Opinion

Written by Artificial Intelligence

Editorials February 5, 2026

(This item discusses suicide and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.) Ohio House Bill 524 aims to address a problem few could have imagined a decade or two ago: Artificial intelligence chatbots encouraging people to harm themselves or others. State Rep. Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, is lead sponsor on the bipartisan bill, which would allow for imposing penalties for AI models suggesting harming self or others. It now sits in the House Technology and Innovation Committee. Testimony earlier ...

Keeping Ohio moving in the right direction

Editorials February 4, 2026

It’s not always easy to see the effects of legislation to the good of Ohio citizens. Often the results are subtle or scattered. But a study by Cambridge Mobile Telematics shows that perhaps one 2023 law has made a noticeable difference. When the legislature gave law enforcement the authority to pull over drivers who were using or holding electronic devices in Ohio, there was some grumbling. But most people understood it was for the best. Now, according to a report by WCMH, the study shows Ohio drivers tap on their phones 7.2% less often than the average U.S. driver. That’s good ...

Matthews ‘leaves a lasting mark’ on Marietta

Editorials February 3, 2026

It was something of an understatement when Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher said that the late Joe Matthews “leaves a lasting mark on Marietta.” Then again, it’s difficult to come up with words to describe just how significant Matthews’ public service has been to the community over the decades. From his choice to serve his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956-58 after graduating high school, to his 24 years with the Marietta Fire Department — as a firefighter and EMT — and terms as mayor from 1992 to 2003 and 2012 to 2019, Matthews truly lived as a public ...

The ones who make it all possible

Editorials February 2, 2026

Mid-Ohio Valley residents can be caught off guard by a winter storm featuring snow, ice (so much ice) and sub-zero temperatures. Worse still if those temps keep many of us snow-and-ice-bound for a week or more. But we are fortunate to have among us those who go to work when the rest hunker down. First responders (can you imagine driving an ambulance in this mess?); electric, phone, cable and internet line workers; water department workers; plumbers; road-clearing crews … an army of people made sure as many of the roads as they could handle were plowed and treated as quickly as ...

Bird populations shift in winter months

Features January 31, 2026

If you are an amateur bird watcher like me, you have likely noticed that the group of birds you see in the winter is somewhat different than those that you see in the summer. Just as is the case with the human population, some birds stay here for the winter while others leave town and fly ...

W P SNYDER JR, a person and a steamboat

Features January 31, 2026

A new Ohio River Museum building rises like the legendary Phoenix from the remains of the original building. Soon a new Museum will tell fascinating stories of life on the river. One of the prime exhibits is a real steamboat, the W P SNYDER JR., a living relic of the steamboat era. The Sons ...