Editorials

Charitable Giving Even More Crucial

Repeated reminders of our need to take care of one another have often come with pleas from vital non-profits for support over the past few years. Charitable giving is a priority for many who are able to make it part of their budget — and the number of people who share that priority appears to be growing. According to the most recent “Giving USA” report, charities received approximately $592.5 billion in donations in 2024 — a 3.3% increase over 2023. The donations data used for this report came before the layoff of tens of thousands of workers for non-profits for 2025 due to ...

Ohio’s Redistricting Problem

Ohio’s Redistricting Commission is, again, gearing up to redraw the state’s congressional map — ahead of the 2026 elections; and meant to stand for the next three elections. Voters already voiced their preference against one proposed redistricting reform measure last year. Gov. Mike DeWine’s idea for a different model has also been ignored. And so we are back where we started — recall that the redistricting commission essentially refused to do its job last time it was asked, caring little for the obviousness of their intent. First, of course, the Republican supermajority in ...

Economic Development Position Is a Must for Wheeling

It is good to see that the City of Wheeling understands and acknowledges the importance of solidifying the city’s economic future, as members of council and city staff agreed that an economic development specialist is a necessary position within the city offices. “Just based on everything that’s going on — 1400 block of Market Street, Market Street Parking Structure, WVU Cancer Center project and the property across the street from it, as well as general economic development and promotion of the city — I think having that position will be very beneficial,” Wheeling City ...

Intel’s Unmet Promises

It gets a little harder each time to match state officials’ public optimism that Intel will live up to all its promises to Ohioans, when the news is that — again — the company is letting off the gas. In fact, last week Intel said it will “further slow” the pace of construction on a microchip facility that was supposed to be up and running THIS year. The last time we got such news, The Columbus Dispatch reported Intel was delaying its opening to at least 2030 or 2031. It is not clear now how much further that date might be pushed. “While the pace of construction in Ohio ...

Don’t Wait To Get Children Vaccinated

Despite the irresponsible “political” noise surrounding the matter, vaccines remain an important step for parents to take in keeping their children as healthy and safe as possible. For those with children old enough to enter school, state law — West Virginia Code 16-3-4 to be exact — continues to require “a child entering school or a state-regulated child care center in this state must be immunized against chickenpox, hepatitis-b, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough.” The start of another school year is creeping up on us more ...

A Welcome Tech Tool

Most of us have run into a situation in the workplace where a little more tech knowledge — or maybe even a significant amount of training — could make a world of difference in our ability to do our jobs and better work toward our employers’ goals. But getting that training takes time and money. Fortunately, there is a state program aiming to do something about at least one of those factors. Ohio’s TechCred program awards employers funding to help their employees gain new skills. In May, the program awarded a record more than $9.9 million in funding to 622 employers. That money ...