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Why do groceries cost more in Ohio?

If grocery store sticker shock is fading in Ohio, it is only because Buckeye State residents have gotten used to spending more than they’d like (or are truly able) to spend to feed their families these days. The reality is inflation simply isn’t letting up. But the problem is worse in some states than others. Disturbingly, according to WalletHub’s “Cities Where People Spend the Most and Least on Groceries,” three of the top 10 most expensive cities in the country in which to buy groceries are in Ohio. No other state has more than one city in the top ten, out of 100 cities ...

Why are so many Americans down in the dumps despite great prosperity?

In nearly every way, Americans have more material wealth, better health, better housing and more of just about everything than ever before. Not just the rich, but nearly everyone. Americans’ standard of living is roughly 50% higher, after inflation, than it was 50 years ago. The median family income is now close to $90,000. That’s an income level higher than that of 90% of families living in the rest of the world. These ARE the good old days. Yet over the past 30 years, nearly every poll has shown that a plurality of Americans think things are “headed in the wrong ...

Why are Ohio babies at risk?

Ohioans know our state has its challenges, but generally speaking we think of ourselves as better off than those in some other parts of the country — or world. For our youngest and most vulnerable residents, that is not always the case. Given the number of politicians who want us to believe the lives of babies are of the utmost importance to them, it is astounding that the infant mortality rate here is STILL considerably above the national average. Efforts to address the problem have made some progress. We are down to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in Ohio, compared with the ...

A tale of two Americas

"The rich are different from you and me." — F. Scott Fitzgerald I read two books in one weekend: "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson on Saturday, "Strangers" by Belle Burden on Sunday. They're true stories, told well, about two countries, both inside America's borders: Death Row in Alabama, ...

No, the FlyDubai hijacking was not a ‘false flag’

In the depths of the modern world of conspiracy theories, there's a strange rule: When reports flood in regarding something terrible happening to Palestinians, it's a fact that cannot be questioned. But when reports flood in regarding something terrible that happened in the West — and ...

Finally, help comes for those who lost coal jobs

Years ago, a few politicians and elected officials began to understand it was irresponsible to ignore the downturn in the coal industry. Though acknowledging it at the time drew significant pushback from those clinging to bygone days, today we welcome the support of those in state and federal governments who are rooted enough in reality to be looking for ways to support individuals and communities affected by that downturn. This week, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, along with the Ohio Department of Development, announced more than $6 million in funding from the Appalachian ...