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Editorials

Empathy

In her “Turning Points” column in the Feb. 19 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Clare Ansberry attempted to answer the question of why Americans are “getting worse at grieving.” The points made by Ansberry in her column provide generous food for thought and, beyond that, food for discussion and lively debate. On that issue, “picking each other’s brains” has the potential to foster interesting outcomes, but it need not sour relationships, if the exercise is conducted carefully and with compassion regarding others’ feelings. It used to be that Americans, including ...

Mountaineer Mile

Last week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey ramped up his health initiatives with a new challenge for West Virginians — get out and walk in our beautiful state. His Mountaineer Mile challenge has expanded to include 32 of our state parks, in which it is fairly easy to find incredible places to walk (at least) a mile each day. “As we’re getting out and getting active, what better place to kick off the Mountaineer Mile than in one of our beautiful West Virginia state parks,” Morrisey said. “That’s why today I’m announcing that we will be designating a Mountaineer Mile trail in each ...

Low Rating Session Left Much to Be Desired

When it comes to the recently completed 60-day legislative session, if the only goal was to potentially bring data centers to West Virginia that are powered by microgrids, then perhaps lawmakers should get an A. Other than that — and let’s be clear, data centers and microgrids might create property tax revenue but they do nothing for jobs — the Legislature has little to show from this session that will help Gov. Patrick Morrisey in his quest to win an economic backyard brawl with West Virginia’s neighboring states. At best, they get a D. Morrisey this past week did tout that ...

Easter

Though rain, wind and a lingering chill in the air may have us searching for some sunshine, the event many of us celebrate on Sunday reminds us — the Light is coming. For those Christians who observe Easter this weekend, it is truly the most joyous date on the church calendar. One that celebrates renewal, hope and kept promises. It is a day on which we remember that even when the government and religious establishment go to the most extreme of measures to crush hope and to silence a message of love for God and love for one another, compassion, treating others as we would want to be ...

Deadline

In less than a month, all those flying domestically will only be able to board an airplane if they have a Real ID — that gold star in the upper corner of your driver’s license — or a valid passport. It’s been 20 years since Congress passed the Real ID Act. It’s been delayed numerous times but is now set to take effect May 7. If you don’t have one, and you don’t have a valid passport, it’s simple: you won’t be able to fly. With less than three weeks remaining, DMV offices are busy getting people signed up. In West Virginia, the Division of Motor Vehicles offers ...

Lawsuit

A major development affecting one railroad company usually is assumed to apply to others as well, if not immediately then over the long term. Therefore, all railroad companies, especially the major carriers, are no doubt monitoring closely how much success, if any, Norfolk Southern Railroad will have in trying to force two other companies to help pay for the $600 million class-action settlement to which Norfolk agreed in connection with its February 2023 derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Regardless of how current court proceedings conclude, railroad watchers probably ...