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Lawmakers, policymakers must combat rising taxes

You’re not imagining things. Taxes just keep getting higher and higher — at least when it comes to property taxes. Axios reports median property taxes in Ohio rose 23.1% from 2019 to 2023. That’s higher than the national average increase of 21.6%. Axios quoted CoreLogic data that says median property taxes on U.S. single-family homes rose to $2,877 in 2023 from $2,367 in 2019. In Ohio, those figures are $2,530 in 2023 up from $2,054 in 2019. Home prices are rising across the country, too, with the annual income required to afford a median-priced home up an astounding 23.8% ...

Hate, division growing in our very own state

If it feels as though hate and division are only growing worse in this country, you’re not wrong. A report published April 15 by the Anti-Defamation League says final statistics for 2023 show a total of 8,873 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism across the country. According to a report by WCPO, that’s a 140% increase from 2022 (itself a record-setting year). Things are grimmer in Ohio. Kelly Fishman, regional director of the ADL in Cleveland, told WCPO there was a 367% increase in reported incidents in Ohio last year. “One of the things we see tied to this ...

Earth Day reaches a 55th anniversary

The year 1970 was eventful. Consider some notable happenings: — President Nixon ordered U.S. forces to cross into neutral Cambodia, which widened the Vietnam War. His decision ignited nationwide riots including the Kent State shootings resulting in four dead students and others injured. — A jury found the Chicago Seven defendants not guilty of conspiring to incite a riot from charges stemming from the violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The social climate was smoldering. — President Nixon signed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning ...

Pay extra attention through work zones

“Driving requires all your attention, but that is especially true in work zones where things can change quickly. Drop the distractions, obey the speed limit, and allow extra room between your vehicle and the one in front of you,” Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks said Thursday. As the spring construction season gets into full swing, it is a good time to remember just how much is at stake if we don’t follow his advice. According to ODOT, last year there were 4,098 work zone-related crashes in Ohio — 36% occurring when workers were present. There were ...

‘Tis the season for parental vigilance

“My child would never do any thing like that!” Sure, of course not. “Some thing” and “any thing” in this case are interchangeable: parents referencing underage drinking by their children. You would guess those words are often uttered. And have been each and every prior spring. Here’s a not-so news flash to parents: If your child is intent on drinking he or she is not going to give you a heads-up. The prom season is upon use. Closely followed by graduation. High school youth will be celebrating. As they should within the bounds of common sense and safety. Prom and ...

Ohio should make seat belt violation a primary offense

Ohio has made great strides in trying to reduce the number of people hurt or killed in vehicles here, with a stricter law that makes it a primary offense to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device in your hand, lap or other parts of the body while driving. Gov. Mike DeWine seems eager to keep up the momentum, with a push to make seat belt violations a primary reason for pulling over. Right now, a seat belt violation can earn a ticket only if the driver is caught for another violation — speeding, for example. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $30 for the driver and $20 for ...