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Brenda J. Linert

Ohio not stellar among ‘smart states’ study

Well, here’s some bad news, fellow Ohioans. A new study has ranked Ohio as the 43rd smartest state in the nation. I think that’s supposed to be a nice way of saying we are the eighth dumbest state. (I know what you’re thinking, and no, I’m not really that dumb at math. The study included the states PLUS D.C., ranking 1 through 51.) The report, created by Safehome.org, utilized four categories to rank the states, focusing largely on college degrees and higher education entrance exam scores, coupled by high school graduation rates. They say they collected the data from ...

Ohio auditor creates ratings for openness

“Central to the founding principle of self-governance is the ability of the public to participate; to create a partnership among the citizens of a community, some of whom have come forward in elective roles,” Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber started out a bulletin he released in recent weeks. “Transparency in governing makes those who serve more accountable to their fellow citizens and also fosters the exchange of ideas to increase efficiency and effectiveness with public dollars. To that end, Ohio Sunshine Laws ensure all citizens are granted the right to have broad access to ...

Happy holiday from Cranberry to Turkey Town

Several times each year I pass by Cranberry Township, Pa., usually as I’m exiting the Pennsylvania Turnpike heading to Pittsburgh, clad in black and gold, “Terrible Towel” in tow. It’s a silly name for a township, I often have thought. So I chuckled last week at its mention on a media release sent to my newsroom from the U.S. Census Bureau titled, “Fun Facts About Thanksgiving From Turkey, Texas, to Pilgrim, Mich.” Did you know Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pa., has a population of 30,132? And that Pennsylvania is home to not one, but two Cranberry Townships? The ...

Officers’ legacies are helping area students

A dozen or so college students gathered last week for a lovely luncheon in a room inside Kilcawley Center on the campus of Youngstown State University. Most were accompanied by their parents. Also attending were university officials, including President Jim Tressel, along with other special guests. And there were several uniformed police officers. At first glance, the makeup of the crowd might have appeared odd to passers-by. But truly, it wasn’t odd at all. You see, the annual event was being held in recognition of this year’s student recipients of the Michael T. Hartzell ...

Mark Veterans Day with respect, reverence

I was perusing syndicated editorial cartoons late last week in search of one to publish Monday to mark Veterans Day. I needed one that depicted the importance and reverence of the holiday — one that showed respect and heartfelt appreciation for those who served our nation selflessly. As I clicked open the images in a computer file, I came across a cartoon that I contemplated only for a moment, before quickly closing the file. Indeed, it spoke the truth, but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. The artist had drawn an armed soldier wearing camouflage and a helmet, labeled ...

High court case answers some questions

I sometimes hear from readers wanting our newspaper to get involved in their attempts to obtain public records, especially when they believe a public agency is unresponsive to their request. Indeed, journalists generally have more experience at seeking public records. However, I’m not an attorney who can dole out legal advice, and frankly, we don’t usually get involved in individual readers’ attempts unless it’s something we dub newsworthy. In those cases, we might simply do our own record request for documents that we think are pertinent to a possible story. I recently ...