diff --git a/modules/db_manager.py b/modules/db_manager.py
index f65ceea..09f2092 100644
--- a/modules/db_manager.py
+++ b/modules/db_manager.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def _init_database(self):
         """Initialize the SQLite database with required tables"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 
                 # Create geocoding_cache table for weather command optimization
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def get_cached_geocoding(self, query: str) -> Tuple[Optional[float], Optional[float]]:
         """Get cached geocoding result for a query"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute('''
                     SELECT latitude, longitude FROM geocoding_cache 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class DBManager:
             if not isinstance(cache_hours, int) or cache_hours < 1 or cache_hours > 87600:  # Max 10 years
                 raise ValueError(f"cache_hours must be an integer between 1 and 87600, got: {cache_hours}")
             
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 # Use parameter binding instead of string formatting
                 cursor.execute('''
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def get_cached_value(self, cache_key: str, cache_type: str) -> Optional[str]:
         """Get cached value for a key and type"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute('''
                     SELECT cache_value FROM generic_cache 
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class DBManager:
             if not isinstance(cache_hours, int) or cache_hours < 1 or cache_hours > 87600:  # Max 10 years
                 raise ValueError(f"cache_hours must be an integer between 1 and 87600, got: {cache_hours}")
             
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 # Use parameter binding instead of string formatting
                 cursor.execute('''
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def cleanup_expired_cache(self):
         """Remove expired cache entries from all cache tables"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 
                 # Clean up geocoding cache
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def cleanup_geocoding_cache(self):
         """Remove expired geocoding cache entries"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute("DELETE FROM geocoding_cache WHERE expires_at < datetime('now')")
                 deleted_count = cursor.rowcount
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def get_database_stats(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Get database statistics"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 
                 stats = {}
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def vacuum_database(self):
         """Optimize database by reclaiming unused space"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 conn.execute("VACUUM")
                 self.logger.info("Database vacuum completed")
         except Exception as e:
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class DBManager:
             if not re.match(r'^[a-z_][a-z0-9_]*$', table_name):
                 raise ValueError(f"Invalid table name format: {table_name}")
             
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 # Table names cannot be parameterized, but we've validated against whitelist
                 cursor.execute(f'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS {table_name} ({schema})')
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ class DBManager:
             # Extra safety: log critical action
             self.logger.warning(f"CRITICAL: Dropping table '{table_name}'")
             
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 # Table names cannot be parameterized, but we've validated against whitelist
                 cursor.execute(f'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS {table_name}')
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def execute_query(self, query: str, params: Tuple = ()) -> List[Dict]:
         """Execute a custom query and return results as list of dictionaries"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute(query, params)
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def execute_update(self, query: str, params: Tuple = ()) -> int:
         """Execute an update/insert/delete query and return number of affected rows"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute(query, params)
                 conn.commit()
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def set_metadata(self, key: str, value: str):
         """Set a metadata value for the bot"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute('''
                     INSERT OR REPLACE INTO bot_metadata (key, value, updated_at)
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ class DBManager:
     def get_metadata(self, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
         """Get a metadata value for the bot"""
         try:
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute('SELECT value FROM bot_metadata WHERE key = ?', (key,))
                 result = cursor.fetchone()
diff --git a/modules/feed_manager.py b/modules/feed_manager.py
index dd7170c..4cb57c7 100644
--- a/modules/feed_manager.py
+++ b/modules/feed_manager.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import time
 import hashlib
 import html
 import re
+import os
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Any, Tuple
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ class FeedManager:
             
             # Query database for all processed item IDs for this feed
             try:
-                with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+                with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                     cursor = conn.cursor()
                     cursor.execute('''
                         SELECT DISTINCT item_id FROM feed_activity
@@ -431,7 +432,7 @@ class FeedManager:
             
             # Query database for all processed item IDs for this feed
             try:
-                with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+                with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), timeout=30.0) as conn:
                     cursor = conn.cursor()
                     cursor.execute('''
                         SELECT DISTINCT item_id FROM feed_activity
@@ -1181,7 +1182,8 @@ class FeedManager:
         """Process queued feed messages and send them at configured intervals"""
         try:
             # Get all unsent messages, ordered by priority and queue time
-            with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+            db_path = str(self.db_path)  # Ensure string, not Path object
+            with sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 cursor.execute('''
@@ -1225,7 +1227,7 @@ class FeedManager:
                     
                     if success:
                         # Mark as sent
-                        with sqlite3.connect(self.db_path) as conn:
+                        with sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=30.0) as conn:
                             cursor = conn.cursor()
                             cursor.execute('''
                                 UPDATE feed_message_queue
@@ -1250,6 +1252,15 @@ class FeedManager:
         
         except Exception as e:
             db_path = getattr(self, 'db_path', 'unknown')
+            db_path_str = str(db_path) if db_path != 'unknown' else 'unknown'
             self.logger.error(f"Error processing message queue: {e}")
-            self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path} (exists: {Path(db_path).exists() if isinstance(db_path, str) else False})")
+            if db_path_str != 'unknown':
+                path_obj = Path(db_path_str)
+                self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path_str} (exists: {path_obj.exists()}, readable: {os.access(db_path_str, os.R_OK) if path_obj.exists() else False}, writable: {os.access(db_path_str, os.W_OK) if path_obj.exists() else False})")
+                # Check parent directory permissions
+                if path_obj.exists():
+                    parent = path_obj.parent
+                    self.logger.error(f"Parent directory: {parent} (exists: {parent.exists()}, writable: {os.access(str(parent), os.W_OK) if parent.exists() else False})")
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path_str}")
 
diff --git a/modules/scheduler.py b/modules/scheduler.py
index 1fb821a..df48e29 100644
--- a/modules/scheduler.py
+++ b/modules/scheduler.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import datetime
 import pytz
 import sqlite3
 import json
+import os
 from typing import Dict, Tuple
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -260,10 +261,10 @@ class MessageScheduler:
     async def _process_channel_operations(self):
         """Process pending channel operations from the web viewer"""
         try:
-            db_path = self.bot.db_manager.db_path
+            db_path = str(self.bot.db_manager.db_path)  # Ensure string, not Path object
             
             # Get pending operations
-            with sqlite3.connect(db_path) as conn:
+            with sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=30.0) as conn:
                 conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
                 cursor = conn.cursor()
                 
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ class MessageScheduler:
                             error_msg = "Failed to remove channel"
                     
                     # Update operation status
-                    with sqlite3.connect(db_path) as conn:
+                    with sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=30.0) as conn:
                         cursor = conn.cursor()
                         if success:
                             cursor.execute('''
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ class MessageScheduler:
                     self.logger.error(f"Error processing channel operation {op_id}: {e}")
                     # Mark as failed
                     try:
-                        with sqlite3.connect(db_path) as conn:
+                        with sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=30.0) as conn:
                             cursor = conn.cursor()
                             cursor.execute('''
                                 UPDATE channel_operations
@@ -361,5 +362,14 @@ class MessageScheduler:
         
         except Exception as e:
             db_path = getattr(self.bot.db_manager, 'db_path', 'unknown')
+            db_path_str = str(db_path) if db_path != 'unknown' else 'unknown'
             self.logger.error(f"Error in _process_channel_operations: {e}")
-            self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path} (exists: {Path(db_path).exists() if isinstance(db_path, str) else False})")
+            if db_path_str != 'unknown':
+                path_obj = Path(db_path_str)
+                self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path_str} (exists: {path_obj.exists()}, readable: {os.access(db_path_str, os.R_OK) if path_obj.exists() else False}, writable: {os.access(db_path_str, os.W_OK) if path_obj.exists() else False})")
+                # Check parent directory permissions
+                if path_obj.exists():
+                    parent = path_obj.parent
+                    self.logger.error(f"Parent directory: {parent} (exists: {parent.exists()}, writable: {os.access(str(parent), os.W_OK) if parent.exists() else False})")
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(f"Database path: {db_path_str}")