Breaking News

Local Columns

Somehow I forgot to mention my Mother’s Day

So, I failed to mention that on Mother’s Day, my children once again remembered me. And I didn’t even have to tell them what day of the year Mother’s Day fell on. Somehow they just knew. For that, I am thankful. For them, I am thankful. My oldest son, Dylan, shipped me a box of Starbucks coffee, just as he does on my birthday and for other occasions. He knows it is my favorite and something I can’t always afford to buy myself. I appreciate his thoughtfulness. He truly is a special man. My second child, Caleb, who is the father of my grandson, little Layne, gave ...

Remember the history, their sacrifice

In communities across the nation, people will gather this weekend at cemeteries and various monuments established to honor the memories of our military veterans in observance of Memorial Day. We often look to this weekend as the start of the summer season, with swimming pools opening and families planning cookouts, while others make plans for long-weekend getaways. That’s all well and good, but let’s remember the true and somber reason for observing this holiday. Keep in mind, this isn’t a day to wish anyone a “Happy” anything. It’s a day to remember, to pay tribute, to ...

Reporter’s Notebook: The 2026 Senate seat chase has begun

Attention is already turning to the midterm elections next year, which will determine whether Republicans can continue to hold the majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. In West Virginia, that means that U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is up for re-election to a possible third six-year term after winning election to the seat held by former senator Jay Rockefeller in 2014. I say “possible,” because she is beginning to get challengers to her right and no elections are sure things. The latest person to throw their hat in the ring is freshman ...

Guest Column: State senators worked hard for personal injury lawyer money

CHARLESTON – For more than 80 years, liberals controlled the West Virginia Legislature. Wealthy personal injury lawyers called the shots for most of the second half of this one-party reign, which drove West Virginia to last in nearly every economic category compared to other American states. During this era, these trial lawyers built lucrative empires off of a legal system rigged in their favor, pushing policies that scared off small businesses and increased costs for all West Virginians. A decade ago, conservatives took control of the West Virginia statehouse and worked to pass ...

Sundays are no longer what they used to be

Remember watching “The Andy Griffith” show? There would be certain episodes centered around days just spent sitting around on the front porch. And during these episodes, some weeks we would encounter moments where Andy was playing his guitar. Then once in a while, there was talk of ...

History in the Hills: The Start of Summer

I can’t believe this weekend is Memorial Day. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Easter and the first days of spring. Although the weather forecast is pretty cool this weekend to be sure, Memorial Day for a lot of us signifies the first days of summer. In my family, we usually spend the weekend at the pool; and on Monday, we would spend time at my grandmother’s home enjoying a picnic. In our area, summer is a busy time, and it’s a season I look forward to because there is so much to do. We spend a lot of time at the pool, working in the yard and spending time ...