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Spring is finally here and baseball is back
There's a formidable baseball team which can be made from Mountain State natives
A Transmission Line Brought Google Here
News broke early Friday morning: Google has acquired land in Putnam County for a possible data center. While some — a minority, in my view — are less than enthusiastic, many in Putnam County see the announcement as a clear win… at least that’s the read from the cacophony of social media. That’s not surprising.
The Truth Behind the Takubo Attack
Listen to “The Truth Behind the Takubo Attack” on Spreaker. This week brought the first real glimpse of dirty politics as we move toward the May primary. An ad from the Mountaineer Conservative Coalition — a leadership PAC tied to West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith — tries to paint Kanawha County Senator Tom Takubo
The United States has joined Israel in opening a war with Iran. For the last half century, Iran has fomented destabilizing terror in the Middle East while violently suppressing voices of opposition by its own people. The world would be a safer place without the theocratic regime of Iran. But is that the goal? It
Did Hanshaw Violate Ethics in Representing Developer?
Listen to “Did Hanshaw Violate Ethics in Representing Developer?” on Spreaker. In a word, no. News surfaced late last week that West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw is representing the developer of a controversial data center project in Tucker County. It’s a fair story, and it was well reported both in print and during the
Morrisey takes the tax cut win but needs growth for future wins
Among Governor Morrisey’s top priorities entering the 60-day legislative session was another reduction of the personal income tax. In his State of the State address in January, he proposed a ten percent cut. His proposed budget included a five percent reduction and challenged lawmakers to find a way to deliver the other half. The request
Mawmaw to Trump: Jesus Doesn’t Like Ugly
Listen to “MawMaw Would Have Told Trump: Jesus Doesn’t Like Ugly” on Spreaker. My late maternal grandmother — we called her Mawmaw — used to admonish her grandkids when we said something cruel with a simple retort: Jesus doesn’t like ugly. Donald J. Trump would have benefited from knowing my Mawmaw. Former FBI Director Robert
Meaningless Crusade Against Judge Akers Continues
Listen to “Meaningless Crusade Against Judge Akers Continues” on Spreaker. A little more than a year ago, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers appeared on Talkline. She didn’t ask to be on the program… she was invited. That’s an important detail. Talkline is primarily a news and politics show. And frankly, what issue could be
Time Is a Great Thickener of Things — But Not This Time
Listen to “Time Is a Great Thickener of Things — But Not This Time” on Spreaker. “Time is a great thickener of things.” That’s a line penned by playwright Tony Kushner for the movie Lincoln. For some reason, the underlying meaning has always intrigued me. It’s the sort of line meant to be pondered. Events
The boys state basketball tourney is a special time
Lifelong memories will be made this week in Charleston
The Senate Said ‘No’ to West Virginia’s Economic Future
Listen to “The Senate Said ‘No’ to West Virginia’s Economic Future” on Spreaker. Here it is, unvarnished. West Virginia is a financially poor state — at least compared to the rest of the Union. Issue after issue confronting the state is not so much a problem as it is a symptom. School systems struggling to
Far-right WV Senators go off half-cocked on machine gun bill
The regular session of the West Virginia Legislature wraps up Saturday, and one of the most curious bills to get traction this year was SB 1071, the Creating Public Defense and Provisioning Act. Don’t be fooled by the generic title—who could be against public defense? The real purpose was to make it easier for West
Why Isn’t Baylea’s Law Running?
Listen to “Why Isn’t Baylea’s Law Running?” on Spreaker. Sometimes bills stall in the legislative process because lawmakers disagree on policy. Maybe a proposal raises constitutional questions or conflicts with existing state law. And sometimes, unfortunately, good bills that would make good law fail to advance simply because of politics. Baylea’s Law appears to fall
My favorite two weeks of the year have finally arrived. Every March in West Virginia, something special happens. The High School Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Tournaments get underway this morning at the Charleston Civic Center Coliseum and over the next two weeks, 56 games will take place and eight champions will be crowned. It’s more
Social Media Post May Backfire on Morrisey
Listen to “Social Media Post May Backfire on Morrisey” on Spreaker. Governor Patrick Morrisey took to social media Friday evening. “West Virginians are still waiting for the Legislature to deliver meaningful income tax relief to our citizens,” Morrisey posted. “Today is Day 52 of the 60-day session. Time is running out. Demand your Delegate and
House Holds the Leverage as Budget Moves to Morrisey
Listen to “House Holds the Leverage as Budget Moves to Morrisey” on Spreaker. The big story coming out of the Capitol Thursday was the budget. The Senate amended its budget after receiving the House’s version and then rolled the document back across the Capitol. The House passed the compromise measure Thursday evening. Veteran newsman Brad
Listen to “Raylee’s Law Protects Kids” on Spreaker. Raylee’s Law is less than a page long. It’s somewhat surprising that such a succinct bill has generated so much controversy. House Bill 5669 — named after Raylee Browning — would prohibit a county school board from approving home instruction for a currently enrolled public-school student if
Remembering the “Pasteboard Capitol” fire
Cheaply built, hastily constructed, the simple structure bridged the gap between the first Capitol Building in Charleston and the present day structure
Long History with Iran Adds Context to War Decision
Listen to “Long History with Iran Adds Context to War Decision” on Spreaker. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead. Good. His killing marks the end of one of the most consequential and purely evil figures in modern Middle Eastern history — a man whose regime defined itself in opposition to the United States,
A Data Center Deal, Moving TEAM WV, Pushing the Governor Out of LEDA & More
Listen to “A Data Center Deal, Moving TEAM WV, Pushing the Governor Out of LEDA & More” on Spreaker. Friday commentaries lately have taken the form of a legislative download from the week. So, here goes. Governor Patrick Morrisey teased a major economic development announcement on social media just days ago. Thursday, he delivered: a
