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Local legislators must push for a single Congressional district

As Ohio’s considerably convoluted and patently partisan process of drawing new maps for its 15 congressional districts shifts into high gear this month, we steadfastly remain committed to our longstanding appeal that the Mahoning Valley deserves its own coherent and united U.S. House of Representatives district. Yes, it’s that time again this late summer and fall when Ohio must once again chart new boundary lines for its federal lawmakers in the lower chamber of Congress. Because the redistricting that took place for 2022 did not receive Democratic Party support, the maps created ...

Metrics: Ohio has its share of underprivileged children

Ohioans generally think of their state as being a fantastic place for children to grow up. But perception does not always match reality, as WalletHub’s “2025’s States With the Most Underprivileged Children” suggests. Believe it or not, Ohio is ranked 18th on the lists of states with the most underprivileged children. Many of us might not have expected the state to crack the worst 25, let alone be ranked that poorly. But a look at the metrics tells the tale. Ohio is 16th for the percentage of children in households below the poverty line, 26th for the percentage of maltreated ...

For sake of citizens, not feds, voter data must be accurate

While some states are fighting back against U.S. Justice Department requests for access to their voter registration lists and other elections information, Ohio has begun the four-year process of ensuring voter rolls here are as clean as they can be. Among the states that have received requests from the federal government so far, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin have simply said “no.” Officials there say they have questions about the legality of the requests and how the information will be used. After all, state (and, really, county) elections officials are responsible for ...

Stress to kids that, yes, bad people are out there

Earlier this week, the Jackson Township (Ohio) Police Department conducted “Operation Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” in which it targeted predators traveling in an attempt to solicit sex from children, over a multi-day operation. According to a report by WOIO, the operation resulted in the arrests of seven men who were allegedly trying to engage in sexual activity with girls they believed to be under the ages of 13, 14 and 15. Stark County court records showed those girls were actually undercover police officers being contacted through cell phones, thank goodness. But think about that ...

Intel project in Ohio becoming a failure

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when Gov. Mike DeWine, leaders of the Ohio Department of Development and JobsOhio learned the “well, actually …” that should have been attached to news a couple of weeks ago that Intel was going to “further slow the pace of construction in Ohio.” It was a red flag then that the company did not announce a new expected completion date. Now we know why. According to a report by WCMH, Intel also said it might have to stop work on the Ohio facility altogether if it cannot find external customers for its new 14A technology, which will not even ...

Added roadside truck parking spaces planned

Ever been driving out the interstate and watched a commercial truck swerve a little — maybe cross the center line and quickly right itself — and wonder how in the world they drive as much and as often as they do and keep themselves and the rest of us safe? Well, the truth is (just like drivers of smaller vehicles) sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they make mistakes because they are distracted. Other times, it is because they are exhausted. But Ohio officials have a plan to make a difference on that front by adding at least 1,400 truck parking spaces across the state where drivers ...