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Weld commended for taking a stand

State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, didn’t mince words March 24 when his colleagues voted to try to wrest more control of local decision-making from municipalities across the state. “This is dumb,” he said. “ … Where is this a problem that we have to address? I haven’t heard of any.” That’s because there are none. But some lawmakers are so bothered that cities operating under West Virginia’s Municipal Home Rule Program are not entirely under state government’s thumb that they voted in favor of Senate Bill 579. The bill would amend state code to make all municipal ...

School bill seems a bit misguided

Ohio Sen. Andrew Brenner is again pitching an idea that seems to have zero support in Columbus. Earlier this month, he spoke in support of Ohio Senate Bill 127, which would automatically close low-performing public schools. Brenner, R-Delaware, told the state Senate Education Committee, “It is my hope that this bill will help to standardize the law surrounding school closures for public and community schools and help ensure that each student in Ohio receives the best education possible,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal. For Brenner’s purposes, a low-performing school is ...

Education vouchers are raising concerns

As Ohio lawmakers consider expanding funding for education vouchers, it appears as though the programs may have veered off course from their original intended purpose. According to a report by WCMH-TV in Columbus, data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows nearly 90 percent of the students enrolled in the state’s voucher program are not low-income qualified. When EdChoice was established, the whole idea was to broaden educational opportunities for low-income students who were not receiving the education they needed in struggling districts. Now, with the ...

Spread of measles can be prevented

Those wondering about the necessity of strong vaccine requirements should take a look at news out of Ashtabula County that this year’s first case of measles has been reported in Ohio. “The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.” The Ashtabula County case was an adult — an unvaccinated man who ...

Baseball’s back — enjoy the games

There’s a certain magic about the start of the baseball season. It’s fitting that the game returns in the spring, the season of beginnings. It’s a time for optimism, as fans in cities across the United States and Canada are certain that their team will get to the playoffs, and even the World Series. Baseball is a game that brings people together. It offers the chance for a family to enjoy a day at the ballpark. It provides the opportunity for friends and neighbors to spend a warm summer evening on the deck, enjoying each other’s company while listening to or watching a game. ...

Remember to help those who help

When the Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley needs our help, it is often in the form of blood donations and filling volunteer opportunities. But Wednesday is Red Cross Giving Day — a chance for us to support this vital organization with financial donations, too. “This year’s disasters have set a whirlwind pace, displacing thousands of people from their homes across the country and disrupting the nation’s blood supply for patients,” said Erica Mani, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region. “As we enter spring disaster season, families are ...