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Being a good neighbor

For five years, the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency has received a boost from one of the natural gas companies which has made its home in the Ohio Valley. Expand Energy, which once was known as Southwestern Energy, recently made a contribution of $20,000 to the county agency tasked with overseeing response to various emergency and disaster situations in the county, whether it be chemical spills, large fires, or floods. The funds can be used by the agency to purchase vehicles, such as the 2025 Ford Explorer now used by county EMA Director Greg Moore and Deputy Director Mike ...

Time to fulfill the broadband promises

With the conclusion of this year’s regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, there is time to reflect on the action (or inaction) of a group of elected officials who showed us what they prioritized over getting to work to improve our economy, education, healthcare and the general quality of life. But perhaps there were also lessons learned. For example, one failed bill should lead lawmakers to take a harder look at what it will take to bring broadband internet access to as much of the state as possible. Senate Bill 891 was another attempt to let the fox guard the henhouse ...

Don’t get caught without Real ID

In less than a month, all those flying domestically will only be able to board an airplane if they have a Real ID — that gold star in the upper corner of your driver’s license — or a valid passport. It’s been 20 years since Congress passed the Real ID Act. It’s been delayed numerous times but is now set to take effect May 7. If you don’t have one, and you don’t have a valid passport, it’s simple: you won’t be able to fly. With only four weeks remaining, DMV offices are busy getting people signed up. In West Virginia, the Division of Motor Vehicles offers a couple ...

Pool work a temporary pain

Those who regularly use Weirton’s public swimming pools probably aren’t going to have a great time over the next several months, but, hopefully, the lack of use this summer will be worth it when the reason for all of the planned closures is completed. The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation has taken up several improvement projects in recent years, many of them long overdue. Among those is the effort to finally move forward on a replacement and rehabilitation of the Starvaggi Memorial Pool, which will include a new design officials feel will better serve the public for many ...

Make the state’s future the priority

It’s a shame it took until the 55th day of West Virginia’s 2025 regular legislative session — which lasts for 60 days — for a lawmaker to publicly acknowledge what many Mountaineers have been thinking this year: Exactly why are lawmakers focusing on issues that will do little to nothing to move the state forward? State Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, took to the Senate floor Monday to address lawmakers on the session: “We’re in the 11th hour of this session, and this time next week, we’ll be home doing our regular duties as citizens of West Virginia,” Deeds said. ...

Licensing bill should do some good

Hidden among the many bizarre attempts this session by state lawmakers to damage and control West Virginians was an important piece of legislation that should actually do some good — the Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act. Gov. Patrick Morrisey was right to quickly get his signature on the measure, which will allow those moving to the Mountain State to easily transfer their occupational licenses. It mandates that professional boards grant licenses to those who have been licensed in other states for at least a year, under certain circumstances. “It’s my ...