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Lawmaker should leave libraries alone

While Ohio libraries face a potential funding crisis due to an expected shortfall in property tax revenue, some members of the state House of Representatives want to twist the knife. State Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, has introduced House Bill 622, “to require each board of public library trustees to adopt a policy that prohibits its libraries from displaying matter harmful to juveniles and to redistribute the public library funds of libraries that fail to do so.” Horrifying, isn’t it? “What this accomplishes is protecting our youth, protecting our children and allowing them ...

Our government must protect solar industry

Ask anyone who used to work in the steel or aluminum industry in our region what happens when the federal government does not defend strongly enough against unfair trade practices — too often at the hands of China. Their story is one of failure to transition policy at a pace that keeps up with the bad behavior of global players. Now, there is a threat on a new front — the solar industry. Ohioans who welcomed First Solar and had hoped for more growth (and jobs) in the industry know they have allies in Washington, D.C., as U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, ...

Don’t overlook voting in Tuesday’s special election

It’s an easy one to miss, given all the attention to the upcoming November general election, but for east Ohio residents, there is an important election for which early/absentee voting has already begun. Tuesday is the vote to fill the Sixth Congressional District vacancy left by Bill Johnson’s resignation. For residents of Columbiana, Mahoning, Washington, Noble, Monroe, Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson, Carroll, Tuscarawas and counties, this is the general election between the two candidates chosen in the March 19 primary — State Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, and Michael Kripchak, ...

Let us reflect on the significance of D-Day

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” — General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower, addressing troops prior to Operation Overload One of the greatest military achievements ever occurred 80 years ago today. Code named Operation Neptune — the Naval component of Operation Overlord — and usually referred to as D-Day, June 6, 1944 is when the largest seaborne invasion in history began . D-Day was a massive invasion of Allied forces against the Nazi tyranny. Planning began in 1943. Think ...

Sales Tax Holiday will benefit families

With this school year just ended, it seems a little early to be thinking about the end of summer and the start of the 2024-25 academic year. But for families who plan summer spending as carefully as possible in anticipation of next year’s expenses, Gov. Mike DeWine had some important news last Friday. The 2024 Sales Tax Holiday has been expanded. No longer just a weekend, the event will run from midnight Tuesday, July 30 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 8. That’s a week and a half for families to take advantage of tax-free purchases — made in-person or online — of eligible ...

Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse a tool

Within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is the Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse, where statistics and information about missing children can help us understand the bigger picture for our troubled and vulnerable kids. In the most recent report, we learned 2023 actually saw an increase in the number of Ohio children who went missing. In fact, more people of all ages went missing last year — 22,374 total (an increase of 1,757 over the previous year). Of that number, 17,405 were children (an increase of 1,850 over the previous year). Those are alarming figures, though not as high ...