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Beware of disaster scams

Editorials

As Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance finally makes its way to desperate West Virginia counties, the state attorney general also is issuing a warning: Beware of scams. Sadly, those who are most in need of help are often the most enticing targets for online predators who have gotten very good at robbing people. Scams have already surfaced, with one technique being for the caller to pose as a FEMA employee. “During disasters we often see the best in West Virginians — our generosity and volunteerism is second to none,” Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said. “But ...

Stop playing games with our schools

Editorials

U.S. senators who put pressure on the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Education were joined by millions of Americans in a sigh of relief when the remaining $5 billion in federal education funding the government was withholding from states and local school districts was released last week. Those entities should have received their funding — which had already been approved as part of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution in March — July 1. But instead of much needed financial support, they got nearly a month of worry. U.S. Sens. Jim Justice and Shelley Moore ...

Take part in the process

Editorials

New Cumberland Council will be holding its final vote Monday on proposed increases to the city’s water and sewer rates. A public hearing will be held as part of council’s regular meeting, set to begin at 5 p.m. Monday, with the agenda also to include the second – and last vote – on the rate increases. We aren’t taking a stance on whether the rates should be increased. Unfortunately, that often is the only option for a community in order to make improvements to their utility system, or cover the costs of operations. We are, though, encouraging residents to let city council ...

Don’t wait to get children vaccinated

Editorials

Despite the irresponsible “political” noise surrounding the matter, vaccines remain an important step for parents to take in keeping their children as healthy and safe as possible. For those with children old enough to enter school, state law — West Virginia Code 16-3-4 to be exact — continues to require “a child entering school or a state-regulated child care center in this state must be immunized against chickenpox, hepatitis-b, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough.” The start of another school year is creeping up on us more ...

Support farmers and vulnerable families

Editorials

Understanding the strain economic uncertainty can put on both farmers and those vulnerable to food insecurity, U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., has joined forces with Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., to introduce the Strengthening Local Food Security Act. The effort is meant to tackle a variety of challenges, including reinforcing the food supply chain, improving economic opportunities for farmers and other food producers, and improving access to local food in communities and in schools. It is being pitched as an amendment to tack on to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. A permanent grant ...

A government about laws, not men

Local Columns

I have no blood connection with John Adams, one of our nation’s founding fathers and the second president of the United States. But I’ve read enough of his letters to find a real kinship with the underappreciated man. One of his famous quotes is often paraphrased, but below is a direct quote from an Adams letter to fellow Continental Congress delegate John Penn. “…The true Idea of a Republic, is ‘An Empire of Laws and not of Men’: and therefore as a Republic is the best of Governments so, that particular Combination of Power, which is best contrived for a faithfull ...