Last week’s traffic nightmare on the West Virginia Turnpike wasn’t just a frustrating delay—it was a warning. Thousands of motorists were stranded for hours after a mudslide blocked the northbound lanes, with no clear detour and little communication.
The Parkways Authority took responsibility, which is a start. West Virginians appreciate honesty. And the crews who worked to clear the road deserve real gratitude.
But saying “it won’t happen again” isn’t enough. Now we need action.
There must be a full investigation—one that walks through the entire timeline, from the first signs of trouble to the final resolution.
Was there an incident response plan in place? If so, why didn’t it work? Who was in charge, and when did state leadership get involved? These are not unreasonable questions. They are the very basics of public accountability.
The public deserves more than promises. The legislature should demand answers and push for clear, public updates. If West Virginia has an incident management plan, it should be updated and shared with residents. People stuck on the Turnpike overnight with no water or information won’t be reassured by vague pledges—they need proof that someone is learning from this.
But beyond the operational failures, there’s a deeper issue at play: has state government lost focus on what really matters?
No one could have stopped the mudslide. That was nature’s doing. But how we prepare for and respond to emergencies is a core function of government. Traffic should have been rerouted. Drainage systems should have been inspected after heavy rains. And there should have been regular, transparent communication with the public.
Instead, too much energy in Charleston is being spent on political distractions. Lawmakers are caught up in culture war debates—about DEI programs, vaccine exemptions, and ideological stances—while essential services fall through the cracks. These hot-button issues might win headlines, but they don’t fix roads or grow jobs.
And those jobs? They’re disappearing.
West Virginia lost more jobs in May than any other state in the country. Employment dropped by 1.3%, or roughly 9,400 jobs. That’s nearly three times the decline seen in Iowa, the next state on the list.
One small manufacturer recently relocated to Ohio, lured away by more aggressive outreach and support. Coal mining continues to shrink, especially in the southern counties, where entire towns are being emptied out and hit hard by addiction and poverty.
So where’s the plan?
What’s being done to attract new businesses and industries? Where are the metrics showing progress—or lack of it—in economic development? The silence is telling. It feels like the momentum of past years has slowed, if not stalled completely.
The people of West Virginia aren’t blind to what’s happening. They can see the gaps in leadership and the lack of meaningful results. They want serious investment in infrastructure. They want real job creation. They want a government that delivers on basics—safety, stability, and opportunity.
It’s time for the state to get back to governing. Less energy on political theater, more focus on tangible progress. Less noise, more competence.
