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Freedom of speech is ‘super important’ to all Americans

Freedom of speech is on a lot of minds these days — even Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who spoke at the state Department of Higher Education’s Trustees Conference recently. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, DeWine felt it important to remind policymakers on college campuses that an environment in which people are comfortable speaking freely is essential. His remarks were inspired, of course, by the killing of Charlie Kirk and its aftermath, though he noted the notion of whether Kirk’s death could have been prevented was a security issue, not a speech issue. “I’m ...

Trump ‘orchestrated’ removal of TV hosts

To the editor: Trump “orchestrated” the removal of Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel from television due to their disparaging remarks about him. Consequently, whenever anyone utters criticism of Trump that he finds objectionable, he will have his representatives eliminate them. I had presumed we resided in a nation that upheld the principle of free speech. As tensions escalate in the political landscape, the implications of such actions extend far beyond mere television programming. The unsettling notion that dissenting voices can be silenced under the auspices of a ...

Salem City/Perry Township annexation truths

To the editor: Ever wonder why Salem City Council has yet to void their annexation agreement ordinance scheme? I’ll tell you why. Because they plan on using it again after they and the Perry Trustees attempt to convince you to vote for the CEDA. Let’s go to the 10-10-23 meeting in city hall between city and township leaders with the Butchers. In spite of my previous letters, and which has shown them to be illegal penetration of a language created by the city which they cannot support by a legal annexation law in the Ohio Revised Code, this meeting brought yet another effort by ...

Ohio Park and Recreation Management is ‘golden’

When you hear Ohioans brag about the state’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities, it might sound like hyperbole to hear we are “the best.” But an award from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association backs us up. Ohio won the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. “Our state parks protect Ohio’s natural resources while providing incredible opportunities for people to explore, learn, and connect with nature,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “From protecting natural ...

Oral health pilot program giving Ohio children a reason to smile

In the Buckeye State, particularly in rural or lower-income regions, not all kids are able to get regular care from a dentist. It’s a generations-old problem, but between 2022 and 2024 CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and Oral Health Ohio tried a pilot program to do something about it. Through Medical Oral Expanded Care, the project incorporated oral health checks into kids’ annual well child visits with their pediatricians, according to a report by the Statehouse News Bureau. The pilot involved more than 1,000 children. Rebekah Mathews, vice president of health ...

Ohio lawmakers need to stand ground against redistricting push

Though the results of Ohio’s latest redistricting attempt have yet to be seen, state House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, should be commended for one thing: He says he will not give in to pressure from the White House to draw maps that meet the approval of President Donald Trump. “I’m most interested in what residents of the state of Ohio have to say,” Huffman said when asked about Trump and national influence, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. “Of course, the President of the United States is an important person too, but there are 11 million+ people in the state of ...