Breaking News

Local Columns

Campaign money flows more easily to incumbents

In political elections, money is the main reason for the success of candidates. The more you get, the better your chances for winning — and if you’re an incumbent with a big financial lead over your opponent, you’ve got a better than 98% chance of getting reelected. Political action committees, the driving force that funds congressional campaigns, are much more likely to give money to incumbents. In the two congressional races on the Nov. 5 ballot in the Mahoning Valley, there is evidence. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the incumbents — Republican Dave Joyce in the 14th ...

A center of learning, diversity and fun

Ten years ago [the East Liverpool Area Community & Learning Center] was home to the Trinity Presbyterian Church on the north side of the City of East Liverpool. Then a few local businessmen with imagination and foresight decided it could become a tri-state area center of learning, enjoyment and excitement. Today’s center exceeds all expectations. It is located at 110 Maine Blvd. Just below the East Liverpool school complex and sits on 8 acres that include a parking lot for about 180 cars. It is used for many different activities like drivers education, school functions and, of ...

What Vance brings to the GOP’s presidential ticket

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, didn’t select Ohio’s Sen. J.D. Vance as his vice presidential running mate for his political experience. Vance’s fewer than 19 months in elected office probably works to his advantage. Prior to Trump winning the presidency in 2016, he had never held public office. Trump has successfully convinced many that elected officials — particularly those who serve in Congress or presidential administrations — are part of the “D.C. swamp” that has hurt the country. Vance wasn’t selected so Trump could win Ohio, once a swing state ...

The benefits of storytelling for older adults

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published Jan. 30, 2021. 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 ...

Managing psoriasis flare-ups: Tips for seniors

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, and other areas of the body. It is estimated that more than 7.5 million adults in the United States are affected by this disease. While there are different types of psoriasis, the most common is plaque psoriasis which is characterized by thick patches of red, raised skin often on the elbows, knees, scalp, stomach, and lower back. However, these dry, scaly patches of skin can appear anywhere on the body. Doctors are not sure exactly what causes psoriasis, but they believe that there are often triggers that affect the ...

Johnson’s resignation led to a series of moves

Republican Bill Johnson’s Jan. 21 resignation from the U.S. House put in motion a series of moves during the past few weeks that led to the election of his replacement and the appointment of two others to state legislative positions. Also, those two Republican appointees won’t have to run in a primary and when Democrats select a state Senate candidate on July 16, that person will go straight to the ballot as the party’s nominee without a primary. While we’ve seen candidates appointed by political parties before without a primary, this is the first time there will be three in ...