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Mahoning Valley’s future begins in the classroom

Five years ago, we saw the Mahoning Valley on the cusp of economic growth it hadn’t seen in years, perhaps decades. It frightened us. It frightened us because we weren’t sure we could provide enough human capital to fill all the jobs being created by large companies, including Fortune 200 firms, locating and expanding here. Any failure could come at the expense of our existing, locally owned businesses that might not have the wherewithal to compete for their workforce needs. Then, last year, we assisted Hubbard art teacher Josh MacMillan’s volunteer effort to organize the ...

Democrats side with the Mullahs

“Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month — roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS. But instead of lowering Americans’ healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan King Crabs ...

Orchids & onions

ORCHID: To the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for awarding the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office a $1.75 million grant to help finance the long-delayed and gravely needed repairs to the roof of the county jail. Sheriff Mike Wilson said the county received more than any of the other 88 counties in the state, indicating grant applicants did a fine job conveying the dire need for the repairs this year. “We’ve done our part to be fiscally sound and be a team player.” Two months ago jail Administrator David Bobby reported to commissioners, “ Every time it rains, ...

Ohio Senate should act quickly to create defense commission

The 82 members of the Ohio House of Representatives who this month overwhelmingly approved legislation creating the Ohio Space and Defense Commission merit a collective salute from all Ohioans, particularly those of us in the Mahoning Valley. That legislation, House Bill 292 sponsored by Reps. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, and Ty Mathews, R-Findlay, and co-sponsored by Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Canfield, has supersized potential to fortify Ohio’s already robust defense and aerospace industries. That enhanced impact also would hit home with great promise for growth and long-term sustainability of ...

Using religion to win votes

Democrats have had trouble in recent years attracting conservative evangelical voters, who mostly vote for Republicans. In 2000, former Vice President Al Gore gave it a try. He failed badly when he said the first instance of pollution in the Bible is when “Abel’s blood cried out from the ground” after his brother Cain murdered him. Gore said this meant Abel’s blood had “defiled” or “polluted” the ground, rendering it incapable of yielding crops. Not exactly. Now comes Democrat James Talarico, the party’s nominee for the Texas Senate seat currently held by Republican ...

Kristi Noem rides off into the sunset

At times, you could be forgiven for having thought that Kristi Noem wanted to be a uniformed DHS officer rather than the secretary of the department. Now, the cabinet member most inclined to glamour shots out in the field is going to have to go back to wearing civilian clothes. For all his trademark firings during “The Apprentice” and the rapid turnover of his first term, President Trump has been loathe to oust top officials this time around. Kristi Noem is the exception, and she’s earned the dubious distinction. Incompetent and preposterously self-promoting, Noem took a ...