Meanwhile, he continues to drop hints about nationalizing elections while making the baseless charge that the only way Democrats can win is if they cheat. One of his administration’s efforts to subvert elections has reached West Virginia.

The Justice Department is suing West Virginia and at least two dozen other states to try to force them to turn over private voter data.  U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the legal action is about “election integrity,” but it is really a fishing expedition to try to gin up evidence, no matter how inconsequential, that the administration can use to discredit election outcomes they don’t like.

Fortunately, West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner, along with top election officials in many other states, are fighting back.  Warner has told the Justice Department he will turn over the same public voter registration information available to anyone, but he will not disclose private data, including voters’ Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, emails, or phone numbers.

Warner will not comment on the issue now that a federal lawsuit is pending, but he did say in a release prior to the lawsuit, “West Virginians expect secure elections and the assurance that their personal information is protected. That remains my commitment, and I have no interest in turning over the entire State’s unredacted voter list for some brownie points from the federal government.”

Good for him. Know that Warner is no RINO. He is a lifelong Republican, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, a former Trump delegate to the nominating convention, and even a onetime Trump appointee as state Director for USDA Rural Development.  In a state where Trump is exceedingly popular, the easy route would be to kowtow to the heavy hand of Trump’s Justice Department, which Warner has refused to do.

The bad old days of corrupt West Virginia elections are a distant memory. The Secretary of State’s office for the last nine years under Kris Warner, and before him his brother Mac Warner, has worked with the 55 county clerks to clean up the state’s voter rolls. Over 400,000 names have been removed for a variety of reasons—they have died, moved away or were ineligible to vote.

And don’t think those 400,000 people have been voting. The cross-checking that takes place by resolute poll workers every election means it is extremely difficult for illegal votes to take place.

As a result, West Virginia continues to responsibly fulfill its constitutional obligation (Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1) of prescribing the “times, places and manner” of holding elections for federal officers. Recent history dictates that West Virginians can be confident that voting here is free and fair.

Donald Trump’s constant attempts to bend the law and democratic norms to his whims are a threat to the integrity of the republic. The only bulwark to the precipitous slide is when other individuals in power, particularly members of his own party, put their legal and constitutional responsibilities above fealty to an individual.

The post SOS Warner rebuffs Trump’s voter registration fishing expedition appeared first on WV MetroNews.

That has been evident for years for anyone paying attention, but it becomes ever more apparent when Donald Trump does not get his way.  Take for example last week’s 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down most of his tariffs.

Trump seethed and spouted personal insults at members of the court.

Trump, who knows no shame himself, said he was “absolutely ashamed of certain members of the Court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country.”

As is his practice, Trump conflates what is best for the country with what is best for him personally.

He singled out Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, who he appointed in his first term and who sided with the majority, as a “disgrace to our nation.” “They’re just being fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats—and…they are very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution.”

Trump even accused the Justices of having been “swayed by foreign interests.”

Good grief.

The conservative Wall Street Journal opined that Trump “owes the Supreme Court an apology—to the individual Justices he smeared on Friday and the institution itself.”  The Justices would be wise not to hold their collective breath waiting for that.

Trump followed up his foaming rant with the imposition of a new 15 percent global tariff on all imports entering the U.S.  This new tariff is also legally dubious, but when has that ever stopped Trump?

Americans have borne the brunt of Trump’s ever-shifting trade duties, which amount to a tax on consumers. A paper published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York earlier this month determined that “90 percent of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.”

The Trump administration’s response was predictable.  White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett called for authors of the paper to be investigated and disciplined.  That’s in keeping with this administration’s practice of threatening to use the enormous power of the federal government to intimidate detractors.

Trump’s tirade against the Court included the invective that the Justices were “anti-American.”  This is yet another example of how this President of the United States fails to comprehend the very core of our country’s founding doctrine: We are a country of laws, and we are all bound by those laws and not subject to the whims of would-be oligarchs.

There is no hope Trump will acknowledge that, but it is high time members of his party take their solemn oath seriously and hold him accountable.

The post Trump hits a new low in his rant against the Supreme Court appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Founding Father James Madison wrote that when colonists began to challenge the warrantless searches and seizures, “American Independence was then and there born.”  Madison’s passion for protecting individuals from government overreach inspired the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and requires probable cause for warrants to be issued. The subsequent Fifth Amendment guaranteed due process for detained individuals.

These standards are bedrock principles of American democracy that have stood since they were ratified in 1791, but they are now being tested in West Virginia and across the country with the wholesale roundups being conducted by agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Fortunately, U.S. District Court judges here have so far held true to the Constitution, while questioning the government’s tactics.  As our Brad McElhinny reported, “Federal judges in West Virginia have questioned whether law enforcement had probable cause for the initial (traffic) stops in immigration cases that led to jail and the courtroom.”

In the case of two non-citizens stopped along I-77 last month, Judge Joseph Goodwin wrote, “notably, the record contains no information regarding the justification of the initial traffic stops conducted by the state police.”

In that case and others, the government was consistently unable to show why individuals were taken into custody.  Federal Judge Irene Berger wrote in one case, “Everyone in the United States is potentially at risk if officers are free to detain and incarcerate people without having to justify detention.”

That sentiment was echoed by federal Judge Thomas Johnston in another case. “If the government may simply seize someone without due process, there is no check on its ability to seize anyone.”  He went on to write, “The law is clear: all persons present within our country are entitled to due process.”

Yes, the individuals in these cases entered the country illegally, but that typically is a matter of civil and not criminal enforcement unless there are outstanding criminal warrants.  In the West Virginia cases that came before the courts, the individuals were cooperating with the U.S. immigration system and had hearings pending.

The hearings before the West Virginia judges have resulted in the individuals who were arrested and detained being released.

The American ideal, codified in the Bill of Rights and reinforced by over two centuries of practice, begins with a guarantee of liberty and protections for individuals—including non-citizens—from government overreach. Even someone in the country illegally enjoys the benefits of due process.  The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld that right.

Immigration is a mess.  The law is unwieldy, and the system is overwhelmed. Polls consistently show Americans want a secure border and for criminals in this country to be expelled.  However, those goals cannot be achieved by trampling on fundamental rights.

In cases so far, U.S. District Court Judges in West Virginia have held true to Madison’s principle and stood as a bulwark against the modern-day version of “writs of assistance.”

The post WV federal judges stop ICE overreach appeared first on WV MetroNews.

A Pew Research Poll two months before the 2024 election found that six in ten voters said immigration was a very important issue to them.  That was a winning issue for Trump who promised tightened border security and mass deportation.

That support carried over into the early months of Trump’s second term as border crossings fell to record lows.  It represented a fulfillment of one aspect of his campaign promises on immigration.

However, the mass deportations have been a different story.

The shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis have sent shock waves throughout the nation.  It is one thing to stop people from illegally crossing the border, but it is quite another when armed agents of the government shoot American citizens at point-blank range.

Trump administration representatives made matters worse by lying about the circumstances of the shootings and blaming the victims. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially suggested the shooting of Pretti was justified, claiming he attacked officers and “wished to inflict harm.”

Reasonable citizens watched the videos and concluded for themselves that neither Pretti nor Good looked like “domestic terrorists.” Noem has backed away from her earlier statements and Trump, realizing he’s losing support, has put border czar Tom Homan in charge of the Minneapolis operations in hopes of lowering the temperature.

The specter of heavily armed and masked agents rounding up individuals and shoving them into vehicles is unnerving. It looks profoundly un-American. Ironically, the actions of an overzealous police state are exactly what the far right always warns about. Even the National Rifle Association pushed back on administration statements questioning Pretti’s right to carry a gun.

The polls now reflect a significant shift in America’s views of Trump on immigration and border security.  For example:

A Reuters Poll after the shootings found that just 39 percent approve of the job Trump is doing on immigration, while 53 percent disapprove.  Fifty-eight percent say ICE agents have gone “too far” in their crackdown.

A YouGov Poll found that 55 percent of Americans have very little confidence in ICE.  Independents, who helped elect Trump made the biggest swing.  Sixty-seven percent say they have little confidence in ICE, up from 49 percent a month ago.

Even a poll by Fox News determined that most voters questioned ICE tactics.  Fifty-nine percent characterized ICE as “too aggressive,” an increase of ten percentage points from last July.  Only 29 percent said ICE “almost always” carries out Trump’s pledge to remove illegals with criminal records.

Mass deportations cast a wide net.  Few would argue with rounding up hardened criminals who are in the country illegally and shipping them out.  However, research shows serious offenders make up only a fraction of the detainees, which is counter to the Trump administration’s claims that the mass deportations are focusing on the worst of the worst.

Syracuse University professor Austin Kocher tracks ICE data, and his findings were reported in a Wall Street Journal editorial.  “Between September 21, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026, single-day ICE detentions increased 11,296. But only 902 of those were convicted criminals, 2,273 had pending criminal charges, and 8,121 were other immigrant violators.”

Trump understood during the campaign that border security and illegal immigration were an issue that resonated with most Americans, and he has followed through on his promises.  However, the ugly and violent practice of mass deportation has been a tragic failure that has turned most Americans against Trump on the issue.

The post Trump loses support on immigration appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The outcomes could have a significant impact on the makeup of the legislature’s upper body and pose a threat to the leadership of current Senate President Randy Smith. Several of the most conservative members of the Senate will find themselves in hotly contested races.

For example, in District 1 in the northern panhandle, Joe Eddy, an engineer and former head of Eagle Manufacturing, is signed up to run against incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman.  Another far right incumbent, Senator Mike Azinger of District 3, is being challenged by current House of Delegates member Bob Fehrenbacher.

District 2 is an open seat with the retirement of Senator Charlie Clements. Attorney Bob Dobkin has been recruited for that race and he will face off against military veteran and conservative Toby Heaney.  Hard right incumbent Senator Jay Taylor in District 14 is getting a challenge from Marc Harman, a veteran politician and a more moderate Republican.

Senator Tom Takubo (R, Kanawha), a more moderate member of the Senate, has taken a lead role in encouraging some of the challengers.  He wants to see the body focus more on kitchen table issues.  However, he said he would not comment on specific races until after the filing period, which closes Saturday.

Senate President Smith also chose not to comment, saying his focus now is on the legislative session.

Meanwhile, GOP consultant Greg Thomas has played an active role in candidate recruitment.  “Over a decade ago, we ran a dozen campaigns against big-government, big spending anti-business liberal Democrats who took all of their money from Democrats and trial lawyers,” he said. “This year we are running about a dozen campaigns against big government, big spending anti-business liberal Republicans who are funded by Democrat trial lawyers.”

Hyperbole aside, the core of the effort is about rallying support for a slate of candidates to redirect the Senate. See the list below.*

The surge of Republican candidates comes at a time when the 32 Republicans in the Senate are divided among two to three factions.  Senator Eric Tarr (R, Putnam), a staunch conservative who is up for re-election this year, is critical of the recruitment efforts.

Tarr told me the Senate populists “lack a coherent agenda and are heavily influenced by the trial lawyers,” while Takubo is the leader of a “liberal-leaning contingent.” He said Takubo “recruited like-minded candidates—many from the healthcare sector and with ties to his employer—in an apparent continued bid to secure the Senate presidency.”

Takubo maintains his efforts are more altruistic. He has emerged as an unelected leader of like-minded lawmakers more interested in policy than politics.  The outcome of the Republican Senate primaries may well position him to be the next Senate president, but he insists that is not his main purpose as he attempts to redirect the Senate to a more cohesive body that focuses more on issues while minimizing personality conflicts.

The dramatic expansion of the West Virginia Republican Party that fueled super majorities in both the Senate and House meant different factions and leadership challenges were inevitable.  The outcome of these challenged Republican Primary races will be a key factor in determining the near-term power distribution and direction of the Republican Party.

*District 1 (Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall):  Joe Eddy, engineer and former head of Eagle Manufacturing.

District 2 (Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge, Marion, Monongalia): Bob Dobkin, attorney with Spilman, Thomas and Battle.

District 3 (Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood, Wirt): Bob Fehrenbacher, engineer and current member of the House of Delegates.

District 5 (Cabell, Wayne):  Chris Miller, president of Dutch Miller Automotive and 2024 gubernatorial candidate.

District 6 (Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer): Joe Disibbio, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias.

District 8 (Kanawha, Putnam, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Clay): Dr. Stephen Eshenhauer, ER physician at Jackson General Hospital and Health officer for the Kanawha Charleston Health Department.

District 9 (Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming): Dr. Michael Antolini, family doctor and small business owner.

District 14 (Taylor, Preston, Tucker, Grant, Hardy, Mineral): Marc Harman, businessperson and former long-time local politician in Grant County.

District 15 (Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley): Ken Reed, small business owner, former county commissioner and House of Delegates member.

District 17 (Kanawha): Michael Jarrouj, restaurant owner and operator.

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During his State of the State address last Wednesday night, he proposed cutting income taxes by ten percent. His language to lawmakers and the public was specific:

“I am asking the legislature to pass a ten percent income tax cut. I see a lot of claps. We’re going to work to get that number up a little bit, right? West Virginia, we need tax relief now. As you will see in the budget, I’m going to ask the House and the Senate… we can afford this tax cut—it’s going to require work this year and for many years in the future—but we have to provide that tax relief.”

News agencies across the state, including MetroNews, reported it. “Gov. Patrick Morrisey proposed income tax cuts of 10% and pay raises for public employees averaging 3 percent,” wrote our Brad McElhinny.  Steven Allan Adams of Ogden Newspapers wrote, “Morrisey proposed a 10% personal income tax cut, though last week he called for an income tax cut of between 5% and 10%.”

Morrisey’s words and the extensive news coverage meant that the governor won the day.  But reality set in the following day when lawmakers got their first look at Morrisey’s proposed budget for FY 2027 which begins July 1.  The spending plan included only a five percent cut.

When representatives of Morrisey’s budget office appeared before lawmakers they were asked to explain the discrepancy.  The ten percent number, they said, was “aspirational” and could be accomplished if legislators were willing to work with the governor to find the money.

Since Morrisey’s proposed budget called for a five percent tax reduction, why didn’t he just say that in the speech?  Why dump his desire for additional tax cuts on the legislature without presenting the spending cuts or tax increases elsewhere in the budget to pay for them?

The dodge did not sit well with many legislators, and it clearly did not get the governor off to a good start with lawmakers to begin the session.

Long-time Delegate Marty Gearheart (R, Mercer) said during a finance committee meeting Monday, “Typically somebody doesn’t make a bold request for that large of a cut without having some kind of an idea how they’re going to accommodate for the revenue,” he said.

Delegate John Williams (D, Monongalia) asked, “What was the thought process in going with 10% on Wednesday, and then coming back here 12 hours later and saying 5%?  I felt as if it was a disingenuous representation.  It was like a bad dating profile.”

Good points, and this is even before legislators consider whether the state can afford more tax reducitons.  Morrisey’s proposed budget contemplates spending $267 million in carryover from the previous fiscal year and the projected surplus this fiscal year of $320 million.  In other words, Morrisey’s financial plan for next fiscal year uses every dime.

Yes, that is by definition a balanced budget. However, it fails to account for the future. Morrisey’s own six-year budget forecast projects a $204 million shortfall in fiscal year 2028 and even larger deficits in the three subsequent years.  Expanding costs for the Hope Scholarship program that pays for private education and decreases in federal allocations mean the state could be facing serious budget problems in the near term.

Kelly Allen of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy said the state cannot afford additional tax cuts now.  “If this budget was proposed by his predecessor, Governor Morrisey would have likely deemed it fiscally irresponsible, as it sets up tax cuts and increased spending that would weaken the state’s financial footing in upcoming years.”

West Virginia already has in place a mechanism for lowering the state’s income taxes when certain revenue benchmarks are met.  The law has provided for cuts of  around 27 percent in marginal rates in just a few years, so why is Morrisey trying to tack another cut on top of that?

The governor wants to continue enhancing his conservative bona fides by adding “tax cutter” to his resume.  However, the odds of him succeeding in this session were reduced when he baited lawmakers and the public with a ten percent tax cut last Wednesday night, while knowing full well that his proposed budget was something quite different.

The post Morrisey’s tax cut bait-and-switch appeared first on WV MetroNews.

In 2021, Republican voter registration overtook Democratic registration for the first time since 1932, and since then the number of voters who align with the GOP has continued to grow.

Today 42 percent of all voters (508,956) are members of the Republican Party, while just 28 percent (332,111) are registered as Democrats.  Notably, Monongalia County, which has long had a Democratic majority, is now just a few hundred registrations away from flipping.

The numbers, and the ongoing trend, give the West Virginia Republican Party a significant advantage in elections. However, dominance can foster arrogance, and the decision by party leaders to exclude independent voters from the Republican primary is an example.

Last Saturday, the Republican Party Executive Committee rejected attempts to reverse a previous decision and reopen the primary to independent voters starting this year.  Party purists believe choosing Republican candidates should be a decision for Republican voters and not subject to influence from voters who reject the party label.

(Read more here in a commentary from T.J. Meadows.)

Fair enough. But it also sends a powerful message to independent voters that they are not welcome in a significant event in the political process.  House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R, Clay), who favored keeping the primary open, said this week that now his own father cannot vote for him in the primary because he is registered as independent.

The number of independent voters in West Virginia continues to grow.  Twenty-five percent, or 305,183 individuals as of the end of December, have said through their registration that they want to vote, but they do not want to be affiliated with either party.

A recent Gallup Poll found that nationally, 45 percent of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025. “The independent percentage has increased markedly in the past 15 years,” according to Gallup.

Political parties that want to grow and establish a bigger tent acknowledge the shift and welcome independents, and that creates an opportunity for West Virginia’s struggling Democratic Party.  It desperately needs a boost, and the Republican Party has handed it an opportunity.

The Democratic message to the over three hundred thousand independents is simple: “The Republican Party has stated clearly that it does not want you in their club. Even those of you who voted for Trump are excluded.”

Delegate Scot Heckert, chair of the Wood County Republican Party and a supporter of keeping the Primary open, said, “(Independents voted for Trump three times. They would probably vote for JD Vance (in 2028). They brought us from way behind to the supermajority. And now we’ve turned our back on them.  The party has spoken.  It is what it is, but I believe it’s the beginning of the end of the supermajority for (the) Republican Party.”

Back in the 1980s, the West Virginia Republican Party started its rebuild, and one of the important steps came in 1987 when the party opened its primary to independents. The Democratic Primary would remain closed for almost 30 more years until it finally opened to independents in 2017.  By then, the Democratic Party slide was on an irreversible course.

The West Virginia Republican Party is in no danger of losing its supermajority anytime in the near future.  However, if history is any indication, GOP leaders may one day regret their decision to prohibit independents from participating in their party’s primary.

The post WV GOP gives the Democratic Party a lifeline appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Colin Powell used that phrase behind closed doors when he was trying to temper the hawks in the George W. Bush administration as they planned the invasion of Iraq.  The ramifications are political and practical.

On the practical level, the issue is what comes after there is regime change, or in the case of Venezuela, the removal of the country’s dictator?  There is a natural vacuum to be filled.  Maybe it will be better, but who really knows?  So far, it appears not much has changed.

Trump said Saturday the U.S. would “run the country” in the interim and that he was not afraid to put boots on the ground if necessary. Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim president.  She was part of Maduro’s inner circle and has demanded his release.  However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he has talked with her, and she is willing to do “whatever the U.S. asks.”

So, who really knows whose side she is on?

The future leadership of a country of 30-million people is in question.  After all, Maduro left behind his cabal of henchmen who helped him remain in power.  Would we support putting U.S. soldiers in harm’s way if Venezuela dissolves into chaos or the new leaders are just as bad as the old?

On a political level, the Venezuelan raid triggered more fracturing of the MAGA base.  Some on the far right want to know what part of “America First” involves another foreign entanglement?  The conservative news outlet The Bulwark said the raid creates a “divide between right-wing personalities and their audiences.”

“Even as Trump celebrates the operation and suggests future raids in Mexico and Colombia, it seems like even hardcore MAGA fans aren’t buying what he’s selling.  At the same time, Maduro’s capture has put Trump’s media supporters in a bind: defend Trump or appease their isolationist audiences,” said The Bulwark.

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, both Trump supporters, back the raid, praising the work of the U.S. military and the removal of an illegitimate leader who they say was responsible for the flow of illegal drugs into this country.

The drug argument is overstated.  The most recent report from the DEA concludes the Mexican cartels and their networks are “the primary groups producing illicit synthetic drugs driving U.S. drug poisoning deaths,” and the chemicals for fentanyl and methamphetamine are sourced from China.

So, what is the true aim of regime change in Venezuela?   Trump has talked a lot about reconstituting the petroleum infrastructure in the oil-rich country using the assets and expertise of U.S. companies.   Trump claims oil companies are anxious to return to the country—Chevron remained there even after Venezuela nationalized the energy industry in the 1970s—but the big producers are cautious.

“We’ve been expropriated from Venezuela two different times,” Exxon Mobile CEO Darren Woods told Bloomberg News in November. “We’d have to see what the economics look like.”  However, Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders of the oil industry Friday, so their positions may change.

All the oil references by Trump make it sound like the removal of Maduro and the commitment to “run the country” are more of a business deal than anything else.  Maybe there will be future shortages, but the world is awash in oil currently.  Adding more oil out of Venezuela would only depress prices for the oil companies.

But back to Friedman’s analysis. The rule holds true for Venezuela just as it did for Iraq and any other country that removes the leadership of another.  Trump is now indelibly linked to the immediate and long-term future of Venezuela.   Early victory laps will be followed by a marathon covered with obstacles and a lot of shattered pottery.

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Has there ever been a Christmas when there was no war, no fighting in any corner of our planet?   It’s difficult to imagine since the world’s history has been a series of conquests and defenses.

But there was once a Christmas when the fighting did stop, when enemies shook hands and laughed and even sang Christmas carols together.

The First World War had been underway just a few months in December 1914, but it was clear a long, bloody fight was ahead.  The Germans and the English were dug in their muddy trenches, separated sometimes by just 60 yards.

Between them was a No-Man’s land of mud, debris and the casualties of both sides, left unburied for weeks.

But something remarkable happened along the battle lines on Christmas 111 years ago; the German and British soldiers stopped fighting.

It wasn’t that they were afraid to fight. The trenches of both sides were filled with brave men who faced death each day.  No, the peace began as an informal truce casually agreed to by the officers in the field, but not the generals safely in the rear.

At night the English first saw the lights of Christmas decorations in the German trenches and then heard the sounds of the German soldiers singing Christmas carols.  The British soldiers responded in kind.

All along the Western Front the scene repeated itself.  The impromptu truce spread.  In some places along the lines the warring soldiers emerged from their trenches, leaving their guns behind, and met in No-Man’s land where they exchanged food and conversed as best they could.   One group of soldiers played a game of soccer.

Percy Jones of the Queen’s Westminster Regiment said, “Altogether we had a great day with our enemies and parted with much hand-shaking and mutual goodwill.”    Corporal John Ferguson of the Seaforth Highlanders remarked, “Here we were, laughing and chatting to men whom only a few hours before we were trying to kill.”

Well behind the trenches the British High Command was distressed, fearing it might not be able to get the men to start fighting again.  The war might grind to a halt. Headquarters issued a statement blaming the lack of fighting at the front on “stormy weather.”

Eventually, the soldiers at the front drifted back to their positions.  At some locations along the front the Christmas Spirit carried to the New Year before fighting resumed.   The fighting, of course, did start again and continued for nearly four more bloody years.

This Christmas as we search for good news in a troubled world, we can remember that Christmas 111 years ago when the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill toward men was strong enough to—for a time at least—stop a war.

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It was a historic achievement and the result of a goal set by the CDC in 1978 to eradicate the highly contagious and dangerous childhood disease through vaccinations. Harvard Health Publishing reported, “Before an effective vaccine was developed in the 1960s, nearly every child in the U.S. got measles.  Complications like measles-related pneumonia or hearing loss were common, and 400 to 500 people died each year.”

But now measles is making a comeback as an increasing number of states make it easier to opt out of immunization requirements.  Here are some examples:

–The South Carolina Department of Public Health reports nine new cases since last Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 138.  Dozens of school students are quarantining because of potential exposure to measles.  The outbreak is occurring primarily in an area where there are lower vaccination rates.

–Texas reports at least 762 measles cases last year,  with about half of those in one county.  The Texas Tribune reported, “The West Texas outbreak was the nation’s largest in 35 years.  Nearly all of those infected were unvaccinated.

—CBS News reported, “In Arizona and Utah, an outbreak has ballooned since August.  According to the CDC, there have been 49 outbreaks this year, while there were just 16 in 2024.

Health officials attribute the spread of the disease to lower vaccination rates.  Thankfully, West Virginia has managed to avoid a serious outbreak… so far.  And that is attributable to the state law requiring school-age children to be immunized unless they are granted a medical exemption.

However, there is a movement afoot, led by Governor Morrisey, to broaden the exemption to include religious and philosophical reasons by claiming the state’s Equal Protection for Religion Act trumps the immunization law.  (Read more here from Brad McElhinny.)

Raleigh County Circuit Court Judge Michael Froble issued an order recently allowing families to use a religious exemption to the vaccine, but the state Supreme Court has placed a stay on that and all lower court activity while it decides the case.

Meanwhile, confusion and uncertainty reign. The state Board of Education tells school systems to follow the existing law, while the state health department is following Morrisey’s executive order to allow the exemptions.

A legal filing by the state Board of Education made this succinct point: “Measles is proliferating in nearby states. Pertussis killed three children in Kentucky in the past year. Childhood vaccination rates continue to decrease. Through it all, West Virginia’s Vaccination Law serves as a bulwark for public health, driving West Virginia to the highest kindergarten vaccination rate in the nation.”

This should be a source of pride and relief for West Virginians. There is universal agreement that the MMR vaccine, which includes immunizations against measles, mumps, and rubella, is safe and effective.  It is just one of a series of shots our children receive prior to entering school that dramatically reduce the risk of diseases that were once commonplace and potentially life-threatening.

Ironically, the immunizations are victims of their own success.  They have been so effective that an increasing number of people believe they are no longer necessary.  Sadly, the growing number of measles outbreaks is a consequence of that thinking.

Now it is up to the five members of the West Virginia Supreme Court to provide unambiguous clarity to the state immunization law that will protect health here and serve as a model for the rest of the country.

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First, begin with this finding.  Pew Research shows that just 15 percent of young adults follow the news “all or most of the time,” compared with 62 percent of those who are 65 and older.  Additionally, these young adults are more likely to seek out entertainment news and less likely than older Americans to get news about government, politics, science and technology, and business and finance.

The research also shows that young adults who do follow the news continue to shift away from legacy media and instead embrace social media for their information.  Three-fourths of adults under 30 are more likely to get their news on social media platforms.  And TikTok is the most popular site, with about two billion users worldwide every month.

TikTok and other social media platforms are home to influencers, individuals with significant followings who post ideas, observations, and pitch products.  One 21-year-old told Pew researchers, “If I agree with that person already, if I already have background with that person, then I’ll probably trust him more than some news site.”

In addition, TikTok algorithms analyze what a user likes and then adjust the feeds accordingly.  If you like short videos on a specific health topic, then you will get more of them.  The “news” then becomes a personalized experience.

One could argue that personally customized information is helpful because it tailors the experience to individuals’ wants and needs.  However, there are downsides.

It constricts the users to information silos and echo chambers.  The individual receives content that reinforces what they already believe, even if that information is false or misleading.  That reduces the opportunity for users to be exposed to contrary views that may broaden their understanding of an issue.

TikTok has guidelines in place to try to reduce distortions and deceptions.  Its rules prohibit misinformation and deceptive behavior, and it requires “clear labeling when AI or editing is used to depict people or scenes.”  But with an estimated two billion users worldwide and between one and two million creators, it is nearly impossible to effectively monitor all the content.  That leaves users with the challenge of trying to sort out the content for accurate information.

For example, a study by the University of Chicago on health posts on TikTok concluded, “There is high-quality and factual information out there on social platforms such as TikTok, but it may be difficult to distinguish this from information disseminated by influencers that can actually be harmful,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Christopher Roxbury.

Another problem is that the rapidly increasing sophistication of AI is making it harder to detect deep fakes. NPR reported last July, “Millions of TikTokkers have watched some version of a video in the past week that falsely stated that ‘they’re installing incinerators at Alligator Alcatraz.”  One of the videos attracted 20 million views.  An AI generated fake video of a woman telling a reporter she sold her food stamps for cash spread widely on other social media platforms.

What all this means is that it is increasingly difficult for individuals, especially young adults who get their news on TikTok and other social media platforms, to be well-informed and armed with fact-based information.  It fuels the concern that we are descending into a post-truth era of agenda-driven influencers, disinformation and deep-fake creators.

Perhaps TikTok and other social media platforms will get better at preventing misinformation from being widely distributed, but with each improvement comes more creative ways that content creators can sidestep the guardrails. Meanwhile, information consumers, especially young people who are the next generation of decision-makers on everything from health to public policy, face the increasing challenge of separating fact from fiction.

The post TikTok replaces legacy news outlets for young adults. appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old with her whole life ahead of her.  It is heartbreaking when you read what her father, Gary Beckstrom, posted on social media: “My baby girl has passed to Glory.”  (Read more here from Brad McElhinny.)

We are all still pulling and praying for Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was critically wounded and remains in very serious condition.

We know that the home communities of Beckstrom and Wolfe will rally together in support of the families.  As Major General James Hoyer, the former Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard who is now retired, often said, “You recruit a soldier and airman, but the family serves.”  And now these families need the support of all West Virginians.

To be completely clear, the person directly responsible for this assault is the Afghan national who Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said had been “radicalized since he’s been here in this country.”  There are also reports the shooter had “manic episodes for one or two weeks at a time.”

Guard leaders had worried that uniformed military members clustered in one area were a soft target for terrorism.  The New York Times reported on an internal National Guard memo where commanders warned that troops were in a “heightened threat environment” and that “nefarious threat actors engaging in grievance-based violence, and those inspired by foreign terrorist organizations” might view the mission “as a target of opportunity.”

Which brings us to the mission itself.  President Trump called the National Guard to Washington to address what he called a “crime emergency.”  West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey was among the first to send our state’s citizen soldiers, saying, “West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital.”

So, Morrisey wholeheartedly believed in the mission and wanted to support Trump, so he used his authority as governor to order our citizen soldiers to Washington.  Morrisey has continued to stress, at nearly every press availability that the Guard members volunteered for the D.C. duty. Yes, but it was Morrisey’s decision to send them out-of-state on what was an ill-defined mission.

Yes, crime is a problem in Washington, as it is in most major cities, but statistics undermine Trump’s claim of a “crime emergency.”  Additionally, sending in the Guard blurred the normally distinct lines between civilian law enforcement and the military.

As is often the case, politicians and sunshine patriots like to be at the front of the parade when soldiers are marching off into the unknown.  Mission creep was inevitable, as some Guard members were assigned to pick up trash and spread mulch. Were they there to enforce the law or were they put in the unenviable position of serving as political props? As Juliette Kayyem wrote in The Atlantic, “There are costs to performatively deploying members of the military–one of which is the risk of endangering them.”

Earlier, in a court fight in West Virginia over the deployment, Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Richard Lindsay ruled that Morrisey had the authority to send the troops. Legally, Morrisey is responsible for the deployment.

Thus, this fact: Had Governor Morrisey NOT sent the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, Beckstrom would be alive, and Wolfe would not be fighting for his life.  That may seem harsh, but true leadership brings with it not only the accolades that accompany power and success, but also the tremendous burden of life-altering decisions.

Dwight Eisenhower said, “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.”

Again, the shooter is the person directly responsible for the dastardly attack on West Virginia’s soldiers. But Governor Morrisey, as the commander of the West Virginia National Guard, is responsible for sending our citizen soldiers on a dubious mission.

The post Governor Morrisey and the National Guard Mission in DC appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Welcome to the brave new world of science and medicine brought to you by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  Kennedy is not a doctor or a scientist, but he has made a career out of trafficking—and profiting—from conspiracy theories and medical quackery. Normally, such pronouncements would be relegated to the fringes of social media, but because of his last name and his appointment by Trump to a cabinet position, his words have impact.

Take the assertion that studies have “not ruled out” a potential link between vaccines and autism.  That is asking science to disprove a negative. Here is what the American Medical Association said:

“Despite recent changes to the CDC website, an abundance of evidence from decades of scientific studies shows no link between vaccines and autism. Extensive and rigorous studies consistently show that vaccines are safe and effective at protecting against serious illness.”

So, under Kennedy’s logic, the fact that no link has been found means there could be one; it’s just that no one has found it yet. There is also no connection between autism and baby diapers, but gosh, I guess there could be.

Notably, the CDC’s website also includes a footnote that reads, “Vaccines do not cause autism.”  That remains on the site due to the insistence of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R, Louisiana), who is chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education and Pensions Committee and a medical doctor. Cassidy insisted the statement remain on the site in order to gain his vote for Kennedy’s confirmation.

So, the CDC is not only highlighting scientifically misleading information but also providing conflicting medical advice.  Not exactly helpful for parents who are trying to make sound medical decisions for their children.

This is all the result of having an unqualified conspiracy theorist in control of the highest federal government health institution.  As the Wall Street Journal opined, “Who decided to have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. home alone at the Health and Human Services Department?  Without adults to supervise the Secretary, he’s damaging public trust in immunizations, and now the Centers for Disease Control has been conscripted into his anti-vaccine campaign.”

Childhood vaccines are universally regarded as among the greatest life-saving advances in history.  The respected medical publication The Lancet published a comprehensive study last year finding that since 1974, “vaccination has averted 154 million deaths, including 146 million among children younger than five years” around the world.

But, as always, if parents are confused or concerned about vaccinating their children, they can talk to their pediatrician. A face-to-face conversation will help parents separate the wheat from the chaff about vaccines.

In the meantime, there should be an updated advisory in all caps at the top of the CDC’s main vaccine page that reads, “WARNING: FOLLOWING MEDICAL ADVICE FROM SECRETARY KENNEDY MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.”

The post The CDC needs an updated warning on its website appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The case triggered an outrage in West Virginia.  How could this happen?  Kyneddi’s mother was supposed to be homeschooling the child, but it appears there was no required follow up by Boone County schools.  Additionally, the State Police visited the home earlier and then went to the local Child Protective Services office, but it remains unclear whether CPS investigated.

Reporters’ repeated inquiries into the case met a stone wall.  The state Department of Human Services refused to release any information citing a state law providing for confidentiality in child abuse and neglect cases.

However, the case caught the eye of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  It investigated and its report has just been released, and it is illuminating.  (You can read the full report here.)

Start with the breadth of child abuse and neglect cases.  The agency found that for one year starting in the fall of 2023, there were 23,759 reports of child abuse and neglect in the state that warranted follow-up. Think about that for a moment.  CPS is being flooded every day with information about suspected abuse and neglect cases that may lead to the assignment of a caseworker.

Caseworkers are overloaded and, as a result, much of the required paperwork that moves cases along and provides for accountability was not being done during that period. The report said that “staff retention, staff shortages, and child welfare workers having to manage high caseloads contributed to not completing initial assessments timely.”

The result of that is consequential. “Reports that take too long to investigate may result in continued child abuse and neglect of the victim.”  This report quantifies what has been suspected for years; West Virginia has a child abuse and neglect crisis that overwhelms the system put in place to protect those children.

Fortunately, the Morrisey administration is already addressing the issue.  State Department of Health Services and cabinet secretary Alex Mayer told MetroNews this week, “I think we’ve already started putting some things in place that help ensure they are able to perform the duties they are required to do.  We continue to double down on other additional supports to them (the CPS workers) so they can be successful in their role.”

This federal report peels back the veil that had been placed over CPS.  It represents a quantified baseline of the problems in CPS that policy makers can use to make improvements, and that has been long overdue.

Poor Kyneddi Miller. The judicial system will determine the culpability of her mother and grandmother in her death.  They were, after all, the primary caregivers.  But we know too well how family dysfunction for any number of reasons can lead to horrible situations for children.

We also know that the state has a legal and moral responsibility to protect these innocent victims. It is a difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes dangerous job for those frontline CPS workers. This report documents the myriad challenges of the job, and it’s up to the agency—with the support of the policy makers—to fix them.

Tragically, it is too late for Kyneddi. Hopefully it is not too late for the hundreds of other West Virginia children like her.

The post How Kyneddi Miller’s tragic death can spark change appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The Muncys were the first recipients of the new food stamp pilot program in the country.  That was the fulfillment of a promise made by President John F. Kennedy during his Primary Election campaign in West Virginia where he witnessed  firsthand “hardship, despair, personal tragedy, hunger and hopelessness.”

The following year, Kennedy announced a continuation of the pilot program in West Virginia and seven other locations saying, “Low income families are receiving better diets–they have been able to obtain meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables.”

Following Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon Johnson requested, and Congress passed, the Food Stamp Act, making the program permanent and available to all states.  Today, what is now known as SNAP—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—provides food benefits to around 42 million low-income people in the United States, including 275,000 individuals in West Virginia.  One third of those are children.

It is self-evident that the SNAP program is essential for families here and across the country who are struggling to put food on the table. According to the National Library of Medicine, SNAP is “a highly effective program, vital to our nation’s health and well-being.”

Yet, the program is stalled, a victim of the ongoing budget dispute in Congress.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that SNAP benefits for November will not be paid.  President Trump has promised that his administration will find a way to make the payments, but he has not elaborated on how.

Meanwhile, food banks here and across the country are bracing for a surge of people in need.  Cynthia Kirkhart, chief executive of Facing Hunger Food Bank in West Virginia, said they are already experiencing a 50 percent increase in demand.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has stepped up with a plan to help.  He announced Tuesday a donation drive with matching state funding of up to $13 million to buy food for the pantries. “I have confidence in the people of West Virginia. I really do,” Morrisey said.  “This is our significant commitment, and we’re not going to turn our backs on people.”

Credit Morrisey for advancing a public-private partnership that appeals to the generosity of West Virginians to help out their neighbors during a time of need.  However, we should not be in this position in the first place.  Congress and the president have failed to perform the most basic of responsibilities of passing a budget, and this is one of the painful results.

There is an African proverb that says, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”  For weeks now, the politicians in Washington have been trying to push each other around.  As a consequence, needy people here and across the country are paying the price.

The post When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers appeared first on WV MetroNews.

But now another wave of reports about Justice’s money problems demonstrates that any image of financial stability for the former governor and sitting United States Senator was a façade. Consider what has emerged just in the last few days:

MetroNews’ Brad McElhinny reported Wednesday that the West Virginia Tax Division has filed liens on the Greenbrier Hotel and the Greenbrier Sporting Club, both owned by Justice’s family, over sales taxes that were collected but not remitted. “The $1.36 million in financial obligations to the state piled up months ago, but the liens were filed with the Greenbrier County Clerk over the last several weeks,” McElhinny reported.

It is the second time in less than two years the state Tax Division has placed liens on Greenbrier properties for failing to turn over collected sales taxes. In the former case, Justice worked out a payment plan for the delinquent taxes and the liens were eventually withdrawn.

The Gazette-Mail’s Mike Tony reported that nearly 400 parcels at the Justice Holdings-owned Glade Springs Resort in Raleigh County are slated for public auction later this month to satisfy liens against the properties for non-payment of dues to the resort association. The state Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to halt the auction of the properties until the case can be more thoroughly reviewed.

Tony also reported that Justice Holdings owes $37,000 in delinquent property taxes in Raleigh County on over 300 parcels, mostly in Glade Springs Village.

These obligations are similar to ones that have come up frequently over the years relating to Justice and his family business finances. But also, a new—and potentially more serious—financial problem for Justice emerged over the weekend.

Politico’s Ry Rivard and Jordain Carney reported that the IRS has filed a federal tax lien against Justice, listing the Senator and his wife, Cathy, “as having a total balance of more than $8 million in unpaid assessments.”

McElhinny reported on what the IRS stated in its lien filing with the Greenbrier County Clerk: “We have made a demand for payment of the liability, but it remains unpaid. Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes and additional penalties, interest, and costs that may accrue.”

Justice has frequently been identified as West Virginia’s wealthiest individual. In 2021, Forbes Magazine estimated Justice was worth as much as $1.9 billion. So just a few years ago, an $8 million debt would have been nothing more than a rounding error for him.

However, that same financial magazine last January reported that even with his substantial assets, Justice “is in hock to the tune of more than $1 billion in the form of personally guaranteed bank loans, debt, court judgments, and environmental liabilities. By Forbes’ reckoning, the new Republican Senator has a net worth of less than zero.”

When questioned about the debts and obligations, Justice frequently admonishes reporters to stay out of his private affairs and he reminds them that at the end of the day, the bills get paid… eventually. One wonders how conciliatory the IRS will be to Justice’s gasbagging.

Justice likes to say that he’s working for “Toby and Edith.” They are fictional personas who represent decent, good-hearted West Virginians. Justice has not said as much, but we can imagine those forbearing folk follow the rules and make good on their financial obligations.

Justice, a U.S. Senator, now faces financial claims by the federal government, Raleigh County, a neighborhood association and the West Virginia Tax Division.  At the least, as one of 100 U.S. Senators making decisions about national policy, Justice must make sure he is square with the IRS. More broadly, he should live up to the ideals of Toby and Edith and ensure he’s setting a good financial example for his neighbors.

The post Justice should live like Toby and Edith appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Morrisey’s executive order upon taking office earlier this year said the state’s Equal Protection for Religion Act, passed in 2023, gives parents the power to opt out of vaccinations due to reasons of faith.

However, the state Board of Education supports the long-standing immunization law, which allows for exemptions only for medical reasons, and it has instructed county boards of education to follow the law.

Parents on both sides have taken the issue to local circuit courts, and the outcomes have been mixed.  In Raleigh County, Judge Michael Froble has attempted to combine the cases of more than 570 families, and last week he held two days of hearings.

The sometimes confusing and occasionally conflicting testimony did produce moments of clarity. One, in particular, came from state epidemiologist Shannon McBee. She was asked that since the religious freedom law was passed in 2023, why hasn’t the state Bureau of Public Health developed a religious exemption process?

She answered succinctly: “Because government has a compelling interest in public health.” When asked why the health department did not offer religious exemptions in 2024, she said, “Because we have the strongest vaccination law in the country.”

On follow-up questions, McBee testified the agency instituted a religious exemption process only after Morrisey issued his executive order.

She also told the court that the health agency simply told parents it would not enforce the compulsory immunization law because the governor ordered them to disregard it. It is indeed chilling when a chief executive believes he has the authority to tell a state agency to ignore the law.

All this may be sorted out when Judge Froble issues his decision next month.  But meanwhile, more cases are being heard in county circuit courts while the judge’s decision is pending.

Confusing? Absolutely. And also, unnecessary.

Earlier this year, the West Virginia Legislature failed to amend the state’s immunization law to include religious exemptions. Therefore, the existing immunization statute which allows only for medical exemptions remains intact.

Meanwhile, more cases of measles are cropping up across the country. NPR reported this week, “The U.S. has now confirmed 1,563 cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the highest annual number in more than three decades.”

In South Carolina, 153 unvaccinated students exposed to measles are quarantining.  There is a growing measles outbreak in border areas of Arizona and Utah. “Nearly all the cases occurred in people who were not vaccinated,” NPR reported.  “Six required hospitalizations.”

Health officials warn that as vaccinations slip, there will be an increasing number of cases of the highly infectious disease.  According to the CDC, one person with measles can infect 12-18 unvaccinated individuals.

Morrisey’s legally questionable executive order undermines the existing and effective vaccine requirements for school children. By doing so, he has opened the door to myriad legal challenges that are producing a hodgepodge of outcomes while increasing the health risk to West Virginia children.

The post Morrisey’s meddling risks children’s health appeared first on WV MetroNews.

A society where dissent is blocked or punished is rooted in tyranny. Sharansky would know. He spent nine years as a political prisoner in the old Soviet Union. After he gained his freedom he moved to Israel where he held a number of positions within the government.

Sharansky’s book was published 21 years ago, but it should serve as a cautionary tale for what is happening now in the United States.  President Donald Trump and his power-hungry sycophants are creating a fear society right in our own backyard.

Trump is employing authoritarian tactics to consolidate his power, trample democratic norms and repress opposition through force and intimidation. He is chipping away at constitutional protections and replacing them with his personal whims and vendettas.

The latest example is his politicization of the military. His speech recently to top-ranking generals and admirals was especially chilling.  His reference to the U.S. fighting a “war from within” set the table for the military to be dispatched to Democratic-run cities.

One can reasonably argue that some of these cities have failed to control crime and have been overly tolerant of individuals in the country illegally.  However, the correct response lies in local and state jurisdictions improving policing. The U.S. military is neither properly trained nor responsible for local law enforcement and should only be dispatched in emergencies.

Thankfully, there is resistance to the overreach. In Oregon, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut blocked Trump’s attempt to send in federalized National Guard members from other states. Immergut, who was appointed by Trump, wrote, “This country has a long-standing and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civilian affairs.”

Pre-Trump, Republicans howled at such federal overreach as Trump is employing. They would quote enthusiastically from the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act that barred federal troops from civilian affairs. Nowadays, they either cheer or sit stoically for fear of falling out of favor with Trump and MAGA.

Trump may simply ignore the courts and invoke the Insurrection Act.  If so, then all bets are off.  We will have officially shifted into authoritarianism and military control. It is not far-fetched to believe Trump could use that authority to interfere with elections.

Protect Democracy writer and editor Amanda Carpenter wrote that the intimidation of the media and protesters today could be the intimidation of voters tomorrow. “If federal forces can make citizens afraid to exercise their First Amendment rights on the street, they can make them afraid to attend a rally, support an opposing candidate or cast a ballot in upcoming elections,” she wrote.

Our country was founded on the fundamental principle of freedom. The Founders formalized in the Bill of Rights the limitations on government’s ability to erode that freedom. They have stood the test for so long that we take them for granted.

But those limitations are now being stress-tested by autocratic intent. The outcome will determine whether America will remain a free society or become a fear society.

The post Are we a free or fear society? appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The fact that athletic events are decided by wins and losses frequently produces either/or thinking; A team is great or terrible. A coach is a genius or a dunce. Sports are not given to nuance. Consider what has happened so far this season for the WVU football team:

The come-from-behind win over Pitt sent a sellout crowd into a wild celebration and gave Mountaineer fans everywhere hope for the future. Coach Rich Rodriguez at least partially eclipsed the shattering loss to the Panthers 18 years earlier.

The new era had a strong foothold.

But the subsequent losses to Kansas and Utah were cold reminders of just how far Mountaineer football must travel to even be competitive. Now WVU faces a short week and a road game in a difficult environment against a ranked BYU that is favored by nearly three touchdowns.

Five games in, there is enough evidence to make even the most optimistic Mountaineer fan confront the reality that Rodriguez’s first year back will be marked by the disappointment of a losing record.

WVU Director of Athletics Wren Baker remains undeterred.  He is not given to the emotional trappings of fandom.  His tenure has been marked by rational and thoughtful decision making rather than unrestrained mood swings. He still believes Rodriguez and company are going to build a program the right way.

What exactly is “the right way” in this new era of college sports?  That rests on how coaches combine traditional recruiting of high school athletes with smart portal decisions and efficient use of revenue share money combined with NIL opportunities.

WVU Athletics does not share specifics about rev share, but it’s believed that next season football will be able to combine the lion’s share of the $21 million available with a pot of money that was not spent this season. Again, we don’t know the exact numbers, but we do know that football did not max out this season on rev share money it had available.

Baker is also conscious of the struggles typically associated with first year head coaches, including those adapting to the changing landscape. He points to Arizona State Coach Kenny Dillingham who, during his first year in 2023 when NIL really took hold, went 3-9. The following year, new Arizona Coach Brent Brennan had a 4-8 record.

Pre-NIL and revenue sharing, Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell was 3-9 his first year in 2016. Kansas Coach Lance Leipold was 2-10 in his inaugural season of 2021. Dave Aranda was 2-7 in the Covid-shorted season of 2020, his first year at Baylor.  In 2024, Houston’s Willie Fritz was 4-8.

None of this is intended to make excuses for Rich Rod and company.  He and his staff, and now many of his players, are paid to do a job.  The expectation of that job is to produce a football team that is—at the least—competitive in the Big 12 and at some point can compete for a league title.

How long will that take?  How long will Mountaineer Nation wait to see more positive results?  Now with player transfer freedom, revenue sharing and NIL, the leash on coaches has shortened from five or six years to two or three.

It is said that “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” That is the challenge for Mountaineer fans, at least for this season.

The post The Mountaineers are testing fan patience appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, adhered to the embodiment of Christian faith when she said that she forgave her husband’s killer. “That man, that young man… I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do,” she said.

“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us,” she said.

Her words at a most painful time were an unassailable testament to what it means to be a Christian. It is hard to imagine a more heartfelt and accurate interpretation of Jesus’s message on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Contrast that with Trump’s comment. “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry Erika. But now Erika can talk to me and the whole group and maybe they can convince me that’s not right. But I can’t stand my opponent.”

Many in the crowd laughed, even though Trump’s apparent ad-lib was antithetical to the essence of the Gospel.

The defense of Trump from the Christian right is that Trump has flaws just like everyone. Evangelist Reverend Franklin Graham, a Trump supporter, said of Trump, “Remember when Jesus told the crowd, ‘Let the one without sin cast the first stone,’ and slowly the entire audience began to disappear. All of us have sinned.”

The Christian right also justifies its support of Trump with the argument that he is fighting for what they value most. “We believe this president will defend religious freedom where the Democrats would not,” Graham said.

That is a decision Christians must make for themselves, but it always feels like a perverse justification. Yes, we all have imperfections, but the Christian faith instructs us to acknowledge our sins and follow the path to salvation—to love instead of hate. To forgive instead of seeking retribution.

It is notable that at a time of unimaginable personal pain, the individual who has suffered the most from Kirk’s death, Erika Kirk, relied on her faith and knowledge of what Jesus said in his final moments to begin healing.

Trump also said at the funeral, “We want religion brought back to America.” If he is sincere about a spiritual revival, he could start by practicing what Erika Kirk preaches.

The post A contrast of messages at Charlie Kirk’s funeral appeared first on WV MetroNews.

We are rightly concerned about the safety of our political leaders and public figures, but we should also be worried about how the Kirk murder is serving as a mechanism for those in leadership positions who want to use the tragedy to curtail or punish speech.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday, “Without establishing any link to last week’s shooting, the Republican president and members of his administration have discussed classifying some groups as domestic terrorists, ordering racketeering investigations and revoking tax-exempt status for progressive nonprofits.”

President Trump has repeatedly cast broadside blame on “the left” for Kirk’s murder while conveniently ignoring inflammatory rhetoric on the right as well as his own incendiary language. After all, he was the primary provocateur of the January 6^th insurrection where five people died and 174 police officers were injured.

Attorney General Pam Bondi picked up the baton earlier this week when she said on a podcast that individuals engaged in “hate speech” would be prosecuted. “There’s free speech and then there’s hate speech,” Bondi said on The Katie Miller Podcast, adding that the Justice Department is “targeting anyone with hate speech.”

Either the top law enforcement officer in the country does not understand the First Amendment or she chose to ignore it.  She quickly tried to correct herself after blowback from multiple groups on the right and left, including conservative pundits.

Stephen Miller, the influential White House Deputy Chief of Staff, was right there with Bondi. “With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, eliminate and destroy this network [emphasis added] and make America safe again for the American people,”  Miller said. 

What network?  Miller and others on the far right are attempting, without specific evidence, to suggest that Kirk’s killer was part of some vast left-wing conspiracy. Vice President J.D. Vance has also piled on by falsely suggesting that political violence is more common on the left than on the right. In fact, a study has found that the opposite is true.*

And then Wednesday ABC, under pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show after complaints from conservatives that he mischaracterized the motivation of the man who shot Kirk.

The threat of a crackdown on speech from members of the Trump administration is a textbook trademark of authoritarian governments that use their power to quell dissent. It is undemocratic and an assault on the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly interpreted the First Amendment broadly. Speech, particularly unpopular speech, including so-called “hate speech,”  is sheltered from government interference.

In the landmark case of Whitney v. California, Justice Louis Brandeis wrote that the Founding Fathers believed free speech was integral to liberty. “They believed that freedom to think as you will and speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly, discussion would be futile.”

There are exceptions to free speech, but they are rare. For example, in Brandenburg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court found that the government can prohibit speech if it is “directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action” and if it is “likely to incite or produce such action.” But generally speaking, government cannot punish someone for what they say or think.

(It is important to note here that the First Amendment does not apply to private employers and their employees. Yes, someone in the private sector can be fired for what they say.)

Notably, the late Charlie Kirk understood the First Amendment, and he knew that his often provocative speech was protected from government interference or prosecution. That is a lesson that is lost on an administration that wants to punish people for what they think and say.

*(That information comes from a Cato Institute study.)

The post Trump administration fails the First Amendment appeared first on WV MetroNews.

–Governor Morrisey issued an executive order earlier this year arguing that the state’s Equal Freedom for Religion law trumps the vaccination law and thus parents can opt out of the immunization requirement for their children to enter school if they cite a religious objection.

–The state Board of Education has instructed county school systems to follow the existing law which requires proof immunization for a series of childhood diseases unless medically exempted.

–Raleigh County Judge Michael Froble has issued a temporary injunction on behalf of several families allowing them a religious exemption. The judge has scheduled a hearing on a permanent injunction for this week.

–The Raleigh County case has been merged with a case in Kanawha County where the parents of immunocompromised children have sought to prevent religious exemptions so their children will be protected from diseases.

–A Mineral County judge has denied a family’s request for a preliminary injunction in a case where a family sought recognition of a religious exemption.

–Similar lawsuits are popping up in other counties across the state. Some judges will allow exceptions for families and others will not. So, the result will still be a patchwork of conflicting decisions that will, for the moment at least, leave West Virginia with a hodgepodge of school immunization requirements from county to county.

–The West Virginia Legislature will start another regular session in January. It could well change the existing law. It came close to adding religious and philosophical exemptions during the session earlier this year. The legislature could also refine the Religious Freedom Law to make it not so broadly apply to every section of code in the state.

West Virginia desperately needs consistency on the issue, and the most logical place to find that clarity is the state Supreme Court. The Justices said in a ruling last week that it will hear the matter…eventually.  It has given all sides in the pivotal Raleigh County case until mid-February to file briefs.

That means a decision is still months away.

This high court is made up of reasoned individuals, so they must have a rational basis for delaying action.  However, in the meantime, more cases will be filed in local courts on each side of the issue resulting in school systems being forced to navigate the shifting landscape while parents deal with the fallout.

Public policy needs predictability to be effective. Currently, West Virginia’s immunization law, which should be viewed as the Gold Standard and not an outlier, is caught up in tangles of legal uncertainty.

The post WV school immunization law needs legal clarification appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The latest edition of the MetroNews West Virginia Poll found that 61 percent of West Virginians view the Republican U.S. Senator favorably. Only 23 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him. His numbers are significantly higher than any other statewide politician.

Additionally, when those same West Virginians were asked their opinion of the best governor in their lifetime, 32 percent named Justice.  The next highest was Joe Manchin at 23 percent. Current governor Patrick Morrisey came in at nine percent.

Rex Repass, chief consultant for Research America, which conducted the poll, said the latest numbers reflect Justice’s continued popularity. “Over the years when we tracked Jim Justice’s performance in terms of his office that he’s holding at the time, it’s always been in the high 50s and low 60s,” said Repass.

How does Justice do that?

“He relates well to voters throughout the state in how he presents himself, how he talks about issues, and West Virginians see him as one of their own,” Repass said.

That is an enviable quality for a politician. When asked, voters typically say they choose a candidate based on political party or where they stand on the issue. However, a critical underpinning is how voters feel about a candidate.

That is particularly true in West Virginia. Former WVU President Gordon Gee often said, “If you love West Virginians, they will love you back.” That is how Jim Justice has approached politics, convincing voters that no one could love them more, look out for them more, than he can.

Chris Stirewalt, a former West Virginia political reporter who is now the politics editor for NewsNation, put it this way: “If you want to be loved as a politician, don’t lead. Listen to the voters and let them know they matter.”

Justice has also managed to overcome one of the biggest negatives for a politician—perceived self-interest. Pew Research found that two-thirds of American voters questioned believe that all or most individuals run for office to “make a lot of money.” Justice took no salary while governor and constantly said he wanted nothing for himself.

And don’t forget about Babydog. Seriously. The English bulldog was Justice’s constant sidekick during his second term as governor and now, according to the Washington Post, is a bipartisan hit. “She is known for her signature wagon rides through the Senate. She has a strong following across both parties,” the Post reported.

A lovable mascot softens the edges off of a politician. “She is so much more popular than I, and that’s okay with me,” said Justice.  (We did not poll Babydog, but maybe we should have.)

We have reported on and opined frequently about the unrelenting financial issues with Justice family businesses. His non-payment or slow payment of bills is epidemic. Most voters either don’t care or are willing to overlook the myriad fiscal fiascos.

What most voters do know, at least according to our polling over the years, is that they like Jim Justice… a lot.  And that is powerful political fuel, even for someone who claims he is not a politician.

The post Jim Justice’s enviable poll numbers appeared first on WV MetroNews.

But are there exceptions? The answer to that question begins to unfold on Saturday when the West Virginia University Mountaineer football team begins the 2025 season with Rich Rodriguez as its head coach.

WVU fans do not forget or forgive easily. Rodriguez’ inelegant departure for Michigan in 2007 left fans fuming. The one-time favorite son was cast out into a Mountaineer Nation netherworld. He spent the next 17 years traveling the coaching world, with stops at six different schools.

It seemed that would be his coaching life, stops near and far, but always an outsider to his home state. But a convergence of circumstances occurred. Director of Athletics Wren Baker, convinced that Rich Rod was appropriately remorseful about his decision to leave 17 years ago, made the controversial decision to bring him back.

I say controversial because there are still hard feelings among some Mountaineer fans, and perhaps there always will be.  But the concept of second chances, especially for one of our own, is powerful.  Who among us would not like an opportunity to correct a decision that changed the course of our lives for the worse?

Objectively, Rich Rod’s return is a fascinating story—and one that is garnering national attention. ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked Rodriguez over Bill Belichick and others as the best hire in the off season.

“We know what Rich Rod is going to do,” Herbstreit said. “He’s going to be a lot of fun. And, boy, they got a huge game in Week 3. They need to beat Ohio early, but Week 3, the Backyard Brawl against Pitt at home, I can only imagine what that scene will be like.”

Herbstreit is right about the environment for the Pitt game, but there will also be myriad storylines. So much of how Rich Rod is perceived early, and what kind of season the Mountaineers will have, rests on the outcome of week three, especially since his last game as head coach here 17 years ago was a heartbreaking loss to the Panthers that kept WVU out of the national championship.

But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

The story Saturday is not the Robert Morris game, but rather it is the implausible return of Rich Rodriguez to the Mountaineer sideline. True to Wolfe’s admonition, a lot has changed, especially with the game itself.

Mountaineer Nation has followed the ups and downs of their team through three head coaches. As for Rodriguez, he has maintained his hard-edge coaching style and gotten even better at winning the press conferences. He enjoys lighthearted give-and-take with the media and is charming with fans and donors. Rodriguez has repeatedly said he understands the opportunity he has been given to come back.

Rodriguez will be judged primarily by wins and losses, as it is with all coaches.  Too many defeats and we will be reminded of Thomas Wolfe’s warning. However, if he has the kind of success he had in his first tenure, we will know that, in rare circumstances, you can go home again.

The post Can Rich Rodriguez Come Home? appeared first on WV MetroNews.

I have personally seen these citizen soldiers in action many times in flood-ravaged parts of our state. They are among the earliest boots on the ground with relief, security and an empathetic helping hand.

They stepped in to provide additional security at our state’s regional jails during a staffing crisis.  They have overseas missions in support of our military in dangerous parts of the world. They stand ready in times of emergencies.

Their mission statement reads: “We achieve combat readiness, lethality, and preparedness and strive to be a highly trained and well-equipped organization for our national defense. Our homeland is West Virginia; we protect her as we protect our families, fellow service members, veterans, and our way of life.”

What the West Virginia National Guard is not is a political prop.

Yet that appears to be the current mission for 300 to 400 Guard members who Governor Morrisey has deployed to Washington, D.C. to assist with President Trump’s efforts to “make DC safe and beautiful.”

Morrisey was the first to answer Trump’s call for the Guard to come to the city. “West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” said Morrisey. “The men and women represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our shared commitment to a strong and secure America.”

Morrisey’s decision is in keeping with his ongoing efforts to curry favor with Trump while also attempting to establish a national profile for himself.

Yes, crime is a problem in our nation’s capital. While the numbers are down overall, parts of the city—primarily Wards 7 and 8—have higher than average homicide rates. The Anacostia area of the 8^th Ward is a particularly dangerous area. That is a significant issue, especially for the residents of those areas, but it is not a national emergency.

The White House remains vague about what the Guard is supposed to do. The Washington Post reported that “images have circulated showing Guard members taking photographs with passersby and patrolling parts of the city that aren’t considered high crime areas.” The scenic areas around the national monuments where many of the soldiers are present are already among the safest in the city.

D.C. Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large) told the Post that governors who are sending troops should be asked, “What are your troops actually going to be doing here? Because the current ones are not doing a lot.”

That is a legitimate question for Morrisey and Republican governors of at least four other states. Notably, Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott “politely declined” the request to send troops. His chief of staff  told reporters that while safety is a legitimate concern in cities everywhere, the governor “does not support utilizing the Guard for this purpose and does not view enforcement of domestic law as a proper use of the National Guard.”

Our West Virginia Guard has for years quietly acted in support roles for the D.C. Guard and civil authorities. They have provided extra security during major events, such as State of the Union addresses and Fourth of July celebrations. They have also worked on preparedness in case of a major attack or emergency in the nation’s capital.

Those missions have merit, but now our Guard personnel are being forced into ill-defined responsibilities. If we are going to take these men and women away from their regular jobs at home, wouldn’t our state be better served by having them continue with long-term flood restoration efforts?

The history of West Virginia’s National Guard tells us our soldiers will report for duty and do as they are ordered. They have demonstrated that discipline and commitment to service repeatedly across West Virginia during emergencies. We often say, “Thank God for the National Guard.”

Our Guard members are too valuable, too important to our state, to be dispatched on what amounts to a vainglorious political stunt.

The post Our WV National Guard is being used as a political prop appeared first on WV MetroNews.

It was an anxious day, as you would expect with any new venture, and we were not quite ready. Engineer Chuck Snodderly had worked overnight and was still completing the necessary wiring minutes before we went on the air.

I wrote and anchored that first newscast, the first of an estimated 160,000 newscasts the MetroNews team would air over the next four decades.

The network was the brainchild of then-company president Dale Miller and our company owner John Raese. “We thought there was a need for it,” Miller said as he reflected on the network’s creation.

And there was.

Miller traveled the state, visiting radio stations and signing them up as affiliates. All those original 37 stations remain part of the network today, along with many more, as our reach expanded to all corners of our state.

Over the years, the network’s offerings have expanded dramatically to include news and sports talk shows, morning news blocks, high school sports tournaments, and our latest addition of MetroNews Television.

A few of us got together for dinner Tuesday night to celebrate the milestone. We told stories of good times and bad, repeatedly thanked Dale for his vision and guidance through the years, and praised John for his support.

Our North Star since the network’s inception has been to provide quality news and sports programming to our state—to be the Voice of West Virginia.  Sometimes we may fall short, and we make mistakes because we are human, but we set the bar high and strive to reach it on an hourly and daily basis.

We believe that West Virginia is a special place. Even though we have these disparate regions, there is a commonality that binds us together. We are connected by way of the daily events. Folks in Southern West Virginia empathize with flood victims in Wheeling. Sports fans in Parkersburg can marvel at the accomplishments of a team from Martinsburg. And all of us want to know—need to know—what is happening at the State Capitol and what our political leaders are doing and saying.

We try to deliver the information professionally. We remind ourselves that we are only as good as our last newscast or sportscast, talk show, or game broadcast. And, most importantly, we depend on each other. A cornerstone of the network has been professional working relationships that, in some cases, have lasted for decades.

“What really made MetroNews what it is was the incredible quality of the staff and the longevity of the staff,” Miller said. “There are very few radio companies that have ever existed that have had the incredible longevity of the people we have.”  (Think of the names Tony Caridi, Jeff Jenkins, Chris Lawrence, Fred Persinger, Kyle Wiggs, Travis Jones. In sales, Joe Parsons and Larry Pfost.)

Those of us who spoke at Tuesday night’s dinner, after thanking Dale and John, reflected on what MetroNews has meant to us personally as well as professionally. For me it has meant having a fulfilling career in a family-owned business while working with individuals who have become life-long friends.

I hope that along the way, we have helped keep you better informed about our state, and that we can continue to fulfill that obligation for the next 40 years.

The post MetroNews: Forty Years and Counting appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature failed to pass a bill that would have significantly expanded the exemptions to include religious or philosophical reasons. Governor Morrisey continues to try to block the vaccine requirement by use of executive order, but the state Board of Education has told schools to follow the existing law mandating immunizations.

In Raleigh County, three parents have won a temporary court order preventing their children from the compulsory school vaccinations with the religious argument that “God’s perfect design” trumps a man-made vaccine requirement. One parent said that “through prayer she does not believe God wants her to vaccinate her children with the required booster vaccine.”

Chris Wiest, an attorney representing the parents, said on MetroNews Talkline that the parents’ religious objections are protected by the state’s Equal Protection for Religion Act. “They’ve got sincerely held beliefs against vaccination,” he said.

This is a complicated issue. So what happens when man’s law and the people’s courts try to strike a balance? Well, then you’ve got a tangle like West Virginia now faces.

Religion is deeply personal and cloaked in mystery. Who can know God’s desires but through faith? A 2022 Gallup poll found that 81 percent of adults believe in God or a higher power, and about half of them believe God hears prayers and intervenes.

The argument by the Raleigh County families is based on the idea that West Virginia’s religious protection law is all-powerful, that a religious belief should outweigh other laws that individuals believe violate their faith.

This is flawed reasoning.

Disease is communicable. It spreads from mouth to mouth and hand to hand, sometimes with results that end lives. What if a parent refused all medical care for a sick child for religious reasons, arguing that God would do the healing? Laws vary from state to state, but there are lots of examples where parents have been convicted of child neglect or even manslaughter when they attempted to use religion as a defense for denying medical care to a child.

The parents may have had sincerely held religious beliefs, but sincerity does not outweigh legality. In the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1990 case of Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith, the court said, “We have never held that an individual’s religious beliefs excuse him from compliance with an otherwise valid law prohibiting conduct that the state is free to regulate.”

West Virginia’s religious freedom law says the state cannot “substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” unless that burden is “essential to further a compelling government interest” and “is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.”

Those are key points since it is self-evident and court-affirmed that the government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, particularly in cases of public health. That responsibility can trump or modify an individual right. In the case of vaccines, the government has a compelling interest to prevent the spread of harmful diseases. Herd immunity is an overriding interest.

The West Virginia Legislature passed the Equal Protection for Religion Act in 2023, and it was modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was passed by Congress in 1993. Individuals have used the federal law successfully to protect the exercise of their faith.

But those practices associated with their First Amendment right of religious freedom are different from sincere, but overly broad, arguments of “God told me.”  The West Virginia Legislature may one day include a religious exemption to mandatory childhood vaccines, but it will have to show how the immunization requirement infringes on religious practices and why that practice is more important that the compelling government interest of protecting its citizens.

The post Faith vs. Public Safety appeared first on WV MetroNews.

I can tell you that with great certainty after peddling 406 miles across the state last week along with my wife, three friends and about 20,000 other bike riders during the 52^nd annual RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, the oldest, longest and largest recreational bike event in the world.)

In fact, I would describe the Hawkeye State as hilly—or as some like to say, flat like a waffle. It is also windy, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

Iowa’s hills, at least in the western and central sections, are interminably long. And, in an unusual geographic anomaly, there seems to be no corresponding downhill. You finally reach a level stretch at the top only find it’s the start of another hill.

I suspect the hardy folks of those regions decided they could handle uphills and they left the downhills for the softies in eastern Iowa.

In West Virginia we have cooling breezes. Iowa has wind. Climatologists should study Iowa and figure out why, no matter which direction you are traveling, there is always a headwind. That’s not a big deal in a vehicle, but it’s a challenge on a bike.

Veteran RAGBRAI riders like to tell of the times they had to peddle downhill. One hot, humid afternoon, a 15-20 mph headwind was enough to nearly stall you in your tracks.

The ride attracts bikers from across the country—and some from beyond—because it is viewed as one of the premier events of its kind.  Most of these folks are serious riders. They roared past on their high-end carbon bicycles in great packs while my wife and I slogged along at what we previously believed was a respectable 10 mph, although we did pass the unicycle rider.

I can also tell you this with certainty; “Iowa Nice” is a real thing. In town after town as we passed through, folks greeted the riders with a hearty welcome. When an Iowan says, “nice to meet you,” you feel as though that person really meant it. The small towns along the route really turned out, hosting with warmth, hospitality, food, drinks and entertainment.   The blueberry pie made by the women of the Catholic Church in one town brought a tear to my eye.

Every town was a festival, and all those folks in all those towns made the trip worthwhile.

Much of Iowa is vast expanses of corn and soybeans. The fields of deep green stretch to the horizon on both sides of the road. Riding along, you begin to get a true sense of the vastness of this country. It is a different kind of beauty than West Virginia, but beautiful none the less.

Iowa farms—houses, barns and equipment—are kept neat and orderly. It is as though Iowans would never think of having a pile of junk lying around. In fact, at Heritage Park in Forest City, there is a huge display of old farm equipment and rusted machinery. Iowans come from miles around to stare, mouth-agape, mesmerized by what a pile of junk actually looks like.

By now you may be wondering why we, as casual bike riders, took on this challenge. It’s a reasonable question. I could give the same answer as to why people climb mountains—because it’s there. I could say two friends who had done RAGBRAI before talked us into it (which is somewhat true).

But the best answer was printed on the back of a t-shirt handed out during the ride:  “We do this not because it is easy, but because we thought it would be easy.”

It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

The post Reflections on a long, hard ride appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Going forward, schools will pay college athletes directly. The maximum for distribution starting this fiscal year is $20.5 million with an increase of four percent in subsequent years through the 2034-35 season. For West Virginia University’s Department of Athletics, the fundamental question is this: Where do they find the money?

The answer is, in one way, quite simple. The bulk of the payments will come from ticket sales and Big 12 conference revenues. But that is just a reallocation of existing resources from a budget that totaled approximately $106 million in 2024-25.

So, Director of Athletics Wren Baker and his team are proposing a series of fundraising steps to fill the gap. Here are a few of them:

–Sponsor naming rights for the Coliseum and Mountaineer Field.

–Additional premium seating for football and basketball.

–Expanded use of the WVU trademark and logo.

–Additional fees for WVU merchandise and concessions.

–Greater financial support from the WVU Foundation and the MAC (Mountaineer Athletic Club).

Separate, but related, is the athletic department’s creation of Gold and Blue Enterprises. That in-house entity will coordinate the NIL opportunities for WVU athletes.

Collectively, these new initiatives are designed to keep WVU athletics competitive in this rapidly changing environment.  Baker’s challenge, which he has talked about repeatedly, is to aggressively pursue new revenue sources to a level comparable with the rest of the Big 12.

Baker’s pitch to all who will listen is that WVU sports have been punching above its weight class, considering WVU spends below the Big 12 median in nearly every sport.

“This is not a new problem, this has been a developing problem,” Baker said on a recent edition of the podcast 3 Guys Before the Game.  “We don’t have to be number one (in conference athletic department budgets).  We do need to get our budget to where it is in the top half of the league. If we do that, I’m confident we can compete in the top end of the Big 12 across the board.”

West Virginia University has a long and proud sports tradition. It can be argued that the teams are at the forefront of the University’s visibility and even viability. Some do not like the revolutionary changes of late, but this is the new reality.

Colleges that want their sports teams to remain competitive and continue attracting fans and television audiences have no choice but to adopt a new business model or be relegated to an athletic afterthought.

The post WVU athletics needs a big revenue boost to remain relevant appeared first on WV MetroNews.