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Editorials

April is National Volunteer Month, a period to honor those who graciously give their time every day to help others. It’s one of the younger of such celebrations, established by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 as part of his 1,000 Points of Light initiative, but youth doesn’t take away from its importance. Because there’s no taking away from the importance of volunteers in our communities. They’re in our churches, our schools and our nursing homes. Nonprofit organizations couldn’t exist without them, as their compassion and call to serve provide essential assistance and ...

Cabinet dismissals

Columnists

For Donald Trump, the MAGA revolt is a reminder that his coalition is uneasy. With the dismissal of two cabinet members in a few weeks, Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi, the White House is off balance. The Iran War is also beginning to erode his approval ratings. But his problem is not simply MAGA; it is beginning to trouble traditional Republicans. So far, not enough to erode his slender majority in the House of Representatives, but in the Senate, it is clear that the Republican leadership is troubled. Trump’s antics and pronouncements are tolerated by the Majority Leader, John Thune, but ...

Mine Safety

Editorials

Last week, two West Virginia communities suffered losses that have become much rarer — thank goodness — but still are thought of as something to be accepted as a risk taken by those who work in our coal industry. Two coal miners died within a 24-hour stretch late last week — Thursday evening in Raleigh County and Friday morning in Marshall County. Shuttle car operator Aaron Warrix of Chapmanville was hit by a piece of rock at the Alpha Metallurgical Resources Panther Eagle Horse Creek Mine in Raleigh County. Miner Darin Reece is believed to have been crushed between two ...

Shrinking

Editorials

The population numbers for West Virginia contained in the recent U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates release are, frankly, not surprising. The Northern Panhandle has been losing population for years. The estimates, based on county populations as of July 1, 2025, confirm the decades-long trend of people leaving that area. Consider this: there are 7,300 fewer people in the Northern Panhandle than on July 1, 2020. A six-county region that in 1970 had 201,940 residents today has 140,138. That loss — 61,802 people — is roughly equivalent to the current combined population ...

WV’s action of inaction

Columnists

We can now put a bow on the now-completed 2026 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature now that Gov. Patrick Morrisey has acted on most of the 306 bills passed during the 60-day time period between Jan. 14 and March 14. Morrisey had 15 days, not counting Sundays, following the sine die adjournment of the Legislature at midnight March 14 to decide to sign bills, veto bills or let bills go into law without his signature. And that is exactly what he did with 10 bills, choosing not to sign or veto those bills. The question some have is why? You can make some assumptions about ...

Pack, Justice present volunteer award

Columnists

WAR — State Treasurer Larry Pack on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Jim Justice to celebrate the start of National Financial Literacy Month and to present a Get a Life Community Volunteer Award to Sarah Muncy, Communities in Schools Coordinator, during a financial education budget activity for ...