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The latest Industry News From the OTAA
The Issue 1 ballot initiative in Ohio, set to be before voters this fall, focuses on reforming the process of redistricting for state legislative and congressional districts. The initiative aims to change how district lines are drawn by creating an independent, bipartisan commission to take over the responsibility.
The process laid out in Issue 1 of how the commission would be selected and formed is rather complex. First, a panel of four retired judges, two republicans and two democrats, would be selected by the Ohio ballot board. These judges would then work to create a pool of 90 “qualified” candidates. The panel then will conduct public interviews of the candidates. Of the fifteen-member commission, the first six will be chosen at random. The six commissioners then choose the remaining nine based on the strength of their applications and their reflection of Ohio's geographic and demographic diversity. Current politicians, political party officials, candidates, or anyone who served in or ran for office in the prior six years would be prohibited from serving on the commission, as would the employees, contractors, or immediate family members of disqualified individuals. Passing maps would require the affirmative vote of nine commissioners and must include the support of at least two Republicans, two Democrats, and two independents.
Currently, redistricting is managed by a commission largely controlled by elected officials, which has led to concerns about gerrymandering — the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party. Ohio just two years ago, reformed the process for drawing maps, but many activist groups believe those changes didn’t go far enough.
Proponents of Issue 1 argue that the new commission would help ensure fairer and more competitive elections by reducing partisan influence in the redistricting process. They argue this would be accomplished by the fact that the commission would consist of members from both major parties and independent citizens, promoting transparency and accountability. Opponents, however, claim that the measure could complicate the process and that the current system already has adequate safeguards in place which include a set of maps that passed with bi-partisan approval. They also argue that if Issue 1 passes, the commission would be less accountable to voters because the members aren’t elected officials.
The ongoing debate reflects the broader national conversation about how to ensure fair representation in electoral districts. Democrat elected officials have been largely supportive of Issue 1, while republicans have been outspoken in opposition, including former President Trump and US House Speaker Mike Johnson.
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Business owners and managers also need to be able to tinker — with their own companies. TJ White, general manager of Tire Source in Northeast Ohio, learned the value of tinkering from his father, Tom White, president of Tire Source. And now, White is applying that love of learning how things work to their company, figuring out what’s operating well and seeing what could be done better in order to keep the family business flourishing.
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Impressive growth is being recorded in the All-Weather Tire market owing to increasing demand for versatile and high-performance tires that could endure several weather conditions. Combining the advantages of summer and winter tires into one, all-weather tires offer superior traction, durability, and comfort. The ability to deliver in a range of climatic conditions is making them popular with consumers who want convenience and safety above all.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced today that as part of its measures to mitigate climate change, it began participating in the “Fry to Fly Project,” which pursues the decarbonization of the airline industry by recycling domestic resources, in August 2024. Led by the JGC Holdings Corporation, this project involves collecting waste cooking oil generated by companies and households and using it for the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to power airplanes. As of July 31, 2024, 143 companies, municipalities, and organizations were involved in the project.
Bridgestone has decided and agreed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to renew its current Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partnership agreement after its expiration at the end of 2024. The decision comes after an evaluation of the company’s evolving corporate brand strategy and its recommitment to more endemic global motorsports platforms.
Liberty Tire Recycling’s 2023 ESG Report recounts Liberty’s achievements in reducing its environmental impact, promoting social responsibility, and maintaining strong governance practices. Released last month, the report highlights the company’s significant progress in advancing its sustainability commitments.
More than 70% of rubber supplies the world's tyre industry but without national standards, and mandatory compliance the industry faces challenges in meeting the EU Deforestation Regulations.
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