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Fix needed for schools in W.Va.

Editorials

The state having to take over local school districts, such as what happened earlier this month in Hancock County, has become more common in West Virginia in recent years. Including Hancock County, there are now 10 county school districts out of West Virginia’s 55 that are under some form of state control, whether that’s been through a complete takeover or declaration of a state of emergency, where the county and state are working together to stave off that full takeover. That means nearly one-fifth of the Mountain State’s school districts have found themselves in such peril ...

Weirton going after buildings

Editorials

Weirton officials are taking additional steps in their efforts to address blight and encourage new development in the city, although it appears everyone will not be happy with this approach. As part of its regular meeting earlier this month, City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would establish a vacant building registration program. There are those who have acquired a vast number of buildings in the community during the years, and, for whatever reason, have left them to rot and decay, with no maintenance or improvements, and with no occupancy. ...

Fighting fraud and some frozen funds

Editorials

Groundwork Ohio is among the organizations that has signed on to a letter from child care groups across the country, asking the federal Administration for Children and Families to continue funding the Child Care Development Block Grant and other resources. Though a federal judge has temporarily blocked a funding freeze to Minnesota, California, Colorado, Illinois and New York, there are still worries other states will have to defend their own child care systems and oversight. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the letter says fraud “at any level is unacceptable ...

The Trump autocracy

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: It has been oftentimes stated by experts that if our democratic form of government, which has long been the envy of nations throughout the free world, would fall that such would not be achieved as a result of foreign intervention, but would transpire as a result of inappropriate actions taken by those in power from within the United States. It appears, sadly, that current president Donald J. Trump, who continues to disrespect and reject the rule of law, as well as the functions of our co-equal branches of government, as Trump continues to, alarmingly, disrespect our ...

Guest column/Captain America certainly would be disappointed

Local Columns

We keep being told to relax. To stop overreacting. To understand that this is just politics, and politics shouldn’t come between friends and family. I think that is an interesting response to a government threatening elections, seizing foreign resources, and killing civilians at home. This is beyond simple arguments over policy, and most would agree that we are arguing over morality at this point. However, therein lies the rub. I am no longer convinced that we are arguing about morality, either. Morality went out the window years ago. What replaced it is winning. Not justice. Not ...

Guest column/Completing one year of delivering for Ohioans

Local Columns

Wednesday marked one year since I took the Oath of Office to serve as one of Ohio’s U.S. Senators after J.D. Vance left the Senate to become the Vice President of the United States. As I reflect on that milestone, I write to Ohioans today with one message: Thank you. Ohioans have consistently trusted me to serve and represent them, most recently as Lt. Governor, and it is an honor now to represent you, your family, and our shared Ohio values in Washington. On Jan. 21, 2025, I arrived without an office, a phone, or even a pencil, but I got right to work with one goal in mind: ...