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Citizens of Ohio serve notice to Redistricting Commission

Members of Ohio’s Redistricting Commission were served notice earlier Monday that ordinary Ohioans have had enough of the mess the commission purposefully made of our voting districts. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, the group Citizens Not Politicians managed to collect more than 731,000 signatures to prove the point. The effort was aimed at getting an amendment to the Ohio Constitution placed on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, which would replace the commission with one made up of citizens rather than politicians. According to a report by the Ohio Capital ...

Celebrating independence in the finest nation in the world

“The second day of July, 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” — John Adams to his wife, written in 1776. Resolution for independence from the British ...

Rulli-sponsored bill will protect entrepreneurs

Ohio businesses have enough challenges on their hands without having to deal with pervasive scams and fraud attempts. But lawmakers are working to help protect them, with efforts such as Senate Bill 98, passed last week. The measure is meant to “to address fraudulent business filings, deceptive mailings, reinstatement of canceled business entities, and addresses of statutory agents.” This being the Ohio Legislature, SB 98 will also “make changes regarding property taxation, fire investigator firearms, acting or assigned judge reimbursements, common pleas clerk of court duties, ...

Parents need to have safe educational options

It appears Ohio still doesn’t do a very good job of assessing and monitoring non-public schooling options. Lessons that should have been learned over and over — remember the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow? — just aren’t sinking in. Most recently, we learn three of the ACCEL schools that opened in Ohio have had to be shut down because of lead paint and asbestos concerns. According to a report by WKBN, it was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that finally took action. ACCEL says the issues were “never brought to their attention or reported to school staff,” according ...

Those responsible must hold ARC accountable

Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission releases its report “The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey.” This year’s is the 14th such update, and was a perfectly crafted blend of data to show improvement and progress toward fulfillment of the ARC’s mission, and the challenges that justify allowing the ARC to continue. This nearly 60-year-old federal agency meant to “strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation,” reports increased family income and decreased poverty ...

Though it’s a lot to wade through, Ohio lawmakers appear to have their hearts in the right place with the number of child care-related bills being churned through Columbus. A report by the Ohio Capital Journal detailed a few. There’s House Bill 576, supplementing federal tax credits “associated with acquiring, constructing, rehabilitating or expanding property used as the employer taxpayer’s qualified child care facility,” operating expenses for child care workers and “qualified resource and referral expenditures,” which can include contracts with child care ...