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Opinion

It’s Time for a New Direction in Wheeling

Editorials

A $2 weekly user fee. Water and sewer rates increasing. Power rates that have increased about 50%, on average, over the past two decades. The cost of living in Wheeling, while still much lower than many other parts of West Virginia and across the nation, is now on the rise. And if the city, Ohio County and the surrounding region can’t find a way to attract new residents here — and soon — that burden only will increase and lead to additional issues for residents. A shrinking population, quite simply, leads to fewer residents shouldering more of the burden for essential government ...

Jefferson County Library Levy Deserves Support

Letters to the Editor

Editor, News-Register: I love libraries, especially our local Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. When I talk to different people in the area, I am heartened by how many also have an appreciation of how lucky we are to have seven branches (soon to be eight) and a bookmobile serving our community. On the other hand, I am often dismayed at how many people are unfamiliar with all of the ways that the library can enhance their lives. Oh, sure, everyone knows that you can check out books, movies and music CDs. Many people know that you can also access online resources like ...

Outlining County’s Future

Editorials

One of the more interesting points to come out of this past week’s Economic Outlook Conference in Wheeling was this: Ohio County has the highest per-capita income in West Virginia. This information, shared by businessman David H. McKinley and based on economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is a strong indicator of the county’s overall economic health. It is a good reminder that our region has many of the pieces necessary for growth and just needs that spark to unlock its true potential. “And the reality is 2025-26 looks even better than 2024-25,” McKinley ...

A Path To Solve West Virginia’s Water Problems

Local Columns

For many years, numerous water systems in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle have been in distress. Whether it’s from industrial pollution, lack of adequate supply or simply limited infrastructure investment, many communities have been impacted and left with no or limited access to this vital resource we call water. I grew up in the Ohio River Valley where I graduated from Paden City High School, West Liberty State College and West Virginia University. I still have family and friends who are part of the region. It’s hard to witness what many residents have had to endure when it ...

Musings on Loss of City’s Winter Viennese Ball

Letters to the Editor

Editor, News-Register: The announcement of the cancellation of the Wheeling Winter Viennese Ball is met with great disappointment among many. Sometimes, the ball goers embraced a winter night filled with crisp, cold, biting north winds and fresh snowfall. A Winter Wonderland: a true Vienna winter atmosphere. The decorated Glessner Auditorium red carpet world, the scent of beautiful fresh cut flowers that took the onlookers dressed to the nines to the magical time of the House of Strauss, as the young cotillion members who had spent countless hours in organized workshops and dance ...

WVU Must Ensure It Is a Good Investment

Editorials

West Virginia University President Michael Benson had a lot of big ideas in his first State of the University address this week. They come as he is in the middle of an effort to visit every county in the state — an important attempt to truly understand his new home and the state his university serves. Sure, it’s nice to learn the holiday lighting party will return to Woodburn Hall this year, but it is also encouraging to hear Benson has a realistic understanding of the challenges faced by the university, and the need to tackle them — with help from those who responded to the ...