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Controversy

As our state’s population decreases, so does the number of students in our schools. Declining enrollment, in turn, is creating challenges for our school districts. Some boards of education are facing the bitter reality that it is time to close cherished facilities. But the Thomas B. Fordham Institute put together a study that may offer guidance on that front. According to a report by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, the study suggests schools that have been identified by the state as low-performing should be considered first for closure. “We know from research that if you close ...

Boos & Applause

Applause to the small army of volunteers who have been working for months to bring us all the 86th Mountain State Forest Festival, which gets underway today with a long list of events and activities. The MSFF will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5, with family friendly attractions all week long. As we enjoy the annual traditions, let’s keep in mind how much time and hard work it takes to make the Forest Festival a reality. The volunteers should know that their work is greatly appreciated. Applause to everyone involved in organizing and presenting the 2024 Elkins High School Homecoming ...

Priorities

We are months away from the next regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, but the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Campaign for Jobs Digest includes some ideas about what lawmakers should prioritize. (Hint: It’s not incredibly archaic socio-cultural agendas.) Economic issues are still a struggle. The report shows West Virginia was one of only five states that showed a loss in non-agricultural jobs between 2013 and 2023. Here, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports, employment opportunities fell by approximately 18,000 positions — more than any other state ...

Obesity

West Virginia comes in last or very near the bottom in all kinds of significant categories. It’s been that way for so long, it’s almost a running joke. And when we’re on top, it’s usually for something like leading the nation in overdose deaths. Now, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research shows we are leading in another category: obesity. The CDC says obesity is increasing across the country. All U.S. states and territories have obesity rates higher than 20%. But in the Mountain State, an astounding 41% of adults are obese. According to Dr. Alyson Goodman, ...

Deadly

Despite its wealth of resources, America lacks unlimited capacity in pursuing medical research. That acknowledged, it nevertheless is reasonable to conclude that this country is not utilizing all of its available research capacity, and that this nation — and the rest of the world — would benefit over the long run if most of that unused capacity would be put to work. That said, it would be encouraging if both 2024 U.S. presidential candidates would pledge significantly more money, if elected, for research into unlocking cures for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, lupus and ...

Voter Fatigue

Think what you want to think about the reliability of polls. That’s your right. But consider the finding of a Pew Research Center poll and reflect on if — and/or how — it applies to you. The poll in question, which surveyed 8,709 adults in April, found 62% of U.S. adults saying they were worn out by so much coverage of the presidential campaigns being waged and the respective candidates. Of course, having been conducted in April, the poll in question centered on fatigue that was in place months before election coverage escalated after President Joe Biden announced he was ...