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Why cutting Medicaid will cost more than keeping it

Letters to the Editor

The latest stupid idea out of Washington comes from the Senate where Republicans are trying to appease hospital administrators who worry that cutting medicaid will result in closure of rural hospitals nationwide. The Republicans are proposing a “slush fund” to prop up those hospitals who are likely to lose revenue in areas of the country where medicaid funds provide care. The inhumane part of this proposal is that low income seniors, children and individuals with disabilities will no longer have primary care nor access to life-saving medications. The result of this will be an ...

Taking note of the BMV’s upgrade

Editorials

Not every technological “upgrade” is a home run, but at least one improvement in Ohio is paying big dividends for the state and its residents. With a change as simple as allowing certain transactions with the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles to take place online instead of in person, more than 10 million trips to BMV offices have been saved since 2022. Among the options available online are renewal of driver’s licenses or identification cards. More than 608,000 Buckeye State residents have taken advantage of that so far; and now the option has been expanded to commercial driver’s ...

Support independent journalism

Letters to the Editor

As a former civics and history teacher whose first job was at Marietta Junior High School in 1969 — immediately after graduating from Marietta College, I taught my students that education and access to reliable information are the foundation of a healthy democracy. Today, those pillars are under threat. Across the country, political forces are working to intimidate universities and media outlets, aiming to suppress independent thought and critical inquiry. This is a dangerous trend. History shows us that illiberal regimes — like those in Russia, Turkey, and Hungary — often begin ...

We can do better for ourselves, kids with the Stop the Scroll Act

Editorials

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has thrown his support behind an effort to keep kids safer when it comes to social media. But the Stop the Scroll Act isn’t about the kinds of online dangers some parents may be thinking. It would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media. “As more and more children and teens use social media, a warning label should be prominently displayed highlighting the potential harms of using social media platforms. The Stop the Scroll Act would help young people grasp the mental health risks that come with social media. I’ll continue to back ...

Shared vision for the future

Editorials

Belpre officials and community members are well on their way to revitalizing Civitan Park, after review of a proposed master plan for the project last week. Discussing everything from pickleball courts to an all-abilities playground — maybe even a restaurant barge — the ideas were pitched with the help of engineering firm American Structurepoint. “From athletic fields to walking paths, we’ve looked at how to elevate what’s already working and enhance areas that need more attention,” said Mark Underwood, director of landscape architecture at American Structurepoint. That ...

MOV Climate Corner: Why not West Virginia? A comparison

Local Columns

As a lifelong West Virginian, I have a soft spot for seeing my state succeed. With all of its grit, tenacity and work ethic, there’s no reason that West Virginia shouldn’t be a national leader in many respects. But yet, we see our state struggle to keep up as new opportunities arise, trading in progress for the same old, worn out tagline. We all know the jingle. “Coal is West Virginia,” right? Over the last four years, America has been at an important moment for innovation and expansion of the clean energy economy. For all its supposed faults, the Inflation Reduction Act ...