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Editorials

Needed reform derailed

“This is why people hate Washington.” Outgoing U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, had good reason to speak his mind this week when lawmakers dropped the ball on the Railway Safety Act. Inspired by the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine on Feb. 3, 2023, the act would have enhanced existing rail safety regulations and added mandates reducing train lengths, shortening the distance between hotbox detectors on freight lines, notifying local officials of trains carrying hazardous cargo and a minimum two-person crew on every locomotive. But, as the Lisbon Morning Journal ...

Ohio getting things right

Jobless claims heading into the end of 2024 included some encouraging numbers for Ohio. In fact, according to WalletHub’s look at “States Where Unemployment Claims Are Increasing the Most,” the Buckeye State was a comforting 51st overall in the country. Ohio was 23rd for unemployment claims increases compared with the previous week (Nov. 25 vs. Nov. 18), 21st for unemployment claims increases compared with the same week a year earlier, 21st for unemployment claims per 100,000 people in the labor force and 51st for cumulative unemployment claims in 2024 compared with the same ...

Improvements to OUE

More than 60 years ago, Ohio University made an investment in Belmont County that has paid big dividends for thousands of area residents. The university established what is known today as Ohio University Eastern — a “branch” campus of the Athens school located along U.S. 40 west of St. Clairsville. Launched primarily as a teacher training location, OUE has evolved to offer a broad array of four-year degrees for people of all ages who seek to continue their education right here at home. Now, Ohio University is making another investment in the future of the site. It announced ...

Protecting older Ohioans

It’s easy to pick areas in which we wish Ohio and West Virginia were doing better for residents. The list is long and varied. But in one category, both states are doing quite well. In WalletHub’s list of “States With the Best Elder-Abuse Protections,” the Buckeye State is 4th in the country and the Mountain State is 9th. Not too shabby. Given the age of our states’ populations, those are important protections, indeed. Ohio’s 32nd ranking for prevalence (share of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints; estimated elder fraud rate; and elder fraud loss amount ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the Belmont County Board of Commissioners for working to expedite the effort to replace the Blaine Hill Bridge. While it is not their project, they are concerned about how its closure impacts residents. JEERS to news that at least three recent fires in Bellaire are suspicious in origin. Not only do the blazes destroy property, but they endanger firefighters and others. CHEERS to Property Maintenance Service in Bridgeport for collecting supplies and donations to support local animal rescues and shelters. JEERS to word that someone is impersonating a Belmont County sheriff’s ...

Keeping Ohio strong

For a fourth time now, Ohio lawmakers are working toward placing on the ballot a renewal of the multi-billion State Capital Improvement Program, which one Mahoning County official referred to as “basically life support” for municipalities, townships and counties. Lawmakers are discussing a pitch to extend the program for another 10 years by issuing $2.5 billion in new bonds. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, the state Senate has passed its version of the joint resolution. Ohio Public Works Commission director Linda Bailiff told the Capital Journal the program has so far ...