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Thoughts on the 2024 legislative session

As I write this Sunday morning following the end of this year’s 60-day session of the West Virginia Legislature, I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. When one looks back at this particular session, I have no idea what the takeaways will be. I stand by my contention a few weeks ago that this was largely a lackluster session. I decided to do some compare and contrast. As of the stroke of midnight Saturday, 280 bills had completed the legislative process, meaning they were passed by both the House of Delegates and the state Senate (38 of those bills have already been signed ...

Looking back at some of our local news

While we certainly have an eye set on West Virginia’s primary election in a little over two months, in our office this time of year also means preparations are being made for the West Virginia Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. For me, that means reviewing copies of every edition of our newspaper published in the previous year and trying to select the best possible news or sports articles, local columns and editorials, features and photographs to set up against other newspapers in West Virginia. We have a relatively small, but hard-working staff in our newsroom, ...

Lawmakers: Please keep our young children safe from measles, mumps, polio, and pertussis

As an owner of the childcare facility and a passionate advocate for early childhood education, I was concerned this week to learn that the West Virginia House of Delegates passed HB 5105 weakening legacy vaccine requirements for previously eradicated diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and pertussis with parental “religious or philosophical exemptions”. The bill may now head to the Senate where it could become law, and in effect threaten public health and our most vulnerable population: children under 12 months old who cannot yet be vaccinated. As other recent insightful ...

As his mom, I wish I was able to protect it all

When God decided to make me a mother, I instantly got that instinctive nature and began to protect him. Even before he was born. Even before that first glance at his precious face. I was overcome in that moment when he reached out his tiny, fragile hand and somehow it fit perfectly around my finger. As if it was meant to be. As a mom, I simply knew what to do when he fell down as he began taking his first steps. Being his mom, I knew what to do to protect him from an accident occurring. Cutting his food into small portions so he didn’t choke. Putting up gates so ...

Claw marks on educational spending

A poor explanation of a federal obligation led to a panic last week that the state was going to have to give back $465 million to the U.S. Department of Education. Even the word “clawback” was used, but as it turns out, it’s not really a clawback at all, at least in the short term. But depending on negotiations with the department for a second and final waiver, the state might have to – heaven forbid – spend $465 million additional on education. And if we don’t do that, then the clawback commences. As a colleague - Mountain State Spotlight state government watchdog ...

Enjoying the changing of the seasons

It dawned on me the other morning that sunrise has been taking place a bit earlier in recent days. We’re officially entering that time where we are receiving noticeably more sunlight, with Friday being the first day of meteorological spring. I’ve noticed the return of some of our warm-weather animal friends, especially some birds, in the last week or so (although they probably regretted that after the quick snow we had last weekend). The daffodils at the house started to sprout several days ago, and I’m anticipating some buds to form soon. It all leads to the first day of ...