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New Dem congressional map for Ohio goes nowhere fast

You’ve got to give Democratic state legislators a little credit for their quixotic congressional redistricting map proposal. At least they offered something even though the map was never going to go anywhere. The Democratic redrawing of lines would take the current map that favors Republicans 10-5, though two of the Democratic districts are very much tossups, and make it an 8-7 map in favor of the GOP. The Democrats introduced the map Tuesday. By Wednesday, the House Rules Committee, controlled by Republicans, didn’t even bother to refer the bill to a committee. Not that it would ...

We must break China’s grip on U.S. defense supply chains

China’s Xi Jinping appeared supremely confident at a recent military parade in Beijing with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Xi’s assurance likely isn’t just a reflection of China’s growing military might. It’s also that China now holds the U.S. defense industrial base in the palm of its hand. Xi is well aware that China’s dominance of global mineral supply chains has ensnared both the U.S. economy and America’s military. According to The Wall Street Journal, more than 80,000 parts used in America’s weapons systems are manufactured with ...

Wealth, political party play pivotal roles in judge races

Running for the court of appeals — particularly for the first time and especially for an open seat — is an expensive venture. When Katelyn Dickey ran in 2024 for a vacant seat on the Youngstown-based 7th District Court of Appeals, she loaned $205,000 to her campaign fund with her husband providing $150,000. Dickey raised only $5,800 for the campaign from outside donors with $5,000 coming from the Columbiana County Republican Party. Judicial candidates need to use their personal wealth to fund campaigns because they are prohibited from receiving campaign contributions until 180 ...

Acton rolling out endorsements with Ryan’s candidacy looming

With Democrat Tim Ryan on a self-imposed Sept. 30 deadline to decide if he’s going to run for governor, Amy Acton, the lone declared Democrat for the position, is rolling out endorsements. The endorsements, including some locally, likely won’t impact Ryan’s decision. But it’s an effort to show Acton has support and isn’t going anywhere, even if the former 20-year congressman, who used to represent the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House, enters the gubernatorial race. It’s no coincidence that the endorsements started coming out right after it was initially reported Aug. 12 ...

To the citizens of Columbiana County

The Columbiana County Auditor’s Office is currently working on what is called the “Triennial Update” of proposed values in accordance with 5713.01B and 5714.24 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). This legally-required process updates property values across the county based upon market trends and recent sales for the purpose of keeping them accurate and equitable. It is important to note that the money collected from property taxes plays an important role in keeping our communities safe and strong by helping fund our schools, police, fire protection, maintaining our roads and ...

Carbon capture in Ohio can be an economic accelerator

I recently became aware of a series of community workshops held in Cadiz and Wintersville by Tenaska. The topic was carbon capture and storage and the truths about the technology and impacts to communities. These sessions were well attended by inquiring local citizens as well as some folks not from Jefferson or Harrison counties.  And so why would some fella from Houston care?  I graduated from Wintersville High in 1973 and was raised on Meadowbrook Drive in the village, went to Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and have spent the last 45-plus years in the energy markets, ...