Opinion

Cleaning Up Moundsville

Editorials

Moundsville officials are taking necessary — and overdue — action to address serious safety concerns at several rental properties in the city. The sight of cockroaches and rats overrunning homes on Center, Cedar and Cypress streets is more than disturbing; it’s a public health crisis that no community can tolerate. Residents have every right to be alarmed. When vermin spill from one property into others, when neighbors are forced to endure swarms of roaches and the stench of decay, local government must intervene. City Manager Rick Healy and the Marshall County Health Department ...

Let Babydog Eat Cake

Local Columns

You’d be forgiven if you were to think that West Virginia only has one U.S. senator instead of two. Because based on appearances, Sen. Jim Justice appears to be doing the bare minimum. Sure, Justice is casting votes. If he has missed any, I’m unaware. The same goes for committee meetings. Justice is attending meetings, casting votes, and sometimes making speeches, though many times those speeches have little to do with whatever the committee is discussing that day. But is doing the bare minimum enough? One of my favorite movies is “Office Space.” In one scene, a server played ...

Morrisey Move Works for West Virginia

Editorials

This week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the state will extend its “donor agreement” to keep open the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. At $7,000 a day, Morrisey is likely correct that such a decision is worth the money, given the consequences if New River was to be closed for Bridge Day, or visitors were disappointed when they tried to visit our parks during what should be peak leaf-viewing season. “The political gridlock in Washington, it’s hurting a lot of people, but we took swift action in one area where we felt ...

It’s Time for a New Direction in Wheeling

Editorials

A $2 weekly user fee. Water and sewer rates increasing. Power rates that have increased about 50%, on average, over the past two decades. The cost of living in Wheeling, while still much lower than many other parts of West Virginia and across the nation, is now on the rise. And if the city, Ohio County and the surrounding region can’t find a way to attract new residents here — and soon — that burden only will increase and lead to additional issues for residents. A shrinking population, quite simply, leads to fewer residents shouldering more of the burden for essential government ...

Jefferson County Library Levy Deserves Support

Letters to the Editor

Editor, News-Register: I love libraries, especially our local Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. When I talk to different people in the area, I am heartened by how many also have an appreciation of how lucky we are to have seven branches (soon to be eight) and a bookmobile serving our community. On the other hand, I am often dismayed at how many people are unfamiliar with all of the ways that the library can enhance their lives. Oh, sure, everyone knows that you can check out books, movies and music CDs. Many people know that you can also access online resources like ...

Outlining County’s Future

Editorials

One of the more interesting points to come out of this past week’s Economic Outlook Conference in Wheeling was this: Ohio County has the highest per-capita income in West Virginia. This information, shared by businessman David H. McKinley and based on economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is a strong indicator of the county’s overall economic health. It is a good reminder that our region has many of the pieces necessary for growth and just needs that spark to unlock its true potential. “And the reality is 2025-26 looks even better than 2024-25,” McKinley ...