Breaking News

Editorials

Lawmakers, legalized marijuana and listening to voting majority

One does not need to have voted in favor of the 2023 legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio to understand what lawmakers are now attempting is misguided at best. Both the state Senate and House of Representatives are working on bills that would significantly change the marijuana laws that allowed for the start of sales in August 2024. Back in November 2023, approximately 57% of those who voted in Ohio were in favor of a regulated adult recreational use marijuana market in the state. When Issue 2 passed, tax revenue from sales was to be divided: 36% to the cannabis social equity ...

Predators may be targeting your kids through technology

Technology can make life easier and better in many ways. Think about it. You can order something today with the miniature computer in your pocket or purse and often have it delivered to your doorstep tomorrow. You can stay in contact with family and friends on several social-media platforms. Medical technology has advanced to the point where diseases or accidents that once left people dead or severely disabled can be successfully dealt with — sometimes with a minimal hospital stay or on an outpatient basis. But the downside of technology is something we often don’t like to ...

Take time to enjoy a local spring theater production

Auditoriums in our area’s schools again are being filled, as our high and middle schools offer their annual spring productions. The presentations offer a great opportunity for relatives, friends and area residents to support our school districts while enjoying the talents of area students. Each of these productions represents the culmination of months and months of hard work from students who learned lines, songs and dance routines. The shows are examples of the patience and hard work of the teachers and directors, and of support staff including students and parents and other ...

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 ...