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Questionable intentions come with Ohio HB 486

It’s tempting to ask what members of the Ohio House of Representatives were thinking last week, but there is evidence they simply were not. They passed House Bill 486, which comes with the heavily coded moniker the “Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act.” It would “permit teachers in public schools and state institutions of higher education to provide instruction on the influence of Judeo-Christian values on history and culture.” Those wondering whether instruction will include lessons on all people and groups who said they were acting in the name of “Judeo-Christian values” ...

Overcoming limitations during the holiday season

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published Dec. 12, 2020. Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for ...

Indicators suggest that a recession is emerging

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland delivered some unsettling news as we roll toward the holiday season. Indicators suggest there is a 24% chance the U.S. economy was in recession last month. The Cleveland Fed represents Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky, where the Ohio Capital Journal noted there have been a number of worrying indicators. Credit card debt is rising faster in Ohio than in all but four other states. We had the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the country in August (the Capital Journal notes “despite years of spending billions ...

Report: Ohio lagging in helping college students

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Sure, many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average of 30% over the past 20 years. And that cost eats ...

RR deal would be a boon to Ohio’s economy

To the editor: A recent op-ed by Steve Stivers in support of the proposed Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) deal captures what’s truly at stake for Ohio’s economic future. As a former councilman in Wellsville, I’ve seen firsthand how strong infrastructure fuels the success of small towns and the industries that sustain them. This merger is a once-in-a-generation opportunity Ohio can’t afford to miss. For communities like ours in Columbiana County, railroads are more than just tracks and trains — they’re economic lifelines powering local manufacturing, ...

Redrawn congressional districts creates upheaval

Given the degree to which so many in Washington, D.C., have shown us their reluctance to do their jobs — or remember for whom they work — lately, it is likely the 2026 elections will be a time for voters to take action. In Ohio, change is imminent, as redrawn congressional districts will mean upheaval for lawmakers and those heading to the polls. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is trying to get out ahead of any confusion by updating the office’s Find My District tool now. The hope is voters will not be caught off guard just as they are looking to cast their ballots in the ...