“This is one of the best years in the history of our state’s economy!” according to Governor Jim Justice. So why are so many in Clay County going hungry?

Contradicting President’s Trump’s promises, his administration predicts that coal production will continue to decline in our region. Meanwhile, he has proposed cuts to federal infrastructure funds to Appalachia. 

It’s important for Trump critics to point out when he breaks his promises to help people in coal country. 

But it’s also important to note that metropolitan-led national Democratic Party leaders have not made it a priority to pass policies or programs addressing the decline of good-paying jobs here. 

If they have bold plans, they need to start letting us know....

The proud heritage of coal mining in West Virginia is rightly appreciated.  As coal mines close and jobs in the industry become scarce, one thing is clear: miners and their families deserve to be looked after long after miners finish their final shifts.

Life is hard for many in West Virginia. Jobs are scarce and often they don’t pay well. But some people thrive by taking advantage of easy money. Take West Virginia governor, Jim Justice.

You don’t have to look far to understand teacher shortages in West Virginia. The average teacher salary in the Mountain State is about $45,000. It is by far the lowest compared to any surrounding state.

Pennsylvania’s is $67,000; Maryland, $69,000; Ohio $58,000; Virginia and Kentucky both pay more than $50,000. The national average is more than $60,000, so a teacher can go just about anywhere in the U.S. and get much better pay than here

West Virginia needs serious, even-keeled legislators. That is why it is distressing to see the ongoing legal case involving Del. Mike Caputo, D-Marion.

On Labor Day weekend, we celebrated the working men and women of our state and nation. On that day, the Charleston Gazette-Mail aptly raised the question, “Who is our governor working for, himself or us?”

Can you smell it? The stench of corruption coming from West Virginia’s premier resort, the Greenbrier?

Making the choice to stay clean is a daily decision. Let’s make sure recovery organizations like The Unity Center get a fair share of drug settlement money for those attempting recovery.

There is likely a boatload of money coming to states affected by Big Pharma’s malfeasance in fueling the opioid addiction crisis. What is not so clear is whether that money will get in the right hands: communities and individuals who need it the most to recover from ongoing terrible damage of this crisis.