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Reporter’s Notebook: Under Review

Once upon a time, the Legislative Auditor's Office used to release many reports under the leadership of former Legislative Auditor/Legislative Manager Aaron Allred. The office enjoyed decades of independence during Allred's tenure under both Democratic and Republican majority leadership. But in 2024, the Republican supermajority leadership largely clipped the wings of the legislative auditor's independent authority. Sometimes it is easy to forget that the Performance Evaluation and Research Division and the Post Audit Division still exist, because their work product has slowed. But ...

W.Va Sen. Randy Smith: Common-Sense Regulation Can Strengthen W.Va. Manufacturing

From the industrial history of the Kanawha Valley to the advanced manufacturing facilities operating across our state today, West Virginia has long played an important role in American manufacturing. Our skilled workers make many of the materials and products that keep our economy and supply chains moving. To keep West Virginia competitive, protect good-paying jobs, and encourage new investment and technology, federal regulations need to keep up with the real world. We can protect public health and the environment while also supporting American manufacturing and economic growth. Most ...

John McCabe: Doing the Hard Work To Protect Wheeling

Wheeling City Council did the hard thing Tuesday night, not the easy thing. In a 6-1 vote, council approved a memorandum of understanding with Silicon Foundry Energy for its proposed data center campus at the former Centre Foundry & Machine Company site. Dozens of residents packed the meeting to object. But when you boil it down to what is best for Wheeling moving ahead, council indeed made the right call. This is the choice those seven elected members of our community — Mayor Dennis Magruder, Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis, and councilors Tony Assaro, Ben Seidler, Connie Cain, ...

Bishop Darrell Cummings: Remembering A Somber, Sorrowful Day 25 Years Ago

This summer we have had several dramatic events in the United States. The war with Iran which stands alone as a dramatic event over the last six months. Our prayers as always is for our military, peace, and lower gas and food prices. We also celebrated the milestone of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that was adopted in Philadelphia, PA on July 4, 1776. What an honor to be living during this time of the Semiquincentennial of our great country. As an old commercial use to say; We have come a long-ways, but we still have a long-ways to go. It also makes me think ...

Angela Curfman: Building Literacy Through Knowledge, Relationships, Purpose

Each year, International Literacy Day reminds us of something that can easily be taken for granted: the ability to read, write and communicate has the power to change a life. Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Literacy Day, celebrated on Sept. 8, recognizes literacy as a fundamental human right and an essential part of building stronger communities. This year marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, with the theme, “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.” As we celebrate literacy, ...

Hoppy Kercheval: W.Va. Needs More Pathways To Prosperity

The U.S. Census Bureau has released new figures on poverty in America, and for West Virginia the findings are mixed. I’ll get to those numbers shortly, but first here is some context: The data come from the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agencies look at poverty two ways: The official poverty figure looks at pretax income. The supplemental poverty measure includes cash income as well as government benefits and geographic differences in housing costs. The state-by-state figures look at a three-year average of 2023, 2024, and 2025. In terms of straight poverty, ...