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Act would help working families

Editorials

Working families who are supported by federal benefits can sometimes find themselves in a difficult spot when a potential promotion or raise at work is not cause for celebration, but sparks worries about falling off the benefits cliff. Those receiving federal public assistance can see a complete loss of federal resources after even a small increase in income. But the Upward Mobility Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is meant to change that. Better still, it would help streamline some of the bureaucracy that feeds off such programs. It would create a five-year pilot ...

Legion Auxiliary event was special

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: On Dec.11, members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 33 held their annual Christmas party for our American veterans residing in our nine local nursing homes. They were served a luncheon, and they were entertained by line dancers, a group of ukulele players and the children from the Wells Academy. They sang Christmas carols, and even did a song in sign language. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus gave the children a candy cane filled with candy on their way back to school. Steubenville Police Chief Ken Anderson and many of his officers; also Chief Robert Ribar of the ...

Guest column/Why are we fracking Ohio’s only national forest?

Local Columns

The acreages that make up the Wayne National Forest in Southeastern Ohio are a patchwork of land parcels which lie in 12 Ohio counties. In the 1800s, the region was heavily logged to supply wood for 46 charcoal furnaces used for iron smelting. Farming also damaged the landscape as the remaining areas were cleared for agriculture, causing destructive soil erosion. Nature, time and help from the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s helped restore the second-growth forests we see today. Sadly, the oil and gas industry is seeking to frack parcels within the wooded areas, possibly ...

Support for those who are struggling

Editorials

Winter can be a tough time for those struggling with fragile mental health and other challenges. But for some, the struggle is more than seasonal — and can be deadly. Ohio’s Suicide Prevention Foundation notes adult men in particular experience disproportionately high suicide rates. For some counties, the need for support is even more profound. So, a two-year initiative will partner with local organizations to reduce the suicide rates for adult men in Clark, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning Marion, Montgomery, Richland and Summit counties. Projects will focus on ...

Some annual numbers

Local Columns

With the end of any year comes many annual reports. They offer an easy way for groups, organizations and government agencies to offer a glimpse into the things they were able to accomplish in the previous year. And, 2025 was no exception. Several have come into the newsroom during the past six weeks, and while each is interesting in its own right, there have been a few that have seemed to stand out. One is from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. His 2025 Year in Review includes a lot of information — his office, as the cover of the report indicates, helps “Ohioans ...

Guest column/Abundant energy key to solving electricity crisis

Local Columns

As America moves into 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing affordability crisis. While prices for some key items have mercifully held steady — or even come down — other costs such as rent, dining out, and hospital visits continue to climb unabated. U.S. electricity — the one sector that affects all consumer industries in some way—is also racing upward. America’s electricity costs have jumped 32 percent in just the past five years. That’s a major problem for our new digital economy. Why are electricity prices rising so rapidly? Soaring power demand ...