Breaking News

Editorials

Ohio takes bad news with good

Ohioans paying attention to national reports and rankings of the state are on a bit of a roller coaster ride lately. Hot on the heels of CNBC naming the state the best in the country for business, U.S. News and World Report says it’s actually one of the worst in the country for everything else. According to a report by WCMH-TV, Ohio is doing better than only West Virginia and Michigan among its neighbors, and is ranked 42nd overall in the country in a survey that looked at education (29th), health care (36th), economy (38th), infrastructure (31st), opportunity (a bright spot at ...

Medicare for all? Here’s the missing truth on it

Ever since I was in Congress there was a group of people that wanted some form of universal healthcare. It would include one healthcare provider through the federal government, which they frequently refer to as “Medicare for all.” However, there is a huge difference between Medicare, which is for the elderly and disabled in contrast to Medicaid, which is for the indigent and their children. Working Americans contribute by paying into Medicare, while Medicaid is paid by the federal government. Essentially healthcare for Medicaid individuals is free. You simply cannot combine the two ...

Support your local farmers after recent Ohio storms

Recent violent storms across Ohio have provided a reminder about just how much we take for granted our local farmers. Many were hit by another round of storms last week that destroyed this year’s harvests. According to a report by WCMH-TV, Tuesday’s weather events were the worst in central Ohio since the 2012 derecho windstorm. States of emergency have been declared in Perry and Muskingum counties. Those storms did not just produce winds and rain that damaged or destroyed crops, they also took out structures ranging from barns to farm stands. Just a couple of weeks ago in ...

GOP isn’t always best party for conservatives in America

I often get asked for my advice on how to vote. I’m the first to concede these requests come from a very niche slice of the electorate — that tiny remnant of people who know who I am, value my opinion and share my exasperation with both parties. I am going to answer the question. But first let me explain why I don’t like it. I think too many pundits on the left and right fall into the habit of confusing or conflating the fortunes of a party with that of their philosophy. Many come by this tendency honestly. As the parties have polarized ideologically, it’s a natural ...

Clay Travis’ offer exposed WNBA’s inclusion delusion

Leftist dogma requires adherents to assert that men can become women and should be treated as such. That wouldn’t work out so well for WNBA players. Last week, conservative talk show host Clay Travis offered to give the Las Vegas Aces $10 million — with a catch. He wants the Aces, the reigning WNBA champions, to play a game against a state champion high school boys team of his choosing. The winner of the game would receive the cash. “This will be the most money ever paid to win a single basketball game,” Travis wrote on X. “A modern day battle of the sexes.” That’s a ...

Orchids & onions

ORCHID: To Jamie Ciccone for her exemplary civic engagement that led to her well-deserved appointment last week as the newest member of the Austintown Township Board of Trustees. Ciccone, who is no relation to embattled Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone, won high praise from fellow Trustees Monica Deavers and Bruce Shepas. She can rightfully boast of a laundry list of community and nonprofit groups she has served in and powered. She also bested at least 12 other candidates, many of whom brought strong credentials themselves. For her part, Ciccone vows that in her new ...