Editorials

Prioritize Child Care

Ohio lawmakers have a lot to navigate lately, but recently released data from Groundwork Ohio should give them new tools to understand where working families need them to focus. According to a report based on responses from nearly 500 Buckeye State parents, Groundwork Ohio says approximately one-third choose to stay home rather than pay high childcare costs. WBNS reported 66% of those parents said they were struggling — an astonishing increase from the 10% who answered similarly in 2023. One mother who spoke to WBNS about childcare challenges said she had been paying $2,500 a ...

Small Business Must Be Lawmakers’ Focus

“With the Legislature back in session, it’s important that lawmakers focus on policies that will ignite our workforce and strengthen Main Street.” Wheeling resident Gil White, National Federation of Independent Business West Virginia state director, was responding to news that small business job creation weakened nationwide in February. “The ongoing worker shortage continues to impact West Virginia small business owners’ ability to serve their customers and grow their businesses,” he said. Data from the NFIB Jobs Report showed 38% (seasonally adjusted) of small business ...

DeWine’s Plans for Ohio

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke in his annual State of the State address about giving Buckeye State residents “the tools to live up to their full potential.” His proposed two-year spending plan includes a novel $1,000 child tax credit and access to vision care for young people. DeWine proposed accountability measures for colleges and universities. “Our budget takes this to the next logical level by partially funding our state colleges and universities based on actual student outcomes,” DeWine said, “including how many students get a job after graduation.” There is the ...

Measles Outbreak Highlights Vaccine Importance

The measles outbreak that began in Texas is now up to 228 cases in two states, 23 hospitalizations, and one dead child, and still health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is hedging on the obvious, which is to get vaccinated. “Good nutrition remains a best defense against most chronic and infectious illnesses,” RFK Jr. wrote in an op-ed, though parents should “understand their options to get the MMR vaccine,” for measles, mumps and rubella. Then in an interview, he promoted treatment of steroids and cod-liver oil as producing “almost miraculous and instantaneous ...

Returning Money to West Virginians

West Virginia’s state treasurers have a pretty good track record lately of working to ensure residents’ money does not stay locked in the coffers of state government. The Unclaimed Property Division has returned many millions of dollars to those who were unaware the state had their money. State Treasurer Larry Pack has continued that tradition, and announced that in February alone more than $5 million was returned to individuals, businesses and other organizations. It was the fourth-highest monthly figure in the program’s history. “My Office is thrilled to continue returning ...

Putting Teeth Into Bill

Back in 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law a bill that made animal cruelty a federal felony. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act included penalties for the crime ranging from fines to up to seven years in prison or both. But PACT, it seems, was lacking teeth. U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, has his heart in the right place in once again introducing legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Justice to establish an animal cruelty crimes section. The legislation also directs the DOJ to better coordinate with other federal agencies on animal cruelty. “As a ...