Breaking News

Opinion

House Bill would benefit tip earners

Editorials

Ohio Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, is working on a piece of legislation that would let hard-working Ohio residents keep even more of the money they earn, though the details are still hazy. According to a report by WCMH, Edwards is sponsoring House Bill 643, which, for now, is meant to “Express intent to exempt tips and gratuities from income tax.” All that is certain, then, is that the General Assembly intends to take a look at the matter. “These aren’t people getting rich. These aren’t millionaires. These are blue collar people that are trying to get by,” Edwards told ...

More transparency needed in Columbus

Editorials

Bureaucrats and elected officials in Columbus have gotten quite good at using public money to create what they want us to believe are “private” entities. OneOhio Recovery Foundation, for example, is registered as a private nonprofit organization, despite having been launched by Gov. Mike DeWine and state Attorney General Dave Yost to distribute the public money from settlements of lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic. That organization has rightly received challenges to its attempts to operate with less transparency than would be required of a public entity. Another example is ...

Take a moment to make sure you’re on voting list

Editorials

Nearly 155,000 people were purged from Ohio’s voter rolls, in the latest wave of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s effort to coordinate with county boards of elections to ensure accurate, up-to-date lists of those who are legally able to vote. “Every Ohioan, regardless of their political views, should care about accurate voter rolls,” LaRose said as his office announced the purge. “Diligent list maintenance helps prevent voter fraud and ensures the voice of the voters is heard on Election Day.” It also means Ohioans must be diligent in checking whether they are still ...

Statewide hotline will be a tool against trafficking

Editorials

Ohioans can no longer pretend human trafficking is not a plague affecting our state as it does the entire country. But too many are still reluctant to “get involved” when they see something that raises suspicions. Last Wednesday, during the fifth annual Human Trafficking Summit in Columbus, state Attorney General Dave Yost announced a new tool for those looking for a way to fight the problem. A statewide hotline – 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448) – will send incoming tips on suspected sex and labor trafficking directly to law enforcement when it goes live later this year. “It’s ...

Race spotlights abortion and reproductive rights

Columns

Abortion and women’s reproductive rights are major election issues, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. It’s no different in the U.S. Senate race in Ohio between Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democratic senator seeking his fourth six-year term, and Republican Bernie Moreno, a former car dealer and blockchain owner. The matchup is considered one of the most competitive Senate races in the country and could decide which political party controls the upper chamber. In Ohio, voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to ensure ...

Editorials

With the official start of legal adult recreational marijuana sales in Ohio, there are plenty of people eager to make a purchase. Wire service photos showed lines of potential customers wrapping around buildings in some cities. We ran some of those showing up early in East Liverpool — the county’s only outlet. While that may be good news for those business owners — and therefore the economies in which they operate — excitement could turn sour quickly for those who do not understand (and obey) the laws. First, there is a distinction between medical consumers and recreational ...