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Opinion

Mine Safety

Editorials

Last week, two West Virginia communities suffered losses that have become much rarer — thank goodness — but still are thought of as something to be accepted as a risk taken by those who work in our coal industry. Two coal miners died within a 24-hour stretch late last week — Thursday evening in Raleigh County and Friday morning in Marshall County. Shuttle car operator Aaron Warrix of Chapmanville was hit by a piece of rock at the Alpha Metallurgical Resources Panther Eagle Horse Creek Mine in Raleigh County. Miner Darin Reece is believed to have been crushed between two ...

Shrinking

Editorials

The population numbers for West Virginia contained in the recent U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates release are, frankly, not surprising. The Northern Panhandle has been losing population for years. The estimates, based on county populations as of July 1, 2025, confirm the decades-long trend of people leaving that area. Consider this: there are 7,300 fewer people in the Northern Panhandle than on July 1, 2020. A six-county region that in 1970 had 201,940 residents today has 140,138. That loss — 61,802 people — is roughly equivalent to the current combined population ...

WV’s action of inaction

Columnists

We can now put a bow on the now-completed 2026 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature now that Gov. Patrick Morrisey has acted on most of the 306 bills passed during the 60-day time period between Jan. 14 and March 14. Morrisey had 15 days, not counting Sundays, following the sine die adjournment of the Legislature at midnight March 14 to decide to sign bills, veto bills or let bills go into law without his signature. And that is exactly what he did with 10 bills, choosing not to sign or veto those bills. The question some have is why? You can make some assumptions about ...

Pack, Justice present volunteer award

Columnists

WAR — State Treasurer Larry Pack on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Jim Justice to celebrate the start of National Financial Literacy Month and to present a Get a Life Community Volunteer Award to Sarah Muncy, Communities in Schools Coordinator, during a financial education budget activity for ...

Big Election

Editorials

It is the opinion of some people that this year’s midterm elections could be the most consequential of this nation’s history. That viewpoint might be accurate over the long run; there’s no way now of knowing. However, there is an important message contained within that opinion that’s not premature to acknowledge even so far out from the Nov. 3 general election. That is that voters already need to kick into proverbial high gear close attention regarding specific issues in play in 2026 America — not only within the state and, otherwise, within the nation’s borders, but also ...

Erma Bombeck’s legacy isn’t just humor

Columnists

Last week’s Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop in Dayton, Ohio, celebrated 25 years of the conference. The University of Dayton held the first workshop in 2000 as a one-time event to commemorate the Bombeck family’s gift of Erma’s papers to her alma mater. It turns out once just wasn’t enough, and now there’s no hint of stopping it. The conference sells out quickly and is known to have a long waiting list. I’ve wanted to attend the conference ever since I first began publishing essays and columns in the early 2000s. In 2012, I attended for the first time, and now I can’t ...