Breaking News

Editorial

A managed homeless camp should be Morgantown’s priority

Morgantown’s ban on homeless camping in the city is done. Yes, we realize a petition has been filed calling for City Council the ban to be overturned, but it’s uncertain that will happen. Putting the matter before voters also likely won’t lead to a change.The bigger issue now for city leaders is this: the homeless are still here, many of whom are finding places to stay, either in shelters or on the streets. What’s the long-term plan to deal with Morgantown’s homeless population?Looking to the city’s north could yield some possible answers.In Wheeling, a homeless camping ban ...

Morgantown City Council not serving residents with vote

We’re certain members of Morgantown City Council opposed to allowing residents to have a say in changing the municipal election cycle to coincide with the county-wide schedule truly believe they are doing it for the right reasons.In truth, outside of wasting your tax dollars every two years by sticking to an unnecessary election calendar, all these members are doing is serving themselves.Consider: Under the current election schedule, which sees half of City Council up for re-election every other April in odd years, voter turnout is abysmal. In April 2023, fewer than 1,700 city ...

Tackling obesity in Mountain State

West Virginia comes in last or very near the bottom in all kinds of significant categories. It’s been that way for so long, it’s almost become a running joke. And when we’re on top, it’s usually for something like leading the nation in overdose deaths.Now, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research shows we are leading in another category: obesity.The CDC says obesity is increasing across the country. All U.S. states and territories have obesity rates higher than 20%. But in the Mountain State, an astounding 41% of adults are obese.According to Dr. Alyson Goodman, ...

Nurses critical for health care

One of the reasons for West Virginia’s challenges in ensuring everyone has access to affordable, quality healthcare has been the shortage in healthcare workers.Nurses, for example, are in incredibly short supply.But two years ago, the Nursing Workforce Expansion Program was launched. Now, officials are celebrating its early successes.Between 2022 and 2023 there was a nearly 15% increase in the number of registered nurses graduating with associates degrees.The 676 graduates from that year represent a record number of nursing graduates in the Mountain State.Funded projects for the ...

Finding ways to help those impacted by the hurricane

For those of us watching in horror as Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee come to grips with the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, the first thought might be “I need to help. Now.”Whether the urge is to send money, send supplies or volunteer, we might have to be more patient than we’d like.Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance begins with something that might come as a surprise. Should you be trying to contact someone in the affected regions, text rather than calling. Texting leaves the lines open for emergencies.FEMA goes ...

Keeping Coal Miners Safe in West Virginia

Last month, we lost another West Virginia coal miner.Though his home was in South Williamson, Kentucky, Gary Chapman did his work at the Mountaineer II Mine near Sharples, W.Va.He is the fourth coal miner to have died on the job in West Virginia just this year.That is half the national total for coal mine deaths so far this year.According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, on May 16, in Wyoming County, the classification for the fatal accident was “machinery;” on July 12, in Wyoming County, the classification for the fatal accident was ...