As they struggle to pass a health care reform bill -- maybe by the end of this week, maybe by their Easter recess -- House Democrats are digging deep into their bag of parliamentary tricks. The goal is to minimize the political pain for wavering members. But the result, if they are successful, will be an unseemly odor around... Full story »

The meals served to the "lower classes" of airline passengers were usually nothing to write home about. But there's something about munching lunch at 30,000 feet, looking down at the whole world. Spice it up with just a little bit of turbulence, which allowed passengers to showcase not only their nonchalance in the presence of danger, but also their... Full story »

If the weather is as good as predicted, hundreds of thousands of people will jam downtown Cleveland Wednesday for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Born as a celebration of Irish pride, the parade has become an excuse for a giant outdoor party -- a symbol to winter-weary Clevelanders that spring really is just around the corner and that... Full story »

By now, Browns fans ought to be used to their team starting over -- and certainly after the agony of last season, they could hardly have expected anything else. That's why Mike Holmgren was hired, right? Still, the vigor with which the team's new president has moved to revamp the roster and the face of the franchise is impressive.... Full story »

The move to create voluntary nationwide standards for math and English instruction is an important step forward for a nation that needs to remain competitive on the global stage. Naysayers should rethink their objections and all states should consider adopting the guidelines. Consistent standards will help spur excellence and keep states honest about educational outcomes. Ohio officials favor the... Full story »

Two years later, Ohio is still a Johnny-come-lately state to spending money and effort on effective child abuse prevention programs, instead of inferior parenting classes. That's the conclusion of a study by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, which looks at child welfare and other issues. If this state hopes to help at-risk parents raise healthy families -- and... Full story »

A clamor by Ohio Senate Republicans over (asserted) political interference in the State Highway Patrol by Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's administration looks to be more about score-settling than malfeasance. But it also shows the troubles Strickland courts by his administration's penchant for control. Administration clashes with the Highway Patrol date from Strickland appointee Henry Guzman's unhappy tenure as director... Full story »

Look for some mail this week that could be worth a lot of money -- and no, it's not from Publishers Clearing House. Roughly 120 million American households are about to receive forms from the Census Bureau as it carries out its constitutionally mandated order to count the residents of this country every 10 years. It is important that... Full story »

The start of the decennial census, noted elsewhere on this page, is a reminder that governments collect a lot of information about almost every aspect of American life -- from basic demographics and health data to details about foreign trade and the activities of lobbyists. Some of this information is proprietary; others of it bear on the national security... Full story »

The Ohio employers -- job creators -- who foot the bill for the legislature's fledgling Workers' Compensation Council need the General Assembly to review the council's meager output and murky mission. And another fair question: Why can't the Legislative Service Commission, the General Assembly's universally respected bill-drafting and research arm, do what the council is supposed to be doing?... Full story »

The fate of Chrysler's Twinsburg Stamping Plant is a sad testament to the difficulty of finding a present-day use for past manufacturing excellence. It's also the latest blow to autoworkers who'd hoped there might still be an outlet locally for technical skills and proven work ethic. The Stamping Plant's sale to a carrion, er, Canadian liquidation company also highlights... Full story »

The General Assembly may soon reform an Ohio voting rule that invalidated the ballots of an estimated 14,000-plus Ohio voters in November 2008 for voting in the wrong precinct even though sometimes they were in the right voting location. Voters need to know that every effort is being made to make sure their votes count, but cost remains a... Full story »

CHEERS . . . to the Cleveland Science Caf , whose habitu s have grown to more than 100 over the not quite three years of its existence. Meetings, held at the Great Lakes Brewing Co., usually involve a lot of discussion that makes scientific concepts accessible to nonscientists. Cool idea, cold beer -- not a bad concept in... Full story »

After two months of discussion, the Cleveland school board finally has approved a promising plan to reform its poorly performing school system. Schools CEO Eugene Sanders' blueprint calls for closing 16 schools, requiring teachers and principals in some schools to reapply for their jobs, whittling central office staff and bringing in nationally respected programs. Yet this cannot just be... Full story »

The statistics scream, "Help!" So do many teenagers at risk. Now, the Ohio Senate has finally and unanimously answered the call by passing a bill that would let juvenile courts issue protective orders for teens in abusive dating relationships. The Ohio House greenlighted the Senate version, 96-1, Wednesday and passed it on to Gov. Ted Strickland. He must sign... Full story »