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Republicans’ continued push to restore American energy dominance

Columns

A cornerstone of Republicans’ 2024 electoral mandate has been to restore common sense to Washington. For four long years, the American economy was battered by historic inflation and a slew of radical regulations that upended entire industries particularly our energy sector. By every measure, the United States has what it takes to be an energy-dominant nation. We are blessed with abundant natural resources, a free market that rewards innovation and efficiency, and the most skilled workforce in the world. Yet under President Biden, we not only squandered that potential we ceded ...

Lawmakers drop the ball

Editorials

If watching Congress has not been enough to make you wonder whether elected officials worry about doing any real work, or remember who they serve, Ohio lawmakers seem eager to answer with “No, not really.” They missed their first deadline for congressional redistricting, on Sept. 30, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal. Despite Buckeye State voters demanding action when they passed a constitutional amendment back in 2018, members of the General Assembly appear to have decided they’d rather not bother to work together to pass a bipartisan map in the allotted time. ...

Cheers & Jeers

Editorials

CHEERS to all who turned out for a meet the candidate event in Shadyside on Tuesday. Those willing to serve, and those who want to learn about them before voting, are to be commended. JEERS to any service disruptions that will affect local residents as the federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C., unfolds. CHEERS to word that Youngstown State University is looking at the former Eastern Gateway Community College site as a potential satellite campus that would make college classes available in Jefferson County again. JEERS to Ohio’s Joint Committee on Congressional ...

Ohio must use caution with crypto

Editorials

Last week, Ohio moved one step closer to being able to accept crypto currency as payment for state fees and services. The news was greeted with congratulations from officials such as Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “Ohio has always been a state of pioneers and innovators,” LaRose said. “I want to commend Treasurer (Robert) Sprague, Auditor (Keith) Faber, and Attorney General (Dave) Yost for taking this bold step to position us at the forefront of the emerging digital economy. There’s a reason why we now rank among the top five states in the nation to do business. It’s ...

Halting human trafficking

Editorials

In naming its latest statewide human trafficking operation, the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission chose “Operation Next Door” as a way to bring home the message that these criminals are not distant strangers. With the help of more than 100 law enforcement agencies, 135 people were arrested for seeking to buy sex — some of them from minors, according to state Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. Of those 135, one was from Weirton. Just next door. In total, 103 were arrested for seeking to buy sex; 32 were arrested on felony charges ...

Preparing the workforce

Editorials

New manufacturing employers may not be banging down the door (or fulfilling their promises) to build in Ohio as state officials might once have hoped, but the Buckeye State is already home to plenty of manufacturers looking to grow. They also hope Ohio’s workforce learns and grows along with them. So the state has developed the Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint — a strategy for meeting that need. “Ohio’s manufacturers are a crucial part of our state’s economy, contributing 17.5% of our GDP and employing more than 680,000 Ohioans,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “With ...