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Celebrate freedoms and history of nation, Valley for America250

Editorials

“We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since those eloquent words adopted 250 years ago Saturday as the bedrock foundation of America’s Declaration of Independence, the United States has remained steadfastly true to its nation-defining goals. It’s not always been easy or without pain, anger and bloodshed, but in those 2 1/2 centuries, the United States has worked consistently to slowly but surely expand its ...

‘Toy Story 5’: A reminder of imagination’s importance

Editorials

I found the “Toy Story 5” theme of tech versus toys very intriguing, as folks like me from older generations often lament that today’s kids are missing out on one of the most wonderful parts of childhood: using your God-given imagination. Screentime on tablets can lock so many kids in, and while tech toys can teach them useful skills they will need, such as problem solving, language development and trial-and-error learning, they cannot replace the joyfulness and thrill that emanate from toys coming alive through the extraordinary power of creativity. “Toy Story 5” continues ...

Moreno doesn’t hold back on Democrats

David Skolnick

When U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno spoke to a crowd at the Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters, he didn’t hold back. Moreno, a Republican, took direct aim at Democrats. That included Democratic Congressional leadership in Congress — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — as well as a few Democratic candidates for federal office. Moreno also targeted Sherrod Brown, who he defeated in the 2024 election and is running in this year’s Senate race against Republican Jon Husted, and Amy Acton, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate who ...

Is JD Vance more dangerous than Trump?

Editorials

JD Vance said last Friday that the U.S. wins "either way" in negotiations with Iran. "If we make the final deal, then great," Vance told HBO's Bill Maher. "If we don't make the final deal, their nuclear program is still destroyed. They're still much weaker as a country." Just hours after Vance's appearance on HBO, Iran launched attack drones on Bahrain — which hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters, a major logistical base for U.S. military operations. Iran also struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, its second attack on a ship since Thursday. So much for Iran being ...

Democrats now and then

Editorials

Following last week’s primary elections in which the rise of Democrat-Socialist candidates alarmed many longtime Democrats, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) read a list of things he said those far-left candidates stand for. To conservatives, and Independents, the list sounded like a grand jury indictment. Johnson said the Democrat-Socialist effort to take over the party and re-fashion it in their image is not limited to deep blue New York City, but is surfacing around the country, especially among younger people who have never had to live under these systems, mostly because they ...

Orchids & onions

Editorials

ORCHID: To the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield grant program for awarding the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. a $1 million grant to continue the great progress that it already has made toward revitalizing the Glenwood Avenue corridor on the South Side. The new funds will finance cleanup of at least two contaminated sites on the heavily trafficked road and do testing on others. Among the successes achieved have been targeted sidewalk replacements, ongoing commercial building restorations and the development of a five-year master plan to guide future growth. ...