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Helping Workforce Training

Editorials

Disappointing as much of it is, there is some work being done in Washington, D.C., that will actually make a difference for the rest of us. Ohioans, in fact, can point to the Employer-Directed Skills Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, says he has joined the effort, which would help employees get the training they need for in-demand skills that meet workforce needs. There is also a component that would help employers find potential employees based on their participation in training programs. Efforts to cut through ...

Observe Outdoor Burning Rules

Editorials

When we skip ahead an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, that spring forward on the clocks will not be the only reminder we are moving toward brighter, warmer (Soon? We hope? Please?) weather. Forestry officials across our region are reminding us we have also entered the spring fire ban season. From March 1 through May 31 in both West Virginia and Ohio, there are prohibitions on outdoor burning. Ohio’s Division of Forestry says the ban is between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. In West Virginia, the restriction is between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. No, not even in a proper burn barrel. There are other ...

Data Center Is Reason for Some Optimism

Editorials

Washington, D.C.-based Penzance Management has unveiled plans that could mark one of the largest private investments in West Virginia history — a proposed $4 billion data center campus spanning 1.9 million square feet on 548 acres in Falling Waters. Gov. Patrick Morrisey rightly described the announcement as historic. A project of this size would represent a significant vote of confidence in the state’s broader economic trajectory. With competition for technology infrastructure fierce, simply being in the conversation speaks to the progress West Virginia has made in strengthening ...

Figaretti’s Is a True ‘America’s Classic’

Editorials

There’s a reason the classics are called the classics. They stand the test of time, becoming community pillars. That’s exactly what happened with Figaretti’s Restaurant. The staple of Ohio Valley cuisine recently was honored by the James Beard Foundation with an America’s Classics Award. Presented by the Beard Foundation since 1998, the award celebrates, according to its website, “independently owned restaurants with timeless appeal. These institutions reflect local character and cultural traditions and serve as an enduring anchor for their communities by serving delicious ...

Teaching Public Safety

Editorials

Martins Ferry Police Officer Jon Young doesn’t want the kids in his community to feel afraid of law enforcement. “When I am in a store, sometimes a parent will point to me and say to their child, ‘If you’re not good, he will arrest you.’ And they learn to be afraid of us,” Young said. “We don’t want kids to be afraid of us. We want them to know that cops are here to help.” So Young has put together a great program to help children learn not just about the police department, but other public safety organizations as well. He has established the Martins Ferry Junior ...

Kudos for Funding West Virginia EMS Workers

Editorials

There is good reason House Bill 5168 passed out of the House of Delegates without a single vote against on Monday. It is one of the very few, genuine no-brainers to come before lawmakers in recent years. HB 5168 would establish a permanent funding stream for EMS workers across the state — $12 million annually from lottery net profits. According to House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood, it brings EMS funding in line with a formula used to support fire departments. The bill mandates the first $1 million of the $6 million Salary Enhancement, Crisis Response, and Mental ...