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State must stop failing its children

As lawmakers returned to Charleston Sunday, they had a lot on their plates. Supplemental appropriations were needed for restoring funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, a new agriculture lab for West Virginia State University, an emergency food fund, paving projects, the Hope Scholarship program, contract nursing for West Virginia Veterans Home and veterans nursing facilities … and let’s not forget $2.8 million for a historical mural project in the upper rotunda of the State Capitol Building, were all included on the list. Childcare was not. “When people and ...

Finding a better understanding

First, the good news: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of fatal overdoses in the U.S. decreased last year — down 3% from 2022. Now, the not so great news: That’s still 107,500 people who died at the hands of a decades-long substance abuse epidemic; and those same CDC researchers say the last time there was such a decrease, the number of fatal overdoses increased dramatically in the following year. Further, Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends, offered some less-than-comforting reasons for the ...

Appreciating our law enforcement

We hope that everyone will take a moment and reflect on the lives and sacrifices of Leslie J. McDonald, Lafayette Mercer, Owen Burns, Scott Roe, Leonard Lamatrice and Thomas McGough of the Steubenville Police Department; William J. Snider and Michael Maguschak Sr. of the Mingo Junction Police Department; Benton Miller Sr. of the Toronto Police Department; Michael Brandle of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department; and Harding Duval of the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department. They are the law enforcement officers in our region who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and ...

The continuing voter apathy

Another election, another case of low voter turnout. According to the office of Secretary of State West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, statewide voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary election was just 30 percent. That’s less than one in three registered voters in the state taking the time to be part of the process of electing candidates. Counties in the Northern Panhandle fared little better. Starting at the top of the panhandle, Hancock County had 28.2 percent turnout; Brooke County had 32 percent turnout and Ohio County saw 40.1 percent turnout. Sadly, turnout was ...

No accountability on inflation, debt

President Joe Biden recently visited Sturtevant, Wisconsin, to speak at the site of a future Microsoft data center. As the Associated Press reported, the project is expected to create about 2,000 jobs. We understand that any president running for reelection will tout the successes in job creation seen during his or her administration. And the job market has been a bright spot in Biden’s tenure. But voters have no reason to accept a failure to address and correct the many shortcomings that exist along with that low unemployment rate. As we have noted, Americans should find ...

Congratulations to Madonna honorees

From its first induction in 2012 until now, the Madonna High School Hall of Fame has honored the accomplishments and contributions of more than 50 individuals or groups. Later this year, eight more will be added to the roster or distinguished graduates and community members. Officials with Madonna High School announced members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 last week, with a range of inductees. A formal ceremony is being scheduled for October. We offer our congratulations to the members of the Madonna Hall of Fame Class of 2024 which includes Leah Comis for athletic excellence, ...