Breaking News

Guest columnists

Presidential endorsement: Donald J. Trump

Editor's note: We invited the chairperson of each Mahoning County major political party to share with our readers their arguments supporting their party's presidential nominee. Born in Youngstown and raised in the Valley. Boardman High and YSU educated, and involved in politics for close to 30 years. Some of my earliest memories are of the Steel mills and all the industry that made this area thrive and prosper. Unfortunately those memories soon turned to shuttered plants, vacant buildings and some of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in the nation for the past 40 years. The ...

Offshore drilling can help rebuild nation’s parks

Conserving our natural resources has long been tied to and directly supported by oil and gas development in the United States. This may seem counterintuitive to some, but offshore energy development revenues from qualified leases go right back into conservation initiatives throughout the United States via the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Established in 1964, the LWCF supports federal, state and local land, water and wetlands purchases to expand public access to public lands, so more Americans can experience the great outdoors. It also awards federal matching grants that leverage ...

What it took for America to become America

Thursday is Constitution Day. Do you know what it took to become America? It’s a simple question; however, with so much controversy in our country today, I wondered how individuals would answer. The bottom line is that America did not happen overnight. There were growing pains. The following information provides a chronology of the vision our Founding Fathers had for our nation’s future and what it has taken to continue these dream for America. April 19, 1775: Battle of Lexington, Mass., involved a British attack at dawn that started the way for independence. July 4, 1776: ...

Your kindness will last decade

In my 13 years as president and CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, I have repeatedly witnessed the unyielding kindness of the people of Appalachian Ohio. We care deeply about others, and when asked to help, we step forward. Amid the challenges we face today, it is easy to feel powerless. However, there is one simple way we can all make a difference now and that’s by completing the 2020 Census. The census will determine federal funding, elected representation, and how resources are allocated to our communities for the next 10 years. And right now, all but four of Appalachian ...

Ohio gas, oil essential to economy

It may seem difficult to look beyond pandemic-related economic challenges to spot the opportunity for growth in the Valley. However, as our communities move forward toward recovery, and begin to move past a year of immense, unpredictable challenges, there is something that brings us hope: natural gas and its connection to Ohio manufacturing. It’s against the backdrop of this “new normal” that the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber last week focused our Salute To Business keynote address on the opportunity to leverage Ohio’s natural gas and oil production for a manufacturing ...

Denying drug-cost assistance hurts patients

In October 2018, I received a bill for $2,326.24 for an MRI. MRIs are a regular test for multiple sclerosis patients like me and my mother to help track the status and any progression of our disease. I thought the bill must have been a mistake. I had a statement from my health insurer showing I had already met my deductible for the year. I could not understand why I was being billed this large amount when I always meet my deductible with the cost of my monthly prescription medications. My insurance company informed me that the financial assistance I had received from my drug company ...