News Columnists
Alyce Faye Bragg
Remember those fighting for our freedoms1:00 am EDT
When we were children, the Fourth of July was a big celebration. We never questioned the reason for it, but looked forward eagerly to the fun and picnics, watermelon and fried chicken, fireworks and swimming.
Birds, farm animals bustling about with summer activity
It's another placid day on the farm, with last night's thunderstorm over and past. The trees are fresh-washed and green, while puffy white clouds drift over a blue sky.
Modern comforts dim difficulties of yesteryear
Summer came sliding in on the heels of some fierce thunderstorms that racked our hills and brought sudden destruction to many of our trees.
There is never a day without thoughts of Daddy
June mornings evoke memories of best time of our lives
These late spring mornings are a balm to the soul. Before daylight, the songbirds are tuning up for a full-fledged orchestra, with a few warbles here and there.
Phil Kabler
Drivers save but roads get poorer
Quote of the week: "Great. I get to save $60 a year on gasoline, and spend $120 a year on front-end alignments." - Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, explaining his objection to a special session bill that will freeze the automatic increase in the wholesale portion of the state gas tax next year.
All eyes are on election advocacy disclosure
Depending on your perspective, Republicans in the Legislature wasted $120,000 of taxpayer money defending the First Amendment rights of millionaires - or the Democrats wasted $120,000 trying to shield Attorney General Darrell McGraw from negative ads this fall.
Big-money decisions need notice, senator says
Later today, Gov. Joe Manchin is expected to issue the call for the second special legislative session of the year - a session that will begin about 24 hours later, on Tuesday afternoon.
Pay raise not first time Manchin claimed powerlessness
Former South Charleston mayor and current legislative pay-raise litigator Richie Robb says he chuckled a bit when he read that counsel for Gov. Joe Manchin are asking that the governor be dismissed from the pay-raise suit because: "The governor has no constitutional or statutory authority to invalidate the bill, and cannot perform any of the duties that the [lawsuit] seeks to compel...."
Gas tax could rise 5 cents
It's a little early to start doing projections, but basic math shows that if gasoline stays at the current $4-a-gallon level through October, the state gas tax would be poised to go up a nickel a gallon, to 37.2 cents, on Jan. 1.
Rick Steelhammer
Fancy these flying fees of the future
Thanks to soaring fuel prices and a sluggish economy, the days of complimentary meals and beverages and other free services on commercial airlines will soon be quaint memories.
Fancy these flying fees of the future
Thanks to soaring fuel prices and a sluggish economy, the days of complimentary meals and beverages and other free services on commercial airlines will soon be quaint memories.
Vow never to let them see you sweat
The good news is that Charleston made the top 100 list of a national survey of cities, placing well ahead of New York, Columbus, San Francisco and Seattle.
Reality TV finds new rock bottom
If you thought reality television hit rock bottom with sadistic chefs on "Hell's Kitchen," spouses confessing infidelity for cash on "Moment of Truth," and contestants chowing down on cockroaches on "Fear Factor," brace yourself for a descent into a void as vast and dark as Simon Cowell's. ... ego.
Indiana Jones and the aging action star
While I like movies, there's always something that makes me think twice about actually making the trip to the neighborhood mega-plex and spending a fistful of dollars for a two-hour escape from reality.
Sandy Wells
Innerviews: Hell's Kitchen vagabond rebuilds his life in Charleston
He grew up in Hell's Kitchen in New York City, dropped out of school in the ninth grade, joined a gang and sold heroin and cocaine with his brothers. Two brothers were murdered. Fed up with the violence, Raymond Vargas hit the road to anywhere else. Homeless for more than 30 years, he hitchhiked across the country, surviving on odd jobs. Eventually, he reached Charleston. He liked it here. Someday, he vowed, when he wanted to stop moving, Charleston would be his last stop.
Innerviews: Benny Mallory's airport put wings on a dream
In the mid-1950s, on Spring Hill Mountain, high above Mudsuck Creek in South Charleston, Benny Mallory started digging an airport. With shovels, old dozers, borrowed machinery and sweat equity from his flying community, he created a rustic dirt strip that barely stretched 800 feet.   Click here for audio excerpts from Benny Mallory's interview
Essays on Faith
Essay on Faith: Mike Collins
Rabbi Victor Urecki
Graduates, we have seen you grow up to become the incredible young men and women that stand before us. The joy we feel tonight, the dreams fulfilled and the promises yet to come, leave us overwhelmed. We are so proud of you.
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