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‘Kirk was a statesman.’ Kirk Schuring, Ohio’s second-longest serving lawmaker, has died

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‘Kirk was a statesman.’ Kirk Schuring, Ohio’s second-longest serving lawmaker, has died


State Sen. J. Kirk Schuring, the second-longest serving lawmaker in the Ohio Legislature who authored dozens of laws on issues ranging from health care to sports betting, has died. He was 72.

He never lost an election for Ohio Senate or House.

Schuring briefly served as acting speaker of the Ohio House in the spring of 2018 after Republican Cliff Rosenberger abruptly stepped down. His current role as president pro tempore gave Schuring the No. 2 leadership position in the Senate.

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“Kirk was the most loyal, caring and dedicated public servant. He was a man of principle, and his wisdom was always sought,” Rosenberger said. “Kirk was the negotiator of deals and maker of compromise. He knew how to take on the hard issues that others couldn’t, doing so to better Ohioans’ lives.”

He was in his 31st year in office, which made him the second longest-serving lawmaker in either chamber. The most senior legislator happens to be another Stark Countian, state Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, who serves the 48th district.

The pair was tied together, because they effectively traded political seats three times in the past two decades.

Ohio voters had enacted term limits in 1994 ― placing an eight-year limit on House and Senate seats ― but Schuring and Oelslager never had to leave Columbus. In 2002, 2010 and 2018, both won their respective elections, which ping-ponged each from one General Assembly chamber to the other, succeeding one another every step of the way.

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Both most recently won re-election to their current seats last year ― Schuring’s term runs through 2026.

“Kirk was a statesman,” said Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima. “There is no finer member of the General Assembly or finer Ohioan who served in the halls of the Ohio Statehouse. Kirk’s heart was in Ohio, and it showed with his commitment, drive and integrity for the job the people elected him to do decade after decade.”

The only time Schuring planned to leave state politics was in 2008, when he ran for Congress.

Schuring tried for the seat long held by retiring Republican Ralph Regula. He emerged from a three-person party primary. However, he was toppled by Democrat John Boccieri in the fall, when Barack Obama won his first presidential term.

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A moderate Republican, Schuring was a skilled legislator who had been tapped for heavy lifting on issues such as workers compensation funding, payday lending reforms and sports betting.

He also was a longtime member of the Ohio Retirement Study Council. The government oversight body keeps tabs on the state’s five public pension systems. He took the chairman’s post in February, but he canceled five of eight scheduled meetings, perhaps due to ongoing health issues.

From insurance guy to state politics

A Perry High graduate, Schuring married Darlene Newkirk in 1975; the couple has two children, Derrick and Kristin.

The “J,” which sometimes preceded “Kirk” through the years was the initial of his legal first name, James, same as his father. The older Schuring died of a heart attack in 1980, at age 52, in the office of the Schuring Agency insurance firm in Plain Township.

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A short time later, the younger Schuring took over as president of the family’s business.

In the ensuing decade, he laid a foundation for his future political career, getting involved with a slew of civic and community causes and building a reputation as an adept fundraiser.

Schuring volunteered for Pro Football Hall of Fame festival committees; was elected president of the Canton Jaycees, Urban League and Canton Club; chaired an event to honor former Canton Mayor Stanley Cmich (at which Cmich was presented a new Buick); chaired the Vision 1 committee to revitalize downtown; and was named a trustee of Canton Tomorrow.

On the political side, Schuring co-directed the county’s Reagan/Bush presidential campaign in 1984. Eight years later, Schuring was appointed to the Stark Board of Elections, alongside Charles Brown.

Still, Schuring’s entrance to elected office didn’t come easy.

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In 1993, a then 40-year-old Schuring was among three people who lobbied for appointment to a vacant Ohio House seat. Veteran Stark legislator Dave Johnson had resigned because Gov. George Voinovich named him to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

A Canton Repository commentary lamented the fact none of the three had stellar credentials. Sure, Schuring was good at fundraising but had “no apparent interest in public policy,” the piece stated.

Plus, there was an issue about Schuring’s $15,000 in delinquent state and federal income taxes.

However, after weeks of wrangling, Schuring secured the blessing of the local GOP. In April of that year, Ohio House Republicans selected him to fill Johnson’s seat.

In the three decades that followed, Schuring authored dozens of legislative initiatives on health care, economic development, and families which would become law.

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Schuring’s long legislative legacy

One of his favorite causes involved creating Joint Economic Development Districts and Cooperative Economic Development Agreements. The JEDD and CEDA acronyms are now household names to many municipal and township officials across the state, who use the provisions to work together on deals that provide increased tax dollars to each.

Schuring also sponsored bills which became laws to stiffen penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders and enhance school safety zones, and he was involved in laws regarding health care, organ donation, acupuncture, nursing, and chiropractic care.

Schuring’s work earned him multiple awards, such as legislator of the year from groups ranging in purpose from the Ohio Association of Free Clinics to the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.

Along the way, he was recognized by a host of education-related groups and the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, and earned a Heritage Award for establishing Ohio’s Historic Preservation tax credit law.

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And two years ago, Jackson Township trustees surprised Schuring by naming a park after him.

His current committee assignments in the 135th General Assembly were: General Government (vice chair) Rules & Reference (vice chair), Energy & Public Utilities, and Finance and Insurance.

This breaking news story will be updated.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 ortim.botos@cantonrep.com.On Twitter: @tbotosREP

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Hail slams parts of Northeast Ohio, damaging homes in Solon area

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Hail slams parts of Northeast Ohio, damaging homes in Solon area


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Hail slammed parts of Northeast Ohio Wednesday, with Cuyahoga County seeing two-inch hail for the first time in six years.

Homes in the Solon area were hit hard. Windows were busted out, siding was punctured, and roofs need repair.

Ricky Campopiano, Owner of Campo Roofing, said his phone started ringing when he opened for business, primarily from people in the Solon area.

“We had over 1,000 people call our office and ask for us to come out,” Campopiano said.

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Roof damage widespread

Campopiano said the damage was severe across the area.

“Pretty much every roof that I looked at [Thursday] had damage that you could see from the ground. It was a no-brainer, it has to get replaced,” he said.

Many homeowners likely called their insurance companies Thursday. Campopiano said insurers sometimes push back on full replacements.

“A lot of the times companies don’t want to replace all of the shingles, they just want to replace a facet or two,” he said.

Under Ohio law, if new shingles don’t match the color or quality of the ones already on a roof, the insurance company may be required to replace more of the roof until it looks the way it did before the storm.

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The next 24 hours for damaged homes could include a tarp covering the roof to stop further damage.

Campopiano said after protecting the home the process involves identifying damage and having insurance come out to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to method of repair.

With so many homes damaged across northeast Ohio, repairs could take months or even years, depending on how bad the damage is, Campopiano said.



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Philanthropist E. Roe Stamps to deliver Ohio State’s spring commencement address

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Philanthropist E. Roe Stamps to deliver Ohio State’s spring commencement address


Philanthropist and private investor E. Roe Stamps IV will deliver this year’s spring commencement address at The Ohio State University.

Beginning at noon at Ohio Stadium on Sunday, May 10, the commencement ceremony will feature the conferral of roughly 12,000 diplomas. 

Stamps is best known as the co-founder of the Boston-based private equity and venture capital firm Summit Partners and the Stamps Scholars Program, a charitable initiative that provides scholarships to students at over three dozen universities worldwide. At Ohio State, around 50 students each year receive scholarships through the affiliated Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program.

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“We look forward to welcoming Roe Stamps to our university to share words of wisdom with the Class of 2026,” said President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Roe is a champion for the transformative power of higher education, and he has been an extraordinary partner in building a tradition of excellence at Ohio State. His lessons on service and creating impact will be of great value to our graduates as they prepare to take their next steps.”

“It is a true honor to deliver the 2026 commencement address to The Ohio State University’s graduating class,” Stamps said. “Ohio State is an extraordinary institution, and through the Stamps Scholars partnership with the university, our family has had the privilege of getting to know many remarkable Buckeye students. I look forward to being on campus and celebrating alongside the graduates as they mark this important milestone and begin the next chapter of their journeys.”

Stamps holds degrees in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech University and an MBA from Harvard. Following early career experiences in venture capital in Chicago and Boston, he co-founded Summit Partners with Steve Woodsum in 1984, working as a managing director before transferring daily operations to several partners in 2001. Summit Partners currently has $44 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 550 companies.

Stamps is also passionate about investing in education and communities. Beyond the Stamps Scholars Program, he is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation. He also supports a variety of charities in the Miami region where he resides, including the University of Miami, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.

In addition to delivering his address, Stamps will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at the commencement ceremony in recognition of his dedication to advancing educational opportunities and his other philanthropic contributions.

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Tahlman Krumm Jr. and Edgar Lampert will receive the university’s Distinguished Service Award.

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Joseph D. Schiavone, Youngstown, Ohio

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Joseph D. Schiavone, Youngstown, Ohio


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Joseph D. Schiavone, 85, Co-Owner and operator of Schiavone Funeral Home, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on April 11, 1941, in Youngstown, to his parents Joseph Schiavone and Louise Massaro Schiavone.

A band member and 1959 graduate of Ursuline High School, Joe pursued higher education earnestly, earning an Associate Degree from Youngstown State University and completing his studies at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1962.

His professional journey began with a one-year apprenticeship at the Schiavone Funeral Home, followed by a year of dedicated service in Tiltonsville, Ohio, eventually returning to Youngstown where he continued his career with distinction.

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Joe was known not only of his commitment to his work but also for his entrepreneurial spirit, particularly in his passionate pursuit of vintage automobiles. At the young age of sixteen, he built his first car, a 1932 Ford Coupe, igniting a lifelong enthusiasm for street rods, European classics, and unique American automobiles. His remarkable collection earned him various awards and recognition within the car enthusiast community. Joe was affectionately known as “Mr. Fix It” among family and friends, a testament to his skill and ability to solve most problems.

Joe enjoyed the simple things in life, such as working outside and woodworking, along with his love of “oldies” music. These hobbies complemented his personality, often times enriching the lives of those around him.

He was a nominee for the Brier Hill Man of the Year in 2026, a testament to his profound impact on and contributions to his community where he was a dedicated and contributing member of Saint Anthony of Padua Church.

Family was a central part of Joe’s life. He is survived by his two sons, Brian J. Schiavone (Thu T. Ngo) of Chicago, Illinois, and Edward J. Schiavone of Menlo Park, California; his daughter Elaina L. Schiavone of Youngstown; his three cherished granddaughters, Maleah K. Schiavone of Columbus, Liliana M. Schiavone of Youngstown, and Sophia L. Schiavone of Chicago, Illinois. He is also remembered fondly by his sister, Marie A. Lorubbio, his brother John D. Schiavone, both of Struthers, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Joe was preceded in death by his beloved parents, his devoted wife, JoAnn M. Colonna Schiavone, whom he married October 15, 1964 and died November 13, 2013, and his daughter Yvette M. Schiavone who died at a young age.

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Those who knew Joe will remember his quirky sense of humor, his strength in character, his supportive nature, and his firm beliefs and faith that guided him through life’s challenges. His legacy is one of resilience, dedication, and deep love for both his family and his unique interests.

Gathering of family and friends will be held at Schiavone Funeral Home, 1842 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44504, on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1125 Turin Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44510. Burial will be at Tod Homestead Cemetery, 2200 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44505 following mass.

Contributions made in Joe’s memory to the charity of your choice.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph D. Schiavone, please visit our flower store.

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