Latest news with #Ohio
Forbes
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
The SALT Deduction Isn't Big Enough. We Need A SALT Credit
The wrecked Silver Bridge, spanning the Ohio River between Ohio and West Virginia, pictured after ... More its collapse during rush hour traffic, December 17th 1967. (Photo by) West Virginia must be rich, right? All that federal money that flows there year after year. Hopefully readers see the obvious flaw, or contradiction. Government spending is harmful, by its very description. Precisely because it signals the central planning of market goods, services and labor by politicians, it's economically harmful. Only an economist could believe otherwise. Which requires us to start with first principles of economics that have seemingly been forgotten in the present debate about state and local tax deductions (SALT). Government spending is harmful. Say it repeatedly because economists won't. Take Duke University economist Michael Munger. An individual with a free market bent in good standing with other free market types, Munger writes that 'allowing citizens to deduct state and local taxes effectively rewards high-spending states and punishes prudence.' Munger's assertion is accepted wisdom within, and that's the problem. His views violate basic economic principles. Really, 'high-spending states' are rewarded through SALT deductions? How so? Munger's commentary suggests that states in which local spending and taxation to fund that spending is sizable somehow gain from it. Just once it would be great if Munger or the Rose Bowl size crowd that believes as he does would explain how 'high-spending states' are rewarded when their politicians tax and spend wastefully. Either there's a latent Keynes inside Munger and most free market economists, or they've mistaken the meaning of SALT. Likely both. To understand why, let's say it again: government spending is harmful. California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois are rich states despite all the local taxing and spending in those states, not because of it. They'd be quite a bit richer if state and local politicians weren't damaging their economies with government spending. It's a long or short way of saying the SALT deduction doesn't reward 'high-spending states' as Munger and the Rose Bowl assume, rather it rewards the U.S. in total by reducing the flow of tax dollars to the federal government. If anything, and assuming Munger et al agree that government spending is harmful, they should clamor for a SALT credit to further limit the federal government's tax share of economic activity in California, New York, and the other high-tax states. See West Virginia if you're confused. Is West Virginia rich or growing because of all the federal monies that have flowed its way for decades and years? Clown question. Central, politicized planning of resources is harmful, always and everywhere. Let's call West Virginia and other poor U.S. states that receive gobs of federal money domestic lab-grown evidence of the truth that just as foreign aid fails always and everywhere around the world, it fails in the U.S. too. Bringing it back to SALT, what Munger et al view as its demerit, that it 'rewards high-spending states and punishes prudence,' is its greatest attribute. As much as possible we want to limit the harmful effects of government waste nationally by limiting the flow of tax dollars from U.S. states. Translated, if California wants to tax and spend imprudently, let it do just that. And let's keep the wealth produced in California from reaching the federal government so that the national government won't have as many dollars to damage the rest of the country with. SALT is simple. It's about putting a fence around big government. Which is why the true aim should be a SALT credit. Anything to localize spending and taxing as much as possible. There's your states as laboratories. If there must be government waste, let it be in cities and states, not from the national government.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR
AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Search teams have recovered the body of a swimmer who investigators said went missing at Portage Lakes State Park on Tuesday. Witnesses said the man was in the designated swimming area when he went underwater but did not resurface, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesperson. According to the New Franklin Fire Department, around 6:45 p.m., divers found the man's body in 10 feet of water about 150 feet from the shore. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was identified as Walter O'Neil Cox, 49, of Akron. ONDR said an autopsy will be performed. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they try to come to grips with this tragicaccident,' the fire department said in a release. I-480 ramp to Tiedeman reopens after police incident The beach area remained closed during the search, according to a spokesperson. 2 firefighters injured after fire breaks out at Rocky River Brewing Company One person died following a water rescue last week at the park. That victim's vehicle was found submerged near a boat launch in New Franklin just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, according to officials. First responders tried to resuscitate that person, but they later died at a hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Whole world shattered': Local mom speaks after son killed in OVI crash; former Buckeye charged
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Former Ohio State All American Kirk Barton is facing charges that he allegedly caused a deadly car crash while under the influence. The victim of the crash, 24-year-old Ethan Perry, has deep ties to the Greater Cleveland Area. His mother said she will not allow her son to become a forgotten footnote in the high-profile case. 'There will be a hole in my heart that will never close, it will never close,' Roslyn Perry told FOX 8. She said she was notified by police early Saturday morning that her son had been killed in a terrible accident in Dublin, Ohio, outside Columbus. 'At that point, my whole world shattered because my only baby was gone,' she said. Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR Investigators said Ethan Perry's car was slammed into by a speeding pickup truck driven by the 40-year-old Barton, who is a 2003 graduate of Massillon Perry High School and a four-year letterman for Ohio State between 2003 and 2007. Police said Barton admitted to officers that he had been drinking before the crash and he was arrested on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. On Monday, Barton pleaded not guilty to the charge in Franklin County Municipal Court. 'I saw his mugshot and all he had was a black eye. He had a black eye, but my baby was dead,' said Roslyn Perry. The death of Ethan Perry stunned his family in the Greater Cleveland Area, where he spent his formative years. The family is upset about coverage of the deadly accident that focused on Barton's football career at Ohio State nearly 20 years ago. 'You hear them say, 'Ethan West Perry died at the scene. Barton was a football standout at Ohio State.' Who cares? That is not relevant, he killed my child,' Roslyn Perry said. She said she finds it disturbing that Barton has a history of run-ins with the law, including prior OVI arrests and a high-profile episode that investigators said was fueled by alcohol. It was in June 2018 when Barton was arrested after he refused to comply with sheriff's deputies, who responded to complaints about his behavior at a suburban Columbus bar. He was shown on body camera video slamming the sliding door of a taxi van on the arm of one of the deputies. Barton was initially charged with felonious assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Roslyn Perry questions how the 2018 case was disposed of without any severe consequences. 'I worked at Ohio State for almost five years, so I've seen it first-hand. It is privilege plain and simple,' she said. Witnesses describe apartment explosion that left 5 people in critical condition Ethan Perry's mother believes that privilege is continuing. Barton was released from jail after posting 10% of a $500,000 bond set by a judge on Monday. 'If this situation was turned around and Ethan killed this man, my son would still be sitting in jail today,' she said. As a condition of his bond, Barton is not allowed to drive and must wear an alcohol monitoring device. Meanwhile, funeral services for Ethan Perry will be held in Cleveland next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Family pushing for change after woman killed in Taco Bell drive-thru shooting
STOW, Ohio (WJW) – The family of a young woman who was murdered while in the drive-thru line at the Taco Bell on Graham Road in Stow is fighting to make all drive-thru lanes safer. 'My daughter would still be alive, I truly believe that,' said Nick Keleman, father of Megan Keleman. The 25-year-old was with her dog at the fast food restaurant on August 14, 2024, when a disturbed man pulled up behind her. Police say 53-year-old Jason Williams, who had struggled with mental health issues, began blowing his horn and ramming his vehicle into Megan's, although they don't know why. 'Whole world shattered': Local mom speaks after son killed in OVI crash; former Buckeye charged With no escape, Keleman asked Taco Bell employees to call the police, while she was also on the phone with her father. 'I deal with this every day,' said Nick with tears in his eyes. 'I heard the fear in her voice. I couldn't get to her quick enough., I couldn't protect her.' Before Nick or the police arrived, Williams fatally shot Megan and then himself. Police Chief Jeffrey Film said at the time, 'we have no information to indicate that the two subjects knew one another.' Megan's family strongly believes she would still be alive if that drive-thru had a second open/exit lane. 'You have a building on the left and an embankment on right. There's no way to get out,' he said. Tuesday night, the Keleman family — including Megan's mother Kelly and her brother Matthew — met with Stow's planning commission in support of 'Megan's Way Out,' a zoning code proposal that would require drive-thrus to have a 10-foot bypass lane. It's basically a second open lane that could be used for any number of emergencies. About 40 people, mostly supporters, also attended the meeting where the bypass lanes were described as, 'necessary and important to provide for emergency and safety access in the event of medical emergencies and mechanical issues as well as improving traffic flow and congestion management on the property.' It would apply to all new restaurants and businesses with drive-thru lanes and/or those undergoing restoration. The planning commission unanimously passed 'Megan's Way Out.' The next step will be full hearings in July, then public comment and a final vote scheduled for September. Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR The family hopes to start with Stow and then have 'Megan's Way Out' adopted across the state. They're getting help from a state senator. 'It's something we want to implement statewide,' said Ohio State Senator Casey Weinstein, (D) Hudson. The family calls it common sense and said they'll be there every step of the way. 'We just want to honor Megan and make her proud and make change,' said Kelly Keleman. The family also started a nonprofit called Megan's Rainbow of Hope to provide scholarships and 'spread happiness & kindness like confetti,' just like Megan who lived to help others. FOX 8 reached out to Taco Bell for comment on the proposed changes but have not yet received a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
2 men plead guilty, get jail time in latest Parma flamingo statue theft
PARMA, Ohio (WJW) — The two men Parma police arrested for stealing a flamingo statue off its base in early June will each spend 10 days behind bars. Family pushing for change after woman killed in Taco Bell drive-thru shooting Colin Donald Deka, 20, and Jack Christopher Klamert, 21, pleaded guilty at their arraignment Tuesday. In addition to jail time, the two were also ordered to serve 250 hours of community service and be on probation for three years. Parma police used surveillance video to track down the vehicle and individuals seen stealing the large, pink flamingo from the corner of Snow Road and Broadview Road. The statue was donated by Parma resident Dennis Vasko for his granddaughter who has non-verbal autism. Northeast Ohio man visiting Israel caught video of intercepted missile attack In May of 2024, Parma's other flamingo statue was stolen from its base and vandalized. In that case, three men were caught on surveillance video trying to stuff the original flamingo into a trunk before ditching it. Those men were sentenced to 10 days in jail for attempted vandalism, as well as each ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete 500 community service hours. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
