Garnishing Wages Overdue

The federal government is preparing to restart one of its most aggressive student-loan collection tools: wage garnishment. Beginning early next year, the U.S. Department of Education will notify borrowers who have fallen into default that a portion of their paychecks will be withheld to cover unpaid loans. The initial rollout will be limited — roughly

How a local radio DJ introduced the US to Country Roads

David Hoyt was a young radio disc jockey, still in high school, when he first heard a song by a folk singer, describing the nostalgia of returning home. Even though Hoyt was just a teen after hearing just a few bars of the song that had not been released in the United States, he knew

Big Business is Good!

Today’s digital world is where like-minded purveyors of opinion tend to group together – if for no other reason than to hold a virtual pep rally reaffirming shared beliefs. Totally fine if that’s your thing. One unexpected upside? It’s never been easier to see what everyone thinks. Time has proven social media to be a

Berger Correct to Halt Food Dye Law

News broke late Tuesday of a federal court injunction issued in Charleston that temporarily halts West Virginia’s proposed ban on foods containing certain artificial coloring dyes. U.S. District Judge Irene Berger of the Southern District of West Virginia issued a 30-page preliminary injunction after finding serious constitutional flaws in the statute. The law was challenged

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Merry Christmas! To me, this season is about slowing down, reconnecting with family and friends, reliving old memories and making new ones. That’s my wish for you. Most of all, today is a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A day of thankfulness for the hope His message brings. Instead

A Christmas gift from 1863

With Christmas Day approaching, hopefully the holiday for you means plenty of family, friends and remembering the reason for the season.   The first Christmas for West Virginia as a state in 1863 was eventful in a variety of ways.  West Virginia entered the Union on June 20th, but statehood didn’t bring peace to the

Looking Back: Part One – Vaccination Debate

As the year begins to wind down, a commentary or two will look back at the issues that defined 2025 – and how they are likely to shape the debate heading into 2026. Let’s start with compulsory vaccinations. Anyone who follows West Virginia politics knows where things currently stand. The issue is now before the

Christmas on the hill

For those who have the luxury, today is the final workday before Christmas vacation, and some may even start their trek to their Christmas destinations. Growing up, we did not have far to go; almost our entire family lived in or near my hometown of St. Marys, but we still had our destinations to get

No-barrier shelter is actually getting in the way

Cities across the state are trying to develop strategies for dealing with a growing homelessness problem. Even small towns in the most rural parts of West Virginia have reported an uptick in homelessness and the problems that are associated with it. Non-profit organizations and volunteers often lead the charge to provide critical housing and services.

Media environment has evolved but has not changed

The way we consume news is changing dramatically. Hoppy Kercheval effectively illustrated how younger generations increasingly rely on social media, particularly TikTok, and influencers for their information. Today’s social media landscape is filled with misinformation, AI-generated deep fakes, and algorithms that prioritize content users already prefer. Social media personalities, striving to make a name for

Republicans and Democrats Miss the Mark on Healthcare Plans

Democrats want to extend COVID-era Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Republicans are pitching a plan to fund health savings accounts (HSA). Neither plan passed the Senate Thursday — both were voted down. Brad McElhinny filed a full report from a West Virginia point of view. Now the pundits are out in full force — liberal

House Agenda Sends a Message

TJ Meadows · House Agenda Sends a Message West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw stepped to the podium inside the House chamber Tuesday afternoon and set a clear tone for the upcoming session: economic development and jobs. “We know that the best way to achieve the goals that are important to all of us is

Football championships a win for high school athletics

In sports, there’s an adage that “winning fixes everything.” Following the 2024 football season, the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, along with high school athletics—particularly football—was in need of a win. During the 2023 season, there were discussions about blowouts, and lawmakers expressed concerns about competitive balance. As a result, state lawmakers pledged to

Did We Fail Our Guardsmen?

TJ Meadows · Did We Fail Our Guardsmen? The passage of time – combined with outcomes and deeper reflection – can sometimes lead a person to change their thinking. Back in August, I authored a commentary titled “Federal D.C. Takeover for the Best.” The core argument was straightforward: Despite some statistical declines, Washington, D.C., continued

Billions for Kids is Proof Capitalism Works

TJ Meadows · Billions for Kids is Proof Capitalism Works Capitalism works. Michael and Susan Dell, who are preparing to give away $6.25 billion, prove it.  The Dells plan to provide $250 to 25 million American children age 10 and under who won’t qualify for the new “Trump accounts” – the $1,000 investment accounts the

That moment as a hunter I wish more people experienced

Last week, like tens of thousands of West Virginians, I took off work and headed to the woods for the start of buck season. The annual pilgrimage is just as much about unplugging from the daily routine as it is bagging a trophy buck or filling the freezer. Sitting in a tree stand, alone, for

Asking Questions is Patriotic

TJ Meadows · Asking Questions is Patriotic One of the quieter distortions creeping into American life is the idea that questioning our leaders is somehow unpatriotic — that raising concerns, asking for clarity, or challenging decisions signals disloyalty. The truth is far different. In this country, questioning those in power isn’t just allowed. It’s part

Pausing is the Right Call

TJ Meadows · Pausing is the Right Call Any wake of horrific events demands a period of deliberate, thoughtful action. “Business as usual” after tragedy is simply refusing to learn from the past — and almost guaranteeing repeat mistakes. In the aftermath of Wednesday’s shooting — which left Sarah Beckstrom dead and Andrew Wolfe fighting

When Tragedy Demands Unity

Sarah Beckstrom has died. Andrew Wolfe continues to fight for his life.Anger, desire for some kind of reckoning, and an inability to understand how something like this could happen are consuming many Americans right now – likely none more than the parents and families of Sarah and Andrew. Sarah was just 20 years old. Andrew

Thankful for William Bradford

TJ Meadows · Thankful for William Bradford This week, with so much division in our own politics, I found myself looking back four hundred years to a leader who held a fragile community together — William Bradford, the longtime governor of Plymouth Colony. Most of us know the broad outlines of the Pilgrim story: the