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Guest column/Congress must act to protect small innovators

Local Columns

The 119th Congress is in full swing, and one priority should be reforming the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s quasi-judicial patent review board. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board — originally intended to provide a streamlined process for reviewing patents — is increasingly being utilized to harm small innovators and deter investment in critical American industries. A bipartisan bill that sought to rebalance the scales in favor of start-ups — the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act — gained traction in the last Congress, but ...

The phantom diocesan merger

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: A few months ago, there were two well-written letters written by two people well known to readers regarding the diocesan merger. As usual, they both made excellent points regarding how this “idea” has disrupted the lives of many people who value faith and our ability to have a more local investment in how we live out that faith. I have been a resident of the Tri-State Area for most of my life. I have my own personal stories, as others do too, of why our diocese, the Diocese of Steubenville, in its present identity, should remain that way. I don’t think I can ...

History in the Hills: Independence Day

Local Columns

This weekend, we celebrate Independence Day. This is one of my favorite holidays because, No. 1, it’s in the summer, and No. 2, there are fireworks, and who doesn’t love those? The real reason for the holiday is when we declared independence from England with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of that momentous event. Like most historians, I am looking forward to that holiday, especially because it’s such a huge moment in our history. I would imagine that it is similar to how the bicentennial felt 50 years ago. I love to find the ...

Put safety first when you swim

Editorials

Swimming season is here, and the sounds of people enjoying the water are a sure sign that the summer is really heating up. But the fun of playing in the water can quickly turn tragic. It’s a reality that hit home on Monday, when 13-year-old Reese Hanshaw of Burgettstown lost her life after drowning while swimming in the Ohio River near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Almost 400 children younger than age 5 drown every year in swimming pool accidents across the country, and more than 3,200 go to a hospital emergency room after a near drowning, statistics show. A child can drown in ...

Some of life’s little moments we all seem to share

Local Columns

Life often gives us little moments. Moments when we experience something ... unique, something out of the ordinary. Something that makes us wonder if we are cursed or simply have a run of bad luck. And it makes us ask ourself if there is anybody else out there who has ever had these unfortunate instances happen to them. Times when we think, this kind of thing can’t possibly just be happening to me, can it? Now, I’m not referring to moments when we play the lottery and come away with only a losing ticket to show for our dollar. Nor am I talking about being late for work ...

Lots of things to do

Local Columns

There’s been some talk during the past several months that there are not a lot activities for area residents to participate in. If you take a good look around, you’ll find that’s far from the case. Whether you like to enjoy live music in an outdoor venue surrounded by your friends and family, enjoy learning more about the history of the Tri-State Area or want to partake in some classic summer treats, there’s plenty to do across the region. Several of the area’s major events already have taken place. It’s a list that includes Frontier Days at Historic Fort Steuben, ...