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Editorial

Legislators messed up PODA. They need to fix it

The thing about legalese — that strange, mysterious language of laws and binding contracts — is that all it takes is one misplaced punctuation mark, one misspelled word or one accidental phrase substitution to completely change the document’s meaning. Such was the case with HB 5295, the bill to expand private outdoor designated areas (PODAs) to include alcohol distributors who didn’t have a liquor license. (Think, any brewery or ale house that only sells beer.) A PODA is a defined district in which participating businesses can sell beverages containing alcohol to customers ...

For Mon BOE, no bad choice

The candidates for Monongalia County Board of Education sat down with members of The Dominion Post Editorial Board this past week. Incumbent Ron Lytle and newcomers Christina Fattore Morgan and Shawn Smith spent an hour answering the board’s questions, ranging from the Renaissance Academy to potential book bannings and a host of topics in between. We recommend you revisit Jim Bissett’s story from April 2 for more details. There are two open seats to represent the Eastern District on the Mon County BOE, and we think any of the three candidates would serve our county ...

Enjoy this rare celestial spectacle

Solar eclipses aren’t that rare: There are usually about two per year (sometimes more) and a total eclipse about every 18 months. But not everyone is in an eclipse’s path every time, and it is rarer to be in the umbra (100% coverage). That’s what makes the total solar eclipse Monday so special: For the first time in seven years, the eclipse will be visible in the majority of the lower 48 states (for almost four minutes!) — and that won’t happen again until 2045. This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event for some of us. West Virginia isn’t in the path of totality, but ...

Bullying is not a productive way to influence change

We’ve said in the past that anger can be a highly motivating force — but it must be channeled into productive action. Unfortunately, much of the anger over the news that Bartlett House lost its grant from the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness was not channeled into productive action. Instead, that anger was taken out on individuals who have no bearing on the grant process. A disturbing number of people believed — despite repeated official statements saying otherwise — that the LGBTQ-friendly shelter Rainbow House somehow “stole” the grant money from Bartlett ...

With solar veto, Justice put self ahead of state

Gov. Jim Justice went on a vetoing spree last week, shooting down the vaccine exemption bill but also killing the research funding for the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and solar power expansion for the state’s utilities. We’ve already applauded the first and lamented the second, so let’s talk about the third. HB 5528 would have slightly modified existing law allowing utility companies to build and operate solar arrays. Currently, utility companies can own and operate solar plants that produce up to 50 megawatts each, capped at a total of 200 MW per utility. HB 5528 ...

Editorial Encore: The lessons of spring: Birth, rebirth, renewal

EDITOR'S NOTE: This editorial is adapted from one that originally published April 9, 2023. Flowers are poking up through the thawing earth. Trees and bushes are sporting their vibrant blooms. Grass is growing and getting greener. The birds that flew south for the winter are returning. The small critters that burrowed deep for the cold months are out frolicking. The larger animals that hibernated are emerging from their long naps. And there’s a plethora of adorable furry and feathered babies. Spring is recognized across cultures and religions as a time of birth, rebirth and ...