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Don’t support puppy mills

As we approach the time of year when some families may be considering adding a new pet, news out of Holmes County, Ohio reminds us there is a lot to consider in such a decision. Should a family determine they have the time and resources to make the commitment to love and care for a pet for the rest of its life, the next question is where to find the right pet. When looking to bring a dog into the family, it is essential to avoid rewarding those who make their living by abusing dogs in puppy mills. And there are still plenty of those in the Buckeye State. Paws for Miles in ...

Apply for housing funds

Communities across Ohio have heard from economic development professionals that employers are looking for certain things when choosing a new location. Near the top of the list is adequate affordable housing for the workforce. But here there is already a shortage of affordable housing, even as we await the influx of those who will accompany the large employers we know are on the way. Welcome Home Ohio is hoping to change that, as officials Tuesday released program guidelines for the $150 million in grants and tax credits to be handed out over a two-year period. “Housing needs are ...

Fix mapmaking process

If you are as horrified by the redistricting process in Ohio as are those who organized Citizens Not Politicians, you have another chance to add your name to the list of those who are seeking change. Now that the group’s proposal to change the political mapmaking system in the Buckeye State has cleared another round of hurdles, Citizens Not Politicians has until July 3 to collect 414,000 signatures. The aim is to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot to replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission. Their proposal is to put in place a new group made up of three ...

Holding officials accountable

Monday, Ohioans learned another significant figure has been indicted in the bribery scandal that exposed the dark side of Columbus politics. Former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Sam Randazzo was indicted by a federal grand jury on bribery and embezzlement charges for his alleged part in what federal prosecutors have called the largest political bribery scandal in Buckeye State history. As part of an agreement, FirstEnergy has said two of its former executives paid Randazzo $4.3 million ahead of his appointment by Gov. Mike DeWine to be the top state regulator ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to Martins Ferry City Council for working to livestream its public meetings. Doing so will make city government more transparent and accessible to more residents than ever before. JEERS to news that Norfolk Southern has plans to end its relocation aid for people of East Palestine, Ohio, who were displaced by its derailment early this year. CHEERS to Brian Chavez, a Marietta Republican who was named to replace Frank Hoagland as the state senator of the 30th District, which includes much of the eastern part of the state and the local area. JEERS to the need for beds to ...

Limit kids’ online activity

Law enforcement agencies across the Buckeye State continue to work diligently against sexual predators of all kinds — from human trafficking to online crimes against children. It is a fight that never ends. But last month, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of 14 people for online sex crimes in Northeast Ohio, according to a report by WOIO. The accused men were allegedly interacting with children online in a sexual manner, WOIO reports. Well, they thought they were, anyway. The victims were undercover officers posing as children. Horrifyingly, ...