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DeWine regrets he signed sports gambling legislation

Local Columns

While Frank Sinatra sang about “regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention,” Mike DeWine was quick to mention his biggest regret during his seven years as governor: signing the bill to legalize sports gambling. In a 60-minute interview earlier this week, DeWine said: “On the negative side, I’ve been pretty open about saying that if I had to do it over again I would not have signed the gaming bill. I don’t think I fully appreciated how many millions of dollars these gaming companies would spend coming into the state of Ohio to get more and more people ...

Black History Month reaches its 100th year

Editorial

2026 has dawned as a momentous red-letter year for American history. As most know by now, the United States already has launched America250, its supersized patriotic bash to commemorate its 250th anniversary as a proud independent nation. What far fewer of us recognize, however, is that another proud cultural phenomenon literally seeped in history marked its milestone 100th anniversary Sunday . That observance, of course, is Black History Month. The roots of Black History Month date to 1926, when revered Dr. Carter G. Woodson and his Association for the Study of African American Life ...

A four-cat night

Local Columns

It is five o’clock in the morning. The temperature on the more reliable of my several outside thermometers (I collect thermometers like I collect everything else) reads 18 degrees below zero. (Son Seed claimed 22 below at his house.) We have central heating but we don’t turn it on. The temperature inside our dome home was 63 when I first got up at 3 a.m. to toss a couple more logs into our venerable Brunco woodstove. After 40-some years, we still heat with firewood. But we supplement with cats. Sleeping in our recliners is a habit Honey and I gradually acquired because laying ...

DeWine prudent when it comes to property tax

Editorial

When he spoke to journalists from across Ohio earlier this week, Gov. Mike DeWine took a prudent approach to the idea some have proposed that property taxes should be eliminated in the state. After all, elected officials who call themselves conservatives have a certain obligation to help their constituents keep as much of their money in their pockets as possible. However, they also have an obligation to lead in a way that serves everyone. “Those who favor (eliminating property taxes) owe it to the people of the state to say, ‘How is my local police department going to get paid? How ...

Please do not leave local business out in the cold

Editorial

Been stuck in the house for a while? Made one last run at the big box store before the snow, ice and frigid temperatures hit and haven’t spent an extra dime since? One day, we will be through this arctic spell. We’ll need to venture out and do a little shopping. Maybe we’ll just be ready to eat at a restaurant after having gone through everything in the pantry at home. When that time comes, consider spending your money with a smaller, locally owned establishment. Those who have either been forced to close or have seen very little traffic because of this weather may be in ...

Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds hold more than $4 billion

Editorial

Looking for something to do while snow, ice and frigid temperatures have perhaps kept you home for more time than you’d like in recent days? It could be a good time to check out the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds website. According to a recent report by the Akron Beacon Journal, the state still holds more than $4 billion in dormant bank accounts, utility deposits and uncashed checks. That’s a huge chunk of your money just sitting (virtually) in Columbus. And remember, if you don’t claim it after more than ten years, you run the risk of it being used ...