Breaking News

Columns

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month observed in September

As we enter Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September, we extend a heartfelt message of support, compassion, and hope. This is a time for us all to come together, raise awareness, and demonstrate that no one has to face their struggles alone. Let us use this month as an opportunity to engage in open conversations about mental health, to offer our support to those in need, and to work towards preventing suicides in our community. Together, we can make a difference. In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday, Sept. 10, we invite you to participate in our special event: ...

You should get ready for soaring electric bills

There is a ticking time bomb hanging over the U.S. economy. The nation’s electricity grid operators and utilities are projecting rapidly approaching power shortfalls. And instead of helping address the crisis, U.S. energy policy is making a bad situation far worse. Power demand is suddenly soaring. New battery and semiconductor manufacturing, reshoring of supply chains, and the arrival of electric vehicles are all driving demand. But it’s the emergence of artificial intelligence and the exponential growth of enormous data centers—with the power needs of small cities—that is ...

School-based health centers ‘a win’ for Ohio students, families and communities

Throughout Ohio, children are heading back to school for a new academic year. Students are excited to be with their classmates and teachers to learn and grow. But for kids to really excel, they need to feel their best to be able to learn at their best. That’s why school-based health centers are so important. School-based health centers provide an opportunity for children to receive healthcare right in their school building. By having health services available on school grounds, students can schedule appointments with healthcare professionals or walk right in if they are ...

So, why is Harris buying ads in Mahoning Valley?

The presidential campaign of Democrat Kamala Harris is spending $90 million over the next three weeks airing commercials in battleground areas as well as Youngstown and Toledo even though the vice president has essentially no chance of beating Republican Donald Trump in Ohio. The Harris campaign said the “$90 million paid media buy will target voters in every battleground state and expand the campaign’s reach into markets like Marquette, Alpena (both in Michigan), Toledo, Erie and Youngstown — markets where the Trump campaign is ceding the airwaves as their candidate spends this ...

Race spotlights abortion and reproductive rights

Abortion and women’s reproductive rights are major election issues, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. It’s no different in the U.S. Senate race in Ohio between Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democratic senator seeking his fourth six-year term, and Republican Bernie Moreno, a former car dealer and blockchain owner. The matchup is considered one of the most competitive Senate races in the country and could decide which political party controls the upper chamber. In Ohio, voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to ensure ...

Campaign money flows more easily to incumbents

In political elections, money is the main reason for the success of candidates. The more you get, the better your chances for winning — and if you’re an incumbent with a big financial lead over your opponent, you’ve got a better than 98% chance of getting reelected. Political action committees, the driving force that funds congressional campaigns, are much more likely to give money to incumbents. In the two congressional races on the Nov. 5 ballot in the Mahoning Valley, there is evidence. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the incumbents — Republican Dave Joyce in the 14th ...