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Upward Mobility Act would help families

Editorials

Working families who are supported by federal benefits can sometimes find themselves in a difficult spot when a potential promotion or raise at work is not cause for celebration, but sparks worries about falling off the benefits cliff. Those receiving federal public assistance can see a complete loss of federal resources after even a small increase in income. But the Upward Mobility Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is meant to change that. Better still, it would help streamline some of the bureaucracy that feeds off such programs. It would create a five-year pilot ...

Acton, Ramaswamy running mates play vital campaign role

Columns

In Ohio, the lieutenant governor doesn’t have many responsibilities. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the latter leaves office. Also, the second-in-charge is usually a sounding board for the governor and if the governor chooses to, that person can be appointed as an administrative department head. If the governor doesn’t want anything to do with the lieutenant governor, the latter can spend most of his or her time collecting a paycheck and nothing more. But selecting a lieutenant governor running mate is always a big deal even though the most important quality that ...

Needs for LTC pharmacies must continue to be met

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As a nurse anesthesiologist and owner of a nursing practice, I’ve come to really appreciate the collaborative ecosystem that is healthcare. Even something as simple as a prescription shows how interconnected our system is — you’ve got scientists developing treatments, providers making clinical decisions, and pharmacists making sure everything’s used properly, each bringing essential expertise to the table. Unfortunately, when we overlook the working parts that make our healthcare system function, we risk serious disruption. In under two weeks, that is exactly ...

Veterinary sedative joins drug epidemic

Editorials

It is breathtaking to watch the manner in which the substance abuse epidemic in our region continues to evolve. Just last month, officials in Gallia County in southern Ohio, warned a growing danger has reared its head — Xylazine. The powerful veterinary sedative, which is, of course, not intended for human use at all, has been found in the region; sometimes mixed with fentanyl and other opioids. Of course, it would not be foolish to believe that such drugs are out in our own readership areas and not limited to southern Ohio. A wider area — or “turf” — coverage the better for ...

Sometimes it’s more than a common cold

Editorials

It is the season during which many of us simply accept that we will get the common cold or come down with the flu, but failure to do all we can to prevent such viruses can be dangerous. In some cases, it can be deadly. Last week, Ohio reported its first pediatric flu death of the season — a teenager under 18 in Greene County, according to state health officials. In fact, each year there are between one and seven pediatric flu deaths in the state. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationwide 6,300 to 52,000 people died from the flu annually between 2010 ...

Late-arriving ballots will not be counted

Columns

Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican responsible for overseeing elections in Ohio, often says that in this state “it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat.” Yet Republicans continue to follow President Donald Trump’s lead by restricting voting despite the minuscule instances of fraud in Ohio. The latest law, approved Nov. 19 by the General Assembly and signed Dec. 19 by Gov. Mike DeWine, requires all mail-in ballots to arrive at county boards of elections no later than the same day as the election. Before that, voters had to have their ballots postmarked by the day before ...