Uh-oh! In May 2025, the president posted a photo of himself as Pontiff. He now posts that Pope Leo XIV is “weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy” and that he does not want a pope who criticizes a U.S. President. The Pontifical Swiss Guard has no powerful military and the U.S. has overwhelming power in the Middle East and Mediterranean. How hard would Venezuela-style regime change be? Is Secretary Hegseth ready? Is it 25th Amendment time?

— Warren

Allison Russo must be our next Ohio Secretary of State. When she served on the Redistricting Commission several years ago, the Ohio Supreme Court appointed federal judges who chose unfair maps and were supposed to revisit the issue, but dismissed it. As House minority leader, Russo led the Democratic Caucus in opposing the Republican budget that slashed funds for schools, health care, and more, while the wealthy got tax cuts. We need a strong, experienced person like Russo as Secretary of State.

— Niles

Recently, a sister from the Ursuline community passed. May her soul be with the Lord today. As of Dec. 1, 2025, the bishop has banned calling hours at the church before the funeral Mass. This is a great inconvenience to the elderly. This is a direct quote from his letter: “Today more families are requesting to hold the visitation for a loved one in church. This increasing trend to hold visitation in church can be attributed to several factors including, a matter of convenience, and cutting costs.” Yet he banned the practice. But a religious funeral has calling hours at the church before the funeral Mass. That makes us parishioner second-class members of the church. I thought we were all equal in the eyes of God.

— Warren

Multi-billions are being spent on new detention centers. The Iraq war cost $1 trillions; this war with Iran could cost as much as $1.5 trillion. Trump wants companies to forgo their tariff return and if they don’t, he issued a threat that he will remember who ceded to his wishes, or not. HE is the one sending our national debt skyward, rather than reducing it, even one tiny bit.

— Liberty

Once upon a time, the Girard lakes were built as an industrial cooling resource. One lake is still usable and one breached, but fixable. Maybe Girard could offer cooling water to data centers to help recover the purchase, etc. Win-win for all. Niles and Hubbard are very close.

— Girard

Fights among school-age students aren’t new, but getting a handle on the situation at the downtown WRTA bus station and using it as a teaching moment could be constructive — if the school district’s hands weren’t tied by the absence of get-tough rules. Schools spokesperson Stacy Quinones stated that the nonschool-event incident occurred during nonschool hours. What if discipline problems took place on school property? Quinones would probably choose the wording “non-enforceable” to describe the district’s unaccountability. Nothing will change if the “scholars” remain untouchable and exempt from corporal punishment.

— Hubbard

I suggest a couple of data centers located here can SAVE us money on our water costs. MVSD and Warren use 40% of water capacity now, since they were designed for high usage at the now-gone mills. If you double the usage to 80% it will STILL COST the same FIXED costs, thus the cost per unit can drop for EVERYONE.

— Girard

Dear doctors and scientists, as you have come up with a solution to help those who never chose diet and exercise find Ozempic to help with their weight loss goals, I hope you can find an easier route for me who has worked on my feet for the last 40 years and still comes home and walks approximately 2 miles three or four days a week find such a simple solution to the wear and tear on my joints and knees. Is there such help available?

— Girard

Pope Leo, the liberal-bred Chicagoan, may have met his match vs. Trump in their philosophical battle. Leo, of course, has to stick up for Catholic egalitarianism, but he shouldn’t be hoodwinked by blue-blooded Democrats. Trump, again, has the upper hand in his reasoning for military intervention. Let the heresy and blasphemy fly!

— Hubbard

A convicted criminal. Found guilty of sexual misconduct. Lied to keep from going in the military. Yet he is allowed to run our country.

— Niles

If someone would be considering a move to Warren, he would find the following: inadequate hospitalization services, an overpaid city council and administration whose members are continually reelected, overgrown lawns, boarded up buildings (even in the middle of town), an overabundance of tattoo parlors, a recent upswing in major crime. Oh yes, Warren certainly does have a lot to offer!

— Warren

Cal Thomas’ opinion piece sparked one person’s dislike of Pope Leo in a recent Sound Off. I, too, am a parishioner of Mother Theresa of Calcutta Church. Pope Leo has denounced those wars. ALL wars. He is a man of peace. Don’t try to manipulate his words and then use them as an excuse to try to justify your support for the president. One man calls for peace; your guy wants to annihilate a whole civilization. America is not righteous at this time, sadly.

— Southington

The Iranian peace talks should be in Geneva or a town in Switzerland, the country of neutrality. Throughout history the Swiss have been involved in conflicts. AND have experienced people to negotiate, not a couple of Realtors, Trump family member and our vice president. Keep Trump’s hands off this critical issue. He has blown up not only our economy but now the world’s. He can’t keep things straight; there are lies and erratic behavior. It is like listening to a fifth grader.

— Cortland

Attention, Elm Road Plaza Management: Speed bumps should be added to the parking areas near the newly opened Planet Fitness. Because of that addition, there are many more cars in that area, and many of them are driven at excessive speeds. That plaza caters to many older adults as well as children. An accident is just waiting to happen because of speeders and distracted drivers. Be proactive and put in speed bumps now, not after a pedestrian is killed.

— Warren

Prior to graduation, high school students in regular or advanced courses should be required to take a basic speech course. Many of today’s young people speak too fast, speak too softly or mumble. It is very frustrating to call a business and not be able to understand the person answering because he/she is mumbling into the phone… or worse, chewing gum or eating! Hiring for this position should include phone etiquette and understandable speech.

— Warren

Time to root out MAGA. Trumbull County Democrats are encouraged to pull a Republican ballot to vote in the May primary. Unopposed Democrats are unaffected. The goal is to eliminate the most unqualified or unwanted GOP primary candidates so in November if the rubber-stamp red Republican occurs, it won’t give county residents the worst leaders like past elections. Few people in November will do the right thing by voting for best person for the job regardless of party affiliation.

— Cortland