Editorials

Welcome To New American Citizens

This past Friday, the Ohio Valley bid welcome to some of its newest American citizens. Thirty-six people from 23 different home countries around the globe took the Oath of Allegiance in United States District Court in Wheeling. The pathway to citizenship is neither short nor simple. It is an involved process. Those who complete it show their dedication to becoming a part of the nation’s fabric. Many of these folks have already lived here for a while, contributing to the betterment of their communities. Former U.S. Congressman David McKinley, who spoke at the naturalization ...

Envelope Initiative Great

The state of Ohio has a fantastic program that allows for better and more effective experiences between law enforcement and those with developmental disabilities during traffic stops and emergencies. The state’s Blue Envelope initiative promotes both safety and understanding. The Blue Envelopes provide quick clear details about the driver or passenger’s needs. The envelopes include information about their disability, communication preferences, or accommodations. It also contains their driver’s license, registration, and insurance information. A discreet decal on the back ...

Make College Costs More Manageable

Though a well-trained, well-educated and skilled workforce is more important than ever, students seeking a higher education to prepare them for their careers are having a harder time being able to afford it. Sure, many people still believe having a college degree will translate to higher earnings, but students are increasingly challenged to decide whether the expense of that education (or the long-term debt they may incur) is worth the risk. According to WalletHub, the cost of attending a four-year public college has risen by an average of 30% over the past 20 years. And that cost ...

Helping Children Find Stable Places To Live

As the weather gets colder and snow mixes with the drifting leaves, most of us are grateful for the knowledge that a cozy home awaits us at the end of a long day. But thousands of West Virginians are experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness — and according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, their number is growing. Meanwhile, a SchoolHouse Connection report for 2024-25 estimated more than 15,000 students do not have a stable place to sleep — and those are just the ones that have come to the attention of the public school ...

John Larch a Quiet Hero in the Ohio Valley

Every community has them: the people that work behind the scenes, quietly moving mountains without ever asking for recognition. They are the ones who volunteer after work, who notice what’s missing and decide to fix it, who serve others not because they want to be seen — but because they believe it’s the right thing to do. One of those people is John Larch. Larch never served in the military, and he is the first to deflect credit for Wheeling’s Military Banner Program. Ask him about it, and he’ll point to Mayor Dennis Magruder, to the city’s Operations department, to the ...

Safeguard Freedoms and Focus on Drug Treatment

Brooke County officials find themselves at a crossroads familiar to many communities across West Virginia — deciding how to spend money secured through settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The intention behind those funds was clear: to help repair the devastation the opioid epidemic has wrought on our region and its families, its workforce, and its way of life. Yet, as discussions late last month before the Brooke County Commission reveal, the temptation to divert those treatment and recovery dollars toward law enforcement remains strong. The Brooke County ...