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Trump card played against Capito family

Trump has entered the chat as the kids say, but it’s not the Trump you think. Donald Trump Jr. - the son of former Republican president Donald Trump who is the likely GOP nominee for president in 2024 – took a swipe at both U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Republican candidate for governor of West Virginia Moore Capito on social media last week. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., voted for the amended national security supplemental last week that contained funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as funding to replenish U.S. military munition stockpiles. Some on the MAGA ...

How much harder will we have to fight?

Like many in our area, I woke up Thursday morning to news none of us ever wanted to hear. Cleveland-Cliffs, the current owner of what is left of our once-thriving steel mill, announced its plans to idle “indefinitely” the tinplate production facilities located in Weirton. Company officials pointed to a decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission from a couple of weeks ago, determining the domestic tinplate industry was not being damaged by imports from a select group of countries. The idling is expected to happen sometime in mid to late April. We know the history of the ...

Honoring the greatest thing I have ever done

I have certainly never done anything remarkable with the life I have been given ... A film is not going to be created about me. A song will never be written. You will not find me among those who will forever be embedded on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Nor will a statue ever be erected in my honor. City streets will not be named after me. Future generations will not call their baby girls “Julie.” As a matter of fact, in just a few short decades, there will be no one left here to even remember my name. My mind regrets not having achieved far more. I hate regrets. The ...

History in the Hills: The river to freedom

I have a great view from my office in the Hancock County Courthouse. Looking out my windows I can see the town of New Cumberland, the many mountains surrounding the valley and the mighty Ohio River. I have written a lot about the river in the past, from the early Native Americans who have lived here for thousands of years, to early settlers and industries that took advantage of the waterway for commerce. There is just so much history tied up in that waterway. For most of the history of human habitation here, the river has served three main purposes: As a source of food and water, as a ...

Leader of governor’s race up for debate

Last week, I had the pleasure of being invited by the Raleigh County Republican Executive Committee to come cover their debate, featuring the top four GOP candidates for governor of West Virginia at the beautiful Resort at Glade Springs. The event was interesting for several reasons. For one, it was a paid event, meaning one had to pay to be there unless specifically invited (such as media). Despite this, the ballroom we were in was packed and it was filled with people from all across the state who made the trek to Daniels right outside Beckley. The level of interest in the debate ...

Regulating cable television

At the Public Service Commission, we are often asked how cable television and internet services are regulated. These issues are often confused because some cable companies also provide internet service. The Public Service Commission does not regulate internet service at all. Those complaints must be filed with the attorney general’s office. Cable is a bit more complicated. State law says the cable television industry is not regulated as a utility. The main reason for this is because the service often crosses state lines, which means the federal government is its primary regulator. On ...