Opinion

Keeping The River Clean

Editorials

Eight years ago, then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against DuPont, which accused the company of knowingly releasing “forever chemicals” into the Ohio River. Though a settlement was reached back in 2023, DeWine was not able to announce distribution of the $65 million settlement until this week. This time as governor, he stood with state Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue to talk about how the money would be distributed in Belmont, Gallia, Larence, Meigs, Morgan and Washington counties. The improvements that will be funded have been a long time ...

Pompeo’s Contribution To The Arts Admirable

Editorials

Cheryl Pompeo’s contributions to the arts in the Ohio Valley received a well-earned permanent acknowledgment this past week, when one of the dance studios at the Oglebay Institute School of Dance at the Stifel Fine Arts Center was dedicated in her name. For four decades, Pompeo has not only taught dance to children across the Ohio Valley, but has expanded the school to bring even more students to the school. “Cheryl Pompeo is absolutely amazing,” Oglebay Institute President Danielle McCracken said. “She brings her heart, her soul, her expertise to the School of Dance, and has ...

Bellaire Moves Forward

Editorials

If the acrimony that surrounded Bellaire Village Council and Mayor Robert Dodrill late last week and earlier this week is what led to the conciliatory tones that group ultimately took with each other, then the earlier chaos might have been worth it. Dodrill shocked his constituents last week by announcing he would resign as mayor just three months after taking the oath of office, following former village fiscal officer Ginny Favede out the door. Among the reasons he offered were concerns over the village’s finances with the previous administration, as well as a feeling that other ...

WVU Medicine Shows Belief In Ohio Valley

Editorials

WVU Medicine’s belief that the Ohio Valley is worth investing in was reinforced earlier this week with the announcement of multi-million-dollar projects approved for the region. The health system announced that it will build a new community hospital in St. Clairsville, as well as a new cancer center at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. The two projects will total $76.1 million — $56 million for the St. Clairsville hospital and $20.1 million for the Weirton cancer center — as part of $350 million in investments approved by the board. The board has approved projects over the ...

New Tech Program A Great Addition

Editorials

The most effective school districts are the ones that make sure the needs of every student are met, not just the highest academic achievers or the most athletically talented. Ohio County Schools is showing its mettle in that regard with a new program for its career and technical education students at Wheeling Park High School. The school is starting a program where students can earn certification in building automation systems while in high school. It’s a partnership with West Virginia Northern Community College. Students who complete the program exit high school with a capstone ...

Working Together To Address Affordable Housing

Editorials

Bipartisan efforts to address housing accessibility and affordability are becoming more common, though many are at the state level. Now federal legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., could help increase home ownership in rural regions by expanding eligibility for credit through farm credit institutions. “This bill is a result of Senator Welch and me working across the aisle to get a result for our rural communities because, at the end of the day, they matter more than party lines. When you do that, you can get good things done for the ...