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UAW keeps fighting for GM-Lordstown

June 22 was not a bright summer day for many area workers. It was the final day of the second shift at General Motors Lordstown Complex, Magna Seating, Jamestown Industries, Leadec Industrial Services and other suppliers associated with the complex. Through no fault of their own, about 1,500 United Auto Workers Local 1112 members hit the street on an indefinite layoff. If it hasn’t yet, the trickle-down effect will soon hit many more workers in other supplier plants, retail stores, real estate, restaurants, etc. For every GM worker, up to seven other workers in our area depend on ...

HomeGoods is big opportunity

As a leader, I’ve always encouraged patience with regard for the big picture, despite any immediate set-backs. And I’d say the same today as I look at the economic outlook for Trumbull County, even with our latest challenges. Last month, more than a thousand people lost their jobs at General Motors’ Lordstown Assembly Complex, and now some of GM’s suppliers have also been forced to make additional layoffs. Trumbull County already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, above the national average, so we can’t afford to lose jobs. I see a better future ahead, ...

Dangerous fracking waste bills considered

By Ted Auch and Teresa Mills Guest columnists This is an open letter aimed at all advocates for House Bill 578 whose title indicates it would establish 300- foot setbacks for new injection wells and require that municipal corporations or townships where waste is disposed to be paid 37.5 percent of the out-of-district injection well fee directly. Co-sponsors include Democratic Reps. Michael J. O'Brien, Glenn Holmes, John Patterson and Craig Riedel. However, we must insist that the last thing we need to do right now is attempt to monetize fracking's waste impact on Ohioans, our ...

Inside, outside model trains change places

My first experience with outdoor model railroading was at just about this time of year, but back in 1940. I was 4 years old. After breakfast, I headed for my sandbox only to find that all the toys I had usually left there were all gone. Maybe some neighborhood kids had borrowed them. A bit later, I was crawling around on the floor of our guest closet and found the boxes that contained the engine and cars that were part of my Christmas electric train layout that had encircled our Christmas tree. I opened the boxes, took out the engine and cars and promptly took them out to my sandbox. ...

Are we trapped in debt spiral?

WASHINGTON — From Scotland, where Adam Smith pioneered systematic thinking about economics, comes an adjective, “carnaptious,” that fits people who are allergic to economic euphoria. It means cantankerous. Let’s think carnaptiously about this fact: The interest rate on 10-year Treasury bonds recently rose briefly to 3 percent, and soon may move above this. This is more than evidence of the economy’s strength. It also is a harbinger of a coming day when the great driver of the national debt will be ... the national debt. The economy’s growth, which slowed in 2018’s first ...

Paul Ryan’s failed exorcism

WASHINGTON — Given the cornucopia of issues Americans have to select from each day, the recent firing and rehiring of the House of Representatives’ chaplain may not have bestirred many to form an opinion. But these days, the Hill is alive with buzz as people absorb the odd goings-on between House Speaker Paul Ryan, who pushed the chaplain to resign, and the Rev. Patrick Conroy himself, who later withdrew his resignation, and Ryan’s acceptance of what appears to be pastoral bullying. Stranger things will happen before sundown — and incredulity is no stranger to this town. But ...