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Schools should act now on cellphones policies

With the passage of Ohio House Bill 250, lawmakers sent a strong message about the importance of protecting students from the harm done by constant access to cellphones during the school day. Now, as each school district is required to come up with a policy of its own, the state has unveiled its model policy for minimizing cell phone use in schools. “By removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms, our school children will be free to flourish and will see improved academic engagement and social interaction,” Gov. Mike DeWine said, according to a report by WTVG. “Schools ...

U.S. must seek long-term domestic energy solutions

Releasing petroleum from reserves is a short-term band-aid that carries real risks. If a crisis or prolonged economic downturn comes, the U.S. may well regret tapping into this supply. The United States instead should be pursuing long-term solutions — promoting or incentivizing the production of domestic oil and gas and investment in increased refinery capacity. As we have noted before, the benefits of developing domestic energy sources can be seen right here in our communities. Our economic fortunes as a region over the past 20 years have been thankfully better than communities that ...

Ohio lawmakers reduced to toddler-level tactics

After dawdling and playing absurd political games for long enough, Ohio lawmakers seemed Tuesday to have finally allowed the Democratic National Committee to get out ahead of them on the issue of whether President Joe Biden will be on the November ballot. The DNC announced it plans to formally make Biden the party’s nominee with a virtual roll call ahead of the party’s convention in August. That June 4 vote will give plenty of time to fall in line with Ohio’s rules about the timing of nominations and placement on the ballot. But even as the DNC was making its announcements, Ohio ...

Rulli receives nod in June 11 special election

On June 11, a special election will be held to choose whether Republican Michael Rulli or Democrat Michael L. Kripchak will fill the 6th Congressional District seat formerly held by Bill Johnson before he resigned Jan. 21 to become the 10th president at Youngstown State University. The winner will serve the remainder of Johnson’s term, and then the two will meet again in the Nov. 5 general election for the full two-year term starting in January 2025. As shown in March’s primary election, both candidates bring appealing attributes to voters in the 6th district. While Kripchak, 42, ...

Please respect all of the sacrifices made

“The old general returned to the scene of battle, Where the great war had been fought, Once more he recalled the devastation, And the carnage that was wrought. As he walked among the white crosses, He remembered the sacrifices made, Deep inside he wonders now, Was it all worth the price they paid? And he thinks about war itself, What message does it give? Is it right that some must die? So others might have a chance to live?” “The Old General” was composed by longtime county resident, family man and veteran Bill Galchick. We like to recall his words each Memorial ...

Ohio lawmakers too power mad to do good

Ohio voters have understood for years that lawmakers in Columbus have gone power mad, seeking at every turn to claw control for themselves, rather than leave decision-making in the hands of those equipped to do what is best for their business, school district, community or county. So crazed have they become, that they did not even bother to wonder whether they were going too far after Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a budget measure that put regulatory power over flavored tobacco products in the hands of the state, rather than communities. Specifically, the Legislature wanted to keep ...