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Democrats face uphill climb in Valley races for Congress

David Skolnick

Thanks to gerrymandering and the financial advantages of incumbency, only four out of the 15 U.S. House races in Ohio on the Nov. 3 ballot are considered competitive. Among the safe Republican districts are the two that include the Mahoning Valley: the 14th Congressional District, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, who is seeking his eighth two-year term; and the 6th, which has been represented by Congressman Michael Rulli, R-Salem, since he won a special June 2024 election. The 14th District favors Republicans 58.5% to 41.5% for Democrats based on partisan statewide ...

Ohio State Fair just the ticket for late-summer fun

Editorials

Buckeye State families looking to squeeze in one more family outing before the start of school should consider a trip to Columbus for the Ohio State Fair. The annual tradition began July 29 and ends Aug. 9. In between, there is plenty of food and fun in an event that has been growing since 1950. There are, of course, the traditional competitions in categories ranging from beef or goats to the creative arts or horticulture/floriculture. There are rides, entertainment — if hypnotists and magicians aren’t your thing, perhaps you’ll want to stay for Nelly, Sammy Kershaw or “Weird ...

Socialists v. the U.S. Senate

Editorials

Political parties tend to harshly reject the idea that they are a threat to the constitutional order, but the Democratic Socialists of America are making it part of their brand. The DSA has released a new program that, besides contemplating the advent of a classless society, calls for abolishing the Senate, the presidency and the Supreme Court. This is literally a revolutionary program to topple the American system as we have known it since 1789. It’s the kind of thing you might expect after angry rebels mount the barricades in Washington, D.C., and overthrow the government. It ...

Nebraska’s Osborn is really real

Editorials

“A Face in the Crowd” is the prophetic 1957 movie about a charismatic drifter “discovered” in an Arkansas jail. The face belongs to “Lonesome” Rhodes, a scoundrel whose folksy act catapults him to national prominence. “Lonesome” (Andy Griffith) abuses women, but the crowd only sees a lovable spinner of down-home yarns. He deflates after getting caught on an open mic mocking his followers as idiots and fools. Maine’s Graham Platner was a face in the crowd, sold to Democrats as a salt-of-the-sea oysterman who actually came from a privileged background. The senatorial ...

Parents in need of back-to-school discounts can receive a break

Editorials

Need a budget break on back-to-school shopping? Ohio’s Department of Taxation has one built in Aug. 7-9, with a sales tax holiday that should help. Though there is no expanded holiday this year, for those three days, clothing priced $75 or less, school supplies priced $20 or less and school instructional materials priced $20 or less will be exempt from sales tax. While most of us are capable of using common sense to sort it out, the department does note the sales tax holiday does NOT apply to “food in restaurants, boats/watercrafts, titled outboard motors, motor vehicles, ...

Is it any wonder why Americans have soured on college?

Editorials

Even colleges can’t fool all of the people all of the time. Just 38% of Americans have high confidence in higher education, according to a Gallup poll. That’s down from 57% in 2015. Gallup found three main reasons for this lack of confidence are political agenda, cost and not preparing students for a future career. This is a stunning — and much-needed — fall from grace. Many schools and politicians spent decades pushing ever more kids into college. Sen. Bernie Sanders even sponsored the “College for All Act.” It was endorsed by numerous left-wing groups, including ...