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Who is Ilhan Omar?

Guest columnists

Much of Ilhan Omar's family story is a black box, but we are presumably about to learn more about it. Federal authorities raided her Washington, D.C., residence in what's reportedly a probe related to her immigration paperwork. The congresswoman has alleged an effort to weaponize federal law enforcement and silence her. The Trump administration, which has repeatedly overreached in pursuit of its political opponents, doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt in such matters, although questions have swirled around Omar's background for years. She has always responded with angry ...

Hearing from our patrons

Guest columnists

Public libraries have always been trusted sources of information. From clay tablets to touch screens, they have preserved knowledge and connected people with the resources they need. But as communities change, libraries must evolve with them. Since becoming Director and CEO of the Public ...

Child welfare system cratering in Ohio

Editorials

Though the case has faded from the headlines, it has been only a little more than three months since 16 children were removed from the Siders’ home in Hamden. While that case makes its way through the system, Job and Family Services workers are sounding the alarm that part of that system is significantly broken. “I have been a county director since 1999, yet I have not seen such a challenging time in the child welfare system as I do today,” Jody Walker, head of South Central Ohio Job and Family Services, told lawmakers, according to a report in The Guardian, “specifically in ...

We're chasing significance in the wrong places

Editorials

It seems like everyone wants to be a social media influencer these days. Researcher Matthew Simoneau surveyed middle and high school students from 2021 to 2024 and more than 60% of them said they wanted to be social media influencers. People think fame and fortune will make them happy. But ...

Some children are too young to ride e-bikes and scooters

Editorials

In parts of Ohio, it’s impossible to drive up to a youth sports practice or large gathering of friends without noticing the pile of e-bikes and scooters where older generations might have left their bicycles in the yard. But those electrically driven forms of transportation can be even more dangerous than our trusty old bikes (cinder block and plywood ramps notwithstanding). A couple of Ohio lawmakers have the right idea, then, with state Senate Bill 477, which would ban children 13 and younger from operating the devices, and require all users to wear helmets. According to a report ...

Cornell 7: The end result of modern feminism

Editorials

When college students live out the ideals of modern feminism, the results are horrifying. Last month, a Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging that she had been gang raped by Cornell University students. "Cornell 7" refers to the number of men she has accused of inappropriate behavior, although not all are accused of rape. The incident occurred in October 2024 when the woman was a sophomore at the school. What isn't disputed is that the woman engaged in sex acts with multiple men at a Chi Phi fraternity party over several hours. Alcohol and drugs were involved. After the party, Jane Doe ...