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Bill will help close loophole

Technology can be a wonderful thing. It also can be horrifying, particularly when the law does not keep up with innovations. Ohio lawmakers seem to be working to address one of those shortfalls, as the state House of Representatives just passed state Senate Bill 100, which makes it a crime to put or install a tracking device on someone else’s property without their consent. Seems like common sense, doesn’t it? But until the measure is signed into law, use of, for example, an Apple AirTag to aid in stalking a victim is not in and of itself a crime. According to a report by the ...

Region ranks well in caring for elderly

It’s easy to pick out areas in which we wish Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania were doing better for residents. The list is long and varied. But in one category, all three states are doing quite well. In WalletHub’s list of States With the Best Elder-Abuse Protections, the Buckeye State is fourth in the country, the Mountain State is ninth and the Keystone State is 15th. That’s not a bad showing. Given the age of the population across the Tri-State Area, those are important protections. Ohio’s 32nd ranking for prevalence (share of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and ...

Need is great around our area

Life is getting busy now, with the end of the gift-giving season staring us all in the face. We’ve started to get wrapped up in Christmas, from shopping to family get-togethers and other events that consume so much of our thoughts and time. But we ask again that you don’t let the hustle and bustle become overwhelming and take over this year. Instead, take a moment or two to reflect. Look at your family and friends, neighbors or even the average passerby. Some might be struggling through unemployment and could be finding it difficult to take care of their basic necessities. ...

Offering a safe place for babies

In a state where so many political figures make a big show about how much they care about babies, some communities are walking the walk and providing an important option for desperate parents with nowhere else to turn. Last year, Lebanon installed a Safe Haven Baby Box at one of its fire stations. At the time, it was the 10th such box to be installed in Ohio. On Dec. 2, it was used for the first time. According to a press release from the Lebanon Police Department, the city’s communications center received an alarm at 3:34 p.m. from the newborn safety incubator. When police ...

Park investment a plus in Weirton

In one of the final acts of the current administration, Weirton City Council on Monday approved an allotment of $350,000 to put toward completion of a new restroom facility at Marland Heights Park, with options to fund improvements at the Brookline Street playground and possibly some other projects if any money is remaining. While it is a far cry from addressing every need the Weirton Park Board has cited in recent years, it will, at least, address a major one which we hope will serve as a jumping-off point for the next administration. The Margaret Manson Weir Pool was demolished ...

What happened to sportsmanship?

Now that the dust has settled, responsible adults have a duty to look back on what we witnessed during college football’s rivalry week and understand it was all part of a larger and very disturbing trend that needs to be reversed. The Atlantic Coast Conference fined four of its schools — North Carolina State, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech for in-game scuffles. But those didn’t top what happened Nov. 30 after Michigan beat Ohio State in Ohio Stadium and violence broke out midfield to the degree that pepper spray was employed, one police officer suffered a head ...