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Let the People Speak

Editorials

A group of Ohio lawmakers believes public bodies within the state should be required to allow public comment before decisions are made. It may come as a surprise to you that is not already the case, but state law requires only that the public be allowed to attend and/or listen to meetings. House Bill 609 would address that barrier to civic engagement with a revision “to require a public body to allow for public commentary and testimony before taking formal action on any item.” State Reps. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, and Meredith Craig, R-Smithville, are leading the bipartisan ...

‘No Red Tape’ Is the Right Move

Editorials

“When someone asks for help, the answer shouldn’t be a stack of paperwork.” That is true in most facets of our lives, but in this case, U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., is talking about addiction treatment — and rightfully so. Those ready and willing to seek help sometimes find themselves confronted with a daunting number of hoops to jump through. But Justice and U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., have introduced the No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act. “This legislation cuts through the red tape and puts lifesaving addiction treatment where it belongs — in the hands ...

Laws Must Be Followed

Editorials

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been focused for years on improving literacy in the state; and in 2023, a law was passed to require teaching colleges and universities to align with the Science of Reading in its curricula for those who hope to become teachers. But a recent state audit shows that while most (33) have complied, five are in partial alignment and 10 are not in alignment. Among those 10 are Ohio State University and Ohio University. DeWine says the state has made “great strides” in implementing the Science of Reading in its K-12 classrooms, but that all 10 of the colleges ...

New OVGH Tower Is a Fitting Honor

Editorials

The legacy of Ohio Valley General Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center will remain a visible part of Wheeling for years to come, thanks to a slew of people. Recently, the design for a tower bearing the former hospital’s OVGH letters was unveiled to the public. The letters used to adorn the tower at the hospital, but as it was being torn down to make way for the future WVU Cancer Institute St. Joseph Regional Cancer Complex, crews carefully removed the letters and the City of Wheeling stored them for safe keeping. Now, they’re at Wheeling Park High School, where machine tool ...

Get Out and Take a Hike This New Year

Editorials

If you’ve already gotten far enough ahead of the game, it’s just about time to relax, enjoy some time with friends and family while celebrating Christmas and maybe even start making plans for New Year’s Day. West Virginia State Parks has an idea — 21 parks will host 24 First Day Hikes on Jan. 1. Tomlinson Run State Park in New Manchester is among them, with Audra, Beech Fork, Blackwater Falls, Bluestone, Cacapon, Canaan Valley Resort, Cass Scenic Railroad, Cedar Creek, Elk River Trail, Little Beaver, Lost River, North Bend, Pipestem Resort, Tu-Endie-Wei, Twin Falls Resort, ...

Good News for Nature

Editorials

Ohioans got an early Christmas gift this year, as the state Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced this week it can confirm the sighting of a fisher — the weasel-like animal, not a person in hip waders — caught on a wildlife camera in Cuyahoga County. Fishers have not been seen in Ohio since about the mid-1800s, according to the ODNR, until recently. They were run out because of unregulated harvest and loss of habitat. But this latest sighting joins 40 others in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage, Lake, Jefferson, Harrison, and ...