The American automobile industry has been hanging on, it seems, for decades now. The Big Three have sputtered and struggled through the decades since the rise of foreign competition, seemingly always on the brink of colossal failure. That time appears to have now finally come. Read the full story

The politics of voting are often ugly. Accusations of fraud or outright theft are often hurled from both sides. But it seems that those on the liberal side are displaying a disturbing tunnel vision in this regard. In our own county – along with Putnam and Ohio counties – fewer than 20 people reported problems with their votes. They reported that touch-screen voting machines were not recording their votes properly, or showing their vote being cast for another candidate. Read the full story

Earmarks are simply checks written by the federal government in Washington for projects, grants, and other items, paid for with taxpayer money. They are explicit, specific directions on how to spend that taxpayer money.

And there are a lot of them. We believe too many. Read the full story

This past week, a report released by the Rockefeller Institute of Government announced that West Virginia has led the nation in economic growth since May. Believe it or not, we are not necessarily surprised by this report.

With the bar currently set so low in this economic climate, it should come as little wonder than a small, relatively insulated state could avoid most of the major damage that is currently plaguing our national economy. Read the full story

Recent news out of Washington seems to indicate that the United States Congress has reached a “midnight hour” compromise on a $700 billion bailout package for the nation’s faltering financial industry. The money would be used to prop up struggling corporations and keep them from completely collapsing under the weight of their own debt and mismanagement. Read the full story

Recently, city leaders of both Ripley and Ravenswood held a meeting with the Jackson County Commission to discuss the possibility of placing a “recreation levy” on the November election ballot. The levy’s purpose would be to provide funding for all three entities to improve their existing recreational facilities. If the levy is ran and then passes, the monies generated are to be split evenly between Ripley, Ravenswood, and the Jackson County Commission. Read the full story