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Another Donald Trump ‘deal’ with Iran

A friend quipped the other day that President Trump truly deserves the Nobel Peace Prize because he has already ended the Iran war eight times. Will the ninth time be the charm after his latest decision to call off a military escalation in search of a deal with the revolutionary regime? “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Mr. Trump posted at 10:05 p.m. on Saturday. He added that this includes “Immediate, Complete, and Total” opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to ...

If only lawmakers could be as innovative as Ascend

Mountain State policymakers know they can’t stick with the way things have always been if they want to reverse significant population loss and move forward. Step one, of course, is to stop perpetually looking backward. But step two is to look for innovative ideas such as Ascend West Virginia. NPR examined it and other similar programs across the country and noted the pandemic-born program has been effective enough that many individuals and families have chosen to stay long past their initial required tenure. That despite many employers believing THEY need to move backward and ...

Let’s get health-conscious legislation on the menu

Reports from data analysis finance websites such as WalletHub don’t often paint a pretty picture of West Virginia, but in its “Best and Worst States for Healthcare” 2026, there is one bright spot for the state — and it may come as a surprise. The Mountain State ranks 19th in the country for healthcare access. Though poorer, rural residents may question that ranking, it was the good news. Now, on to the rest. Overall, West Virginia ranks 47th this year — 41st for cost and 47th for outcomes. (Hey, it’s not dead last. Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Alaska are worse.) The ...

Granville sales tax proposal appears overboard

A move by the town council in Granville to become a Home Rule city and add a 1% municipal sales tax is of real concern. If passed, the town of 1,400 would see its municipal budget balloon from its current $9.5 million to about $13.3 million. Morgantown, by contrast, has 30,500 residents and a $45 million budget. How is it that Granville, at 1.31 square miles, needs a budget one-third the size of Morgantown? Someone on council should explain.Yes, the University Town Centre is part of Granville, and the town handles some paving there. But according to Mayor Patty Lewis, the tax increase ...

Each and every day, remember what’s important

“They have so little, and we have so much.”“They are so happy, and yet we are so sad.”Those observations come from one of West Virginia’s most interesting and genuinely kind residents, the Bishop Darrell Cummings of Wheeling. Cummings, a Pentecostal bishop who now oversees Port Elizabeth in South Africa along with his ministry in Wheeling, recently returned from a visit across the ocean with his parishioners. He said even though the residents there have little, they always are so happy. He compared that to here, where we have been given so much yet always seem to believe we ...

Getting out the vote important

Leaders of both major political parties agree on one thing: The presidential election scheduled for Tuesday is among the most important in American history.Its outcome will shape our government, economy, even our society for many years to come, and may even come to truly define just who we are at this time. Your life and that of your children and grandchildren will be affected profoundly no matter who is elected.Don’t you want to have a say in the matter?To judge by voter turnouts in previous elections, many of your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors simply don’t care ...