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A knock on my door that takes me back …

Those small pair of tennis shoes sitting by the front door can change the entire temperature of my house. Not literally, of course. The thermostat remains exactly where it always is. But the temperature shifts in that quiet, unseen way — a kind of happiness that has a way of sneaking in and warming corners of your home and your heart that you never even realized had grown cold. Yes, that is what happens every time my 3-year-old grandson, Layne, comes to spend time at my house. It is especially true on those rare nights he gets to spend the entire night. It is as if the ...

Guest column/School choice is expanding for families across Ohio

When some people think about K–12 school choice, they often picture families in large metropolitan areas touring dozens of schools in search of the right fit. That certainly happens, but education options for families in Ohio and across the country are continuing to evolve. A new survey shows that last year, one in five parents living in suburbs, small towns and rural communities enrolled their children in new schools — the same rate as the national average. However, when asked about the year ahead, 43 percent of parents in small towns say they are likely to explore new school ...

History in the Hills: A ride back in time

I started my previous article about one of my favorite Woody Allen movies, “Radio Days.” While that is in fact my favorite, I also like a newer film of Allen’s called “Midnight in Paris.” This film debuted in 2011 and is about a man who visits Paris with his fiancée and falls in love with the city, but longs for the Paris of the past. He gets his wish because, while walking in the city at midnight, he is picked up by an antique car of the 1920s that takes him back in time. While in the 1920s, he meets all the movers and shakers of that time, like Ernest Hemingway, Scott and ...

Some annual numbers

With the end of any year comes many annual reports. They offer an easy way for groups, organizations and government agencies to offer a glimpse into the things they were able to accomplish in the previous year. And, 2025 was no exception. Several have come into the newsroom during the past six weeks, and while each is interesting in its own right, there have been a few that have seemed to stand out. One is from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. His 2025 Year in Review includes a lot of information — his office, as the cover of the report indicates, helps “Ohioans ...

Guest column/Delivering results for the residents of our region

Fighting for you in Columbus is a great honor. And together, we’ve already delivered victories that put Ohio families — not special interests or Columbus insiders — first. Last General Assembly, we passed two major laws to protect women and children. The Save Women’s Sports Act guarantees fairness by preventing biological males from competing in girls’ sports. Our daughters train hard, compete fiercely, and deserve a level playing field. Now, they have it. We also passed the SAFE Act — ending sex-change surgeries for minors. Children should never be pressured into ...

Guest column/Abundant energy key to solving electricity crisis

As America moves into 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing affordability crisis. While prices for some key items have mercifully held steady — or even come down — other costs such as rent, dining out, and hospital visits continue to climb unabated. U.S. electricity — the one sector that affects all consumer industries in some way—is also racing upward. America’s electricity costs have jumped 32 percent in just the past five years. That’s a major problem for our new digital economy. Why are electricity prices rising so rapidly? Soaring power demand ...