Opinion

Great Literature Still Matters in Our Shared Experience

Local Columns

Do stories matter? Does our collective human experience matter? Does the power to inspire, to love, and to feel sorrow matter? Think of what great literature has given us: “Moby Dick,” “The Scarlet Letter,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Huckleberry Finn.” Tales which, although they may depict worlds in which we have never lived, touch upon universal human themes and experiences and which resonate in our souls long after the final page is turned. English and literature departments are shrinking in colleges and universities across the country, and the ...

President’s Policies Prove Crime Easily Solved

Local Columns

On Aug. 11, 2025, President Trump took decisive action by deploying the National Guard to Washington D.C. For years, our nation’s capital has been plagued by out-of-control crime, with more than 91% of residents calling it a major problem. President Trump campaigned on a promise to crack down on crime in major cities, and he has shown he is unafraid to take bold action to keep that promise. Time and again he has proven that leadership requires courage and the ability to stand firm when America’s safety and prosperity are on the line. In just a few weeks, more than 1,900 criminals ...

Stay Informed on Vaccine Guidelines

Editorials

Changes in guidance out of Washington, D.C., have left many confused about the accessibility of COVID booster shots this fall. There are questions about eligibility, insurance, and even where a patient can get the vaccine. Axios tried to unravel the mystery and found states falling into three categories (they used one pharmacy chain, CVS, as the test): unavailable, available without a prescription and prescription required for specific age groups. West Virginia falls into the latter category — prescription required. But in Ohio, the shots are available without a prescription. ...

Honor The Fallen This Patriot Day

Editorials

Though the sense of urgency associated with observing the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S. has faded a bit in recent years, we have still observed Patriot Day every September 11 as a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims. For some, it has become a day of service to their communities to honor the lives of the 2,977 who were lost. For most, the day still stirs up memories of streets lined with U.S. flags and a country united as patriots — determined to stand strong in the face of those who loathed what we said we stood for nearly a ...

Barnes A Deserving Winner

Editorials

Tiffany Barnes may have said she was “dumbfounded” after she heard her name announced as the West Virginia Teacher of the Year, but with her story, it’s no surprise. Barnes is an example of what hard work and a love of teaching children can do. An Iraq War veteran, Barnes began her career in Ohio County Schools as a substitute aide and cook. She earned her teaching and autism certifications and now is a full-time special education teacher at Wheeling Middle School. After her win, she talked about studying through the night for her degrees and certifications, as well as the ...

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late for FEMA

Editorials

As of today, there is less than two weeks left for those who suffered damage in the June Ohio County floods to apply for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The deadline to apply is Sept. 22. So far, many have taken advantage of that aid to the tune of millions of dollars. At a recent Ohio County Commission meeting, Ohio County EMA Director Lou Vargo said 519 Ohio County residents have applied and FEMA has awarded more than $5.9 million from those claims. Yet there may still be some out there who haven’t yet taken advantage of those services. Maybe they don’t ...