Leaks
We stand firmly in favor of vigorous, free exchange of information and ideas. We believe that serves residents of our communities, states and nation well — as it has for more than two centuries. Still, there are limits. For example, while we believe it is important to provide a full report of police activities, we agree with law enforcement agencies that some information should not be released. For example, it is not in the public’s interest to publish a report revealing an elderly burglary victim’s home remains vulnerable to intruders. The World Wide Web has removed decisions of that nature from the “mainstream media.” Now, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can disseminate information of any kind throughout the world. That very thing has happened with release of about 91,000 documents involving the war in Afghanistan. The website where the information is posted, WikiLeaks, insists it is in the public’s interest to know details of U.S.
» Full StoryThumbs Up, Thumbs Down
UP: To Wood County orthodontist Scott Eckels who is starting a local chapter of Smile for a Lifetime, which will provide free dental care for 24 children a year — two every month.
» Full StoryRevenue Loss
State revenue from gambling in West Virginia dropped by about $67 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30. That means the state will have $67 million less to spend this year — and the situation will only grow worse.
Gov.
Deficits
It took just minutes last week for the U.S. Senate’s newest member, Sen. Carte Goodwin of West Virginia, to cast a decisive vote. Given Goodwin’s experience with Gov. Joe Manchin, we feel certain he had mixed feelings about the action.
» Full StoryBad Policy
For many years liberals insisted the United States had to have strict pollution policies in order to set a good example for the rest of the world. Our country was the world’s largest consumer of energy, after all.
» Full StorySecret Weapon
Liberals out to destroy the U.S. coal industry — and with it, the economies of West Virginia and Ohio — believe they have found a secret weapon against a reasonable bill sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and George Voinovich, R-Ohi.
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