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Individuals sure do matter when it comes to donations

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who are able to make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the recent “Giving USA” report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3% increase over 2023. The donations data used for this report came before the layoff of tens of thousands of workers for non-profits for 2025 due to changes ...

Make sure to follow the rules and be respectful

Even when law enforcement officers are not under direct fire, they still face dangers each day that many people never even consider. Take, for example, the case of a Fostoria, Ohio, Police Division officer who was conducting a traffic stop and had probable cause to search the vehicle. In the passenger’s purse he discovered a bag containing white powder. But, according to a report by WTVG, during the search enough of the powder became airborne that the officer collapsed and is believed to have suffered a fentanyl overdose. Thank goodness other officers on the scene were able to ...

Non-profits will need the help of individuals

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who are able to make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the most recent “Giving USA” report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3% increase over 2023. The donations data used for this report came before the layoff of tens of thousands of workers for non-profits for 2025 due to ...

Ohio BMV at front of the upgrade line

Not every technological “upgrade” is a homerun, but at least one improvement in Ohio is paying big dividends for the state and its residents. With a change as simple as allowing certain transactions with the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles to take place online instead of in person, more than 10 million trips to BMV offices have been saved since 2022. Among the options available online are renewal of driver’s licenses or identification cards. More than 608,000 Ohio residents have taken advantage of that so far; and now the option has been expanded to commercial driver’s license ...

Ohio Democrats are in a holding pattern

With Sherrod Brown, a former U.S. senator, considering a return to politics by either running for a seat in the Senate or for governor next year, both races on the Democratic side remain up in the air. Actually the entire Democratic ticket for 2026, unlike the Republicans, is uncertain. When Brown will make his decision on whether to run for Senate, governor or at all isn’t known, but it should be in a few months. Dr. Amy Acton, the party’s only declared candidate for governor, told me during a recent visit to Youngstown: “Sherrod Brown will probably be making some decisions ...

Finally, encouraging news for East Palestine residents

It took long enough, but last week federal officials announced there are finally plans for long-term study of the possible health outcomes after the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine. The National Institutes of Health is launching a five-year, $10 million research initiative. In announcing the effort, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thanked Vice President JD Vance for continuing to press the matter. “You helped drive the first large-scale, coordinated, multi-year federal study dedicated to the long-term health effects of the East ...