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State of the Union showcased frail Congress

Columnists

The president wasted no time getting to his lies. It started in the first minute, when he claimed that: “When I spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis, with a stagnant economy, inflation at record levels, a wide-open border, horrendous recruitment for military and police, rampant crime at home and wars and chaos all over the world.” None of that is truthful. Economic growth was actually a bit better during Joe Biden’s final year in office (2.8%) than in Trump’s first year (2.2%). In March of last year, inflation was not at “record ...

Too many meetings? Make them better

Columnists

It seems the feeling that there are too many meetings comes up frequently in conversations these days. Time is precious. No one wants to sit in meetings that don’t add value. On the other hand, well-run meetings have a positive impact in many areas.  This column offers tips on how to make the most of your meetings. It is not inclusive; there are many good tools on this topic that are easy to locate. However, these are some of the most helpful practices I’ve discovered over the years. The starting point with any project is to diagnose the situation. When it comes to meeting ...

Confusing policy

Columnists

This had the potential to be a foreign policy for the ages, but it now appears that Donald Trump has created one that only confuses. If he has a solution to the problems besetting the world, Trump has yet to articulate one, except to coerce, blockade, and threaten. From Iran to Ukraine, Cuba, and Venezuela, the Trump Doctrine resembles more a performative policy linked to a floating craps game. Although he points to some successes, Venezuela and Gaza, to name two, are all wrapped in caveats. The Maduro regime still exists in the form of Delcy Rodríguez, and Israel still has designs on ...

ArtsBank offers fun February end

Columnists

The ArtsBank Auction offers our community an event that is an entertaining way to finish out this cold winter month.  The doors at Orchard Hall will open at 6:30 this evening and excellent hors d’oeuvres will be ready for guests to enjoy. Music will accompany a time for mingling with friends and looking at the art offerings. The grand auction will begin at 8 p.m. ArtsBank has paid local artists to teach art lessons in Randolph County Public Schools for thirty years. These working artists go into classrooms for six weeks to teach elementary students how to paint or do other ...

Tax Burden

Editorials

It’s a story common for regions of West Virginia that border Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. A recent college graduate of West Virginia University lands their first job in Pennsylvania. When it comes to deciding which state is more appealing on the tax front, the choice is clear: Pennsylvania. The same goes for Ohio and Kentucky. How many high-income professionals work in Wheeling, Parkersburg or Huntington, yet live in Ohio or Kentucky because of a lower personal income tax burden?   And now, instead of proposing a meaningful plan to make West Virginia more competitive with ...

Not Just On Islands

Columnists

The crime of child sexual abuse has the nation’s attention lately in a way never seen before. While we collectively, and rightfully, seek justice for these victims, let’s not forget the kids up the street, or down the holler, who are currently in the midst of the same horrific experiences. Last year, Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in West Virginia saw 4,734 new kids, and of those, 2,182 were referred for suspected sexual abuse. 2,182 kids. That’s approximately 161 separate little league teams or 108 classrooms full of West Virginia kids who came to a WV CAC in 2025 because Child ...