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Guest Opinion: October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Local Columns

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month — a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our digital lives. In an era where nearly every aspect of our personal, professional, and civic life is connected to the internet, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it’s a personal responsibility. From phishing scams and ransomware attacks to identity theft and data breaches, cyber threats are growing in both frequency and sophistication. The good news? There are simple, proactive steps every person can take to protect themselves, their families, and ...

Taking the bad with the good

Editorials

If the folks in Charleston want to take credit for positive reports from ratings agencies such as S&P Global, they’d better be ready to be held accountable for the negatives. While reminding elected officials they must be ready to make corresponding adjustments if there are negative revenue effects from Medicaid changes, S&P Global Ratings went on to express great concern over the sustained loss of population over the past 75 years. Combine our hemorrhaging of people with the fact that a high percentage of those who DO stay are living below the poverty line, and/or growing older ...

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 ...