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Take a visit to the best state parks

Ohio bills itself as “the heart of it all,” for lots of reasons; and Buckeye State residents understand our incredible terrain and fascinating history also make it the heart of weekend getaway travel plans for those living in this part of the country. A research project by HomeToGo, in which it looked at search and demand data for state parks all over the United States backs us up. In fact, in its rankings of the top 50 state parks in the country, HomeToGo found Ohio has two of the very best. Hocking Hills State Park, in Hocking County, ranked third. Mohican State Park, in ...

What to do about lengthening and improving Ohio lives

For many Ohio residents, our choice to live here comes down to it simply being home. We’re here because we WANT to live here. But data released recently by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Buckeye State residents are not living as long as residents of most other states. Ohio has the 12th shortest life expectancy in the country, based on 2021 data. Here the average lifespan is 74.5 years (77.5 years for women and 71.7 years for men). The national average is 76.4 years (79.3 for women and 73.5 for men). So what is shortening our lives, here in this state we ...

Hard work must not be erased by politics

As we approach the Labor Day holiday, become more entrenched in the new school year and welcome the joys (and agonies) of football season, it is a good time to look at what all our labor is earning us these days. WalletHub conducted its annual Labor Day survey to find out how people were feeling about the economy and their place in it. Frustration is high. The survey showed 74% of those who participated believed inflation is erasing their hard work. Nearly two-thirds of participants said inflation had affected their Labor Day weekend plans. Ninety-three percent of people said they ...

Lawmakers can’t delay in helping homeowners and renters

The struggle for affordable housing has become a pressing enough issue that there is a bipartisan effort in both the Ohio House and Senate to give homeowners and renters a break. The idea is to give homeowners an income tax credit or rebate if property taxes amount to more than 5% of their income. This would apply to renters for the portion of their rent attributable to property taxes, too. According to Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, who spoke with WBNS, taxes are simply taking too much out of Ohioans’ pockets. But Isaacsohn is not alone in understanding that. Rep. Thomas ...

Young’s ruling a reminder to lawmakers

Ohio lawmakers and other elected officials have a habit of trying to circumvent the will of the people, no matter how loudly Buckeye State residents have spoken. Another recent example comes in the collection of state laws that combine to create a 24-hour waiting period for abortions in the state. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David C. Young has rightly issued a temporary block on those laws, pointing to the decision by voters in 2023 to approve a constitutional amendment guaranteeing access to the procedure. Young went so far as to remind lawmakers the language of 2023’s ...

Blood shortage at critical stage

Those looking to this space for perspective on the pressing issues of the day may wonder why it contains yet another appeal for blood donors and support of the American Red Cross’s mission. It is because the need is that urgent, and only growing more so. Over the weekend, the Red Cross issued a plea for help, as the blood shortage that had already presented a challenge is getting worse. Severe weather including the remnants of Hurricane Debby has canceled a significant number of blood drives that might have helped fill that gap. “The American Red Cross continues to experience an ...