EDITORIALS
The Lima News editorial policy is independent of political party affiliation. Opinions expressed in the Our View column reflect the view of The Lima News editorial board. Opinions elsewhere on this page are solely those of the writers.
The editorial board includes Kirk Dougal, Publisher (kdougal@aimmediamidwest.com, 567-242-0371); Jim Krumel, Editor (jkrumel@aimmediamidwest.com, 567-242-0391); and David Trinko, Managing Editor (dtrinko@aimmediamidwest.com, 567-242-0467).
The Lima News editorial policy
EDITORIAL POLICY The Lima News editorial policy is independent of political party affiliation. Opinions expressed in the Our View column reflect the view of The Lima News editorial board. Opinions elsewhere on this page are solely those of the writers expressing them....
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Editorial: Attorney General William Barr’s declaration of independence from Trump
In Washington, cynicism often passes for wisdom, and there was plenty of the former going around after Attorney General William Barr publicly rebuked the president for poking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Cynics can never be satisfied, but we take...
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Editorial: It’s time to deal Ohio in on legal sports gambling
In this day when people, businesses and government agencies are looking for ways to make a quick buck, Gov. Mike DeWine is hedging his bet when it comes to legalized sports gambling in Ohio. The Ohio Legislature has been flirting with allowing sports betting ever...
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Editorial: Expensive, impractical, ineffective: The case against capital punishment in Ohio
Opponents of the death penalty in Ohio have been pointing out its flaws since capital punishment was reinstated two decades ago, but public opinion has favored it narrowly and no one with the power to truly endanger it has stepped into the fray. Bills to abolish it...
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Editorial: Forgetn Bernie, moderates had the best night
Most of the media focus after a presidential primary naturally falls on who won, who did better than expected, who quit and whose candle is dangerously close to flickering out. But the most significant takeaway from Tuesday’s Democratic primary in New Hampshire...
read moreEditorial: Ringing up the price of impeachment
Well, that was costly — in more ways than one. The impeachment hearing that never should have happened ended with an acquittal of President Donald Trump. No surprise, there. The Democrats last hope — if they really had any hope at all — was dashed...
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Editorial: How frightened should you be about the coronavirus?
Words such as “pathogen,” “pandemic” and “quarantine” are inherently scary. Yet for most people in the United States, fear is a natural but not necessary reaction to the spread of the new coronavirus from China. What’s the...
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Editorial: Why the ‘Closed’ sign is showing up at familiar stores
Some of America’s favorite shopping destinations from the last few decades are disappearing, with big-name closings seeming to take on sudden speed. Pier 1, Bed Bath & Beyond and Express are among the chains shedding locations. Retailers shuttered 10,800...
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Editorial: EdChoice is available because families want it
One thing continues to get overlooked as public school districts across Ohio fight to limit EdChoice scholarships. The demand for choice is clearly there, otherwise, parents would not be lining up to take advantage of voucher programs. The Ohio Legislature must not...
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Editorial: Lima faces same old issue on hiring fire chief
The retirement of Lima Fire Chief Bruce Black sees City Council facing an issue that far too long has been placed on the back burner: No one from outside the department can be considered for the job. The issue was brought before voters almost eight years ago when they...
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Editorial: Portman needs to buck GOP, hear out Bolton
This is a big week for Rob Portman, Ohio’s Republican U.S. senator. With the impeachment trial of President Trump continuing in the Senate, at least two major votes are looming that will forever define his service to our state and country. First, should the...
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Editorial: Wake up Mitch! Open the door and let the sun in
If you wonder why the media makes such a big deal about transparency, look no further than the Senate impeachment hearings for your answer. In setting the ground rules for the hearings, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell severely limited access to the media....
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Los Angeles Times: Supreme Court may poke another hole in the ‘wall of separation’ between church and state
The Supreme Court may be poised to require states to subsidize religious schools if they provide financial support for other private schools, poking another hole in the “wall of separation between church and state” described by Thomas Jefferson as central...
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Editorial: Answers needed before acting on OPERS freeze
More changes meant to strengthen Ohio’s largest public pension system should not be rushed into – not after its board voted 9-2 just over a week ago to cut health-care benefits What happens next is in the hands of the state legislature. It’s been...
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Editorial: It’s bad business for Ohio to dictate wages
It sounds good when State Rep. Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati, says, “The promise of America is that it is supposed to be the land of opportunity, where if you work hard, you can succeed, and you can get ahead.” It sounds good, that is, until Kelly stipulates...
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EDITORIAL: Jim Lehrer’s old school journalism is exactly how we should still be doing it today
When he signed off from his long and excellent broadcasting career, Jim Lehrer was still the same sort of journalist that he started as. He was, as he put it, a newspaperman. The term is dated now, but Lehrer described in a common term then something important about...
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Editorial: What! More burgers and fries for schools?
Both sides were overwhelmingly for it — Democrats and Republicans — when the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed in 2010. The new law ensured school meal standards were aligned with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are developed by...
read moreEditorial: Textbooks suggest we’re living in two Americas
When former New York senator and scholar Daniel Patrick Moynihan died in 2003, he was celebrated for his hugely productive careers in both politics and academia, and admired for his wit. His aphorism — “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not...
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Los Angeles Times: The jury is out on whether Republican senators will take their impeachment oath seriously
By definition, the impeachment trial of President Trump that began in earnest Tuesday was a historic occasion, only the third such proceeding since the adoption of the Constitution. What remains unclear is whether the Republicans in the Senate will allow a fair and...
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Editorial: Barberton school district is doing the right thing
The Barberton City School District is doing the prudent thing by allowing some members of the Magics boys basketball team to engage in silent protest by kneeling or sitting during the pregame playing of the national anthem. The district is also doing the right thing....
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Lt. Tim Grigsby: What does a yellow light mean?
I used to love watching the sitcom “Taxi.” Most people under the age of 40 will probably not recognize that show, but if you do, you will remember the all-star cast of colorful characters. One episode I remember was when Jim, played by Christopher Lloyd...
Ask a Doctor: Facts about coronavirus COVID-19
Question: How does a virus start? How did the coronavirus begin? Could a virus like this be manmade? – Ralph, of Fort Jennings Coronavirus is all over the news these days. Why is it called coronavirus? They are important human and animal pathogens. Under...
David Martin: Airline punchers and recliners, unite!
Most of us have probably seen the viral video of the airline passenger repeatedly punching the back of the reclined seat in front of him. Much like the photo of the striped dress from five years ago, which appeared blue and black to some and white and gold to others,...
Michael Graham: Democrat voters in primary just fine with Bernie
Opinion: As Pundits Panic Over Sanders’ Surge, Primary Voters Say ‘No Problem!’ He may unsettle the opinion editors of the New York Times. He might worry swing-district Democrats walking the halls of Congress. And he can absolutely spark a cable-TV...
Ron Lora: Disarrayed Democrats and blighted Republicans
These are tense days with a volatile eight months ahead. Indications are that the 2020 presidential campaign will be the most bizarre in anyone’s memory, spouting unparalleled amounts of disinformation. Neither national major political party is in fine form...
John Grindrod: Even in death, the price of fame
Of course, we regular Joes and Josephines often have a certain level of envy for the rich and the famous. And, for those who’ve attained lofty levels of both of those circumstances that often go hand in hand, the fame part of it begins early, which explains how...
Jerry Zezima: This cold was something to sneeze at
When it comes to being sick, men are babies. I know this because there are six children in my family (five grandkids and yours truly), and I was sicker than any of them over a period of five months, which is how long it took me to recover from an illness that so...
Jay Ambrose: Your pick — Trump or Sanders?
It’s egregious excess time. Old norms have gone into hiding, common sense has taken a walk, wisdom is on vacation and fundamental principles have been shooed out of the room. The center does not hold and neither does anything else, least of all Donald Trump, who...
Jim Krumel: He comes from poverty, but he’s not poor in spirit
They call him Father Thomas. He is a new priest at St. Charles Catholic Church, joining the Rev. Kent Kaufman. Father Thomas has been in Lima only a few weeks, yet he cannot tell you exactly what brought him here. He feels there must be a bigger reason why God and his...
Column: Yes, a woman can be president
Presidents Day, officially known as Washington’s Birthday, provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s past and present leaders. We recognize the personal sacrifices these leaders made for our country and the difficult choices they made for...
LETTERS
We welcome letters of 275 words or fewer. Letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and grammar. They should be concise, to the point and original — no form letters, please. Letters dealing with private disputes or containing criticism of private individuals or businesses are not published. Letters must have a signature (unless emailed) and a full name, address and daytime telephone number (for verification purposes only). Writers are limited to one letter a month. Letters may be published on our website. MAIL LETTERS TO: The Lima News Letters Column 3515 Elida Road Lima, OH 45807 E-MAIL LETTERS TO: letters@limanews.com ONLINE FORM: Click here to send a letter to the editor online.
Letter: Trumps get the job done
In regards to Charles Thomas’ letter, “The United State of misinformation,” I do believe Charles had some misinformation. During the last year of President Obama’s tenure, the unemployment rate was 4.8%. Under Trump, the rate has dropped to...
Letter: Wear red for education
Three weeks ago, the Ohio General Assembly postponed a final solution for the growing crisis surrounding the dangerous expansion to the EdChoice Voucher Program. Legislators agreed to tackle the issue prior to April 1st. Tremendous mobilization has arisen from public...
Letter: Shame on Ohio legislators
Transgender youth deserve equal access to care no matter what state they live in. State legislators have no right to tell anyone what to do when it comes to their bodies. Transgender youth have support from their families, their endocrinologists, and other members in...
Letter: Lima police did it again
Well, they did it again. Who said there is no such thing as a free meal? On Saturday, the Lima Police Department provided a free sausage and pancake breakfast to the public at the Bradfield Center. Thank you LPD and Bradfield Center for your excellent community...
Letter: Why must you shame us?
I’ll admit I had grown complacent in my LGBTQ advocacy in Lima. Given positive steps by city government and local businesses, I thought we would soon achieve the equality and respect we are owed as Americans. Mark Figley’s rant about the...
Letter: Crown Royal donations needed
American Legion Post 96 Lima, along with the Lima Eagles, Lima Elks 54, Mulligans Pub, and Somewhere in Time pub, have been saving used Crown Royal bags. For every bag sent to Crown Royal, they donate $1 to Packages from Home, a charity that sends packages to service...
Letter: Checks and balances work
It is obvious that the founders system of checks and balance to our Constitutional Republic were in action during the Senate trial of President Donald J. Trump. The Democrats hijacked the House impeachment process and denied due process to the president by using...
Letter: Our fake president a big phony
Listening to our fake president’s State of the Union address really amazed me. I’ll agree the economy is good for the very wealthy. He even had some touching moments in his speech. I’m just not certain if Trump was trying to give us the impression...
Letter: Democrats a scary bunch
The statement that ” America will be destroyed from within” is now becoming a reality. One of the original 13 colonies, New Hampshire, has voted to elect an openly socialist man as our next president. Their state motto is “Live Free or Die.”...
Lettter: Vote for experience in Putnam County, vote for Rayle
Putnam County voters will be choosing a Republican candidate for Putnam County Recorder. Lori Rayle, the current Putnam County Chief Deputy Recorder, is the only candidate with the experience needed to assume the position of county recorder. Rayle has worked in the...
