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Youngstown State’s Bill Johnson: We’re Here to Stay In The Valley

The patriots who built America were known for their strong statements, such as Virginia House of Burgesses delegate Patrick Henry’s declaration, “Give me liberty or give me death.” 250 years later, with the future of Ohio’s higher education system caught up in our state’s gubernatorial campaign, let me make an equally emphatic statement: Youngstown State University isn’t going anywhere! In fact, it’s not even in the conversation. I’m glad to see our community show its Penguin Pride and rally to YSU’s defense, but we’re uniquely suited for being part of the solution, ...

Hoppy Kerchavel: Preposterous Meets Reality With Trump Taxes

In the 1998 action movie Armageddon, the Bruce Willis character tells the federal government what his team members want in return for taking on a dangerous mission to destroy an asteroid before it strikes earth. “None of them want to pay taxes again… ever.” It’s a funny bit because it borders on the absurd. Fast forward to today and the preposterous meets reality. President Trump has cut a deal with the Justice Department in his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service whereby the IRS is “forever barred and precluded from prosecuting or pursuing” tax claims against ...

Reporter’s Notebook: Keeping Score And Learning Lessons

When it comes to elections, there are winners and there are losers. But I can't help feeling like no one really won after last Tuesday's Republican primary elections. Sure, individual candidates won and lost. But otherwise, the two factions within the West Virginia Republican Party — the dark red caucus led by Gov. Patrick Morrisey and like-minded affiliates, and the light red faction led by many of the GOP lawmakers who helped secure the Republican legislative majorities back in 2015, such as state Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha — remain at loggerheads. More than $5 million was ...

The Calm Before The Tuesday Storm

We're now in the calm before the Tuesday storm, and I've never wanted an election to be over more than this one. Seriously, this primary election cycle has been pure obnoxiousness, but I fear this may be how future GOP primaries are from here on out: A combination of conservative-on-conservative infighting and out-of-state interests dropping Brinks trucks of cash to test messaging on issues conservatives see differently. I am not one of those who cries about the amount of money in politics. As I've said frequently, elections cost money: Mailers, ads, commercials, billboards, signs, ...

West Virginia Not the Guinea Pig for Power-Hungry Governor

There is a question worth asking before the May 12 Republican Primary, and it cuts straight to the bone: does Patrick Morrisey think West Virginians are stupid? Because the playbook he is running this primary season only works if we are. The governor of our state is publicly endorsing primary challengers to sitting Republicans who had the nerve to vote their conscience instead of his orders. Now, his First Lady has personally cut $2,800 maximum-dollar checks to the people running against incumbents like House Finance Chairman Vernon Criss and Sen. Deeds. That alone would be a break ...

Time For Real Leadership On State’s Greyhound Issue

The Northern Panhandle loves dogs. They are members of our families and deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm. That is why I support ending greyhound racing in West Virginia. Dog racing proponents claim that the effort to end greyhound racing is being pushed by people who don’t live in the Northern Panhandle. But I’ve lived here my entire life. In fact, I was born on the Market Street Bridge between Ohio and West Virginia, in the back seat of a Wellsburg Police car. After retiring from a successful career as an account executive in the ...