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Probe, fully prosecute senders of hate texts

Editorial

“Other people have no First Amendment right to your phone and free speech doesn’t protect telephone harassment.” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost posted those words on social media after opening an inquiry into a series of hateful texts that reached Ohioans, which were part of a nationwide text effort that threatened Black men, women and children and implied a return of slavery was imminent. Students as young as middle school reported receiving the texts. According to a report by The Journal-News, some of the texts included instructions for reporting to plantations and mentioned ...

Spotlight is on National Young Readers’ Week

Editorial

Remember the Book It! program that kept many of us interested in reading through our formative years? It is still alive and well — turning 40 this year, as a matter of fact, and has spun off into supporting a National Young Readers’ Week each November. It is billed as “the perfect opportunity to introduce our young ones to the incredible world of books.” Surely parents and teachers are already doing that, but it never hurts to use a special occasion to hammer home the point. Children who are encouraged to embrace reading are better learners and thinkers. They have expanded ...

If you are able, take a cue and dig deeper

Editorial

Ohio residents tend to do what we can to take care of one another. If there is a need, we try to meet it. Given that there are still so many struggling in our state, that need is not likely to lessen any time soon. It is fortunate, then, that according to WalletHub’s report on “Most Charitable States,” Ohio ranks 16th in the country. The state ranks 13th for volunteering and service, and 23rd for charitable giving. That giving doesn’t usually come in the form of money, though, as Ohio is ranked a lowly 46th for the percentage of the population who donate money, but an ...

The struggle for affordable housing

Editorial

This is in every community, far and wide.” Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio, was speaking last Monday about homelessness, poverty and the shortage of affordable housing in Ohio. The number of good paying jobs has not kept up with the soaring cost of housing here. So, “for every 100 extremely low income individuals looking for housing, there’s 40 units available,” according to Riegel. Extremely low income is $27,485 or less for a family of four. In Ohio, 28% of renter households are extremely low income, and there is a shortage ...

Saluting all who have served our country

Editorial

Since 1919, Americans have been celebrating a very special day on Nov. 11. Monday is Veterans Day. It is a day of acknowledgment. It is a day of utmost respect and reverence. It is a day of thanks for those who helped pay the price for freedom. Please appreciate that sentiment. We stress this message each year. Our message should be your message. Originally called Armistice Day, President Wilson first declared Nov. 11 a day of remembrance following the end of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I on Nov. 11, 1918 — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th ...

Ohio must renew attempts for fair constitutional maps

Editorial

Whether it was confusion over ballot language or truly a desire to maintain the system already in place, Ohio voters on Tuesday rejected an amendment that would have established a citizen-led commission to produce the state’s political maps. Though voters decided the Citizens Not Politicians effort was not the right way forward, it must not mean advocates give up the fight for a system that produces fair and constitutional voting maps. “In analyzing the vote tonight, it is clear that the millions of Ohioans who voted yes want to end gerrymandering,” former Ohio Chief Justice ...