Opinion

One Governor at a Time, Please

Local Columns

Larry Pack has a good reputation as an accountant and businessman, having operated an assisted living company until selling it off a few years ago. He was an active member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. He continues to be a respected Republican national committeeman. He moved on to serve as a senior advisor to former governor Jim Justice and easily slid into a vacancy as Department of Revenue secretary during Justice’s final year in office. Pack won election unopposed as state treasurer, taking office early in January so that former state treasurer Riley Moore could be ...

Editorials

Something about the relationship between Toyota and West Virginia should be studied by those hoping to expand and diversify our state’s economy. Since the days of former U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s encouragement of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing project in Buffalo, W.Va., the partnership between the state and Japan has been rock solid. Now, Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia is expanding with a nearly half-billion-dollar investment in increasing the assembly of four-cylinder hybrid-compatible engines, sixth-generation hybrid transaxles and rear motor stators. There are ...

Broadband Access Still Needs Work

Editorials

Federal money is helping a little when it comes to West Virginia’s broadband internet woes, but despite being one of the most improved states in the country on that front, we STILL are the worst connected state in the nation — worse than even Mississippi and Puerto Rico. That gives some idea of just how far behind we had fallen when it comes to getting Mountain State residents affordable access to the quality broadband internet service that is regarded as a basic utility in most of the rest of the United States. The average for connected households everywhere else is 93.2%. Here, ...

Make W.Va. CPS Better

Editorials

West Virginians knew our state’s child welfare system was a mess — and regularly failing children and families — toward the end of the Justice administration, but a report by the U.S. Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General shows us the situation may have been even worse than we thought. In a 100-case sample, the report showed the state’s Bureau of Social Services failed to comply with child abuse and neglect requirements 91% of the time: 74 reports did not include a required written notification letter; initial assessments were not completed within 30 days of ...

Flood Victims Aren’t Being Forgotten

Editorials

Even though it has been months since Ohio County residents suffered catastrophic damage in the deadly flash floods that hit several communities, organizations are making sure those survivors aren’t forgotten during the holidays. The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Valley Grove and Triadelphia volunteer fire departments, held a “Stuff the Truck” event Wednesday at the Highlands Walmart. The groups hoped to collect shelf-stable food items to stock the pantry for flood survivors at Triadelphia United Methodist Church. “Having seen first hand the devastation of ...

Envelope Initiative Great

Editorials

The state of Ohio has a fantastic program that allows for better and more effective experiences between law enforcement and those with developmental disabilities during traffic stops and emergencies. The state’s Blue Envelope initiative promotes both safety and understanding. The Blue Envelopes provide quick clear details about the driver or passenger’s needs. The envelopes include information about their disability, communication preferences, or accommodations. It also contains their driver’s license, registration, and insurance information. A discreet decal on the back ...