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Safeguard freedoms, focus on treatment

Editorials

Brooke County officials find themselves at a crossroads familiar to many communities across West Virginia — deciding how to spend money secured through settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The intention behind those funds was clear: To help repair the devastation the opioid epidemic has wrought on our region and its families, its workforce and its way of life. Yet, as discussions late last month before the Brooke County Commission reveal, the temptation to divert those treatment and recovery dollars toward law enforcement remains strong. The Brooke County ...

Smokeout sends a clear message

Editorials

Today is a good day to clear the air. It’s the annual Great American Smokeout — marked on the third Thursday in November — when smokers will make the commitment to stop smoking for the day. The goal is to convince smokers that if they can quit for 24 hours, they can quit for good. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with Day 1, literature from the American Cancer Society reminds. It’s a great first step to stopping a bad habit that can lead to dire consequences. Like with most efforts, there is good news and bad news to report. According to the American ...

Lincoln’s words remain powerful

Editorials

The Civil War was far from over on Nov. 19, 1863, when the dedication ceremonies were held for the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Politicians and dignitaries had gathered in the small Pennsylvania town to remember the battle of July 1-3 of that year in which Union forces had defeated Confederate armies in what proved to be a major turning point in the war. The dedication came more than a month after the reburial of Union soldiers from their battlefield graves had started on Oct. 17. The featured presentation was supposed to be made by Edward Everett, a prominent ...

Education costs are disturbing

Editorials

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the Washington, D.C.-based personal financial website, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average ...

An easy way to check out new map

Editorials

Given the degree to which so many in Washington, D.C., have shown us their reluctance to do their jobs — or remember for whom they work — lately, it is likely the 2026 elections will be a time for voters to take action. In Ohio, change is imminent, as redrawn congressional districts will mean upheaval for lawmakers and those heading to the polls. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is trying to get out ahead of any confusion by updating the office’s Find My District tool. The hope is voters will not be caught off guard just as they are looking to cast their ballots in the ...

Values still important

Local Columns

Whether you live in the Tri-State Area, have spent any amount of time here or live somewhere else but remember it as home, you come to realize there’s a special bond that holds our community together. There were several examples offered when the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce held its 117th-annual Meeting and Awards Banquet Oct. 29. The evening was built around the theme of People, Places and Progress of Jefferson County. It’s a business meeting — a chance for the chamber to offer details about the past year and a networking opportunity — but it also serves as a ...