Ohio’s minimum wage increases to $11.00/hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with tipped wage rising to $5.50. Here’s who benefits and why advocates say more is needed.

Retailers are promoting cheaper Thanksgiving meals this year — but smaller baskets and portions tell a different story. From Walmart’s $4-per-person dinner to Kroger’s “Freshgiving” bundle, the advertised savings often come at the expense of quantity. In Dayton and across the country, families are paying less only to eat less — a quiet reflection of America’s shrinking household economy.