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45 years, six days and still counting

(First published Oct. 7, 2024) Isn’t it amazing? How you might forget where you placed, say, your car keys just minutes ago but can vividly recall a single moment from decades ago? Such an instance for me was actually a first professional moment for me: getting my first byline as a daily newspaper staff member. The name Bob Lewis would strike a memory for only the most avid of golf historians. He was the 1978 Ohio Open champion. I interviewed him at the Salem Golf Club in August that summer — having just been hired as a part-time sportswriter for the Morning Journal. Dang, my very ...

Million-plus Ohioans are living below poverty line

Ohio residents don’t have to be reminded, but research from the Urban Institute might help elected officials and policymakers remember a significant number of their constituents are struggling with economic insecurity. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the institute updated its 2023 research with help from U.S. Census Bureau data to look at “income fragility,” and other factors here. For example, the cost of average rent, groceries and daycare for two in Ohio is more than $55,000 per year. That means even those who aren’t sitting at or below the official ...

Vivek Ramaswamy needs to tread lightly on Threads

Social media platforms can tempt politicians into hyperbole that doesn’t always match reality. It can tempt anyone to do that. So, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy can perhaps be forgiven for wondering on Threads whether it is possible to eliminate the state income tax (the real question is, if we do, how do we pay for everything?), and suggesting the Buckeye State’s colleges and universities should be consolidated. “Look at the number of universities in our state. I love universities in Ohio. I want us to have the best universities,” Ramaswamy said, ...

Avery’s Law targets lousy dog owners

Ohio dog owners, take note. Avery’s Law is now on the books and dog owners who are negligent could be on the hook for their pets’ behavior. Avery’s Law is named for Avery Russell, of Reynoldsburg, who was 11 years old when she was severely injured in an attack by two vicious dogs in June 2024. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 247 in December and Avery’s Law took effect on Wednesday. The bill is designed to help prevent similar attacks. Avery’s Law: — Imposes criminal penalties on a dog owner if he or she negligently fails to keep their dog from committing, without ...

Devil is certainly in details with Ohio House Bill 583

Perhaps without meaning to, Ohio Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, demonstrated perfectly the problem with a portion of Ohio House Bill 583, “regarding the provision of online library database resources by public schools, public libraries, and state agencies.” The bill would amend state code to target “inappropriate” content that has made its way onto InfOhio and the Ohio Web Library — vendors used as online information databases in most public schools and libraries. HB 583 would establish “safety policy and technology protection measure requirements” for the companies. ...

Affordable housing remains a challenge for many Ohioans

Affordable housing remains a challenge for Ohioans — and that challenge only grows as rent puts a greater strain on an increasing number of households. According to the 2026 Gap Report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, there are 422,098 extremely low-income renters in the state, and 73% of those report spending more than half their income on rent. That is an increase from 66% only five years ago. “For people at the bottom of the pay scale, rent is gobbling up most of their paychecks. But this report shows the rent ...