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Get Ready for Winter Heating Bill Sticker Shock
For months now, West Virginia’s severance tax collections for energy production—primarily coal and natural gas—have been running way ahead of estimates. The state finished the fiscal year June 30th with $769 million in severance tax revenue, 233 percent ahead of estimates. The state has collected $272 million in severance taxes the first three months of
Hope Scholarships and Public Schools Can Co-Exist
The West Virginia Supreme Court now has before it the question of whether the Hope Scholarship violates the state Constitution. The Legislature created the program to award state taxpayer dollars to students who choose to leave the public school system for private school. The money can also be used for other educational expenses, such as
The West Virginia state treasury is flush with cash. Figures released by the state Senate Finance Committee show the state collected $639 million in taxes in September, $193 million ahead of estimates. Revenue has exceeded expectations by $427 million for July, August and September. The state has already collected one-third of the projected $4.6 billion
When your child is in the hospital you are worried sick, but you have hope. My son was born at the old WVU Hospital 35 years ago with a medical condition that required surgery. After the operation, he needed specialized care for about two weeks. The “step-down” intensive care unit was in a repurposed utility
Mon County Schools Embroiled in Flag Controversy
A controversy is roiling Monongalia County schools over gay pride flags. It began when Superintendent Eddie Campbell sent a letter to remind school administrators that the election season is quickly approaching and that, “While you may be tempted to engage in conversations with staff, families and students about related topics, you may not realize the
Joe Manchin took a chance. He signed off on the partisan Inflation Reduction Act, and even appeared with President Joe Biden at the bill signing ceremony, knowing it would cause heartburn among Republicans and many of his constituents. However, Manchin had an ace in the hole, or at least he thought he did—a side agreement
We are a plus-size nation, and we’re getting heavier all the time. The annual report on The State of Obesity by the Trust for America’s Health found that “Obesity rates have been rising for decades across states, ages, sexes and racial/ethnic groups, with continued increases during the Covid-19 pandemic.” (The Trust defines obesity as “an
Clean Up Electoral Count Act to Help Prevent Another Jan. 6
How can the United States avoid the political chaos and near constitutional crisis that followed the last presidential election in future elections? One way would be for the loser to accept defeat graciously and, for the good of the country, not interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. However, given Donald Trump’s refusal to follow
Justice, Manufacturers at Odds Over Amendment 2
West Virginia’s personal property tax on machinery, equipment and inventory has long been a sore spot with the business community. For decades, various business groups have lobbied against the tax and produced studies showing how the tax inhibits economic growth. Governor Cecil Underwood’s Commission on Fair Taxation report way back in 1999 was blunt in
America is being poisoned. That poison is taking hundreds of lives a day, one pill or one injection at a time. The poison is fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid produced by the Mexican cartels, trafficked across the border and then spread throughout the country, including West Virginia. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reports
Senior Scammers Fake Romance, Steal Millions
An investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia revealed a romance fraud scheme that defrauded 200 victims, many of them elderly, of at least $2.5 million. Multiple defendants, one of them based in Huntington, “participated in a series of romance and other online scams designed to coerce vulnerable victims
Is the Pandemic Over or Are We ‘Just So Over’ the Pandemic?
Is the Covid pandemic over? That depends on who you’re listening to, and your definition of “over.” President Biden said in an interview with 60 Minutes Sunday that the pandemic is over. “If you notice, no one’s wearing a mask. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape,” Biden said. Biden is right in a
Capito and Manchin: Political Siblings Clash Over Energy Regulatory Reform
Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin are kind of like sister and brother. They are bound by a lifetime of politics and policy making in West Virginia. Despite belonging to different political parties, they are typically cooperative and collegial. However, occasionally there emerges a rift between these political siblings that spills out into the
WVU’s hire of head football coach Neal Brown in 2019 was a no-brainer. Brown had coached Troy to a 31-8 record in the previous three seasons while racking up bowl victories and conference titles. He was the hot coach and WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons saw a perfect fit with Mountaineer Nation. “When I started
WV Republicans Finally Get Their Way on Abortion
The West Virginia Legislature has overwhelmingly approved a bill outlawing abortions, except in rare cases. Governor Justice is expected to sign the bill into law—unless there is a technical problem with the bill—and it will become effective immediately. The bill only allows for abortions to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency,
The Oracle of Omaha Finds Almost Heaven
Governor Jim Justice has announced yet another major green energy economic development project in West Virginia. BHE Renewables, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy business, is buying the old Ravenswood Aluminum plant site in Jackson County, where it will build a large solar farm to generate renewable electricity for industrial customers. (The company is contracting with American
Wilson: Where does Marshall’s win over Notre Dame Rank?
It will take some time to properly rank Saturday's win over Notre Dame in Marshall history.
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the over-the-counter sale of hearing aids to adults without a prescription. They should start showing up on the market by the middle of next month. This long-awaited decision represents a significant victory for tens of thousands of West Virginians, and an estimated 30 million Americans, who have
(Editor’s note: This a commentary I wrote one year ago on the anniversary of the attacks.) Fear is an invaluable human instinct that perpetuates our survival. Without fear, we might make any number of potentially fatal decisions each day—walk into traffic, pick up a poisonous snake, stand too close to the edge of a cliff.
Where in the World is West Virginia on Abortion?
West Virginians’ views on abortion are complicated. A new poll by North Star Research of West Virginia voters for the state Chamber of Commerce finds that 51 percent consider themselves pro-life, while 45 percent are pro-choice. Voter views on abortion are strongly linked to party affiliation. The poll found that 77 percent of Republicans are
