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Withdrawing from UNESCO is a mistake

Among the sites that could be negatively affected by the United States’ intention to leave the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is the Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. The site was already on a tentative list for nominations to be designated World Heritage Sites, but that recognition may never come. According to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the U.S. withdrew from UNESCO because it “works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a ...

Congratulations to Starcher, her assignment and her work

It’s not every day the governor calls and asks you to be part of a working group because he was impressed by work you did five years ago, but that’s just what happened for Fort Frye Local Schools Superintendent Stephanie Starcher. There are more than 600 public school district superintendents in Ohio. She is one of only two to be chosen for Gov. Mike DeWine’s Property Tax Reform Working Group. “DeWine actually reached out to me and called me and asked me if I would serve on their work group as a public school representative, and he knew that I was in a rural school area,” ...

Cutbacks continue

It gets a little harder each time to match state officials’ public optimism that Intel will live up to all its promises to Ohioans, when the news is that — again — the company is letting off the gas. In fact, last week Intel said it will “further slow” the pace of construction on a microchip facility that was supposed to be up and running THIS year. The last time we got such news, The Columbus Dispatch reported Intel was delaying its opening to at least 2030 or 2031. It is not clear now how much further that date might be pushed. “While the pace of construction in Ohio ...

Using mind and heart for good

Young people have a way of surprising us with their ability to use their brains AND their hearts to get the job done when adults sometimes falter. Learning of the plight of staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley trying to properly care for HUNDREDS of animals filling their shelter, 8-year-old Autumn Hughes organized a lemonade stand and caught the attention of Texas Roadhouse to help support her effort. She ended up raising more than $1,000. “She loves animals and she enjoys doing her lemonade stands,” her dad, Jacob, said. She also appears to already be a ...

Lend a helping paw to the HSOV

Recently, the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley put out a cry for help. Desperate staff and volunteers were overwhelmed as the number of animals in the facility has them “drowning in dogs.” In fact, on July 22 there were 202 animals in the shelter. Those animals need food, medical care and socialization. They need to be walked, cleaned up after, bathed … it is too much. “There are dogs everywhere in our building – offices, bathrooms, closets, the garage. Staff is tired and defeated,” HSOV Director Amy Rogers said in a news release. “And the heartbreaking reality is, we ...

Redistricting expectations

Ohio’s Redistricting Commission is, again, gearing up to redraw the state’s congressional map — ahead of the 2026 elections; and meant to stand for the next three elections. Voters already voiced their preference against one proposed redistricting reform measure last year. Gov. Mike DeWine’s idea for a different model has also been ignored. And so we are back where we started — recall that the redistricting commission essentially refused to do its job last time it was asked, caring little for the obviousness of their intent. First, of course, the Republican ...