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Politics of Trump in the U.S. Senate race

Despite facing four criminal indictments, former President Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for president this year. Trump remains very popular in Ohio — which he handily won in 2016 and 2020, taking away its longtime swing-state status in presidential politics. So, it was a huge victory for Cleveland-area businessman Bernie Moreno to get Trump’s endorsement in the three-man Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Trump’s endorsement played the most significant factor in J.D. Vance’s 2022 emergence from a crowded Republican field for the state’s other U.S. Senate ...

America needs more electricity right now

An extraordinary but little noticed economic phenomenon is occurring across the United States today. Electricity demand—which has been relatively stable for more than a decade—is suddenly surging. The U.S. economy is embarking on a literal power trip, and the pace is likely to increase. Consider that California’s major utility, PG&E, expects the state’s electricity demand to jump 70 percent in the next two decades. New York’s electricity demand is on track to double by 2050. And Virginia’s power demand is projected to jump 85 percent in just the next 15 years. Why such ...

About the timing of Johnson’s resignation

The initial plan for U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson was to resign from Congress in February or early March and start March 15 as Youngstown State University president. But ever since Johnson’s controversial hiring Nov. 21 by the YSU board of trustees, Michael Peterson, the board’s president, has made it clear that he and the board wanted the Republican congressman to lead the university sooner than that. Johnson submitted his resignation letters Tuesday to Gov. Mike DeWine and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, stating he would leave Congress Jan. 21. He starts the next day at ...

Second Amendment bill stalls in the Ohio house

Despite opposition from police chiefs and county prosecutors organizations, a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mike Loychik to prohibit local and state law enforcement from enforcing federal firearms laws or regulations looked like it was going to pass the Ohio House this month. That was the consensus a few weeks ago. But things have significantly changed since then, and the bill finds itself in limbo largely because some of Loychik’s fellow Republicans have concerns about it. Called the Second Amendment Preservation Act, the bill was approved Nov. 15 along party lines by the Ohio House ...

Hope found in the season

There are good memories and bad ones near the holidays. Everyone doesn’t welcome the holiday time of year. But maybe it is a good time to evaluate self, to recognize who we are and why we are, and find hope. My mother was an optimist: “Let a smile be your umbrella.” “Every dark cloud has a silver lining.” “Count your blessings instead of your troubles.” “Someday, you will …” Yes, she was an encourager. She inspired hope. One long-ago Christmas the economy was bad. How would we provide Christmas for family? I bought four strings of multi-colored mini-lights and ...

Race is on to replace Johnson in Congress

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson’s plan to resign his House seat in February or early March to become Youngstown State University president would open a safe Republican seat for which state Sen. Michael Rulli is seen as an early favorite. Rulli, R-Salem, filed a declaration of candidacy and created a campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission, which allows him to start raising money for the race. Rulli said Thursday he is scheduling a date and time for an official announcement. Dec. 20 is the deadline for candidates to file for the full two-year position on the March 19, 2024, ...