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Editorial

Only 1 protection for women in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’

We previously opined on the so-called “Women’s Bill of Rights” — HB 5243 — that has absolutely nothing to do with women’s rights and everything to do with promoting an anti-trans, anti-nonbinary, anti-intersex agenda. Recently, House Democrats tried to amend in some actual women’s rights — but House Republicans killed all proposed amendments but one. Here’s what could have been in the bill: Removing a tax on feminine hygiene products. Certain consumer supplies deemed “essential” — like aspirin or antacids — are sold sales-tax-free, because it’s unfair ...

The Good, the Bad and the Stupid 5

Good: SB 159 — “prohibiting smoking in vehicle when minor 16 or under is present.” This bill  passed the Senate and was sent to House Finance. It is an indisputable fact that secondhand smoke is dangerous. That’s why smoking is now prohibited in a variety of spaces — especially indoor ones — even though smoking itself is still legal for adults. An adult can make an informed choice to use cigarettes despite knowing the risks — a child locked in the car with said adult doesn’t have the choice to not inhale the smoke, especially if the windows are rolled up. This ...

New ‘baby box’ a welcome addition, but doesn’t replace right to choose

As we reported at the end of January, Morgantown will receive West Virginia’s second “baby box” as part of the Norwood Fire Station’s renovations. The baby box will be built into an exterior wall, with doors that allow it to be opened from both inside and outside the firehouse. A parent or appointed representative can anonymously place an infant less than 30 days old inside the box; once the box closes, the exterior door locks and an alarm is sounded inside the building to alert staff. From there, the baby will be taken into custody and provided any medical care it may ...

Editorial Encore: Say ‘I love you’ in the right language

EDITOR'S NOTE: Today’s editorial has been adapted from one that originally published Nov. 30, 2022. “Research shows holiday shoppers often don’t buy what recipients want.”              The research by Julian Givi, an assistant professor of marketing at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, records some interesting trends, including that there’s often a disconnect between what gift-givers think their friends and family want and what the gift-receiver actually wants. On the giver’s side, ...

Black history is American history

Even before concerted efforts to stifle education and conversations around slavery and racism, we were often presented with a limited picture of Black history: The long, vast, varied history of people classified as the singular monolith of their skin color — distilled and oversimplified into a handful of names, dates and places to be trotted out every February like clockwork. There is so much more to Black history than we have been taught. There is so much more to the history that we have been taught. We learn about Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther ...

Goodbye potholes and one-way streets? Maybe

R.I.P Potholes Gov. Jim Justice proudly announced operation “R.I.P Potholes” — an unusual off-season hot-asphalt pothole patching effort. As much as we criticize the West Virginia Division of Highways and the Justice administration about the roads, we have to give them credit where credit is due. Asphalt plants generally close down in the winter and don’t come back online until spring. Therefore, most winter potholes are fixed with “cold patches,” which will do in a pinch but aren’t as effective as using hot asphalt. The DOH and Justice administration negotiated ...