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These numbers should be troubling for Ohioans

Numbers tell a story, and a recent batch of numbers should be raising some eyebrows. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says both initial and continued unemployment claims increased in the last week of June. In fact, initial claims increased by 725 from the previous week, for a total of 5,879 initial unemployment claims files. Continued claims for that week were at their highest level in two months — the 8-week average is 39,377 continued claims filed. Meanwhile, Ohio’s unemployment rate for May was higher than the national average, at 4.2%; and the labor force ...

Lawmakers should push through House Bill 230

House Bill 230 is now on its way to the Ohio Senate, and lawmakers should give careful consideration to the measure, which would, among other things, authorize law enforcement to collect saliva from those suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. The saliva would be used in a rapid test that would help an officer determine next steps — similar to the manner in which a Breathalyzer is used for checking blood alcohol levels. “They can do a swab of your mouth, test your saliva, and get an immediate result to know if you’re under the influence of drugs or not,” said state ...

Citizens of Ohio serve notice to Redistricting Commission

Members of Ohio’s Redistricting Commission were served notice earlier Monday that ordinary Ohioans have had enough of the mess the commission purposefully made of our voting districts. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, the group Citizens Not Politicians managed to collect more than 731,000 signatures to prove the point. The effort was aimed at getting an amendment to the Ohio Constitution placed on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, which would replace the commission with one made up of citizens rather than politicians. According to a report by the Ohio Capital ...

Rulli-sponsored bill will protect entrepreneurs

Ohio businesses have enough challenges on their hands without having to deal with pervasive scams and fraud attempts. But lawmakers are working to help protect them, with efforts such as Senate Bill 98, passed last week. The measure is meant to “to address fraudulent business filings, deceptive mailings, reinstatement of canceled business entities, and addresses of statutory agents.” This being the Ohio Legislature, SB 98 will also “make changes regarding property taxation, fire investigator firearms, acting or assigned judge reimbursements, common pleas clerk of court duties, ...

Parents need to have safe educational options

It appears Ohio still doesn’t do a very good job of assessing and monitoring non-public schooling options. Lessons that should have been learned over and over — remember the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow? — just aren’t sinking in. Most recently, we learn three of the ACCEL schools that opened in Ohio have had to be shut down because of lead paint and asbestos concerns. According to a report by WKBN, it was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that finally took action. ACCEL says the issues were “never brought to their attention or reported to school staff,” according ...

Those responsible must hold ARC accountable

Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission releases its report “The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey.” This year’s is the 14th such update, and was a perfectly crafted blend of data to show improvement and progress toward fulfillment of the ARC’s mission, and the challenges that justify allowing the ARC to continue. This nearly 60-year-old federal agency meant to “strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation,” reports increased family income and decreased poverty ...