For some, Trump’s mask appears to be slipping

January 27, 2026

Throughout 2017 and into 2018, I hoped that a moment would come when Republicans would see Donald Trump clearly. But years ago, I accepted that the scales-falling-from-the-eyes revelation will never come for the MAGA faithful. They are too invested. Still, as a recent Chicago Tribune report found, a small but significant percentage of 2024 Trump voters either regret their vote or have serious concerns about the way things are going. When elections are decided by just a few hundred thousand votes in seven states, those defections are crucial. Trump has never believed in the principles ...

Lawyer for ex-Michigan coach wants the charges dismissed says woman is seeking windfall

January 24, 2026

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A lawyer for fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore declared his innocence Thursday and said charges of home invasion and stalking were based on an effort by a staff member to get a financial windfall from the school’s “deep pockets.” In a ...

Martins Ferry braces for winter storm

January 23, 2026

MARTINS FERRY — With the National Weather Storm forecasting a massive winter storm that is expected to dump heavy snow across the region this weekend, Martins Ferry officials are calling on residents to use both caution and common sense when venturing out in blizzard conditions. “There’s not a whole lot you can do on ice, so slow down your speed and try to be a little bit slower and cautious,” Martin Ferry Services Director Andy Sutak said. The significant storm is expected to blanket the Ohio Valley with at least six inches or more Saturday night into Sunday morning. An ...

Syrian military, Kurdish-led forces announce new truce after guards leave camp housing IS families

January 21, 2026

RAQQA, Syria (AP) — Guards from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces abandoned a camp Tuesday in northeast Syria housing thousands of people linked to the Islamic State group, and the Syrian military said that allowed detainees to escape. Hours later, the Syrian government and the SDF announced a new four-day truce after a previous ceasefire broke down. The two sides have been clashing for two weeks, amid a breakdown in negotiations over a deal to merge their forces together. The al-Hol camp houses mainly women and children who are relatives of IS members. Thousands of accused ...

St. Clairsville spellers move on to county bee

January 10, 2026

Photo Provided Seventh-grader Liam Capers, left, and eighth-grader Mason Kiene show off their awards for finishing first and second, respectively, in the St. Clairsville Middle School Spelling Bee. Both advance to the 2025-26 Belmont County Spelling Bee, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the ...

BRIAN MAYBERRY

January 10, 2026

Brian Jay Mayberry, 48, of Barnesville, Ohio passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was born on September 26, 1977 in Wheeling, West Virginia to Susan (Stewart) and the late John “Jay” Mayberry. Brian overcame so many ...