Ohio is home to a substantial number of Amish residents, more than 76,000 of them. All too frequently, we have to report accidents in which motor vehicles have struck horse-draw buggies operated by the Amish. Ohio already has laws on the books intended to safeguard the Amish, but obviously, ...

In his short eight-month stint as representative of Ohio’s 63rd House district, Democrat Gil Blair already has proven his ability to reach across the aisle in a heavily Republican chamber and offers in-depth working knowledge of economic needs for our area. To the contrary, his opponents in ...

• ORCHID: To Hubbard Township for announcing recently that glass will again be accepted at the township’s recycling bins. Glass had been prohibited last year. • ORCHID: To the hundreds of baseball fans who turned out this week at Eastwood Mall to participate in a rally to save the ...

In their appointment of Gary Steinbeck to the open at-large seat on Warren City Council, Trumbull County Democrats accepted applications up until a deadline that was just about 18 hours before the vote. Steinbeck was selected from among seven applicants seeking the appointment, and he was ...

Ohio state legislators may be coming to understand the truth of an old warning: No good deed goes unpunished. Some lawmakers have been considering a proposal that the state constitution be amended to make it more difficult for the General Assembly to increase taxes. On the face of it, that ...

Parents who disagree with marks their children receive on school report cards sometimes argue the grading system is not fair and should be altered. Few suggest grades ought to be done away with entirely. That would be crazy. Children’s progress in school has to be measured somehow. That ...

The once-a-decade collection of information about Americans may well go down in history as the first digital Census. Let us hope it also is not recorded as an electronic fiasco. Officials at the U.S. Census Bureau will be utilizing tons of state-of-the-art technology in gathering information ...

Political controversy is seen by some people solely as an opportunity for fame and fortune. It seems attorney Michael Avenatti belongs in that category. Avenatti’s big chance came when the California attorney latched onto a prize client: Stephanie Clifford, more commonly known in the porn ...

It turns out that hating the United States, Britain and Israel is not just a matter of ideological leanings for some Iranians. It is good business, too. In case you missed it, The Associated Press recently answered a burning (pun intended) question: Where do all those U.S., British and ...

Kudos to new Warren Councilman Greg Greathouse for keeping council on its toes by recently pointing out that, once again, council has failed to act on a necessary decision stemming from the more than three-year closure of Dana Street at the request of an area businessman. To be certain, we ...

• ORCHID: To lawmakers for recently honoring an area first responder who died in 1953 in the line of duty by renaming a stretch of state Route 7 between state Routes 82 and 305 in Trumbull County as “James A. Fredericka Memorial Highway.” Fredericka, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper ...

Some other governments spare no effort to gain advantage over U.S. businesses and consumers. Trade barriers such as tariffs and unreasonable restrictions in the name of product safety are examples. But some — including China — are involved in all-out assaults on Americans. Theft of U.S. ...

General Motors did the right thing by inviting a local environmental group to meet with the company to discuss the group’s concerns ahead of next month’s public hearing about a permit application to build a new electric vehicle battery plant on Lordstown acreage that includes a large swath ...

Ohio public education officials are talking about how the state’s “report card” system of rating schools can be improved. No doubt the evaluations can be made better. But one thing should stay the same. Letter grades, from A-F, are used to rate how well schools are doing in various ...

These days, it seems as if there is an app for everything. But the fiasco last week with the Iowa Democratic Party’s presidential nominating caucuses is a reminder that the appeal of new technology needs to be tempered by concern over reliability. Iowa’s caucus process is the first ...

Concern about overcrowded jails and prisons, combined with a laudable desire to give people who have made mistakes second chances in life, have prompted many Americans to rethink sentences for criminal offenses. That is occurring at the local, state and federal levels. Indeed, we need to ...

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan walked out during the State of the Union address Tuesday in what we would describe as a childish act of showmanship. This was not a moment of frustration that led our Valley’s congressman to feel a need to get away. If that were the case, then why not just walk away, calm ...

ORCHID: To Newton Falls village leaders for working to find ways to improve internet connectivity for their local businesses and residents. Those plans are helping to head off a move by Luxaire Cushion Co. from the village. Company officials, who employ about eight workers now, said they will ...

A large local real estate developer is eager to step up, and the plans have been laid. Opportunities for new economic development abound. But instead of embracing the idea, many objections have arisen in the community — making potential new growth and development a struggle. Unfortunately, ...

Why is it that some laws intended to protect the public result in accusations that legislators who refuse to repeal them are being spoilsports? Ohio’s ban on many types of “consumer fireworks” is an example. While many states, including West Virginia, have rescinded such prohibitions, ...