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Lauds mayor, council for stepping up

Letters To The Editor

To the editor, In a recent article stating, “East Liverpool Council Discusses How Best To Use Cannabis Funds To Benefit City,” it was interesting to note one suggestion was to control vegetation along the highways at key entrances to this city. Initial perception —of anything —is critically important. Anyone coming to the city for the first is going to see the unkept entrances and think: “Oh, my!” Council member Brian Kerr stated that Mayor Bobby Smith said many times that these monies should be used for tangible improvements. Tangible means, “something than can ...

Conflict in the Middle East highlights need to rebuild domestic mining

Local Columns

The conflict in Iran is posing alarming questions about America’s munitions stockpile and its ability to replenish it. The challenge America faces is not just how quickly we can manufacture interceptor missiles, but whether we have reliable access to the minerals required to do so. Our extraordinary reliance on foreign sources—including geopolitical rivals—for the essential minerals that underpin modern military systems has become an Achilles’ heel. While the Trump administration has taken important steps to address our glaring minerals vulnerability—including investments in ...

The Perils of Isolation: Mental health impacts and the path to substance abuse and suicide

Local Columns

In an increasingly digital and often disconnected world, social isolation has become a growing concern for millions. Whether due to remote lifestyles, life transitions, geographic moves, or personal challenges, lacking meaningful connections can take a heavy toll on mental well-being. Far from being just a fleeting feeling of loneliness, prolonged isolation acts as a serious risk factor, quietly eroding emotional health and opening the door to more dangerous outcomes like substance misuse and suicidal thoughts. The mental health consequences of isolation are deep and wide-ranging. ...

Credit Card Competition Act is needed

Letters To The Editor

To the editor, It is in the DNA of small businesses to do everything possible to keep prices down while serving their communities. But there’s one cost businesses can’t control and it’s being passed down to people across Ohio and the country. The swipe fees that are charged every time a customer pays with plastic are a hidden cost that we need to address. The fees are set by a duopoly, and the lack of competition means small businesses and consumers are left with no choice. The nearly $3.5 billion (https://insights.cmspi.com/ccca-25) a year Ohio spends in swipe fees are dollars ...

Property owners can’t keep taking hits

Letters To The Editor

To the editor, Someone in Columbus has made the decision that our properties are worth more money and therefore more taxes. Supposedly house bills 129 and 186 were passed that will give (some) property owners a temporary refund in the next half of 2025. St. Clair police have an additional levy on for May, and Beaver Local is already complaining about the money they will lose. Our police do a good job and it’s not that I don’t want them to have the equipment they need, but property owners just can’t keep taking these hits. St. Clair Township is number two, out of 18 in township ...

Devil is certainly in details with Ohio House Bill 583

Editorial

Perhaps without meaning to, Ohio Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, demonstrated perfectly the problem with a portion of Ohio House Bill 583, “regarding the provision of online library database resources by public schools, public libraries, and state agencies.” The bill would amend state code to target “inappropriate” content that has made its way onto InfOhio and the Ohio Web Library — vendors used as online information databases in most public schools and libraries. HB 583 would establish “safety policy and technology protection measure requirements” for the companies. ...