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The Action Of Inaction

Local Columns

We can now put a bow on the now-completed 2026 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature now that Gov. Patrick Morrisey has acted on most of the 306 bills passed during the 60-day time period between Jan. 14 and March 14. Morrisey had 15 days, not counting Sundays, following the sine die adjournment of the Legislature at midnight March 14 to decide to sign bills, veto bills or let bills go into law without his signature. And that is exactly what he did with 10 bills, choosing not to sign or veto those bills. The question some have is why? You can make some assumptions ...

On Lilies, Empty Tombs And Faith This Easter

Local Columns

Most authorities agree that a missionary, Mr. Roberts, first introduced the lovely Bermuda Easter lily, which so many of us enjoy today. Many of the Easter lilies which symbolize the Resurrection in churches everywhere are Bermuda lilies. Thousands and thousands of lily bulbs and stems are exported from Bermuda each year. They were first introduced to Bermuda about 1850 when Mr. Roberts, whose ministry coincides with that date, was returning home from Japan. The lily is a native of Japan—the Ryukyu Islands to be exact, a chain of islands stretching from the south of Japan to ...

Sounding Alarm Over Area’s Population Loss

Editorials

The population numbers for our region of West Virginia contained in the recent U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates release are, frankly, not surprising. The Northern Panhandle has been losing population for years. The estimates, based on county populations as of July 1, 2025, confirm the decades-long trend of people leaving our area. Consider this: there are 7,300 fewer people in the Northern Panhandle than on July 1, 2020. A six-county region that in 1970 had 201,940 residents today has 140,138. That loss — 61,802 people — is roughly equivalent to the current ...

Pats on the Back

Editorials

- To all of Wheeling’s first responders who were recognized during Thursday’s ceremony at WesBanco Arena. Your service makes all of us safer. Thank you for your work. - To everyone, especially new sponsor The Health Plan, who have stepped up to support Bethlehem Apostolic Temple’s annual Easter giveaway. You’ll be making the holiday happier for a lot of families. - To Switzerland of Ohio school bus driver Paul Dietrich, who was recently surprised at Monroe Central High School with a 90th birthday celebration. Keep doing what you love, sir. - To the crew of the Artemis II. ...

Watch Out For Squatters

Editorials

A recent house fire in the Wolfhurst neighborhood in Belmont County has shined more light onto a concerning issue in the Ohio Valley. The house on Beal Street where the fire happened last week allegedly was occupied by squatters. “It’s not a registered occupied house, but people are living there and it’s questionable how they got there,” Wolfhurst Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Roberts said. Beal Street resident Bethany Wallace told our reporter that she had attended several Bridgeport Village Council meetings to discuss those alleged squatters, but lamented ...

The Health Plan Steps Up To Help

Editorials

The Ohio Valley once again showed this week that, when a neighbor is in need, we roll up our sleeves and help. Bishop Darrell Cummings, lead pastor of Wheeling’s Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, recently let it be known that he had lost the lead sponsor for his annual Easter giveaway. It’s a very important event, helping struggling community members provide a full Easter meal for their families, while offering nice Easter clothes for children. He said he would be dipping into the church’s own funds and using credit to pay for the items. But employees at The Health Plan, after ...