Editorials

West Virginia Stunned in ‘Backyard Brawl’

Since the start of his term, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has promoted an “Economic Backyard Brawl” between West Virginia and its neighboring states. The mission, he said, is to make the Mountain State “the most attractive state to live, work, learn, play and run a business.” He likely didn’t expect one of those neighboring states to take the opening kickoff and run it back 90 yards for a touchdown. President Donald Trump recently visited Pittsburgh to announce more than $90 billion in new investments in energy and artificial intelligence in Pennsylvania. Nearly two dozen ...

Remembering TJ’s

The announcement Thursday that TJ’s Sports Garden would be closing its doors on July 31 was met with both sadness and fond memories of a restaurant that had become a staple of Ohio Valley dining. In its 35 years, TJ’s developed into a community hangout, a place where people could relax, watch the big game and have fun. When TJ Radevski first opened the restaurant, there weren’t many sports bars around the Ohio Valley. Now they’re abundant. Whoever has purchased the property ­— Radevski said it will soon reopen under new management after some renovations — has some ...

Pats on the Back

- To the Rev. Mike Palmer and the volunteers working with him at Triadelphia United Methodist Church, for their latest project to help flood victims recover. The group will invite those whose homes were damaged by the flood to give them a list of construction items they need. The volunteers will then take the lists, figure a total estimated cost and start raising the funds to buy them. - To all of the fairs and festivals that have entertained the Ohio Valley this week. The Marshall County Fair, Grecian Fest and Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival have all offered opportunities ...

Farmers, Families Have Earned Help

Understanding the strain economic uncertainty can put on both farmers and those vulnerable to food insecurity, U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., has joined forces with Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., to introduce the Strengthening Local Food Security Act. The effort is meant to tackle a variety of challenges, including reinforcing the food supply chain, improving economic opportunities for farmers and other food producers, and improving access to local food in communities and in schools. It is being pitched as an amendment to tack on to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. A permanent grant ...

988 Is Crucial Lifeline

It’s not a subject most people want to dwell on, but Ohioans are fortunate some did a great deal of thinking about how best to help those who are struggling and in crisis — perhaps even having thoughts of suicide. When the 988 Lifeline was established, it was meant to give those experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis somewhere to turn — somewhere to get much-needed support. Since its establishment in July 2022, it has received 592,294 contacts, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal. People can reach out through calls, chats or texts, according to the Ohio ...

The High Cost Of Healthcare In W.Va.

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to tackling the many challenges that are holding back West Virginians. There’s a new metric, a new study nearly every day that shows us how very far we have to go. But it’s important to use that information to help us change things — to show us where “the way things have always been” has gotten us. Among the more recent studies was WalletHub’s “States Where People Spend the Most and Least on Health Care.” Mountain State residents who already know we are among the most unhealthy in the country can guess where we wind up ...