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Pay Attention

It’s been said frequently since the beginning of road construction season, but it bears repeating. In fact, West Virginia Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston said it better than anyone else could have Monday when he issued the plea, “When you go through these work zones, you have GOT to slow down.” His statement came as state officials announced a fourth worker struck this year in a state highway work zone. So far, one contractor has been killed and three West Virginia Department of Highways workers have been hurt. “Imagine, if you will, we’re sitting here in my office ...

Fairness

Safeguarding the fairness and accuracy of our elections is as critical now as it ever was. Among the people who help do that are the poll workers who guide us through the process. But there are not enough willing to do the job. Here in West Virginia, Secretary of State Mac Warner is joining the effort to highlight that problem with National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on Aug. 1. “Poll workers are critical to facilitating the election process and instilling confidence in voters,” Warner said. “To ensure that we have accessible, safe, and accurate elections we need to fully staff ...

Unity

In the moments following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday, there was horror and confusion. Trump emerged defiant from the pile of Secret Service members who rushed to protect him, but as the nation breathed a sigh of relief we learned the attack had, indeed, been deadly. Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was attending the Butler, Pa., rally with his family, had dived in front of his wife and daughter to protect them from the bullets. He died for them. Meanwhile, Trump was able to let the nation know he was injured but “fine” after the ...

Mandates

Unfunded mandates, products of the federal and state governments, do not sit well with local-level units of government. Neither do those mandates sit well with school districts and institutions of higher learning, especially as they are trying to prepare and balance new budget packages. Depending on the scope of such a mandate, an unfunded or weakly funded edict can wreak havoc on the most well-thought-out of spending plans, not only for a year but possibly extending far beyond. Why is it a good time to be reflecting on budget challenges, especially in regard to ...

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board’s allegation that Norfolk Southern repeatedly tried to interfere with the investigation of the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk derailment on the outskirts of East Palestine, Ohio, near Ohio’s border with Pennsylvania, is the latest development in the rail company’s roller-coaster-like experience since the accident. The railroad’s image was dealt a huge blow — immediately and understandably — the moment the derailment occurred and during the days, weeks and months afterward regarding some decisions that were made about how to respond to it and ...

Day Trippers

Summer is flying by and many families are thinking of ways to squeeze in a relatively inexpensive vacation before thoughts turn to the start of the school year. It’s a good thing we’re surrounded by incredible (and close) spots to visit right here in West Virginia. In all corners of the state, our parks offer a chance to experience not only our natural wonders, but great food, luxurious spas, outdoor adventures — even stargazing cabins, coming soon to Coopers Rock State Forest. Here in Randolph County, we can choose to take a day trip to enjoy the natural beauty of the ...