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Time To Recharge West Virginia’s Workforce

Governments have only a limited number of ways to support private businesses — large or small. Whether we like it or not, spending taxpayer money is one of them. The question becomes whether the return is larger than the investment — whether that money is being spent prudently. So, one can understand one of the objections to state House Bill 4004, to create the Recharge West Virginia program, from a few who wondered whether it was a good use of taxpayer dollars to support private businesses by incentivizing them to upskill existing employees. (It is harder to understand those who ...

WVDOH Whiffed on Wheeling Suspension Bridge Update

The historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge has carried far more than vehicles across the Ohio River for 176 years. It has carried the city and even the state’s identity, our civic pride and even our nation’s history — all of which deserved more respect than they were shown this week. The West Virginia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday through an end-of-day email that, after more than six years of being closed for repairs and renovations, the bridge would be permanently closed to all vehicular traffic. That notice came after state officials held a closed-door ...

Decisions Must Now Be Made on Bridge, Island

With it now official that the Wheeling Suspension Bridge will no longer support vehicle traffic, the years-long wait for that aspect of the bridge’s future is over. A new conversation about the future ­ —not just with the bridge, but with Wheeling Island as well — must begin immediately. We all had to wait through studies and discussions with state departments about what can cross that bridge, be it vehicles or pedestrians. Now we know the answer: feet and not wheels. So what now? How does the Suspension Bridge fit into the future of Wheeling? And how do we help the residents ...

Dental Health Is Crucial for West Virginia

Mountain State residents grew up knowing there were certain jokes that would be made at their expense once a person from another state found out they were West Virginians. Some variation on the “but you’re wearing shoes!” or “but you look like you have all your teeth!” was not uncommon. And we laughed it off. But the reality is West Virginia HAS struggled for generations — and still does struggle — with making dental health a priority. That’s backed up by a recent WalletHub study, “2026’s States with the Best and Worst Dental Health,” in which West Virginia ranks ...

Testing Kits Are a Good Idea

Worried parents often warn their children — of any age — to be wary when they go out to bars and restaurants. Generations of bar patrons have received admonitions from friends and family “Keep your eye on your drink! Be careful!” Despite those warnings, too many continue to fall victim to drugged drinks each year. According to a report by WTVG, state Sens. Louis Blessing III, R-Colerain Township, and Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, cited data that 1 in 13 college-aged people suspect they have been drugged at some point. They brought up the numbers as part of their introduction of ...

Inclusion On Ice A Fantastic Event

This Sunday, Ohio Valley residents of all ability levels will get the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of ice skating. Inclusion on Ice returns for its fourth year from 1-4 p.m. at the Wheeling Park Ice Rink. It’s a day that gives children and adults alike the chance to take to the ice in an inclusive environment. The event was the brainchild of David George, who enlisted the help of Easterseals, Augusta Levy Behavioral Services and the Wheeling Nailers. “As each year has gone by, we have seen an increase in the number of participants attend our event from different age ...