Yesterday’s news tomorrow (with update)
You wouldn’t know this if you depend upon the Wheeling Intelligencer for your news, but on Sunday afternoon, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was canceled by its developers
Here is the lede on yesterday afternoon’s Associated Press story:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The developers of the long-delayed, $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced the cancellation of the multi-state natural gas project Sunday, citing uncertainties about costs, permitting and litigation.
Whether you agree or disagree with the construction of the pipeline, this is an important story for West Virginia. Despite its significance, there was no mention of it in this morning’s Wheeling Intelligencer. In contrast, the pipeline was at the top of the front page of this morning’s Charleston Gazette-Mail.
What was on this morning’s front page? Almost 2,000 words in two stories about churches reopening in West Virginia and Ohio. Additionally, there were stories on the upcoming Wheeling city council meeting and an effort by a St. Clairsville (Ohio) resident to re-establish the Belmont County NAACP. My hunch is that all four of these stories were written days ago. Perhaps tomorrow we can read about something that happened yesterday afternoon.
Note – some reactions are predictable -- Congressman McKinley quickly found a scapegoat:
Ground activists created challenges every step of the way and caused the destruction of much these much needed jobs and tax revenue. West Virginia is energy rich and we should make it easier for energy sources to be produced domestically.
— David B. McKinley (@RepMcKinley) July 5, 2020
Update -- Judge orders Dakota Pipeline shutdown
Just in from the AP:
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday sided with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and ordered the Dakota Access pipeline to shut down until more environmental review is done.
In a 24-page order, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote that he was “mindful of the disruption” that shutting down a pipeline that has been in operation for three years would cause, but that it must be done within 30 days. His order comes after he said in April that the pipeline remained “highly controversial” under federal environmental law, and a more extensive review was necessary than the assessment that was done.
