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Economics: Hard work doesn’t mean what it used to for our region

WalletHub recently produced its “Hardest-Working States in America (2026)” report. Readers in West Virginia and Appalachian Ohio are likely thinking “Finally! A report in which our region will not be dead last.” About that … Both the Mountain and Buckeye states fall in the bottom ten, which WalletHub labels “least hardworking.” West Virginia is 42nd, Ohio is 47th – those some residents will be pleased to note that ranks above Michigan, which did, indeed, come in dead last. This study looked at direct work factors, including metrics such as average workweek hours, ...

Infrastructure: WVU, Marshall effort could be a great help

Whether your favorite teams’ chants begin with “We are …” or “Let’s go!” Mountain State residents can agree it’s a wonderful thing to have West Virginia University and Marshall University team up with state government to tackle the problem of aging water system ...

High Points of the Valley

* Building a habit of connecting to and helping your community is an important part of what it means to grow and learn during the college years. Football players at Marietta College are getting a good start on that lesson by doing work such as the cleanup at Oak Grove Cemetery last week. Led ...

McCuskey: Foundation decision may offer benefits

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey made an important decision earlier this week, when he announced a change in the method of distribution for any future opioid settlement money to be received by the state. No longer will it be distributed by the purportedly private nonprofit West ...

Fun Times: Attracting, keeping residents requires effort

Most of us are proud of the state where we live for many reasons (and not so proud for others). But we don’t usually tend to think of our home territory as “fun” as compared with other places. California, for example, is ranked the most fun state in WalletHub’s “Most Fun States in ...

Funding: Lawsuit should wake up sleeping politicians

Decades after former Ohio County Circuit Judge Arthur Recht’s ruling sparked what was meant to be a fair state school funding formula, the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia is bringing the matter back into the courts. It’s possible that 44 years ago those who developed a ...