Breaking News

Editorials

Get Biden on ballot

If Ohio lawmakers’ aim was to again embarrass the state on the national stage and prove the dangers of intentionally failing to address gerrymandering, mission accomplished. Let the back-slapping begin. In what can only be described as either a fit of petulance or an admission they do not believe their presumptive presidential nominee can win without a few dirty tricks, state senators and representatives derailed what should have been a simple fix to get Joe Biden on the November ballot. Recall, state law requires presidential candidates to be certified for placement on the ballot ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the Barnesville, St. Clairsville and Martins Ferry cheerleading squads for their accomplishments at the local, state and national levels. The three teams were honored by Belmont County commissioners. JEERS to the apparent lack of communication by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to the city of Martins Ferry regarding Austin Master Services. CHEERS to the Ohio Valley Photography Club for its display at the Belmont County Heritage Museum and for taking part in St. Clairsville’s downtown Art Walk, held Thursday. JEERS to news that carbon monoxide sent four people to ...

Reaching for more control

Ohio employers have plenty of requirements and standards for employees. As the people best equipped to understand what is necessary to run their own businesses — while keeping employees healthy and safe — policymakers generally allow employers to uphold those standards. A couple of Ohio lawmakers, apparently desperate for Columbus to have even more control, don’t see it that way. Back in November, state Reps. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, and Scott Wiggam, R-Wayne County, introduced House Bill 319. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the bill says “A ...

Avoiding tragedy year-round

We think about it a little less as the weather warms up, but a recent incident in Harrison County underscores the importance of properly ventilating for alternative heat sources and having working carbon monoxide detectors. Bowerstown Volunteer Fire Department responders and those from other Harrison County departments arrived at a Bowerstown home Tuesday to find four members of the same family in urgent need of help. “All four were severely ill with carbon monoxide poisoning,” Bowerston VFD Capt. Adam Reardon told The Times Leader. “They had utilized a propane stove with ...

Immigrants fill labor gap

Political answers for handling the volume of those from other countries seeking to live in the United States are not simple. But if you ask employers desperate to fill jobs, you might get an answer similar to that from Tim Lyman, who works in a factory in Columbus: “If they want to learn, I’ll teach them.” Reuters took a look at the employment landscape for migrants in Columbus — and across Ohio — and discovered trade unions and other businesses are increasingly turning to migrants to fill labor needs. Kelly Fuller, vice president of talent and workforce development for the ...

Ohio’s energy future

It’s hard to believe there wasn’t already one in place, but better late than never as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration starts work on the state’s first climate action plan. According to a report by Energy News Network, the state is seeking $189 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act money to establish a statewide fund. That money would be used for electrifying government fleets, retrofitting public buildings and install solar generation on city, county and state properties. Energy News Network reports the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Air Quality ...