Mayor from Ohio. (Getty image file photo.)
Each morning in the Ohio Capital Journal’s free newsletter, The Eye-Opener, we round up the news and commentary from across Ohio, the country and the world that catches our eye. We call this feature Catching Our Eye and have published it here.
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Catching our eyes
• Passenger rail. WOSU’s Nora Igelnik reports: “What’s next for passenger rail in central Ohio?“
Passenger rail in central Ohio could be up and running sooner than many expect.
Since Columbus eliminated passenger rail in the behind schedule 1970s, the expansion of Amtrak trains in central Ohio has been talked about and anticipated. Currently on two lines – 3C&D, representing Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, and Midwest Connect, connecting Chicago, Fort Wayne, Columbus and Pittsburgh – trains could begin running in the early 2030s or within the next few years. Northeast Ohio also has a proposed line connecting Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit.
John Esterly, executive director of All Aboard Ohio, an organization whose primary goal is to educate and support the development of passenger rail corridors, said All Aboard works closely with route sponsors whose primary focus is funding and grant planning. The 3C&D line is sponsored by the Ohio Rail Development Commission, while Midwest Connect is led by the City of Fort Wayne, with primary support from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
• Social media. Mary Frances McGowan of Cleveland.com reports: “Ohio lawmakers propose warning labels on addictive social media platforms“
Ohio lawmakers want to place warning labels on social media platforms that exploit features that keep users glued to their phones and addicted to their feeds.
House Bill 808, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Christine Cockley of Columbus and Republican Rep. Jodi Salvo, D-Bolivar, would mandate warning labels on what the legislation defines as “addictive social media platforms.”
• Future. Chad Murphy of the Columbus Dispatch reports: “According to the rankings, these Ohio cities are ready for a “prosperous life” in the future“
Two Ohio cities, Columbus (No. 46) and Cincinnati (No. 77), ranked in the top 100 of the Geography of Prosperity Index.
The index assesses 250 U.S. cities on their future readiness based on factors such as climate resilience and social cohesion.
Cleveland finished just outside the top 100, while Akron and Toledo finished in the top 50 in the study.
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