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Are you nice?

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: How pleasant it is to be with nice people. A bevy of matronly women gushing over decorations on a well-lit Christmas tree is certainly nice. What’s even nicer are the same women making a fuss over a baby smiling his gummy, toothless smile while gurgling with delight, waving his little arms and kicking his chubby legs. Some things are not nice at all. In attendance at a church service were two young men listening to a solo sung by a portly gentleman who’d most willingly volunteered to sing when the pastor asked if anyone should like to sing a solo. There ...

Guest column/A college education vs. workplace training

Local Columns

Is a college education the only answer to a bright future? I’m beginning to wonder if college is always the right path for one to take. And so should all high school graduates who are not sure what their goals are in life. Let’s take a look at the numbers. The average cost for a four-year college degree that includes tuition, housing, parking, books and various fees can cost as much as $120,000-plus for a bachelor’s degree, $70.000-plus for a master’s degree and $150,000.00-plus for a PhD or EdD. (Source: SoFi Loan Financing.com) That’s a grand total of $340,000-plus ...

FirstEnergy errors remain troubling

Editorials

Details continue to be revealed regarding FirstEnergy’s behavior while it was involved in financing a $61 million bribery scheme, according to a report by the Energy and Policy Institute. Evidence suggests FirstEnergy was classifying lobbying and donations as “construction expenses” while it was also funding what became a bribery scandal. However, the Ohio Capital Journal says the report does not determine whether any of that misclassified money was being used to pay for bribes. However, they were labeled, $108 million in such errors have been found. Now, FirstEnergy has the ...

Energy permitting in Ohio just a start

Editorials

Those who want a clear picture of the challenges facing Ohio’s economy would do well to take a look at the state Chamber of Commerce’s “Energy Permitting in Ohio: A Process Analysis,” which takes a look at just one industry, but reveals some larger truths. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation released the study at a policy forum Monday, where a number of stakeholders were discussing how to modernize the state’s energy permitting system and support growing demand. “Ohio is in a period of unprecedented opportunity, but our energy capacity has to keep pace,” ...

DeWine makes right call on child labor

Editorials

Thank goodness common sense prevailed in Columbus last week, as Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have allowed Ohio children ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. year-round. State Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, had introduced both Senate Bill 50 to alter allowable work hours for minors and Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, which asked Congress to change the Fair Labor Standards Act to accommodate Ohio lawmakers’ desire to let 14- and 15-year-olds work longer. But, “I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night,” ...

Communication must be improved

Editorials

It has been quite some time since a superload for the natural gas industry has made its way through any of the communities in the Tri-State Area. So, when a hauler carrying one of these massive pieces of equipment began making its way along some of Weirton’s main thoroughfares last Thursday, it was a surprise to the motoring public. As it turns out, it also was a surprise to municipal officials, including the mayor, city manager and chief of police, who said they received no prior information on the first of a series of such transports. Members of the media received no heads ...