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Boos & Applause

Applause to a large group of local heroes, all the nurses in our area, as we celebrate National Nurses Week, which runs through Sunday. The annual observance begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation for Nurses Week in 1974 and the honorary week has been celebrated ever since. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every health care setting. Applause ...

Bad Info

Gov. Jim Justice and state Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily have shifted tactics slightly regarding the case of a 14-year-old Boone County girl who was found dead in what law enforcement officers described as a “skeletal state.” They’re throwing the lawyers under the bus. Walking back his April 23 statement that Child Protective Services workers had been unaware of the circumstances behind the girl’s death, Justice said Wednesday he had been given bad information. “I would tell you what I told you two weeks ago to the very best of all the abilities I ...

Responsible Parenting

The month of May brings with it graduations, those joyous celebrations of educational achievement. Graduation nights can also bring dread for parents, who worry about the possibility of their children making bad choices while celebrating with their friends. One thing parents can do to lessen their stress and worry level is to have the difficult conversations with their kids about the dangers of underage drinking, and also drinking and driving. Another thing that can give parents peace of mind is an event such as the Project Safe Graduation party that will take place after Elkins ...

Smoking Ban?

It’s not just a United States thing; there are smokers around the world who wish they never had taken “that first puff” of a cigarette — for health or other reasons, including the cost of continuing what many call a habit. Regardless, smokers throughout this planet who have access to world news — and who pay attention to what is going on — are likely to be interested in following a story emanating from the halls of British government about an attempt to eventually ban smoking. However, three important questions hang over the U.K. effort to create what already is being ...

Imbalanced

Across the country, mothers who work outside the home still have a pretty rough time of it, according to a recent report by WalletHub. Its “Best and Worst States for Working Moms (2024)” shows that while women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and 74% of moms with children under 18 are also working outside the home, a woman’s average hourly wage is still only 82% that of a man’s. In addition, only 10.4% of S&P 500 companies’ chief executives are women. In West Virginia, mothers who also work outside the home face an even steeper uphill battle. In fact, only a ...

Mental Health

Declaring an awareness month is easy. Using the extra attention given during that month to actually make a difference is another story. But state Department of Human Services Bureau for Behavioral Health officials are certainly trying during this Mental Health Awareness Month. West Virginia joins the national effort to focus on the theme “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” which focuses on everyone’s right to feel supported and empowered as they seek help facing life’s overwhelming pressures. Resources are everywhere, but those who are struggling do not ...