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‘Best of a worst case scenario’

Give credit where credit is due to Ohio lawmakers who worked together to come to a compromise on a redrawn Ohio Congressional district map that has its critics, but came as a bit of a surprise to those who expected something much worse. According to the Statehouse News Bureau, Democrat lawmakers acknowledged the decision wasn’t easy — there is still anger and frustration on both sides — but Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, called it “the best of a worst-case scenario.” In fact, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, told the Akron Beacon Journal she was ...

Food quality and activity take effect

As Americans try to focus on upcoming holidays and rapidly approaching New Year’s resolutions, data accompanying this National Diabetes Awareness Month reminds that many of us have some work to do regarding our health. This is no time for nasty digs about SNAP and the health of those living in states with high numbers of people living both below the poverty line and in food deserts. In fact, where access to affordable, nutritious options is limited, health woes that go far beyond hunger are plentiful. It’s no surprise, then, that WalletHub’s “Most Overweight and Obese ...

Trying to keep our heads above water

Historians generally agree Marie Antoinette never actually said “Let them eat cake,” as French citizens were struggling to buy bread to feed their families. But elected officials at all levels have come pretty close to expressing the same sentiment lately, as their constituencies wrestle with the consequences of a federal government shutdown that has endangered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Some seem to be expressing the sentiment intentionally — relishing in it, even — while others likely just don’t understand how their words are being felt. On ...

Making new voters’ voices heard

Imagine being 18 (or nearly 18) years old and having someone like the West Virginia Secretary of State tell you that, at least in one aspect, you are just as powerful as someone like Taylor Swift or the president of the United States. That’s what local students learned when Secretary Kris Warner visited Parkersburg High School and Wood County Christian School this week to encourage them to register to vote when they are eligible. “We are all equal in this country,” Warner said. “When we all go to the ballot box, we all have the same rights and opportunities.” Warner was ...

An easy way to keep Christmas feeling merry

Nonprofits all over the Mid-Ohio Valley are finding it harder and harder to recruit volunteers. Organizations that exist to fill more specialized or seasonal needs have it even tougher, though they work to continue their missions, anyway. If you are looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season, one option is getting involved with the 12th Annual Christmas Day Feast in Marietta. It’s an ecumenical, privately funded outreach for the community presented by several local churches and hosted at the Marietta Knight of Columbus Hall each year. Last year, Bruce Haas, one of ...

Silence speaks volumes

Ohio lawmakers are missing an opportunity to show they are capable of stepping up when federal lawmakers do not. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, there have not yet been any hearings — nor are any scheduled — for House Bill 502, “Appropriate funds for SNAP, TANF, WIC upon lapse in federal funds.” Introduced by Rep. Latyna M. Humphrey, D-Columbus, the measure would be a safety net — similar to efforts in other states — for the nearly 1.4 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Ohio.. As Humphrey points out, “Grocery stores ...