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Lives literally depend on fixing internet ‘dead zones’

KFF Health News, has published a report called “Dead Zone: Millions in U.S. Live in Places Where Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach.” It’s an intriguing look at communities and counties where residents tend to have more health problems, fewer health professionals and insufficient access to broadband internet. Southeast Ohio has a significant number of counties where residents live in such “dead zones.” “Compared with those in other regions, patients across the rural South, Appalachia, and remote West are most often unable to make a video call to their ...

Lawmakers need to balance housing assistance with economic prudence

Efforts in Columbus to address the shortage in affordable housing appear to be making a difference, though the momentum must be maintained. According to the 2025 Gap Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, there is a deficit of 264,083 rental units that are affordable and available to the 438,108 extremely low-income households in the Buckeye State. That’s an improvement over last year, when the shortage was 267,382. “The new housing programs that Ohio created in the last budget bill are having a positive ...

We need to keep workers in Ohio, but it has to be on their terms

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke in his annual State of the State address about giving Buckeye State residents “the tools to live up to their full potential,” and “the opportunity to live their version of the American dream.” Though there are plenty of challenges, volatility and uncertainty that make it less clear how those goals will be attained, DeWine was right to focus on jobs and families. His proposed two-year spending plan includes a novel $1,000 child tax credit and access to vision care for young people. After all, literacy efforts are less effective when children have a ...

Residents not benefiting from glowing energy report

U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio 6th Dist., can be forgiven for his enthusiasm over a recent report. After all, the good news being proclaimed by the Ohio Natural Energy Institute’s “The Essential Facts on Essential Ohio Energy” are a re-polished version of the shiny proclamations we’ve been hearing for about 15 years now. Rulli was first elected to the state Senate in 2018. But well before that, organizations similar to the Ohio Natural Energy Institute were touting (then the Marcellus and Utica shales) as our region’s savior. “Our region has been blessed with an ...

Let’s try lightening the load on Ohio’s caregivers

Plenty of Ohio families are struggling with caring not only for children, but older family members who need full-time attention. Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio 15th Dist., aims to lighten that load. The Credit for Caring Act would offer up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to offset family caregiving-related expenses. For example, those include home care aides, adult day services, home modifications and respite care. “We know that families want to support their loved ones through illness, disability and aging in place. The Credit for Caring Act ...

Work to win two-front fight to save Issue 2

The abusive attack on the will of Ohio voters has gained momentum. Last week, the Ohio Senate passed legislation to bulldoze state Issue 2, approved by 57% of state voters in November 2023. That general election vote legalized the possession and use of a wide variety of cannabis products in the Buckeye State and included a host of provisions, many of which passage of Senate Bill 56 essentially guts. SB 56 also clearly illustrates the deep partisan divide in state government with all Republicans — including the Mahoning Valley’s two senators — voting for it and all Democrats ...