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Lift up these schools

Ohio Sen. Andrew Brenner is again pitching an idea that seems to have zero support in Columbus. Earlier this month, he spoke in support of Ohio Senate Bill 127, which would automatically close low-performing public schools. Brenner, R-Delaware, told the state Senate Education Committee, “It is my hope that this bill will help to standardize the law surrounding school closures for public and community schools and help ensure that each student in Ohio receives the best education possible,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal. For Brenner’s purposes, a low-performing school is ...

Contradicting words and actions

Public officials in our region have said for years that one of their priorities is attracting and retaining new and exciting industries — and the kinds of individuals (and their families) who work for such companies. According to WalletHub’s “Most and Least Innovative States (2025),” neither Ohio nor West Virginia has picked up the pace on making that happen. In the list of most innovative states, Ohio ranks 42nd and West Virginia is 49th. Louisiana and Mississippi continue to cushion the Mountain State from hitting rock bottom. Ohio ranks 38th for both human capital ...

When help can’t wait

When the Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley needs our help, it is often in the form of blood donations and filling volunteer opportunities. But tomorrow is Red Cross Giving Day — a chance for us to support this vital organization with financial donations, too. “This year’s disasters have set a whirlwind pace, displacing thousands of people from their homes across the country and disrupting the nation’s blood supply for patients,” said Erica Mani, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region. “As we enter spring disaster season, families are ...

Encouraged self-protection

Those wondering about the necessity of strong vaccine requirements should take a look at news out of Ashtabula County that this year’s first case of measles has been reported in Ohio. “The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.” The Ashtabula County case was an adult — and unvaccinated man who had ...

Return to full and fair funding for public schools

As Ohio lawmakers consider expanding funding for education vouchers, it appears as though the programs may have veered off course from their original intended purpose. According to a report by WCMH, data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows nearly 90% of the students enrolled in the state’s voucher program are NOT low-income qualified. When EdChoice was established, the whole idea was to broaden educational opportunities for low-income students who were not receiving the education they needed in struggling districts. Now, with the EdChoice Exp program, any ...

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is 100 years old this year. Back in 1925, only nine participants spelled their way through the competition — six girls and three boys. Photos of the event through the years show a growing and evolving group of young people, all decked out in the fashions of their era, and all displaying a mixture of happiness and uncertainty as they take their place in a national spotlight. By the time you read this, a young person from the Mid-Ohio Valley will be preparing to join this year’s group in Washington, D.C., in May. I don’t know who it is yet. ...