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Reminder: Seat belts save lives

Editorials

Seat belts. For the vast majority of us, putting on a seat belt when entering the car is second nature. But for some, apparently, the act remains optional — and that’s leading to fatal results. In Ohio during the Fourth of July weekend, 10 people died in car crashes, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Of those 10 fatalities, six were not wearing seat belts. The issue goes deeper. According to the Columbus Dispatch, during the Fourth of July weekend, troopers issued 2,286 seat belt and child safety seat violations. How is that possible in 2025? The problem ...

Anniversary for special document

Editorials

An important milestone of this country’s early days and values will be recognized Sunday, the 238th anniversary of the Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio — the Northwest Ordinance. There is much worth celebrating in that founding document. At the time, the authors made repeated references to religious freedoms, noting that “the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty … form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected.” Article 1 of the ordinance: “No person, ...

Your donation can make a difference

Editorials

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who are able to make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the most recent Giving USA report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3 percent increase over 2023. The donations data used for this report came before the layoff of tens of thousands of workers for non-profits for 2025 due ...

Guest column/Congress must act to protect small innovators

Local Columns

The 119th Congress is in full swing, and one priority should be reforming the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s quasi-judicial patent review board. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board — originally intended to provide a streamlined process for reviewing patents — is increasingly being utilized to harm small innovators and deter investment in critical American industries. A bipartisan bill that sought to rebalance the scales in favor of start-ups — the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act — gained traction in the last Congress, but ...

The phantom diocesan merger

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: A few months ago, there were two well-written letters written by two people well known to readers regarding the diocesan merger. As usual, they both made excellent points regarding how this “idea” has disrupted the lives of many people who value faith and our ability to have a more local investment in how we live out that faith. I have been a resident of the Tri-State Area for most of my life. I have my own personal stories, as others do too, of why our diocese, the Diocese of Steubenville, in its present identity, should remain that way. I don’t think I can ...

History in the Hills: Independence Day

Local Columns

This weekend, we celebrate Independence Day. This is one of my favorite holidays because, No. 1, it’s in the summer, and No. 2, there are fireworks, and who doesn’t love those? The real reason for the holiday is when we declared independence from England with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of that momentous event. Like most historians, I am looking forward to that holiday, especially because it’s such a huge moment in our history. I would imagine that it is similar to how the bicentennial felt 50 years ago. I love to find the ...