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Some more state government potpourri

Last week, I wrote about the tendency of Gov. Patrick Morrisey to continue on as if he is still trying to win a GOP primary by taking certain actions and making certain statements aimed at keeping his base in his corner. But I still don’t know who the base is that he keeps playing to on this issue of religious exemptions to West Virginia’s school-age immunization program required by State Code. I just went back to Morrisey’s website for his campaign for governor and I can’t find anything showing me he campaigned specifically on this issue. While a bill to allow for religious ...

Celebrating our nation’s independence

By this time next week, many of our local communities will be wrapping up the celebration of the birth of our nation. The Independence Day holiday often involves parades, fireworks, street festivals, family picnics, or a variety of races. Wellsburg’s festivities already began, with a block party Friday night. The community will offer free concerts in Wellsburg’s Central Park several nights over the next week. Sunday is scheduled for a fishing tournament, with registration at the 12th Street boat ramp from 7 to 9 a.m., and a cornhole tournament at Central Park later in the ...

Guest column: Improving health outcomes for West Virginia’s veterans

Mesothelioma is a rare malignancy affecting people exposed to asbestos. Each year, across all cancer diagnoses, mesothelioma accounts for fewer than 3,000 cases. As a result, research interest in this condition is limited, with dire consequences for patients. Of all cases identified, veterans account for a substantial portion, as during the Cold War era, asbestos was extensively used by the U.S. Military throughout all its divisions. Among these, Navy veterans carry the highest burden of asbestos-related diseases, as they often worked in confined spaces below decks, where the ...

Guest column: Happy birthday, America

Happy birthday, America. I always look forward to the Fourth of July celebrations and festivities, including family get-togethers and long-lasting picnics. This year, I hope for additional prosperity for our state and a revival of traditional industries that have made us strong. Among those is the coal industry. Coal remains essential to the production of electric power in West Virginia. And for that matter, to the entire eastern United States. Coal continues to underpin our economy, and the industry is one of the largest employers in the state. As I have said in the past, ...

We blinked … and more than half the year is gone

I cannot believe that on Friday, it will be the Fourth of July. How has more than half of the year already passed us by? Evidently, we blinked. You know, I may have to super glue my eyes open so that life slows down a little. How can it be that when you are young, the days, the weeks, the years drag on and on? Why does it seem like time moves so slowly? When you are young, it’s as if the hands on the clock stand still or are stuck in the same position, day in, day out. And then, when we are older, we can never get those same clock hands to slow down? Not for a ...

Morrisey’s punching down helps no one

At what point does one quit trying to keep winning the last political party primary? At one point does one stop trying to play to the perceived whims of a base and simply just govern? Gov. Patrick Morrisey won the 2024 GOP primary with 33.3% of the vote in a six-person primary. Albeit Morrisey didn’t win a clear majority and his closest competitor – former House Judiciary Committee Chairman Moore Capito – was only about five points behind Morrisey, but he did win. Turning to the general election, Morrisey carried the state last November with nearly 62% of the vote – a more ...