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Putting West Virginia in a tax cut pickle

Gov. Jim Justice put West Virginia legislators and even the two candidates for governor in a pickle when he challenged lawmakers last week to give him an additional 5% cut in personal income tax rates on top of a likely smaller income tax cut trigger. I’ve attended every end-of-fiscal-year tax revenue report given by Justice. At one of those events, they handed out Hawaiian leis following revenue numbers for the governor’s second year in office. That was the year following the big budget hole, the fight with the Legislature and the silver platter of cow dung. Since then, the ...

Is the system broken beyond repair?

Typically, we would be able to say that one debate doesn’t hang the entire campaign, but that’s when there are four or five debates scheduled. This year, there are only two – the first we have seen, the second won’t be until September. That’s because, this year, both presumptive nominees opted not to participate in the debate schedule planned by the Commission on Presidential Debates. We’ve all, no doubt, read or listened to the criticisms from that first debate. Trump lied. Biden seemed confused. Daggers have been flying around ever since. I’m not necessarily a fan ...

History in the Hills: The Fourth of July

One of my favorite things about the Fourth of July is family picnics and setting off fireworks. Since my cousin was born on the Fourth of July, we always have a party at my aunt and uncle’s house. Coming together is still an important part of any holiday in my family. I also have such happy memories of summer nights setting up chairs in my parent’s driveway and watching my dad light the various roman candles, sparklers, bottle rockets and the like, much to our amusement. My family and friends would all come together, sit in the driveway and watch the sparks of color and light ...

I haven’t gotten over the loss … not just yet, anyways …

I ordered pizza the other day and quietly cried as I discarded the pepperoni into the trash. It had been a very long time since I had to throw away my unwanted food. For those two adorable faces were no longer there … waiting impatiently by my side for those few ringlets of meat. I miss my dogs. I realize there isn’t anyone out there who wants to hear yet another column about how Julie misses her pets. I really do apologize. However, it is my job to write a weekly column that pertains to matters which I know. And what I know is that it is unbearably hard to live ...

It’s a dog eat dog world in Charleston

When I covered the dedication of the new murals at the State Capitol Building on West Virginia Day nearly two weeks ago, I did not notice the inclusion of Gov. Jim Justice’s Babydog in one of the murals. In fact, I wrote a pretty nice story about the dedication event, including positive quotes from Justice and Randall Reid-Smith, the recently renamed cabinet secretary of the Department of Arts, Culture and History. Frankly, I really like the murals and was happy to see them done. I love history. I’m a former co-captain of my middle school and high school quiz bowl teams. I never ...

Don’t forget the reason for the holiday

June is coming to an end this month, and attention has turned to the celebration of our nation’s independence. Festivities kicked off this weekend in Wellsburg with a week-long series of concerts beginning Friday night at the city’s Central Park. An all-ages fishing tournament is scheduled for Sunday morning, with a corn hole tournament later in the day. The annual 5K Run-Walk was postponed, apparently over issues getting enough volunteers. Thursday – Independence Day itself – will feature a variety of events, with a flag-raising ceremony, the Oil Can Derby and the ...