Breaking News

Editorials

Being a good neighbor

For five years, the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency has received a boost from one of the natural gas companies which has made its home in the Ohio Valley. Expand Energy, which once was known as Southwestern Energy, recently made a contribution of $20,000 to the county agency tasked with overseeing response to various emergency and disaster situations in the county, whether it be chemical spills, large fires, or floods. The funds can be used by the agency to purchase vehicles, such as the 2025 Ford Explorer now used by county EMA Director Greg Moore and Deputy Director Mike ...

Ohio going on the rails…eventually

It was a small thing. Just $25,000 included in this year’s state budget to let Ohioans know its elected representatives support the idea of real passenger rail transportation options for the state. The money will let the Buckeye State join the Interstate Midwest Passenger Rail Commission, according to a report by WBNS. That, in turn, will lead to conversations with Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and others. A representative of All Aboard Ohio told WBNS there is work being done on a rail line that would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. There is ...

Don’t get caught without Real ID

In less than a month, all those flying domestically will only be able to board an airplane if they have a Real ID — that gold star in the upper corner of your driver’s license — or a valid passport. It’s been 20 years since Congress passed the Real ID Act. It’s been delayed numerous times but is now set to take effect May 7. If you don’t have one, and you don’t have a valid passport, it’s simple: you won’t be able to fly. With only four weeks remaining, DMV offices are busy getting people signed up. In West Virginia, the Division of Motor Vehicles offers a couple ...

Continue the fight against opioids

A couple of members of Congress are not giving up on finding ways to fight the substance abuse epidemic. Last month, U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, and Robin Kelly, D– Ill., reintroduced the Remote Opioid Monitoring Act, which would direct the federal government to study the effectiveness of remote monitoring technology in helping health care providers track patients who have received prescriptions for opioids. “The opioid epidemic has devastated communities and families in Ohio and across the country,” said Balderson. “To combat this crisis, we must allow doctors to ...

Child care must be a forethought

Ohio lawmakers have until the end of June to pass a budget. But already, members of the House of Representatives have adopted a version that ignores initiatives proposed by other lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine to help address the child care challenges faced by many Buckeye State families. Failure to act on this front will perpetuate a vicious cycle that is hurting families and employers, according to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Groundwork Ohio, “Untapped Potential in Ohio.” In fact, it is costing approximately $5.48 ...

Time to deliver on the promises

Most of us know to brace ourselves when we read an anticipated response that begins with “after careful consideration.” That was certainly necessary for Licking County residents after Microsoft followed those words with “we will not be moving forward at this time with our plans to build data centers at the Licking County sites.” Microsoft confirmed earlier this week that it has decided against the development, proving Licking County Commission President Tim Bubb wise to have told WCMH nearly two years ago, “We’ll believe it when we see it.” To be fair, Microsoft said it ...