Protection money Congress and the White House make a bipartisan down payment on the necessary task of restoring the Great Lakes Barack Obama pledged during the presidential campaign, and once he arrived in the Oval Office, to invest heavily in the restoration of the Great Lakes. Now he has delivered, signing legislation last week that almost doubles federal funding for the worthy cause. The moment hardly won much attention. Still, the investment amounts to signal advance for the larger region and the country. ( 11/06/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Wrong number The Summit elections board falls short on Election Day The Summit County Board of Elections found out the hard way Tuesday that it had picked the wrong place to save money. Summit was the only county in the state to experience widespread difficulties on Election Day. The reason? Not enough ballots were ordered. When turnout surged in several suburban communities, most notably Tallmadge, election officials scrambled to print and photocopy extra ballots. There is no way of knowing how many voters turned around and went home. ( 11/06/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Discovered in the neighborhood A shocking trail of killings in Cleveland Police have found 11 bodies so far in and around the house where Anthony Sowell lived on Imperial Avenue in East Cleveland. The bodies, all black females, are in various stages of decomposition, seven with cords around their necks. The victims had been in the house at least three weeks and some perhaps since 2005, when the former U.S. Marine moved in after 15 years in prison for rape. ( 11/06/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Election fallout Ohio voters say yes to casino gambling. Now lawmakers must look at getting the state a better deal Dan Gilbert and his partners at Penn National Gaming knew exactly what they were doing. They crafted a casino gambling proposal that played to voters desiring job creation and economic development in urban cores. Then, they pressed the message relentlessly, easily outpacing the money spent by the presidential campaigns in the state last year. Is there an Ohioan who hasn't heard the pledge of 34,000 jobs and keeping the money here? ( 11/05/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Election fallout (part 2) The Akron school board faces the additional challenge of inexperience On Tuesday, voters returned to the Akron Board of Education the lone incumbent on the ballot, Jason Haas, along with three new faces. Haas' return to join his colleagues, the Rev. Curtis Walker and Amy Reeves Grom, is important, ensuring that when board member Kirt Conrad vacates his seat, as he intends to do early in 2010 to take a job appointment in Stark County, the district will have no fewer than three members on a board of seven who have acquired some experience and a measure of confidence in guiding a large school system. ( 11/05/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Election fallout (part 3) Summit County sticks with the outmoded practice of electing the engineer Summit County voters want to elect the county engineer. They reaffirmed their view on Tuesday, rejecting a proposed charter amendment that would have given the county executive the authority to appoint the engineer and make the position part of a larger county service department. ( 11/05/2009 12:00 AM EST )
True story about taxes In recent recessions, Ohio has raised tax rates. Job growth and economic recoveries have followed Ted Strickland has repeated the mantra at almost every turn the past two years. He won't push for a tax increase to help cover a shortfall in the state's revenues. The closest he has come to such a step is the proposed postponement of the fifth and final installment of a 21 percent reduction in individual income tax rates, Ohioans paying at the same rate this year as they did last year. Why such an aversion to tax increases, beyond the obvious political factor? The governor insists such a step would be harmful when the state economy is struggling. ( 11/04/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Young and hungry Help is there if families know where to go Childhood, in the popular imagination, is supposed to be happy, safe and carefree. Unfortunately, the reality is far different. ''Rather than being a time of security and safety, the childhood years for many American children are a time of economic turmoil, risk and hardship,'' says researcher Mark Rank of Washington University in St. Louis. His conclusion is drawn from an analysis of household information from 1968 to 1997. ( 11/04/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Ultimate authority The secretary of state deserves the final word on county elections boards The election overhaul bill moving forward in the Ohio House came under fire recently from the Ohio Association of Election Officials. Its members ably shoulder the task of running elections in each of the state's 88 counties, as they did yesterday, the decentralized, bipartisan system operating under policies set by the secretary of state. Local officials fear the reform bill would concentrate too much power at the state level. ( 11/04/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Indispensable Afghans The presidential election fiasco raises anew the question: Does Washington have a legitimate partner in this fight? To say the political situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating hardly captures the crackup of the presidential election. In the spring, White House officials looked at the race as a way to enhance the legitimacy of the Afghan government, President Hamid Karzai winning re-election and offering hope for less corrupt and more effective leadership. Instead, the election evolved into a fiasco, involving widespread fraud and other voting irregularities. ( 11/03/2009 12:00 AM EST )
DNA at UA The university's new, intrusive and unnecessary employment policy Anew policy on DNA testing as part of employment background checks was quietly adopted in August by the board of trustees at the University of Akron. Good thing greater attention arrived soon enough. The resignation of faculty member Matt Williams in protest and pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union have triggered a much wider discussion of the deeply flawed policy. ( 11/03/2009 12:00 AM EST )
John Kenley A showman, in the full and best sense Every life should include a little bit of John Kenley. The theater impresario was outrageous, flamboyant, so possessed with an idea that he overflowed with enthusiasm. He was an unrepentant showman who brought theater productions to places far from the lights of New York City — to Akron, Columbus and other towns in the reaches of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. ( 11/03/2009 12:00 AM EST )
High note The late John Seiberling and now-retired Ralph Regula championed the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Akron Democrat and Navarre Republican working together in Congress to make the park a reality and to ensure proper funding. Last week, the region's congressional delegation rallied to continue the work. ( 11/02/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Healthy choices Speaker Pelosi unveils a health-care reform bill that smartly balances politics and policy Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues in the U.S. House inched health-care reform one arduous step forward on Thursday. The legislative process is a long way yet from finished, but with the House's blended bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, and the Senate at work on its own merged bill, a process that sometimes has been akin to mortal combat is gradually clarifying the changes to come. ( 11/02/2009 12:00 AM EST )
Budget in the balance The governor has stepped up. So has the Ohio House. Does the state Senate have a better way to generate $851 million? Ted Strickland proposed a responsible way for the state to close its most recent budget hole. House Democrats (joined by two high-minded Republicans) concurred with the governor's plan to generate the necessary revenue by postponing the fifth and final installment of a 21 percent reduction in individual income tax rates. Now the Republican majority in the Ohio Senate must act. ( 11/01/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Here's a recap of our choices for Tuesday's election Here's a recap of our choices for Tuesday's election On Tuesday, voters will encounter many choices at the polling booth. Below is a summary of the election recommendations made by the Beacon Journal editorial board in recent weeks. ( 11/01/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Decision in Cuyahoga Voters can do a good turn for their county and the rest of Northeast Ohio. They can seize the opportunity now for a charter government Many Cuyahoga County voters still may be scratching their heads as they ponder the two ballot issues claiming the mantle of government reform. Throw into the mix two slates of candidates vying for 15 positions on a charter commission, and the moment cries for clarity. Ordinarily, this editorial page would steer away from an election in the large county to the north. In this instance, too much is at stake for the region as a whole. ( 10/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
No on Issues 26 and 27 New Franklin doesn't need to change its city charter New Franklin voters took the right step in 2006 by adopting a charter form of government. The new city, formed in 2004 by combining Franklin Township and the village of New Franklin, gained home rule powers, important to the task of shaping the city's future. Unfortunately, just three years later, a citizens group has succeeded in placing two amendments on the city's ballot that would undermine New Franklin's ability to move forward. ( 10/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Ugly in Ward 8 A low point in the fall campaign An anonymous and ugly flyer has been appearing on doorsteps in Ward 8. It begins by stating that ''our city is facing serious issues,'' and then turns away from any helpful discussion of Akron's priorities. It focuses on the sexual orientation of Sandra Kurt, the Democrat running for the ward seat on the City Council. The flyer plays to utter prejudice, engaging in rank stereotypes, suggesting Kurt has ''a clear agenda to create . . . social disorganization.'' ( 10/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Eight districts in need Once again, local schools must cope with a flawed funding formula. They are back on the ballot with a persuasive case for voters The quality of education available to students has a powerful influence on a community's standard of living. The critical role of schools is to equip students to tackle future demands. The obligation does not change, in good times or bad. For that reason, the Summit County school districts on the ballot Tuesday deserve a fair hearing. ( 10/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Ohio, don't be a loser Issue 3 represents false hope. The state can do better than further enrich the very few Whatever your stance on gambling, be sure to take a careful look at Issue 3 before entering the voting booth on Tuesday. It is a losing proposition. The out-of-state backers of casino gambling are hoping Ohio's desperate economic conditions finally will lure voters to approve a constitutional amendment tilted heavily in their favor. ( 10/28/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Zips drive There's a sporting powerhouse near you Wishing the Cleveland Browns would rise even to mediocrity? Doubtful about the offense of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Not ready yet to invest hope in Manny Acta, the new skipper of the Cleveland Indians? Waiting for LeBron, Shaq and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers to travel deeper into the long NBA season? ( 10/28/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Dangerous derivatives Apply full transparency and accountability to these risky ventures When the history of the financial crash of the past few years is written, the failure to regulate over-the-counter derivatives will serve as a centerpiece. Derivatives are investment tools that operate like bets — in the way insurance functions like a bet. Buy fire insurance, and your house burns down: You win the bet. If not, the insurer wins. Big banks and investment house bet on whether the issuer of a bond might default. ( 10/28/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Waiting for protection Delays in vaccine production point to bigger problems The White House declared the H1N1 pandemic a national emergency this weekend. The move was not a signal for general panic. This early in the winter flu season, H1N1 infections already are widespread in 46 states, with every expectation that hospitalizations and deaths from flu complications will be on the rise. The purpose of the declaration is pre-emptive, easing certain federal regulations on hospitals and permitting them greater flexibility to establish alternate treatment centers to treat a crush of swine-flu patients when the need arises. ( 10/27/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Confusion free State lawmakers have an opportunity to clean up Ohio's election laws this year. It will be a shame to waste it Despite a rich history of election controversies, Ohio appears to be drifting into next year's high-stakes contests with the same rules in place as in 2008. Time for legislative action this year is rapidly coming to a close. Still, the Ohio House and Senate have been unable to reach agreement on a reform bill. Action next year, in the heat of statewide races for governor and a U.S. Senate seat, plus struggles for legislative and congressional supremacy, is virtually impossible. ( 10/27/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Stow Municipal Court We recommend the re-election of Lisa Coates The Stow Municipal Court has traveled a bumpy path the past year. The court moved its operations from Cuyahoga Falls. No surprise the change ruffled political feathers. Cuyahoga Falls responded by launching its own mayor's court, depleting, significantly, funds flowing into the municipal court, putting a strain on the city of Stow's finances. ( 10/27/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Detour in Darfur The Obama White House launches a new strategy. The familiar measure of success? An end to the humanitarian disaster As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama did not mince words about what needed to be done in Sudan. He called for leadership and a ''swift and clear-cut decision.'' Not surprising, then, that many who expected quick and robust action from the Obama White House to end the humanitarian disaster in Darfur were frustrated by the president's silence in putting forward a Sudan policy. ( 10/26/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
0 for 2 The president of the Akron firefighters union is right about one thing: The city faces many challenges, starting with a budget squeezed by a harsh recession. What isn't among the priorities, large or small, is whether Mayor Plusquellic has been abusing the policy regarding the use of city vehicles. ( 10/26/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For the Akron school board Our choices: Jason Haas, Lisa Mansfield, Mexie Wilson and Ginger Baylor The race for the Akron Board of Education this fall has been strikingly low key. The quiet belies the importance of this election during a critical transitional phase for the Akron Public Schools. The district is in the middle of an $800 million construction project, an investment that is providing up-to-date facilities in neighborhoods. At the same time, declining enrollment demands a strategy for downsizing that will not hamper educational opportunities. The district must find new and effective ways to raise achievement. Financing the schools will require similar determination and creativity. ( 10/25/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Akron and company That expensive bill for repairing the city's combined sewer system? Other Ohio cities have found ways to meet the same challenge The tentative deal between the city of Akron and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to repair sewage overflows has the City Council and customers bracing for rate increases, starting next year. Much planning must be done before a final cost estimate can be made. What is certain is that the bottom line for the work, estimated at $375 million in 2002, has increased during prolonged negotiations leading up to the settlement. ( 10/25/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Stow court clerk We recommend the re-election of Lisa Zeno Carano Two years ago, Lisa Zeno Carano, then clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, survived a brutal campaign launched by former state Rep. John Widowfield. Carano had been appointed clerk earlier in 2007 to replace Eric Czetli. She won the election to fill out the balance of the term. This year, she is seeking a full, six-year term. In the meantime, the court has relocated. Carano now is running for clerk of the Stow Municipal Court. The district did not change. It still covers 16 communities in northeastern Summit County. ( 10/23/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Honest talk Matthew Dolan explains why Republicans and Democrats must take the governor's cue in repairing a large hole in the state budget State Rep. Matthew Dolan asked his Statehouse colleagues to engage in an honest conversation about an $851-million hole in the state budget. The Novelty Republican explained why he joined the House Democratic majority on Wednesday in approving legislation that would postpone the fifth and final phase of a 21 percent reduction in individual income tax rates. He noted that the state's financial position has changed dramatically since the tax cut won passage in 2005. He explained that the reality of declining revenues requires an adjustment, something any responsible business would do. ( 10/23/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Chasing the mayor From distrust to unprofessional conduct Looking to measure the level of distrust between Akron firefighters and the mayor? Consider the vast distance between the competing descriptions of events early Sunday. Don Plusquellic points to ''rogue firefighters'' laying a trap. Phil Gauer, the president of the Akron fire union, argues the off-duty firefighter and girlfriend, riding in a car together, performed their ''civic duty'' reporting in a 911 call the mayor driving erratically. ( 10/23/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Municipal Court We recommend the election of Stephen Fallis Ayear ago, Judge Alison McCarty won election to the Summit County Common Pleas Court, creating a vacancy on the Akron Municipal Court. Gov. Ted Strickland tapped Stephen Fallis for the position in February. Fallis now is seeking election to complete the remaining two years of the term. The former assistant Akron law director has made a smooth transition to the bench, aided by the breadth of his experience and his clear understanding of the mission of the court. ( 10/22/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Afghan decisions Hamid Karzai bows to an election runoff. Now Barack Obama must decide the necessity of the mission Over the weekend, Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, explained that President Obama wouldn't make a decision about sending more American troops to Afghanistan until political uncertainty in that country had lifted. By Tuesday, Robert Gates, the secretary of defense, had added his thoughts: No, the Obama team would press ahead with its decision-making. ( 10/22/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Barberton court clerk We recommend the election of Christine Croce Intense competition has marked recent races for clerk of the Barberton Municipal Court. This year is no exception in the district covering Barberton, Clinton, Green, New Franklin, Norton and Copley and Coventry townships. ( 10/22/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Better at the jail Small steps yield big improvements in the way Summit County manages prisoners Crowding at the Summit County Jail has been a decades-old story. The problem has served in the past 20 years to illustrate one reality: Build a bigger jail, and it will be filled — to overflow. In 1990, the county opened a new jail in response to federal court orders to deal with crowding and poor conditions at the existing facility. A new wing was added five years later, followed by double-bunking. And still the Sheriff's Office and the courts struggled to control crowding at the jail. ( 10/21/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Contribution from Bozzelli A Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award-winning fundraiser The many people headed last evening to the Hilton Akron-Fairlawn expected laughter. Madeline Bozzelli likes to have fun, and no doubt joy would be a big part of her receiving the Akron Community Foundation's Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award. Yet those who have worked with Bozzelli know that she is all business when it comes to elevating organizations from Akron Children's Hospital and the Akron Symphony to the Arthritis Foundation and the American Diabetes Association. ( 10/21/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Municipal Court We recommend the election of Orlando Williams Ayear ago, Judge Eve Belfance won election to the 9th District Ohio Court of Appeals. Her victory created a vacancy on the Akron Municipal Court. In February, Gov. Ted Strickland selected Orlando Williams to fill the judgeship. Williams now is seeking election to complete the remaining four years of the unexpired term. He has made a solid impression the past nine months, his temperament, experience and knowledge serving as strengths. ( 10/21/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Under EPA orders The federal agency plays hardball with Akron. The good news? The city's sewer problem finally will be solved While not the compromise the city had in mind, the agreement reached last week between Akron and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will settle longstanding issues about how and how fast to improve the water quality of the Cuyahoga River. Since 2002, a dispute over how to proceed has delayed progress on sewer improvements needed to meet standards set by the landmark Clean Water Act. Now, the task of restoring the river to swimmable condition, adding immeasurably to the enjoyment of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, can get back on track. ( 10/20/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Municipal Court We recommend the election of Jerry Larson Jerry Larson joined the Akron Municipal Court in August, filling the vacancy created by the sudden death of Judge Linda Kersker a month earlier. The governor chose well in his appointment. Larson has the temperament, skills and experience to make an outstanding judge. ( 10/20/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Deficit disorder The country must get its finances in order just not too quickly On Friday, the Obama White House reported the federal budget deficit for the fiscal year: $1.4 trillion, the largest shortfall since World War II, and $1 trillion greater than a year ago. Ben Bernanke stated the obvious on Monday. Speaking to an audience in San Francisco, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board called for the country to increase its savings rate, arguing that the best way to do so involves reducing the federal deficit. ( 10/20/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Slick and . . . deceptive Of all the words and images hurled in support of state Issue 3, the most deceptive may come in the form of the television ad urging Ohioans to ''read it yourself,'' the proposed constitutional amendment for four casinos in the state. ( 10/19/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Yes on Issue 4 Want to improve the quality and efficiency of local government? End the outmoded practice of electing a county engineer Summit County voters will decide a single charter amendment in the general election. Yet Issue 4 packs quite a punch. The change would abolish an elected office, that of county engineer, a large and powerful part of county government. The duties and powers would be transferred into the executive's office for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The engineer now employs about 140 people, with an annual budget of $18 million. ( 10/19/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Change they'll believe in The president's slow march to ending ''don't ask, don't tell'' President Obama recently reaffirmed his pledge to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. His words won little applause among critics who argue that he has been moving too slowly. They point to a moment in the spring when the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the law — with supporting arguments from the White House. ( 10/18/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Yes on Issue 1 An expression of appreciation for those who have served in wartime Ohio has a long tradition of providing bonus payments to military veterans. The compensation isn't large, by any means. It does express appreciation for the sacrifices of those who serve their country, often in the most difficult circumstances. Ohio voters will find Issue 1 on the fall ballot, the latest chapter in this compensation, a proposal to issue up to $200 million in bonds to cover the cost of making payments to roughly 200,000 veterans of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. ( 10/18/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Red state Ohio faces a budget deficit now, and a massive one in the next biennium The Service Employees International Union resorted to fear-mongering last week. The union launched a television ad in support of Ted Strickland's plan to postpone the final installment of a five-year, 21 percent reduction in individual income tax rates. The governor rightly wants to preserve the revenue as part of closing an $841 million hole in the two-year state budget. The SEIU spot warned that state budget cuts could lead to the early release of ''violent criminals, rapists, even sex predators.'' ( 10/18/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Choices in health care (part 2) Max Baucus reached out and found little Republican interest Now Democratic leaders in the Senate will attempt to bridge differences between the health-care legislation approved by the Finance Committee and a version advanced by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. At least one Republican will play a significant role, Olympia Snowe of Maine. The remaining Republicans? Most will take their cue from Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. ( 10/16/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Yes on Issue 5 An important first step in repairing the recall process in Akron When Warner Mendenhall launched a campaign to recall Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, the attorney and former City Council member followed a path greatly eased by the city charter. The number of petition signatures Mendenhall needed merely sounded significant, equal to 20 percent of the voters in the previous mayoral election. ( 10/16/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Choices in health care Why is the 'public option' so essential to reform? Look at the way big insurers dominate local markets President Obama has said that as part of health-care reform, a government-sponsored health plan, a ''public option,'' promises the necessary competition and consumer choice to keep insurance companies honest. In Congress, supporters contend an affordable public plan included in the proposed health-care exchanges would reduce the dominance of a few firms in the insurance market and serve as a check on soaring premium costs. Polls show consistent public support for the concept. ( 10/16/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Investment in debt Ernie Tarle mounts another misguided political charge Ernie Tarle, the only Akron City Council member ever recalled from office, tried to run in a special election to succeed himself. It didn't work. He tried making a fortune in Florida real estate, but the investment soured. He came back to Akron, where he tried a political comeback. Tarle met defeat in the Sept. 8 Democratic primary in Ward 6. ( 10/15/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron at-large Our choices: Linda Omobien, Jeff Fusco and Michael Williams After a wild, wide-open primary, three at-large seats on the Akron City Council will be filled in a less intense general election. Still, the stakes are high. Just one of three incumbents (all Democrats) survived the Sept. 8 balloting. Now, in the fall campaign, voters must sort through six candidates, three Democrats and three Republicans, to find the leadership, skills and experience necessary to serve the city as a whole. The winners must help to shape approaches and policies to the larger issues that affect all citizens. ( 10/15/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
'Many miles to go' Don't underestimate the achievement of Senate Finance Committee, or the difficult road still to travel in reaching true health-care reform It is no small irony when a bill is hailed as historic simply by clearing a congressional committee, even one as powerful as the Senate Finance Committee. The 14-9 vote Tuesday in favor of the Baucus bill deserves the accolade insofar as it sustains the drive toward the most extensive changes to the health-care system in more than a generation. ( 10/15/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Darkening forecast Think public schools have money trouble now? Wait two years Tax revenues are in a flux. Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to raise funds by attaching electronic slot machines to the Ohio Lottery has flopped. As a result, the state's two-year budget has an $851 million hole, which state legislators seem not to be in a great rush to fix. The bulk of the funds was intended to finance public schools. The governor on Monday urged legislators not to ''play games with education or to play politics'' with the budget. ( 10/14/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Bank on protection The financial debacle has taught one clear lesson: Consumers deserve a strong regulator on their side The House Financial Services Committee gathers today to consider improvements in the way the federal government regulates financial services. The task stems from the bursting of the housing bubble, much of the trouble driven by subprime and predatory lending. The Obama White House has proposed closing regulatory gaps and loopholes. Among the highest priorities is the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency that would have the sole purpose of combating deceptive practices involving such products as mortgages and credit cards. ( 10/14/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Ward 7 We recommend the re-election of Tina Merlitti Democratic voters in Akron's Ward 7, covering Firestone Park and neighborhoods to the south, gave two-term incumbent City Council member Tina Merlitti a strong vote of confidence in the Sept. 8 primary. Merlitti easily defeated challengers David Reymann and Anthony Holt, advancing to run against Republican Duane L. Schramm Sr. in the general election. ( 10/14/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Sustaining the unsustainable Uh-oh. Congress is getting wobbly about curbing health-care costs President Obama long has described health-care reform as a dual effort to expand insurance coverage and control soaring costs. Of the two tasks, expanding coverage is the easy part, bringing steady care to tens of millions of the uninsured. Control costs? Many players talk a good game. Few want to engage in a genuine effort to slow an unsustainable rate of growth in health spending. ( 10/13/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Nobel words What has Barack Obama done to deserve the peace prize? Don't underestimate the importance of a superpower changing its tone Thorbjorn Jagland, the chairman of the Nobel committee, explained the awarding of the peace prize to Barack Obama in this way: ''The question we have to ask is who has done the most in the previous year to enhance peace in the world. And who has done more than Barack Obama?'' ( 10/13/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Ward 8 We recommend the election of Sandra Kurt The most crowded primary this year in an Akron ward was in Ward 8, where five Democrats faced off Sept. 8 for the chance to run against Republican Elizabeth Berry Smith in the general election. The winner of the Democratic contest was Sandra Kurt, an industrial engineer whose combination of grass-roots activism and analytical skills enabled her to stand out in a crowded field. ( 10/13/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
You, too, Democrats? Democrats rode back to power in Congress, their success due in part to a critique that resonated with the public. They said it was time to clean up a Republican ''culture of corruption.'' Now it is the Democrats whose credibility is on the line. ( 10/12/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Fighting the flu Even the experts are uncertain about the H1N1 variety. The good thing is, they are mobilizing to be prepared Early indications suggest the influenza season this year is likely to be a challenging one. A new and persistent flu virus, the H1N1, remains active along with seasonal flu viruses, which usually hospitalize more than 200,000 Americans and lead to about 36,000 deaths every year. ( 10/12/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
No on Issue 3 Will casino gambling interests finally prevail in Ohio? Not if voters see through the hollow promises Since 1990, Ohio voters have faced intense pressure to approve constitutional amendments to expand legalized gambling. Four times, they have said no, wisely seeing through the fog of deceptive promises by big money interests whose overriding goal is to make themselves richer, not advance the interests of the state. This year, you may have noticed, gambling interests are trying again. ( 10/11/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Yes on Issue 2 A pre-emptive and persuasive strike for today's food economy For all the understandable focus on manufacturing, Ohio remains a farm state in many ways. Agriculture amounts to a $93-billion industry, the state featuring 75,000 farms, 800 food-processing companies and more than 200 commercial crops. No wonder the Humane Society of the United States caught the attention of Ohio farmers. ( 10/11/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Ward 2 We recommend the election of Joshua Sines In Akron's Ward 2, Democratic incumbent Bruce Kilby won a close primary race against newcomer Dominic Basile. In many wards, that would have settled matters, due to a lack of Republican and independent challengers in the general election. Not in Ward 2. There, voters are fortunate to have Republican Joshua Sines on the ballot to challenge Kilby, who is seeking a third consecutive term representing the northeast side of the city. ( 10/09/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Energy inefficiency Blame FirstEnergy for the compact fluorescent light-bulb fiasco? Actually, start with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Well, that didn't go as hoped. FirstEnergy has a good idea: Distribute energy-efficient light bulbs to customers as part of complying with a new state law requiring utilities to reduce customers' energy use 22 percent by 2025. The thinking is, place two such light bulbs on customer doorsteps, and a larger number of bulbs will land inside residences and even in light sockets. ( 10/09/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Choices for Summit County Small amounts for the arts and others deserve priority in the budget Ajobless recovery means a tax-revenue-less recovery, as county officials are discovering. Summit County's general fund revenue projection for next year is now $99.7 million, down from $100.5 million for this year and $111.6 million received in 2008. Meanwhile, costs are up, including a $1.3 million projected increase for health care. That means a continuation of the budget-tightening already imposed by Russ Pry, the county executive. ( 10/09/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
For Akron Ward 1 We recommend the re-election of James Hurley In the Sept. 8 primary, Akron's Ward 1 was something of a political hotbed. It was the only ward in the city where each party had a contest to determine who would move on to the general election. The winners were James Hurley, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Charles Murphy. ( 10/08/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Power of recall The feds need a better system for tracking flawed medical devices Millions of patients are active and productive — or living at all — because of the variety of medical devices available today to counter the effects of diseases that would otherwise be debilitating. Pacemakers, artificial joints, infusion pumps, surgical clips and plates and a host of implantable devices are extending and improving the quality of life. As medical technology has advanced, so has the degree of confidence in the effectiveness and safety of these medical aids. ( 10/08/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Deadly serious Ohio will examine its procedures for lethal injection. How about looking fully at its flawed conduct of the death penalty? Recall the unprecedented step taken by Ohio last month in halting the execution of Romell Broom: Never before in the modern era of capital punishment had a state abandoned an execution after the process had been set in motion. The execution team began to administer intravenously the cocktail of deadly drugs. After 18 attempts and two hours, Ted Strickland stopped the procedure. The team could not find a viable vein. ( 10/08/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Not a Socialist in their ranks Republicans in support of the emerging health-care reform Sometime this week, the Senate Finance Committee will complete work on a health-care bill. That doesn't mean the contentious debate is about to end. The Senate still must merge the finance committee bill with another version from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. ( 10/07/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Time to resign Jack Morrison violated the state's ethics laws. He should exit the board of elections and the UA board of trustees Precision and transparency are essential in the operation of a county board of elections. If the political parties watch every move of the other side, such scrutiny alone doesn't ensure the necessary level of performance. Whether in the vote count, or campaign-finance reports, or in evaluating voter registration, the work turns on a shared commitment to doing the job right. These are the first principles, precision and transparency, that Jack Morrison neglected, leading to his conviction in July on two misdemeanor counts of violating the state's ethics law. ( 10/07/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Engineering efficiency Norton thinks and acts regionally Two years ago, voters in Norton delivered a rebuke to regionalism by turning down the idea of contracting with the sheriff's office for law-enforcement services, despite strong evidence from other communities of cost savings and improved response to crime. The bitter campaign slowed progress toward more rational approaches to providing police services, the suburbs still dominated by many small departments. ( 10/07/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
State corrections DNA testing and the erroneous guilty plea An editorial published on Monday, headlined ''Invest in justice,'' urged the Ohio House to push forward legislation that would enhance the state system for DNA testing. Richard Cordray, the state attorney general, and others argue the changes would improve crime-fighting and protect against imprisoning the innocent. ( 10/06/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Fire management Countywide landfill falls under watchful federal and state eyes Starting more than three years ago, underground fires at the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility in Stark County's Pike Township created one nasty problem after another. Smells nauseated neighbors, highly unusual environmental issues perplexed regulators and violations piled up against Republic Services, the Florida-based company that runs what is one of the largest landfills in Ohio. The frustrations peaked in early 2007, when Republic filed a lawsuit against the local health board after William Franks, the county health commissioner, recommended the board not grant an operating permit. ( 10/06/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Work details The latest unemployment numbers reveal an economy slow to recover and slower still in generating jobs Most economists think the economy began to expand in the third quarter, perhaps at a rate of 3 percent a year. If they are right, that is good news, obviously, the longest recession since the Great Depression coming to an end. Then, they add a cautionary note: Don't expect a robust recovery in the job market. Look at the September numbers, released on Friday, for evidence. The unemployment rate ticked upward to 9.8 percent. ( 10/06/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Climate for action Will Congress approve legislation curbing the greenhouse gases that drive climate change? By the end of this year? By early next year? ( 10/05/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Invest in justice State lawmakers want to enhance the use of DNA testing. Will they spend the money to make the improvements a reality? On Wednesday, Rebecca Brown reminded members of the House Criminal Justice Committee that DNA testing freed eight men from prison in Ohio. Each had been wrongly convicted. Together, they served more than 110 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Brown works for the Innocence Project in New York City. She visited Ohio to urge passage of legislation that would enhance the state system for DNA testing, improving the capacity to fight crime and to protect against the grievous error of imprisoning the innocent. ( 10/05/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Woman in our past Toward a better understanding of how humans evolved No trip to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where exhibits trace the development of life's complexity, is complete without a visit to Lucy. Replicas of her fossilized bones, the originals unearthed in Ethiopia in 1974, help tell the story of human evolution. ( 10/04/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
RU wotchN d road? The dangerous mix of texting and driving You'd be surprised — or maybe not — at what drivers do behind the steering wheel. Eating and drinking aren't half of it. There is no shortage of ways to lose concentration behind the wheel. But the convenience and popularity of cell phones and other electronic devices are raising red flags. Ray LaHood, the secretary of transportation, convened last week a two-day road-safety summit, citing an epidemic of ''distracted driving.'' ( 10/04/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Practical option The way the market for private health insurance works, desperate consumers deserve a reliable public alternative for care The Senate Finance Committee took a small step back last week from Chairman Max Baucus' rigid line that there will be no ''public option'' in any legislation emerging from his committee. On Tuesday, the panel rejected two proposals to include a government-sponsored plan among the array of private insurance options to be offered on the proposed health insurance exchanges. On Thursday, the panel adopted a proposal that would allow states to create their own public options. ( 10/04/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Not a tax increase Spare us the tired rhetoric. Ohioans still will have a 16.8 percent income tax cut Ted Strickland spoke, and Republicans spun. At least many of them did, arguing that the governor's proposal to postpone the fifth and final installment of individual state income tax reductions amounted to higher taxes. One Republican lawmaker accused the governor of a ''scare tactic designed to stampede toward a tax increase.'' Sorry. That isn't a fair or a responsible assessment. ( 10/02/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Layoffs before concessions Akron firefighters bet on a federal bailout In talks with the city, Akron's firefighters have been sticklers for detail. Does the city really face an $8 million deficit by the end of the year? Will an offer to avoid layoffs by deferring a longevity bonus until 2012 result in eventual payment? Why can't an agreement to avoid layoffs now be extended into 2010? In truth, the answers have been clear. Yet on Wednesday, the end of a 14-day deadline for layoff notices to go into effect, unfounded doubts led the firefighters union to take a defiant stand, reject concessions and put 38 rookies out of a work. ( 10/02/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Payday lenders on the loose State lawmakers must regain the upper hand for consumers Ohio legislators are discovering that payday lenders are a hardy lot. Hammered last year by a law that cracked down on exorbitant interest rates, the purveyors of short-term loans simply set up shop under a different set of laws — and carried on pretty much as they had before. ( 10/01/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Strickland steps up The state faces a looming budget deficit. The governor chooses a responsible way to close the gap Ted Strickland surveyed the grim landscape of the state budget and pointed to a responsible course. On Wednesday, the governor acknowledged that due to the legal tangle involving his misguided plan to add electronic slots at horse racetracks, the state would not reap a projected $933 million in this biennium. How to fill the looming gap? He rightly proposed postponing the fifth and final installment of the individual income tax reductions set in motion at the Statehouse in 2005. ( 10/01/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Leadership Akron at 25 An agent of change in moving the city forward As the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal in the 1970s and '80s, Paul Poorman pursued in his weekly column the theme of the modern governor. If James Rhodes talked about ''jobs and progress,'' Poorman understood (even then) the new means required for achieving those goals. He pointed to investment in education and technology. He stressed new approaches to governing. ( 10/01/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Tale of two residences Voters elected Jon Husted. That should be clarifying enough Jennifer Brunner makes a compelling case: Jon Husted resides in Columbus with his wife and daughter. Is the secretary of state equally persuasive in arguing that the state senator's claim of residence in Montgomery County for voter registration purposes is a ''legal fiction''? Not really. ( 09/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Ohioans in poverty The Census numbers aren't surprising. They make the case for universal health care and a secure safety net Census data released this week confirm what many Ohioans know firsthand: The economic climate has been rough on workers and families. The hard figures explain how rough. ( 09/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Embarrassing for the region The mounting case for charter government amid the Cuyahoga sleaze Richard Cordray is doing his part to increase pressure on a top target of the federal investigation into corruption in Cuyahoga County government. The state attorney general said last week he will focus on Frank Russo, the Cuyahoga County auditor, launching an investigation into the way Russo's office appraised property. ( 09/30/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Deceptive Iran Yet another revelation about its pursuit of a nuclear weapon Gordon Brown correctly accused Iran of ''serial deception'' concerning its nuclear program. On Friday, the British prime minister joined President Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, in revealing a multiyear Iranian effort to build a secret uranium enrichment plant deep inside a mountain. Iranian officials insisted, predictably, that the plant wasn't intended to be kept secret or used for making nuclear weapons. The claim lacks credibility after the discovery (in 2002) of an underground plant at a nuclear facility and the surfacing (in 2007) of designs for a nuclear warhead. ( 09/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Among the details Look at all that federal stimulus money for schools On the Sunday Commentary page, Stephen Dyer touted the improvements that state lawmakers recently have set in motion for public education in Ohio. The Green Democrat rightly argued that students and the state will benefit from a funding formula driven by what works in the classroom. There is much promise in mandating all-day kindergarten. A School Funding Advisory Council offers a vehicle for fine-tuning and updating the system. ( 09/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Job protection The city of Akron and its police officers avoid layoffs. Now firefighters must help to do the same After weeks of resistance, and an angry demonstration earlier in the week, the Akron police union late Friday wrapped up a package of concessions with the city that would prevent the possibility of even a single layoff in the department this year. Voting by officers is expected to conclude today by 11 p.m., ending an unfortunate, drawn-out confrontation that could have been avoided before layoff notices were issued to 96 officers, jolting families but steering talks in a productive direction. ( 09/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Getting better Improve the drawing of Ohio congressional and legislative districts? Jon Husted has a plan that House Democrats should take seriously Jon Husted didn't set out to prove that the road to bipartisanship tilts uphill in Ohio, diminishing the state's ability to resolve tough issues. The Republican state senator and candidate for secretary of state has proposed to change the highly partisan ways in which legislative and congressional boundaries are drawn in the first place. On Wednesday, the Dayton-area legislator's resolution to put a constitutional amendment on the May ballot passed the Republican-controlled Senate on a party-line vote, 21-12. ( 09/28/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Civil conversation Members of the Senate Finance Committee were testy at times. They were irritated. They postured and clashed as they spent long hours last week plowing through the version of health-care reform proposed by the committee chairman, Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat. The members faced the prospect of 564 amendments. ( 09/28/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
One percentage point (part 2) Americans are falling behind in the global race for educational attainment The local and regional reasons to raise the efficiency and results of our educational system are evident. Too often, unfortunately, the global context for doing so is not as readily obvious. ( 09/27/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
One percentage point Want to revitalize the Northeast Ohio economy? Focus on increasing the number of college graduates Northeast Ohio practically brims with organizations dedicated to revitalizing the regional economy. All speak hopefully about the future, yet often their efforts lack the necessary focus. Which explains why CEOs for Cities caught our eye last week, the national organization joining the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE) and other local groups to stage the Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend Summit. Carol Coletta, the chief executive of CEOs for Cities, brought a refreshingly precise view to the discussion. ( 09/27/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Engaging Obama The president promised a new approach to the world. At the United Nations, he defined what he means When Barack Obama the candidate talked about change, he placed heavy emphasis on altering the American image abroad. The country would be less eager to travel alone. He would depart from his predecessor who courted the isolation that diminished the country's influence and thus its power. No surprise, then, that on Wednesday, Obama the president brought this approach to center stage at the United Nations during his first appearance before the General Assembly. ( 09/25/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Slotted for inspection Welcome to the public sector, Ohio horse racetracks Not much is going as planned for the concept of electronic slot machines at horse racetracks across the state. The slots, included in the budget bill at the insistence of Ted Strickland, are supposed to raise more than $900 million. Instead, the governor's proposal to expand the Ohio Lottery has generated lawsuits, delays and a potentially bitter debate over how to plug the same challenging budget deficit that he and state lawmakers struggled to close in the first place. ( 09/25/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Waiting for action The world looks for China and the United States to take the lead in addressing global warming China and the United States account for 40 percent of global carbon emissions, each contributing an equal share. Thus, when the international community gathered this week at the United Nations in New York City to discuss climate change, eyes and ears turned to Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, and Barack Obama, his American counterpart. What kind of leadership would each show, countries struggling to address a problem of no small urgency, weighing domestic priorities against powerful scientific evidence and global responsibilities? ( 09/24/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Shield by Gates The Obama White House makes a smart choice about missile defense John Boehner reacted in typical fashion. The Ohio Republican and House minority leader condemned President Obama's recent decision to abandon a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe proposed by the Bush White House. ( 09/24/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Healthy exchange An indispensable part of any attempt to repair the health-care system If Congress manages to overhaul the health-care system, whatever form the law takes is certain to include the following requirements: With few exceptions, every individual will have to buy some health insurance, and there will be a mandate to create health insurance exchanges. ( 09/24/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Out of work, out of clout Will the community rally to help the jobless cover basic health costs? In this weak economy with rising unemployment, it is becoming more obvious the harsh realities local residents face when they don't have health insurance: They lack bargaining clout, and that makes all the difference whether or not they can afford medical services when they need them. ( 04/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Attack of the rowdies What Kent could learn from Akron A street party near Kent State University quickly spun out of control on Saturday, eventually quelled by some 125 officers in riot gear. James Peach, the Kent police chief, described several thousand young people on East College Avenue, taunting officers, throwing rocks, bottles and cans, tossing furniture onto a bonfire the width of the street. ( 04/29/2009 12:00 AM EDT )
Oh, swell, a coaching change The Cleveland Browns run the same old play Look at the numbers, and Randy Lerner had plenty of reasons to cut loose Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel, the general manager and head coach of the Cleveland Browns the past four seasons. The club has won just 24 of the past 64 games. Savage and Crennel lost eight straight to the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the 31-0 debacle on Sunday. ( 12/30/2008 12:00 AM EST )
House Democrats in charge They've regained the majority. Will they now serve all of Ohio? Add the strong showing of Barack Obama to the favorable political winds, and Democrats now make up the majority in the Ohio House. Notch a victory for Ted Strickland, too. The governor and his allies have argued that a House majority would aid substantially his agenda, his campaign to turn around the embattled state. He has his wish. Soon Ohioans will be looking for Democrats to deliver. ( 11/07/2008 12:00 AM EST )
Profit and loss The prospect of a physician-owned hospital in northern Summit County invites concerns about the overall impact on health care in the area Living within the orbit of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic makes it easy to understand the value of the hospital systems in Northeast Ohio as local instruments of social and economic change. The idea of a regional ''health care corridor'' — embracing the hospitals, universities and enterprising businesses, attracting talent and resources and delivering high-quality medical services — is not just wishful thinking. ( 08/17/2008 12:00 AM EDT )
Why suspend the death penalty? Capital punishment lacks proportionality in Ohio Appellate courts are essential to the concept of equal treatment under the law. They seek to apply precedent across jurisdictions, ensuring that defendants do not face one set of rules in the southeast part of the state and another set of rules in the northwest. If two appeals courts arrive at clashing views, the Ohio Supreme Court serves to resolve the dispute and deliver one ruling for all. ( 11/25/2007 12:00 AM EST )
Why suspend the death penalty? Ohio must do a better job holding prosecutors to a high standard Few public offices are more powerful than the county prosecutor. This elected official can deprive citizens of their liberty, and in recent years, due to advances in technology, the public has learned with increasing frequency that prosecutors make mistakes, resulting at times in the innocent spending years behind bars. ( 11/27/2007 12:00 AM EST )
Why suspend the death penalty? Ohio lacks an appropriately thorough clemency process The death penalty carries an obvious element of finality. That explains why the decision to apply capital punishment must be carefully and completely considered. Ohioans don't want to execute a man or woman, and then discover later factors that expose a grievous error, or otherwise call into question the decision of the state. ( 10/19/2007 12:00 AM EDT )
Why suspend the death penalty? Ohio doesn't do enough to ensure adequate counsel All seven justices on the Ohio Supreme Court agreed last week: Vernon Brown, convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death in 2004, deserves a new trial. The court concluded prosecutors erred in their handling of the trial involving a drug-related slaying in Cleveland. They failed to provide all relevant material to the defense. ( 10/08/2007 12:00 AM EDT )
Why suspend the death penalty? The problem of mistaken eyewitnesses and false confessions Ohioans may be surprised to learn that the two leading causes of wrongful convictions are false confessions and eyewitnesses mistakenly identifying defendants. The American Bar Association Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project shared this observation in its recent assessment of capital punishment in Ohio. It was part of why the project urged the state to reduce the potential for such errors, taking steps to diminish the risk of sending an innocent man or woman to death row. ( 10/12/2007 12:00 AM EDT )
Why suspend the death penalty? The state doesn't ensure the availability of DNA testing Practically everyone today grasps the critical role that DNA testing plays in the system of criminal justice. The value has been made evident along the spectrum from CSI to the trial of O.J. Simpson to the freeing of Clarence Elkins. ( 10/04/2007 12:00 AM EDT )
Poorly executed An ABA panel finds many flaws in the Ohio death penalty. Enough to warrant the governor imposing a moratorium Ted Strickland pledged to review ''carefully'' the findings and recommendations about capital punishment in Ohio generated by the American Bar Association's Death Penalty Implementation Project. Hard to believe a full evaluation will not result in agreement with the bar panel: The state should suspend use of the death penalty pending further examination of the many flaws identified. ( 10/02/2007 12:00 AM EDT )
Why suspend the death penalty? Ohio doesn't protect adequately the rights of the mentally ill In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court barred the execution of defendants with mental retardation. Since then, Ohio has complied with the letter and spirit of the ruling, applying, for instance, accepted definitions in assessing whether a defendant was mentally retarded when commiting the crime. ( 11/15/2007 12:00 AM EST )
Suspend the sentence Will Ted Strickland listen to the American Bar Association and initiate a hard look at the state's flawed death penalty? Ohio must suspend its death penalty. So the American Bar Association rightly counseled in late September, issuing a 495-page report, 30 months in the works, on the way Ohio conducts capital punishment. The evaluation was performed by a distinguished group of 10 Ohioans, chaired by Phyllis Crocker, a law professor at Cleveland State University, including Margery Koosed, a law professor at the University of Akron. The panel stayed away from whether or not the state should issue death sentences. ( 12/03/2007 12:00 AM EST )
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