Letters to the Editor: Saturday, March 23, 2024

The city of Springboro is celebrating the historic total eclipse on Monday, April 8, with an afternoon of fun, education, music and food, 2 – 4 p.m. at North Park. Free viewing glasses will be distributed to the first 1,000 attendees.

The city of Springboro is celebrating the historic total eclipse on Monday, April 8, with an afternoon of fun, education, music and food, 2 – 4 p.m. at North Park. Free viewing glasses will be distributed to the first 1,000 attendees.

I had never seen a total solar eclipse when one crossed through my hometown in 2017. Even when thousands of people started flocking to our rural patch of prairie from all over the world, I just knew it was overhyped. It wasn’t. I went from not being sure I would cross the street to watch one, to spending significant time and resources creating a quality children’s picture book about it so parents like me and kids like mine wouldn’t miss one of nature’s greatest shows in their own backyard. Take it from a former skeptic: A total solar eclipse is totally worth the hype. Here’s to clear skies on April 8.

- Jayme Sandberg, Lincoln, Nebraska

The legal gaming industry thrives on trust and integrity. That’s why responsible gambling isn’t just a catchphrase—it’s a foundational pillar of everything the industry does. As sports fans shift their focus to the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments, Ohio adults will have access to a safe, legal sports betting market in their state that wasn’t available last year.

Here are some tips to keep your experience both fun and responsible if you choose to bet: Set a budget. This could be $5 or $100. But whatever limit you set – stick to it. Use a legal, regulated sportsbook. Illegal, offshore sportsbooks prey on unknowing and vulnerable bettors and don’t provide any consumer protections or guaranteed payouts. Keep it social – whether with friends, family, or colleagues, playing responsibly means keeping sports betting social and only playing for entertainment. There are many ways to bet on sports: parlays, moneyline, the spread…the list goes on. Know the odds and use sportsbook tools to understand your odds of winning. Like the teams competing, have a game plan. Visit HaveAGamePlan.org for a full list of legal sportsbooks and tips to bet responsibly.

- Bill Miller, President & CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA)