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Gov. Jim Justice has remained popular in West Virginia even with a long list of business issues dogging him in recent years. On one hand, the Democrat-turned-Republican Justice has overseen a span in which significant economic growth has taken place and new ventures have been announced. The state budget — which was anything but stable in 2016 — has been stabilized. Revenues have been so strong that Justice and the Legislature have been able to make significant tax cuts for both individuals and businesses. And the personal property tax we pay on our vehicles is now available to be ...

State Fair

For nearly 100 years, Mountain State residents have carried on the summer tradition of celebrating our state and its people with the West Virginia State Fair. Having kicked off its 99th annual event in Lewisburg Thursday, the fair will run through Aug. 17, featuring rides, entertainment, lots and lots of food, shopping and other vendors, livestock events and much more. Remember, some of those food vendors will be competing in the Best New Fair Food contest. The possibilities are delicious. But Lewisburg, in Greenbrier County, isn’t exactly around the corner for many West ...

Shocking

Video of former Monongah, W.Va., Police Chief Nathan Lanham arresting Beth Delloma last week is stunning. It shows a woman confused and afraid as Lanham curses at her, points a gun at her, appears agitated, grabs a sledgehammer to smash her windows while she is sitting in the car, and finally chases her down, slams her to the concrete and very roughly attempts to handcuff her. The offense for which she was being pulled over was an expired registration sticker. But Delloma knew — as most women have been taught — that there is a risk of carjackers impersonating police. So, when ...

Inspections

Be forgiving toward anyone who is concerned, or even fearful, about the safety of railroad freight cars these days. Most of the people who read this past week’s Associated Press report about railcar safety inspections no doubt still are amazed that there have not been numerous other serious rail accidents, especially like the one last year that caused so much havoc, damage and fear in East Palestine, Ohio. Regarding fear, that reaction continues to be real even today. And it is important to note that any trepidation still oozing from knowledge of what occurred in East Palestine ...

Reminders

In the past few weeks, many West Virginia residents received two of their favorite annual reminders — a postcard-sized bill that shows the amount of tax owed on your home or any land you own, and also a separate bill showing what is owed on your personal property — cars, trucks, car trailers, etc. As we’ve reminded you previously, it’s important to understand how and when to pay that personal property tax bill on your vehicles so that you qualify for a full credit on your 2025 state income taxes, as provided through tax relief approved by lawmakers in 2023. The tax relief ...

Boos & Applause

Applause to the news this week that the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band will be performing during the 86th Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins this fall. “After marching through the Grand Feature Parade, they will perform at the Jack Basil Band Field Show at the Elkins High School Football Field,” Heidi Bray, executive director of the Mountain State Forest Festival, told the Randolph County Commission Thursday. This will be the Pride of West Virginia’s first appearance at the Forest Festival in more than five years, and their presence is likely to bring out ...