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In Trump’s universe, black is white and white is black

Columns

I am confessing up front that I suffer from logophilia. That sounds serious, and it is. It means I love words. I explore their meanings and derivations. I am always on a quest, often fruitless, for precisely the right one in each sentence I write. That’s what makes the term “antifa” so interesting to me. It’s a portmanteau, a word that squishes two other words together to create a new one. Like blending breakfast and lunch to make brunch. Or turning a pastry that’s half croissant and half doughnut into a cronut. And combining anti and fascist to become antifa. The Oxford ...

Vaping a Serious Issue

Editorials

The surge in youth vaping is no minor concern — it’s a full-blown crisis. In Belmont County Juvenile and Probate Court, Judge Al Davies spells it out clearly: “Vaping is out of control. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it gets worse, and it’s so unhealthy.” Davies notes half of all suspensions in Belmont County’s public schools this year stem from vaping. That should concern every parent. What’s especially alarming is not just the volume of incidents, but the tenor of the messaging around them. Motivational speaker Trevor Tripp described how students often ...

Welsh Staying True to St. Clairsville Roots

Editorials

It was a clear evening in downtown Columbus and the lights of the rink glowed bright, the crowd hushed as the moment arrived. A St. Clairsville native walked on to the ice and brought forth a familiar song as the air filled with a spirit that reaches far beyond the rink. That voice belongs to one of our hometown sons, Leo Welsh, who this year marks 22 years as the anthem singer for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Welsh’s journey reminds us what values from small-town roots can bring. A 1997 graduate of St. Clairsville High School, he followed his musical passion to ...

Accountability matters when in the public eye

Columns

For over a week, Democrats have attacked the Young Republicans for a leaked group chat that had lots of offensive comments in it. Some were very sarcastic and taken out of context to score points. Others were sincere. All were offensive. None of the Young Republicans are running for office. Most have lost their jobs. A Democratic Senate candidate in Maine has a tattoo on his chest of a Nazi SS skull and crossbones, the symbol used by the troops who initiated and carried out the Holocaust. Politico says the tattoo “appears similar to a Nazi symbol.” The Associated Press and other ...

Take a lesson from the history books

Columns

People who are protesting and complaining that President Trump is behaving like a dictator apparently skipped history classes or took them at liberal universities where professors have re-written the subject to conform to their worldview. Someone who is doing what history teachers used to do may surprise you. He is Mark Levin, who hosts a daily syndicated radio program and weekend programs on Fox News Channel. Watch and listen if you are skeptical. Last weekend, Levin reminded his audience that some who are regarded as some of our best presidents did things far worse than what Trump ...

Supporting Legislation That Benefits Ohioans

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every day, community health centers like Ohio Hills Health Centers serve on the front lines of health care for Ohioans. We care for over 9,000 patients each year, many of whom would otherwise go without access to affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. But without action from our state leaders, this care — and the health of our communities — is at risk. We strongly support House Bill (HB) 276 and Senate Bill (SB) 198, which protects patient access to affordable medications through the federal 340B program. Congress created the 340B ...