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Underrated

Those of you who have visited New River Gorge National Park and Preserve will have trouble believing anyone would fail to see it as a top destination for hikers, climbers, lovers of the outdoors and those who seek adventure amid unparalleled natural splendor. But according to U.S. News and World Report, the park is the No. 1 most underrated travel destination for 2026. “With its majestic forested hills and deep canyons, New River Gorge is often compared to the Smokies, but with shorter peaks, a more compact footprint and much smaller crowds,” according to U.S. News. “Adrenaline ...

Happy Easter

For Christians, Sunday is the holiest day of the year — Easter. It is a day of celebration; commemorating the resurrection of the Son. For millennia, this season has also been a time to celebrate the return of the sun, when our minds are on a kind of rebirth and living again in the light. Easter brings us joy, yes. It also teaches us about sacrifice and love; and gives us a brightly colored reminder that we are supposed to love one another, too. For many, it is a day of dressing up, perhaps attending church, having a meal with family and then giving in to modern traditions ...

Red Flags Politicians

It was just one man’s opinion but it’s concerning nonetheless — for the long term as well as the short term. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, an interview about which the newspaper reported on Feb. 17, Dr. Richard Pazdur alleged that fast-track drug approvals had been politicized in a manner in which he never had experienced in his 26 years at the federal Food and Drug Administration. Pazdur was a top federal drug regulator at the time of his abrupt departure from the FDA in December. Pazdur, who is an oncologist, had “scrutinized applications for cancer ...

Job Growth

Residents of this region pride themselves on a pioneering spirit that has spread across generations of those who helped fuel and build this country. But these days, we’re falling behind as others have picked up the torch. In fact, according to WalletHub’s “Most and Least Innovative States (2026),” Ohio ranks 40th in the country, and West Virginia ranks a predictable 49th. According to the study, the most innovative places are Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and California. Those measures are based on data points such as the share of STEM professionals, research and ...

Sammy’s Law

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., has been working on ways to better protect kids online by giving parents the right to receive safety notifications through Federal Trade Commission-regulated third-party providers. Versions of Sammy’s Law, introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, are meant to help alert parents when their children are taking part in potentially risky interactions. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has joined Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Katie Britt, R-Ala.; along with U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Buddy ...

Money

State Treasurer Larry Pack regularly announces instances of unclaimed property funds being returned to West Virginians. The idea surely is to inspire more people to check whether there is money owed to them, as the state is sitting on more than $536 million that should be in someone else’s hands. A particularly dazzling example was unveiled last week, as Pack’s office was able to return more than $354,000 in unclaimed property to Vandalia Health Inc. “We are grateful the Treasurer found this significant amount of unclaimed funds,” said Dave Ramsey, president and CEO of ...