Local Columns

Something May Be Better Than Nothing

After a five-day timeout, both to avoid spending $35,000 per day and to allow negotiations between lawmakers and representatives of the governor’s office toward a 5% personal income tax cut to continue, the Legislature resumed the special session Sunday. Based on some of the rhetoric I heard last week on various talk radio programs, I don’t get the sense we’re any closer to lawmakers giving Gov. Jim Justice what he wants. During his weekly administration briefing last week, it sounds like Justice may be willing to accept a cut of less than 5%. In my opinion, that is the ...

Marshall Memo: Free Movies, Health Screenings And Vaccinations Available

The Marshall County Strings Program will present its annual fall concert at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the John Marshall High School Center for Performing Arts. The concert will feature middle and high school students, all dressed in festive costumes, performing a variety of music including spooky seasonal selections. Admission for the concert will be $5 for adults, $1 for students (K-12), and free for children 5 and under. Marshall County Schools Activity Passes and Marshall County Student ID will be accepted in lieu of concert admissions. --- The Cameron High School homecoming ...

Ready for a Roller Coaster Ride of a Special Session

My wife and I somehow survived Disney World last week with two parents who haven’t been there in decades and their three daughters ages 12, 7, and 5. All while dodging a hurricane at the end of the week. Now I’m flying into the hurricane that is Monday’s special session of the West Virginia Legislature. This could all change by the time you read this, but as I write this Sunday afternoon, I’m hearing that the Legislature could very well gavel in at 11 a.m., quickly pass some of the 19 supplemental appropriations bills on the special session proclamation, and adjourn until ...

Us vs. Them — West Virginia Protects Against Suicide

There are states where it is acceptable for a family to discuss whether one of their members should kill themselves, and there are states where it is not. There are states—like Oregon, California, Vermont, Washington and many others now—where insurance companies can deny people end-of-life care—but offer to cover the cost of their suicide. And there are states—like West Virginia—where they cannot. I am proud to be a son of West Virginia, where suicide is known as a problem and not pushed as a solution. But well-funded liberal interest groups—like Portland, Oregon’s ...

Marshall Memo: Homecoming Kings and Queens, an Annual Dinner and School Personnel Shifts

A few events will be held on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 involving Marshall County Schools students, the first of which will be those participating in the school’s homecoming parade, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. and go through several streets near Monarch Stadium on Friday. The John Marshall High School homecoming king and queen will be crowned that evening when the Monarchs host Warren Local High School. The kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Queen candidates are: Audrey Ferguson, Madison Galloway, Emmylea Harkless-Lehew, Maitlyn Miller and Madison Walker. King candidates include Jacob Boyette, ...

New Research Shows Many School Boards Violate ‘No More Lines’ Law

Are most public school transfers sports related? Not according to new research from Americans for Prosperity Foundation West Virginia (AFPF-WV). Unlike misleading reports from certain lawmakers and some media outlets, the vast majority of public school transfers under the No More Lines law were not sports related. According to the West Virginia Watch, most of the students who transferred last school year were in elementary school. And the primary reason these families transferred their student was either they were looking for the right education for their child’s unique needs ...