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AI transforming healthcare

Letters To The Editor

To the editor: As an IT director at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, I see firsthand how technology is advancing medicine and changing lives for the better. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare by improving diagnostics, streamlining operations and helping healthcare professionals make faster, more accurate decisions. These advances aren’t just exciting — they’re saving lives. But in today’s world, where threats from ransomware, phishing and foreign-backed cyberattacks are growing, cybersecurity has become synonymous with data security, ...

Congress needs to pass H.R. 5031

Letters To The Editor

To the editor: After thirty years serving the people of Ohio in state government and now volunteering with veterans and seniors in care facilities, I’ve learned that good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes. That’s exactly what’s happening with Medicare Part D drug price negotiations. Nobody disputes that prescription drugs cost too much. We all want lower prices for seniors. But when Washington cuts drug prices without considering how those drugs actually reach our most vulnerable citizens, we create new problems while solving old ones. Long-term care (LTC) ...

Indicators suggest that a recession is emerging

Editorial

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland delivered some unsettling news as we roll toward the holiday season. Indicators suggest there is a 24% chance the U.S. economy was in recession last month. The Cleveland Fed represents Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky, where the Ohio Capital Journal noted there have been a number of worrying indicators. Credit card debt is rising faster in Ohio than in all but four other states. We had the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the country in August (the Capital Journal notes “despite years of spending billions ...

Veterans should not be hungry or food insecure

Local Columns

According to U.S. government data and recent policy studies, nearly 25% of America’s veterans live either below the federal poverty level or paycheck to paycheck, with little margin for unexpected expenses. To get by, many adopt emergency-level budgets. But even the harshest austerity measures may not be enough. Life at the bottom still costs money. Mortgages and rent must be paid. Vehicles are needed to reach work or medical appointments. So, what can be cut? Too often, it’s food—eating less or sacrificing nutrition. Tragically, many veterans and their families face this choice ...

Report: Ohio lagging in helping college students

Editorial

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Sure, many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average of 30% over the past 20 years. And that cost eats ...

Tim Ryan could wield big impact on governor’s race

Local Columns

Though Democrat Tim Ryan has not pulled the trigger on a gubernatorial bid, all signs point to the former 20-year Mahoning Valley congressman running for the seat. The announcement could come this week or Ryan could wait until early December. Feb. 4, 2026, is the filing deadline for the May 5 primary. During a recent text exchange, Dennis Willard, Ryan’s spokesman, wrote: “He has not made a decision. He has asked his team to prepare to launch a campaign.” In my response to asking if Ryan is getting close to a decision, Willard wrote: “The fact that he has asked us to prepare ...