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Veterans are leading the way in healing – again

By any honest measure, veterans have long been unintended pioneers in the advancement of medicine. The unique realities of war and military service have forced innovation that later benefits civilians for generations. Modern triage systems emerged from battlefields where medical personnel had to decide, in seconds, who could be saved. Medevac transportation by helicopter increased survival rates in conflicts like Vietnam and later became a staple of civilian emergency medicine. Advances in trauma surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation medicine and even treatments for post-traumatic ...

Inspired by my time spent in Columbiana

I never thought two days in Columbiana would be so inspirational. The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce held their first signature event since executing an affiliation agreement this year. It was the 73rd annual Harvey Awards, named for Harvey Samuel Firestone, the prominent American industrialist and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. The event was held at The Barn at Firestone Farms. The very place where Mr. Firestone grew up. The very place where Firestone, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford would frequently camp out and discuss ...

Rulli foe’s ballot wins heighten her profile for voters

Jullie Kelley, the lone Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli in the GOP primary for the latter’s congressional seat, has two victories over the incumbent’s campaign in the past few weeks. But wins in front of the Stark County Board of Elections and the Ohio Supreme Court to remain on the ballot is unlikely to translate into success for Kelley during the May 5 Republican primary. It’s understandable that Rulli of Salem, a congressman since winning a special June 2024 election for the 6th District seat, would want to avoid a Republican primary though realistically his ...

Ramaswamy proposes Ohio universities consolidation

Asked about his goal to eliminate the state’s income tax, Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican front-runner for governor, proposed consolidating Ohio’s universities. It was a curious response. Ramaswamy said: “The reason (eliminating the income tax is) possible is that you look at certain areas of excess spending where we can not just cut costs, but improve effectiveness. Look at the number of universities in our state. I love the universities in Ohio. I want us to have the best universities. But we have too many of them. They need to be consolidated. And when you consolidate them, ...

Conflict in the Middle East highlights need to rebuild domestic mining

The conflict in Iran is posing alarming questions about America’s munitions stockpile and its ability to replenish it. The challenge America faces is not just how quickly we can manufacture interceptor missiles, but whether we have reliable access to the minerals required to do so. Our extraordinary reliance on foreign sources—including geopolitical rivals—for the essential minerals that underpin modern military systems has become an Achilles’ heel. While the Trump administration has taken important steps to address our glaring minerals vulnerability—including investments in ...

The Perils of Isolation: Mental health impacts and the path to substance abuse and suicide

In an increasingly digital and often disconnected world, social isolation has become a growing concern for millions. Whether due to remote lifestyles, life transitions, geographic moves, or personal challenges, lacking meaningful connections can take a heavy toll on mental well-being. Far from being just a fleeting feeling of loneliness, prolonged isolation acts as a serious risk factor, quietly eroding emotional health and opening the door to more dangerous outcomes like substance misuse and suicidal thoughts. The mental health consequences of isolation are deep and wide-ranging. ...