Blame it on Obama

The opinion section of the Sunday News-Register is not complete until something is blamed on the Obama Administration. Today's lead editorial meets the requirement by affixing blame for the Boone County school system's fiscal crisis on the president:

Don't blame Boone County school officials. Instead, look at the crazy national energy policy under President Barack Obama that is closing coal mines throughout Appalachia.

Of course, market forces like cheap natural gas and the expense of mining nearly-depleted coal mines like those found in southern West Virginia are ignored. Nor is there any mention of the state's refusal to diversify its economic base. Like everything else that has gone wrong anywhere in the state -- it's all Obama's fault.

Coverage of Representative David McKinley

On most Sundays, as a local "newspaper" favorite, a reader can expect to find something positive (even if it's not news) about local congressman David McKinley especially now that he's running for re-election. (Will his opponent, Democrat Mike Manypenny, even get mentioned before election day?) This Sunday was no exception as the top item in the "Reporter's Notebook" tells us:

Staff members working for Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va. - many of them from outside West Virginia - got a taste of Wheeling this week.

McKinley gathered his staff in his hometown, and they had the opportunity to experience many local amenities. Among them - lunch at Coleman's Fish Market, a tour of West Virginia Independence Hall, a visit to a Nailers Kelly Cup playoff, and a stop at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

For the News-Register, this visit was obviously newsworthy. The report, however, left out a number of important details about the visit like "did the staffers get their fish sandwiches on plain bread or on a bun?"