The United Academics of Ohio University has gone 91 days without receiving a response to its proposal for improved compensation.
Greenland ignites policy talks
SUZANNE
PIPER NEWS EDITOR
Greenland, the world’s largest island, roughly three times the size of Texas, has become a political focal point of the Trump administration.
Denmark’s semiautonomous territory, located in the Arctic Circle, has drawn renewed media attention amid President Donald Trump’s efforts to strengthen U.S. national security interests.
US Headlines
Measles
cases on the rise, FBI impersonations
26 Mon
Democratic senators vow to oppose funding bill
Following Alex Pretti’s death, Democratic senators are promising to oppose a bill that would give more funding to the Department of Homeland Security. The move, however, could bring the government closer to a shutdown.
In order to avoid another shutdown, Republicans need some Democrats to vote in favor of remaining spending bills, but a Democratic Senate aide said no realistic solutions have been reached yet, according to The Associated Press.
In the event that some sort of middle ground is not reached, the government could shut down, but it would not be the same as the one from late 2025. Food assistance should not be stopped, but the AP said other government operations would be disrupted.
27 Tue
Gregory Bovino to leave Minneapolis as Trump makes changes to ICE leadership President Donald Trump made changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership, placing “border czar” Tom Homan in charge after former Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti was going to massacre federal agents, according to the AP. Bovino’s statement was not substantiated by authorities, according to the AP. The AP also said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke to Trump over the phone to tell him to end the ICE surge and Trump agreed the current situation in the city should not continue. Homan and Frey were set to meet on
continued pg 3
Trump aims to take control of Greenland for its strategic position for national security, as its location is ideal for monitoring the increasing military presence of Russia and China. However, NATO says sovereignty is non-negotiable, The Associated Press reports.
Trump first raised his calls to “buy” Greenland in his first term in 2019. But, the AP reported that a Trump ally noted the President was not serious about the suggestion Seven years later, he was, in fact, serious about the initial bid.
On Jan. 4, Trump reinstated his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland. In response, Danish Prime
Minister Mette Frederiksen said if the U.S. took over Greenland, that would be the end of the NATO alliance.
Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
Professor Geoffrey Dabelko has researched Greenland’s intersection of environment and security issues since 1990.
Dabelko said a U.S.-owned Greenland would be strategic for military and defense purposes.
Although the U.S. already has a military base on Greenland, full control would allow air and naval fluidity in the Arctic. However, Greenland is a delicate land due to its ice sheet and glaciers and must be treated like such, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center is internationally recognized as a premier polar and alpine research center, according to its website. OSU School of Earth Sciences professor and glaciologist Ian Howat has studied the dynamics of
glaciers and ice sheets and led multiple science expeditions to Greenland.
Howat said Greenland is the biggest mass of ice in the Northern Hemisphere and much more vulnerable to climate change due to its location and “has the capability of melting very quickly.”
“The Greenland Ice Sheet’s size and location make it possible for it to dump huge amounts of fresh water into the north Atlantic ocean, raising global sea levels and altering ocean circulation,” Howat wrote in an email.
The current administration has made it clear climate change is not part of the U.S. agenda, as evident by
Ohio drops third straight game to Miami
BRANDON GROSS FOR THE POST
Ohio Women’s Basketball (12-8, 6-4 Mid-American Conference) lost against Miami (18-4, 10-0 MAC) on the road in Oxford to continue its MAC skid. This win continues Miami’s undefeated streak in the MAC, while Ohio has dropped its last three MAC games, and moves down to the sixth seed in the MAC, while Miami stays at the top. Ohio had a good first quarter despite the final score; it was lights out in the opening frame. The Bobcats were not afraid to take the 3-point shot
Jerry Jackson’s legacy extends beyond the court
AARON DICK FOR THE POST
When Jerry Jackson led Ohio University to the NCAA tournament elite eight in 1964, he became a Bobcat basketball legend.
According to his obituary by Hartsell Funeral Homes, Jackson and his team became the first Mid-American Conference school to reach the elite eight.
Over winter break, The Post’s executive leadership received news no newsroom wants to hear: the printing press that produced our weekly tabloid was being decommissioned.
Overnight, the dimensions our readers expect and rely on every week were no longer an option.
The easiest response would have been to step away from print altogether. Across the country, and within college media, print journalism continues to disappear. Some student
Despite this accomplishment, the Rendville native spent the next four decades proving his greatest assists come in the classroom, not on the court.
Jackson, who died Jan. 13 at age 84, devoted 37 years teaching middle school students in Zanesville after his brief brush with professional basketball. Along the way, he coached, mentored and became a pillar for community service in Southeast Ohio.
publications have reduced frequency, while others have ended their print runs entirely.
The Post is choosing a different path.
Instead of giving up, we adapted.
Beginning today, The Post has transitioned from a tabloid to a broadsheet format. This change required a complete redesign of our print publication, tighter production schedules and less time for writers and editors to turn stories around. It was not a small undertaking, and it certainly did not come at a convenient time. But it was
Michael Morgan, who taught and coached alongside Jackson at Grover Cleveland Junior High School for about 25 years, said he remembers Jackson as calm and gentle with students.
“Being a big guy, you would think he would be rough, but he always spoke to the kids with respect,” Morgan said. “And (he was) kind of a quiet person. He didn’t do much yelling.”
necessary if we were going to uphold our commitment to Athens.
Print still matters here. It matters to students who pick up a paper on the way to class, to community members who want local reporting they can hold in their hands and to a town that has long supported local journalism. As other publications, including the Athens News, which recently printed its final physical edition after nearly 50 years, move away from print, The Post believes there is still value in showing up in a physical medium every week.
Former student of Jackson’s, Heidi Palmer-Harris, remembered his impact in a Facebook tribute following his death.
“He had such a way with all of us students,” Palmer-Harris said on Facebook. “We would stop by his room and talk to him every day. He had a great sense of humor and his laugh was infectious. Mr. Jackson loved and cared about us as students.
This transition would not have been possible without the tireless work of our editors, designers and staff who reimagined the paper under intense time pressure. We are equally grateful to our readers, whose continued support reminds us why this work matters.
The format might look different. The mission to serve our readers in a civic, engaging and entertaining manner with rapid and professional fashion has not.
The Post is here for Athens, and we are not giving up.
Guard Asiah Baxter (22) shoots the ball during the Bobcats game against UIC, Dec. 5, 2025. The Bobcats beat UIC 72-70 in The Convo. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER
Ohio House Bill 96 to require AI in education policies
LAYNEE ESLICH FOR THE POST
A new legislative bill will require schools to develop a model policy to address the appropriate use of artificial intelligence by students and staff.
Ohio House Bill 96, passed Aug. 20, 2025, states all Ohio public school districts, community schools and STEM schools must adopt an AI policy by July 1 or adopt the model policy created by the Department of Education.
The Ohio Department of Education collaborated with the Ohio AI in Education Coalition to develop the potential model policy, according to a press release.
The Ohio AI in Education Coalition encourages schools to form an AI workgroup to shape policy and implementation, establish a policy legislating the use of AI and offer professional support for district personnel on how to use it.
Ohio University has established the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment as a professional support to outline the restrictions and possibilities for AI in the classroom, according to OU’s website.
“A one-size-fits-all approach to AI in higher education is counter-productive”, the website said. “These concerns (AI implication) may provoke a desire for an institutional response that clearly defines how and when AI should be used at the university. However, we believe positions regarding AI use are better developed within specific contexts by the stakeholders most closely engaged with those domains.”
Jennifer Lisy, assistant professor of instruction for teacher education, is one of the CTLA Faculty Fellows at OU. Fellows need to be fulltime faculty members and work with CTLA to teach and learn more about instituting AI in education, according to OU’s website.
Lisy mentioned the AI asynchronous institute, think tanks and learning communities offered through the program.
“The university, I think, has done a really nice job of not setting really stringent policies that are one-size-fits-all, because it’s not a one-sizefits-all thing,” Lisy said. “It looks very different in coding than in chemistry, than in
a history class, than in an education class.”
In Lisy’s education courses, students fill out AI use statements with certain assignments. In the statements, students explain why they chose to use or not use AI and if they would choose the same decision again. If a student used AI, it must be determined how it helped them, how it was used, which AI tool was used and what was changed from the assignment.
“Taking that moment to pause, and it’s better cognition is like thinking about thinking,” Lisy said. “At the end of the day, they’re going off into their own classrooms on their own,
Fruth Pharmacy closes doors
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER
Fruth Pharmacy, a pharmacy chain with locations in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, is officially closing all stores and transferring its prescriptions to Walgreens. The pharmacy was in business for nearly 75 years, and at its height owned 30 locations.
Lynne Fruth, president of Fruth Pharmacy, said the businesses’ struggles began about 12 years ago, with the increased role and impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
According to the American Medical Association, PBMs act as mediators between insurers, employers and drug manufacturers, setting prices and rebates.
“Every year the PBMs came back and said, ‘Well, we paid you this last year, but now we’re going to pay you worse this year.’ And there was no negotiation,” Fruth said. “It was take it or leave it, because you got to a point where you had an oligopoly, where you had three PBMs that controlled about 80% of the market, and that would be Express Scripts ESI, Optum, which is part of UnitedHealth, and then Caremark, CVS.”
According to Fruth, a state study found the average cost to dispense a prescription is between $12 and $15, meaning the pharmacy lost $10 to $14 every time it dispensed the
prescription to Ohio Medicaid at $1 above the cost of the drug.
Fruth said those PBM drug pricings lost the company money and contributed to the company’s closure.
“I paid $25 for that drug, I got paid $26,” Fruth said. “That did not cover the cost of a pharmacist who works for $60 an hour, or a tech. It didn’t cover the file, the label, the processing and all of that …
But what are you going to do?
You’re going to tell Mrs. Smith, who lives in your community, ‘I can’t fill this, because we’re going to lose money.’ No, you fill it, because pharmacists do the right thing.”
Fruth’s closure has raised concern in the Appalachian area, where its pharmacies were located. A growing concern in the area is pharmacy deserts, classified as a 10-mile area that contains no retail pharmacies.
In Athens County, there are 324 census blocks that are considered to be a pharmacy desert.
Timothy Pawlik is the chair of the Department of Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Pawlik helped conduct a study to analyze the prevalence of pharmacy deserts across the country.
so they have to figure out what works for them.”
Brian Hoyt, professor of Management, described putting accurate policies around an evolving technology as an impossibility. Hoyt said he agrees with OU allowing professors to create individual course policies in alliance with the school’s protocol.
“The learning objectives have to be connected to the knowledge and content that they have to know to use AI,” Hoyt said. “They have to have the skills and tools in place to use AI.”
AI is used in three of Hoyt’s courses. In his lower-level classes, AI is restricted to any work except for extra credit.
Pawlik said pharmacy deserts were a very topical issue and described the ways they conducted the study.
“We got data from the pharmacy licensing data from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and we evaluated specific census tract level pharmacy closures and pharmacy deserts specifically in Ohio,” Pawlik said. “And we not only looked at closures of pharmacies, but we want to look at it in particular relative to the Ohio Opportunity Index, which is an index that reflects populations at risk, maybe vulnerable populations.”
The study, published on Ohio State Health and Discovery, conducted by Pawlik outlines non-clinical determinants of health outcomes, including transportation availability, housing stability, education
availability, income level and more.
There are 139 pharmacy deserts in the state of Ohio, according to the study’s findings. Fruth commented on how the loss of Fruth Pharmacies has impacted and will continue to impact Southeast Ohio residents.
“You have a vulnerable population, you have a poor population … people in this community measure things by the cost of a tank of gas. ‘I can’t afford to go there. I don’t have enough gas.’ And for most people, that’s a foreign concept, but that’s how it is in Appalachia,” Fruth said. “So these closures were devastating.”
Pawlik discussed how policymakers can best tackle the pharmacy desert issue by addressing social issues in
Hoyt encourages students to learn to use AI prompts and reflect on the tool’s efficiency. In Hoyt’s advanced classes, he allows the use of AI for teaching tools. Hoyt uses the program Kritik to evaluate students’ original work versus applied AI.
“Students don’t have to feel like they’re using AI inappropriately,” Hoyt said. “They have to use it. They have to use it well, that’s part of the assignment and the evaluation, but they’re able to use it without thinking, ‘Oh, boy. I don’t want them to know that this is AI, this is my work,’ it just lays it all out, and they get to see the effectiveness of AI.”
Students must be aware of the responsibilities and consequences of using AI in school, according to Ohio’s AI in Education Coalition. One factor students and faculty should remember, as stated in the “AI Strategy” outline the coalition made in 2024, is AI cannot replicate emotions or ethics.
“There are concerns about the ecological impacts, there are concerns about security and privacy, and those are legitimate,” Lisy said.
@LAYNEEESLICH LE211424@OHIO.EDU
addition to medical ones.
“There needs to be a broader concept of not only access to medical care, but access to services that will address these health-related social needs, like transportation programs, vouchers, shuttles, improving food security through SNAP or food banks, ensuring housing security through more affordable housing.”
Fruth Pharmacy’s closure is not a unique experience. According to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, 215 retail pharmacies closed across the state in 2024.
“We have seen thousands and thousands of pharmacies close, including the total collapse of Rite Aid,” Fruth said. “Walgreens was purchased by private equity … and so if you didn’t have your own PBM to determine what you would get paid and steer people to you, then you were just at the mercy of the PBMs and insurance companies.”
To mitigate the pharmacy crisis, Pawlik recommends increasing online access for people in rural areas in order to order medications online. He also discussed mobile pharmacies, which could visit rural areas twice a week to offer services to those who might not be able to travel far.
The outside of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 22, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
The front of CVS Pharmacy on Court Street, Jan. 29, 2025, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Blotter: A pizza-induced injury, an arrest warrant, snow shoveling scuffle
MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST
23 Fri
Locked up Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Thompson Ridge Road in Athens to attempt to locate an individual with warrants out for their arrest in Athens County.
Upon arrival, deputies located James Bunner. Bunner was informed of his warrants and placed under arrest, then transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Kind thief?
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Laughlin Hill Road in Athens regarding a third-party report of a burglary in progress.
On the scene, deputies entered the residence and cleared the home after searching without locating any suspects inside. Deputies contacted the homeowner to advise them of the situation.
The homeowner did not report any apparent missing items at that time.
24 Sat
Lost and crashed
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office spoke with a complainant regarding filing a stolen vehicle report.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol found the vehicle in an abandoned traffic accident.
Now you see me, now you don’t
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Angle Ridge Road in Athens in reference to someone possibly inside the caller’s residence.
Deputies spoke with the complainant, who said someone had been in their residence and hacked their phone, but was now gone.
Deputies were unable to find evidence of any criminal activity or someone being in the home, and they returned to patrol.
25 Sun
No help needed
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Albany regarding
a commercial alarm.
Deputies made contact with one of the business’s employees, who told deputies it was an accidental alarm.
Pill recovery
Deputies spoke with a woman on Hudnell Road in Athens to investigate a complaint of medication theft.
During the investigation, deputies spoke with the woman again. She told them the medication had been returned, and they could close the case.
26 Mon
A-OK
Athens County Sheriff’s Office
deputies were dispatched to a vehicle on its side near the Ohio University Airport.
Upon arrival, the driver was discovered to be uninjured.
After the fire department arrived, the deputies cleared the scene.
Picky plower
Deputies responded to Dean Road in Glouster in reference to a complaint about the manner of snow plowing and shoveling.
After deputies spoke with the complainant, they determined there had been no criminal offense.
27 Tue
Mine v. yours
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office spoke with a complainant regarding a harassment complaint on Wildwood Lane in Athens.
Units determined the incident was not criminal but a civil issue regarding property lines.
More snow!
Deputies responded to Carr Road on a report of neighbors shoveling snow into each other’s driveways.
Deputies returned to patrol after warning the involved parties for disorderly conduct.
Crazy about Italian
Deputies responded to Mill Street in Chauncey regarding a domestic complaint.
Upon arrival, deputies determined a dispute occurred over a plate of pizza. The dispute resulted in a man smashing a glass jar against his head.
The man was treated by EMS and transported to the hospital for additional treatment.
Greenland/ continued from pg 1
Trump’s order directing the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement in January 2025.
Trump also withdrew from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“Those are both institutions that the U.S. has long been a leading supporter of and consumer of their efforts,” Dabelko said. “They’ve wanted to see those bodies succeed. The U.S. is going in the opposite direction and indicating that climate change is not a priority for its government.”
Building on this, it is also important to consider the approximately 56,500 people who live in Greenland as Trump discusses and plays with the future of their country.
OSU Linguistics Professor Jessica Kantarovich has conducted fieldwork in Greenland, on Kalaallisut, the official language of Greenland, since 2022, and has spent time around Greenlanders.
“(People think) it’s basically a clash between Denmark and the U.S., and that the negotiations are happening between Denmark and the
28 Wed
Not a party
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Coolville Ridge Road in Athens regarding a political dispute.
On the scene, parties agreed to separate inside the residence. All involved parties were warned for disorderly conduct, and deputies returned to patrol.
We need to talk…
Deputies responded to Cincinnati Ridge Road in Coolville to attempt to locate a woman involved in a hit-andrun accident that occurred in the City of Athens.
Deputies left information for the woman to contact the Athens City Police Department.
2 Fri
Broken rule
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a third-party complaint of a dispute.
The woman was located at her parents’ house, who advised she had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The woman refused to press charges after being asked multiple times.
As the man involved is on parole, the matter was forwarded to the Adult Parole Authority.
BFFs
Deputies responded to Kimberly Road in Nelsonville in reference to a 911 call.
Deputies made contact with individuals at the residence. They determined the caller was a juvenile concerned about a friend they could not get a hold of.
No further action was needed after deputies made contact with the friend.
Feeling better Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were requested regarding an altered mental status call, as the Nelsonville Police were unavailable.
Deputies and EMS responded and met with the individual in question, who had been experiencing anxiety. After speaking with the individual for some time, they declined any assistance and appeared to be in a better mood. The individual did not meet the criteria for a blue slip.
Tuesday. It has also been reported Homan will report directly to Trump and will be the “main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis,” according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
28 Wed
South Carolina surpasses Texas’ overall 2025 total in Measles cases
Health officials in South Carolina have logged almost 600 cases of measles in one month, with 789 total number of cases since September, surpassing Texas’ overall 2025 total of 762, according to the AP.
Measles has been spreading, with cases confirmed in other states including California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, according to the AP.
Due to the increase in cases, the U.S. is at risk of losing its measles elimination status. The worst year for measles cases in the U.S. since 1991, was 2025 with 2,255 confirmed cases, nearly 50 outbreaks and three unvaccinated deaths.
29 Thur
National Guard deployed to the South as winter storm surges
National Guard members in Mississippi and Tennessee mobilized to help people trapped in their cars and homes without electricity after the first wave of the winter storm.
Temperatures dipped down into the teens, with at least 85 deaths so far, reported by the AP. Most of those deaths have occurred in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
A large number of power outages have occurred, with the AP reporting “more than 230,000 homes and businesses were without electricity
Thursday night, according to the outage tracking website poweroutage.us.”
30 Fri
Man impersonating FBI agent attempts to break Luigi Mangione out of jail
Mark Anderson, 36, impersonated an FBI agent, claiming he had a court order to release Luigi Mangione, according to the AP. Mangione is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, for killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Anderson was arrested and charged with impersonating a federal officer and is now being held at the same jail he tried to break into.
1 Sun
Trump says the U.S. is ‘beginning to talk to Cuba,’ moves to cut oil supply
Trump said communications are starting between the U.S. and Cuba regarding “key oil supplies” as the Trump Administration puts pressure on the island.
Trump has recently pushed to cut off oil supplies from Mexico and Venezuela, which would in turn force Cuba to come to the “negotiating table,” according to the AP.
Trump’s overall intentions with Cuba are not yet clear, but he said he thinks the Cuban government is going to fall. According to the AP, Trump did not provide any other information on the topic; he just said “we’re starting to talk to Cuba.”
Trump also signed an executive order last week to put a tariff on goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that put an increased amount of pressure on Mexico. Trump also said a deal could be made with Cuba and “we’ll be kind.”
U.S., but Greenland is its own country,” Kantarovich said. “It is a part of Denmark, but it has its own parliament, it has its own representatives.”
Kantarovich revisited a memory from June 2025, when she was in Greenland, when French President Emmanuel Macron came to speak.
“He sent a very clear message that he does not believe in allowing the U.S. to, as he put it, basically bully Denmark and Greenland,” Kantarovich said.
“It was a show of solidarity with both Denmark and Greenland, and that was received very positively by the crowd.”
Kantarovich emphasized Greenland has been receiving a lot of attention from world leaders and tourists, whereas in previous years, they ignored Greenland’s presence or had harmful assumptions about Greenlanders.
“The things that they would find upsetting are that people now know who they are, and they’re not living in igloos,” Kantarovich said. “They live in modern societies, especially in Nuuk, it’s a small city, but it has all the comforts and trappings of a city.”
Another
misconception of Greenland Kantarovich mentioned is that outsiders think Greenland is Iceland, a misconception Trump himself recently made, according to a video the AP posted.
“I think from the Greenlandic perspective, which is one that I am most familiar with, I think they really want to be treated like equals,” Kantarovich said. “They want to have conversations about what happens next. They want it to be a discussion and negotiation and not a response to a threat.”
(MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Pen to the Point | Streaming platforms are monopolizing
DREW HOFFMASTER FOR THE POST
Hulu is a streaming platform known for offering 64 million paid subscribers thousands of shows since 2007. In August 2025, the platform announced it would be fully combined into Disney+ by the end of 2026.
After the announcement, many fans took to online platforms such as Reddit to voice their complaints. “It should be the other way around,” said Reddit user TheSonic311. Another comment from Reddit user Mo_Jack said, “This is exactly what ruined cell phones and cable and made them so expensive.”
The definition of a monopoly, according to MerriamWebster’s dictionary, is to have “exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply or concerted action.” This is exactly what Disney did, and this is just the first sign of what else is to come for streaming services.
According to Britannica, ever since President Theodore Roosevelt started trust busting, the country has despised monopolies of any kind. According to the Federal Trade Commission, monopolies are aggressive, charge high prices and ensure no other competitors can enter the market. In the
case of streaming services, I suspect that if only one service existed, it would charge high prices similar to cable. Many often debate whether streaming or cable is better, and the main point of contention is pricing. Netflix only charges $8-25 a month, depending on your streaming plan. Cable and internet companies, such as Spectrum, charge $65-200 per month and also make users pay an additional $30-65 just to install it, which is just ridiculous to me.
The Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle costs $20 per month with ads and $32 without. This is still less than a cable plan, but I believe as time goes on and more services are added, this price will slowly get closer to cable. In addition, if you look at who owns the services in the deal, Disney owns two out of the three.
For college students, just having to pay a monthly fee is rough. Even though, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44.3% of college students are working, a large number of them are only working part-time for minimum wage or barely above. This is extremely tough for a person to support themselves on and leaves little wiggle room to pay for fun and entertainment.
This is why you do not see students with cable and more often see students piggybacking off their parents’ streaming services. Even this, however, becomes tougher for students to do as companies like Netflix end their free password sharing and track where logins occur. Students are forced to pay for their own streaming, which they may not be able to afford.
Cable can charge these prices because many of these companies are already monopolies in many regions. According to a report from the Federal Communications Commission, only 7% of U.S. households had access to more than one broadband provider option in December 2023. With so little competition, these companies can charge whatever they want.
Although streaming services alone are competitive, cheaper alternatives to cable monopolies are now beginning to follow the same path of consolidation and control. Streaming services are starting to offer bundles, allowing you to have two or more services for just one payment. These bundles may be nice; however, they are evidence of the streaming monopolization.
Another big way streaming services monopolize is through purchasing other media companies and
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each other. As mentioned previously, Disney bought Hulu and, more recently, Netflix acquired Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. for $82.7 billion. When this deal was made, multiple critics commented on the deal’s monopoly nature. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren even called this deal an “anti-monopoly nightmare.” This is not the first time a monopolization has happened in the entertainment sphere.
According to HISTORY, Hollywood’s major studios used to be in charge of every aspect of the movie industry, from the stars on-screen to the theaters audiences sat in. This is very similar to how streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video, have their own in-house production operations. For example, Amazon’s production studio is known as Amazon MGM Studio, which is known for producing hit originals, such as “Hazbin Hotel,” “The Boys” and “Fall Out.”
All of this evidence makes it abundantly clear that streaming services are starting to monopolize. They are following the path of their cable and television predecessors because they are greedy. These streaming companies, such as Netflix and Disney+, don’t want any room for competition and want only their apps to be installed on people’s devices.
I would not be surprised if, in the future, we only had one streaming app for people to download that costs $65-200, depending on the tier, because we’ve seen this in the past. The only way to stop this monopolization is to make people aware of it.
To understand this, we have to take a look back at journalism’s muckrakers. Ida Tarbell brought attention to the monopolistic practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company through her magazine series “The History of the Standard Oil Company.” The series successfully highlighted John D. Rockefeller’s unethical tactics, creating anger and awareness of the practices among the public. This sentiment is a large reason why Roosevelt went after trusts. If the public had never been frustrated at these monopolies, then they may still be very present today.
This moment in history shows us how powerful awareness and public sentiment are and why we should use them to squash these streaming monopolies. People already view trust as hurtful, bad and wicked, which means half the work is done. We now must show people these streaming services are the modern Rockefellers. If we do this, history repeating itself may be a good thing for once.
Peace and justice are not optional. What’s happening now is neither.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s address on ICE actions in Minnesota (from Jan. 14)
My fellow Minnesotans,
What’s happening in Minnesota right now defies belief.
This content was paid for by David Bruce
“Let’s be very, very clear: This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it is a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”
News reports simply don’t do justice to the level of chaos and disruption and trauma the federal government is raining down upon our communities.
Two to three thousand armed agents of the federal government have been deployed to Minnesota.
Armed, masked, undertrained ICE agents are going door to door, ordering people to point out where their neighbors of color live.
They’re pulling over people indiscriminately, including U.S. citizens, and demanding to see their papers.
And at grocery stores, at bus stops, even at schools, they’re breaking windows, dragging pregnant women down the street, just plain grabbing Minnesotans and shoving them into unmarked vans, kidnapping innocent people with no warning and no due process.
Let’s be very, very clear: This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement.
Instead, it is a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.
Last week [Jan. 7], that campaign claimed the life of Renée Nicole Good.
We’ve all watched the video.
We all have seen what happened.
And yet, instead of conducting an impartial investigation so we can hold accountable the officer responsible for Renee’s death, the Trump administration is devoting the full power of the federal government to finding an excuse to attack the victim and her family.
Just yesterday [Jan. 13], six federal prosecutors — including the longtime career prosecutor leading the charge to investigate and eliminate fraud in our state’s programs — quit their jobs rather than go along with this assault on the United States Constitution.
But as bad as it’s been, Donald Trump intends for it to get worse.
This week [Jan. 13], he went online to promise that, quote, “the day of retribution and reckoning is coming.”
That is a direct threat against the people of this state, who dared to vote against him three times, and who continue to stand up for freedom with courage and empathy and profound grace.
NOTES:
— Gov. Tim Waltz
All across Minnesota, people are stepping up to help neighbors who are being unjustly, and unlawfully, targeted.
They’re distributing care packages and walking kids to school and raising their voices in peaceful protest even though doing so has made many of our fellow Minnesotans targets for violent retribution.
Folks, I know this is scary.
And I know it’s absurd that we all have to be defending law and order, justice, and humanity while also caring for our families and doing our jobs.
So, tonight, let me say, once again, to Donald Trump and Kristi Noem: End this occupation.
You’ve done enough.
Let me say four critical things to the people of Minnesota — four things I need you to hear as you watch the news and look out for your neighbors.
First: Donald Trump wants chaos.
He wants confusion.
And, yes, he wants more violence on our streets.
We cannot give him what he wants.
We can — we must — protest: loudly, urgently, but also peacefully.
Indeed, as hard as we will fight in the courts and at the ballot box, we cannot, and will not, let violence prevail.
You’re angry.
I’m angry.
“Angry” might not be strong enough of a word.
But we must remain peaceful.
Second: You are not powerless.
You are not helpless.
And you are not alone.
All across Minnesota, people are learning about opportunities not just to resist, but to help people who are in danger.
Thousands upon thousands of Minnesotans are going to be relying on mutual aid in the days and weeks to come, and they need our support.
Tonight, I want to share another way you can help: Witness.
Help us establish a record of exactly what’s happening in our communities.
You have an absolute right to peacefully film ICE agents as they conduct their activities.
So carry your phone with you at all times.
And if you see ICE in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record.
Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans — not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution.
That’s the third thing I want to tell you tonight: We will not have to live like this forever.
Accountability is coming, at the voting booth and in court.
We will reclaim our communities from Donald Trump.
We will re-establish a sense of safety for our neighbors.
We will bring an end to this moment of chaos and confusion.
We will find a way to move forward — together.
And we will not be alone.
Every day, we are working with business leaders, faith leaders, legal experts, and elected officials from all across the country.
They have seen what Donald Trump is trying to do to our state.
They know their states could be next.
And that brings me to the fourth thing I want to tell you tonight. Minnesota, I’m so proud of the way we’ve risen to meet this unbearable moment.
But I’m not surprised.
Because this — this is who we are.
Minnesotans believe in the rule of law.
And Minnesotans believe in the dignity of all people.
We’re a place where there’s room for everybody, no matter who you are or who you love or where you came from.
A place where we feed our kids, take care of our neighbors, and look out for those in the shadows of life.
We’re an island of decency in a country being driven towards cruelty.
We will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, of peace.
On 7 January 2026, Renée Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was fatally shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross. On 14 January 2026, Tim Waltz made this speech. On 24 January 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American VA intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by United States Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
– Diary of Anne Frank, 13 January 1943
“I just checked—it turns out that Art. II, Sec. 1 of the Constitution of the United States does *not* say ‘The executive Power shall be vested in a bunch of sociopaths who think they can do whatever the f*ck they want and make sh*t up as they go along.’”
— conservative lawyer George Conway
STILL, even after the Jan.30 release of additional documents, NOT ALL of the Epstein Files have been released.
Recommended Viewing LegalEagle
“The Execution of Alex Pretti Broke Me” (12:37) ICE executed Alex Pretti on the street, in cold blood
Abby’s Angle | Having everything figured out in college is a myth
College is notoriously considered a time of selfgrowth in nearly every aspect – professionally, academically, socially and emotionally.
As a college freshman, like many of my peers, I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life, even though it seems everyone else has a clearly defined plan and purpose. Although teachers, parents and upperclassmen all insist uncertainty is normal, it feels the opposite. The idea that college students, even freshmen, have everything figured out is a misconception. Have a quick, meaningful conversation with nearly any college student, and it becomes clear uncertainty, stress and struggles are all common, even if those things are not openly discussed.
Stress is unavoidable in college, and college life becomes a “full-time job.”
Perfection is unattainable, and according to Cynthia Vejar, director and associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Lebanon Valley College, “... if someone is constantly chasing something that doesn’t exist, they will be in a perpetual state of
dissatisfaction. This may impact their sense of self and make them question if they are in the right field altogether.”
This dissatisfaction can cause students to equate their value to productivity rather than self-growth.
Feeling like you belong and are aligned with your peers is incredibly important for mental health and success in college. Feeling left out or behind can lead to isolation, stress or low self-esteem.
To cope, some students turn to dishonesty, downplaying their struggles and exaggerating their accomplishments to avoid scrutiny. Lying is inherently wrong, but vulnerability and failure feel worse.
In fact, 80% of people aged 18-25 admitted to lying on their resumes by overstating their responsibilities, faking enthusiasm or exaggerating experience. You’re not doing less or worse than anybody else. People are probably lying about professional and academic struggles.
WorkLife, a news and analysis resource for HR and leaders, says this pressure to succeed and stand out is cultural. It is a Generation Z staple stemming from influencer culture. Social
media influencers only post perfection, curating a highlight reel of perfect days, creating unrealistic standards that aren’t attainable.
When TikTok went offline in January 2025 in anticipation of a potential ban, we saw influencers come forward and admit to lying about their workouts, recipes and makeup routines. Fans were furious about the fact they were intentionally misled, revolted by how influencers were “monetizing off of lies and tricking you for years at a time.”
Similarly, college students feel the need to curate their own version of success, exaggerating accomplishments or hiding stress to avoid judgment. Vulnerability or failure is seen as a weakness, and those of us who fail often don’t have anybody to relate to.
This culture discourages honesty, making students feel inadequate when they can’t live up to a perfectly curated lifestyle. If everyone around you, including influencers, is lying about their lifestyles and constant success, it makes those who struggle feel isolated and left behind.
Imposter syndrome, “struggling with the sense that
you haven’t earned what you’ve achieved and are a fraud,” is incredibly prevalent in college students, with a study from Brigham Young University revealing 20% of students say they feel inadequate or not competent enough to succeed in their current environment. When your surrounding peers seem incredibly successful and smart, you have to fake confidence to keep up, even when you feel left out and behind.
Beyond academic and professional struggles, there are also social struggles. College students are told to leave their old life behind when coming to college, prepared to quickly find new friends and organizations.
The painful truth is it doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t make friends right away, and it sometimes comes with trial and error. Social media plays a role in this. Watching others build friendships almost effortlessly while you struggle is hard, leading to “feelings of inadequacy and exclusion.”
It’s important to remember loneliness is very common, and 64.7% of college students say they feel lonely. Stanford social psychologist Xuan Zhao says people don’t like to ask others for help, “assuming that
For the Record | ICE is a homegrown issue
As said by the late member of the Black Liberation Army and a Black revolutionist, Assata Shakur, “We need to be weapons of mass construction, weapons of mass love. It’s not enough just to change the system. We need to change ourselves.” She believed that we must create a world community, built on a system of socialist ideals and understanding.
To those who have never heard of her and wonder why the name might sound familiar, she was the aunt and godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur. Tupac and Assata were two members of the most influential family in the Black Panther Movement: the Shakur family.
Although a controversial figure to some, Assata was a tool of knowledge, progress and humanitarianism that is still needed today. Despite the fact that she and many other revolutionaries are still demonized in the public eye, the retrospective that comes from the death of figures like her brings to light how the roots of our nation have not truly changed.
There is a familiarity in the current treatment of immigrants in this country. First introduced in 1704 in South Carolina, slave patrols would last for 150 years,
“technically” ending after the abolishment of slavery. However, the modernday police force is a direct descendant of slave patrols.
Slave patrols were charged with capturing Black people off the street and tracking down runaway enslaved people and forcefully bringing them back to their masters.
This would often be a violent process with the punishments that were detailed in the Fugitive Slave Acts of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These punishments included lashings, brandings, mutilation and limb amputation to prevent escape. States such as South Carolina used very severe and strict punishments.
Freed Black citizens were too afraid of traveling around the country or voicing their opinions, especially in the south, due to the fear of retaliation or being kidnapped and forced into enslavement.
The constant fear of being snatched from your home or on your walk to work or school has been part of American culture for centuries. The creation of concentration camps to hold those deemed a threat or “foreign” is not new to the United States, and wasn’t a foreign concept during World War II.
According to History.com, the Nazis were themselves inspired by the cruelty of Jim Crow laws when committing atrocities in America.
Despite media outlets
and use strong passwords.
As the internet evolves and everyone contributes to either its content or comments, we lose a lot of fear about what could happen online. We think being private is sketchy and not responding to texts is rude. However, with deepfakes created by generative artificial intelligence and other cybersecurity concerns, it’s time to reconsider why online safety is so important. It’s common to hear about data leaks where our information or a company’s information gets leaked or posted online for the public to see. We often click ads, accept internet cookies, and follow links that can lead to our information being stolen. Being more cautious in our daily internet use can easily protect our private information from potential leaks. Avoid spam messages, think before you click a link
Photos we post online can also be used for scams to impersonate celebrities or public figures to endorse a product. A rising concern among the topic of internet safety is publishing photos that can be used to create AI deepfakes. Those who aren’t celebrities or public figures are also discovering that their image is being used for similar reasons.
Amanda Aguilar discovered that her likeness was being used on a fake social media account. The account was messaging as Aguilar and used altered videos from her real Instagram to scam people. Aguilar discovered this through friends who had been made aware of the fake account.
There are many resources today that teach how to notice or detect a deepfake. There are also efforts to enact laws to protect us against explicit AI deepfakes.
comparing Immigration and Customs Enforcement camps to Nazi Germany, America has its own unique history with concentration camps that predates that particularly evil era. We have to stop comparing the current state of America to Nazi Germany and othering it when the Nazis themselves were energized by segregation and Jim Crow.
In Natchez, Mississippi, The Devil’s Punchbowl, the encampment for newly freed Black citizens, resulted in the rumored forced labor of Black men. The enclosing of the camp in a cement wall also caused the starvation of thousands of women and children. In one year, an estimated 20,000 Black citizens died at the camp, according to the African American Registry.
Many have gone to say that the Devil’s Punchbowl was a refugee camp, and that the rumors of it being a concentration camp are misguided. Misguided or not, the details involved in the story were commonplace in the Jim Crow South, which inspired popular art including Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.”
Americans have seen numerous massacres by the government and the systematic mistreatment of numerous ethnic groups, including Japanese people, especially Okinawans. U.S. troops seized control of the Okinawa islands in 1945,
For example, the Federal Trade Commission Act has the authority to crack down on unfair or deceptive business practices with synthetic content, like deepfakes. Though annoying, twostep verification is a helpful addition to any online account. I use an authenticator app for almost all my accounts, from Gmail to Instagram. Adding an extra wall to your account can prevent hacks into your account when a data leak occurs.
As people are going analog for the new year, online safety should be a part of the conversation. Disconnecting from being online can be beneficial to find value in our lives. It takes away the pressure of sharing information about ourselves or tidbits into our minds. In a way, being offline is a way to be safe.
Substack writer by the name “Terodoraa” shares a more introspective view of being
our request will feel like an inconvenience to them.”
College students are meant to be independent and fend for themselves. Asking for help makes it seem like you aren’t adjusting or failing, a sign of weakness.
“The truth is most of us are deeply prosocial and want to make a positive difference in others’ lives,” Zhao said.
Real friends, or even kind acquaintances, often understand loneliness and are willing to help.
Maybe this is a coping mechanism to make myself feel better, but I’m sure others agree. When one person starts faking it, the rest of us have to follow suit to seem just as smart and worthy. It’s important to remember your accomplishments, experiences and grades are all something to be proud of. Not having everything figured out is normal, and self-growth is exactly what college is for.
You’re not alone in feeling isolated. Ohio University offers many mental health resources, such as counseling at Hudson Health Center and other resources to support students’ well-being
and later again in John F. Kennedy’s Strategic Hamlet Program, which forcibly put millions of Vietnamese people in reinforced villages with the intention of preventing them from helping their government.
We are seeing ICE use the same tactics that America has historically used to terrorize its own people, and the ridiculously demonized, during heightened periods of its history. The kidnapping of legal citizens into forced encampments, to be subjected to inhuman and harsh conditions, violence, sexual assault and death, is only as shocking as the sky is blue.
We have witnessed centuries of revolts and revolutions, yet we continue to march for the same progress. Most frustratingly, no one wants to take accountability for the centuries of violence that the people in power in this country have propagated, and convinced us to do to each other.
Americans, particularly middle and lower-class white Americans, have been puppeteered to continue being oppressors by people in power. Turning these people against their own needs, brainwashing them with the hope of a new American dream, turning their sons into their personally designed militias to distract from the economic greed of the 1%; a tale as old as time, in this case, as America itself.
private online with a post titled, “normalize not telling anyone anything.” They wrote, “Privacy is often confused with secrecy, but they are not the same. Privacy is choosing what stays yours. Secrecy is hiding with fear.”
The Substack post also mentions that not sharing everything can allow creative ideas to perfect themselves. Letting the pressure of online presence go can make us more present in our physical lives and, therefore, more connected with ourselves rather than our curated feed.
I used to be adverse to the idea of sharing my age online. I felt not sharing it kept me safe. Yes, I showed my face, but I didn’t publicly mention my age until I was 18 years old. I also remember hiding my age because you couldn’t use social media until certain ages, like 13 years old for TikTok and for uploading YouTube videos without parental permission. Actually, 13 is the age when
The sending of military forces to stop uprisings and turn peaceful demonstrations into massacres; we’ve seen this with “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, and now the protests in Minneapolis.
There is an irritation that comes from the constant distancing of our own actions from the current state of America. The U.S. government has always brutalized its citizens. It has always kidnapped and snatched innocent people from their homes. It has always been the perpetrator of egregious violence and trauma.
ICE is the newest form of what has always been. We are faced with the decision to either continue to demonize the homegrown radicals, like Assata, who put fear in the hearts of these systems, or finally decide to follow in their footsteps.
As a nation, we have to diagnose what in our foundation is allowing us to perpetuate such pain on our own people, and decide what version of America we want to collect.
ICE is bigger than its individual cruelty. ICE melts, systems crash and institutions burn.
We have to decide if we want to be the flame in the fire that births a new, better nation.
you can choose how you share your information online. This can be tricky because most 13-year-olds are not closely reading community guidelines or thinking about what videos they post. However, in an age of sharing everything online, they might be curating content, too.
Under parental observation, content can be curated for kids on platforms such as YouTube Kids. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act requires websites made for children to factor parental permission into their creation. To be safe online, we have to choose carefully when deciding what information we post. We have to cover our tracks with our digital footprint and create private shared photo albums for our friends and family. Building safe spaces or dialing back our internet usage to be safe. Oh well, analog or not, check out what online tips fit your needs and stay safe.
Jerry Jackson
continued from pg 1
You could feel that when you were in his presence.”
Morgan said Jackson had a way of connecting with students, many of whom came from difficult circumstances.
“(There were) a lot of poor kids,” Morgan said. “He just had a way of working with the kids.”
Jackson taught industrial technology at Grover Cleveland, where he also coached track and basketball. He later coached basketball for 12 years at OU-Zanesville, his obituary said. Zanesville City Schools honored Jackson for his “dedication, commitment, and gift of time to education while enriching the lives of Ohio students.”
Beyond the classroom, Jackson was deeply involved in community service. In 2015, he and his wife, Anita Jackson, were named a power couple at the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in Zanesville.
Jerry Jackson was a founder of the Nelson T. Gant Foundation, which, according to its website, focuses on building character and community pride. In his busy schedule, Jerry Jackson also served as chairman of the Rendville Historic Preservation Society.
The preservation society, as said on the website, formed as a non-profit organization in 2015 and works to preserve Rendville’s African American and labor history. Rendville, the smallest incorporated town in Ohio, was a diverse area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, housing both African Americans and European immigrants.
Morgan said Jerry Jackson spent several years coordinating with former residents who had moved away to support the preservation effort.
“Every morning for 35 years, I would go to work and go into Jerry’s room, and we would sit down and talk,” Morgan said. “He would talk about how they were making a museum down there and trying to make it look nice.”
Despite his five Hall of Fame inductions at OU, OU-Zanesville’s Athletic Department, Ohio Hoop Zone, Ohio Basketball and Southern Local Schools, Morgan said Jerry Jackson rarely discussed his accomplishments.
“Most people knew he was a basketball player, and they knew that he was good, but that wasn’t his conversation,” Morgan said.
In addition to his long athletic career, Jerry Jackson was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served two years, including the Vietnam War, according to his obituary. He returned to OU to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before beginning his teaching career.
Whether he was on the court, celebrating Rendville or teaching children, Jerry Jackson was always eager to help someone in need and be a friend to all. Morgan said Jerry Jackson’s legacy will not be forgotten and he was special to all.
“Everybody remembers him as a superstar player, a superstar person and he did not have any enemies, everyone liked him,” Morgan said.
‘Always Athens’ podcast highlights local faces
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
In April, Tyler Wurth launched the podcast “Always Athens,” intending to create a space where Athens residents and out-of-town visitors could learn more about local entrepreneurs and community members.
Wurth spent most of his life living in Athens. Born in California, his family moved to the area when he was two years old. After graduating from Athens High School, he studied at Hocking College for two years before transferring to Ohio University.
Wurth moved to Cleveland post-graduation, but found his way back to Athens in 2023. Wurth currently works remotely for an accounting firm based in Cleveland and also coaches a middle school football team in Athens.
Since April, Wurth has produced more than 40 episodes, featuring a variety of fascinating Athens locals.
“I’ll talk to a janitor from the elementary school, and that would mean as much to me as the mayor of Athens,” Wurth said. “I think everyone matters. (The podcast) is a platform for anyone from here to talk about what they want to talk about.”
In episode 12 of “Always Athens,” released in May, Wurth hosted his first female guest, Quinn Schmalenberg, owner of Quinn Amorette Ceramics. Schmalenberg, a licensed massage therapist, grew up in Athens.
Wurth reached out to Schmalenberg to appear on the podcast after his grandmother saw her work at a local event.
“I knew of Tyler,” Schmalenberg said. “I don’t think we really knew each other in high school, but I knew some of his siblings.”
Schmalenberg said she was homeschooled until sixth grade, when she started
attending Athens City Schools.
Schmalenberg received her massage license from Hocking College after attending OU for a year. She has been selling ceramic pieces for six years.
In Schmalenberg’s episode, she said she makes pottery out of her home studio to sell at local events and online.
Schmalenberg also works part-time at the local Mexican restaurant, Casa Nueva.
“(I have) lots of things going on,” Schmalenberg said. “My work really is what I do most … it is pretty much my life.”
Wurth said his motivation to start “Always Athens” emerged from his passion for communicating with others and wanting new listeners and locals to see beyond their dayto-day lives.
“The things that people do in Athens are really awesome,” Wurth said. “What a great way to not only learn about it, but then to share and allow other
people to learn from those conversations.”
Schmalenberg said “Always Athens” allows residents to see into the lives of their neighbors and bridge the separation between OU students and locals.
“I have noticed that a lot of students don’t really realize how much of a local scene there is,” Schmalenberg said.
“They’re learning about all these small businesses, and they can get more involved in the Athens community versus staying in your immediate bubble.”
After being on the show, Schmalenburg recommended various artists and coworkers of hers for Wurth to host next.
“He started interviewing a lot of people that I work with, and (people in) my circles,” Schmalenberg said.
Schmalenberg said through the podcast, she learned about
people she does not know, but also heard friends share new experiences.
In July, episode 30 premiered. Wurth hosted Ashley Wines, owner of Middlepath Yoga, located at 1 Euclid Dr. Wines set a goal seven years ago to open her own studio. Last April, her dream came true: Middlepath opened and Wines hosted classes, retreats and workshops.
Growing up in New Hampshire and West Virginia, Wines never envisioned living in Ohio. After moving to Athens about 10 years ago, Wines said she found her home.
“I like to consider Athens as a vortex, I really enjoy the smalltown community,” Wines said. “There’s a lot of like-minded people. I feel like it was just so easy to feel at ease here.”
After Wurth showed interest in the studio’s teacher training program, a seven-month course to become a Yoga Alliance certified instructor, he invited Wines to be on the podcast
“I think the really beautiful thing about the podcast and what Tyler has created through ‘Always Athens,’ is the connection of humans, as we are and what we’re doing,” Wines said.
Wines said when listening to other episodes of the podcast, she enjoys hearing stories about overcoming obstacles in industries different from hers.
As “Always Athens” enters its second year of production, Wurth hopes to continue sharing authentic conversations.
“I think it’s important that we know who each other are,” Wurth said. “Spreading the word … advertising by the community, from the community … it’s important to me.”
Silver Bridge Coffee Company blends coffee, compassion
FIONA PETTICREW HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Silver Bridge Coffee Company, based in Bidwell, can be found in Athens’ grocery stores and popular shops. Lorraine Walker, the owner and founder of Silver Bridge, started roasting small batches in a popcorn popper for friends and family.
Walker now uses her business as a way to support those in the area and globally.
Silver Bridge was founded in 2008. Walker began by transforming her laundry room into a workspace to meet the guidelines enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture. After the laws were changed in 2012 regarding cottage food production, Walker invested in a roasting facility.
When Walker decided she wanted to sell to coffee shops, she realized there were not many in her area. Walker said the shops near her were mostly owned by men, who were not looking to carry her products.
“I’m in my late 40s, early 50s, a mom of five kids, and drive up in my minivan,” Walker said.
“I couldn’t even get the coffee shops to take a sample to try. They wouldn’t even give me the time of day.”
Walker was then introduced to Dave Shull, the thenmanager of Kroger on East State Street, who retired in 2015. Walker said Shull was the one who got Silver Bridge noticed in Athens, and her sales took off after setting up in the Athens Farmers Market, allowing her to purchase her first pallet of coffee, bags and labels for her assortment of blends.
“(Shull) is the one who really gave me my break,” Walker said. “Then when I got into the Kroger, I came in and started sampling, and everybody in Athens was like, ‘Oh, well, you should come to the farmers market.’”
Since then, Walker has been selling at farmers’ markets in Columbus, getting up at 3:30 a.m. every Saturday to set up her stand. She said her kids have worked in the stand many times to help pay for their college, and said her happiest memories are from working alongside her children, selling coffee.
Silver Bridge coffee is now found in several locations around Athens, including Seaman’s Cardinal Supermarket, Fluff Bakery and Big Run Kava Bar.
The owner of Big Run Kava Bar, Shaylee Tucker, has been carrying Silver Bridge coffee for over a year, and said the roaster stepped up when Big Run needed a new coffee carrier quickly.
“I just wanted it to be really good coffee,” Tucker said. “I mean, there’s obviously a lot of coffee shops around here in the first place, so having something good was important. Silver Bridge has been amazing.”
Tucker said working with Silver Bridge has been easy. She said it accommodated her in delivering coffee when she ran out, since the usual delivery was missed due to the winter storm this January.
Big Run carries Silver Bridge’s espresso, including its decaf, which Tucker said tastes delicious and pulls a good shot.
Kindred Market and Café, a family-owned grocer focused on sourcing local and staying sustainable, also carries Silver Bridge and has been since it opened in 2019. Anabel Hernandez, a produce specialist at Kindred, said she especially enjoys Silver Bridge’s sweet “Snow Angel” blend, commenting on its pleasant smell.
“(Silver Bridge) is local, so we try to carry as many local products as possible,”
Hernandez said. “They’re also fair trade, which is great; they source their ingredients well.”
Buckeye Military Moms have partnered with Silver Bridge on several occasions, providing coffee to those in active duty. Not only does Walker make an effort to support her local community and businesses, but also those around the world.
Silver Bridge sells many varieties of Café Femenino Peruvian Coffee, a company that sources its coffee from women-owned farms, and provides grants to women and their families in Peru, Guatemala and Colombia. Walker partnered with Café Femenino in 2020 to fully fund 13 early childhood centers in Peru.
Walker said she could see her impact on the community when she visited a couple years ago to witness kids graduate kindergarten from the childhood centers, and recounted how the families and children were so appreciative of her small gifts.
“I didn’t have a lot of room in my suitcase, so I just got
stickers from the dollar store, and you gave those kids a page of stickers, and you thought you had given them a huge toy,” Walker said. “What I love about this foundation is that all of the administration and everything is all done by volunteers. So the money that you give, 100% of it goes to the children.”
Recent years have been “really tough” for Walker, who said coffee prices have tripled in the past couple of years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, coffee prices were 32.98% higher in 2025 than in 2021, which is a 93-cent difference.
Although business might be hard sometimes, Walker still supports the Café Femenino Foundation, supporting the children and women-owned farms however she can. She said coffee is a “positive business,” and expressed her appreciation for her customers and partners.
“People, they love coffee … both the people that you work with and the people that you supply coffee to,” Walker said.
Courtesy of Ohio Athletics
Bags of Silver Bridge Coffee sit on a rack in Jefferson Market in Athens, Feb. 1, 2026. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
“Always Athens” podcast host Tyler Wurth in front of the Alumni Gateway, Jan. 30th, 2026, in Athens. (ALLIE STEVENS | FOR THE POST)
Editorial
UAOU still fights for fair compensation
As of Wednesday, the United Academics of Ohio University have gone 91 days without receiving a response to their proposal for improved compensation. Compared to nine other universities’ faculty salaries in Ohio, OU has the lowest-paid research faculty, a disgraceful fact which the university’s continued silence makes significantly worse.
The faculty-led union represents approximately 800 full-time, tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track instructional and clinical faculty members at OU. UAOU’s current compensation proposal intends to advocate for higher pay with a threeyear plan to make it happen.
On Oct. 30, the UAOU Negotiations Team initiated a proposal to collectively negotiate in what are known as bargaining rights for faculty members’ terms of employment.
The U.S. Department of Labor defines collective bargaining as a process in which an organized group of workers, known as “labor,” and its employer, referred to as “management,” negotiate a mutual agreement over workplace issues.
OU faculty who are members of the organized union are governed by laws that require financial transparency and integrity, as well as fair representation of all workers.
“For nearly three months, Ohio University senior administrators have declined to respond on compensation and benefits,” UAOU posted on Instagram. “That silence sends a message to students, families and alumni.” Not only does the silence alert students to a refusal to hear out its faculty, but as a similar feat in silencing those who are begging for an ear to talk to.
Union members have resorted to public university events and rallies to garner support from alumni, students and the Athens community. The effort to gather and push for bargaining
rights as a faculty member sends a very positive message to students. However, the university seems to be taking this positivity and enthusiasm for education as unworthy of acknowledgement.
On Wednesday, 10 faculty members met with the OU administration for the first time in six weeks since the previous bargaining session. In a report from the UAOU Negotiations Team, the administration brought nothing new to the table. No counterproposals and no new proposals were offered to the union, another move from the university administration to dismiss the concerns of UAOU’s members.
The university administration is committing blatant idleness and purposeful inactivity. Where a known table meeting is in place with the union after weeks of silence, it’s a form of true dismissal of the right to bargain collectively.
On Jan. 15, UAOU members attended a public happy hour event where OU administrators also attended. It’s extremely admirable to see our faculty publicly show up to defend themselves against ongoing silence, yet they are receiving no communication from the university.
The union members who attended the happy hour wore red, a modern tradition dating back to 1989 with the Communication Workers of America, whose members wear red on Thursdays after Gerry Horgan, a unionizer, was struck by a car. To wear red means to stand as a symbol of solidarity, strength and unity for labor rights.
It’s vital that, as students, we stand with UAOU to ensure faculty are treated with respect and dignity as they push for fair compensation, among other proposals. Where the union values its vision of a “transformative learning community where students realize their promise,” we too must support the faculty who defend our education while dedicating themselves to research and the betterment of our academic experiences.
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Stuart’s Opera House at 52 Public Square in Nelsonville will host its monthly Open Mic Night. This event is open to all from 7-9 p.m. and will feature 15-minute time slots for each performer.
Admission: Free
Wednesday, Feb. 4
“Relationship Goals,” a film by Linda Mendoza, is about a TV producer who strives to run New York City’s top morning show in competition with her
ex-boyfriend. Featuring Kelly Rowland and Method Man, this romantic comedy will be available on Prime Video.
The Muppet Show will return to Disney+ and ABC to celebrate the series’ 50th anniversary. Hosted by Sabrina Carpenter and produced by Seth Rogen’s company, the special will feature comedy and music held at the original Muppet Theater in Los Angeles. It will premiere on Disney+ at 3 a.m. EST and on ABC at 9 p.m. EST.
Thursday, Feb. 5
“Ella McCay,” a political comedydrama film about a lieutenant governor
Weekender
Sibling’s
Weekend, science, Super Bowl
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
Tuesday, Feb. 3
The Athena Cinema, located on 20 S. Court St., is screening “Creepshow” as part of the Enter the Kingdom series. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are available online.
Admission: $8
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Casa Nueva, located at 6 W. State St., is hosting its weekly Open Stage with Chris Biester. Admission is free for both students and locals, and will take place from 8-10 p.m. Performers of all genres and skillsets are welcome.
Admission: Free
Thursday, Feb. 5
The F45 studio inside Charles J. Ping Recreation Center offers free functional strength group fitness training. From 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., there are classes at various times. This is the first of a month-long event. Every Thursday in February, there are free class opportunities.
Admission: Free
From Thursday to Sunday, Patton Hall is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair in collaboration with Stevens Center for Literacy and STEM Education. The fair starts at 10 a.m., and attendees can browse books and school supplies. The fair closes at 8 p.m. Thursday and 6 p.m. Friday. Hours for Saturday and Sunday are noon to 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Baker University Center is hosting Dip & Doodle from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to celebrate National Chocolate Fondue Day. There will be chocolate, coloring sheets and Zen music in room 213.
Admission: Free
Friday, Feb. 6
Kicking off Siblings Weekend, Athena Cinema is showing “The Addams Family” at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are
taking over as governor while being blackmailed by a reporter, will be released on Hulu. The movie premiered in theaters in December 2025, and features Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ayo Edebiri.
Friday, Feb. 6
J. Cole’s highly anticipated seventh album, “The Fall-Off,” will be available for streaming globally. The project is rumored to be his final release.
Horror film “Whistle” will be released in theaters across the nation. Directed by Corin Hardy, the movie features a group of high school students who encounter an ancient, cursed whistle. The run time for “Whistle” is an hour and 37 minutes.
At 7 p.m., The Athena Cinema will kick off the third annual Heroes in Color film series, showcasing stories and voices of people of color within the film industry. This four-film lineup will begin with “Blade,” a 1998 movie originating from Marvel Comics.
Admission: Free, tickets required
required and can be reserved online or in person.
Admission: Free
There is Sibs Social in the Baker Center Ballroom from 8-10 p.m. Students can bring their siblings of all ages to enjoy snacks, movies and games. There will also be keepsakes to take home.
Admission: Free Saturday, Feb. 7
The fourth-floor lobby of Vernon R. Alden Library is hosting Siblings Weekend button and magnet making from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. People can bring their own images, magazine pages and doodles to turn into a button or magnet.
Admission: Free In Front Room Coffee House from 2-4 p.m., Dr. Sarah Wyatt is leading Space Flight OHIO, an interactive class about gravity for students and their siblings in Kindergarten through seventh grade. It is also open to students and siblings of all ages.
Admission: Free
GLOHIO, an immersive glow-in-thedark party hosted by the University Program Council, is happening in the Baker University Center Ballroom from 5-8 p.m. This event will have glow activities and surprises for all students and their families.
Admission: Free
Sunday, Feb. 8
The District in Boyd Hall is hosting its annual Super Bowl Party from 5-8 p.m. There is a special menu for the event.
Admission: Meal swipe or cashless payment entry required
Saturday, Feb. 7
Ohio University’s Black Student Cultural Programming Board will host its annual Siblings Weekend concert in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on 47 E. Union St. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., DJ D Woods and Rj in da Cut will open for Chicago rapper Queen Key.
Admission: $15-29, tickets required Sunday, Feb. 8
Puppy Bowl XXII will kick off at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet and Max. Showcasing 150 dogs from 72 shelters, teams Ruff and Fluff will compete for the Lombarky Trophy.
With a 6:30 p.m. kickoff, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face off in Santa Clara, California, for Super Bowl LX. The game will be streamed on various sites, including Tubi, YouTube TV and more. Spotify’s 2025 most-streamed artist, Bad Bunny, will headline the halftime show.
‘Maul: Shadow Lord’ trailer brings a classic revenge story to ‘Star Wars”
FOR THE POST
MICAH FENNER |
Disney and Lucasfilm released the first trailer for their upcoming “Star Wars” animated series, “Maul: Shadow Lord,” on Jan. 23. The series is a continuation of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” placing itself shortly after the end of the seven season show.
With the first two episodes set to release on April 6, the series will continue the story of fan favorite villain Maul (Sam Witwer) as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire amidst a rapidly changing galaxy after the fall of the Galactic Republic.
The trailer begins on a panning shot of a large cityscape at night. While the city first appears to be on the planet Coruscant, Lucasfilm themselves have revealed this planet to be a new one named Janix. City planets like Coruscant are not often seen in “Star Wars” media, so it’s nice to see a new one take center stage.
Very quickly into the trailer, we see the updates to the classic “Clone Wars” art style. Where that show used CG animation to make characters appear vaguely like clay models, this series takes an approach similar to painting. Many of the effects and characters are drawn to look like they were made with broad strokes from paintbrushes, making scenes feel more like they’re coming out of a storybook.
“Times have changed,” Maul said, “I will show you the galaxy for what it truly is.”
As he speaks, it cuts to multiple different scenes: four unknown individuals rappelling down a skyscraper, soldiers disembarking a supply ship, a gun ship flying over an empty street and two unknown groups beginning a shootout.
The camera cuts to shots introducing two more main characters of the series. The first is a young Twi’lek woman named Devon Izara (Gideon Alden). Izara can be seen wielding a lightsaber, hinting
she may be one of the few Jedi who survived Order 66 from “Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith.” Lucasfilm’s own description of the character says she is of interest to Maul as she “may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.”
The second character we are introduced to is Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura), a detective on Janix. Alongside his droid companion twoboots (Richard Ayoade), the duo is investigating a new shadowy threat on the planet related to Maul in some way. These four characters will make up the crux of the show’s fast-paced adventure.
After a few more scenes of the cityscape and action, the trailer finally gives viewers their first full look at Maul, dressed in all black attire as he emerges from a spacecraft behind a group of cops. As he ignites his twin-bladed lightsaber, he launches himself into the police officers and the trailer into its climax.
The trailer continues by showing more landscape shots as Maul continues to monologue.
“We have all been made to suffer,” Maul said as an Imperial Walker fires on a crowd, “We survive, but do not live.”
More action shots continue to flash across the screen as we see Izara commandeer a gunship and an unknown reptilian force user flip a vehicle.
Amidst these action shots, we receive our first glimpses of who appear to be the main villains in the form of the Inquisitorious, a group of Imperial Force users seemingly bent on capturing or killing Maul. The two inquisitors shown, Marrok (A.J LoCascio) and the Eleventh Brother, have both appeared in previous “Star Wars” media, albeit very briefly in both.
As action continues to unfold on the screen, Maul wraps up his diatribe as we see him fight Marrok and a group of stormtroopers.
“Chains can be broken,” Maul said as his lightsaber spun around and through the soldiers firing at him, “And Empires can be shattered.”
As a few notes from “Duel of the Fates” play in the background, Maul strikes down an unknown individual, just as the title card finally appears on screen.
After the success of the previous “Star Wars” show, “Andor,” fans are
can continue the
hopeful this new
With less than three months before their release, “Maul:
has ample time to keep building the hype among fans before it finally drops.
Noah Kahan breaks the silence with new song, album release date
ANNA SONGER | FOR THE POST
Noah Kahan released “Stick Season” Oct. 14, 2022. This album launched his career and doubled his fanbase. Almost one year later, he released “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever),” which had all the original songs from the first album along with seven new songs, including “Your Needs, My Needs” and “Call Your Mom.” Then in 2024, “Stick Season (Forever)” was released with new features from artists like Lizzy
McAlpine, Post Malon* and Gracie Abrams.
Kahan did not release any new music in 2025, but finally, fans are getting what they have been asking for. On Jan. 30, Kahan released “The Great Divide,” which was released as a single, but it will show up as Track 6 on his new album. This marks the end of the Stick Season era that has lasted almost four years. The new album will also be titled “The Great Divide” and is set to release April 24. Kahan is known for the personal approach he puts into his music, and fans continue to see that with his new song. The song opens with the signature Kahan folk guitar from “Stick Season.” It is upbeat and nostalgic. Then he starts singing, it is quiet and almost sad, maybe even regretful. It starts with the words, “I can’t recall the last time that we talked.” A punch right to the gut of anyone who has grown away from someone.
The song builds, reflecting on an old relationship and the time spent together.
“You know I think about you all the time/ and my deep misunderstanding of your life/ and how bad it must have been for you back then/ and how hard it was to keep it all inside,” Kahan said in the song.
It’s a reflection of a friend he never understood until it was too late. This song is like an apology.
Finally, we get to hear the chorus fit into the whole song. The words “I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich” bring fans to tears, wishing the best for someone they once loved and now don’t even know anymore.
He continues, “I hope you’re scared of only ordinary s--t/ Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin/ and not your soul and what He might do with it.” This shows the other person must have been battling with religion and what comes after death.
The second verse dives deeper into the divide between the two. “I heard nothing but the bass in every ballad that you’d play/ while you swore to God the singer read your mind,” Kahan said in the song.
He was only hearing the most basic part of the song while the other person was identifying with the lyrics. This is a metaphor for the whole relationship, it seems, because he was only seeing what was on the surface while their story was much more complex.
Once listeners make it to the bridge, they get hit again with gutwrenching lyrics. “Did you wish that I could know/ that you’d fade to some place/ I wasn’t brave enough to go?”
This shows the other person was sinking deeper into problems with mental health, and Kahan was young and didn’t have what it took to reach out and help. He acted like everything was fine to avoid conflict, but this song shows his guilt for not being a better friend.
“I hope you threw a brick right into that stained glass/ I hope you’re with someone who isn’t scared to ask/ I hope that you’re not losing sleep about what’s next/ or about your
soul and what He might do with it,” Kahan sang in the outro.
This brings back that theme of religious struggle. It also talks about how he wishes the former friend found someone who “isn’t scared to ask.” This shows that he hopes they found someone who isn’t scared to understand their struggle and help them through, instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.
This song really hits home for many people because this story, while it varies from person to person, is a common theme among friendships. Many people are afraid to share what they are struggling with out of fear of rejection. Many people are scared of confrontation and mental health issues. They are very hard to deal with. Kahan has been a strong advocate for mental health since the beginning, and he is continuing that in his new album.
series
franchise’s hot streak.
Shadow Lord”
(MARY JANE BURNETTE | FOR THE POST)
Image courtesy of Disney © Disney and its related entities. All Rights Reserved.
Honoring Catherine O’Hara: The Emmy-winning actress and comedy icon
Two-time Emmy-winning actress and screenwriter Catherine O’Hara died Jan. 30 at the age of 71. The “Home Alone” actress died following a “brief illness,” according to her agent and manager. Throughout her 51-year career, the comedic sensation knew every way to bring audiences to tears with her physical acting and famously rambunctious characters.
O’Hara began her career in Toronto, her hometown, as a cast member of the theatre troupe, “The Second City.” The troupe would go on to create the sketch comedy show “Second City Television,” better known as “SCTV,” in which she was a frequent performer and writer until the show ended in 1984. She would secure her first Primetime Emmy Award for her writing in the episode, “Moral Majority.”
She would first break onto the film scene in Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours,” fully cementing herself with her critically-acclaimed role in the Oscar-winning film “Beetlejuice,” as Delia Deetz. She would become a true star with her iconic role as Kevin McCallister’s mom, Kate McCallister, in the Christmas classic, “Home Alone.”
The film would be the first of several box office smashes for O’Hara, with the film racking up over $475 million. Her character would make her into “America’s Mom” and was the defining role of her career.
Months before the premiere of the “Home Alone” sequel, she would marry her partner,
Bo Welch, who she met on the set of “Beetlejuice.” At the time of her death, they had been married for nearly 34 years.
In 1993, after putting her name in the history books of Christmas movies, she would do the same for Halloween. O’Hara rejoined “Beetlejuice” director Tim Burton for the stop-motion film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” voicing Sally. It would be one of the most well-received animated films in her long list of voice acting.
O’Hara’s career would be mostly quiet throughout the end of the 2000s and early 2010s. That was until her first main role in a sitcom television series as Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.”
“Schitt’s Creek,” written by Eugene Levy and his son, Daniel Levy, is a show following the Rose family’s collapse from riches and ending up in the town that Eugene Levy’s character, Johnny, bought as a joke for his son years prior.
O’Hara was the first thought by the Levys to play the role of Moira Rose, but she initially declined as she has never been a fan of longterm TV series and being “in the hands of strangers,” as she told Buzzfeed. But, following a pilot presentation to CBC and a lot of begging from Eugene Levy after the show was picked up, she accepted the role and the rest is history.
It’s safe to say that Rose would be nothing without the mind and hands of O’Hara to shape her character. It was O’Hara who crafted the idea for the overall look for Rose, complete with wigs and a
Daphne Guinness-inspired wardrobe.
Moira is a vivacious balbatron of a woman. Those are words actually used by the well-habilimented matriarch. Many of Moira’s famously eccentric phrases were added to the script by O’Hara herself, including the famous pronunciation of “baby.”
Moira, along with O’Hara herself, also became an icon for the LGBTQ+ community. Moira’s son, David, played by Daniel Levy, is pansexual and is always treated with nothing but unconditional love by Moira and the characters of “Schitt’s Creek.”
The show would win two GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. The award ceremony represents the best in media for representation of queer people and relationships.
That would be some of the many awards that “Schitt’s Creek” would take home to Canada. In 2020, the final
season of “Schitt’s Creek” would sweep the main seven Primetime Emmy Awards for a comedy series, including a win for O’Hara for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Even at 66, after the conclusion of the show that gave her first acting Emmy, O’Hara continued working until her death. Her final film roles were in the 2024 sequel of “Beetlejuice,” returning as Delia Deetz and as the voice of Pinktail in “The Wild Robot.”
Her final television show roles were as Gail in the second season of the hit HBO show “The Last of Us” and as Patty Leigh in the comedy show “The Studio.” She received Emmy nominations for both roles and is currently nominated for an Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for “The Studio.”
O’Hara was an actress, wife, mother and friend to many.
Since her death, there have been countless tributes and statements from her co-stars and colleagues, including from Eugene Levy, Macaulay Culkin, “The Studio” co-star Seth Rogan and “The Last of Us” co-star Pedro Pascal. Culkin, who still refers to O’Hara as “mom” decades after “Home Alone,” wrote on Instagram, “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”
In the wise words of Moira’s daughter, Alexis, played by Annie Murphy, “goodbye to a great actress.” Her life and work will live on for generations to come.
O’Hra is survived by her husband, Welch, and her sons, Matthew and Luke.
Roblox vs. Schlep: Exposing child predators is vigilantism
The gaming platform Roblox has been at the center of controversy for the past year, due to being used as a hub for child grooming, which left the platform as the defendant in over 35 lawsuits last year, including a case against the state of Louisiana.
Currently, attorney Mike Mandell, also known as Law by Mike on social media, is partnering with the legal team of predator buster and gamer, Schlep, in a lawsuit against the platform representing over 800 victims.
Schlep, known as @ realschlep on YouTube, is a popular YouTube and Roblox content creator. With over 2.8 million followers on YouTube, Schlep has built his platform on taking down online child predators and educating the public on the dangers of online platforms. Taking a modern Chris Hansen approach, Schlep has done undercover work, creating decoy accounts to lure and expose predators, some leading to arrests and prosecution.
Schlep himself was a victim of grooming on Roblox by an unidentified game developer. He has been vocal that his experience, along with those he knows, is the reason he started exposing predators.
On Aug. 9, 2025, Roblox sent Schlep a cease-and-desist letter, alleging his methods violated the platform’s terms of service and “actively interfered” with established safety protocols. His accounts were permanently banned, and Roblox warned continued activity could prompt legal action against him.
Roblox argued Schlep’s
approach, creating accounts that impersonated minors and directing conversations off-platform, risked exposing users to harm and undermining internal moderation systems.
This accumulated into a “vigilante” ban as their response to the situation.
“Similar to actual predators, they often impersonated minors, actively approached other users, then tried to lead them to other platforms to have sexually explicit conversations (which is against our Terms of Use),” Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, said in a statement.
Schlep, for his part, rejected Roblox’s characterization of his work as “vigilantism,” insisting his methods mirrored those used by law enforcement and that he consistently coordinated with authorities before publishing evidence.
Schlep’s ban caused severe online backlash, and the vigilants’ ban would result in Roblox losing $12 billion in revenue overnight.
Thousands of content creators and social media users came out in defense of Schlep, creating the hashtag “FreeSchlep,” as Schlep himself reacted online to the news of the reasoning for his ban.
“Roblox responded now directly to me,” Schlep said.
“When did I ever ‘take the law’ into my own hands? We work with law enforcement, we have six arrests of child predators in your community. Why did you do nothing about felony child predator arrests we were sending you? What a joke.”
X user, @BoostSonicYT, criticized Roblox and its
CEO, saying they were blatantly lying.
“‘We work with law enforcement.’ That’s some good a— [lies] if I’ve ever heard one. The sheer audacity to say they’re in the right, while Schlep has done more right for this community, while Roblox did nothing, that’s David and a heartless corporate business for you. #FreeSchlep.”
While the internet was reeling from the announcement, Roblox contacted Schlep to try to smooth over the situation.
In a video titled “Roblox Contacted me…,” Schlep details the full series of events leading to the banning of his accounts, Roblox’s handling of the situation and the intimidation he is under from the platform.
After a year of trying to communicate with Roblox, Roblox bypassed his lawyers to contact him directly just before the Louisiana lawsuit was filed, calling the move inappropriate and performative.
In that brief exchange, Kaufman emailed Schlep to offer him a way to stay “active in the Roblox community.” However, he did not take the offer.
“Maybe I could have come back to Roblox,” Schlep said. “But if a company
can’t agree to something as basic as speaking in good faith, then there’s something deeper going wrong here. I will not trade my voice for a few Roblox accounts.”
While all of this has been taking place online, causing negative backlash for the platform, CEO David Baszucki addressed the safety concerns of the public.
In a September 2025 interview with CNBC, Roblox CEO David Baszucki announced the last safety features to be added to the platform. Roblox added artificial intelligence age estimation safety checks, live selfies and ID checks. The feature was added gradually across servers internationally in December 2025.
However, Baszucki has been under fire for his comments about child safety on an episode of the New York Times podcast, “Hard Fork Podcast,” where he was asked what he thought the problem of predators on the platform was.
This added to the concerns of child users on Roblox, along with Baszucki’s plan to eventually add an adult dating feature to Roblox.
CLARA LEDER ASST. OPINION EDITOR
It’s officially February, also known as Valentine’s season, and with the sun in Aquarius until Feb. 18, things are beginning to shift in growth mindsets and romantic spaces.
Venus, the planet of romance, remains in Aquarius until Feb. 10. Expect a desire to explore unconventional love, whether that be a new partner or a new trick in the bedroom.
The full moon, known as the “Snow Moon,” occurred Feb. 1 and packed a punch of energy with its arrival, accentuates feelings of restlessness.
While the cosmos are hard at work, here’s how this week will impact each of the zodiac signs:
Aries (March 21–April 19)
Focus on your romantic and personal needs and deeply consider who makes you feel alive. Passion in your romantic life is expected as you chase fiery, magnetic energy. People may look to you for answers due to your innovation. Focus on steady movement and building a stable routine. Start this week, and hop back on Hinge while you’re at it.
HOROSCOPE
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
This week, Uranus, the planet of revolution, moves into your sign Feb. 3, marking the end of a retrograde. This reignites determination after feeling stuck. You might find yourself in a more social mood. Taurus, the universe is signaling to you it’s time to take risks and quit hiding in the shadows. Get out there, you’re meant to be seen.
Gemini (May 21–June 20)
Gemini, this week emphasizes learning new things and sparking curiosity. Now is a great time to try out a hobby or see an old friend. Emphasize talking to friends this week; it brings opportunities and experiences. As Uranus goes direct in Taurus on Feb. 3, expect restlessness with thoughts of the future and longterm goals. Hunker down, Gemini.
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
The week brings great energy to your career path. Now is a great time to network and interview. This time period also calls for you to look inward, examining fears and intuition, which brings a breakthrough for you emotionally. Refocus on communication and return to your own voice. Take care of what takes care of you, Cancer.
CROSSWORD
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)
Financially, this week is exquisite for you, with the potential for bonuses or unexpected income. Love is most likely to find those who are single unexpectedly. Be prepared for minor conflicts this week; don’t let this disrupt the path to your goals. Stay grounded in who you are, Leo.
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
The full moon energy will encourage you to clear out parts of you which no longer serve. Focus on setting boundaries and recognizing your own limits. Big feelings are on the horizon. Take a chance, Virgo; it’s time for you to finally get the recognition you deserve.
Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)
This week begs you to live with intention, Libra. The sun in Aquarius is a spark plug for creativity and romance. You may feel lighter and more playful this week. Refocus on balance in your daily life, especially in your career. Your career will also grow more stable this week, so avoid any major decisions.
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)
If you have been putting in work on yourself or your professional standing, you will see results this week. Your words are important this week and people may seek out your advice more than usual. Although this week brings fresh energy, remember to stay rooted, as later this month, health and confidence will take a hit.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21):
Buckle up, Sagittarius, this week brings high emotions and inner turmoil. Expect to feel slightly off this week as you may face work hurdles or relationship challenges. Ground yourself in meaningful moments and practice patience. Spend time with your loved ones and rely on their support. Work on recognizing big feelings, not trying to control them.
Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19):
Capricorn, this week is a good time to work on your foundation. The efforts you make now toward your health and well-being will pay off later this month. Refocus on exercise and commit to solid routines this week.
Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18):
This week, Aquarius, avoid impulsive decisions and focus instead on the best version of you. While the sun rests in your sign, you may feel particularly drawn to break free from expectations placed on you by yourself or others. The full moon will particularly affect your personal relationships. Those who are single may meet someone special and couples could make big changes for the future.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Pisces, this is a time to slow down and recharge. The energy of the full moon forces you to break bad habits. Mercury, the planet of communication, moves into Pisces Feb. 6, bringing newfound confidence and important personal discoveries or news your way. Focus on yourself.
SUDOKU
JACKSON PENNINGTON FOR THE POST
ANIMAL STORIES
ALAINA DACKERMANN DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES | 1/27
Ohio suffers two defeats against top-five rival Niagara
ANABELLE GRACE FOR THE POST
In its second-to-last road trip, Ohio took on the Niagara University Purple Eagles (19-5). This was an important matchup for the rankings as the Nationals approached. Ohio (23-5) was ranked No. 2 while Niagara was No. 4. Unfortunately, while the Bobcats had swept the Eagles in December, they fell in both games this weekend.
A key challenge for Ohio in this series was the changes to the forward lines. Two of the team’s top scorers could not play.
FRIDAY
The Eagles handed the Bobcats their first loss in the new year with a final score of 4-1. Freshman forward Lance Mengel led the offense. After an excellent performance last weekend, Mengel scored his fifth goal for the Bobcats. Defender Dean Taylor scored twice for the Eagles.
The teams were evenly matched in the first period, with 11 shots for Ohio and 12 for Niagara. Halfway through, Taylor buried the puck in the net. Niagara’s Adam Sokja assisted the goal.
Ohio’s only action in the first was a holding penalty from sophomore defender TJ Richey. The Bobcats killed the penalty to end the period. Their penalty kill has been a major strength this year. They lead the independent teams in penalty kill percentage.
In the second frame, the Purple Eagles’ assistant
captain and leading scorer, Charlie Belanger, tallied a goal.
Immediately after, Mengel scored with an assist from sophomore defender Kevin Kasper.
This period was comparatively clean of penalties. Sokja received a misconduct, meaning he was benched for ten minutes, but Niagara could still have five skaters on the ice.
With only one goal down, the comeback was within reach for Ohio in the third. The defense held strong, but no one was able to score. In the fight for the win, the Bobcats earned a delay of the game penalty, a sloppy mistake that decreased their chances. Even during a power play as the clock wound down, they could not break through the Eagles’ defense. The coaches pulled Bird, giving the Bobcats a 6-4 player advantage. The Eagles found the back of the empty
net instead.
Finally, Taylor scored again with seconds to go. This marked only his fourth goal of the season, but he is tied for the most assists at 14.
SATURDAY
Ohio’s defense performed slightly better, allowing three goals. This time, senior Garrett Alderman started in goal. After the disappointing loss the previous night, the rematch was littered with penalties. Still, a more physical effort from the Bobcats lost to Niagara 3-1.
In the first period, Ohio vastly outshot Niagara, 209. Niagara’s goalie, Jacob Dubinsky, played like a wall and denied every shot. The Bobcats effectively shut down their opponents by preventing scoring opportunities.
The Eagles got off to a quick
Ohio falls 23-10 to Central Michigan
JUDE
HANNAHS SPORTS STAFF WRITER
Ohio (4-4, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) is now officially at .500 this season while being one of the weaker opponents in the MAC. The Bobcats are coming off a 23-10 loss to the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-4, 1-1 MAC) on the latter team’s home mat.
In the past six matchups, Central Michigan’s wrestlers have been able to best Ohio’s wrestlers four games to two. Last season, while performing at The Convo, the Bobcats came away with a close 18-16 victory. This time, however, the Chippewas maintained control for most of the dual meet.
Early on in the 125 lb. weight class, Ohio looked promising with freshman Brayden Teunissen leading the way for an 11-3 major decision win over Central Michigan’s graduate student Colton Camacho. The freshman from Belvidere, Illinois, took advantage in the third period to rally his team to a 4-0 start in the contest.
Following that, the Chippewas responded well with a major decision from the likes of redshirt junior Andrew Austin. Austin went up against Ohio’s junior Ryan Meek, and, to put it simply, Meek was just outperformed by Austin.
Meek was able to get a few shots in for himself, but Austin was quicker and reacted better to getting an advantage over his opponent. Austin went on to win 13-4 in a major
start in the second. Richey received an elbowing penalty. Although the Bobcats fended off the Eagles during the penalty kill, Seth Coulter scored right after.
Richey took another penalty, along with junior forward Mathieu Ovaert. Three Eagles also had penalties.
Then, Ovaert made up for his infraction to score Ohio’s only goal. It was his tenth of the season. In the first series of January, he hit 100 career points. Sophomore forward Nolan Abraham and junior defender Drake Nabozny provided the assists.
Fans were in for a treat as the third period began. Players immediately dropped their gloves as Bobcats Mengel and junior forward Will Cohen got in on the action. Niagara’s Connor Loft and Quinn Schneidmiller participated. Schneidmiller was ejected from the game while Mengel received a ten-minute misconduct.
Again, the Bobcats could not erase the deficit. Aiden Callen scored for the Eagles.
The Bobcats killed two penalties. Afterward, they pulled Alderman. Niagara took advantage and scored with 9 seconds remaining.
The ACHA releases its rankings Wednesdays. This sweep likely won’t drop Ohio too far because they faced a top-five opponent.
Next weekend, Ohio returns home to play Canisius University (9-12-1) at Bird Arena Feb. 6 and 7.
decision win, and the two teams were tied at four apiece at this point.
From matches in the 141 lb. weight class to 165 lb. weight class, no matter how hard the Bobcats were competing, Central Michigan was a force that could not be stopped.
Starting at the 141 lb. spot for the Chippewas was sophomore Nick Blackburn and facing him for Ohio was sophomore Kolten Barker. In the first period, both wrestlers were neck-and-neck, but by the second period, Blackburn took over with a 3-1 lead. Come the fourth, Blackburn held his own and won in a 4-1 decision. The score was 7-4 in favor of Central Michigan. Similarly, the Bobcats’
redshirt junior Paul Woo stood his ground for the most part against redshirt junior Jimmy Nugent. Woo’s defense was to be considered ideal for any wrestler, but offensively, he could not find any way to attack Nugent.
Nugent was good enough to earn a point off an escape in the second period, and then he earned a second point for 1:03 of riding time in the third. He’d win in a 2-1 decision, and his squad was at 10 points to Ohio’s four.
Without a doubt, the 157 lb. weight class match was the most fun to witness for fans of either team. Redshirt junior Derek Raike looked like he was to be the clear victor versus the Chippewas’ redshirt senior
and punished Miami with it, as they hit five 3-pointers, with Elli Garnett having two of them.
Miami was still very potent in this quarter. Despite Ohio producing an early lead of seven points, Miami continued to crawl back. Miami shot the ball better than Ohio in this quarter, but forced turnovers proved to be the difference, as it allowed Ohio a few more shots.
Ohio also got more free throws, which it used to its advantage. Ohio led at the end of the first quarter with a score of 28-21.
The second quarter shifted the tide completely. The shots that were working for the Bobcats in the first started missing, and Miami was able to continue its hot streak of shooting, while also making seven 3- pointers.
The Bobcats completely struggled to get anything going on offense. They only scored 11 points in the second quarter compared to the previous 28. The Bobcats attempted many 3-pointers, but only made one. This alone made it a struggle to keep the lead, but the turnovers would also pile up, giving Miami points that could have been avoided. The second quarter ended with Miami winning by a score of 48-39 at the half.
Ohio had a much better third quarter offensively, as the team got over the shooting slump and returned to its previous form. Garnett continued to play well, and Bailey Tabeling also contributed points for the Bobcats.
Despite the solid offense from Ohio’s guards, the Redhawks had their third straight quarter of 50% shooting, and while they weren’t making as many 3-pointers, they applied a lot of pressure on Ohio’s defense.
Though Ohio was getting some of the turnovers they wanted, its offense turned the ball right back over a lot of the time, putting further strain on the defense against the best team in the MAC. The third quarter would end with Miami still holding a double-digit lead of 73-61.
Mason Shrader.
In the second period, Raike led 7-2 and was just two minutes away from getting his team out of a scoring slump. Then the third period happened. Shrader was able to score an escape point, a takedown and a reversal on Raike. With seconds remaining and the running time in his favor, Shrader advanced with the help of a second stall call on Raike.
Redshirt senior Garrett Thompson was one of the few Bobcats to best his opponent. He jumped to a 4-0 lead in the second period, which included an escape and a takedown.
Redshirt senior Cody Brenner got an escape point himself, and the match ended in a 5-1 decision for Thompson.
At this point, Ohio was only down nine to Central Michigan’s 16-point score. Thompson’s trusty teammate, redshirt senior Sal Perrine, took care of business against redshirt senior Adrien Cramer in an impressive 8-3 decision victory.
The Bobcats had a chance at potentially taking this dual meet, but the final two matches saw sophomores Evan Wingrove and Wyatt Schmitt be overpowered by the Chippewas’ redshirt sophomore Luke Cochran and redshirt senior Bryan Caves. Next Friday, Ohio will face conference rival Kent State on the road once again. That dual meet is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m.
If the Bobcats wanted to come back, they needed to play well in this quarter; however, that was the opposite of what they did, shooting 27% from the field while down twelve is not a good strategy. This was also Miami’s worst quarter of play, but Ohio stood out. The Redhawks just needed to coast for the rest of the quarter to win, and that’s exactly what they did.
Ohio was not able to make a single 3-pointer, and many of the paint shots attempted rimmed out. All of the turnovers from the game and poor shooting added up in this moment, and it culminated in a 20-point loss for Ohio, with Miami remaining undefeated in the conference. Miami would win 90-70.
Though Ohio didn’t get seriously outrebounded as it does in a lot of games, the difference in points of turnovers was a huge issue. Ohio has been a team that relies on steals to generate a lot of its points, and it usually doesn’t allow the other team to employ the same strategy. Miami was able to cash in 33 points off turnovers, while Ohio managed 24. That was a game-changer for the Bobcats as they also turned the ball over more than Miami, which they usually never do.
Even in the loss, both Tabeling and Garnett played very well and had 15 points on 50% shooting from the field. Ohio will need solid play from both of them for the rest of the season, as it has a few more tough MAC games lined up. With this loss, Ohio will be heading back to The Convo looking to get back on track with a win against Western Michigan.
Forward Mathieu Ovaert (19) celebrates after a goal during the Bobcats game against Grand Valley State, Oct. 18, 2025, in Bird Arena. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
TJ England during the Bobcats match against Edinboro, Jan. 19, 2025. The Bobcats beat Edinboro 26-14 in The Convo. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
(JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
Men’s Basketball: Ohio stars shine in dominating effort at Buffalo
OWEN LIPSTREU ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Ohio dominated Buffalo on the road with 50 points in the paint, as redshirt junior Javan Simmons and senior guard Jackson Paveletzke had double-doubles in the 95-83 win Saturday afternoon.
Ohio looked to get out of its funk against Buffalo Saturday afternoon, having lost four of its last five games. These two programs had already met once in the 2025-2026 season, and the Bobcats came out on top and were looking to sweep heading into the second half of the conference schedule.
Buffalo caught the Bobcats defense sleeping on the opening tip as Ryan Sabol hit a three-pointer, but that did not faze Ohio. The Bobcats responded with a quick 7-0 run, powered by senior forward Aidan Hadaway, who hit a three-pointer of his own and forced a pair of misses on the defensive end to help Ohio take an early lead.
Ohio kept it rolling as Hadaway found senior guard Ajay Sheldon for a threepointer and then, a couple of possessions later, Hadaway kept passing and found freshman guard JJ Kelly for a layup to give Ohio a 12-8 advantage.
Out of the media timeout, the Bulls responded with more physicality, fighting for extra possessions and forcing Ohio turnovers to go on a 6-0 run and grab the 14-12 lead.
The Bobcats were looking for some production from the second unit and got some on a hard drive, finishing at the rim by redshirt freshman forward Kiir Kuany for an and-one as Ohio recaptured the lead. Ohio then added to it with a pair of layups from Simmons.
The first half was foul-filled and both teams were taking advantage at the free-throw line, Ohio taking five and Buffalo taking six in the first 12 minutes. Ohio looked to find another easy to score too and went back to the paint, getting a bucket from both Simmons and Hadaway as the Bobcats held a 27-21 edge.
Despite a quiet first half scoring, Paveletzke continued to provide on offense with six assists as the Bulls tried to keep him off the scoreboard. The Bobcats continued to attack through Paveletzke, who found Simmons on a 4-0 run of his own as Ohio’s lead went to
double digits, at 33-22.
Both squads struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, with neither group shooting better than 30%.
With only three minutes to play in the period, Daniel Freitag made a key one for the Bulls, plus a foul that cut the lead to 35-28 and gave him 10 points.
Ohio fought back with a 9-2 run, led by another threepointer by Sheldon and four points from Simmons, who had 16 first-half points. The half ended with a pair of free throws from Kelly as the Bobcats went into the locker room with a 46-31 lead.
The offenses began to heat up for both teams as they went back and forth out of the break, only stopping due to the first media timeout of the second half. The timeout did not slow either team down, as Buffalo cut the lead to 10 on a three-pointer, but the Bobcats immediately responded with a layup from redshirt senior Jalen Breath.
Buffalo guard Angelo Brizzi caught fire of his own and had consecutive and-ones to put pressure on Ohio as the lead was cut all the way down to six, at 58-52. Ohio kept fighting, subbing back in Hadaway, who had four fouls, and he made the risky decision to immediately pay off with a layup down low. He would miss the free-throw that followed, but Simmons grabbed the offensive rebound and put it in.
The lead remained around 10 for the next few minutes as the Bobcats took advantage of the Bulls playing with a smaller lineup and finding looks in the paint, including another dunk by Hadaway and a huge layup with his left hand by Simmons.
Ohio continued to find the open man; this time it was Kelly in the corner with a three-pointer on a pass from Paveletzke to give him nine assists and the
Bobcats a 77-64 lead over the Bulls.
Buffalo started to look down low for its points, and forward Tim Oboh delivered, scoring six straight for the Bulls as they looked to close the gap, now down nine, 7768. Freitag then got involved again, making his ninth and 10th free throws of the game, cutting the lead to just seven with just under five minutes to play.
Buffalo kept the pressure on Ohio as the teams exchanged three-pointers, but it was Paveletzke again with sharp vision to find a cutting Hadaway under the basket for a layup before Paveletzke would make one of his own to push the lead to 84-73, and with only two minutes to play, the Bobcats looked to shut the door.
The front court was the driving factor for the winning effort as Hadaway had 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Simmons had a career high 24 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.
These two had success, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Paveletzke, who went to the line for the game-sealing free throws that would give him 16 points for the afternoon and a double-double of his own in Ohio’s 95-83 win over Buffalo.
Guard Jackson Paveletzke (13) during the Bobcats game against Northern Illinois, Jan. 20, 2025. The Bobcats beat NIU 80-77 in The Convo. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)