Timing is everything in show biz & politics

The foundational rule for comedy, action, and career moves on stage and screen is: Timing is everything. That same foundational rule applies to politics as well.  Timing can dictate whether a candidate wins an election, a policy passes, or a controversy takes on a life of its own. Just like in show business, when an

Criss’ Candidacy is Moves and Countermoves

Listen to “Criss’ Candidacy is Moves and Countermoves” on Spreaker. Most things in life — personal, professional and, yes, political — come down to a series of moves and countermoves. Those who achieve the best outcomes tend to think several moves ahead, keenly aware of what their decisions could produce days, months or even years

Flock cams concerns deserve reasonable consideration

The discussion swirling around law enforcement’s implementation of Flock cameras, or Automated License Plate Readers, reached the state legislature this week. The cameras that have become a hot-button issue across the country were the focus of the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization this week.  Local governments that have installed the cameras have been left

DoHS Drops the Ball… A Lot

Listen to “DoHS Drops the Bal… A Lot” on Spreaker. The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) needs to pick the ball back up — and fast. Sunday, veteran newsman Brad McElhinny published a piece about his efforts to understand what happened to the state’s work to secure approval for certain hot foods to

Don’t Lose the Scent on TANF

Listen to “Don’t Lose the Scent on TANF” on Spreaker. He was born in 1763 in Farnham, Surrey, England; he was the son of a farmer and tavern keeper. He would later recall fondly a childhood spent working long days outdoors, learning practical skills and roaming the countryside — his playground. That upbringing, that setting,

Measles is Spreading, But Not in West Virginia

Whenever I see one of those “ranking” stories about the states, I brace myself. Is this going to be another report on some measure where West Virginia finishes near the bottom? But the latest list brought welcome news for our state. Recent stories based on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the

Show the Math: There Is No TANF Crisis

Listen to “Show the Math: There Is No TANF Crisis” on Spreaker. The more one examines the supposed TANF “crisis,” the more it looks like the routine work of reconciling a budget — a forecast — with actual expenses. That is not a crisis. It is ordinary financial management. Something households, businesses and governments alike

A look at Volcano, West Virginia

From a boom town to ashes

Pirro Chose Justice Over Trump

Listen to “Pirro Chose Justice Over Trump” on Spreaker. Finally, something worth discussing when it comes to the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C.: our system can still work, even when it is pressured by the commander in chief. A win for democracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington has asked a judge to dismiss its

School Clothing Program Has Cost Morrisey Some Trust

Listen to “School Clothing Program Has Cost Morrisey Some Trust” on Spreaker. Perhaps surprisingly to some, trust is a valuable commodity in politics. Difficult to earn. Easy to lose. Absolutely essential for success. Governor Morrisey’s trust account has been heavily debited of late it seems. And why wouldn’t lawmakers begin withdrawing their trust? The state’s

When the Snake Oil Stops Working

The traveling snake oil salesmen of the late 19th and early 20th centuries had their share of success for several reasons. They were effective pitchmen who sold hope in the form of miraculous cures from exotic—but ultimately ineffective—elixirs. They understood the importance of moving from town to town, knowing that the deception would eventually catch

Proposed Legislative Rule Could Change Electricity in West Virginia

Listen to “Proposed Legislative Rule Could Change Electricity in West Virginia” on Spreaker. Throughout the legislative process, bills often direct a state agency — usually one with expertise in the subject at hand — to promulgate legislative rules. In West Virginia, the Legislature requires agencies to promulgate these rules so broad statutes can be translated

Our toxic relationship with Daylight Saving Time

It’s time we admit it: We’re trapped in a toxic relationship with Daylight Saving Time. There, I said it.  Every spring, Daylight Saving Time returns to our lives, promising this time will be different. Just as we have had all we can stand of the long, cold winter nights, it promises long, glowing evenings, and

The Borrower is Slave to the Lender

Listen to “The Borrower is Slave to the Lender” on Spreaker. A man was hitting golf balls Sunday afternoon. The fine weather meant plenty of people had turned out. Without intending to eavesdrop, an older gentleman was overheard speaking to a younger man. A lesson was being imparted, and an old proverb was employed: “The

Pritt Fooled Us

Certainly, by now you’ve heard of Delegate Elliott Pritt, even if you’d never heard of him before Wednesday. Has he ever appeared on Talkline — at least since Hoppy Kercheval retired? I honestly don’t remember. I’m not sure I’ve ever exchanged a word with him. But legislators become known over time. It’s not difficult to

Another Destructive and Heartbreaking Flood

Severe weather this week brought massive rainfall, high winds, and possible tornadoes to West Virginia. The resulting flooding has devastated parts of north-central West Virginia, particularly the corridor between Buckhannon and Weston. The National Weather Service in Charleston reported that three to five inches of rain fell Tuesday in just a few hours. One location

Does Chatrie Put Flock Cameras on Constitutional Thin Ice?

Listen to “Does Chatrie Put Flock Cameras on Constitutional Thin Ice?” on Spreaker. Yes. The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Chatrie v. United States wasn’t about Flock Safety cameras. It was about Google. But if you read what the Court actually wrote — not just the headlines or what is thrown out in soundbites —

The Greenbrier Ghost is an odd West Virginia tale

Part ghost story, part true crime story

Mon Explains Flock Use; Too Little Too Late

Listen to “Mon Explains Flock Use; Too Little Too Late” on Spreaker. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department met with members of the media Friday afternoon in an effort to help reporters better understand the agency’s use of its already-installed Flock Safety camera system. That level of transparency is commendable. But in this instance, it came

Coal v. Gas on Day 1 at the Commission

  An evidentiary hearing kicked off Thursday before the Public Service Commission (PSC), where commissioners will build the factual record needed to decide whether FirstEnergy should receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 1,200-megawatt natural gas plant in Monongalia County. Highly controversial — as it seems more and more proceedings before