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Staying safe on the water

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

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

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 ...

Remember, cherish mothers

While honoring mom today — and you should be if you have a mother or other significant nurturing woman in your life — it’s also a time to consider the work mothers do. It can be measured in monetary terms — one survey pegged the work of a stay-at-home mom as worth $185,000 a year in cooking, cleaning, child-rearing, housework, taxi-driving and everything else that is asked of them. But there is more to the value of the work of mother that goes beyond pay. It’s a priceless gem to society when it’s done well. The true value of a mother is found in the children they rear, ...

Broadband commitment must be met

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Kelly Workman, director of West Virginia’s Office of Broadband, are right to keep up the pressure on federal officials over the pace of their review of grant funding for high-speed broadband. “As we have discussed, I am concerned that West Virginia may be told to move back from the 1-yard line to the 40-yard line after the review concludes,” Capito wrote in a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “I urge you to expedite not only the review and release of updated guidance but the program as a whole.” The ...

The Real ID deadline is here

Real ID officially went into effect Wednesday, and, while some federal officials appeared to indicate they would offer a minimal grace period before heavy enforcement, we would encourage residents to make sure they have these forms of identification in hand sooner than later. Of particular concern is for those of us who travel frequently, as a Real ID – indicated by a star on the driver’s license of other identification card – will be the document most of us will be using to board an airplane from here on out. The other is your passport. Beyond that, some federal buildings also ...