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Letters to the Editor

New Infrastructure Plan Needed

Editor, News-Register: The American Society of Civil Engineers just put out its latest infrastructure “report card” — a grading of the state of our bridges, roads, rail and water ways, airports, broadband connectivity, and shared spaces like parks and public school buildings. By its measurement, the country inched up from a D+ in 2017 to a C- in 2021. For one of the wealthiest nations on earth, it’s fair to call that grade disappointing. To be fair, there’s a lot of work happening in West Virginia, and plenty of attention is paid to the maintenance and improvement of ...

Myer’s Generosity Recalled

Editor, News-Register: I was very much saddened to have learned of the passing of J. Michael Myer, the highly respected executive editor of the historic area newspapers, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. His positive impact on the area will be felt for years to come. Mr. Myer’s outstanding career in the newspaper business spanned 46 glorious years, serving initially in the position of reporter, followed by city editor, publisher, editor and most recently in the position of executive editor for the last 23 years. In addition, Mr. Myer’s editorials and weekly columns ...

Forced Pooling is Forced Theft

Editor, News-Register: Stealing is wrong. Most of us learned this years ago as young children. Unfortunately, it appears that some of our elected representatives in Charleston never learned this. Why is that so? Earlier this month, members of both the state House and Senate introduced new forced pooling bills. While forced pooling bills have previously been introduced in years past, these bills are the most egregious ever introduced in West Virginia. Both HB 2853 and SB 538 permit an oil and gas driller to force pool unleased acreage when it has obtained leases for 65% of the ...

Not the Year for State Testing

Editor, News-Register: All I keep hearing about this year is the “mental health” of our children. If any policy makers out there are truly listening to the children, and truly considering their mental health, then state testing would not be taking place this year. My daughter is a good student and would do fine on the state test; however, she is constantly fretting over it lately. Being a teacher myself, I told her that I couldn’t agree more. I, too, think it is unfair and unnecessary to test these kids this year. My daughter asked me “Well, who is making these decisions? I ...

HB 2500 Bad for Environment

Editor, News-Register: The advancement of the new bill HB2500 in West Virginia is a prime example of the conscious ignorance of many of the state’s politicians. The bill says “a local unit of government (county, municipality, or city) may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that regulates the use, disposition, and sale of auxiliary containers. These “auxiliary containers” include: bags, cups, bottles, and other packaging made of cloth, paper, plastic, cardboard, aluminum, glass, or multilayer substrates. The bill basically makes it impossible for local communities to tackle ...

Opposed to WV Senate Bill 246

Editor, News-Register: As a current student at West Virginia University, I am writing to express concern and opposition to the proposed West Virginia Senate Bill 246, which would allow licensed staff, employees, and students at public universities to carry concealed weapons on college campuses and allow storage of these deadly weapons within campus residential halls. College campuses have a historic reputation of rape culture and high rates of sexual assault. Allowing concealed carry of deadly weapons and storage of these weapons on campus poses a prominent threat to the ...