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Investigate STRS

Ohio teachers deserve better than the worry being stoked by questions about the State Teachers Retirement System. They can hardly be blamed for wondering what in the world prompted consulting firm Aon to sever its ties with the agency. Gov. Mike DeWine is right to seek an investigation, after Aon made several recommendations to improve corporate governance at STRS … and then showed itself out. “The unstated implication is that the governance issues at STRS are so concerning that Aon could not continue its contract in good faith,” DeWine said. “STRS may now be out of ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the OR&W Fire District members who were officially sworn in for their duties this past week. Although some had been on the job for quite a while, they were finally recognized and pinned. JEERS to Mother Nature for continuing to push rough weather our way. Yet another tornado was confirmed this week, this time in Jefferson and Hancock counties. CHEERS to word that the city of St. Clairsville received two consecutive $500,000 grants through the Ohio Department of Transportation. The money will go toward paving and road improvements. JEERS to concerns that drug-laced chocolate ...

Reducing gun crimes

Lawmakers looking to reduce the number of gun crimes without stepping on the Second Amendment have to take a precise approach if they are to do any good. In Columbus, it seems the “Repeat Offenders Act” might be a good start. Introduced by Reps. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, and Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, the bill would increase penalties for a person caught a second or third time having a gun illegally, according to a report by WBNS. It would increase penalties for using a gun during a violent crime and provide mandatory sentences for some offenses. “These repeat ...

Appalachian potential

Up and down Appalachian Ohio, our river communities are proud of the relationship we have with our beautiful waterways. They’ve sustained us from the beginning. And while we know what a treasure they are, it is encouraging to know the folks in Columbus are beginning to understand that, too. This week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced 21 new economic development projects to receive $152 million through the Ohio’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative. These are projects pitched by those who want to help grow our economies by expanding access to local waterways, revitalizing historic riverfront ...

Happier, healthier Ohioans

An Ohio University medical student and an assistant professor decided to examine the relationship between six “social determinants of health” and the prevalence of diabetes. What they found isn’t really a surprise, but it could inform better decision-making. According to a report by The Ohio Newsroom, a partnership of public media organizations across the state, these social determinants of health include factors such as safe housing, steady income or literacy. Student Samuel Borgemenke and assistant professor Allyson Hughes found the counties in Appalachian Ohio tend to ...

Check your registration

Ohioans know how important the November general election will be — and those who are eligible and registered to vote are no doubt thinking seriously about decisions they will make. They must also be certain they ARE registered properly. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has ordered county boards of elections to begin a “routine but enhanced” sweep of voter rolls to remove inactive registrations. “Every state is required to have an ongoing process to verify the accuracy of its voter rolls, but Ohio has the most advanced and effective protocols in the nation,” LaRose ...