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Guest columnists

Justice system in US imposes accountability

Published on this page June 21, 2020, titled “Without police, who will you call for help?” I addressed “the shocking killing of George Floyd … by a Minneapolis police officer while three other policemen stood by and watched.” While the op-ed addressed the ongoing violence in the streets and the call by Black Lives Matter to defund the police, a call which persists, the piece offered a prediction that has now been realized. Ten months ago, this is what I wrote: “The offending policemen have been charged. They will enter a plea or go to trial before a jury or a judge. Based ...

Fulfill EV promise, define low-carbon economy

Transportation is undergoing a major shift around the globe. The rapid pace of technology continues to make low-carbon alternatives — like electric vehicles — more efficient, more accessible and, truth be told, far more desirable. If expert opinion holds true, up to one-third of new cars sold will be electric-powered by 2030. The Mahoning Valley has a sustainable, competitive advantage to become a powerhouse feeding growing consumer demand for electric vehicles and technology. Lordstown Motors, Ultium Cells, organizations such as BRITE Energy Innovators and the Ohio Turnpike & ...

Shuba’s gesture so much more than a handshake

Today, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the handshake of Youngstown native George Shuba with Jackie Robinson, a defining moment in civil rights and a consequential addition to Mahoning Valley history. Rookie first basemen Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor league affiliate Montreal Royals. He hit a three-run home run, and as he crossed home plate, Shuba instinctively raised his hand to congratulate him. The iconic scene will be captured in a statue of Shuba and Robinson in downtown Youngstown, to be dedicated in late summer. George Shuba’s handshake ...

Inclusive care critical to Ohio

I’ve been working with the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) since 1994, when I started as a student nurse at the Salt Lake City Health Care System. From there, I rose to the position of Association Director of Clinical Operations. Following, I served as director of several medical centers and clinics in places ranging from St. Louis, Missouri to Manila, Philippines. I have greatly enjoyed my career serving our nation’s veterans, and though I’ve served for a while, it feels as if I’m still just getting started. That’s why I’m so encouraged by programs like the ...

Oil and gas industry is Valley economic driver

The economic impact of the oil and natural gas industry in Ohio has been immense over the past decade. Whether the result of the thousands of well-paying jobs the industry has generated, or the billions of dollars invested in the Mahoning Valley and beyond, the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver in the Buckeye State. The industry is creating economic opportunities for people in communities across Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and other counties that are home to gas and oil wells, as well as the industry’s supply chain. To portray Ohio’s oil and gas industry as anything ...

COVID-19’s disparate impact in Ohio

In late 2019 global health authorities began warning of an outbreak of what appeared to be a new respiratory virus. The virus later became known as the 2019 novel coronavirus, and the illness caused by the virus is COVID-19. The virus rapidly spread across the world, including in Ohio. While the death and devastation from this pandemic has been widespread, not everyone has felt the effects the same. On May 8, 2020, the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights adopted a proposal to undertake a study of civil rights and equity in the delivery of medical and public ...