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Forget all the politics and help the families in need

“As stated in our lapse of appropriation correspondence dated October 1, 2025, SNAP has funding available for benefits and operations through the month of October,” reads a letter dated Oct. 10 from Ronald Ward, acting associate administrator of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to regional and state agency SNAP directors. “However, if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation.” We know that last year there were approximately 1.4 ...

Altered U.S flag in background during video call troublesome

One can understand why U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, R-2nd Dist. (southwestern Ohio, near Cincinnati), would want to distance himself from the appearance of an altered U.S. flag that appeared in the background — tacked onto a bulletin board behind a staffer — during a video call last week. But he has gone from describing the appearance of a flag that had a swastika tied into the red lines of the traditional U.S. flag as “vandalism,” to saying this is actually part of an effort in which he claims “numerous Republican offices” were “targeted” by a person who was allegedly handing ...

Hibernating bats need all the help they can get

Most Ohio residents are used to thinking about seasonal changes in the rules such as burn bans or parking in such a way that the snow plow can get through. Perhaps less familiar is Ohio’s fall bat exclusion restriction period — from Oct. 15 through March 31. No, it has nothing to do with baseball’s off-season. This is a requirement that residents obtain permits before removing or relocating bats from homes or buildings. When white-nose syndrome (a cave fungus) showed up several years ago, Ohio started protecting bats, especially during their overwintering period. Despite that ...

Disability Rights Ohio needs to be able to access records

A few years back, there was a trend among legislators to change laws regarding public records in a way they claimed was meant to better protect victims, especially children and particularly vulnerable older victims. The interpretation of those laws, however, has turned out to protect not the victims, but those who may have committed crimes (or at the very least been negligent) against those victims. When news organizations, advocacy groups or even other government bodies request documents that might help them better understand the details of incidents that, for example, result in the ...

Let’s make trick-or-treating safe for all of our children

Halloween-related happenings across our communities are well underway. Of course the big day for kids will be here soon. Most everyone will be celebrating trick-or-treating on Oct. 31. What is nice is that it doesn’t fall on a school night this year — it’s a Friday. And if the weather cooperates hundreds of children will gleefully be frocking out and about in search of goodies. In every costume imaginable! Conscientious parents, grandparents and guardians already practice year-round safety when it comes to loves ones. But we would be remiss not to offer some safety tips. We ...

Ohio has more pressing matters than this issue

First, state lawmakers wanted to make sure teachers understood what they were not allowed to teach; now they are introducing the bits they do want teachers to include, despite repeated insistence they are not serving their own personal agendas by doing so. Ohio educators at all levels have responded with such fear to what is being called the “anti-DEI law,” that institutions such as Ohio State University are reportedly even banning some statements that acknowledge lands historically occupied by Native Americans. The university is asking its educators not to present facts to its ...