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History in the Hills: Local history on film

Many years ago, when I was in Boy Scouts with Troop 65 out of Memorial Baptist Church in Weirton, we had a great local history presentation by the late Chuck Cronin. Cronin gave a wonderful talk on Weirton Steel during World War II. In addition to the presentation, he brought in a 16 mm reel-to-reel projector and played a film called “Assignment Accomplished,” which showed the production of the 8-inch howitzer shells produced by Weirton Steel in 1944 and 1945. Little did I know at that time this event would spark a love for Weirton Steel history and World War II history that ...

The newest batch of legislative potpourri

Today is the deadline for bills to be introduced in the West Virginia Senate. As of Sunday, we are now two-thirds of the way through the 60-day legislative session with less than three full weeks left. We’re also just over a week until Crossover Day, when bills must be passed by the body they started in and be sent to the opposite body in order to have any chance of completing the legislative process before the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, April 12, when the Legislature adjourns sine die. While things have been slow up to this point, expect things to start speeding up. The ...

Developments continue, often quietly

Last July, I was among those gathered in one of Cleveland-Cliffs’ warehouses in the Half Moon Industrial Park when company CEO Lourenco Goncalves announced plans to bring an electric transformer production to the community. We were only a few months removed from Goncalves announcing the decision to idle the tin mill – the last remnant of what had been Weirton Steel – and the knowledge that the remaining employees would be out of work. It was incredibly warm in the warehouse, as one could imagine in the middle of summer, and we were waiting for then-governor Jim Justice to ...

Investing in West Virginia’s work force: The power of skilled trades

West Virginia’s economy has always relied on hard-working men and women who build the infrastructure our communities depend on every single day. A new report from the Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research reinforces just how vital the state’s skilled trades workforce is — not only for the projects they build, but for the economic strength they bring to West Virginia. The numbers tell a clear story: over the past two years alone, the West Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council’s members generated more than $8.1 billion in total economic impact. ...

West Virginia’s future: A call for action on economic growth, education and childcare

In the wake of the recent flooding that did much damage to several communities in our state, we have seen firsthand the resilience and solidarity of West Virginia’s people. These floods reminded us of the need to better prepare and support our communities for the challenges ahead. From infrastructure to workforce readiness, we saw gaps in parts of our state. But beyond the visible damage, there’s an underlying truth: this crisis has underscored the pressing need to address some of the foundational issues facing our state. From economic development to education and childcare - the ...

What if a shelter dog could talk to you?

Dear human: I saw you today. You walked past my cage and took a quick look at me before walking away. I got so excited, I began to bark. And then all of my neighbors began barking too. It became very loud in there. So loud. I am sorry for that. Perhaps you are sorry you came … because I am still here. Waiting. We all are still here. Waiting. Everyone is accounted for in our cages. No, I certainly wasn’t on my best behavior. None of us were. But I need for you to know that we just get too excited. I was excited because I had a chance to see somebody new. I don’t see ...