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Lawmakers Must Listen To Voters

Data from the most recent WV MetroNews West Virginia poll, presented during this year’s state Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Summit, contained “a warning sign … for political leadership in the state.” Despite the incessant dive by too many elected officials for the cheapest possible political points, most West Virginians (73% of those registered voters who were polled) are more worried about economic development and jobs than social issues. “By a clear majority, nearly three-fourths … said the Legislature should be focusing on economic development issues ...

Fairs a Fun Time for Young and Old

As the calendar has turned to September and fall is approaching, fairs and festivals are getting into full swing around the Ohio Valley — and valley residents would be silly not to visit. The fun has begun this week with the Belmont County Fair, a 176-year tradition that offers all of the classic fair of rides, livestock exhibits, food games and more. The same can be said this week for the West Alexander Fair just across the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border. Barnesville gets into the act on Sept. 22-25 when it hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival. That not only features fair and ...

A Great Take-Off at WLU

West Liberty’s fledgling aviation program took a major step forward recently, as five of the program’s students completed their inaugural solo flights. Brady Bauer, Luke Miller, Jeremy Ratcliffe, Isaiah Zelaski, and Brock Bauer each took to the air for that significant milestone in their education. “A first solo flight is a defining moment in every pilot’s training,” said Tasha Taylor, WLU Aviation coordinator. “It represents not only the technical skills our students have mastered, but also their confidence and readiness to take the next steps toward a professional ...

Overreach Still No Good for West Virginia

“The president cannot decide major economic and political questions, or significantly alter the balance of power between the states and federal government, without clear authorization from Congress.” Those are the words of then-West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey back in 2021, when he was rightly continuing his fight against the illegal federal efforts and executive overreach of the Clean Power Plan. He was able to make his point because he understood then, “Thankfully, our Constitution stands in the way of (then-President Joe) Biden unilaterally pushing the country ...

Honoring Those That Make America Work

On this Labor Day weekend, many of us may be thinking of a quick retreat into summer vacation mode during the three-day break. It is a time to celebrate the return of college football and the promise of cooler temperatures. Fans of America’s pastime are strapping in for the final month of the season while professional football fans also are gearing up for a new campaign There will be festivals, parades, good food cooked outdoors for perhaps one of the last times this year and a general sense of not only celebration, but transition. Despite most public school boards’ best efforts, ...

Water, Sewer Rate Increase Will Be a Hardship for Many

Everyone needs clean water. There’s no debate there. And if you live in Wheeling, we all understand the desire to have the water pollution control plant in Center Wheeling smell … well, like anything but what it usually smells like, particularly given its proximity to some businesses and homes. But those necessities come with an increasing price, as city residents learned earlier this month when Wheeling City Council’s public utilities committee proposed a combined 38% increase on water and sewer bills for residents. That means the average household using between 4,000 and 4,999 ...