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Rulli’s loyalty to Trump on display in resolution

Columns

The 6th Congressional District is a Republican stronghold. In last year’s presidential election, Republican Donald Trump got 66.4% of the district’s vote to 32.8% for Democrat Kamala Harris with other candidates picking up 0.8%. So Trump beat Harris by 33.6%. In that same election, U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, got 66.7% of the vote to 33.4% for Democrat Michael L. Kripchak of Youngstown. Rulli won by 33.3%. Kripchak said he will again challenge Rulli in the 2026 election and Democrat Malcolm Ritchie of Dover has filed a statement with the Federal Election Commission to run ...

AI is upending the job market but this industry is hiring

Columns

Today’s college graduates face a startling reality. Many of the jobs they were hoping for are rapidly disappearing because of AI (artificial intelligence). As Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame recently observed, “We’ve been telling kids for 15 years to learn to code. Well, AI is coming for the coders.” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg agrees. He predicts that most Meta code will be written by AI in the next 12-18 months. The great disruption is here. Many entry-level office jobs—from coders and analysts to researchers and writers—are being eaten by AI. The unemployment rate ...

Ohio redistricting is back to square one

Editorials

Ohio’s Redistricting Commission is, again, gearing up to redraw the state’s congressional map — ahead of the 2026 elections; and meant to stand for the next three elections. Voters already voiced their preference against one proposed redistricting reform measure last year. Gov. Mike DeWine’s idea for a different model has also been ignored. And so we are back where we started — recall that the redistricting commission essentially refused to do its job last time it was asked, caring little for the obviousness of their intent. First, of course, the Republican supermajority in ...

Our county fairs are throwbacks in time

Editorials

There’s no glitz, glamour or full-scale high-tech wizardry used to awe which seems to be needed — or felt is needed — in this day and age of providing entertainment. No fancy 21st century version whistles, horns or gimmicks are involved. No, the summer fairs in our area like the 180th Columbiana County Fair, which officially opens Monday, and the upcoming Canfield Fair, which opens August 29 for its 179th year over 353 sprawling acres, are two examples of what is right with our area. Fairs provide good, old-fashioned entertainment for the young, old and all in between. And you ...

Contacting 988 can truly be a lifeline for so many

Editorials

It’s not a subject most people want to dwell on, but Ohioans are fortunate some did a great deal of thinking about how best to help those who are struggling and in crisis — perhaps even having thoughts of suicide. When the 988 Lifeline was established, it was meant to give those experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis somewhere to turn — somewhere to get much-needed support. Since its establishment in July 2022, it has received 592,294 contacts, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal. People can reach out through calls, chats or texts, according to the Ohio ...

Ohio’s TechCred program aids employers with worker training

Editorials

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 ...