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Public school officials say state’s education funding system is unfair

LEAVITTSBURG – Public school officials and advocates say Ohio’s education funding system is unfair, with the state’s percentage of money decreasing, causing a heavy burden on property tax owners and impacting the quality of education. A.J. Calderone, superintendent of the LaBrae Local School District, which hosted the Greater Western Reserve School Funding Forum at its high school, said: “You can’t talk about fair school funding, you can’t talk about income tax restructuring and property tax reform, you can’t talk about vouchers or litigation efforts in state of Ohio in ...

Pepper targets Ramaswamy’s policies

YOUNGSTOWN – David Pepper, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said the platform of Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, is a disaster for working class Ohioans and continues the GOP’s efforts to benefit the rich. During a Tuesday news conference in Youngstown’s Wick Park, Pepper said: “The Statehouse is always giving things away at the top and directly and indirectly the costs get shifted down to everyday Ohioans here in Youngstown and all across the state. If you look at Vivek Ramaswamy’s plan, it’s the same trick. Getting rid of income ...

State Legislature approves 90-day gas holiday in Ohio

The state Legislature overwhelmingly passed a 90-day Ohio gas tax holiday that was pushed by Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican gubernatorial candidate. It should be signed into law Thursday by Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican. The quickly written bill passed Wednesday in the Senate 26-5 and then in the House 78-16 with Ramaswamy saying when he becomes governor, passing needed legislation will happen this fast. Several Democrats voting in favor of the proposal despite saying the plan is an election ploy to help Ramaswamy, said the average motorist will save about $3 a week, those who live ...

Murder victim’s father nearly jailed

YOUNGSTOWN — The father of a murder victim will not be in court for the rest of the trial of his son’s alleged killer. Ty’Ron Perry Sr. of Akron sat on the witness stand Tuesday. On Wednesday, he stood in front of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Durkin, facing a ...

Witnesses say shooting motive was unclear

YOUNGSTOWN — After a day of testimony, it remains unclear exactly why Darius Smith apparently killed a teenager in May, but witnesses all seemed to agree that he did. Smith, 23, of Dewey Avenue, is accused of fatally shooting 16-year-old Ty’Ron Perry Jr. of Akron at Smith’s home on May ...

SOBE attorney: Judge can’t grant request by 2 customers to intervene in court case

YOUNGSTOWN – The attorney for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC’s receiver doesn’t object to requests by two customers – who were sent disconnection notices – to intervene in a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court case, but sees no reason why they’re seeking that status. Michael Moran, the court-appointed attorney for SOBE receiver John C. Collins, wrote in a Tuesday response that the request by West 34 Investors LLC, the owner of Wick Tower, and Erie Terminal Place LLC, which owns Erie Terminal Place, to intervene “is extremely unclear. Beyond desiring to be parties to the ...