West Virginians concerned about the future of education in our state have an opportunity - and an obligation, really - to do something about it, as the Department of Education and West Virginia University have created a website that will allow the public to comment on the Next Generation ...

UP To Parkersburg Police officers for their hard work in putting an end to a series of break-ins in the area. Their investigation and follow-up after what was initially a misdemeanor arrest led to the addition of felony breaking-and-entering charges for one suspect. Of course, Police Chief Joe ...

Wood County residents who live outside Parkersburg city limits should take advantage of an opportunity to sign a petition that would bring an important, annual, reliable funding source to volunteer fire departments."This fee is not a want; it is a need. Wood County firefighters are struggling ...

Figures from the first six months of the year appear to show a bit of a victory in West Virginia's fight against drug abuse. Methamphetamine lab seizures are down 20 percent, compared with the first six months of 2014; and fewer than half the number of boxes of medication containing ...

Former Parkersburg City Councilman Aaron Read has made an important decision about how to best serve his constituents by stepping down from council in favor of serving his country overseas. He has made a good decision - for District 7, for Parkersburg and for the West Virginia Army National ...

Local folks involved in farmers markets, community garden projects and food banks should take a look at the request for applications from the federal Local Foods, Local Places program.U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, Appalachian ...

Ohio lawmakers did little to refute criticism from those who view the Buckeye State's legislation of charter schools as a bit of a joke, when House members simply headed home and decided to wait until the fall to sort an issue the Senate had already decided.Charter-school reform was ready to ...

West Virginia lawmakers made strides this year in addressing the climate that has led national publications to label the state a "judicial hellhole." The road ahead is still a long one. As recently as last week, Forbes magazine said the Mountain State has "the worst lawsuit climate" in the ...

UP: To this great country, and the Founding Fathers who were brave enough to sign and deliver our Declaration of Independence from an oppressive monarchy. Our nation's independence from the British Empire was born in a document that included the statement that has guided much of the rest of its ...

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Highway Safety Program representative Toni Tiano issued an important reminder this week, as she warned drivers about the expected crackdown on drunk driving over the July 4 holiday.Setting aside for a moment the dangers of mixing alcohol with celebrations that involve ...

Young Ohio drivers face a few more restrictions now that a law has gone into effect that changes the conditions of their probationary licenses. Beginning July 1, drivers under age 18 were no longer allowed to drive with more than one non-family member in the vehicle, during their first year of ...

Wood County Schools, in fact, all West Virginia schools, operate under the premise that all students can learn. A few years ago, the state board of education issued a guide for schools and districts that started off with this declaration: "Dedicated to ... Meeting the personal needs of each ...

It often seems as though government organizations search out ways to throw away money. Take, for example, the Appalachian Development Highway System, established by Congress 50 years ago, to increase economic development in isolated Appalachian regions, through improved infrastructure.Back ...

During a series of speeches focusing on education in West Virginia, State Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano discussed the link between education and the Mountain State's future economic success."Education is the connector between jobs and our future," he said.Most West Virginians ...

Renewable portfolio standards were quite trendy for state governments a while back. In fact, 30 states now have in place mandates that require greater use of energy sources such as wind or solar. But it appears Ohio has made the right move in suspending its RPS."Renewable portfolio standards ...

UP: To the Mid-Ohio Valley Work Camp volunteers who spent four days prepping and painting homes in the Parkersburg area. Organized by youth ministers from the Church of Christ, the project gave young people a chance to do work on 35 homes throughout the region this year - three homes in south ...

Bravo, to the combined efforts of contractor Carl Kelly Paving and city officials who have decided to get a head start on paving projects throughout Parkersburg.According to City Engineer Justin Smith, "They're starting basically on south side and then moving over to the north side." And they ...

At Camp Pocahontas, on the other side of our state, young people from all over the country are participating right now in the 2015 National Youth Science Camp, for a few weeks of science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities and outdoor fun.Such an event is important for the ...

Economists are telling us West Virginia is not yet in an economic recession, but the numbers are not comforting. And other signs point to a great deal of financial hardship, even if the strict definition of a recession has not been met.Unemployment in the Mountain State has gone up 1.3 percent ...

Ohio lawmakers have some catching up to do if they are to follow the lead of those in West Virginia who have made the Mountain State among the strictest in the nation in dealing with drunk drivers. While West Virginia ranks fourth in a WalletHub analysis of the strictest and most lenient states ...