Editor’s note: Sunshine Week, March 15-21, 2015, is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Last year, a FOIA requester filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Drug Enforcement Administration asking for information about the DEA’s role in the search[Read More…]
Opinion
The Editorial category is a roundup of links to editorials and columns from West Virginia newspapers.
Legislature flops
An editorial from The Charleston Gazette CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After two months of struggle, the 2015 Legislature ended Saturday night with many proposals slipping down the drain. Here are some losers: ■ CHARTER SCHOOLS — A plan for private-run public schools died after a House committee voted to let the[Read More…]
Legislature improves state’s business climate
An editorial from the Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Expectations were high for the first session of the 82nd Legislature. After 83 years of the state being controlled by a Democratic majority, was it reasonable for observers to expect that everything that ails the state business climate to be fixed[Read More…]
State should stand firm on 180-day school rule
An editorial from The Herald-Dispatch HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has long had a law on the books that its public schools should provide 180 days of instruction each school year. But, as it often turned out, that seemed to be more of a suggestion than a mandate. Restrictions on[Read More…]
Remembering the life of Shaggy the dog
A column and obituary by Beth Sergent of The Point Pleasant Register POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — A dog’s life, like that of a human’s, can take many twists and turns in our search for what, and who, we truly call home. A friend recently told me dogs should live as long[Read More…]
Americans’ right to receive information vital
An editorial from The Times-West Virginian FAIRMONT, W.Va. — “Open government is good government” is again the theme for Sunshine Week, which runs through Saturday. It was launched in 2005, and the focus is on the importance of access to public information and what it means to the providers of this[Read More…]
State board’s 180-day waiver process a mistake
An editorial from The Dominion Post MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Ah, spring, when a school board’s fancy turns to … vacations and summer? At least that’s what appears to be on the minds of the state Board of Education (BOE). This week the state BOE approved a waiver process that gives county school districts[Read More…]
All W.Va. teachers, not just a few, need pay raises
An editorial from The Exponent Telegram CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonderment. On Thursday, state senators advanced House Bill 2381, which will provide $2,000 pay raises to nationally certified teachers who teach at low performing schools and provide mentorship to other teachers. While[Read More…]
Transparency vital in politics
An editorial from The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — Americans have a right, as the Supreme Court has ruled, to express themselves about politics by donating money to candidates and causes. But as politics involves bigger and bigger money from all sides of the idealogical spectrum, we also ought to[Read More…]
Lend food bank a hand in time of need
An editorial from the Parkersburg News and Sentinel PARKERSBURG — At first glance, the news of a crisis at Mountaineer Food Bank in Braxton County may not seem as though it matter much to people in the Mid-Ohio Valley. But the food bank serves 68 soup kitchens in 48 counties.[Read More…]