Editorials

Immunizations Are Key

It doesn’t take long for a single case of the measles to turn into a genuine outbreak. In Ohio, the number of cases in Ashtabula County alone in early April had grown by 11 in a week. There were seven in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties. It takes even less times, it seems, for irresponsible political rhetoric and misinformed (or just plain dishonest) social media nonsense to spread in a way that is just as dangerous. By mid-April, the U.S. has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024. There are outbreaks in Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, ...

Place Focus on Bettering W.Va.

“We know West Virginia has some real challenges,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said last month, on his 100th day in office. And, as he said, he has been busy during those early days of his term. Unfortunately, we learned during this year’s legislative regular session, the sense of urgency in addressing the state’s genuine challenges was sorely lacking for too many elected officials. Morrisey was correct to note our struggles in education, economic development, health and health care, infrastructure, population loss and so much more. He would have been right to add that very little had ...

Get Out Tuesday and Vote, Ohio

Tuesday is a primary/special election day in Ohio — an easy one to miss amid the political excitement in the months following last fall’s general election. But it is important all the same. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. (Thank you, poll workers, for your time and patience with the voting public). If you filled out an absentee ballot, May 5 — today — is the deadline for having it postmarked. But if you deliver it to your board of elections, you have until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for that, too. There’s still time to do your homework — both by reviewing the ...

Real ID Goes Into Effect

Starting Wednesday, all those flying domestically will only be able to board an airplane if they have a Real ID or a valid passport. It’s been 20 years since Congress passed the Real ID Act. It’s been delayed numerous times but is now set to take effect this week. If you don’t have one, and you don’t have a valid passport, it’s simple: you won’t be able to fly. With only days remaining, DMV offices are busy getting people signed up. In West Virginia, the Division of Motor Vehicles offers a couple of options. Those who are ready to hop online to start the process can go ...

Time To Address City’s Population

Population growth. For years, this issue has been one of our region’s biggest challenges, yet also one most elected officials are unwilling or unable to discuss. Consider these numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau: - The Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area — Ohio, Marshall and Belmont counties — had a population of 152,850 in 2000. At the end of 2024, those same three counties had a combined population of 135,136 — an 11.6% decrease in residents in 24 years. - The city of Wheeling, this region’s economic hub, had 31,382 residents in 2000. Today, the estimate is ...

Have Tariffs Sunk Trump’s 2nd Term?

Presidential second terms are rarely successful, and on the evidence of his first 100 days Donald Trump ’s won’t be different. The president needs a major reset if he wants to rescue his final years from the economic and foreign-policy shocks he has unleashed. There’s no denying his energy or ambition. Trump is pressing ahead on multiple fronts, and he has had some success. His expansion of U.S. energy production is proceeding well. He has ended the border crisis in short order. He is also rolling back federal assaults on mainstream American values. Trump was elected to counter ...