Breaking News

Column

Effects of bullying can often last a lifetime

NOTE: A recent Facebook post has prompted the re-release of this article which was written in 2022, a reminder that bullying is abuse and is not OK. When we watch media reports showing adults using bullying tactics to fuel division in this country, how can we not expect bullying at every level of our society? If we want our children to be kind, they need to see kindness at work around them. If we want our children to accept others, we must assure that they see us walking the walk that we keep talking about. If we spew angry, ugly words that spell hatred, our children will learn to ...

Deadliest drug threat our nation has ever seen

It is an important time for families to have “the talk.” The conversations that need to be had are tough ones. Where does one begin to talk to his or her children about something so harmful? The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) wants you to know about the 4,895 and counting photographs of Americans whose families desired to share their stories to, hopefully, help others to avoid the grief they have felt. The memorial, DEA Faces of Fentanyl Wall is located at DEA Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The objective is to increase awareness and decrease demand for ...

Are we listening to our kids?

What did we do before cell phones? Have you heard any of the things I’ve been hearing and seeing, re: social media? “Judy” checked out the kid site at YouTube that her 10-year-old granddaughter views. The parents said it was geared for kids ages 12 and under, safe. My friend, a retired teacher and coach, suggested Mom and Dad should take a look. Her granddaughter complained to her, “Why did you say anything to Mom and Dad?” I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. In mid-summer a couple of years ago, world headlines noted that “China limits online gaming to 3 hours a ...

Demolish any proposal making it harder to amend constitution

There are many compelling reasons Ohioans should demolish any proposal to make it harder for them to amend their state constitution. The most logical and hard-headed: Maintaining their ability to influence how they are taxed. Since the 1850s, not including bond issues, Ohioans have decided more than 40 tax-related proposals to amend the state constitution. Since 1912, all have been decided by simple majority vote. The most significant, in terms of creating a more equitable tax system, were approved with less than 60 percent of the vote. Among them: On Sept. 3, 1912, by a 52-48 vote, ...

Priorities facing legislative scrutiny

Gov. Mike DeWine hit the right notes on several priorities in his State of the State address, legislators from the Mahoning Valley said, but how many of them will survive scrutiny and be funded after review by the General Assembly? During last year’s State of the State, DeWine listed several priorities with some getting passed, such as clamping down on driving while texting and investing in Appalachia. Others went nowhere, like increasing penalties for “dangerous felons.” The Valley’s state legislative delegation had largely positive things to say about DeWine’s speech and ...

Fentanyl: No compromise

My family welcomed the arrival of a new baby a couple of days after Christmas. As Alex was passed from one to another, I watched the care and love on each face, the gentleness in the way they held him, the easy smiles that lit up eyes and uplifted hearts. It is so natural to trust, to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to a young child. Parents still hold their new babies and dream dreams for them, to make the children’s lives special, better than what they had when they were children. We all want wonderful things for the tiny babies we snuggle against us so protectively. It is good ...