Given the possibilility of a constitutional amendment issue appearing on the November general election ballot, Vindy.com and WFMJ-Channel 21 will be hosting a community forum on the question, "Is Ohio losing out by not permitting casino-style gambling?" The forum, the third in a series, is scheduled for April 8.

Prominent individuals who have been involved on both sides of the statewide debate over the expansion of gambling will participate. The forum will be open to the public and elected officials from the Mahoning Valley and around the state will be invited.

Watch this blog for further details.

Of special interest to this region is the reality that the constitutional amendment now being proposed would permit full-service casinos at the seven horse-racing tracks and two casinos in downtown Cleveland and one in downtown Cincinnati. This region will not directly benefit.

Thus, the Valley's best bet could be the Eastern Shawnee Indian tribe of Oklahoma. Tribe representatives will be on hand for the forum.

The event is to be held in the auditorium of Lordstown High School. If the Shawnees succeed in their bid to open casinos offering slot machines in Ohio, Lordstown could be one of the locations.