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Our region’s states lack in innovation

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. Faring a little better is the third state in our region, Pennsylvania, which comes in at 29th. Louisiana and Mississippi continue to cushion the ...

Let’s put faith in the voters

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives have come out and said it: They don’t believe you are smart enough to read and understand a ballot and make the best choice for your communities. On March 24, the House passed legislation that would eliminate replacement tax levies. According to a report by the Dayton Daily News, the measure could eliminate the ability of local tax jurisdictions to put replacement levies on ballots. Co-sponsors Reps. Thomas Hall, R-Madison Township, and Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, genuinely believe you, the voter, are not capable of understanding the ...

Weld commended for taking a stand

State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, didn’t mince words March 24 when his colleagues voted to try to wrest more control of local decision-making from municipalities across the state. “This is dumb,” he said. “ … Where is this a problem that we have to address? I haven’t heard of any.” That’s because there are none. But some lawmakers are so bothered that cities operating under West Virginia’s Municipal Home Rule Program are not entirely under state government’s thumb that they voted in favor of Senate Bill 579. The bill would amend state code to make all municipal ...

School bill seems a bit misguided

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 ...

Education vouchers are raising concerns

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-TV in Columbus, data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows nearly 90 percent 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 ...

Spread of measles can be prevented

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 — an unvaccinated man who ...