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WVU ready to start new chapter

Editorials

As West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee winds down his tenure at the helm of the state’s flagship institution of higher learning, it is clear incoming President Michael T. Benson does not intend to try to fill those big shoes — he intends to lead WVU wearing his own. That is important if the university is to build on what Gee accomplished by looking to what is next, rather than what was. Benson comes across as smart, curious, personable and empathetic. He knows there are challenges awaiting him, but also opportunities — for the school and the state. As is the case ...

Foster families need more support

Editorials

West Virginia’s Department of Human Services has begun its statewide tour of child welfare listening sessions. Kicking off in Hurricane on Monday, the tour will run through Beckley, Wheeling, Parkersburg, Burlington, Philippi, Martinsburg and Morgantown in an effort to hear from foster families, case workers and many others with a stake in the effort to do right by vulnerable Mountain State children. According to a report by WV MetroNews, there are approximately 6,000 children in state custody. Individuals who spoke during the first listening session were able to help turn that big ...

Staying safe on the water

Editorials

Once National Police Week wraps up, law enforcement and other agencies will dive straight into National Safe Boating Week. In West Virginia, the Division of Natural Resources police are ready to remind those who can’t wait to hit the water this summer that they must do so safely. Administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, the weeklong initiative is meant to help boaters prioritize safety at all times. “We want everyone to enjoy our beautiful lakes and rivers, but that means wearing life jackets, staying sober and knowing the rules,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “Boating ...

State needs to spend our money wisely

Editorials

How many of us had a good idea how much we would be receiving with our tax refunds, and had already mentally spent that money before it arrived? We can’t blame state government for being in the same boat, as an “April surprise” arrived in the form of the largest single month of tax collections above estimates. More than $237 million in surplus revenue has come in, with two months remaining in the fiscal year. But during its regular session, the legislature approved more than $126.2 million in supplemental appropriations using one-time money through available surplus collections ...

We cannot forget their sacrifice

Editorials

While we often focus on the safety of our local communities as a selling point to attract new residents and visitors alike, it is important to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who work to make that safety possible. This is National Police Week, with Thursday to be set aside as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This week, communities across the country will take time to reflect on the work, and dangers, experienced by law enforcement officers as they serve and protect their communities. Each ceremony, whether it be the 37th annual Candlelight Vigil to be held Tuesday in ...

Talking budgets with California on my mind

Local Columns

As you are reading this, I am vacationing with my wife and mother-in-law in Southern California, staying at a resort just south of Orange County. For my mother-in-law, this is a bucket list trip to dip her toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. For my wife, this is an opportunity to visit Disney Land and see Hollywood. For me, it is about reconnecting spiritually with my biological mother’s side of the family. My mother, Ethel Mae Glee Adams, died in 2019 due to complications from lung cancer, being a lifelong smoker. My grandparents on my mother’s side have been dead for ...