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Report reminds of importance of rail safety reform (editorial for 7/1)

While lawmakers continue to sit on their hands and pretend they don’t know railroad safety reform is necessary, a new report by The Guardian focuses on research that indicates exposure to the chemicals released in a 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, DID damage the bodies of those who were exposed. According to The Guardian, a peer-reviewed pilot study showed some East Palestine residents’ immune systems still are “responding to toxic chemical exposures” by fighting off an attack, or repairing their bodies. “Compared with a control group, East Palestine ...

DeWine sees potential in immigrant communities (editorial for 6/30)

Gov. Mike DeWine continues to demonstrate his willingness to speak his mind as his tenure in Columbus approaches its end. Last week, he told PBS News Hour what he thought of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will allow for the ending of the Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians who have sought refuge here. Approximately 10,000 Haitian immigrants settled in Ohio, and DeWine calls the ruling "a mistake." “You're seeing in Springfield a city that is coming back,” DeWine told News Hour. “It's been coming back for the last few years. And, frankly, one of the reasons it's ...

Day of Action supports vital nonprofit efforts

Approximately 150 volunteers at 16 sites joined in the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley’s annual Day of Action last week. Completing service projects for local nonprofits, the volunteers spent the day on everything from building a walking path to organizing and pricing items for the ReStore. It’s an effort many local businesses are eager to join. “They put the date out and we all put it on our calendars immediately and sign up,” said Cassie Kerns, nurse recruiter with WVU Medicine Camden Clark. “It is a fun way to get out and be involved with our community that we ...

Labor force participation trend must be reversed

Ohio — particularly poorer, more rural regions — has begun to experience a trend with which neighboring West Virginia is all too familiar. While the country added 172,000 jobs in May, Ohio lost 2,400. Unemployment, on the other hand, fell; but not for the reason we would all hope. Unemployment data measures only those who are in the labor force. As researcher Molly Bryden, with Policy Matters Ohio, pointed out to the Ohio Capital Journal, that figure does not include those who were unable to work because of age or physical condition, or simply have left the state or stopped ...

Kids safer because community supports annual event

It’s been almost 50 years, but Safetytown organizers continue to put a fresh spin on the program that has taught generations how to keep themselves safer and healthier. With guest appearances by police officers, firefighters, crossing guards and even K-9 Phoenix, youngsters spent nine days this month learning about road safety, stranger danger, playing outside, swimming safety, fire and electrical dangers and more. There was even an introduction to online safety and developing good habits. Plenty of adults might have gotten a reminder or two at some of these sessions. “I have ...

Trendy tech not always best for getting job done

Companies that jump on the latest trendy technology a little too early are often stuck with the bill when it doesn’t turn out to fulfill all its promise. In Dublin, Ohio, taxpayers had to foot the bill for a K5 autonomous security robot the police department called “DubBot,” after it failed miserably at its job. According to a report by the website Futurism, which cited a Columbus Dispatch report, DubBot helped make no arrests and issued no tickets during its less-than-a-year on the job. Or, as the department spokesperson put it, it “wasn’t meeting operational needs.” This ...