Chek, Jones outline priorities in Hancock Co. Commission race

April 23, 2026

NEW CUMBERLAND — Republican voters in Hancock County will have a choice for county commissioner when they cast their ballots in the May 12 primary election. Incumbent Eron Chek is being challenged by Ronnie Jones for their party's nomination. The winner of the primary will advance to face Democrat Brianne Bates in the Nov. 3 general election. Bates is unopposed in the race for her party's nomination. Chek, who is serving in the last year of her first four-year term as a commissioner, said maintaining budget stability is a core priority. For decades, she explained, budgeting has been ...

Chemical leak at West Virginia plant kills 2 people and sends 19 to hospital, officials say

April 23, 2026

INSTITUTE, W.Va. — A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business on Wednesday killed two people and sent 19 others to the hospital, including one in critical condition, authorities said. The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were preparing to ...

Weirton Bridge project

April 23, 2026

Craig Howell Crews from Kokosing Construction Co. began work, Monday, on a project to replace the Weirton Steel Overhead Bridge, which carries a portion of state Route 2 over property once home to the former steel manufacturer. The project, organized under the direction of the West Virginia ...

Daily Happenings

April 23, 2026

Police Beat STEUBENVILLE POLICE Parking problems: Two men in the 1100 block of Arlington Road (rear) were arguing Tuesday about whether there was room for a vehicle to get through. A man loading his truck said he thought he had parked it so the caller could get past, but they ended up arguing and claimed the caller made an obscene gesture in front of his children. The caller said the man frequently blocks the roadway with his vehicle and denied inappropriate behavior, claiming the other man’s children have made obscene gestures at him and cut in front of his car on their ...

City asks Ohio EPA to lower water plant classification

April 22, 2026

STEUBENVILLE — City officials are hoping to get the Ohio EPA to reconsider Steubenville’s Class IV water plant operator licensing requirement. City Manager Mike Johnson said Tuesday they’ve begun the process “to have our water plant reclassified as a Class III plant.” “I believe it is vital to be considered a Class III plant to ensure we can retain qualified operators to run (it),” he said. “It is also a matter of fairness, as Steubenville should not be treated like Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland when it comes to plant classification.” In Ohio, surface water ...

School districts visit Edison to view CTE programs

April 22, 2026

RICHMOND - Edison Jr./Sr. High School’s career-technical education (CTE) programs have evolved to give students more exposure to opportunities, and representatives from regional school districts got a close look during a visit to the campus on April 15. Officials from Delaware County ...