Opinion

Ross Gallabrese: Election season gets serious

In case you haven't noticed, we are heading into the back stretch of the mid-term, election cycle. We're down to a month before Election Day, which falls on Nov. 3. There aren't many local races on this fall's ballot. The only contested race, in fact, is for the Jan. 1 Jefferson County commissioner seat between incumbent Republican Eric Timmons and Democrat Brent Nemeth. All of the other races at the county level will be uncontested. That doesn't mean area residents won't have things to vote on. There are 18 local issues on the ballot, a few of which will affect every county ...

Ross Gallabrese: Bridging the gap

The message Eric Oberg shared in Steubenville Tuesday evening was very straightforward while discussing the Great American Rail-Trail. "Every single foot of all of those trails was extremely hard, and it took dedicated people in these communities, big cities, small towns and very rural landscapes in between those places. None of it was easy, but it's all worth it. The first big hurdle that it has, if you start on the east side of the country, is that wide piece of water. "We've got to get people across that," he added. "All of those people are riding bikes or walking. Between ...

Vivek Ramaswamy: East Palestine Deserves The Truth — I'll Fight To Bring It To Light

It’s been over three years since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, and officials burned vinyl chloride in plumes over a village of fewer than 5,000 people. In February 2023, this community on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border was the subject of international news and thrust to ...

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Ross Gallabrese: Growth in the area

If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of development happening in our area. Expansion at Franciscan Square is continuing, with five new restaurants — Scooter's Coffee, Auntie Anne's, Jamba, Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Cinnabon — joining the Harp and Habbit, Rubi's Pizza and Grill and Jimmy John's. That makes the complex on University Boulevard a convenient place to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a quick snack. A little bit farther down the hill, the Franciscan University of Steubenville's latest project is well under way. Sitting across from Franciscan Square, the facility is ...

Ross Gallabrese: Living united

For many years now, the United Way of Jefferson County has opened its annual campaign with an event that encourages area residents to come together and help the organizations that help others across the community. It's been known by a couple of names — it started as the Day of Caring and has now grown into a Day of Action. Whatever it has been called, it's always held a special place on the organization's calendar. This year was no different. Volunteers, board members and other associated with the United Way and its member agencies gathered on Aug. 27 in Hellenic Hall at the Holy ...