Last week we talked about statistics that demonstrate West Virginia is one of the fiscally soundest states in the Union, and getting even sounder.There are other areas in which our state has made major progress. We'll talk about two of them this week. Some naysayers like to portray our state as ...
During my sophomore year at Shepherd University, I became depressed by the state of television programs - mindless reality shows and formulaic hour-long dramas with zero staying power. I saw these things and knew that I could fix what was wrong with modern television.I kept a journal of TV show ...
Two weeks ago Fitch Ratings increased its rating of West Virginia's general obligation (GO) bonds from "AA" to "AA+."This follows similar increases in the last two years from the other two major bond raters. Moody's Investor Service increased it's rating for West Virginia GO bonds in 2010, ...
With summer well underway, I hope you have the time to get out and enjoy all of the unique outdoor activities our wild and wonderful state has to offer. I know many of you are working hard to tighten your belts during these tough economic times, but in West Virginia, you don't have to go far ...
The Contemporary American Theater Festival opened this weekend to packed houses and much anticipation. While showcasing the influential works of theatrical giants like David Mamet and Sam Shepard and Tracy Thorne, the CATF also offered work from newer faces featuring two world-premiere ...
Two weeks ago in this space we talked about a meeting Sen. Herb Snyder and I had with Mike Lewis, the secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.In that meeting we tried to bring some sense to regulating food service at fairs and festivals. But that was not the only ...
Before there was a bay bridge, there were ferries. In 1951 my grandparents took me to Ocean City for the first time. The thing that I remember the most about that long-ago trip was the ferry ride on the Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point near Annapolis to the western shores of Kent Island. The ...
When you are in your 20s, you don't imagine anything lasting 20-plus years.In 1991, the stars aligned perfectly over Shepherdstown, W.Va. Those of us in theater know that the stars almost never align, let alone perfectly. There is always something that's off; something you wish you'd done ...
As the legislature's special session on redistricting approaches, attention (and tension) heightens over the question of "single-member districts."Of the 50 states only nine have districts that elect more than one representative to a district in the lower houses of their legislatures. Nebraska ...
A major source of air pollution comes from lawnmowers and other gasoline-powered lawn care equipment. While lawnmowers have smaller engines compared to cars, they are not equipped with pollution-control devices, such as catalytic converters. Because of this lack of pollution control, running ...
