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De-escalation of politicization can’t be one-sided

Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcasting are the two largest owners of ABC television stations in the United States. After FCC Chairman Brendan Carr blasted ABC for Jimmy Kimmel suggesting Charlie Kirk’s assassin was “MAGA,” Nexstar and Sinclair decided to stop airing Jimmy Kimmel and demanded that ABC take action. ABC and Disney acted after Nexstar and Sinclair declared they were taking off Kimmel, not after Carr’s statements. Progressives claim Nexstar has business before the FCC and Sinclair is a President Donald Trump-friendly organization. The implication is that Nexstar acted to ...

Elkins High Homecoming Parade

The Elkins High Homecoming Parade down Davis Avenue was a delightful procession of happy young people on Wednesday evening just before sunset. We saw many friends who are parents and grandparents of children in local public schools. Nobody seemed worried that Randolph County Schools were ranked 55th among 55 counties on the West Virginia Balanced Scorecard. There were two marching bands playing. Elkins Middle School Band led the small procession clad in green and white, and Elkins High School Band came at the end of the parade in orange and black. Both bands were not in their ...

Nice leaders protect feelings; Kind leaders protect futures

Are you a nice leader or a kind leader? Is there a difference? Yes, an important one. Nice and kind are not synonyms. Niceness is about seeming pleasant and agreeable. It’s about keeping the peace and making people comfortable. This is not a bad thing in many situations. Kindness is about real compassion and empathy. It’s taking action from the place of wanting the best for a person or an organization, even when it means telling hard truths and making hard choices. When a person is “nice,” it is because they want to be liked and often because they are ...

MAGA is changing

Perhaps it would be ironic if, despite all of his populist bluster and brag, Donald Trump turned out to be a traditional Republican. The “great big beautiful bill”’s tax cut turned out to be a massive benefit for billionaires, and his budget fulfilled the wish list for the old GOP. If there is any MAGA influence, it is difficult to ascertain. Of course, it has no tax on tips, as well as no tax on Social Security and other benefits for the base. But generally, Trump‘s government has delivered a budget and program more suited to Daddy Warbucks than the mythical populous. He used ...

Fall season is definitely in the air in Barbour County

Hello from Barbour County! Fall is definitely in the air. The Forest Festival is almost upon us, and that is something to celebrate across the area. Old Fashioned Days will take place in Belington, today, Sept. 20. Beginning at 9 a.m, the day will be action packed with fun including: a car show, tractor show, pie eating contest, pet show, duck race, apple butter making, saw mill demonstration, food, music, a cake walk, and more. Fall Fire Season begins Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. During these times, outdoor burning is prohibited between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 ...

Kirk’s legacy

Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative influencer, lost his life at the hands of an assassin. He was doing what he excelled at, trying to persuade college students to join his movement, which advanced traditional values. With his tent displaying his challenge, “Prove Me Wrong,” Kirk invited others to debate him. For his trouble, he lost his life in an unspeakable act of violence. Kirk was at the height of his persuasive powers and was highly effective. He worked in a difficult venue, college campuses, which were never known as inviting to right-leaning ...