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Valley, educators have big future in EV

It is amazing to think that nine months after the last Chevy Cruze rolled off the line at Lordstown, on Christmas Day the Washington Post runs a story exploring the possibility of the Mahoning Valley becoming a hub for electric vehicle technology. I will not go as far as calling this rebirth an Immaculate Conception of the new auto industry in the Valley, but given the reaction by the auto and technology industry media to the news that LG and GM are going to build a $2.3 billion EV battery plant near the old GM assembly line, maybe we can say it’s more an Immaculate Reception (no ...

Few primaries expected in Mahoning while several anticipated in Trumbull

Wednesday is the filing deadline for the March 17 primary, and it looks like there will only be a few — or possibly no — contested primaries for offices in Mahoning County. It’s a different story in Trumbull County where there should be a number of primaries. As of Thursday, no one has filed to challenge any of the incumbents — Democrats or Republicans — in Mahoning County. That will change by the filing deadline, but don’t be surprised if there are no contested primaries in March for county positions. Several of the incumbents have been there for a long time and few ...

Mahoning Valley must shape its future together

For more than 50 years, GM-Lordstown was a pillar of our local economy. Generations of northeast Ohioans devoted their lives to produce award-winning cars and vans, while building GM into the company it is today. For these reasons and so many more, the plant closure shook our community to its core and left us devastated. The thousands of jobs lost at the local General Motors plant and spinoff companies will be hard to replace. For former GM workers, the pain and heartache this closure brought remains an open wound that will not heal anytime soon. Yet amid this crisis we are, ...

Time to pause and remember to be thankful

Recently, local Realtor leadership attended the 2019 Nation Association of Realtors convention and sat in on classes and presentations to hear about trends across America and many parts of the world, and walk the floor of the convention trade show listening to hundreds of vendors. It was almost overwhelming to hear of the nearly boundless opportunities to take advantage of technology and techniques to help our clients. It really beckons us to reflect on how lucky we have been. From their humble beginnings, a rag tag group of men and women planted the seeds of freedom 250 years ago. ...

We must take charge of our future

I have had the honor to experience both the thrill of the process to bring national football championships to YSU and Ohio State and now participating in the academic and economic development of our Valley. These truly are magical times. However, it concerns me that the conversation of the manufacturing future of Ohio and, more specifically, here in the Mahoning Valley has not reflected the exciting opportunity before us. The world is on the cusp of the biggest revolution in automotive technology in more than 100 years: internal combustion engines will eventually go by the wayside and ...

No need to farm to join Farm Bureau

Do you know what Farm Bureau is? Have you ever considered becoming a Farm Bureau member? You might say, “I’m not a farmer so I can’t be a member” or “There is no need for me to be a member.” If you are interested in local foods, protecting agriculture and preserving Ohio’s farm heritage and lifestyle for generations to come, then a Farm Bureau membership is right for you. Ohio Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization that works hard to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities through programs and efforts such as advocating for good government policy, ...