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Local Columns

Looking at government by the numbers

The process of budget planning has begun for many of our governmental entities. If you follow along with the Legislature, our state lawmakers received Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday during his first State of the State Address. Our state ...

The world’s biggest business needs West Virginia common-sense

Parts of West Virginia are less than an hour’s drive from Washington, but the two places could not be any more different. It’s not about the size of the cities or how many people live there, it’s about the way we think. It’s about culture, priorities and how we approach government. ...

Lawsuit abuse draining BRIM, burdening taxpayers

West Virginia taxpayers have dealt with increased consumer and healthcare costs for decades, tied to our formerly poor litigation climate. As our state courts have become fairer in recent years due to legal reforms that have improved our overall economy, the personal injury lawsuit industry has ...

Merry Christmas and Happy Presidents Day

Merry Christmas! No, I haven’t lost my mind. (Completely.) I know that the calendar tells me it’s Feb. 14 ... Valentine’s Day. And if, by chance, you happen to be reading this column, it will already be Feb. 15, even though the newspaper indicates at the top of the page that it is ...

History in the Hills: Washington’s visit

It’s good to be back at Historic Fort Steuben. I love spending time with our local history and helping to make it accessible to the public through our programs and events. I am constantly reminded, however, that the longer I interact with local history, there is so much more out there I ...

‘Yeas and nays,’ preparing for the session

On Wednesday, I will begin my 15th year involved with the start of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular 60-day session. I moved to Charleston on a snowy January in 2010 a week before the start of that session. I had just started one year prior a news website on behalf of a libertarian ...