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Measles outbreak isn’t over

Though an outbreak in Ohio appears to have subsided since the spring, outbreaks of measles are still popping up all over the country. The summer break does not seem to have slowed the spread of this dangerous disease. Canada and Mexico are experiencing thousands of cases (and some deaths), too. Most recently, Kentucky has announced its first measles outbreak of the year, with four cases in Fayette and Woodford counties. That brings the total in Kentucky to seven. In the U.S., the total number of confirmed cases this year sits at 1,267 — just shy of the 30-year high. Arizona, ...

The importance of the ordinance

Next week, local residents will continue the celebrations of this country’s early days and values on the 238th anniversary of the “Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio.” At 10:30 a.m. July 9, in East Muskingum Park, Paul LaRue, president of the Ohio State Board of Education, will talk mainly about Article 3 of that document and the effect it has had on education in this country for centuries. But there is so much more worth celebrating in that founding document. At the time, the authors made repeated references to ...

The importance of celebrating Independence Day

As Americans prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of our Declaration of Independence, it is important to take a hard look at why such a day is worth celebrating, nearly 250 years later. After all, the date has been a federal holiday only since 1870 — the heart of the Reconstruction Era, when lawmakers saw the value in finding ways in which Americans could be united in their celebration. (Christmas and New Year’s Day become federal holidays that year, too.) But since the beginning, there have been certain truths worth fighting for here — foremost among them that ...

You can make a difference

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who are able to make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the most recent “Giving USA” report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3% increase over 2023. The donations data used for this report came before the layoff of tens of thousands of workers for non-profits for 2025 due to ...

Promoting Buckeye State travel

A stretch of suffocatingly hot weather may have made it tempting to just stay indoors as much as possible, but a recent study reminds us Ohio has a great deal to offer outside. The best part is, it just takes a switch from the air conditioning in your house to the air conditioning in your car to go enjoy it. WalletHub’s “2025’s Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips” placed the Buckeye State at an impressive third in the country. The idea for this particular group of researchers was to find road trips that were fun AND wallet-friendly, which is a bonus for all of us. We ...

Heat records create high energy needs

Heat across our region likely has many households cranking up the air conditioning and using plenty of electricity. Combine household need with that of Ohio’s industrial energy consumers and PJM Interconnection is advising the strain on our electrical grid may be too great. “At the current pace, we are projecting a shortfall of energy,” said David Souder, executive director of PJM operations, according to a report by WBNS. In fact, Souder said another heat wave could lead the system to experience reserve shortfalls. That means PJM has had to come up with a plan. “That’s ...