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A Paradigm Shift

While the results remain unofficial until county commissioners begin their canvassing work, it looks like West Virginia’s voter turnout for the 2024 general election last week nearly broke the previous record. According to the unofficial results from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, 760,273 voters out of the more than 1.2 million registered voters in the state cast ballots last Tuesday, or 62.84% of the electorate. Compare that to 63.25% voter turnout for the 2020 election or 57.07% in the 2016 election. With that said, voter turnout in West Virginia will likely ...

Stroll to the Polls

Election Day is Tuesday, beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. And it feels like a long way to get to this point. Keep in mind, the first person to announce for the 2024 elections was Republican Huntington businessman Chris Miller when he said he would run for governor all the way back in December 2021. U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., announced his U.S. Senate race in November 2022, the same week he won election to the redistricted 2nd Congressional District after defeating former 1st District Congressman David McKinley in the May 2022 GOP primary. State Treasurer Riley ...

Marshall Memo: Christmas Parade, High School Drama on Tap

The theme for the Marshall County Christmas Parade will be, “Toy Trains and Candy Canes.” The parade date will be Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. Those wishing to sign up need to contact the Marshall County Commission. Of course, there will be other Christmas attractions, one of which will be on Nov. 13, the date for the “Christmas Tree Gala Fundraiser.’’ It will take place at the former West Virginia Penitentiary. --- St. Jude Church in Glen Dale will have a rummage sale at its hall on Jefferson Avenue. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to noon. There ...

Gubernatorial Debate Offers Chance To Compare, Contrast

Beginning Tuesday, we are a week out from the end of the 2024 general election. And also Tuesday, voters will finally get their first side-by-side comparison of the two major-party candidates for governor. Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Democratic Huntington Mayor Steve Williams will face off at Fairmont State University Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. The event will be moderated by WV MetroNews Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval and broadcast on MetroNews radio stations as well as livestreamed at wvmetronews.com. It really is a shame that we’re just now getting a debate ...

Embracing the Blessings of Being Americans

In 1905 Leon Trotsky, Russian Communist revolutionary, coined the phrase “permanent revolution.” Trotsky believed that a Communist takeover in Russia would be only the beginning of a permanent process — a total transformation of society from top to bottom. And he hoped that the revolution in Russia would immediately spark revolution everywhere, first and simultaneously in the industrialized countries of Europe, but eventually all over the world. Communism did triumph in Russia in 1917. The Bolshevik party, with Lenin as the head, solidified its power. And after Lenin’s ...

Voting for Amendment One Ensures Your Life Doesn’t Cost Too Much

Meet Barbara Wagner, great-grandmother, at the age of 64. In 2008, she was diagnosed with lung cancer—and was fighting for her life. Her physician recommended chemotherapy, and prescribed Tarceva to extend her life. The drug provided a 30% increased survival rate for patients with advanced lung cancer, and increased the likelihood that she would live another year by 45%. This was the way forward; it was going to be difficult, but Barbara was a fighter. However, Barbara lived in Oregon. She received a devastating letter in the mail—a letter from her health insurance provider. The ...