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‘Sammy’s Law’ Important

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., has been working on ways to better protect kids online by giving parents the right to receive safety notifications through Federal Trade Commission-regulated third-party providers. Versions of Sammy’s Law, introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, are meant to help alert parents when their children are taking part in potentially risky interactions. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has joined Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Katie Britt, R-Ala.; along with U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Buddy ...

Central Boys Hoops Were Simply Perfect

Not only did the Wheeling Central boys basketball team add to its rich history with another state championship, it was able to do something this past weekend that it hadn’t done since the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” topped the charts. The Maroon Knights went wire to wire with their winning, finishing with the program’s first undefeated season since 1963. The players’ parents weren’t around to see that one. Heck, some of their grandparents probably weren’t, either. That capped an extra-special season for Central, the team’s second consecutive state title and one that ...

Letting All Enjoy Movies

Easterseals Rehabilitation Center has long been a champion of inclusion in the Ohio Valley, and showed that again with its latest event. The organization once again hosted its fourth a “sensory-friendly” matinee for children and their families at Towngate Theater. “It’s a way for people who maybe wouldn’t feel comfortable in a theater setting or cinema setting like up at The Highlands, they can come here. There’s no expectation for kids to sit still and be quiet,” Easterseals marketing director Betsy Bethel-McFarland said. Multiple accommodations are made so ...

‘Raylee’s Law’ Must Return Next Year

While “Raylee’s Law” ­— which protects children from abuse ­—shamefully died on the West Virginia House of Delegates floor on the last night of session, it’s good to see some local legislators vowing that it won’t be the last the bill is heard of in Charleston. The bill stops children suspected of being abused at home from being removed from public school and homeschooled. By the time the House took up the bill and passed it, the state Senate had already adjourned for the year. That led to some fiery responses from Northern Panhandle legislators, namely Del. Shawn ...

Fix Economic Insecurity

Buckeye State residents don’t have to be reminded, but research from the Urban Institute might help elected officials and policymakers remember a significant number of their constituents are struggling with economic insecurity. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the institute updated its 2023 research with help from U.S. Census Bureau data to look at “income fragility,” and other factors here. For example, the cost of average rent, groceries and daycare for two in Ohio is more than $55,000 per year. That means even those who aren’t sitting at or below the ...

Form Energy Still Keeping Promises

Remember when there were detractors in high places of Form Energy’s Factory 1 in Weirton? Remember when there was a movement in the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 — one that ultimately failed — to claw back $105 million in appropriations for the factory in that year’s state budget? What do they think now, that Form Energy just signed its first international agreement? Fittingly on St. Patrick’s Day, Form announced it has signed an agreement with FuturEnergy Ireland to deploy a 10-megawatt, 1,000-megawatt-hour iron-air battery system in the northwest of Ireland. The ...