Breaking News

Opinion

Solving the credit crisis

Editorials

For some, use of credit cards is a carefully planned luxury — perhaps used to ensure the accumulation of lots of airline or hotel points — for purchases that can be paid off within a month or two. But for Tri-State Area residents between the ages of 18 and 34, a recent analysis of Federal Reserve data shows the use of credit cards feels like a necessity — and one that is causing them to rack up higher-than-average levels of debt. Along with those high levels of debt come high levels of delinquency, according to reports on the data by the Ohio Capital Journal and Upgraded Points, ...

Take in the scenery of Almost Heaven

Editorials

A new swing may seem a small addition to a town. But in Wellsburg, the installation of the “Almost Heaven” swing represents something much bigger — pride, partnership and opportunity. Wellsburg’s new swing is part of a statewide initiative to place handcrafted wooden swings at scenic destinations. Each is designed to encourage visitors to stop, enjoy the view and share their experiences. Wellsburg’s location — framed by the Ohio River and the historic downtown — provides a serene setting that tells the town’s story in a single snapshot. This is the sixth swing to be ...

Make a difference in food insecurity fight

Editorials

Food insecurity — and outright hunger — are not new problems for families in Appalachia. But inflation, continued economic challenges and changes in (or elimination of) state and federal supports mean right now the danger is significant. An average of 13% of families in this part of the country receive food stamp benefits. For families with children under age 18, the average rate is 26%. In West Virginia, nearly 16% of the state’s population — more than 277,000 people — participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; in Ohio, approximately 12% of the ...

Driving safe at any age

Editorials

Every once in a while, politicians will float the question of whether drivers should have to retake their tests as a requirement for license renewal after a certain age. With age comes the possibility of reduced vision, perhaps hearing loss, reduced reflexes and other changes we all laugh about as a fact of life until someone mentions them in the context of affecting a person’s ability to drive safely. Then pride kicks in. Well, pride and a little stubbornness as most of us bristle at the idea of the government telling us it’s possible we are less able to do something we’ve done ...

Let Babydog eat cake while D.C. idles

Local Columns

You’d be forgiven if you were to think that West Virginia only has one U.S. senator instead of two. Because based on appearances, Sen. Jim Justice appears to be doing the bare minimum. Sure, Justice is casting votes. If he has missed any, I’m unaware. The same goes for committee meetings. Justice is attending meetings, casting votes and sometimes making speeches, though many times those speeches have little to do with whatever the committee is discussing that day. But is doing the bare minimum enough? One of my favorite movies is “Office Space.” In one scene, a server played ...

What I’ve leaned in my 53 ... no, 54 years

Local Columns

So, today is my birthday. I know the date at the top of the page says it is Sunday. However, the newspaper comes out on Saturday ... my birthday. Oct. 18. If you’d have asked me long ago if I ever thought I would make it to 54, I probably would have responded, “no.” That number just seemed so far away. I couldn’t have envisioned myself being that age. Could any of us? I blinked. And now ... almost double nickels. You know, when my grandparents were double nickels, they looked a lot different than people today look when they are 55. Why is that? Their ...