Donald Trump arrived at the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires a thoroughly whipped man. While other nations were able to conduct open negotiations, Trump was constrained by Robert Mueller and his foreign policy handlers. John Bolton seemed positively smug as he viewed his so-called boss meander ...
Among the tragedies of the sexual abuse scandal that continues to rock the Roman Catholic Church is that trust in the institution can be restored only by adding names to the lists of predator priests being released all across the country. Undoubtedly, some of the clergy responsible for ...
In this season of gift giving, I recently received a wonderful gift. It did not cost any money and did not need to be wrapped. It was a very meaningful gift because it enabled me to view my surroundings with fresh eyes and an open mind. Enjoying a casual conversation, I was asked about my ...
Telling nearly half the people who voted in the most recent election that they were wrong and, as a result, you’ll be going over their heads is never a good idea for a public official. Perhaps that’s why we haven’t heard talk of a user fee in Wheeling since early last month. On Nov. 6, ...
As we begin the final stages of preparing the historic Kump house to serve as an education center, we have three basic problems to solve. Can we make an old private home into a public facility that will meet modern building codes? How will we balance requirements for historic preservation and ...
November’s midterm elections represented a big defeat for the Republican party. Almost 40 seats lost in the House of Representatives and although they gained in the Senate, they only had to defend nine seats to 24 for the Democrats. In those states, they did take, they resorted to tactics not ...
Hello from Barbour County! I hope that you all had a good Thanksgiving. We had 35 family and friends around our table. I love family time. Now, we move onward towards Christmas! I did get my cards ready for the mail and the tree is up, but shopping is another thing. I guess I need to get to ...
The holidays are a time for shopping and charitable giving, and while this is a time for sharing with family and friends, be careful not to inadvertently share your personal information with strangers who may be identity thieves. Just as consumer activity ramps up around this time of year, so ...
Who doesn’t love granny? Some of us are fortunate enough to have biological grandmothers to influence our lives. Many others have been blessed with mature women who have assumed the role of a nurturing influence at various stages of their lives. These “adopted” grannies enrich our lives ...
Health care and the health of West Virginians has an integral role in the economic comeback of our state that’s happening right now. Under the superior leadership of Governor Jim Justice, the state has already made financial history, including: The largest first-quarter tax revenue ...
Well, at least one Trump knows what they are doing in the White House. Melania’s sacking of John Bolton’s deputy, Mira Ricardel, demonstrates that at least she understands the poor quality of the staff surrounding her husband. If she completes the job and helps relieve John Bolton and James ...
West Virginia’s unemployment rate is 5.3 percent, the lowest recorded level in over a decade. Core industries such as timber, manufacturing and mining have experienced a 13.1 percent growth rate in the last two years. Tourism is expanding as more travelers make their way to our wild, ...
I’ve heard of Christmas miracles, but I think the state was witness to a Thanksgiving miracle of sorts. Last Wednesday, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals told the state Legislature that there would be no reconsideration of its decision to stop the impeachment trials of Chief ...
As fall arrives so does the time-honored tradition of hunting. Those who have been patiently waiting can finally celebrate the start of deer season. From the early settlers of our region, to the 350,000 plus individuals who hunt each year, hunting is a pastime that has been woven into the very ...
After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico more than a year ago, West Virginians probably were among those shaking our heads over the situation. Inefficiency and corruption are bad enough in the U.S. territory that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had to put special rules in place to ...
I am very pleased to report that West Virginia hosted a very successful November General Election. Here are a few of the highlights from my perspective as the state’s chief elections officer. Approximately 593,900 ballots were cast statewide resulting in 48 percent voter turnout. A total of ...
Theodore Parker, a controversial Unitarian minister in the early 1800s, wrote, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Parker was a transcendentalist and friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau in New England. He was also an abolitionist ...
Democrats scored an impressive victory in the House in the mid-term election. Once more they won 54 percent of the vote for Congressional candidates. Given the gerrymandering in some states, the full potential of such a vote was not fully realized. But to downplay the achievement, as did that ...
Hello from Barbour County! Thanksgiving season is upon us. A time for many to reflect, spend time with family and enjoy what we have been blessed with. May we try to remember to have a thanksgiving time in our hearts all year long. Rifle season begins on Monday. Be extra careful in the ...
For years, activist appeals court judges and justices have made a mockery of the separation of powers to which they lay claim in preservation of their own authority. But just before the general election, our state Supreme Court signaled those days may be over in West Virginia. Separation of ...