Breaking News

Editorials

One size doesn’t fit all in education

State Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, is injecting a voice of reason into conversations about what the West Virginia Legislature’s approach to education might be this year. Speaking ahead of the legislative session that is set to begin Feb. 12, Clements talked about the state’s approach to education being “upside down.” “We need to put more money into the early stages of life where children learn more,” he said. Clements is right to understand the number of our young students who are being raised by grandparents — maybe great-grandparents — and other relatives ...

Help to prepare for financial aid

Pursuing a higher education is a financially daunting task for many West Virginia students. Yes, there are lot of avenues for getting financial assistance, but the process seems complicated — sometimes to the point of leading students and their families to give up. Certainly the federal government hasn’t helped in recent years with its gyrations regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but there are plenty of people willing to help students navigate the system. West Virginia FAFSA Day is Feb. 6. It is a partnership of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy ...

Looking out for all parts of students’ health

While schools often are looked at as a place to provide education for our youth, they also have an important role in a student’s health. Hancock County Schools has long striven to do just that, with traditionally available physical education programs and activities, establishing in-school health clinics and other programs through the years. A new effort, approved by the county board of education Tuesday, will continue with that mission by offering students an option for basic dental care. The Smile program already is offered in several West Virginia counties, as well as some ...

Use common sense dealing with the cold

The Tri-State Area has just experienced some of the most frigid weather it has seen in about a decade, and while the worst of this arctic blast appears to be behind us and temperatures are expected to moderate during the next several days, the reality is we are in the middle of winter and it will continue to be cold. Doctors say keeping warm in bitter cold temperatures involves common sense. Without proper clothing and protection, a person faces mild frostbite in as little as 15 minutes. Protecting extremities is important in the bitter cold. Warming packs can be placed inside ...

Staying the true course for America

A “golden age,” one in which the United States of America can aim even higher than the moon, was proclaimed Monday during President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration speech. And while Elon Musk may have thrown his hands in the air to cheer the goal to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” and “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,” ordinary Americans were more likely to find a common reason to cheer in Trump’s promise to seek a broad government effort to reduce inflation and reduce prices. Though he must be careful to avoid the executive overreach that ...

Marking a new start in West Virginia

Gov. Patrick Morrisey gave us a peek last Monday at his inspiration when he touched on points from the presidential administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush during his inauguration ceremony as the state’s 37th governor. Rather than Reagan’s “shining city on a hill,” Morrisey repeatedly referred to West Virginia as “that shining state in the mountains.” Later, he appeared to give a nod to Bush’s No Child Left Behind education initiative by saying we will aim to assure every child has a chance to thrive and that “We will leave no one behind.” It is ...