Breaking News

Local Columns

Pressing issues with the Justice administration

We reporters like to think we have a thick skin. Being yelled at by politicians or their supporters, sometimes anonymously on social media, is par for the course in this business. Cat-and-mouse games between administrations, departments and lawmakers is common. But I’m kind of at my wit’s end. The attitude by Gov. Jim Justice and the communications officials in his administration and his departments toward the press, especially regarding issues within the governor’s control, has reached nearly a point of no return and I’m not sure what they can do to repair things beyond putting ...

A few odds and ends from recent weeks

There’s been a lot going on in the last few weeks, and, sometimes, there are decisions and observations that don’t always qualify for a full news article. I’ll occasionally use this opportunity to go through a few here and there. This is going to be one of those times. It would be helpful if the West Virginia Division of Highways would find a better way to describe the location of their projects than using milepost numbers. I realize the DOH communications staff has a lot of information to process, and I’m willing to bet most of them aren’t actually familiar with the ...

Meet the judges of the PSC

The Public Service Commission includes more than me and my fellow Commissioners. In addition to the three of us, the agency has a number of divisions to carry out all the things that allow us to supervise public utilities. We have lawyers, accountants, and engineers who each contribute specialized skills to the overall effort. There are also secretaries, inspectors, and the friendly staff at the front desk who receive your comments or complaints. One part of the Commission that you might come in contact with if you ever need to file a formal complaint is our Administrative Law Judges ...

It’s hard knowing what you want to be growing up

Oftentimes, I try to associate my column with what this week’s Valley Life article is about. So when I decided to write about local authors, I thought perhaps I should talk a little bit about why I decided to become a writer myself. If you could call me that. I am certainly not an author. Typically, I am a waitress. It is usually the profession I always find myself going back to simply because it makes me enough money in which to live sort of comfortably. What I always truly wanted to do, however, is write. I mean, when I was little, I didn’t think about becoming a writer. ...

Is there a need for a very special session?

Pick up a flower, assuming you have any after this dry summer. Begin picking off the petals and with each one, alternate between “there will be a special session next week” and “there won’t be a special session next week.” Signs as of today, according to the magic 8 ball that is my brain, point to no. Speaking Friday with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, he is skeptical but keeping his options open. “At this point, we have not received a call and at this point I’m not necessarily expecting one for August,” Hanshaw said. “That could change on a dime ...

Another down to go with the new ups

We continue to experience ups and downs in the effort of building up our area for the future, reminding us of just how fragile things can be. Only a few weeks after Cleveland-Cliffs announced its plans to bring a transformer manufacturing facility to Weirton, resulting in approximately 600 jobs in the Half Moon Industrial Park, we learned this week that one of our area’s newer neighbors has opted to depart our community. Pure Watercraft has closed up shop in the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, according to state, local and company officials. While the company is not quite ready to ...