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National Police Week

While we often focus on the safety of local communities as a selling point to attract new residents and visitors, it is important to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who work to make that safety possible. This is National Police Week, with Thursday set aside as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This week, communities across the country will take time to reflect on the work, and dangers, experienced by law enforcement officers as they serve and protect their communities. Each ceremony, whether it be the 37th annual Candlelight Vigil to be held Tuesday in Washington, D.C., or the ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to news that the MLB reinstated Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Both had been banned after careers tarnished by gambling scandals. JEERS to the fact that fire destroyed a Bellaire business, Devendra’s Auto, on Monday. Fortunately, no one was inside the building when the blaze broke out, but three firefighters were treated for injuries. CHEERS to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital as it celebrates its 175th anniversary. It buried a time capsule Monday for future generations to reveal. JEERS to reports that five suicides ...

Endorsement too early

Ohio Republicans jumped the gun in what some news outlets are reporting as one of the earliest gubernatorial endorsements in the party’s history. Last week, the state GOP announced its endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy, former co-chair of the federal Department of Government Efficiency, nearly a year before the 2026 primary election. This move comes despite members of the State Central Committee not even knowing yet who might enter the race. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel says he is considering a bid for governor. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has already made his intentions clear. And the ...

Thank local police officers

Ahead of this National Police Week, law enforcement officers across the state traveled through their communities as part of Operation Blue Sky. It was a recognition of officers serving now AND those who have sacrificed their lives while protecting the rest of us. It is a local reflection of a nationwide effort to honor officers — not just in the U.S., but around the world. Many of them will head to Washington, D.C., for Police Officers Memorial Day and to participate in other Police Week events. Organizers of the national event say “We are dedicated to honoring the service and ...

Shore up, don’t slash, Medicaid

Elected officials across the country are bracing for proposed cuts to Medicaid as the federal government looks to change the way it spends taxpayer dollars. According to a report by The Commonwealth Fund, Ohio is among the five states that would see the greatest economic losses from cuts to Medicaid funding. California, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania are the others. Authors of the fund’s report say “Medicaid drives employment in the health care sector; generates state and local tax revenue; and saves money for enrollees, allowing them to spend more on items other than health ...

Voter turnout disappointing

Tuesday was Election Day in Ohio, but you wouldn’t know it based on the number of people who turned out to vote. A mere 6.85% of Belmont County’s registered voters cast ballots in the special/primary election. According to unofficial totals released by the Belmont County Board of Elections, 3,086 people voted. More than 45,000 are registered to vote. Of the ballots cast, 830 were those of absentee voters, which includes early in-person voting. A total of 2,256 residents voted on Election Day. Of course this election didn’t feature any high-profile or presidential contests, and ...