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‘Spring forward’ of clocks mark brighter days ahead

Spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20, but the combination of unseasonably mild temperatures and the annual “spring forward” of clocks this past weekend seemed to signal that better days are ahead. Longer days, too. Daylight Saving Time means less light in the morning, but more in the evening. It aligns with the annual feeling of renewal that comes with spring — especially this year after one of the worst winters in recent northeastern Ohio history. That doesn’t mean we’re finished with cold weather or even snow, but there is more and more light at the end of the ...

Valley sports legends remind us to dream

In the Ohio Valley, sports heroes of the past are not just names that used to regularly appear in the newspaper. Even after they move on they remain neighbors, classmates, and hometown legends whose stories become woven into the region’s identity. In recent weeks, the Upper Ohio Valley has lost three of its most impactful sports figures — men who carried the grit and humility of this region to the highest levels of their sports: Bill Mazeroski, Bobby Douglas and Lou Holtz. Their careers and sports were different, but their Upper Ohio Valley roots — and the values they carried ...

Some good is coming out of DC regarding employment training

Disappointing as much of it is, there is some work being done in Washington, D.C., that will actually make a difference for the rest of us. Ohioans, in fact, can point to the Employer-Directed Skills Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, says he has joined the effort, which would help employees get the training they need for in-demand skills that meet workforce needs. There is also a component that would help employers find potential employees based on their participation in training programs. “As Ohio continues to ...

With warmer weather comes prohibitions on outdoor burning

When we skip ahead an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, that spring forward on the clocks will not be the only reminder we are moving toward brighter, warmer (Soon? We hope? Please?) weather. Forestry officials across our region are reminding us we have also entered the spring fire ban season. From March 1 through May 31 in both West Virginia and Ohio, there are prohibitions on outdoor burning. Ohio’s Division of Forestry says the ban is between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. In West Virginia, the restriction is between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. No, not even in a proper burn barrel. There are other ...

Study suggest Ohio lagging in education

Despite Ohio policymakers’ continued effort to meddle with education — at all levels — a recent study suggests there has been limited success on a national scale. “Most and Least Educated States in America (2026)” by WalletHub doesn’t even place Ohio in the top half of states. We are 35th. That’s not a good look for a state that has worked diligently to attract large employers looking for a well-educated and well-trained workforce. Ohio is 36th for educational attainment, though 19th for the quality of education. Further, it was bundled into the worst category of states ...

Husted among few still fighting for EP residents

More than three years after a disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Congress has continued to sit on its hands rather than upset its friends in the railroad industry by implementing desperately needed rail safety reform. Well, most of Congress, anyway. A few have repeatedly tried to push change. Most recently, a bipartisan group that includes U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2026. “Three years ago, many Ohioans understandably lost faith in the safety and reliability of our nation’s railways after the accident in East Palestine, Ohio. Since ...