Be honest on ballot about judges’ political parties

April 4, 2021

A bill recently introduced in the Ohio legislature would add political party affiliation to the names of judicial candidates running for the Supreme Court and courts of appeals. In my view, the change makes sense. The more information voters have, the better our elections. The practice of electing judges in Ohio dates back to the adoption of our modern-day constitution in 1851. Judicial selection, in fact, was one of the key reasons Ohio jettisoned its previous constitution. Under the old system, judges were selected by the state legislature and were widely thought to be beholden to ...

Inclusive care for our veterans is critical to Ohio

March 14, 2021

I’ve been working with the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) since 1994, when I started as a student nurse at the Salt Lake City Health Care System. From there, I rose to the position of association director of clinical operations. Following, I served as director of several medical centers and clinics in places ranging from St. Louis, Missouri to Manila, Philippines. I have greatly enjoyed my career serving our nation’s Veterans, and though I’ve served for a while, it feels as if I’m still just getting started. That’s why I’m so encouraged by programs like the ...

Oil, gas industry is the Valley’s economic driver

March 7, 2021

The economic impact of the oil and natural gas industry in Ohio has been immense over the past decade. Whether the result of the thousands of well-paying jobs the industry has generated or the billions of dollars invested in the Mahoning Valley and beyond, the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver in the Buckeye State. The industry is creating economic opportunities for people in communities across Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and other counties that are home to gas and oil wells, as well as the industry’s supply chain. To portray Ohio’s oil and gas industry as anything ...

Minorities impacted disproportionately by virus in Ohio

February 21, 2021

In late 2019 global health authorities began warning of an outbreak of what appeared to be a new respiratory virus. The virus later became known as the 2019 novel coronavirus, and the illness caused by the virus is COVID-19. The virus rapidly spread across the world, including in Ohio. While the death and devastation from this pandemic has been widespread, not everyone has felt the effects the same. On May 8, 2020, the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights adopted a proposal to undertake a study of civil rights and equity in the delivery of medical and public ...

Teen stroke survivor calls for change, awareness

December 13, 2020

I suffered a stroke at the age of 16. It changed my life forever. “Determined,” “smart” and “caring” are just a few words my relatives use to describe me. My twin brother and I lost both our mother and father before we turned 11; however, I found my happy place on the volleyball court, even in difficult times. July 14, 2018, began as a normal day. While doing what I love most with my team at a Youngstown State University volleyball camp, my coach noticed something was off. I typically push through anything coming my way, especially in volleyball. My coach thought my ...

Especially now, help is needed

December 4, 2020

According to research conducted by the Ohio United Way, 42 percent of the households in Trumbull County are either living in poverty or are considered the working poor. Even before the pandemic hit, these Trumbull County households were led by workers unable to earn enough to cover basic expenses and save for an unexpected crisis or job loss. For many, the economic crisis has stripped available assets and abruptly forced families into unfamiliar financial positions. Most of our local nonprofits are bracing for a surge in demand after the first of the year when unemployment and ...