Letters to the Editor

East Wing Demolition Is a True Loss for Our Nation

Editor, News-Register: As an historian, it was with a heavy heart that I watched the recent demolition of the East Wing of the White House. Built in 1902 by Teddy Roosevelt and remodeled under FDR in 1941, it became the working space for our First Ladies, who walked those floors and labored within those walls. Let us remember these grand women that contributed so much to our nation: Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Melania ...

Donald Trump Un-Reality Show Rages On in Nation

Editor, News-Register: In October 2016, First Lady Michelle Obama’s stated “people who are incredibly strong lift others up. People who are powerful bring others together.” How prophetic and relevant at present with supreme egotist and most assuredly one of the greatest dividers our great nation has ever witnessed in government President Donald J. Trump refers to those who disagree with him politically, as the enemy within, whom he claims to hate. As it has been stated often times over the years that our democratic form of government which has long been the envy of the free ...

Residential Electric Bills Just Keep Increasing

Editor, News-Register: I don’t know what changed with the electric company, but my bill seems to go up no matter how careful I am. I’ve switched to LED bulbs, unplugged the coffee maker, and even stopped using the porch light except on holidays. Still, every month, it’s a few dollars higher. If prices keep rising, maybe they could start a “quiet hours” program where everyone agrees not to use electricity at the same time. That ought to make it cheaper somehow — or at least simpler to see what’s going wrong. I know energy costs are complicated, but the only thing I ...

It’s Time for Residents To Simply Get More Radical

Editor, News-Register: Radical isn’t a dirty word, depending on what you are radical for. Are you the kind broadcasting a pathology of hate? The venom of war? Or striving for mutual respect and community care? I’ll say this: only one is worth fighting for. We aren’t angry enough defending those at the margins. Nor organized enough. And guess what? It’s costing us our democracy. The only antidote: Grow a spine. Radical means conviction. That you care unapologetically about an issue. Say it for all to hear. Wear opinions like a badge of honor. The word comes ...

Considering AI’s Rapid Growth: Two Years Later

Editor, News-Register: I’d previously written on this subject in April 2023, when I sent a letter written with the help of an early chat program. Two years later, the technology has moved much faster than most people expected. Since then, the biggest advances have been in how well these systems can handle long projects, understand images and speech, and connect to everyday tools. Programs can now generate documents, charts, or lesson plans with few errors, and can take direction from voice or uploaded files instead of just typed text. By the end of 2026, we’ll likely see AI ...

Showcasing the Best of Ohio County Schools

Editor, News-Register: We had the absolute pleasure of attending a concert recently by the Ohio County Strings at the beautiful Wheeling Park High School Performing Arts Center. Our granddaughter played the viola with her sixth-grade classmates. We were amazed by the huge number of strings performers from sixth grade through high school. Such wonderful talent and commitment to learning the skills needed to play their instruments. We can all be proud of our school system and its wonderful teachers that foster this talent! Thank you to everyone involved in putting on this wonderful ...