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The whitewashing of Salem’s story: Why the Abraham Lincoln Statue misses the mark

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: On December 16, 2024, Salem unveiled a statue of Abraham Lincoln downtown. The ceremony spoke of our town’s history, yet it erased the very stories that define us. Lincoln never set foot in Salem, but Frederick Douglass did—multiple times. Edwin and Barclay Coppock, young men from Salem, fought alongside John Brown at Harper’s Ferry to end slavery. Edwin was hanged, and Barclay later died fighting for the Union. These are the stories that should be honored. Instead, Salem chose Lincoln—a symbol repurposed by today’s Republican leadership, which suppresses ...

GOP candidates for 2026 races coming into focus

Local Columns

The Republican candidates for next year’s statewide races are starting to come into focus. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, the former lieutenant governor appointed to Congress’ upper chamber by Gov. Mike DeWine, will seek election to the seat next year. Husted will have to run again in 2028 for a full six-year term should he win in 2026. Husted likely won’t get a serious challenge in next year’s Republican primary. Husted had planned to run for governor in 2026. He wasn’t scaring off any opponents and at least three viable Republicans plan to run for governor. Attorney General Dave ...

Vance, Trump need to do more for EP residents

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: The East Palestine train derailment and chemical disaster of February 2023 presents a critical opportunity for leadership, particularly for Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump. With their newfound or reinstated political influence, they can either fulfill their promises to Ohio and Pennsylvania or let the community continue to suffer. This crisis is about more than just cleanup; it’s about human reparation and ensuring the people exposed to dangerous chemicals receive the help they deserve. Our community has been living with uncertainty since that ...

Big Pharma’s agenda attacks families, free markets

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: When it comes to the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, one thing is clear: Big Pharma is the root of the problem. For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has wielded its power to drive up costs, manipulate markets, and protect its profits—all at the expense of hardworking American families and businesses. Now, Big Pharma is pushing policies in Congress that would further entrench its dominance and profits by deepening the financial burden on employers and everyday Americans. A coordinated attack on the private healthcare market is at the heart of this ...

Misconceptions abound regarding aging for older adult populations

Local Columns

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column was previously published May 14, 2022. Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for ...

Data: Childcare challenges overwhelming some parents

Editorials

Ohio lawmakers have a lot to navigate lately, but recently released data from Groundwork Ohio should give them new tools to understand where working families need them to focus. According to a report based on responses from nearly 500 Ohio parents, Groundwork Ohio says approximately one-third choose to stay home rather than pay high childcare costs. WBNS reported 66% of those parents said they were struggling — an astonishing increase from the 10% who answered similarly in 2023. Approximately one million parents have been forced to reduce the number of hours worked to help care for ...