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Protect yourself and your family — get your flu shot

Editorials

If it seems as though illness has been more prevalent in your school, church, office and other circles this winter, you’re not imagining things. According to Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, this year’s flu season has seen a stronger beginning than is typical. “You know, the typical pattern is that we see a relatively modest dip around the holidays, and then we see our major peak in mid-February,” he said, according to a report by WDTN. “What our data is showing us is that already, this year’s flu is having numbers that are consistently well above ...

Husted, Brown both count on Valley vote in Senate race

Editorials

Editor’s Note: The following column was published in the Vindicator Jan. 16. Neither U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, nor his Democratic challenger, Sherrod Brown, a former 18-year senator, lack confidence when it comes to believing they will win Mahoning and Trumbull counties during the November election. I spoke with both of them late last week about the election as well as their positions on a number of other issues. Husted was appointed to the Senate in January 2025 by Gov. Mike DeWine after serving six years as his lieutenant governor. Before that, he was secretary of ...

O’Connor continues to protect judiciary from politicization

Editorials

Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice and lieutenant governor Maureen O’Connor is certainly not resting quietly in her retirement. Though she left her seat on the court in 2022 because of age limits, she is still active in matters such as redistricting and protecting the judiciary from politicization. It’s easy to understand why that is important to her. When she was on the court, she repeatedly stood with the majority in rejecting clearly unfair and unconstitutional redistricting maps. For doing so, she faced insults and threats of impeachment from fellow Republicans — for not ...

Raising of property tax raises his ire

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: We just received our property tax statement and I now see why there is a movement to get the property taxes issue on the November ballot. The raising of any taxes should not be left up to any one persons. It should be up to the voters. If the state needs more money, put an issue on the ballot and not just raise the property taxes. I have heard about elderly people in the northern part of the state not having enough money to pay for the property taxes and the commissioners telling them they will have to find another place to live. Work your whole life, get your house ...

Will the U.S.-assisted Iranian protests bring regime change?

Editorials

Protests in Iran are growing against the despotic regime, and President Trump declared American solidarity with the protesters. “If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, “the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The words lacked diplomatic subtlety, but the mullahs in Tehran got the message. Top Iranian officials issued frantic statements in response, and the press now has reason to pay more attention to the protests. But Iran’s security ...

MLK’s dream should be a dream for all Americans

Editorials

During recent years, it has become clear race remains an important point of separation for many in our country. Sadly, that has been a reality for years and years in our nation. But there are thousands and thousands of Americans securely joined by a love for country and a love for fellow man — regardless of race or creed. With the official celebration Monday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, many Americans will be involved in activities emphasizing our commitment to supporting anti-racism. Dr. King was born Jan. 15, 1929 and died April 4, 1968 — an ...