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Editorial

Fed probe launch into med shortage is much needed

News that the Federal Trade Commission is launching a probe of companies that help buy and distribute the bulk of medicines sold to U.S. hospitals is welcome — and hopefully will unravel and inject transparency into a procurement and maintenance process upon which few Americans reflect until they are affected directly by a medicine not being available. Hopefully, what is uncovered will help end medicine shortages or reduce them dramatically, when stacked against supply records compiled perhaps a decade or two ago. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the FTC “is ...

Two-person RR crews wonderful news but…

In a victory for rail safety, a new federal rule has been finalized, which will require major freight railroads to maintain two-person crews on most routes. It is wonderful news. But lest anyone become too encouraged that Congress has finally gotten itself in gear on rail safety reform proposed after the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, this new rule was first proposed during the Obama administration. Once the new rule was announced, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reminded us that a country like ours should not be satisfied with the average of nearly three ...

Non-fatal overdoses will now be reported by ERs

Ohio is working at every angle to attack the substance abuse epidemic that continues to grip our region. A recent change could make a big difference in the way we think about (and therefore, react to) drug overdoses. For many of us the overdose data with which we are familiar involves fatalities. That doesn’t give us the whole picture. Now, a change approved by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review will require emergency departments to report non-fatal drug overdoses to the Ohio Department of Health. As Gov. Mike DeWine put it, this is a way to do better to “address the ...

Mess near the Ohio River is a reminder to officials

No one likes to hear “I told you so,” but officials in Martins Ferry are hearing that and more as a fracking waste recycling facility is facing a complaint filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in Belmont County Common Pleas Court. Filed March 25, the complaint requests a temporary restraining order against Pennsylvania-based Austin Master Services, which is accused of illegally storing excess quantities of brine and drilling waste. More specifically, Yost’s office said its chief concern is “the plant’s proximity to the Ohio River (about 500 feet) and to a drinking water ...

May you all have a joyous Easter weekend

Good morning and a very glorious and happy Easter weekend to all of you. It is a special time for sure. Yes, let the Easter season be joyous despite all that many have endured of late such as inflation, shrinkflation and who knows what’s coming next XXXflation. And let’s put the political season and its incendiary narratives —of which there are many — to the side for a while. This weekend — with so many folks with their families —let’s take a deep breath, step away from the harsh realities of recent months and relish time spent today and Sunday with family members. If ...

Now Intel must fulfill promise to state, feds

It’s official. Intel has formally submitted a report to the Ohio Department of Development that updates the timeline for its semiconductor fabrication plant in New Albany. Now, according to a report by WCMH, Intel’s planned Ohio One facility will be finished between 2026 and 2027 before becoming operational between 2027 and 2028. Having secured $3.5 billion in funding to produce semiconductors for the U.S. military, surely Intel executives intend to fulfill their promises to Ohio and the federal government. Back in June, Intel got $600 million in grants from the state DoD. “This ...