Michael Molnar and Jack Fries set to anchor Ohio’s defense / pg. 8
US Headlines Epstein files investigation, ICE in airports AVERY ST. GEORGE FOR THE POST
16 Mon _________________ Judge temporarily blocks cuts to vaccine recommendations A federal judge temporarily blocked U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from decreasing the number of vaccines recommended to children. The judge said Kennedy was violating federal procedure with his changes to the vaccine advisory committee, the Associated Press reported. In January, Kennedy announced that he would end the federal recommendation of flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV and some meningitis vaccines for all children. The new decision temporarily stops the measure from going into effect. Additionally, the judge’s ruling also stopped the Kennedyappointed vaccine committee from meeting this week in Atlanta. According to the AP, federal health officials have indicated they plan to appeal this decision.
17 Tue __________________ Attorney General Pam Bondi subpoenaed by Congress Congress issued a subpoena for Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions regarding the Epstein files. Bondi was ordered to appear before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on April 14 as a part of the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his involvement in sex trafficking. Earlier this month, the Oversight Committee held a vote to subpoena Bondi, in which Democrats were supported by five Republicans, according to the AP. Republican chairman Rep. James Comer wrote in a letter to Bondi that the Oversight Committee has questions about how the Justice Department has handled the Epstein investigation and whether they are fully complying with the federal order to release the files. The Justice Department said a subpoena was “completely unnecessary” and felt that Bondi has continuously complied with Congress regarding the Epstein files.
18 Wed __________________ Democrats storm out of Justice Department briefing Multiple Democrats furiously left a closed-door briefing about the Epstein files held by the Justice Department. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche visited Capitol Hill to try to ease tensions over the Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
20 minutes with Lori Stewart Gonzalez JACKSON MCCOY, SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY, ALEXANDRA HOPKINS, ABBY WAECHTER | FOR THE POST Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez was sworn in as both OU’s 23rd president and the university’s first woman president Oct. 18, 2023. She has had a long career in higher education administration that ultimately led her to OU. Before coming to Athens, she was the interim president at the University of Louisville from 2022-23, and has been an administrator at the University of Kentucky, Appalachian State University and the University of Tennessee. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and her master’s and doctoral degrees in communication disorders from Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Florida. OU has navigated significant changes during Gonzalez’s tenure, particularly following the passage of Senate Bill 1, also known as the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which was signed into law in March 2025 and took effect in June. At the time, Gonzalez announced the university would sunset its Division of Diversity and Inclusion, emphasizing that the university must “work collectively to preserve the legacy of their work and carry it forever forward.” That same spring, faculty voted to unionize under the United Academics of Ohio University, with negotiations beginning in August. Gonzalez said the university remained committed to “good faith dialogue” throughout the bargaining process. The Post’s executive editors – Jackson McCoy, editor-inchief, Sophia Rooksberry, managing editor, Alexandra Hopkins, community standards editor, and Abby Waechter, director of business strategy – sat down with Gonzalez for a 20-minute conversation March 3. The discussion covered UAOU negotiations, the impact of SB1 on OU’s campus, the termination of head
football coach Brian Smith and her perspective on the state of her presidency. Editor’s Note: President Lori Stewart Gonzalez’s responses have been edited minimally for clarity. Jackson McCoy: What influenced you to work in higher education, and how did you get to Cutler Hall? President Lori Stewart Gonzalez: I am a speech language pathologist by education. I had a mentor in my graduate program as a master’s student that encouraged me to get my doctoral degree, so I followed her to the University of Florida. I came from a small town in Kentucky, and everyone thought I’d go get a PhD and just come back to this town of about 2,000, and I was thinking maybe that’s what I would do, but I got to teach while I was a doctoral student. I was in research, and then that just led to the faculty life. I started as an assistant professor. I went all the way through the ranks. I was an associate dean, a dean, a provost, and I never really had a presidential appointment in my mood board, but I was nominated for this position in my previous position at University of Louisville. I stepped in as the president when we had a transition until they got the new president, and I really enjoyed the work with alumni, closer work with athletics, all those things that are part of a president’s portfolio. I knew about Ohio University because I was from southeast Kentucky and just started digging around in the website and thought, “I’m going to try for this position.” continued pg 2
Playa Bowls opens in Athens BRIDGET DESHLER MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST
People walk outside of Playa Bowls on Court Street, March 19, 2026. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Playa Bowls, an açaí, pitaya, and coconut bowl and smoothie shop, opened its Athens location on Friday, located at 63 S. Court St. next to Raising Cane’s. Owners Brett Coleman and Amy Coleman both own five Playa Bowl locations in the Columbus area. The new location will be their first outside of Columbus. Playa Bowls has reached over 375 locations nationwide. Brett and Amy Coleman were recently awarded the 2026 franchise award winners with their five Columbus locations.
continued pg 3
Invisible Ground Project brings Athens’ history to life
Redshirt Junior, Derek Raike during the Bobcats wrestling match against Buffalo, Feb. 21, 2026. The Bobcats fall to Buffalo 22-16, in The Convo. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST).
LIBBY SHOEMAKER FOR THE POST The Invisible Ground Project allows visitors and locals alike to learn more about the rich history throughout Southeast Ohio. Invisible Ground is a multimedia project involving audio, visual elements and storytelling tied to the physical marker of the historical site. The Southeast Ohio History Center serves as Invisible Ground’s fiscal sponsor for project funding and is collaborating on a “series of nine immersive historical markers” in Athens. Immersive historical markers are located at the Mount Zion Baptist Church, Chauncey and Stuart’s Opera House Theater in Nelsonville, and can be explored through the Invisible
Ground app available on Apple and Android devices. Upon first glance, the Invisible Ground app holds the information and virtual reality for the sites with physical history signs. When the app’s camera is pointed towards the site, it displays historic images and stories paired with audio to create an immersive experience for the user. Invisible Ground is focused on connecting local history to the present day. The Invisible Ground Project now has 17 total markers that can be found in and around Athens County in Nelsonville, Chauncey, Shawnee, Perry and more. continued pg 9
The Democrats were reportedly frustrated with what was said during the briefing by saying they would force Bondi to answer questions under oath next month about the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation.
Perrine and Lehman’s careers conclude on day two of NCAA Tournament JUDE HANNAHS SPORTS STAFF WRITER Ohio (4-7, 1-6 Mid-American Conference) recently had four of its wrestlers compete in the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Tournament in Cleveland at Rocket Arena. Those four Bobcats include redshirt seniors Derek Raike, Garrett Thompson, Sal Perrine and Zayne Lehman. The Championships provided Ohio with a great opportunity to end its season on a high note after a disappointing MAC season.
“We want her under oath because we do not trust her,” Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost said in a statement. continued pg 3
THEPOSTATHENS.COM
MARCH 24, 2026
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27
Athens Public Transit strives for free service / pg. 11
The outside of the Southeast Ohio History Center on South Congress Street, March 23, 2026, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
On the first day of the tournament, both Lehman and Perrine were able to prevail with opening round victories for Ohio. However, Raike and Thompson were unable to match their teammates’
success, going 0-2 Thursday. At 157 lbs., No. 13-seeded Raike went up against Harvard’s No. 20-seeded senior Jimmy Harrington and fell to his opponent by a 4-1 decision. In his second session, Raike wrestled Indiana’s No. 29-seeded redshirt sophomore Bryce Lowery and couldn’t advance with a win. Following him was No. 24-seeded Thompson at 174 lbs. He went toe-to-toe with No. 9-seeded redshirt sophomore Beau Mantanona of Michigan, and eventually came short in a 7-3 decision. continued pg 8