Matt Dolan learned from 2022 Senate run

January 23, 2023

State Sen. Matt Dolan learned a lot during his unsuccessful bid last year for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. One is that support from former President Donald Trump means much in the party’s primary. Dolan of Chagrin Falls didn’t seek Trump’s endorsement and wouldn’t have received it anyway. Trump’s support of J.D. Vance played a huge role in the political newcomer winning the Republican primary last May. But Dolan’s third-place finish in a crowded primary helped him gain statewide name recognition and showed there is a lane in the Republican Party for someone ...

A high cost for failing to show up

January 9, 2023

State Rep. Derek Merrin was a shoo-in as next Ohio House speaker, but according to a legislator from the Mahoning Valley, his refusal to reach out to fellow Republicans after the GOP House caucus selected him and efforts to punish some cost him one of the most important positions in state government. When the Republican House Caucus met in November to vote on a new speaker, Merrin, R-Monclova, was the winner with state Rep. Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, in second place. After the vote, agreement among the Republican caucus was that GOP state House members would support Merrin when the ...

Gambling: Keep it fun

January 7, 2023

Gambling: play games of chance for money; bet; take risky action in the hope of a desired result; an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success: to bet on an uncertain outcome. Just about everyone has purchased a raffle ticket for a fundraiser to benefit a service organization or individuals who are undergoing catastrophic illness, for a good cause. It’s just a few dollars. Some go to casinos to play their games of chance for entertainment. Some become overwhelmed by the excitement of gambling, get in over their heads, lose everything ...

At least someone loved Bella Cat

January 2, 2023

It was not the first time I had assisted in the euthanasia of a pet, but I had to be reminded of the proper hold to restrain the cat’s head, and how to roll foreleg skin to make the vein pop up. “Under the head like this, and roll it with your thumb like this,” the veterinarian said somewhat impatiently. I did it correctly, and the vein popped up. Bella, unwell and very old in cat years, flinched slightly as the hypodermic needle slipped in. There was no struggle. The solution was only partially injected and Grizabella was gone. Grandson Lamppost Head had asked to be present ...

Legendary Franco Harris always remained gracious

December 26, 2022

On a shelf in my home is a football bearing the logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It also bears a simple autograph: “Franco Harris 32.” I must openly admit I committed a grave sin of professional journalism in getting that ball autographed many years ago. It was the only time in my career that I’ve done that. The legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back, along with his counterpart Jim Brown from division rival Cleveland Browns, paid a rare visit together to a Warren Steelworkers Union Hall on a rainy Saturday morning several years ago. They were stumping as part of a political ...

Brown facing uphill 2024 re-election bid

December 17, 2022

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the lone statewide officeholder elected as a Democrat, has a target on his back. Brown, D-Cleveland, is up for re-election in 2024 in a state that has swung significantly in favor of Republicans in the past decade and particularly since Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. There is already talk of a number of Republicans lining up to challenge Brown including Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who said he isn’t running for the Senate, said, “Ohio is becoming a more Republican state and as long as we ...