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Ohio beats Ball State in big road series / pg. 7

US Headlines Gas prices surge, Gulf allies vie for continued conflict

Gas prices surge as Iran war continues FINN SMITH | NEWS STAFF WRITER

The continued war between the U.S. and Iran is drawing major geopolitical concerns. Disruptions and closures in Iran’s Strait of Hormuz, a passage that transports about 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade, are causing price jumps for gas across the world, according to the International Energy Agency.

FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER 30 Mon _________________

Chaos, arrests at No Kings protests Thousands of “No Kings” protests took place across the U.S. and in Europe on March 28, according to the Associated Press. At a No Kings protest in Los Angeles, authorities deployed tear gas near a federal detention center. Los Angeles police said 74 people were arrested for failure to disperse following an order given after the rally ended. Some protestors threw rocks, bottles and broken concrete blocks at officers, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A vast majority of the protests remained peaceful, with over 3,100 events registered in all 50 states. In Denver, at least eight people were also arrested for throwing objects, the AP reported.

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Gas prices surge nationwide, highest since 2022 Gas prices in the U.S. surpassed an average of $4 a gallon, the highest since 2022. The prices continue to soar as the war with Iran continues, the AP reported. The national average of $4.02 is over a dollar more than pre-war rates. U.S. drivers have not paid this much at the pump in four years, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. The Iran-U.S. conflict has caused heavy supply chain disruptions for main oil producers in the Middle East. Crude oil costs also rose since the conflict began, according to the AP. The war also caused higher utility bill prices, caused by rising fuel costs. The recent conflict and rising prices have caused backlash from Americans, with 45% of adults being “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas. Gulf allies privately vie for continued U.S. attacks on Iran U.S. allies in the Gulf, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are pushing President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran. They argue Tehran is not yet weakened enough by the month-long strikes, according to the AP. Officials in allied countries are privately stating military operations should not cease until Iranian leadership or behavior is significantly changed. The push from allies is met as Trump wavers between continuing to wage war or settling the conflict. Support for the war in the U.S. is becoming increasingly rare as the global economy continues to suffer and 3,000 are dead across the Mideast. Gulf countries have hosted U.S. forces, becoming sites for offensive strikes, but have not joined in the war directly, the AP reported.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM

APRIL 7, 2026

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 29

Rhythm & Food finds harmony in the kitchen / pg. 12

According to the American Automobile Association, the national average for gas on April 2 was $4.08, marking the first time in four years the national average exceeded $4 a gallon. The average cost of gas in Ohio is $3.750, as of Sunday, according to AAA. continued pg 2

New ownership for Hyacinth Bean Florist Hyacinth Bean Florist has been serving the community for all their floral needs for over 20 years, and now, under new ownership, the shop will continue to provide for the Athens community. FIONA PETTICREW HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER Many people love surprising their loved ones with flowers or brightening someone’s day with a bouquet of roses. There are several places to fetch flowers in Athens for whatever occasion, and Hyacinth Bean Florist, now under new ownership, is where many go for their floral needs. Hyacinth Bean Florist, located at 540 W. Union St., had its grand re-opening celebration March 31, at which new owners Whitney and Brett Walls cut a ribbon in front of the store, beginning a new chapter. Polly Creech, the original owner of the floral shop, opened it 21 years ago after growing tired of the “bureaucracy” of working in health care. Before opening Hyacinth Bean Florist, she began by growing her own flowers and selling them at the Athens Farmers Market, other sellers in town and wholesalers in Columbus. During this time, Creech was being asked to provide flowers for weddings, and she ended up doing 21 weddings in three years before deciding to open up her own shop. “So I had to make a decision,” Creech said. “Am I going to keep growing flowers, or am I going to open the flower shop and really be accessible to people? So I decided to open the flower shop.” Creech said she wanted the

The inside of Hyacinth Bean Florist on West Union Street, April 6, 2026, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

opportunity to work parttime and did not want to deal with the paperwork and “government reports” required to run her business. Now, she is looking forward to making new art, as she enjoys walking throughout the woods and collecting driftwood, turtle shells and other elements to create natural centerpieces. “I want to spend more time walking in the woods,” Creech said. “I want to volunteer for Friends of the Shelter Dogs.

And I want to work with Passionworks. I just didn’t have the time to do all those things unless I sold it.” The ribbon cutting attracted many individuals and locals, chattering about the products on the shelves and enjoying the cookies provided for them. Bonnie Genney, Brett Walls’s grandmother, was present at the ceremony and loved the presentation of the store.

Genney said. “There’s a lot of community interest in here. They just did a really good job here, it really looks so pretty.” continued pg 12

“I love it, it’s just beautiful,”

OU to sunset 32 undergraduate programs LAYNEE ESLICH FOR THE POST Ohio University will eliminate or combine 32 programs by Aug. 15 in response to the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, also known as Senate Bill 1. The law requires public universities to evaluate academic programs and eliminate those that graduate fewer than five students annually on average over a three-year period. The mandate falls under Ohio Revised Code section 3345.454, “Retrenchment and Program Elimination.”

continued pg 3

The university’s Board of Trustees must approve the cuts and may request waivers for certain programs before July 15. If approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the waived program might continue temporarily while working to meet enrollment standards.