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David H. McKinley: W.Va. 2026 Primary Was A Warning Worth Heeding

The 2026 West Virginia primary didn't go the way pro-jobs conservatives hoped. Millions of dollars flooded in from out-of-state groups running negative campaigns against candidates focused on jobs and economic growth. When the votes were counted, the State Senate was unchanged, the House barely shifted, and Republicans lost control of the judiciary for the first time in a decade. That last one stings. But a draw is not a defeat, and the fight is far from over. Here's what actually happened. Outside ideological organizations, working alongside local trial lawyers with little interest in ...

John McCabe: On Road Signs, Golf Carts and a Vision

Every time I drive Interstate 70 from Columbus to Wheeling, I find myself paying attention to the green highway signs. Not the ones telling me where to exit for Zanesville or Cambridge. I’m talking about the other ones. At various points around Columbus — the ones I really wonder over are in the city’s neighborhoods, leading to on-ramps to I-70 east — there it is: “Wheeling.” A name on a sign. A destination somewhere off in the distance. And I often ponder, what do the people living in those neighborhoods think when they see it? What image comes to mind? Do they ...

John McCabe: On Road Signs, Golf Carts And A Vision

Every time I drive Interstate 70 from Columbus to Wheeling, I find myself paying attention to the green highway signs. Not the ones telling me where to exit for Zanesville or Cambridge. I’m talking about the other ones. At various points around Columbus — the ones I really wonder over are in the city’s neighborhoods, leading to on-ramps to I-70 east — there it is: “Wheeling.” A name on a sign. A destination somewhere off in the distance. And I often ponder, what do the people living in those neighborhoods think when they see it? What image comes to mind? Do they ...

Brian Dayton: Every Vote Matters

Every vote matters. We have all heard that phrase countless times, and the 2026 Primary Election proved it once again. Three races for the House of Delegates were decided by six votes or less, and countless others by just a few dozen votes. This proves that you, the voter, taking the affirmative step to cast your ballot can impact the direction of our state. One entity, however, that did not seem to remember that every voter matters was the West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee. A slight majority of the committee made the decision to undo forty years of precedent and ...

Jason Pizatella: Building Trust, And Sustaining It, On West Virginia’s Highways

The State of West Virginia’s transportation system is funded not only by tax dollars, but by trust. Every mile of paved roadway, every bridge rehabilitated, every slip or slide repaired, and every safety improvement delivered is made possible because taxpayers believe those investments will be used wisely, efficiently, and transparently. For those of us in the construction industry, that trust is not assumed—it is earned on every project, every day. That responsibility has taken on even greater importance as conversations around future transportation funding continue to evolve. ...

Rebecca McPhail: West Virginia Can Power America’s Future

West Virginia is home to world-class natural gas resources that support industries across our region and provide livelihoods for tens of thousands of West Virginians. At the same time, the electric transmission system that delivers power across our state is aging and under increasing strain. This is not just a technical concern. It is an issue that touches every part of our economy and our daily lives. The natural gas and oil industry and the electric grid are closely connected. Compressor stations, processing facilities, and critical safety systems all rely on dependable electricity. ...