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Local Columns

Recapping The First Gubernatorial Debate

Last week, I had the pleasure of being invited by the Raleigh County Republican Executive Committee to come cover their debate, featuring the top four GOP candidates for governor of West Virginia at the beautiful Resort at Glade Springs. The event was interesting for several reasons. For one, ...

Marshall Memo: New School; Counselors; Jay Jacobs; and Updates

Another step toward a new Benwood-McMechen school took place when Gov. Jim Justice arrived this past Thursday with $9.2 million. It was in June 2021 that Marshall County Schools purchased the land for $1.2 million with hopes of building on the property. The field that was purchased was for many ...

Reflecting on the Road Taken

Despite all the culture war bills getting most of the attention over the last several weeks, the 2024 session has been very slow. That’s given me time to be nostalgic, thinking about the path that led me to this career in journalism. I’ve been listening to a podcast called “Finding Matt ...

Addressing the Death Penalty in West Virginia

When I address the death penalty, I am no stranger to the issue. On June 8, 2000, a priest and friend, who had welcomed me on my first day in the seminary years earlier, was brutally murdered by a drunken young man who broke into his rectory in Germantown, Maryland, looking for money. The state ...

Marshall Memo: Events at Strand; ‘Love the Bus’; and Two Projects

The Ron Retzer Trio will present “A Strand of Love” at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Strand Theatre in Moundsville. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at strandtheatre.com/events, at Frame and Fortunes or at the door. Also at the Strand next weekend will be ballroom dance classes from 6-7 p.m. ...

Misguided Energy Policy Could Sink Manufacturing Renaissance

An extraordinary but little noticed economic phenomenon is occurring across the United States today. Electricity demand—which has been relatively stable for more than a decade—is suddenly surging. The U.S. economy is embarking on a literal power trip, and the pace is likely to increase. ...