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Silence will speak volumes when it comes to HB 502

Editorial

Ohio lawmakers are missing an opportunity to show they are capable of stepping up when federal lawmakers do not. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal — as this piece was written —there have not yet been any hearings — nor are any scheduled — for House Bill 502, “Appropriate funds for SNAP, TANF, WIC upon lapse in federal funds.” Introduced by Rep. Latyna M. Humphrey, D-Columbus, the measure would be a safety net — similar to efforts in other states — for the nearly 1.4 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Ohio.. As Humphrey points ...

Some homeowners won’t see tax reform bills relief

Local Columns

The two property tax bills recently approved by the Ohio House would save homeowners more than $2.4 billion over the next three years, but they would heavily benefit those in more rural areas. “Anything is better than nothing, but this is just a starting point,” said Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham, a Republican. “It’s going to drop the millage by a small amount. It doesn’t benefit cities. It’s more focused on smaller, rural areas.” The bills still need to be approved by the GOP-controlled state Senate and then signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, before they ...

Students aren’t alone when fighting drugs

Editorial

You might remember them as the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, from back in the 1980s, but today, the renamed National Family Partnership continues its work to support families and communities “in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug free youth.” Among the efforts supported by the organization is National Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31 each year, and established to honor the memory of U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agent Enrique Camarena, who was killed, likely because of his work, in 1985. At the time, according to the organization, “In honor of ...

Despite cuts, GM is not giving up on EVs

Editorial

The Detroit News reported Wednesday that General Motors has laid off thousands of workers from manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Michigan. Though it is tempting to suggest the reason is purely a matter of GM’s overeagerness to catch up to the electric vehicle push, the reality is a bit more complicated. At the company’s Ultium Cells battery cell plant in nearby Warren there are expected to be approximately 550 cuts and 850 temporary layoffs, according to a report by CNBC. There will also be approximately 700 layoffs at the Ultium Cells plant in Tennessee. Those gleefully ...

‘Off-year’ elections are important, too

Editorial

In less than a week, Ohioans who have not already voted will head to the polls for the Nov. 4 general election. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, as of Monday there had been 61,308 absentee ballots returned and 98,382 early in-person ballots cast. Nearly 160,000 people had already weighed in on the candidates and issues. But at about this time last year there were 8,159,946 registered voters in Ohio, and 71.71% of them turned out to vote. Admittedly, that one was a bit more of a headline-grabber — but it was certainly no more important than the decisions that will ...

Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger gives Ohio tools to compete

Local Columns

For over 130 years, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has championed policies that promote free enterprise, drive economic growth and elevate Ohio’s position in a competitive global marketplace, serving as a trusted advocate for both employers and the workforce across the Buckeye State. Today, in an era defined by speed, resilience and innovation, we must pursue forward-looking strategies and transformative partnerships that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy and position Ohioans to thrive. The proposed merger between Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP) represents a ...