Posts that deal broadly with the physical, mental, and intellectual health of communities.

ICE Has Violated America

The heavy hand and violence of ICE agents in addressing immigrants contrasts with the more humane approach put in place during the Biden administration. Neal Barkus details how the Trump administration has taken a sledge hammer to all immigrants, even those who are here legally and who have always been law abiding and productive members of our communities. Our Constitution makes provisions for immigrants and children of immigrants born here. ICE is daily violating these provisions and it is betraying the promise of America as a compassionate land..

A Harsh Reality in A Rapidly Aging State

Keeping our youth in West Virginia is proving a more and more elusive goal. Our Republican dominated government seems to be putting its hope in data centers, though these will not produce resilient jobs . At the same time, it's cutting or weakening social programs that make living here affordable and attractive to young people. They leave and we're left with a declining population.

Land Ownership Rights Threatened by the Legislature

Traditional land ownership rights permit landowners to preserve land they own from any future development. You've likely seen signs around the county to that effect. But a 2024 Senate proposal would have weakened the ability of landowners to decide what not to do with their land and how long they could protect it from development. The proposed bill didn't make it into law, but the attempt to free up protected land for timbering and other industrial exploitation may be resurrected in 2026.