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Ohio’s youth more willing to get involved than given credit for

Editorial

Ohio’s young people are stronger, smarter and better connected to the needs of their communities than many of us give them credit for. They are also willing to get involved at a level from which many adults shy away. This week, 20 high school students were selected (from 50 applicants) to be part of the new Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Youth Advisory Council. Those teenagers, representing a variety of ages, locations, interests and groups, were determined to make a difference in supporting suicide prevention efforts. “We were amazed by the number of students who applied, as ...

Take time to explore financial aid for post-secondary education

Editorial

It would be hard to blame high school seniors and their parents for being uncertain about the financial aid landscape for post-secondary education right now. But it still might come as a surprise to know that now — and for years — fewer students are applying for available college scholarships. The National College Attainment Network examined the number of completed Free Applications for Federal Student Aid as of June 30 before each academic year, as a percentage of the number of high school seniors in each year. Back in 2018-19 (the high school class of 2018), 54% of seniors ...

We should be talking about how demographics affect lives

Editorial

With plenty of talk at the federal level recently about demographics, a recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington shows us maybe we should be talking just as much about how those demographics affect our ability to live long, healthy lives. The Ohio Capital Journal reports the study showed Native Americans living in Western and Midwestern states have the shortest life expectancy, at 63.4 years. At the other end of the spectrum are Asian Americans nationwide, at 84 years. Whites living in Appalachia and some Southern states, and ...

Editorial

Most of us try to shop responsibly, but for some items, we don’t know what we don’t know. For example, how many use coyote urine to keep deer out of gardens? How many think about how the key ingredient is acquired? “People don’t know that when they buy products that they might be endorsing a fur farm, including myself,” Susan Vogt, founder and president of Red Riding Hood Rescue Project in Middletown, Ohio, told WCPO in Cincinnati. Vogt was speaking to the news station after having helped save hundreds of animals from an Ashtabula County fur farm in January. Vogt ...

Clean environment and robust economy not mutually exclusive

Letters To The Editor

To the editor: Ohio’s natural gas and oil sector has emerged as a cornerstone of economic development. A Cleveland State University study just found that the total natural gas and oil related investments in Ohio surpassed $108 billion between 2011 and 2023, including $3.1 billion in just the second half of 2023. These investments create jobs, fund infrastructure, and support energy reliability across the state. Investments that even those writing these letters to the editor enjoy. Thanks to advancements in technology and responsible practices, modern exploration is far removed ...

The truth about the air and water in East Palestine

Letters To The Editor

To the editor: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims our air and water are “legal,” yet many doctors argue they are toxic. This dissonance reveals the systemic failure of the EPA to protect our community’s air and water. On February 3, 2023, during the train derailment, 115,580 gallons of hazardous materials were deliberately vented and burned, including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, and ethyl hexyl acrylate. I spent 25 years in the U.S. Coast Guard enforcing EPA guidelines regarding oil and chemical dumping, and I have witnessed firsthand the grave implications of ...