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Rulli-sponsored bill will protect entrepreneurs

Ohio businesses have enough challenges on their hands without having to deal with pervasive scams and fraud attempts. But lawmakers are working to help protect them, with efforts such as Senate Bill 98, passed last week. The measure is meant to “to address fraudulent business filings, deceptive mailings, reinstatement of canceled business entities, and addresses of statutory agents.” This being the Ohio Legislature, SB 98 will also “make changes regarding property taxation, fire investigator firearms, acting or assigned judge reimbursements, common pleas clerk of court duties, ...

Parents need to have safe educational options

It appears Ohio still doesn’t do a very good job of assessing and monitoring non-public schooling options. Lessons that should have been learned over and over — remember the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow? — just aren’t sinking in. Most recently, we learn three of the ACCEL schools that opened in Ohio have had to be shut down because of lead paint and asbestos concerns. According to a report by WKBN, it was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that finally took action. ACCEL says the issues were “never brought to their attention or reported to school staff,” according ...

Those responsible must hold ARC accountable

Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission releases its report “The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey.” This year’s is the 14th such update, and was a perfectly crafted blend of data to show improvement and progress toward fulfillment of the ARC’s mission, and the challenges that justify allowing the ARC to continue. This nearly 60-year-old federal agency meant to “strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation,” reports increased family income and decreased poverty ...

Though it’s a lot to wade through, Ohio lawmakers appear to have their hearts in the right place with the number of child care-related bills being churned through Columbus. A report by the Ohio Capital Journal detailed a few. There’s House Bill 576, supplementing federal tax credits “associated with acquiring, constructing, rehabilitating or expanding property used as the employer taxpayer’s qualified child care facility,” operating expenses for child care workers and “qualified resource and referral expenditures,” which can include contracts with child care ...

Please be mindful of animals stuck in parked, hot vehicles

Have a hard time dealing with the sudden oppressive heat after getting into your parked car over the past few days? You immediately either rolled down all the windows completely or cranked the A/C as high as it would go, didn’t you? Now, think about those few moments of discomfort and imagine how very much worse it is for animals who are left in parked cars for an extended period of time on days like these. “A parked car can become an oven under the sun, even in mild temperatures,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “When it’s a comfortable 70 ...

Grants will make our local fairs even better

Each year, Ohio’s communities host fairs and festivals that unite generations in summer fun. Among the resources that allow them to do that are the funds provided by Ohio’s County and Independent Fair Grant Program. This year, it distributed $10 million in grant funding to “support county and independent agricultural societies with improvements …” The money is expected to be used for projects such as new grandstands, fixing or replacing old buildings, restroom facilities, parking and camping sites, electrical upgrades, lighting, signs and ADA accessibility improvements. ...