined solely by its scale or symbolism. It was also marked by deeply personal moments that resonated with audiences, including the crew’s reflections, their interactions during the livestream and the emotional decision to propose naming a lunar crater after the late wife of one of the astronauts. These moments served as a reminder that even in the most advanced and technical environments, human connection, love and loss remain central to the experience.
Artemis II also represents an important step toward the future of space exploration, laying the groundwork for future missions that aim to return humans to the lunar surface. However, its immediate impact lies less in what comes next and more
Editorial Behind the Lens
in what it revealed in the present moment, which is that progress is still possible, even when it feels out of reach.
Ultimately, Artemis II did not solve the world’s problems or eliminate the conflicts that continue to shape global life. What it did provide, however, was perspective. It reminded us that Earth is small, shared and worth protecting, and that even in the face of uncertainty, humanity retains the ability to move forward together.
That reminder, simple as it may seem, carries real weight. It suggests that while the challenges facing the world are significant, they are not insurmountable, and that the same determination that sends humans to the edge of deep space can also be applied to the problems we face here at home.
In that way, Artemis II stands as more than a scientific achievement. It serves as a reflection of what humanity can be at its best and a quiet but powerful reminder that we are still capable of doing hard things.
The Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage. Have thoughts? The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens. com.
Human weirdness is key against conformity
A Seattle radio station, KEXP, published an in-studio band performance that garnered over 8 million views. This particular show was much odder than its usual artist in-studio.
Clad in polka-dotted papier-mache outfits with massive noses, wielding a double-necked guitar and music that sounds straight out of a fever dream, is the French-Canadian band Angine de Poitrine.
Although the anonymous duo has been around since 2019, this performance brought them into the limelight. Aside from its striking looks, Angine de Poitrine breaks the conventions of contemporary music, using odd time signatures, looping pedals to layer sounds in real time and microtonal notes not found in Western music.
It’s not the only band to do this, but the band’s viral success is telling of the current state of music.
In the comment section of the band’s KEXP video, many viewers shared a similar sentiment.
“Eat this, AI,” one comment read. Others called it the most human thing they had seen in a year.
The band’s absurdist nature drew in millions. In an age when record labels are embracing generative artificial intelligence and formality, the human urge to push boundaries is acting as a breath of fresh air for many.
art style straying from hyper-realistic paintings and into abstraction. A few decades later, around World War I, came movements such as Dadaism and Surrealism. The more technology advanced, the more abstract art became.
Angine de Poitrine describes itself as a “Mantra-Rock Dada Pythago-Cubist Orchestra,” thus aligning with Dada’s “rowdy revolution.”
In the age of fewer and fewer companies taking greater control of the media landscape, our collective culture is becoming more uniform, more conformed. As a society, we have more possessions and entertainment media at our disposal than ever, both material and immaterial.
Despite this, our culture feels empty and bland; nothing noticeable distinguishes one singer from another, one movie from another. Cars are monotone colors, films lack the substance they once did and music does not have the same cultural impact. When everyone has access to the same content through social media, society becomes a drab conglomeration of sameness.
the imagination to reject kitsch … and pursue work that expands the possibilities of human perception.”
As the powers that be push toward uniformity in our creative outlets, human weirdness and creativity are a direct threat to the cultural consistency the music, technology and other industries push for.
Human ingenuity and weirdness is a key factor in why we as a species and culture are able to function. It’s the driver of innovation, art and invention. Angine de Poitrine, and the growing pushback against the AI-centered world Silicon Valley promotes, is proof of this. The band pushes the boundaries of modern music because it breaks the mold. The mold that record labels and tech executives push.
To paraphrase a variation of the 1979 IBM statement, “a computer can never be held accountable,” a machine cannot feel, and therefore cannot create art. Pushing human work to the wayside in favor of AI slop that can quickly generate profit is the complete antithesis of art. Art comes from the strangeness and creativity of people, nothing less.
Ethan Herx is a junior studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or finding them on Instagram at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherxphoto. ETHAN HERX FOR THE POST
Over the past 200 years, art movements have shifted in response to new technologies. After the advent of the camera, painters like Claude Monet began to move to impressionism, an
This is why generative AI music can slot itself into the mainstream; AI is formulaic, and so is modern music. It’s trained on music that does not push boundaries, music that all sounds the same. Record labels and streaming services know this. They know they can pump out AI slop that sounds like modern music because they have already made modern music disinteresting.
In a November 2025 article in The Atlantic, W. David Marx wrote, “What’s missing now is a veneration of the artistic mindset, which possesses
JUDE HANNAHS
As I reflect, there’s a lot I can say about being both a student at Ohio University and also a resident of Athens, Ohio, for the past four years. It’s cliché, but words truly can’t describe the impact that attending this specific college had on my life.
I grew up in Barnesville, Ohio, and depending on what route you take, it’s roughly 120 miles from Athens, resting close to the border between Ohio and West Virginia. My upbringing there did a lot for my developmentally, thanks in part to my family, friends, teachers and coaches.
When I arrived in Athens in the fall of 2022, I began my transformation into someone who grew to better understand who I was and wasn’t. For starters, I grew exponentially in my understanding of my faith as a Catholic man.
I discovered the student group OU Catholics in the second semester of my freshman year, and since then, it has been by far the best decision I have ever made during my time here. Unlike the religious life I had back home, OU Catholics provided me with a comfortable foundation to explore Catholicism with other people my age.
To read Jude’s full senior farewell column (and follow The Post’s opinion section for more farewells) scan the QR below:
UNC Chapel Hill/
The content itself, which has since been deleted, was egregious. Some of the articles included “The Daily Tar Heel Rebrands — now The Daily Woke Heel,” “UNC brings back DEI — for Whites,” and “The new plan for the Dean Dome — a two-stadium solution.”
“The new plan for the Dean Dome — a two-stadium solution” was a spoof on Israel and Palestine’s “two-state solution.” The article included multiple “jokes,” including the university launching “a defensive strike against Duke University, firing 47 cruise missiles at Cameron Indoor Stadium.”
“UNC brings back DEI — for Whites” is supposed to be a commentary on the reversal of race-based admission protections, specifically the reversal of affirmative action. The article joked about the drop in minority admissions, instead flipping the script and mentioning a fake drop in admissions of white students. The article’s graphic also featured multiple white fists, mocking the Black power fist.
This is only a small piece of the offensive content mentioned in the edition, with additional articles like “Trump orders ALE in Chapel Hill to be replaced with ICE agents” and “Hubert Davis rushes to find summer internship,” mocking the university’s first Black head coach.
The newspaper released an initial apology just hours after the edition’s release. The editorial team claimed it hurt communities they “intended to uplift.” However, the second apology stated, “We were not thinking of how our audience would be impacted by the issues that don’t affect the majority of us.”
Also under fire is “Hill After Hours,” which produced a skit showcasing the “third world country” that is the “south campus.” Calling the south side of campus, known for housing minority students, “dangerous” and a “s— hole.”
The skit starred “Stacie,” and her two white male “bodyguards,” who racially profile a black female student to which the bodyguards escort her away from. Later, she greets a male student of color and asks if he “hable ingles.” She is also surprised to find that they have running and clear water.
The content has also been removed from official “Hill After Hours” platforms. “Hill After Hours,” founded in Fall 2025, is young. Yet, the idea that those who want to be professional comedians can’t actually make funny jokes is hilarious in itself. A concept that would have made a far better skit than what they published. Comparatively, The Daily Tar Heel was started in 1893, leaving no excuse for its lack of an ethical and moral code.
This isn’t journalism. The fact that this bypassed a hierarchy of editors and included writing from the editorin-chief shows that punching down on their audience was more important than journalistic integrity.
Make no mistake, the horror of the event wasn’t even using these topics as satire. Comedians and feature writers have done it for decades. The execution of the ideas leaves no doubt that the
content is a mockery of the legacy of progress.
Palestine and Israel are a joke. Students of color are a joke. Even jokes about hiring multiple “DEI consultants” to “audit every single headline for harm, especially inflammatory ones like ‘Traffic blocks Franklin Street,’ which prompted dialogue on not misgendering vehicles.”
The idea that, in hindsight, there is now a goal to converse with student organizations to learn about their communities and how to report on topics for them, post-mocking bombings, shows that no one in that newsroom is ready to go into the journalism industry.
A past Post article detailed the current climate for Black journalists amid DEI pushbacks. Journalists of color, in general, are facing a myriad of setbacks. The Daily Tar Heel’s white student journalists may very well be our coworkers in the future; that’s terrifying. We have to trust their judgment and decisions in the newsroom, despite knowing their past.
Journalism has always been used as a way for minorities, particularly African-Americans, in this country to open doors and highlight the issues of their communities. The abolitionist movement was paved by hundreds of slave narrative essays, letting the world know of the atrocities brutalizing their people.
Narrative writing is a part of Black culture. Black reporters are the reason that movements like the Million-Man March and the Selma to Montgomery march are even recorded. To take the legacy of hundreds of years of pain and work done by journalists of an array of marginalized identities and use it as “satire” is insulting. As the products and upholders of those legacies, you insult us.
From both a professional and journalistic lens, we must weed out these “bad habits” to ensure their future participation in newsrooms is healthy. Student journalism is a learning stage, but we have to be critical so our profession isn’t a playpen.
We’d assume student journalists from a school with a 15% acceptance rate would have better critical thinking skills than to create, curate, film, edit and then publish their own professional demise.
The lack of self-awareness, then the original lack of remorse, shows a bigotry and callousness that isn’t needed in the field of journalism, media or this country. This spans farther than political parties; this is basic human decency.
Nyla Gilbert is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Dawnelle Blake is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Nyla or Dawn about their column? Email them at ng972522@ohio.edu or db948724@ohio.edu.
Abby’s Angle | Moral double standards persist in the NBA
ABBY SHRIVER | FOR THE POST
Children idolize professional athletes almost as much as they idolize parents and teachers. For this reason, I’ve never been a fan of the “shut up and dribble” mindset, as athletes have a huge platform and responsibilities beyond basketball.
In late March, Jaden Ivey of the Chicago Bulls was released from the team following multiple lengthy religious rants on Instagram condemning the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. After arriving in Chicago, Ivey became a locker room poison due to his preachy attitude.
According to ESPN, Bulls coach Billy Donovan stated, “We have to all be professional, there has to be a high level of respect for one another, and we’ve got to help each other and be accountable to those standards,” following Ivey’s release.
The Bulls swiftly took action to release Ivey for his inappropriate behavior–great! Yet, a troubling number of domestic abusers remain in the NBA, backed and elevated by the league. There is a gross moral double standard at play.
Let’s be clear, I understand why Ivey was waived and believe it was the right choice for the organization. I’m not arguing, as the Association of Mature American Citizens is, that Ivey was waived because of his religious beliefs in a so-called “Woke NBA.”
Big names, like Kevin Porter Jr., Miles Bridges and Jaxson Hayes, some of whom are even repeat offenders, continue to be supported in the NBA after being charged with domestic violence or similar crimes. Every franchise has dealt with these types of allegations, and most players face minimal consequences. The NBA can’t state “sports are intended to be inclusive for everybody” and promote the NBA as a “safe space” while completely ignoring abusers populating their rosters in the same breath. They’ve failed to take accountability for years against domestic violence and related incidents, and there seems to be no change on the horizon.
complaints” to the organization, and Primo continued to expose himself to her in private sessions after her complaints weren’t taken seriously.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline says “there’s a very low percentage of abusers who truly do change their ways” because many factors behind abuse are learned emotions of “entitlement and privilege.” NBA players obviously have status and money, and are often welcomed back to the league after controversy.
Former NBA player Jason Kidd is a prime example. Kidd pled guilty to assaulting his wife in 2001, continued to play in the NBA and then was hired as the Dallas Mavericks Head coach in 2021.
The NBA upholds strict policies on things like gambling and drug use. Paul George served a 20-game suspension for using an “improper medication” for mental health issues, while the longest suspension served for domestic violence is 30 games.
In a perfect world, there would be no violence, but it isn’t a perfect world, and “everyone within the NBA ecosystem needs to assume a level of responsibility for admonishing this type of behavior.” Domestic violence allegations, even without a conviction, “can affect your work, your income and even your career path” in any other field, but rarely
In 2023, Hall-ofFame Charles Barkley questioned NBA commissioner Adam Silver on national television about what the NBA was going to do about the high number of domestic violence cases within the league. Silver gave a mostly meaningless statement, concluding with, “... if a guy, you know, does cross the line, the consequences are enormous.”
The consequences are obviously not “enormous” if players continue to play, or even coach, in the NBA.
Before the weak consequences, there are mismanaged investigations. Jaxson Hayes, a Los Angeles Laker, was under investigation in 2021 for the alleged domestic abuse of his girlfriend and faced no penalties from the NBA; they didn’t even interview his thengirlfriend, who accused Hayes during their investigation.
Something similar happened in the case of Joshua Primo, the former San Antonio Spurs player who allegedly exposed himself to the Spurs’ psychologist multiple times in 2022. The psychologist made “numerous
I understand substance abuse, gambling and poisonous locker room behavior directly affect the integrity of the sport, but we must look at the bigger picture. The NBA has made it clear that domestic violence, sexual abuse or anything along those lines shouldn’t affect your legacy.
Karl Malone, a Hall-of-Fame player who has a statue at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech University, impregnated a 13-year-old girl when he was in college. This is statutory rape, proved with a paternity test, which never affected his life.
Sexual assault or domestic violence is not a morally grey area– it’s inherently wrong. The NBA has a responsibility to make it clear that abuse is not OK and abusers aren’t role models.
THANK YOU, DEAN SCOTT TITSWORTH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Your dedication to students, faculty and the future of communication has shaped a generation of storytellers, leaders and creators. Your legacy will continue in every voice you helped elevate.
The time to strike in the offseason is now for Ohio
CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS EDITOR
Following an 86-75 loss against Kent State in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Ohio head coach Jeff Boals said, “We’ve got to be better, and there’s going to be a reset. This team won’t be the same as it will be next year. We’re losing a lot of really good players, and we’ve got two kids signed right now, and we’re going to bring a lot more in.”
Those two players he was referring to are incoming freshmen Xavier McKinney and Jordie Bowens, two high school stars at Reynoldsburg High School outside of Columbus.
Since then, Boals’ promise has been mostly true, as Ohio is losing multiple players, such as forward Ayden Evans and guards JJ Kelly and Elijah Elliott, to the transfer portal. However, two more players, transfer guard from Indiana University Indianapolis, Kyler D’Augustino, and Australian freshman guard Che Brogan, signed with the Bobcats.
Those two guard additions are solid pickups to go along with what is left of a returning core for Ohio that includes senior forward Javan Simmons and redshirt sophomores Jesse Burris and Kiir Kuany.
Simmons is the only one of the three to receive consistent minutes for the Bobcats this past year; however, meaning nearly all of Ohio’s contributors for next season will be playing in their first real roles in Athens, whether
they were transfer additions or returners.
In the new age of the portal, consistent returning rosters are rarely a reality for midmajor programs like Ohio and the rest of the MAC.
It is a double-edged sword; while obviously negative for schools like Ohio, it can provide windows of opportunity to win right away.
The 2026-2027 season looks to be one of those years that gives Ohio a real window to win, looking at the state of the MAC.
As a conference, the MAC has already been very busy with offseason news featuring both coaches and players leaving.
The biggest story and surprise so far has been former Ohio and longtime Akron head coach John Groce
leaving the Rubber City to take the head coaching job at the College of Charleston.
Groce has had tons of success in the MAC, winning multiple NCAA Tournament games with Ohio in the late 2000s and early 2010s, before returning to the conference and winning three-straight MAC Tournament titles with the Zips in the last three years.
As for the other MAC
contenders, like Toledo and Miami, they have their fair share of portal woes as well.
A majority of Miami’s key returning core have entered the transfer portal this offseason. Forwards Eian Elmer and Brant Byers were all-MAC second team selections last year, and they have both entered the portal. Budding freshman guard Trey Perry also hopped in the portal. Those are massive losses, along with losing players like MAC Player of the Year Peter Suder and Antwone Woolfolk.
Toledo has seen its two best guards, Sonny Wilson and MAC Freshman of the Year Leroy Blyden Jr., enter the portal after falling just short against Akron in the MAC title game.
The conference looks wide open for next year, and Jeff Boals and his staff have a perfect opportunity to keep making splashes in the portal to bolster the roster.
If the staff can address the holes in the roster, like veteran wings who can play defense and shoot 3-pointers at a high level, the Bobcats will have as good a chance as anyone to compete in and win the MAC.
The last time Ohio won in the postseason was 2020, and things have changed in college sports since then. With the way the deck was shuffled this offseason, Ohio has a great chance to go all in and win.
Miami powers past Ohio to split Battle of the Bricks
JACKSON HUXEL FOR THE POST
Ohio kicked off the first road series of its eightgame road trip against its rival, Miami. The RedHawks won the series two games to one. In the first game, the Bobcats came out hot, scoring 4 runs in the top of the first. To lead off the game, graduate infielder Colton Shirley reached on an error, followed by a walk to senior outfielder Cam Hill. After a fielder’s choice by junior outfielder Cameron Boyd that threw out Hill, Boyd swiped second to allow junior catcher Tyler Stack to clear the bases on a 2-run single.
The Bobcats swiped their second base of the inning, with Stack nabbing second that led to a 2-run home run to left from redshirt freshman Grant Wilson. Right-handed freshman Mason Gass cruised through a scoreless first.
It didn’t last long with Gass allowing a leadoff homer in the bottom of the second, followed by back-to-back singles that drove in another run on a sac fly to cut the lead to 4-2 heading into the third inning.
The RedHawks cut the deficit to 4-3 in the third inning, After a lineout, the RedHawks hit a one-out triple and plate home on a groundout to short. After two dominant scoreless innings from Gass, the Bobcats tacked on 3 insurance runs for him.
To lead off the sixth inning, Stack doubled to left field and scored on a sac fly by redshirt
freshman infielder Grant Wilson, extending the Bobcat lead to 5-3. Headed into the seventh inning, redshirt junior infielder Cam Bryant drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Shirley drove Bryant home on a single up the middle.
In the eighth inning, after a leadoff lineout, fifth-year infielder Will Henson struck a double down the line that allowed junior outfielder Taylor Harris to drive home Henson, giving the Bobcats a 7-3 headed into the bottom of the eighth inning.
Miami did not go out without a fight, however, calling on two pinch hitters that put
runners on second and third with one out, forcing senior pitcher Dillon Masters in a tough situation where’d walk the bases loaded and get out of the inning, allowing one run on a groundout to hold the Ohio lead to 7-4 headed into the ninth.
Miami rallied late, but it was not enough as a walk and a wild pitch opened into a two-out home run, ending the game 7-6 for Ohio.
Ohio’s spark faded quickly Saturday afternoon as Miami utilized a 14-hit barrage to secure a 15-5 victory in just seven innings.
The RedHawks jumped to an early 2-0 lead off an
RBI triple and groundout in the first before the Bobcats briefly evened the score in the third inning. After a leadoff walk from Bryant and a one-out single from Shirley, Harris drove in Bryant with a sacrifice fly, before a Miami error allowed Shirley to cross the plate, knotting the game at 2-2.
However, the deadlock was short-lived, as Miami exploded for 8 combined runs across the fourth and fifth innings, effectively putting the game out of reach. Ohio attempted a late-inning push in the seventh inning, highlighted by a Dylan Shepherd RBI double and an Henson RBI single, but a four-run response from the
RedHawks triggered the run rule to end the contest.
Sunday’s series finale mirrored the previous day’s high-scoring nature, with Miami claiming a 17-6 win to take the series. The Bobcats showed early life in the third inning, erasing a 3-0 deficit to tie the game. As the Bobcats started the rally with straight singles before Shepherd drew a bases-loaded walk to start the scoring, followed by a Henson RBI single and a Bryant sacrifice fly.
The tie was yet again shortlived, as the RedHawks responded with a massive eight-run bottom half of the third inning with a 3-run homer, two RBI singles, an error and an RBI double.
Ohio continued to fight, finding production from Harris and Shepherd, who both delivered RBI doubles in the fourth inning. Shirley added an RBI single in the sixth inning to bring Ohio within five, but an Ignacio Gonzalez grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning served as the final blow, pushing the lead to 17-6 and ending the game.
Ohio travels to Highlands, Kentucky, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. to take on the Northern Kentucky Norse before heading to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for the second road series of its trip with Central Michigan
Starting pitcher Landon Price (22) during the Bobcats game against Kent State, April 2, 2026. The Bobcats lost to the Golden Flashes 11-5 in Bob Wren Stadium. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
Guard, JJ Kelly (4) Shoots the ball during the Bobcats game against Toledo, Feb. 28, 2026. The Bobcats lost to Toledo 79-67, in The Convo (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
Ohio wins the rubber match against Bowling Green by run rule
LONDON DEMARCO | FOR THE POST
Ohio continues its dominance by winning its fifth straight series after defeating the Bowling Green Falcons in the rubber match by a score of 9-1 to take the series 2-1.
After inconsistent pitching from the Bobcats yesterday, Ohio’s ace graduate pitcher, Skipp Miller, had one of her best pitching performances of the season to make the Falcons’ offense look clueless. On top of that, the Bobcats’ hitting recovered greatly after a tough second game yesterday.
The scoring started in the top of the second inning as back-to-back hits for Bowling Green would bring in the first run of the game. Miller would then get 2 strikeouts and force a groundout to end the inning.
Ohio sophomore infielder Sydney Young, making her first start of the series, would blast a home run to open up the bottom of the second inning and tie the game.
“I started her a couple times earlier in the season; she has been so consistent for us off the bench,” Ohio head coach Jenna Hall said about the decision to
start Young for the first time in the series. “She’s fantastic as a pinch hitter, which is probably one of the hardest roles on the team. She’s so confident and mentally sound. I trust her in every single situation.”
Her home run would be the only scoring for the Bobcats in inning two. After a scoreless third inning from both teams and no runs for Bowling Green in the top of the fourth, Young would strike again. After a leadoff double from junior outfielder Izzie Wilson, Young would bring her home on an RBI single to break the tie and give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
Ohio would finally break the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning. A lead-off single by sophomore outfielder Alexis Book, followed by another single by senior outfielder Belle Hummel, with that being followed by junior infielder Brenna Farmer being walked, would load the bases for senior infielder Shelby Westler. Westler would then hit a double to bring all 3 runners home and make it 5-1.
“Scooting up a little bit on the plate so
we could get under the ball more,” Hall said about the offensive adjustments leading up to the big fifth inning. “It was really exciting to see them make that adjustment, and be willing to do it and then put the ball in play.”
Now that there was less pressure as the game wasn’t very close, Miller would tally 2 quick strikeouts in the top of the sixth and force a groundout to end the inning fast.
“Extremely incredible, especially for our pitching staff,” Westler said about the relief the defense feels after a big offensive inning. “Being able to breathe, and know that a mistake wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
After an early RBI double by Belle Hummel and an RBI single by senior infielder Colleen Bare to make it 7-1. Westler would come to the plate and hit a walk-off 2-run homer to initiate the run rule and end the game in six innings with a score of 9-1.
“It’s just about staying in it until the end, and knowing that we’re a couple runs away from going home early,”
Westler said about the mentality during her game-ending homer. “So I was just staying engaged, taking focus, and being in that moment for my team.”
The Bobcats’ dominating win was just as much about their pitching as it was their hitting. Miller pitched another full game while only allowing 1 run on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts to get her second win of the series.
“She has given her heart and soul to this program for four years,” Coach Hall said. “She’s battling through a lot, and I’m just extremely proud of her commitment to us and the way she has stuck with us throughout the years.”
With the Sunday win, the Bobcats win their fifth straight conference series with only three remaining in the regular season.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Westler said about Ohio winning its fifth straight series. “It’s confidence moving forward, with swagger and that chip on our shoulder that we needed. We continue to fight and not take anybody for granted, no matter who we’re facing.”
Solid play boosts Ohio to its fifth straight series win
In its weekend series against Bowling Green, Ohio has been able to squeeze through two games with late-inning big plays. In both the first and last games, the Falcons were able to keep the score dangerously close for a team that is toward the bottom of the MAC, but batting has been a huge part of Ohio’s success.
This week alone has had huge performances from some of Ohio’s players. Senior infielder Shelby Westler had 19 RBIs, contributing lots of points to power Ohio’s offense. Westler also hit a home run in the last game that got senior infielder Colleen Bare onto home plate. She also had a huge 3-RBI play, which was also the play that almost guaranteed the win for Ohio.
“I think that the confidence in each other and not having fear in those big moments is what leads to those big moments in games for sure,” Westler said.
Belle Hummel hit a grand slam in the first game against Bowling Green to secure the game and kill any momentum from the Falcons, as they trailed closely. She continued her amazing season this weekend, as she is now batting .476 on the season, an increase from the Miami series.
“Belle is just a force,” Ohio head coach Jenna Hall said. “Anytime you start off a game with a hitter that is batting above .450, I feel pretty good as a team and coaching staff. It’s been a joy to watch her lead this team the way she has this year, (and) she’s worked really hard for it.”
Even players who don’t usually start made an impact for the Bobcats, as sophomore infielder Sydney Young received her first start, and to thank Coach Jenna Hall, she launched a home run, which was the first points in the game for Ohio.
Lots of these offensive plays happened in late innings for the Bobcats, who this week have made a name for themselves as having some of the best late-inning play in the MAC. Even against Miami, Ohio had late-inning comebacks to secure wins, but against Bowling Green, those late innings helped it pull away.
“It’s the belief that one of them can step up at any time,” Hall said. “I think they believe in each other that much. They’re being really intelligent hitters right now.”
In the first game, with Bowling Green down by a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ohio hit 3 separate home runs to put the Falcons down for the game. A similar scenario happened in the final game, as both teams were tied going into the bottom of the fourth. Ohio managed to score 8 unanswered runs, with Westler having 5 RBIs alone in the fifth and sixth innings. These resulted in a six-inning game for Ohio, putting an exclamation point on the weekend.
“It’s just staying in it until the end,” Westler said. “We’re a couple of runs away from getting home early. It’s staying engaged and staying focused and being in that moment for my team.”
Big plays didn’t just come from Ohio, though, as graduate pitcher Skipp Miller lit up opposing batters in the two games she started in. In the first game against Bowling Green, Miller had 5 strikeouts, and in the third game, she also contributed 7 more, giving her a weekend total of 12. Miller now has 85 strikeouts on the season, which ranks fourth in the MAC. She also has 15 wins credited to her as the pitcher, leading the MAC.
Fielding also played a huge part in securing two games in the series. Ohio only committed one error, and it showed, as in both the first and last game, Ohio completely stopped batters from reaching bases in the late innings.
“We focus a lot on defensive practice,” Westler said. “We’re a big defensive team, and we don’t just make the routine. We make the big plays, and we’re not afraid to sell out big moments.”
This trend has been good for the Bobcats, as they look to close out the season strong and make an impression on the other MAC teams that they will be a formidable foe in the conference tournament.
It’s the belief that one of them can step up at any time”
- Head Coach Jenna Hall
Top. Left Fielder Izzy Wilson (30) dives into home during the Bobcats game against Bowling Green, April 12, 2026. The Bobcats beat the Falcons 9-1 on the Ohio Softball Field. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST) Bottom. Infielder Colleen Bare (4), during the Bobcats game against Bowling Green, April 12, 2026. The Bobcats beat
Singing Men of Ohio keep tradition, brotherhood alive
LYDIA EMERINE FOR THE POST
The historic Singing Men of Ohio have been around Athens for over two decades.
The group began in 1989, when Ira T. Zook created SMO in the wake of the former Ohio University Glee Club. Zook served as director of SMO for 11 years, and his death in 2000 signified his dedication to the group.
Aiden Wickham, a junior studying communications and vice president of SMO, explained how the ensemble’s traditions honor Zook.
“Everything kind of revolves around him,” Wickham said. “There’s a song we do, it’s called ‘The Quest Unending.’ It was commissioned for us, but now it’s done all over the world, and I believe has been in a couple movies, but it’s based on his name. We do that at the end of every concert.”
The group goes on a tour every spring where it performs outside of Athens.
Ben Christiansen, a senior studying communications and president of SMO, shared how the annual tour works.
“We take stops at high schools and sing for them,” Christiansen said. “We’ll do a big concert, like we did a concert in a church in Chicago. It’s a lot of fun because we get to spend a lot of time together and just do a lot of random stuff that we wouldn’t get to do in Athens.”
When not performing, the group values brotherhood and tries to create time for members to have fun
together. SMO keeps a tightknit relationship between all members.
“It’s really neat, because on the surface level, it’s kind of silly, we’re a men’s choir, right?” Wickham said. “But I have met people that I know will be in my wedding, and I’ve met people that have been constant while college is changing so much.”
Christiansen also expressed his appreciation for the environment SMO creates.
“We really try and spend as much time together outside of class as we can,” Christiansen said. “We’ll do movie nights or game nights, or a PowerPoint night. We try to do as many different things as possible, other than just sing. The music is what brings us together, but the community is what keeps us around.”
For some people, choir is something that helps take their mind off school stressors.
Max Marmash, a sophomore studying theater, said SMO helps keep him motivated.
“It’s helped me a lot with mental health, especially,” Marmash said. “It helps keep me motivated for my other classes, it gives me time away from stress from other classes.”
SMO also performs at and sponsors service projects, and supports fellow members’ outside activities. They collaborated with another
OU choir, Bella Voce, to help Hocking, Athens, Perry Community Action’s Sunset Shelter Project by raising funds to help turn the Athens Sunset Motel into a safe, temporary shelter.
“We were able to donate a fair amount of money to them, just to help broaden the Athens community,” Christiansen said. “We also have a lot of members that are involved in other organizations that we like to just go out and support if we can.”
Alumni connections are important and run deep for SMO. The group
Wickham said SMO is “great for networking,” and the wall shows how many people are willing to support members.
“You can see who you can rely on after graduation,” Wickham said.
Wickham explained how former OU School of Music teacher and accompanist
Harolyn Brient has a tattoo of “the super SMO,” which is the Superman logo with the letters SMO inside. Wickham said that Brient’s husband was in the SMO, and that she played piano for the choir for many years.
tattoo) and she loves it. She’s beloved by everyone, including all of our alumni. She’s seen them all grow up and stuff, so that’s kind of neat.”
The group welcomes anyone to take a voice test to see where they fit into the choir.
“Anyone’s welcome to join,” Wickham said. “We have guys, girls and everything in between. It’s really, really neat.”
As the semester comes to a close, SMO is having a final concert April 20 at 6 p.m., in the Athens First United Methodist Church, located on
Cola Corporation prioritizes people, opposes fascism
MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST
In 1999, Joe Jarvis graduated from Ohio University with a degree in philosophy. Now, he owns his own streetwear brand: The Cola Corporation.
“I wanted to name my brand after the most American thing I could think of,” Jarvis said.
“But racism is a lousy name for a brand. So I named my brand after the second most American thing I could think of, which is Cola.”
Right out of school, Jarvis got into fashion copywriting; however, in 2019, his passion for fashion took a turn.
“I was just really frustrated with what I perceived to be the flamboyant stupidity of American politics, and I just felt like I had to do something,” Jarvis said.
Cola launched during President Donald Trump’s first term to “express frustrations” with the “U.S. political climate,” as stated on the brand website. Designs mention the Los Angeles Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which led to mentions in popular media outlets including The New York Times, KTLA5 and Yahoo News.
“I just started the way anybody would,” Jarvis said. “I bought some blank T-shirts and blank sweatshirts. I found the local screen printer, and
that was it.”
Jarvis keeps physical inventory so everything Cola sells, he can examine beforehand. Jarvis said this allows for more quality control.
Quality is not the only aspect Jarvis values as part of his brand. Every order is shipped with a card that lists the brand’s six beliefs: all people deserve safe housing, all people deserve nutritious food, all people deserve universal health care, all people deserve quality education, all people deserve meaningful work and fascists are not people.
“People can say whatever they want about me, but people always say that I’m political,” Jarvis said. “To me, really, it’s more about, and I don’t say this with any self righteousness, it’s just common morality. I think at this point, politics is really more about morality than anything else … because this has gone way past policy differences.”
featuring T-shirts and sweatshirts designed with the varsity letter style font. Instead of a university’s name though, they read “Failed State.”
“You take something that is very identifiable … but there is something wrong, so they look at it. I used that font intentionally,” Jarvis said.
The Failed State collection prices range
topics that he (deals with) and the history of things and the storytelling, which he’s brilliant at, but then the way that they’re presented is very different.”
The collection that put Cola into the spotlight in 2024 is the ACAB collection. The acronym is typically used in protests and rallies, meaning “All Cops Are B-------,” according to ACAB Meaning. Cola’s ACAB collection designs include, but are not limited to, “all cats are beautiful, “F--- the NYPD” and anti-ICE designs.
The “F--- the LAPD” shirt caught press attention after the the nonprofit that supports the LAPD tried to copyright the acronym. The design features those words on a basketball, resembling the Los Angeles Lakers’ logo. Many designs in the ACAB or ICE collection intentionally take familiar logos and put a twist on them.
attorney at the Institute for Justice. Although the Institute for Justice never represented Jarvis, Tsitsuashvili was in contact with him about the situation surrounding the Customs and Border Protection seizure of Cola’s goods.
“It’s pretty well established and well known that creating, and selling and distributing protest apparel, including apparel that mocks the police, is (a) core, protected First Amendment activity,” Tsitsuashvili said. “(The United States) government cannot retaliate or in any way inhibit Americans’ right to create that kind of apparel.”
Tsitsuashvili said no statement can be made claiming CBP’s move was a targeted seizure.
Many of Cola’s pieces could be considered political statements. Some items feature product descriptions to give the customer more context into the thought put into the design and any reference it might be making.
A current collection is the Failed State collection,
between $45 to $80. The Cola Athletic collection has jerseys and shirts, among other items with prices ranging between $35 to $230. Design statements vary, with some reading *”Exercise Free Speech” or “THIS WAR IS SO F------ ILLEGAL.”
“Joe’s level of artistry is so off the hook,” said Jane Hamill, a small business consultant at Fashion Brain Academy in Chicago. “His brand is really different, not only in the
“My designs cause a lot of glitches,” Jarvis said. “People will look at what you’re wearing, look away, and then look back.”
Filings with the LAPD were not the last run-in with a law enforcement agency for Jarvis.
In 2025, a shipment of a new T-shirt design — a Chicago cop being attacked by bees — was held at O’Hare airport in Chicago.
Jaba Tsitsuashvili is an
Although it faced challenges, Cola prioritizes connecting with customers alongside quality and the six beliefs. For most customers’ first orders, Jarvis handwrites a note on the six beliefs card.
“Joe is such a sincere person who does what he says he’s going to do when he says he’s going to do it,” Hamill said.
“There’s nothing about what he does that isn’t authentic to Joe.”
PHOTO
THE SINGING MEN OF OHIO WALK IN THE HOMECOMING PARADE (CALEB SMITH | FOR THE POST)
Students express themselves through Fest Season fashion
For students, spring in Athens means one thing: Fest Season. Just like clockwork, each weekend, houses on different streets in Athens host day parties that students can attend.
Fests draw in students from all over campus, creating a strong sense of community among Ohio University students. Fest Season can offer a fun spring activity for students, but it can also allow students to express their personal style.
Fest fashion differs from normal going-out outfits because the parties are outside and during the day, meaning whatever someone wears is more visible. This allows students to express more creativity in their fashion choices.
Many students also wear boho vibes that are similar to outfits often worn to music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. These outfits often have items like flowy tops and Frye boots.
Rain or shine, students flock to Fests, but it can be hard to pick out an outfit in the unpredictable weather that is spring. Lila Hilliard, a sophomore studying media arts and production, said she struggles with this.
“So the weather has been a little bit bad, so it’s been a little harder to figure out what exactly to wear, because I don’t want to be too hot and I don’t want to be too cold,” Hilliard said. “ It’s like a fully calculated plan that I have to plan out like days in advance.”
ASST DESIGN DIRECTOR
A common consensus of what to wear to Fests among students is OU merchandise. Abby Henry, a freshman studying human development and family sciences, echoed this sentiment.
“School spirit, lots of stripes, stripes, checkers, you know, fun patterns,” Henry said on what she’s noticed about Fest fashion this year.
For those struggling to find an outfit to wear to a Fest, Bobcat gear is a simple option that most students have in their closet already. Not only is it practical, but it also brings a sense of school spirit into Fest fashion.
Another popular outfit at Fests is matching sets. Matching sets are currently trending on TikTok, and students put their own OU twist on the look. Many students opt for green and white striped sets, or a matching green top and bottom to reflect their school.
A lot of Fest fashion is reminiscent of Y2K fashion that is currently trending on the internet. This includes items like low-waisted shorts or skirts and tube tops.
The weather can also make it difficult to find fashionable but practical shoes to wear. Mud is a big factor students have to consider when deciding on shoes.
“I would say a shoe that you don’t mind getting dirty just because, like, you’re walking outside and in yards and you don’t want to ruin anything,” Hillard said.
When the weather is nice enough, students often wear their swimsuit tops outside to the Fests. This look is simple, but stylish when paired with the right pair of jean shorts. Also, a good pair of sunglasses elevates any look at a Fest.
When planning a Fest outfit, be mindful of the weather. The weather projected for Palmer Fest is looking to be rainy, so waterproof clothes might be the best option. Rain boots or old tennis shoes prevent feet from getting wet or muddy. Overall, Fest outfits tend to tie in to summer themes like sunglasses, swimsuit tops and tank tops. These pieces are a fun way for students to incorporate their summer fashion at the end of the school year.
@ELLA.MOLER EM668624@OHIO.EDU
Chaos, Charm return in ‘XO Kitty’ season 3
NYLA GILBERT ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Season three of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” spin-off, “XO Kitty,” was released on Netflix April 2.
We are once again reintroduced to the youngest of the Covey sisters, Katherine “Kitty” Song Covey, in season three of her hit Netflix series.
Season one, Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) made her way to the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) to trace her mom’s footsteps and meet her boyfriend, Daeheon “Dae” Kim (Choi Min-yeong). At the end of the season, Kim and Covey broke up, with Min Ho Moon (Sang Heon Lee), Dae’s best friend, confessing his love for Covey on the plane ride back to the US.
That led to the starting conflict in season two. Covey rejected Min Ho and fell in love with her best friend, Yuri Han (Gia Kim), which led to Yuri and her girlfriend, Julianna Porter (Regan Aliyah), breaking up. Then season two introduced, Covey’s Korean family, her cousin Jiwon Ahn (Hojo Shin) and her great aunt, Soon-Ja (Jung Hye Sun).
Through her journey to find and reconcile with her family, Min Ho acts as a confidant to Covey, resulting in Covey realizing her feelings for Min Ho, and asking if she can spend the summer with him.
In season three, the show picks up where it left off.
At its core, the show is a giant coming-of-age ceremony for Covey; however, season three takes a more mature approach. It is easy to tell that the audience is transitioning into adulthood with the characters. We see Covey and Moon, now 18 and about to graduate high school, navigate their relationship together, being each other’s first adult relationship.
Audiences watch as they grapple with the future, now having to plan for their rapidly incoming next chapter, which may pull them apart after they have finally gotten together.
Covey is also faced with rectifying her own impulsive nature, understanding that it is a double-edged sword. While her on-the-fly thinking has offered her and her friends multiple opportunities, there are major setbacks that her speak-first-ask-questionslater behaviors have been the catalyst for.
This leads to her relationship
drama with Min Ho, and conflict with her best friend Quincy “Q” Shabazian (Anthony Keyvan). While some of the drama is, debatably, not Covey’s fault and rational conclusions or misunderstandings from the evidence she was provided, she learns not to assume.
Relationships between the characters, seeing how each character interacts, and the addition of newer characters like returning badboy Marius (Sule Thelwell) remain the main focus of the show. Removing the majority of the love triangle plots and focusing on showing the strong understanding and emotional bonds in each platonic and romantic relationship shows how the world-building involved in seasons one and two has built up.
They truly interact as high schoolers who are about to embark on the next chapter of their lives.
Season three follows the themes of love, self-identity and self-discovery, which are present throughout the entire show. The show is both humorous and emotional. Audiences see Covey become more deeply ingrained in the Korean side of her identity, wanting to become more immersed in the culture of the place where she has built a life for herself.
Han is reeling from losing her family fortune, and is now learning to live a normal life while also trying to break into the fashion industry with the support and help of her friends and a passionate Kitty Song Covey.
Each cast member has a strong performance. The show feels serious and emotional
when it is meant to, and feels goofy and cringeworthy in moments of awkward playfulness. The writing is consistent and entertaining, but it can feel repetitive at times. It can feel predictable, repeating patterns from earlier seasons and tropes for the romance-comedy genre in general.
The series is visually vibrant. Adding to the fresh-eyed, youthfulness of the show. It adds a bit of familiarity, reminiscent of teen sitcoms of the early 2000s and 2010s. The styling of each character adds to the development of their identities; each has their own style and unique way of being that shows their individual characteristics and upbringings.
This season develops the characters into real young adults, even though some of the writing may feel rushed or overused. It would have been nice to escape the romance drama for a season, adding to the more identity-based conflicts of the story. Seeing Covey really dive into her Korean heritage would have been a better challenge than the ultimate relationship issues she and Moon face. There were so many more pressing conflicts that each character was going through than their relationship drama.
Season three took a deeper step into the world of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” with the life and relationship drama of the youngest Covey sister, and a cameo from our OG Covey protagonist. It is a satisfying continuation of a beloved series.
RATING: 3.5/5
One Direction members return to music this year
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
They’ve got a whole lot of history; every living member of One Direction will perform and release music this year.
After being formed on the British reality music competition show, The X-Factor, in 2010, the five then-teenagers took the pop music world by storm.
Over the course of five years, the band sold over 200 million records and won over 200 awards. They were the first of three bands to have their first four albums reach number one on the Billboard 200 and the only one to have each debut at that spot.
Following a now indefinite 18-month hiatus beginning in January 2016 after Zayn Malik’s departure the year prior, all five members formed solo careers of their own.
On Oct. 16, 2024, band member and award-winning artist Liam Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony in Argentina at age 31. Payne’s solo work consisted of one studio album and was in the process of creating his second at the date of his death. Beginning with his 2017 debut single “Strip That Down,” he achieved great success and sold over 18 million singles over the first three years of his career.
Since Payne’s death, the other four members of One Direction have remained relatively silent on social media and in the world of music, simply honoring Payne through tribute posts on Instagram.
In January of this year, Louis Tomlinson released his third album, “How Did I Get Here?” The 12-track project gained over 5.75 million streams on Spotify within the first 24-hours of release. It debuted at number one on the U.K. Albums Chart and earned a top 10 spot on five U.S. Billboard charts.
The album’s three singles, “Lemonade,” “Palaces” and “Imposter” were released in September, November and January, respectively.
in global Spotify history with over 12 million streams.
Styles’ 12-track album debuted with the biggest 2026 release, making it the largest opening week of his career.
The album also marked the biggest first week for a male solo artist since Ed Sheeran’s 2017 “Divide.”
album “The Show” on March 20. The song, “Dinner Party,” serves as the lead single for his upcoming fourth album, which will be released in June.
Also in January, Harry Styles announced his fourth album, “Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally,” which was released March 6.
The lead single, “Aperture,” released on Jan. 22 — the same day as Tomlinson’s “HDIGH” — broke records as the biggest debut for a solo male artist
Niall Horan also announced in January his next single was on the way, in collaboration with singer-songwriter Myles Smith. Their tune “Drive Safe” was released Feb. 6.
Nearly three years since Horan’s last release, the single debuted within the top 10 of multiple U.K. charts.
Following the collaboration with Smith, Horan released his first solo single since his 2023
Malik released his fourth album, “Room Under the Stairs,” May 2024 following a 3-year intermission from his last work. Since then, he has performed various shows globally, including a seven-night Las Vegas residency that ran in January. This tour and residency, “Stairway to the Sky Tour,” marked his first solo tour since his final performance with One Direction.
Malik’s fifth album will be released April 17. The 15-track album, “Konnakol,” is followed by his first solo headline and stadium tour, The Konnakol Tour, which will begin April 20 in New York. The tour is scheduled to run until November, closing in Miami. Likewise, Tomlinson, Styles and Horan are all performing this year to celebrate their new releases.
Tomlinson’s “How Did We Get Here?” World Tour began last month in Hamburg and ends in July in Miami.
Beginning in May, Styles kicks off his Together, Together Tour with 10 shows in Amsterdam. These will be followed by 12 in London, four in São Paulo, six in Mexico City, a whopping 30 in New York and five across Australia. The tour closes in December.
Horan kicks off his U.K. and Europe “Dinner Party Live on Tour” in Birmingham, England, in September, after co-headlining a few shows this summer with Thomas Rhett and performing at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May.
The tour is currently set to run until November, closing in Belfast.
In an iHeart Radio Canada interview, Horan reacted to the fact that all bandmates are releasing music and touring in the same year.
“It’s kind of cool though,” Horan said. “All of us are kind of doing it all at the same time. I think it’s pretty sweet. Everyone’s releasing good music and just getting out there. To be fair, all we’ve ever known is touring. So, it’s not a shock to me that we’re all out.”
ABBY DOENCH
Weekender
Music Industry Summit, softball and The Crane Wives
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
Tuesday, April 14
The 2026 Ohio University Music Industry Summit begins. A lineup of artists and industry professionals is in Athens to lead panels and provide networking opportunities to students until Thursday.
Admission: Free for all college and high school students, faculty and staff at any educational institution and OU alumni. It’s $150 for the entire three-day conference for all other industry professionals.
OHIO Live hosts the Crane Wives in the TempletonBlackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium at 8 p.m. The band is joined by special guest Morgan Hanner. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $55 first 10 rows, $35 remainder of the floor, $25 balcony
Wednesday, April 15
The Office of Health Promotion and Collegiate Recovery Community celebrates Collegiate Recovery Week and Alcohol Awareness Month with a sober sips event in the third-floor atrium in Baker University Center. From noon to 1 p.m., Bobcats can enjoy free mocktails and recovery support.
Admission: Free
Rufus Bingo is held in the Walter Hall Rotunda, 25 S. Green Dr., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are prizes for the winners.
Admission: Free
Ohio Softball faces Marshall University at the Ohio Softball Field, 150 S. Shafer St., at 5:30 p.m.
Admission: $3 for students, $7 general admission
Thursday, April 16
Marti and Stewie Craft Night is held at the West 82 food court in Baker Center. From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., students can participate in a free craft with all supplies provided. Arrive by 9 p.m. to ensure enough time to complete the project.
Admission: Free, Ohio student ID required
Friday, April 17
Ohio Softball plays Kent State at Kent at 3 p.m. Live stats are available online.
Ohio Baseball faces Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant at 3 p.m. The game is streamed, and live stats are available online.
ACRN is hosting Lobsterfest at The Union over the weekend. Punk band Stuck is headlining Friday. Other bands performing include Cranberry Casket, TV Buddha and Balaclava. Doors
open at 8 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m.
Admission: $11 for 18+, $8 for 21+
Saturday, April 18
Ohio Softball faces Kent State at Kent at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Ohio Baseball plays Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant at 1 p.m. Streaming and live stats are available.
ACRN is hosting Lobsterfest at The Union over the weekend. The Convenience is headlining Saturday. Other bands performing include Guy Music, Ex Pilots and Good Flying Birds. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m.
Admission: $11 for 18+, $8 for 21+
Sunday, April 19
Ohio Baseball plays Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant again at 1 p.m. Streaming and live stats are available.
The last day of ACRN’s Lobsterfest is taking place at the Scripps Amphitheater. Blue Collar Queer is performing, as well as The Jacket Pact and Learner. Doors open at 11 a.m. and music starts at 11:30 a.m.
Admission: Free, but $5-10 admissions are encouraged
@CAITLYNVANCE_
The Boys, The Pitt and Tomodachi life
ISABELLA ARDETTO FOR THE POST
Tuesday, April 14
Documentary “#SKYKING” premieres on Hulu and Disney+ and explores the story of 28-year-old ground service agent Richard “Beebo” Russell, who took control of an empty passenger plane from Seattle-Tacoma International airport.
Documentary “You Don’t Know Where I’m From, Dawg” premieres on Paramount+ and explores the life and legacy of American soccer icon Clint Dempsey.
Action rogue-like “Hades II” launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The console release will include all postlaunch patches and bonus content.
Price: To be announced (PlayStation), $29.99 (Xbox) Third-person hero shooter “Last Flag” launches on Steam. The game is published by Night Street games, a studio founded by Imagine Dragons vocalist Dan Reynolds.
Price: To be announced
Turn-based RPG “Dosa Divas: One Last Meal” launches on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Price: To be announced (Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox), $19.99 (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2)
Wednesday, April 15
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” premieres on Apple TV. Episodes one through three will be released.
“The Boys” season five, episode three airs on Prime Video.
“Imperfect Women” episode six airs on Apple TV.
“NCIS: Origins” season two, episode 15 airs on Paramount+.
“The Testaments” episode four airs on Disney+ and Hulu.
Delivery service RPG
“Calamity Angels: Special Delivery” launches on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Price: $12.99 (PlayStation 4 and 5), $29.99 (Nintendo Switch)
Thursday, April 16
“BEEF” season two premieres on Netflix. The anthology series returns starring Oscar Issac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny.
Social Simulation game
“Tomodachi Life™: Living the Dream” launches on Nintendo Switch.
Price: $59.99
Detective horror game
“Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss” launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox series X|S and Steam.
Price: $49.99 (PlayStation 5), To be announced (Xbox, Steam)
Third-person stealth platformer “Ereban: Shadow Legacy” launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox series X|S and Steam.
Price: To be announced (PlayStation), $19.99 (Xbox and Steam)
Puzzle-adventure game
“Gecko Gods” launches on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Price: To be announced
(PlayStation 5, Steam), $19.99 (Nintendo Switch)
First-person shooter
software engineer, and Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio’s 12th district. I’m running a grassroots campaign to unseat Rep. Troy Balderson, a Republican who consistently votes in support of lobbying groups, super PACs, and his billionaire donors. It’s time to give power back to Ohio’s working class. I'M RUNNING TO
a
can vote early now THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS MAY 5 the GENERAL election is Nov. 3 No amount of money will change my positions. I don’t care about being a good Democrat or politician. I care about being a good American.”
THE
ISSUES GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
“MOUSE: P.I. For Hire” launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2.
Price: To be announced (PlayStation 5), $29.99 (Xbox, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2)
“The Pitt” season two, episode 15 airs on HBO Max.
Friday, April 17
“9-1-1” season nine, episode 16 airs on Disney+.
“9-1-1: Nashville” season one, episode 16 airs on Disney+.
“For All Mankind” season five, episode four airs on Apple TV.
“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” season two, episode eight airs on Apple Tv.
“Your Friends & Neighbours” season two, episode three airs on Apple TV.
Sci-fi action-adventure game “Pragmata” launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox series X|S, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2.
Price: $59.99 (PlayStation 5, Steam, Nintendo), To be announced (Xbox). Deluxe version for $69.99 available on Steam
Saturday, April 18
“We Are All Trying Here” premieres on Netflix.
Historical Drama “Denial” available on Netflix.
Sunday, April 19
Jordan-Peele horror film
“Him” available on Netflix.
Monday, April 20
“Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie” available on Paramount+.
Money has distorted our politics so badly that people barely recognize the system anymore. When the Supreme Court handed down Citizens United, it opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending and told the richest voices in the country they could drown out everyone else. Billionaires should not have a louder voice than a teacher, a mechanic, a nurse or a janitor. If we are serious about self-government, we have to end Citizens United, cap campaign spending, and make it clear that elections are not auctions. Lobbying as it exists today is legalized bribery with paperwork. Corporate interests and well-funded groups swarm Washington to extract policy that benefits them, not the people. Dark money flows through shell organizations so voters cannot even see who is pulling the strings. And yes, foreign interest groups should not be shaping our laws. That includes banning foreign-linked organizations, including groups like AIPAC, from influencing elected officials through campaign cash or political pressure. If you represent Americans, your loyalty and your funding should come from Americans. Clean up the money, expose every dollar, and watch how quickly policy starts reflecting working families instead of donor-class wishlists.
PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY
The government is not some distant machine. It is us. And in a healthy republic, the people hold the power. That means protecting the right to vote with the seriousness it deserves. We should pass the Voting Rights Act and fully restore the protections that were stripped away after Shelby County v. Holder. When federal oversight was weakened, states were free to pass laws that made it harder for certain communities to vote. An updated framework like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would reestablish clear guardrails against discrimination and ensure that changes to voting laws are reviewed before harm is done. Protecting democracy means making sure every eligible citizen can cast a ballot without unnecessary barriers and know it will count. The government should answer to the people. And if those in power ever forget that, the ballot box is how we remind them.
Charles Wesley Godwin performs at Memorial Auditorium in Athens, March 25th 2025, as part of the Music Industry Summit. (Beckett Stark | For The Post)
OHIO DISTRICT 12
Festival of Color paints vibrant community
Top. and Left. Attendees throw colored powders and water on each other during the "Festival of Color" Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Right. A group takes a selfie together during the "Festival of Color" Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Left. Attendees throw colored powders and water on each other during the “Festival of Color” Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Right. A drummer performs during the “Festival of Color” Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Left. Children performers dance before the throwing of the colors during the “Festival of Color” Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Right. Attendees dance during the "Festival of Color" Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Left. Attendees dance during the "Festival of Color" Holi celebration at the West State Street Park in Athens, April 12, 2026.
Photos by Ethan Herx | For The Post Captions from top to bottom and left to right
CLARA LEDER ASST. OPINION EDITOR
Energy is high this week as a rare Aries stack pushes the signs toward change. Expect to feel finished with what you’ve dragged out and prepare to focus your energy on what matters; this week will bring big things.
Mars and Neptune find themselves in Aries on April 13, followed by a new moon in Aries on April 17 and Mercury also heading into the sign April 18. A new moon is the opposite of a full one, where the moon will only show a fraction of itself and blend in with the night sky. It brings a chaotic reset to each sign, rewarding courageous steps forward and starting something new.
Aries (March 21–April 19):
The planets are aligning in your sign this week, bringing you a surge of confidence and energy. Focus on fresh starts and embrace the “rebirth” week the universe has given you. Your increase in confidence could bring new leadership opportunities and fulfillment of your personal goals. Be sure to keep a level head and watch not to make impulsive decisions.
Taurus (April 20–May 20):
Taurus, you are going to close a chapter this week, whether it be putting a fight to rest or finally leaving the job you hate. Rest and reflection are going to be your best friend, make sure to recharge yourself and slow down. Your inner peace will come from reflection and talking things through. Trust your intuition.
HOROSCOPE
Gemini (May 21–June 20):
This is a social week for you, Gemini. Your relationships will thrive, as conversations will lead to new opportunities for growth and insight. Surround yourself with people this week and pour energy into the friendships that matter. You have a gift for connecting with people, use this to move forward.
Cancer (June 21–July 22):
This is an uncomfortable week for growth, Cancer. Expect career news this week as a new job opportunity is right around the corner. Remember to balance your ambitions with your own emotional needs, take time to reflect and recognize your successes and failures. You’re on your way to leveling up, but there is hard work ahead of you in order to make the changes you need.
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22):
Challenge yourself to say “yes” this week Leo. You’ve been craving change and now is the time to take risks you’ve avoided. Say “yes” to new opportunities, as learning and travel experiences will come your way if you have an open mind. Open your eyes to new people and moments and truly dream about what you want.
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sep. 22):
Virgo it is time to finally drop the emotional baggage you have been carrying with you. You are heading toward transformation and the key to reaching it is introspection. Let go
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of what scares you and remember to trust yourself and those around you. Vulnerability will aid in decision making and propel you toward clarity and release. Be honest and open.
Libra (Sep. 23–Oct. 22):
For you, Libra, it’s time to refocus your expectations. Dynamics in your relationship will shift this week, it’s important to understand your own needs first. Compromise in ways that don’t diminish what your heart wants. Take time to listen and understand before jumping in to fix things and trust yourself.
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21):
Small changes create life changing shifts Scorpio. This week, pay extra attention to your routine and personal health. Your work life will be particularly stressful, remember to stay disciplined and focus on routine. Pour your energy into daily habits, this will clear your head. A productive week in love and life is ahead for you with major changes coming your way.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21):
Romantic energy is strong for you this week Sagittarius, follow what makes your heart smile. Your spark is coming back after a few weeks of dragging your feet and you may find yourself increasingly spontaneous or partaking in new creative projects. As you move through the week remember to put time into things that make you feel good, embrace the moment and let your creativity fly.
Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19):
This is a dicey week for home and family life. You might experience emotional conversations or difficult fights with those you are closest with. The goal of life is to change and evolve, remind yourself that you don’t need to stay in one place even if everyone else is. Strengthen your inner foundation and remember to be honest. Find what makes you feel stable and utilize it to rebuild.
Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18):
This week your greatest strength is your voice. Often you hide in the shadows Aquarius, not wishing to ruffle any feathers. Remember that truly honest communication is the key. Hard conversations and exciting professional moves will greet you this week. It’s more important now than ever to remember you deserve to be heard.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20):
This week is a release for you, Pisces. Anxiety has clouded your judgments and this week the universe will clear your path. Your only job is to take the signs and run toward your goals. Positive career moves and deep conversations are likely this week, ride the wave and enjoy the universe’s plans for you.
