Editorials

Capito Right on NIOSH Job Loss

As efforts from Washington, D.C., to reduce the size of the federal government continue with a sense of urgency that has yielded mixed results, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was right to urge U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse course on a reduction in force effort that has affected the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown. “I believe in the president’s vision to right size our government, but I do not think eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal,” ...

Monitoring Drug Abuse

A couple of members of Congress are not giving up on finding ways to fight the substance abuse epidemic. U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., reintroduced the Remote Opioid Monitoring Act, which would direct the federal government to study the effectiveness of remote monitoring technology in helping health care providers track patients who have received prescriptions for opioids. “The opioid epidemic has devastated communities and families in Ohio and across the country,” said Balderson. “To combat this crisis, we must allow doctors to intervene early ...

Picking, Choosing Businesses in Wheeling

There’s a good discussion to be had over the role of Wheeling’s planning commission following this month’s meeting. Is it the commission’s responsibility to worry primarily about how a potential business might affect residents and traffic in any given area, or is it the commission’s role simply to ensure a business fits within the zoning requirements of a property, or a mix of both? The issue is back in focus after two businesses — Wash-Rite, a car wash business, and the Eye Care Center of Wheeling — presented preliminary site plans for review by the planning commission. ...

Morrisey Off to Good Start for West Virginia

Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s stop in Wheeling Thursday served to highlight the changes he will help lead in the Mountain State. Chief among those is an willingness to move away from the “that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality that has ruled Charleston for decades and instead approach running our state efficiently and effectively — with a vision toward the future. Morrisey, in marking his 100th day in office, highlighted his successes from the 2025 session, particularly in getting the microgrid bill completed in the session’s final hours. He also noted 12 of the 14 bills ...

Take Back Unused Drugs

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls our country’s substance abuse epidemic “a clear and present public health, public safety and national security threat.” No one needs to tell those living in our region that. Among the ways we can combat the problem is taking advantage of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The DEA calls it a “measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.” In our region, collection sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mount de Chantal Road Kroger and at Riesbeck’s on National Road ...

Slow Down and Help Save Lives

They say the state flower of West Virginia could be orange construction barrels, given the number of them that pop up as the weather allows for continued work on our Roads to Prosperity. Certainly, if you’ve tried traveling across the state recently, the delays and changes in route can be frustrating. But that is no excuse to become careless — or even reckless. The men and women who work on our roads and bridges put themselves at risk every day to make the way smoother and safer for the rest of us. And, no, they are not able to complete the work instantly or without a little ...