dskolnick@tribtoday.com
The Ohio House approved a bill to establish a fund to provide broadband internet to unserved and underserved areas of the state.
The legislation targets “last-mile connectivity” to households where it remains cost-prohibitive for providers to extend service. It would focus the funding primarily on 37 “distressed counties,” including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
The bill was approved 91-5 Thursday by the House. It still needs passage from the state Senate. The same bill recently was introduced in the upper chamber by state Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon.
The bill sets aside $20 million in fiscal year 2021, which begins in July, then $170 million in fiscal year 2022 and $20 million in fiscal year 2023 for areas not served or underserved by broadband, said state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren. He sponsored the same bill last year that passed the House in June but died in the Senate.
Feb 17, 2021
WARREN Apostle Loretta J. Pernice, 62, of Warren, went home to the Kingdom she longed for at 8:19 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in the Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren Hospital following complications from a recent battle with COVID-19.
Apostle Pernice was born Wednesday, May 7, 1958, in Warren, the daughter of the late James D. and Janie May Reynolds Johnson. She was a lifelong area resident.
She attended Warren Western Reserve High School.
Apostle Pernice was the senior pastor and founder of Elim Christian Center in Warren. Apostle Pernice was born with an anointing on her life through the marriage of Elder James and Mother Janie May Johnson.
The governor signed into law a bill sponsored by state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien to allow communities with Ohio Water Development Agency loans for water and wastewater infrastructure projects to refinance them at lower rates.
“This legislation has the potential to be a great cost-saving measure for local governments who previously were locked into the rates they obtained for infrastructure projects until the loan maturity date,” said O’Brien, D-Warren, who was the bill’s lead sponsor with state Rep. Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro.
“At a time when many counties are struggling to maintain their water systems, (the bill) gives local governments the option to refinance those loans with the Ohio Water Development Authority at a lower interest rate, potentially saving thousands of dollars in the process,” he said.
dskolnick@tribtoday.com
While they differ politically, at least three of the state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley say they will work together to help the area.
“I’m sure we’ll all have the Mahoning Valley’s best interests at heart,” state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren, said. “We’ll work on infrastructure and to help develop Lordstown for LG Chem and Lordstown Motors. I’m sure the entire Mahoning Valley delegation will work to assist with that.”
State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Knox, who started her first four-year term, said: “We’ll be working on issues together that will help the region.”
While they differ politically, at least three of the state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley say they will work together to help the area.
“I’m sure we’ll all have the Mahoning Valley’s best interests at heart,” said state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren. “We’ll work on infrastructure and to help develop Lordstown for LG Chem and Lordstown Motors. I’m sure the entire Mahoning Valley delegation will work to assist with that.”
State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Knox, who started her first four-year term,
said: “We’ll
be working on issues together that will help the region.”