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If you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them

Local Columns

There are some days when the world feels unbearably heavy, days when the headlines seem to blur together and the noise of everyday life makes it hard to hear anything at all. And then, in those rare, quiet moments, the ones where we finally sit still long enough to feel something … a single sentence can change everything — change our perspective on how we see the world. For me, it was the Dalai Lama’s gentle reminder, “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Such simple words, and such a simple ...

Guest column/Beware of naive educators who promote socialism

Local Columns

First of all, you must understand that the vast majority of educators at all levels do not have a clue as to what it is like working in the real world. Once they acquire tenure, K-12 teachers and higher education professionals have a job for life unless they do something really stupid. In the real world of business, one can be fired at a moment’s notice. I’m reminded of a teaching colleague (yes, I was an educator) who took a year’s leave-of-absence. He told us, “Now I’m going out to work in the real world.” It was sort of a put down and quite condescending to the rest ...

West program lets memory live

Editorials

Lee West is remembered as well-liked 15-year-old who had a bright future ahead of him, a young man who was willing to share his enthusiasm for life and all of its potential with everyone in the community. An honors student and a multi-sport athlete at Steubenville High School, his life was cut short in a fatal house fire on Jan. 31, 2012. West carried with him a fondness for everyone who helped him, and that spirit has been carried forward by his mother, Cookie West, who has joined with family members and friends to hold the Lee Alexander West Memorial and Awards Service. This ...

Season nears its end

Local Columns

It’s hard to believe, but the football season will officially come to an end sometime between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday night, when the clock finally runs out on Super Bowl LX. And, even though the Steelers saw their season come to an end Jan. 12 with a 30-6 loss to Houston in the wild card round of the National Football League playoffs, fans across the Tri-State Area, the country and the world, for that matter, will be watching when New England and Seattle face off in Levi’s Stadium. That’s because, even though following the Steelers during the past several years has rarely ...

Snow removal concerns

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I saw reports about Tuesday’s Steubenville City Council meeting regarding citizens complaining of snow removal, or lack thereof, from sidewalks in the downtown and the city manager’s comments that snow removal from sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner. That is true, but the businesses still open downtown did shovel the snow. The problem is the number of vacant buildings where there is no one to shovel. Secondly, where do you put the snow that is shoveled? There is only so much that can be stacked against a building and shoveling it back into the ...

Dangers of AI and self-harm

Editorials

Dangers of AI and self-harm (This item discusses suicide and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.) Ohio House Bill 524 aims to address a problem few could have imagined a decade or two ago: Artificial intelligence chatbots encouraging people to harm themselves or others. State Rep. Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, is lead sponsor on the bipartisan bill, which would allow for imposing penalties for AI models suggesting harming self or others. It now sits in the House Technology and ...