A Private Star: The Earl Thomas Conley story
Working late into the night in an old woodshed, a bearded man in a stained-yellow overcoat with a makeshift zipper hunches over his work. He’s whittling a figurine with an old corn knife, periodically reaching for his favorite coffee cup. “I’m a grown ass lady. I do what I want” is plastered on the porcelain mug. He’s reserved, his...
Olivia Trowbridge,
April 29, 2026
3 min read
Pike County nuclear project could bring jobs, renew concerns
A proposed nuclear project in Pike County could bring jobs and new tax revenue to the region, while renewing concerns from some residents about contamination and safety near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Pat Marida, a Columbus-based coordinator with the Ohio Nuclear Free Network,...
Maggie Amacher,
April 28, 2026
6 min read
Ironton recruiting scandal highlights controversy in high school sports
The Fighting Tigers suffered postseason consequences due to recruiting and transfer violations in 2018, 2019 and 2025.
Lucy Schaefer,
April 28, 2026
6 min read
NIL rules set to change Ohio high school football forever
On Nov. 24, 2025, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, or OHSAA, passed an emergency referendum allowing the use of name, image and likeness in high school athletics. A total of 447 schools voted in favor, 121 voted against and 241 abstained. This rule represents a major shift in high school...
Bobby Keegan,
April 28, 2026
5 min read
Olympian Gwyneth Philips inspires southeastern Ohio with unforgettable gold medal run
For two weeks in February, the small county of Athens had something to rally around as one of their own took the Olympic stage in Milan, Italy. Gwyneth Philips, a goalie for the gold-medal winning US Women’s Hockey Team, represented southeastern Ohio on the world’s biggest sports...
Bobby Keegan,
April 28, 2026
5 min read
Author builds legacy one story at a time
The Birth of a Storyteller For Cynthia Mackley, the world has always been a collection of stories. Long before she became an established journalist and a published novelist, she was a six-year-old girl living in an Appalachian housing project. Mackley says her passion for creating and writing stories...
Jude Hannahs,
April 27, 2026
7 min read
What’s Inside
- Behind the Bite (72)
- Features (133)
- In Your Neighborhood (111)
- Photo Essay (4)
- Read the Full Issue (8)
- Talking Points (52)
- The Scene (16)
- Uncategorized (3)
- Web Exclusive (5)
- What's Your Story? (23)
Find us on Social Media