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Federal Freeze Frame

I typically don’t write about national politics in this space. When I do cover national politics, it is usually through the lenses of West Virginia’s congressional delegation. My focus tends to be on state-level politics. However, last week’s temporary freeze on federal grant funding by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – now stayed and rescinded - really brought together national and state politics, because probably no other state would have been affected by that freeze more than West Virginia. According to the memo, federal agencies were to review all ...

Second inaugural

So it begins; Donald Trump’s second inaugural is as grim as the first. Instead of hitting unifying themes, he was all grievance. And he was fanciful, advocating taking back the Panama Canal — despite treaty obligations — and planting Old Glory on Mars. He spelled out his specifics without being clear on the methods employed to attain them. Trump did lay out the operating ideology for his regime which was “common sense”. But what this means is not exactly clear. Albert Einstein’s definition was that “common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in ...

Building a vibrant community

“Great communities make us feel grounded, protected and empowered. They provide jobs and solid economic growth. They attract new talents and keep existing talent from leaving town. They do a great job of educating young people, they provide safe neighborhoods, and they nurture the health and well-being of all citizens. They provide a sense of belonging, connection and support. And they’re just more fun to live in.” — From “Building a Vibrant Community” by Quint Studer. A vibrant community does not just happen. It is created strategically and intentionally by the ...

‘Focus on Education’ meetings

So it begins; Donald Trump’s second inaugural is as grim as the first. Instead of hitting unifying themes, he was all grievance. And he was fanciful, advocating taking back the Panama Canal — despite treaty obligations — and planting Old Glory on Mars. He spelled out his specifics without being clear on the methods employed to attain them. Trump did lay out the operating ideology for his regime which was “common sense”. But what this means is not exactly clear. Albert Einstein’s definition was that “common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in ...

‘Focus on Education’ meetings

This week we plan to begin “First Friday Focus on Education” meetings in the Learning Lab at Kump Education Center, 401 S. Randolph Avenue across from Kroger, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Several people have shown their interest in helping teachers and coaches provide opportunities that students need to become healthy and effective citizens. This week we will discuss basic education issues including but not limited to the following topics: 1. Safety: As a young teacher I believed that we were “not just babysitters,” but as a parent and grandparent I earnestly hope ...

Certificate of Need program

As debates rage about health care regulation, West Virginia’s Certificate of Need (CON) law has come under increased scrutiny, but the reality is this program plays an important role in helping ensure access to care for all West Virginians. Critics argue that this program stifles competition and drives up costs. However, removing the CON program would devastate our state’s delicate rural health care ecosystem and ultimately harm the very communities these critics claim to champion. West Virginia’s rugged geography and sparse population create unique health care challenges. Our ...