Your Morning Matters: Two years ago today

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Matters.

It's Monday, June 28, 2021, and somehow today marks the two-year anniversary of the announcement of the closing of The Vindicator.

When I pause to consider that and also consider all that has happened since then, I am astonished. In two years: a newspaper closed, the GM Lordstown Assembly Complex abandonment became official, Lordstown Motors Corp. was formed, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, George Floyd's murder sparked new discussions on racism, presidential elections (and impeachments) happened, as did an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and a coronavirus vaccine was developed and implemented. And those are the highlights.

The Vindicator family has scattered to new employers and even retirement. Some newsroom denizens are still working in the Valley, and others have left for new locales. Mahoning Matters launched 40 days after the closing, and it provides jobs and freelance opportunities for seven of us.

How has local news changed in two years? It has changed in the Valley and across the land. A recent column on Politico.com took a very dim view: "Why Has Local News Collapsed? Blame Readers." It quotes Jason Pontin, former editor and publisher of Technology Review, as saying, "Media types sentimentalize local news because it presents local news journalists as a heroic caste 'holding the powerful to account' and 'binding communities together.' But this 'fetishization' of local news ignores the unwillingness of the public to pay for the product. Local news just isn't producing a product that people need."

That simplistic dismissal misses the point. I'd counter his notion about fetishization with an even worse fetishization: The barrage of anti-media exploitation by government leaders and powerful groups. If they convince you that news media is bad, and evidence shows they might already have done so with many of you, where will you turn for the truth? To the government that would like to keep you docile and supportive and not paying attention to them? To the powerful who need you to be fearful and convinced they alone have the answers so that you keep them in power?

What could go wrong? Read all about Bell, Calif. More tomorrow. In the meantime, let's make today count!

Here's what you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:

Today we introduce Mahoning Matters' new Monday morning Weekly Roundup!

With COVID-19 numbers down and Gov. Mike DeWine's coronavirus news conferences wrapping up, we're transitioning our weekly COVID-19 trends report to include some general news as well. If you were on vacation — or just on vacation from Mahoning Valley news — every Monday we will let you know what you missed. In today's debut, reporter Jess Hardin has the details.

Other matters

In this week's installment of The Earnheardts, Adam discusses the music gulf between Gen X parents and their Gen Z kids: "Gen Z music is bad. It mostly consists of YouTubers and artists and gamers who string lyrics together with weird jingles that sound more like a music bed for a Skittles commercial than anything in Casey Kasem's American Top 40." So he attempted to bridge the gap with Beck's "Loser." Mahoning Matters

Among the Valley entities in today's Business Updates are Jewish Family Services, Achieve Beyond Your Goals Career Employment, Struthers City Schools and Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. Mahoning Matters

Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. has decreased by 1.87 years, or 2.4%, from 2018 to 2020 — the largest drop the nation has seen since World War II, according to a new multi-institution study. Mahoning Matters

An East Liverpool police officer was fired by the mayor and safety service director. Chris Green had been on paid administrative leave since March 15. WFMJ

The Celebrate Poland Committee has moved the popular event again. The event traditionally is scheduled for the last weekend of June, but for 2021 was moved to Sept. 11. Now the event is scheduled for Sept. 25. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]

The Conneaut Lake Park amusement park will open Friday. This year there will be 14 rides for the kids and eight adult rides. WKBN

After spending years in Florida, Warren native Markisha Parker returned home to open Above Average Boutique, a clothing store and sewing shop that celebrated its grand opening Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Business Journal

Movers and Makers

Abbey Miller Bacconi's Lickety Split in Cortland has survived some rocky roads. Today, it's now known for dairy-free and low-sugar ice cream options, as well as unique menu items like loaded mac-and-cheese bowls and ice cream nachos. Mahoning Matters

This story was made possible by Farmers National Bank.

Your comments matter

"Arguably this legislation is unconstitutional as an unreasonable infringement on the right to peacefully assemble and petition the government."

— Rick Handlebar Ostheimer, on legislation approved by the Ohio House that would expand the definition of obstructing justice to include failure to follow a lawful order or diverting a law enforcement officer's attention. The bill is one of four GOP proposals that would criminalize or increase penalties associated with behavior at last year's racial injustice and police brutality protests.

Registered readers can comment on a selection of our stories, and all readers can comment on stories on our Facebook page. Opinions published here do not reflect the views of Mahoning Matters.

Event of the day

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Youngstown State University is hosting a Pride Walk and Cookout at 3 p.m. Participants should meet at 2:45 p.m. between Jones Hall and Maag Library on the YSU campus. The walk will start at the campus, go downtown and return to the campus where there will be food and music.

To see what else is going on around the Mahoning Valley, check out Mahoning Matters' event calendar here, or click the Events tab on the top menu at mahoningmatters.com.

Story tips

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This story was originally published June 28, 2021 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Your Morning Matters: Two years ago today."