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Please do not leave local business out in the cold

Editorials

Been stuck in the house for a while? Made one last run at the big box store before the snow, ice and frigid temperatures hit and haven’t spent an extra dime since? One day, we will be through this arctic spell. We’ll need to venture out and do a little shopping. Maybe we’ll just be ready to eat at a restaurant after having gone through everything in the pantry at home. When that time comes, consider spending your money with a smaller, locally owned establishment. Those who have either been forced to close or have seen very little traffic because of this weather may be in ...

Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds hold more than $4 billion

Editorials

Looking for something to do while snow, ice and frigid temperatures have perhaps kept you home for more time than you’d like in recent days? It could be a good time to check out the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds website. According to a recent report by the Akron Beacon Journal, the state still holds more than $4 billion in dormant bank accounts, utility deposits and uncashed checks. That’s a huge chunk of your money just sitting (virtually) in Columbus. And remember, if you don’t claim it after more than ten years, you run the risk of it being used ...

Aktion Club of Columbiana County expresses gratitude

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: The Aktion Club of Columbiana County, a group for adults with developmental disabilities supported by Salem Kiwanis, extends its heartfelt gratitude for the generous donations made to the Columbiana County Humane Society and the Columbiana County Dog Pound. We collected from Oct.15- to Dec. 17 and were truly touched by the outpouring of support, which included over 300 pounds of pet food, blankets, towels, handmade pet beds, leashes, collars, toys, laundry detergent, and essential cleaning supplies. We sorted, divided and delivered these on Dec. 19. Your donations ...

Sizing up state election, most Democrats face uphill battles

Local Columns

Despite a history of losing in Ohio, Democrats say they are optimistic about this year’s election. A Democrat has not won an executive branch race for state office since a 2008 special election for attorney general. That came two years after Democrats had remarkable gains in the state, largely because of the unpopularity of the Republican brand, particularly George W. Bush, who was then the president. It was short-lived for Democrats with Republicans winning all the statewide races in 2010 with close contests for governor and attorney general. But except for Sherrod Brown in 2012 ...

Ohio must be locked in on fixing state prison staffing

Editorials

According to a recent report by the Dayton Daily News, the Ohio state prison system was short more than 500 corrections officers at the end of last year. The Daily News conducted its investigation because Dayton Correctional Institution has the highest rate of openings, at 18.8%. Lebanon Correctional Institution has a vacancy rate of 11.5% and Warren Correctional Institution has a vacancy rate of 2.4%, the newspaper found. Those numbers are an improvement over the worst period in 2022, but still a significant problem for the system. Of course, state officials were eager to put a ...

Advocates, state officials must protect our child care system

Editorials

Groundwork Ohio is among the organizations that has signed on to a letter from child care groups across the country, asking the federal Administration for Children and Families to continue funding the Child Care Development Block Grant and other resources. Though a federal judge has temporarily blocked a funding freeze to Minnesota, California, Colorado, Illinois and New York, there are still worries other states will have to defend their own child care systems and oversight. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the letter says fraud “at any level is unacceptable and ...