Agree or not, our freedoms protect us all

February 6, 2022

I once had a debate with a friend about freedom of expression stemming from a news story about someone burning the American flag. “They ought to go to jail for that!” stormed my patriotic friend. He became even more appalled when I noted that flag burning is a protected right. Unless the person lighting the match is breaking some other law, burning an American flag is protected by the First Amendment as a symbolic form of speech. Yes, it was a bit of a challenge to explain the irony that the American flag is a representation of our rights as Americans, including the one that ...

Pittsburgh Steeler fans can be content, for now

January 30, 2022

It’s finally official. Go ahead, Browns fans. You can start the celebration. My husband already did. I sat forlornly on the couch Thursday, struggling to hear the solemn words of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement video playing on my cellphone. But even with the volume cranked up, I barely could hear it over my husband’s joyful singing. “Hap-py days are here again! The skies above are clear again ...” You get the picture. Yes, the quarterback who had the Browns’ number for the last 18 years is hanging up his cleats. Later, after watching the two-minute video ...

‘Virtual’ access not right for all situations

January 23, 2022

Oh, how far we’ve come in this digital age as we move toward total government transparency for everyone. I have to admit, sometimes I absolutely love the idea of “virtual” or online accessibility! But other times, not so much. Warren City Council members last week made great strides toward ensuring transparency and accessibility. Council unanimously approved its intent to return to livestreaming council meetings, thereby allowing residents and taxpayers options to watch their elected officials’ discussions from the comfort of their living room recliner — or while they are ...

Let’s cheer for a little snow this weekend

January 16, 2022

My mother, my husband and probably also my boss will most certainly turn up their noses at the pronouncement I’m about to make — but here goes: I’m ready for some snow! And if predictions hold true, there’s a good chance we’ll get it. As of this writing, forecasters are still pretty noncommittal, saying only that it’s “likely” we’ll get snow. At this point, estimates are somewhere around 6-ish inches. Wonderful! I’ll take it! I admit, I enjoy a few good douses of snow per winter. After that, I’m satisfied, and it can go away. Let’s face it: It’s been ...

Ensure history is accurate, but don’t erase it

January 9, 2022

Ever since I was a youngster and old enough to realize the interesting information on roadside historical signs that dot our landscape, I’ve often found myself pulling over or urging the driver to pull over so we could read about the significance of the place. Certainly, I’m not the only person who absorbs the information with great interest and assumes every word is factually correct. (Please understand, that’s not an easy admission for me, a journalist who always has been taught to question and independently verify everything. There’s an old adage attributed to long-ago ...

Start prepping now for approaching election

January 2, 2022

Somehow, it already is election season again. Of course, most astute readers already knew that, considering that our politics writer David Skolnick spent the last several months covering the ongoing legal debate over Ohio’s redistricting process that soon will come into play with this year’s congressional and state legislative races. Along with coverage of redistricting, we also have been reporting for months now about the early efforts of many candidates hoping to take over the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Rob Portman. Our local congressman, Tim Ryan, ...