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The foundations of Ohio

Editorials

Next week, Ohioans will continue the celebrations of this country’s early days on the 238th anniversary of the “Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio.” On July 9, in Marietta, Paul LaRue, president of the Ohio State Board of Education, will talk mainly about Article 3 of that document and the effect it has had on education in this country for centuries. But there is so much more worth celebrating in that founding document. At the time, the authors made repeated references to religious freedoms, noting that “the ...

Why we celebrate July 4

Editorials

As Americans prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of our Declaration of Independence, it is important to take a hard look at why it is worth celebrating, nearly 250 years later. After all, the date has been a federal holiday only since 1870 — the heart of the Reconstruction Era, when lawmakers saw the value in finding ways in which Americans could be united in their celebration. But since the beginning, there have been certain truths worth fighting for here — foremost among them that ALL men are created equal. In that equality they are endowed “by their Creator ...

Celebrating July 4 safely

Editorials

The Fourth of July is a time traditionally shared with family picnics and get-togethers. Many of those celebrations will be accompanied by a few bangs, booms and splashes of color and sparks. And, while we hope everyone will have a good time, we ask, once again, that you leave the fireworks to the professionals. Summer, especially the weeks that surround the Independence Day holiday, offers the promise of relaxing, care-free enjoyment, but this time of year can be dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 14,700 fireworks-related ...

You can make a difference

Editorials

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who can make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the most recent “Giving USA” report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3% increase over 2023. For 2024 the category that saw the biggest increase in donations was giving to public society benefit, followed by international ...

Making a difference for workers

Editorials

Ohioans expect state government to do all in its power to leave as much of their hard-earned money in individuals’ and businesses’ pockets as possible. At least one agency — the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation — continues to be recognized for its efforts to do so. In its biennial study of the workers’ compensation premium rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has once again ranked the Buckeye State fifth lowest in the country. (In case you’re wondering, Oregon was 14th lowest.) In addition to ...

Dangers of Artificial Intelligence

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Artificial intelligence poses a great threat to our planet, and the rate at which it has evolved and become so widely accepted should alarm everyone. It is not just a fun tool to play around with or, many times inaccurately, answer questions. AI causes air pollution and uses a sizeable amount of water to power its sources. This speeds up climate change dramatically and frighteningly. The effects of climate change are not the same for everyone, though. Poor communities, regions with higher populations of racial minorities, and immigrant neighborhoods are going to ...