Opinion

Ignore Cheap Shots Over GM Job Cuts

Editorials

The Detroit News reported Wednesday that General Motors has laid off thousands of workers from manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Michigan. Though it is tempting to suggest the reason is purely a matter of GM’s overeagerness to catch up to the electric vehicle push, the reality is a bit more complicated. At the company’s Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Warren, Ohio, there are expected to be approximately 550 cuts and 850 temporary layoffs, according to a report by CNBC. There will also be approximately 700 layoffs at the Ultium Cells plant in Tennessee. Those gleefully ...

Shining Light Into the Dark

Editorials

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but the truth is this crisis does not disappear when the calendar turns. As St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman noted in her proclamation, the fight to end domestic violence must be year-round. Few understand this more than Sheila Abbott. Abbott founded Leah’s Wing in 2024 after her daughter, Leah Hines, was murdered in her sleep by an abusive partner. In sharing Leah’s story, Abbott has turned her pain into a mission to help others. Her message is simple but urgent: no one should suffer abuse in silence or feel they have no way ...

Charity Hoops Game in Wheeling is a Slam Dunk Event

Editorials

There are several important traditions in the Ohio Valley for the holiday season. Among them are the Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways sponsored each year by Bethlehem Apostolic Temple. Those events help those in need have joyous holiday seasons by receiving food, clothing and toys free of cost. Bishop Darrell Cummings, lead pastor of the church, has been the leading force behind those giveaways every year. This year will be no different. What could be different, he said this week, is how many people could be in need due to the federal government shutdown and the pause in SNAP ...

Girls' Flag Football Program Is a Touchdown for St. Clairsville

Editorials

A new chapter is being written on the field in St. Clairsville — one where girls are suiting up, pulling flags and proving the gridiron isn’t just for the boys. The St. Clairsville Parks and Recreation Department’s launch of girls flag football at the elementary level marks an important step in creating more inclusive opportunities in youth athletics. Ranging from kindergarten through third grade, the athletes capped their inaugural season in exciting fashion: playing their final game during halftime of a junior varsity contest at Red Devils Stadium. That halftime showcase ...

Aquatic Conservation Center a Great Addition at West Liberty University

Editorials

West Liberty University has put itself in exclusive company with its latest addition. The university last week cut the ribbon on its new Appalachian Aquatic Conservation Center. That center is now just one of four at universities across the United States. You’d have to travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, and Virginia Tech to find the next closest. With the new facility, West Liberty University hopes to be the nation’s top university in the conservation of crayfish and spotted turtles. According to Zachary Loughman, chairman of organismal biology, ecology and zoo science departments at ...

Helping the United Way

Editorials

United Way organizations across the country serve their communities by connecting those in need to resources to support them as they face their challenges. “When you donate to United Way, you help kids succeed. You help adults secure jobs. And you help families become healthier. Your support fuels our mission and creates stronger communities where all can thrive,” according to its website. Plenty of financial support comes from individuals, of course, but there are also reliable community partners who make a big difference for the organization. One of those partners is the ...