Democracy in the Mahoning Valley didn’t die during the primary election, but it sustained a nasty wound. Election officials in Mahoning and Trumbull counties predicted typically poor turnout for an odd-numbered primary. That was expected for a few reasons. First, among the candidates, ...
Since Jan. 25, when U.S. Sen. Rob Portman announced he wouldn’t seek re-election next year, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has focused on succeeding him. In mid-November, shortly after winning his 10th two-year House term, Ryan, D-Howland, told me he had no intention of leaving that position unless ...
I’ve attended dozens and dozens of local political dinners, and I can tell you, the speakers are almost required to say the same things. That includes our political party is great, the other party is full of extremists and here are some examples — it doesn’t matter if they’re all true ...
With turnout so very low during nonpresidential years, the state should be doing everything it can to encourage people to vote. Ohio officials need to continue to uphold the integrity of the vote and make sure every valid ballot is counted. The Republican-controlled state Legislature is ...
With Amy Acton opting to not run for U.S. Senate, Rep. Tim Ryan essentially has a clear path to the Democratic Party’s nomination for the position next year. There is still time for other Democrats to get into the race — Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, and Franklin ...
Even though he’s a Republican, the GOP-controlled state Legislature is very tired of Gov. Mike DeWine’s health orders and states of emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite last-ditch efforts by DeWine to strike a compromise, the General Assembly last week overrode his veto of a bill ...
The two state senators who represent the Mahoning Valley are sponsoring a number of bills in the General Assembly, including two that are particularly interesting. State Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, who represents Mahoning and Columbiana counties, already had a couple of bills pass in the ...
Mosquito Lake State Park isn’t the most inviting name for the 7,000-acre area that is one of my favorite places in the Mahoning Valley. But for numerous people, a proposal from state Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, to rename it Donald J. Trump State Park is even worse. Loychik hasn’t ...
The Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber will give its Spirit of the Valley Award to General Motors at its annual meeting Wednesday — a decision upsetting a number of those who lost their jobs or relocated when the company closed its Lordstown plant. The timing of the award is bad — a ...
It’s the time of the year when members of the Ohio Legislature introduce bills — lots of bills. My email recently has been bombarded by legislators about proposals they’re submitting hopeful they become law. One bill, in particular, has attracted my attention. Two Republicans from ...