Breaking News

Editorials

Unpaid Care

Among the many other designations for November is National Family Caregivers Month — a time to recognize the role played by those who sometimes jeopardize their own long-term financial, physical and mental wellbeing to instead care for a loved one in need. According to data from AARP West Virginia, approximately 26% of Mountain State adults fall into the category of being a family caregiver. These people are often unpaid — and on their own — taking care of older parents, spouses and others for whom no one else has stepped up. In fact, AARP estimates there is approximately $3 ...

Healthy Food

As Americans try to focus on upcoming holidays and rapidly approaching New Year’s resolutions, data accompanying this National Diabetes Awareness Month reminds that many of us have some work to do regarding our health. This is no time for nasty digs about SNAP and the health of those living in states with high numbers of people living both below the poverty line and in food deserts. In fact, where access to affordable, nutritious options is limited, health woes that go far beyond hunger are plentiful. It’s no surprise, then, that WalletHub’s “Most Overweight and Obese ...

Helping Hands

The Inter-Mountain has added a new daily feature, beginning in last Saturday’s edition. Each day we will publish a graphic offering information on where and when food assistance is available in our local counties, and how and where food can be donated to help feed local people. Today’s Helping Hands feature is located on Page A9. It includes information for Randolph, Barbour, Pocahontas, Tucker and Upshur counties. With the federal government continuing to be mired in a shutdown — and pausing the funding on crucial programs like SNAP and Head Start —we feel it is more ...

Voting

Imagine being 18 (or nearly 18) years old and having someone like the West Virginia Secretary of State tell you that, at least in one aspect, you are just as powerful as someone like Taylor Swift or the president of the United States. That’s what local students learned when Secretary Kris Warner visited Parkersburg High School and Wood County Christian School this week to encourage them to register to vote when they are eligible. “We are all equal in this country,” Warner said. “When we all go to the ballot box, we all have the same rights and opportunities.” Warner was ...

Remember

There was a time not too long ago when the first Saturday in November meant everyone needed to travel through their houses changing the time on clocks, watches and microwave ovens, and then head out to their cars to make similar adjustments. While that chore has largely been eliminated, thanks to smart phones and watches that always show the exact time no matter where you are, other clocks that automatically adjust and even appliances that are connected to the internet and never fail to show the proper time, the return of Eastern Standard Time represents a good reminder to check ...

Changes

The Detroit News reported Wednesday that General Motors has laid off thousands of workers from manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Michigan. Though it is tempting to suggest the reason is purely a matter of GM’s overeagerness to catch up to the electric vehicle push, the reality is a bit more complicated. At the company’s Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Warren, Ohio, there are expected to be approximately 550 cuts and 850 temporary layoffs, according to a report by CNBC. There will also be approximately 700 layoffs at the Ultium Cells plant in Tennessee. Those gleefully ...