Breaking News

Editorials

Think safety this New Year’s Eve

New Year’s parties are about to get under way, and it is a good time to again remember not to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking or using any impairing substance at one of those events. National statistics offer a sobering look at the dangers of driving while impaired. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,524 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2022. And, NHTSA adds, 32 percent of traffic fatalities involve drivers with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher. Breaking those numbers down even more, NHTSA reports there ...

Bringing new hope to West Virginia

West Virginians have been desperately searching for the means to loosen the grip of the substance abuse epidemic that has plagued us for so long. Perhaps this week’s distribution of the first round of West Virginia First Foundation Initial Opportunity grant funding will mark the turning of the tide. Sitting on nearly $1 billion of opioid settlement money, the foundation’s statewide expert panel had $19.2 million to grant to successful applicants — across the six regions of the state, with up to four target areas per region. The panel was able to distribute only $10.4 million, ...

Working for West Virginia

West Virginians have become accustomed to having strong representation in the U.S. Senate, by elected officials who have earned influential positions on important committees. It seems as though that influence is set to be extended — perhaps even strengthened — as U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen.-elect Jim Justice, R-W.Va., have been given their committee assignments for the coming year. Capito will be chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She was already chosen by her caucus to be chairwoman of the Republican Policy Committee, making ...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

The simple greeting, “Merry Christmas,” has been the subject of one of the biggest battles society in general has faced in recent years.  In fact, in many places and in many situations, that greeting has been replaced by the all-inclusive, yet far less meaningful, “Happy Holidays.” That, however, removes the meaning of what this season is all about.    It is not just about being charitable or sharing warm and fuzzy feelings. It is not about toys or shopping for that special gift. It is not about cookies or a big home covered with hundreds of colored lights or a holiday ...

The magic lives on

The name Francis Pharcellus Church stands behind words penned that capture the secular spirit of Christmas and the joy and magic on the faces of children at this time of year.  Church was the editor of the New York Sun. During his career he wrote many editorials. Some, no doubt, took the city’s politicians to task for their decisions. Others, more than likely, pointed out good things that happened to residents of the city.  But nothing he wrote, we would argue, has had as lasting an impact as an editorial that appeared on Sept. 21, 1897. That was when Church took on the task of ...

Drive safely for the holiday season

“Over the river and through the woods” gets taken to another level in West Virginia during the holidays. No matter where they live now, the Mountain State is still “home” to thousands upon thousands of people who will be making the journey to be in the place they belong for Christmas and maybe even New Year’s Day. According to the state Parkways Authority, an estimated 1.48 million transactions is expected on the West Virginia Turnpike between Dec. 20 and Jan. 2. Of course, not all of those vehicles full of people will wind up stopping here. But plenty will. And forget ...