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Ohio’s TechCred program aids employers with worker training

Most of us have run into a situation in the workplace where a little more tech knowledge — or maybe even a significant amount of training — could make a world of difference in our ability to do our jobs and better work toward our employers’ goals. But getting that training takes time and money. Fortunately, there is a state program aiming to do something about at least one of those factors. Ohio’s TechCred program awards employers funding to help their employees gain new skills. In May, the program awarded a record more than $9.9 million in funding to 622 employers. That money ...

Officials need to make dip in fertility rates part of plan

As Ohio’s elected officials continue to hope for economic growth, there’s a factor some may not have considered. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the state’s fertility rates are dropping — standing at 56.2 births per 1,000 women in 2023. That’s an 8.9% decrease from the state’s average of 61.9 per 1,000 between 2011 and 2020. Interestingly, births to mothers younger than 20 and ages 20 to 24 both fell dramatically compared with 2007 data. “Historically, fertility rates have dipped during economic downturns but tended to recover as conditions improved,” ...

Stay vigilant in avoiding threat of West Nile Virus

We all know that mosquitoes can, well, bug the heck out of us. If you are outdoors regularly and it is muggy and hot, they are likely buzzing around licking their chops. But some are more than mere nuisances. Some carry serious diseases. Such as the West Nile Virus. Public health agencies diligently monitor this, utilizing mosquito surveillance traps. In our area, there have been several recent reports of mosquitos detected with the West Nile Virus. If there are a few around, you can be sure there are many around. We know of no human infections yet. But the virus has infected humans ...

Full federal funding needs to continue for Fraud Control Unit

As officials at the federal level go on and on about reducing spending on Medicare and Medicaid by eliminating fraud, waste and abuse, officials at the state level are showing they’ve already been working diligently on that front. Earlier this month, the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed indictments against nine Medicaid providers accused of stealing a total of $1.2 million from the program. These suspects are home health aides and mental health specialists who are accused of billing Medicaid for services they did not actually provide. One suspect, James Ferguson, 28, ...

Ohio boasts impressive pro-business credentials

Ohioans have always had an entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit. But according to a new report by CNBC, our state now has the pro-business credentials to match. The news outlet ranked the top states in the country for business in 2025 — using 135 metrics in 10 categories — and the Ohio landed at fifth. The top ten: North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and Minnesota. The two bordering states of our readership area, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, are ranked 17th and 40th, respectively. The only category in which Ohio received a ...

Recognizing the impact of volunteer fire depts.

Volunteer fire departments across our area and the entire state are experiencing reduced staffing levels at the same time they are receiving an increased number of calls. Of course, most of those who are working in those departments also have full-time jobs; and for many, those jobs are also jobs of service. That’s why the State Fire Marshal Division and Ohio Department of Transportation took a moment last Tuesday to recognize the more than 70 ODOT employees who also serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency medical technicians. The event focused on employees in ODOT Districts 5, ...