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Letters to the Editor

Ohio House budget would shortchange public schools

To the editor: The nation may know East Palestine for the toxic train derailment that upended our lives, but I know our community as the best place in the world to raise a family. I’ve brought up five children here, four have graduated from the East Palestine City School District, and one is still a student. I believe in the schools so much, that I have served on the school board for the past ten years. After all that our kids have been through over the last two years, I cannot believe some politicians in Columbus want to further harm our schools. The budget passed by the Ohio House ...

Microsoft’s monopoly threatens America’s economic turnaround

To the editor: As the owner of a small Ohio business, I’ve weathered just about every kind of economic storm over the past few decades. I’ve adapted as customers shifted from Main Street shops to megastores and now to online shopping. Thankfully, my business has survived it all. Nothing has shaken up America’s economy quite like the flood of cheap imports from China and other countries over the last few decades. However, I’ve been feeling more hopeful since November. President Trump understands the challenges small businesses face, and his policies are set to breathe new life ...

Voter support for school levies increases in 2025 primary election

To the editor: Voters across Ohio approved nearly two-thirds of the school tax issues on the May 6 primary election ballot. Voters approved 64 out of 99 school tax issues, yielding a 64% passage rate. This is markedly higher than the 2024 primary election, when voters approved 41 out of 78 school tax issues, a 52% passage rate. Support for new tax issues also grew. Voters approved 19 of 47 new school tax requests, or 40%, up from just 13% (3 of 22 issues) in the 2024 primary. Strong support for renewal school tax proposals continued, with 44 of the 49 issues earning approval, an ...

Natural gas and oil essential for Ohioans

To the editor: Ohio’s energy industry is the backbone of modern life—powering our homes, fueling our vehicles and driving our economy. Affordable, reliable energy isn’t just a convenience—it’s essential to life as we know it in Ohio and across the globe. Our recent report, The Essential Facts on Essential Ohio Energy, showcases that Ohio stands as a national leader in energy, ranking tenth in overall energy production and eighth in electricity generation. Natural gas is at the heart of this success, supplying nearly 60% of the state’s electricity. Its impact is felt in ...

Upset with removal of museum artifacts

To the editor: As a 37-year-old Black father, I am deeply disturbed by the news that the Trump administration has begun removing artifacts from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Taking down pieces like the historic Woolworth’s lunch counter is not just an attack on a building or display—it’s an attack on truth, memory, and the progress we’ve fought so hard to make. Our history is not a “divisive narrative.” It is the truth of this nation’s journey. It’s the story of resilience, of struggle, of voices that refused to be ...

Ohio FOP urges support for tax renewal

To the editor: The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is urging voters across Columbiana County to read the public safety tax information in order to correct confusion about it being a renewal tax not a new or additional tax. The sales tax renewal will appear on the May primary ballot. Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President Jay McDonald said in a letter to County Commissioners that he appreciated their effort to correct confusion, but that more outreach is necessary. “This is not a new or additional tax, McDonald said. “It simply extends the current tax and provides vital ...