Opinion

Fighting Human Trafficking

Editorials

In naming its latest statewide human trafficking operation, the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission chose “Operation Next Door” as a way to bring home the message that the people committing these crimes are not distant strangers. They may, indeed, live right next door. With the help of more than 100 law enforcement agencies, 135 people were arrested for seeking to buy sex — some of them from minors, according to state Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. Of those 135, one was from Weirton. In total, 103 were arrested for seeking to buy sex; ...

Embracing New Technology

Editorials

Last week, Ohio moved one step closer to being able to accept crypto currency as payment for state fees and services. The news was greeted with congratulations from officials such as Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “Ohio has always been a state of pioneers and innovators,” LaRose said. “There’s a reason why we now rank among the top five states in the nation to do business. It’s because we’re not afraid to embrace the tools, trends and technologies that incentivize job creators to come here.” LaRose points out his office processes nearly half a million payment ...

SMART529 a Smart Plan for Parents

Editorials

For nearly a quarter century, West Virginia families (and a select number of families nationwide) have had the advantage of being able to plan for their children’s education using the state’s SMART529 program. It has helped families save for post-secondary and other educational expenses, and is ever-adapting to better serve educational needs. For example, a July 5 update “permits students and adults who do not select the traditional college path to be able to use funds from a 529 account to pay for job training programs by organizations outside of mainstream colleges and ...

An Important Blueprint

Editorials

New manufacturing employers may not be banging down the door (or fulfilling their promises) to build in Ohio as state officials might once have hoped, but the fact remains the Buckeye State is already home to plenty of manufacturers looking to grow. They are also hoping Ohio’s workforce learns and grows along with them. So the state has developed the Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint — a strategy for meeting that need. “Ohio’s manufacturers are a crucial part of our state’s economy, contributing 17.5% of our GDP and employing more than 680,000 Ohioans,” said Gov. ...

Pay Property Taxes Today for Tax Credit

Editorials

West Virginia residents have until the close of business today to pay at least the first half of their 2025-26 personal property tax on vehicles and other items to be eligible to have that money returned next year when they file taxes. Through a system created two years ago by the West Virginia Legislature, those who pay their personal property tax on time — before the penalty period kicks in on Oct. 1 — will receive a refund in the form of a credit when they file their 2025 state income taxes early next year. For example, if you paid your second half of 2024-25 on time and your ...

Keeping Speech Free

Editorials

Freedom of speech is on a lot of minds these days — even that of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who spoke at the state Department of Higher Education’s Trustees Conference recently. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, DeWine felt it important to remind policymakers on college campuses that an environment in which people are comfortable speaking freely is essential. His remarks were inspired, of course, by the killing of Charlie Kirk and its aftermath, though he noted the notion of whether Kirk’s death could have been prevented was a security issue, not a speech ...