Letters to the Editor

VA Pittsburgh Serving Veterans

Editor, News-Register: I am proud to report VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is the provider of choice for more than 63,000 veterans in our region, which includes southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Our top providers and staff work hard to maintain veterans’ trust, using advanced technology to deliver the best care, often with shorter wait times than veterans see in the private sector. To best meet veterans’ health care needs, we provide a wide array of health care services and specialties at our two medical centers and five outpatient clinics. In ...

Doing Public’s Business in Public

Editor, News-Register: Mayor Elliott: “Several different projects are taking place in different phases over the course of two decades and are expected to cost around $280 million in total.” Mayor wants to raise your water, sewer and garbage rates. Mayor stands behind a 45% increase of sewage rate hike. Mayor added a City Service fee. Mayor buys a building voted NO at this time by the community to build. Mayor ignores most concerns voiced by the public, and opinions must be voiced at the end of the City Council meetings and are not open for discussion. Where are the COVID ...

New Infrastructure Plan Needed

Editor, News-Register: The American Society of Civil Engineers just put out its latest infrastructure “report card” — a grading of the state of our bridges, roads, rail and water ways, airports, broadband connectivity, and shared spaces like parks and public school buildings. By its measurement, the country inched up from a D+ in 2017 to a C- in 2021. For one of the wealthiest nations on earth, it’s fair to call that grade disappointing. To be fair, there’s a lot of work happening in West Virginia, and plenty of attention is paid to the maintenance and improvement of ...

Myer’s Generosity Recalled

Editor, News-Register: I was very much saddened to have learned of the passing of J. Michael Myer, the highly respected executive editor of the historic area newspapers, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. His positive impact on the area will be felt for years to come. Mr. Myer’s outstanding career in the newspaper business spanned 46 glorious years, serving initially in the position of reporter, followed by city editor, publisher, editor and most recently in the position of executive editor for the last 23 years. In addition, Mr. Myer’s editorials and weekly columns ...

Forced Pooling is Forced Theft

Editor, News-Register: Stealing is wrong. Most of us learned this years ago as young children. Unfortunately, it appears that some of our elected representatives in Charleston never learned this. Why is that so? Earlier this month, members of both the state House and Senate introduced new forced pooling bills. While forced pooling bills have previously been introduced in years past, these bills are the most egregious ever introduced in West Virginia. Both HB 2853 and SB 538 permit an oil and gas driller to force pool unleased acreage when it has obtained leases for 65% of the ...

Not the Year for State Testing

Editor, News-Register: All I keep hearing about this year is the “mental health” of our children. If any policy makers out there are truly listening to the children, and truly considering their mental health, then state testing would not be taking place this year. My daughter is a good student and would do fine on the state test; however, she is constantly fretting over it lately. Being a teacher myself, I told her that I couldn’t agree more. I, too, think it is unfair and unnecessary to test these kids this year. My daughter asked me “Well, who is making these decisions? I ...