Hoppy Kercheval

Trust is an integral aspect of education.  Parents trust that the school has their children’s best interest at heart. Students trust that what teachers are telling them is factual and critical for learning. Teachers trust that when students apply themselves, learning will result.  In the real world, these aspirational standards sometimes fall short. We are,

A lot of thoughts occurred to me while watching Governor Patrick Morrisey’s initial State of the State address Wednesday night. First, it was actually a speech. That is a return to the normal way of doing business after eight years of Jim Justice’s annual musings. Justice’s addresses were more like folksy story telling by someone’s

The West Virginia state budget is a fascinating Rorschach Test for former Governor Jim Justice and new Governor Patrick Morrisey. When Justice looked at the ink blot of the state’s finances he saw sunbeams and unicorns. When Ogden Newspaper reporter Steven Allen Adams asked Justice back in December about a possible upcoming budget shortfall, Justice

New Governor Patrick Morrisey has come out of the blocks fast with a series of executive orders to implement his policies. Several of the orders are pretty straightforward; he wants state agencies to operate more efficiently, a review of state spending dating back to the start of the fiscal year, and an examination of state

West Virginia Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey promises to cut government. He said it repeatedly during the campaign and he emphasized it again earlier this month when he introduced his administration team. “Everyone here reflects an important goal of the administration,” Morrisey said. “We want to make sure that the people coming on board are going to

My entry into the radio news business started unexpectedly in 1974 with a manila folder. I wanted to be a big-time disk jockey, like the ones I listened to on WCFL in Chicago and WKBW in Buffalo when I was growing up on our family dairy farm near Summit Point, Jefferson County. I got my

(Editor’s note: I was humbled to receive an honorary degree from West Virginia University Saturday. I was given a chance to speak briefly to the graduates and wanted to share with you my remarks.) “Thank you, President Gee for this incredible honor, and thank you for your service to this University and our state. Congratulations

“I am retiring.” It is strange to write those words. Wasn’t it just a few short years ago that I graduated from WVU and went to work for WVRC Media station WAJR in Morgantown? Actually, it was almost five decades ago. I have been obsessed about this decision for a couple of years now. Many

The opening day of the 2025 West Virginia Legislature is scheduled for January 8. It is a ceremonial and organizational day where officers are elected, the 2024 election results are certified, and members take their oath of office. The business of legislating is then delayed until February 12, the first day of the 60-day regular

Rich Rodriguez has returned home. In the most unlikely of events, the favorite son of Marion County who once coached WVU football to the edge of greatness only to abandon the University and the state, has returned to where it all began for him. “It’s great to be home,” Rodriguez said at his introductory press