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State needs to spend our money wisely

Editorials

How many of us had a good idea how much we would be receiving with our tax refunds, and had already mentally spent that money before it arrived? We can’t blame state government for being in the same boat, as an “April surprise” arrived in the form of the largest single month of tax collections above estimates. More than $237 million in surplus revenue has come in, with two months remaining in the fiscal year. But during its regular session, the legislature approved more than $126.2 million in supplemental appropriations using one-time money through available surplus collections ...

We cannot forget their sacrifice

Editorials

While we often focus on the safety of our local communities as a selling point to attract new residents and visitors alike, it is important to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who work to make that safety possible. This is National Police Week, with Thursday to be set aside as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This week, communities across the country will take time to reflect on the work, and dangers, experienced by law enforcement officers as they serve and protect their communities. Each ceremony, whether it be the 37th annual Candlelight Vigil to be held Tuesday in ...

Talking budgets with California on my mind

Local Columns

As you are reading this, I am vacationing with my wife and mother-in-law in Southern California, staying at a resort just south of Orange County. For my mother-in-law, this is a bucket list trip to dip her toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. For my wife, this is an opportunity to visit Disney Land and see Hollywood. For me, it is about reconnecting spiritually with my biological mother’s side of the family. My mother, Ethel Mae Glee Adams, died in 2019 due to complications from lung cancer, being a lifelong smoker. My grandparents on my mother’s side have been dead for ...

I wish everyone knew what being a mom is like

Local Columns

I once had a friend who used to tell me all the time that she never wanted to have children. She was adamant about it. Years later, she got married to a man who adored her. He soon became my friend, too. They were a happy couple. Never really argued. Always called each other by a pet name. They were always going to baseball, hockey and football games. They visited restaurants all the time. They would go on vacation to places they found interesting and stayed up late watching movies on tv with one another. They had time to do whatever they wanted to do. No one ...

Guest column: West Virginia lawmakers should back Medicare Advantage

Local Columns

I have spent my career in the professions of insurance and law. These days, part of my efforts include helping seniors select their appropriate Medicare coverages. Healthcare access and affordability are critical for West Virginia retirees and seniors, which makes programs like Medicare Advantage indispensable. More than half of West Virginians who are eligible for Medicare choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage program, mirroring national trends. Keeping this program strong and on steady financial ground is critical to protecting the health and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of ...

Guest Column: America has the resources to confront China’s mineral extortion

Local Columns

It is no secret that China has weaponized control of the world’s mineral supply chains. We’ve already seen this when both the Biden and Trump administrations challenged China’s unfair trade practices. Beijing has responded by simply restricting or banning the export of minerals needed for America’s economy and defense industrial base. China’s ever-growing chokehold on mineral supply chains — and U.S. reliance on imports — has been America’s Achilles’ heel for more than a decade. According to recent government analysis, the U.S. is import-reliant for 40 critical ...