Letters to the Editor

Hold Riot Leaders Accountable

Editor, News-Register: On Jan. 6, 2021 President Donald Trump was the leader of the seditious mob that instigated a violent coup d’etat against the United States. Trump’s sedition was in trying to secure continued power without winning the 2020 election. Trump’s bombast oratory incited a mob of thousands to surge the U.S. Capitol building where the nation’s elected representatives had gathered to perform their constitutional duty of counting electoral votes and confirming the election of Joe Biden as president. Trump urged backers to march to the Capitol and “fight like ...

Getting Government Out of Way

Editor, News-Register: As we enter the new year City Council has been working on making some changes to our zoning code. Whether it be reducing parking minimums, allowing “non-conforming” structures to be rebuilt after a fire or demolition, or once again permitting accessory structures to be built, all the changes being considered would reduce restrictions, cut red tape, and allow property owners more freedom over what they do with their land. The changes I want to talk about here involve allowing accessory structures. First, what is an accessory structure? They are often ...

Thomas Left Her Mark on Library

Editor, News-Register: In a few short weeks, Dottie Thomas, director of the Ohio County Public Library, will vacate her current professional post and enter retirement. Being one who is exceptionally competent, but not wont to blow her own horn, Ms. Thomas departs quietly but leaves the legacy of a library with strong ties to the local community, commitment to outstanding public services, dedication to exploration and promotion of our community’s heritage, custodian of important and noteworthy artifacts, and promoter of information and knowledge. Physically, the library just looks ...

Sen. Manchin Should Support Bill

Editor, News-Register: Although I have qualms about spending trillions more dollars to expand the social safety net at a time that the national debt is soaring and inflation is raging, there is a tragic component to West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin serving to single-handedly kill the president’s Build Back Better bill, which contains many features that are popular with wide swaths of the American people. I wonder if the residents of West Virginia, one of the most impoverished states, recognize how inordinately they would have benefited from the legislation and whether they will be ...

Don’t Hamper Energy Growth

Editor, News-Register: With abundant natural gas in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, West Virginia has become the nation’s sixth-largest producer of natural gas and fifth top-producing energy state overall. Over 80,000 jobs are supported by the natural gas and oil industry in West Virginia and billions of dollars are generated every year for the state’s economy. Thanks in large part to increased use of natural gas in the power sector, the United States has considerably cut carbon dioxide emissions — now at the lowest levels in a generation. West Virginians also ...

Supporting Our Essential Workers

Editor, News-Register: As we’re facing yet another strain of COVID-19, healthcare workers around the world continue to feel the effects of the pandemic both in and outside of the workplace. And while nursing shortages date back to the early 1900s, none have quite compared to the magnitude of the current shortage, which has exacerbated burnout and compassion fatigue among nearly all healthcare professionals within West Virginia. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing shortage is anticipated to reach 1.1 million by next year. With the demand for nurses on the ...