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See the eclipse in Ohio

Now that Ohio is “The Heart of It All,” again, it seems fitting that for some sky-watchers Ohio will be the heart of their 2024 solar eclipse experience. Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources is smart to capitalize on the opportunity by reminding visitors how much better the experience might be if they book a stay at an Ohio state park. Special programming during the weekend of April 6-8 is available at Delaware State Park, East Harbor State Park, Findley State Park, Geneva State Park, Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, Headlands Beach State Park, Hueston Woods State Park, ...

Paying fair share

In the days leading up to Christmas, the Internal Revenue Service revealed that it would be giving something of a “present” to roughly 4.6 million Americans who owe back taxes for the tax years 2020 and 2021, as an incentive for those taxpayers to pay up their past-due amounts. That “gift” involves waiving nearly $1 billion in late-payment penalties. By law, interest tied to that overdue money cannot be forgiven by the IRS. We suspect many taxpayers — those who pay their taxes on time — will disagree with handing out such a break to tax scofflaws. We also must note deeply ...

Staying in school

In Ohio, the number of students missing a significant amount of school time has become such a concern that two lawmakers have pitched what may seem like an outlandish idea. State Reps. Bill Seitz, R-Green Twp., and Dani Isaacsohn, D-Evanston, want to establish a pilot program that would offer cash incentives for both attendance and high school graduation, according to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s about getting back to the culture of being in school every day,” Isaacsohn said. Lawmakers and school officials are so desperate because approximately one-third of ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to all the workers who will be out today and this weekend, clearing snow and ice from streets and sidewalks to make travel safer for all the rest of us as we experience a winter storm. JEERS to the fact that a Tri-County Help Center official reported that more than a dozen local people were identified as subjects of human trafficking. CHEERS to Senior Services of Belmont County, Belmont Metropolitan Housing Authority, Redwood Veterinary Hospital and the Belmont County Animal Shelter for providing a mobile dog tag and rabies vaccine clinic. JEERS to the dangerous weather ...

Second chances

Since 2019, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Expedited Pardon Project has given more than 100 people a second chance by simplifying and speeding up the pardon process. Partnering law schools provide free support for those submitting pardon requests, and those submitted through the project are fast-tracked for consideration by the Ohio Parole Board. “Those who’ve transformed their lives after a criminal conviction deserve an opportunity to live up to their God-given potential,” DeWine said. “The pardons I’ve had the privilege of issuing as part of this program affirm the positive ...

Cold yet? Wait until the end of the week. The icy blast will intensify and our need to take care of ourselves, our homes, our pets and maybe even our neighbors will intensify. Many of us are fortunate enough to be in warm, well-insulated homes in which there is little worry we will need to do more than perhaps put on an extra sweater and slippers. Even in those cozy homes it will be important to remember things like keeping an eye on how long pets spend outdoors and perhaps leaving the faucets on a slow drip. But in other homes, things may be less comfortable. In fact, it may be ...