Talkline | August 5, 2025 - MetroNews Talkline

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning, Welcome in. Metro News talk Line from the
Encoba Insurance Studios is underway.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Radio turned off from the studios of w v r
C Media and the Metro News Radio and Television Network,
the Voice of West Virginia comes the most powerful show
in West Virginia. This is Metro News talk Line with
Dave Wilson and t J.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Meadows activated so it's network can from Charles.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Stand by to David, t J.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
You're on.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encoba Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visiting coopa dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Good morning, It's mentioned News talk Line from the Encoba
Insurance Studios. Gangs all here. Sophia handling the audio production
this morning, and Jakelink is our video producer. You can
give us a call at eight hundred seven sixty five
Talk eight hundred and seven sixty five eight two five five.
The text line is three oh four Talk three oh four.
Coming up later on, we'll discuss yesterday's announcement West Virginia

(01:32):
getting the waiver for snap benefits, pop or soda will
no longer be covered. We will discuss Tracy Nelson from
Omega will join us. Beth Bossio from Montngue County. We'll
stop by. They are having a meeting tonight up near
Morgantown about the mid Atlantic Resiliency Link, that high voltage
transmission line proposed to traverse part of Montingalia and several

(01:54):
other counties. We'll get into that. The Municipal League is
having its annual conference in Tanya. Jay Powers will stop
by as Texas Democrats have fled the states, although they're
looking to believe they're going to have a news conference
later today as well, So we'll get into all of that.
But first say good morning to TJ. Meadows, who is
deep inside the Virginia Street Studios in Charleston. Good morning, sir.

Speaker 4 (02:19):
Let's move the show out to Illinois. We'll do the
show two hours and then we'll hop in the truck
and we'll go do some dog the bounty hunter kind
of thing and bring some legislators back to Texas make
a little money.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
What do you think, what do they have a bounty
on them? Can we collect?

Speaker 4 (02:35):
I mean, I think their sergeant at arms has the
right to call them back in. So if the sergeant
at arms gives it to us. Then yeah, they got
a bounty, all right, Yeah, I mean it's Texas for
crying out loud. That kind of thing goes in Texas.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Well, yeah it does. It's Texas. It's Texas. We'll get
into that coming up. Tony Jay Powers will join us
in just a bit. Yesterday we were talking about GreenPower
Motors a little bit. They had an earnings call yesterday afternoon.
Their financial struggles have been well documented. The electric bus
manufacturer that has a manufacturing facility in South Charleston has

(03:10):
a tenuous you could call it that relationship with the
state of West Virginia as far as the number of
hires go and tax breaks that green Power or incentives
that green Power received to bring that manufacturing facility to
South Charleston. So what happened during that earnings call yesterday?
Metro News state Line correspondent Brad McIlhenny was monitoring and

(03:32):
he joins us on at Metro News talk Line this morning. Brad,
good morning, Glad to have you back two days in
a row.

Speaker 5 (03:38):
Oh Hi, wonderful to see you too, but count me
out on the trip to Illinois to round up human beings.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
So yesterday, Brad, Green Power the Electric school Bus manufacturing
Company had its earnings call officials with the company admitting, yeah,
they have some blown tires if you will, but Brad,
they are optimistic they can right the ship or in
this case, write the bus. So what was the overall

(04:05):
tone of yesterday's meeting.

Speaker 5 (04:08):
Well, you know, my friend TJ. Meadows also listened.

Speaker 6 (04:12):
And.

Speaker 5 (04:13):
I would say that they did not acknowledge that they
had blown tires. It was a very optimistic earnings call.
A lot of talk about potential, about about an available market,
particularly in large states like New York and California, but
hardly any discussion about you know, just the bloody earnings

(04:38):
report that came out a couple of days prior, as
well as it is potentially if the potential is there
for green Power, I am not making a stock market recommendation,
but if you can buy their stock for now less
than fifty cents a share and if it has a
future by low high would be my advice. Rather than

(05:02):
telling you about the earnings call, let me tell you
what Green Power's own accountant said in the written report.
They said, oh, let me find it here. The company's
ability to achieve its business objectives is subject to material

(05:23):
uncertainty which casts substantial doubt upon the company's ability to
continue as a growing concern.

Speaker 6 (05:30):
That was their.

Speaker 5 (05:31):
Own independent accountant for the annual report way back on
page thirty seven. For those of you at home who
may be reading the report yourself, the same accountant express
concern about Greenpower's dependence on one customer. They said, during

(05:54):
the year that ended March thirty first, twenty twenty four,
the company was economically dependent on one customer who accounted
for more than ten percent of revenue from continuing operations
and in aggregate, accounted for approximately sixty three percent of sales.
So you know, none of this in print adds up

(06:14):
to a great business environment. I hope that what is
true in the long term is green Power's assessment of it,
which is that it has a good product, that there
is a market out there, and if it begins to
make sales relatively quickly, it can pull this thing out
of the ditch. Because West Virginia does have a business

(06:35):
relationship with the company, it does have eighty nine or
so employees, it has a presence in South Charleston. Those
are all good reasons to root for it. But we
should not go in thinking that we should not go
in with rose colored glasses.

Speaker 4 (06:52):
Brad, you asked about that relationship, and Fraser Atkinson, the CEO,
how to reply. I wouldn't call it a warm and
fuzzy but I'll let you character.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
I don't know what it was.

Speaker 5 (07:02):
So the way this worked the earnings call, if you
had a question you would input it into. It was
a zoom call, so you were you were essentially typing
your question, and mine was what is the current relationship
with the state of West Virginia? And I, between me
and Dave and TJ, I didn't really hear an answer.

(07:23):
They the state said that that green Power is the
state said this in May, the state that green Power
is so far behind on its lease payments for that
South Charleston facility. That's it's on double not very secret probation.
Green Power yesterday said it's it's been unfortunate that the
state sort of shot first and talked second, talked after

(07:47):
they had decided to shoot.

Speaker 1 (07:48):
That's a quote.

Speaker 5 (07:49):
But Green Power said, we are in discussions with them,
and I would say right now it is in their court,
meaning the states, in terms of the position we presented
that that does not sound like a negotiat or back
and forth. It just sounds like Green Power has its
position on what it wants and needs from the state,
the state has its position. Sounds like they barely talked

(08:11):
and you know that's the answer we got. So it's
it is a I think, very chilly relationship at this point.

Speaker 1 (08:18):
That's a new state wide correspondent Brad mclelhenny joining us.
He was monitoring the Green Power Motors earnings call yesterday.
So if there is any optimism, Brad on the part
of company officials, where is it coming from.

Speaker 5 (08:36):
They think they have a good product. I think the
state of West Virginia at this point disagrees. That's that's
in writing. But they think they have a good product
with a future, and that electric school buses are they
believe good for the environment, good for the health of
the students who ride them because they're not getting you know,
the diesel emissions or whatever, and that that there is

(09:02):
a market in big states like New York, California. That
they did announce a relatively modest agreement with the state
of New Mexico yesterday. You know, West Virginia is kind
of a funny location for the center of the business
for the manufacturing plant here, because I mean West Virginia

(09:23):
is rural mountain roads, you know. I guess you can
ask somebody more familiar than I am on on whether
an electric school bus is the proper fit for the
kinds of I mean Pocahontas County, Greenborough County.

Speaker 1 (09:39):
Is that is that a.

Speaker 5 (09:40):
Good spot for an electric school bus?

Speaker 1 (09:42):
I don't know. Well, the things look. The product tested well.
We covered this in Montgallia County when they ran the
Beast the pilot project, and the reviews were excellent. But
even skeptical bus drivers liked the product. It worked. But TJ,
you've you've looked to the financials multiple times, You've done
the deep dove. The numbers are with the are. The

(10:03):
regulatory environment is what it is, the administration is what
it is. Maybe it's just not the right time.

Speaker 4 (10:11):
One of the things that was telling to me on
the call yesterday and again it was it was difficult
to tell one hundred percent because you couldn't verbalize a question,
as Brad said, you had to type it in. There
were no capital analysts that I saw or could could.
The questions are another kind of questions exactly.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
I mean, no one showed up.

Speaker 4 (10:29):
No one cared. So that is very very telling to me, Dave.
To your point, the numbers just don't work. I mean
they try to talk about the fact that they're their
gross profit. Right, they had a two million dollar gross profit. Okay,
you're gross profit, but you don't have enough throughput to
cover your operating there's not enough market interests. So yeah,
it's it's a loser. I have to tell you. I

(10:51):
shouldn't say loser. It's not working because I feel for them.
I've been there, I've been in business and field.

Speaker 1 (10:56):
I get it.

Speaker 4 (10:56):
I feel for them. But if I were the state
of West Virginia and not having the contract in whatever
in front of me, not knowing what you can or
can't do, I would be marketing that facility in South
Charleston today so that when the inevitable happens, maybe I
could help out those eighty nine workers. That's what I
would be doing.

Speaker 1 (11:15):
So, mentioning state wide correspondent Brad Mackelhenny, So, Brad, we've
gone over this, but bring us back up to speed.
How the state of West Virginia is involved. Because companies
come and go, right, you know, companies come and go.
Why there is interest in this one in particular.

Speaker 5 (11:32):
Well, a few ways the state helped Green Power obtain
its property in South Charleston was supposed to help obtain
even more property. That's at the center of a dispute
between the state and the company whether the state dropped
the ball on providing even more property for Green Power
to use, particularly for its transportation. And there is an

(11:54):
ongoing argument over Green Power's lease payments, which the company
apparently has not been able to make for several months. Finally,
you know, the green Power, as part of its agreement
with the state, was supposed to be supplying buses to
both the Department of Education for distribution to counties around
the state as well as to individual counties. And that

(12:17):
has happened a bit, but it's been a trickle. It
hasn't happened as quickly as anyone wanted, you know. Finally,
I think there was a political story where there is
a gap that really frustrates West Virginians between the hype
that accompanied this company laying down roots in the state

(12:38):
back when it was first announced in twenty twenty two,
compared to the dribble drabble results that people are seeing now.
There is no ribbon cutting ceremony for just sagging to
the finish. Nobody is letting balloons fly into the air.
No politicians are sitting behind school buses. But in twenty

(12:59):
twenty two, you know, that's what you got. My lead
in the twenty twenty two story was West Virginia celebrated
the start of a manufacturing plant that will produce school buses.
Political leaders described the GreenPower Motor Company as a sign
that West Virginia is ready to roll tangible products off
assembly lines, as well as a signal that the state
embraces a variety of energy sources. You know, that kind

(13:23):
of excitement that was expressed, you know, top to bottom
from state government to local government at the time just
isn't there now. And I mean, I think good for
us for sticking with the story and telling people what
the reality is. But you know, I think from there

(13:46):
are certain success stories in West Virginia manufacturing, but there
are others that just make people feel like, oh yeah,
I'll believe it when I see it. Hyperloop which was gonna,
you know, do vacuum tube technology for transportation in Morgantown,
pure watercraft which was electric bass boats, and now Green

(14:10):
Power does have some employees and some buses rolling off
assembly lines, slowly rolling off.

Speaker 1 (14:16):
But I I.

Speaker 5 (14:17):
Mean, I just think that that is a story that
makes West Virginians really skeptical when there is an economic
development announcement.

Speaker 4 (14:28):
Here's what I think green Power was. This is my gut,
So anyone can question it. Dave, you can tell me
whether I'm on or I'm off green Power in my
humble opinion, as I see, it was a venture to
prove out a specific electric bus technology, how to do it,
how to make the widget, and then you get somebody bigger,

(14:48):
like a Bluebird or somebody, and you sell the company.
That's what was supposed to happen here, and that hasn't happened.
They haven't proved out their technology as being more viable
than what the market could already make. You don't see
anybody scram to buy them up. You didn't see throughput,
you didn't see the uptake from the market. That's where
it ends. It's over.

Speaker 1 (15:07):
You can read brad story over at the website wv
Metronews dot com. Brad always appreciate aboud it. Thank you. Hippink.
Coming up, we'll check in with Texas, where the Democrats
have fled to prevent a vote on redistricting. Fox News
Radios Tanya Jay Powers joins us. Next, this is talk
line from the Encode Insurance Studios.

Speaker 7 (15:28):
Picture a community where every space tells a story. Those
are the communities we're designing at ZMM. Architects and engineers
with a blend of creativity and technical expertise, we design
spaces that inspire, innovate, and ignite change, from cutting edge
educational facilities to community centric gathering spaces. We're committed to

(15:48):
improving lives through design. Let us help you shape a
brighter future for generations to come. Because at ZMM, it's
more than architecture, it's about building your legacy.

Speaker 8 (15:59):
The sports metas and experts at WVU Medicine treat athletes
of all ages and skill levels, including the mountaineers. So
whether you suit up for WVU or play for fun,
don't let an injury keep you on the bench. The
best athletes around the state depend on world class care
from the same do WVU Medicine Orthopedics providers that help
you with sprains, broken bones, or anything that life throws

(16:22):
at you. It is a great day to be a
mountaineer with WVU medicine called eight y five WUVU Care.

Speaker 2 (16:41):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (16:53):
Democrats state lawmakers in Texas spled the state earlier this
week to prevent a vote on redrawing congressional districts and
the Lone Star states. For the latest, let's bring in
Fox News Radios Tanya Jay Powers. Tanya, good morning, Glad
you could join us. What's the latest from Texas?

Speaker 9 (17:14):
Hey, thanks for having me on. Well, the latest seems
to be the Texas Democrats that have gone to other states, Illinois,
New York, here where I am, there's some of them
that come here. Some have gone to I believe Massachusetts.
They have left Texas in order to basically keep the

(17:35):
legislature there from having a quorum and being able to
vote on these maps. Texas is redistricting after the governor
called a special session. That special session is going on
until I believe August nineteenth. The special session is to
have a couple of goals. One of them is to
do something about the flooding response, and that has not

(17:59):
yet been tackled that, of course, from those deadly floods
on July fourth weekend in Texas. The other thing was
to redraw the maps. It is getting a lot of
attention two reasons. One, redistricting is not new. States do
this from time to time. They usually do it when
we do the census, like once a decade. When we

(18:21):
do the census, that's when normally states will redraw their
congressional maps based on, you know, what they found out
in the census. This is getting a lot of attention
because it's being done in the middle of the decade.
And the reason it's being done in the middle of
the decade is because the President has basically told Texas, hey,
we need five seats to be gop you know, leaning

(18:43):
districts additional ones in order to strengthen the Republicans' chances
to keep the House in the twenty twenty six midterm elections.
And he's been real public about this. This is not
just a we guess this is what he wants. He's
actually said he wants five seats. Part is pretty out there.
They read through the maps, they need to vote on

(19:04):
them now, and the Democrats don't you know, there's not
enough of them to turn back this whole thing in Texas.
So the only thing they can do really is deprive
them of a quorum so they can't vote on them,
and that's why they've lest the state.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
So, Tanya, if your Governor Abbott, how do you get
them back to the state. What tools do you have?
Can you even do that?

Speaker 10 (19:22):
Well?

Speaker 9 (19:23):
One of the things that he's talked about is, I mean,
they're already being signed five hundred dollars a day, and
that's something that was put in place the last time
something like this happened. I only in twenty twenty one
when the Democrats left over you know, the same situation,
not redistricting, but a different vote. Then the lawmaker said, okay, fine,
if you're going to do that, we're going to pass

(19:43):
a law that says you're going to be signed five
hundred dollars a day every time this happens. And so
that's the reason that they're getting signed per day. The
other thing that the House speaker there has signed a
civil warrant for their arrest. Not really sure if that
can be taken out state lines. Governor Abbott has also

(20:03):
floated the idea of replacing these you know lawmakers of
the Democratic ones and saying Okay, well you're not here
to vote, so you're not representing your people, so you
know you should be replaced. This is these are all
different things. He's also talked about the fact that he
believed it should be a crime for any of the
Democrats to pay those signs we were talking about with

(20:24):
any campaign funds. So that's These are all different things
that have kind of been either floated or or moved on.
You know, he they can stay one until the nineteenth
when the special session is over. It doesn't mean that
he can't immediately call another one, you know, to ultimately,
you know, get what they want to do done. The

(20:45):
other thing to keep in mind, here's what other states
are doing. Uh New York and California, especially Governor Davin
Newsom has already said if Texas continues on with this
map redrawing, where the the way that they've done it,
the GOP in Texas have carved out a new Republican
seat in three metro areas, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

(21:08):
They took what had been a Democratic seat and made
it more Republicans. There's a couple more along the Rio
Grand Valley down at the border that are currently held
by Democrats, which is interesting because Trump won those districts,
but they're also you know, they are also represented by
Democrats in their district, which again that's a whole different issue,
but you know, for the most part, that's how they've

(21:30):
done this. And Gavin Newsom in California has said, if
you continue this path and you actually do this, then
we're going to do the same thing on the Democratic side.

Speaker 1 (21:40):
We got to leave it there today. Tony appreciate the update.
This is talk Line on Metro News, the Voice of
West Virginia. It is ten thirty times to get a
news update. Let's check in with the Metro News radio
network find out what's happening across the great state of
West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (21:55):
West Virginia Metro newsign Jeff Jenkins, a convicted sex offender
in Logan County, says he didn't know it was against
the law to ask a teenager for sexy, explicit photos
of herself.

Speaker 11 (22:04):
I didn't know at the time that it was illegal,
but take coins of the law as the excuse.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
I'll just assume that was Former downtown Logan coffee shop
owner Michael Klein during his sentencing Monday on a child
pornography conviction. The prosecutor says Klein never has taken responsibility
for what happened. He got five years in prison. West
Virginia the latest state to receive a waiver from the
year's Department of Agriculture to keep soft drinks off the
list of covered snap items. Governor Patrick Morrisey was in Washington,

(22:31):
d C. For the announcement Monday. Morsey says to move
teams well with the new state law requiring dies to
be removed from food heading into schools and later on
store shelves.

Speaker 12 (22:40):
At law's gone into effect, it's already started right now,
and beginning this year, kids in West Virginia will no
longer be exposed to these harmful dives and chemicals at
the schools.

Speaker 3 (22:52):
Read more at wv metronews dot com. Ww Medicine President
of CEO Albert Wright has received a five year contract
extension Right, saying the old Metro News talk line he
looks forward to continuing to improve the health of state
residence helping to do so. Right also says WVU Medicine
wants to contribute what it can to the debate over
the future of Peia, the state run health insurance program

(23:14):
for state workers. Meetings continue between the state legislature and
the Morrisey administration. You're listening to Metro News, the voice
of West Virginia.

Speaker 13 (23:23):
With the right support and care, the seed can grow
into a resilient plant. Recovery takes patients intention and a
willingness to listen. Every path is different, and every story
of substance use is an opportunity for transformation. When it
comes to growing and restoring our communities, we need everyone to.

Speaker 6 (23:44):
Break through addiction.

Speaker 13 (23:47):
Learn more at back to Life wv dot org.

Speaker 6 (23:52):
The football season is right around the corner. Get ready
for high school and WV football by downloading the Metro
News Television app WHTCH Metro News all Day, including talk Line,
a Sports Line, three Guys Before the Game, Metro News Middays,
and the Hotline Yet The Metro News Television app from
the Apple App Store or Google Play Store Metro News Television.
It's powered by a University of Terretton, the West Virginia

(24:14):
Department of Tourism, dan Cava Toyota, the WVHTC Foundation, WVU Medicine,
and the Trojan Landing, Marine and Power Sports.

Speaker 3 (24:22):
Those in the flood zones of Ohio and Marion Counties
can get reimbursed for money they've spent on cleaning and
sanitation supplies. You can get up to three hundred dollars
in one time payments through FEMA. The best way to
seek the funds is to contact FEMA. There's an ongoing
scam taking place in the Eastern panhand Or. Reports have
been received from residents in Charlestown, Martinsburg and Ranson. Authority
say scammers grab public information from city meeting agenda packets

(24:45):
and send fraudulent invoices saying that you owe the cities money.
From the Metro News anchored asksk I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (25:12):
A couple of texts here three or four talk three four.
Then we've got to Scott James, president of the West
Virginia Municipal League. Texter says redistricting is going to the
Supreme Court. You can only do this every ten years,
not so not so that's up to the states and
there are laws. There's nothing in Texas preventing that.

Speaker 4 (25:30):
It's already been to the Supreme Court. I think it
was back in two thousand and six, and they've already
ruled on it, and you're exactly correct.

Speaker 1 (25:37):
H three or four talk three four. Arrest every one
of the Texas Democrat representatives who fled the state. If
the FBI can track down, to quote McIlhenny, round up
human beings, all you texted again and out went away.

Speaker 4 (25:53):
Don't you hate when that happens?

Speaker 1 (25:55):
I mean, I appreciate the text. Hang on, let me
scroll up here. If the FBI can track down and
to quote maclhenny, round up human beings four years after
January sixth, then they can arrest these people. Remember in
twenty twenty four. Blah blah blah blah. Yeah, yeah, uh.
I don't know that the FBI needs to get involved
and arrest them. They do need to be Look, look,
they do need to be there and fulfill their duty.

(26:18):
And look, this is your last ditch effort. I guess
if you feel that strongly about it, you gotta do
what you gotta do. But you also got to do
your job.

Speaker 4 (26:29):
Dave Editors note the League of United Latin American Citizens
versus Perry two thousand and six. The court ruled that
mid decade redistricting is not unconstitutional, and Texas did this
in two thousand and three. By the way as well,
it's nothing new, nothing novel.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
I'll bet the population of Texas is growing rapidly enough
to warrant a redistricting mid census. There was by the way, um,
I have to go back and pull the story. I
read that earlier this week. The Census Burero did mess
up the census in Texas and probably undercounted it enough
to where Texas lost possible congressional seats because of a
screw up with the Census bureau. So that did happen.

(27:07):
That did happen. All right, We'll get back to more
of your texts coming up through four Talk three to
four funds always available as well. Eight hundred and seven
to sixty five Talk and eight hundred seven sixty five
eight two five five. The West Virginia Municipal League is
holding its annual conference this week in Morgantown. That conference
getting cranked up today. Joining us on Metro News talk line.

(27:27):
President of the West Virginia Municipal League and Mayor of
Saint Albans, Scott James, joins us.

Speaker 10 (27:33):
Mister mayor, Good morning, Good morning guys.

Speaker 1 (27:36):
How are you all doing quite well? So when all
of these municipal officials, mayors and city council members get together.
Do you have a sense yet what are some of
the big concerns for cities across West Virginia as we
move forward.

Speaker 10 (27:50):
Well, one of the things that could pass this past year,
Senate Bill fifty says in all municipalities have to sing
think their elections with the county elections, and Saint Albans
did that in twenty twenty. But it's more of a

(28:11):
logistical nightmare than it is anything. They're going to have
to do redistrictinging and different things like that to make
some of these smaller communities part of the county voting system.
And so you know they're talking about that right now

(28:33):
down there. We've got a panel that's speaking on that.
So you know, the Municipal League is an organization that
goes out of its way, really helps mayors, council members,
city managers, clerks do their job better and they help
us in these transitions.

Speaker 4 (28:54):
Scott, I think we have two hundred and thirty one
I read municipalities in West Virginia, and let's face it,
some of them aren't as fortunate as Saint All buts
you guys have a good sized city, good economy. Are
some of these smaller municipalities just going to be forced
to call it a day at some point or how
do you how do they manage that? What are their
challenges in terms of just raw survival.

Speaker 10 (29:16):
Well, it is tough for a lot of the smaller
communities to provide, you know, the necessary infrastructure and different
items like police and fire and stuff. Of course, there's
only like thirteen full time fire departments in the state
of West Virginia. The volunteer fire department system in West

(29:39):
Virginia is very important, plays an integral role. But there
has been I think one or two cities that become
became unincorporated in the last five years. So the struggle
is real. You know, it comes down to one thing
and you know that as well as I do. And

(30:00):
finances and money, and you've got to have that to
be able to provide and maintain a city.

Speaker 1 (30:08):
Scott James is joining us. He's president of the West
Virginia Municipal League, mayor of Saint Albans. Has it become
less popular? I don't know quite how to phrase this
question to you, Scott, but less popular to be part
of a city because and the reason I ask there
has been legislation the last several years that hasn't exactly
been city or municipality friendly. Is it less popular these days.

Speaker 10 (30:33):
Overall? No, I think there's a big misunderstanding. You know,
that's one of the problems we have in Saint Albans
is we're landlocked and we haven't been able to annex
a whole lot. There's always not so much the people
as it is the system getting accomplished. But there has

(30:55):
been a group in the legislature that was definitely I
think anti city. But I think that has changed a
little bit over the last year or two. And you know,
this past legislative session was not very hard on us,

(31:15):
and we appreciate, but I mean there's been movements to
try to do with being o tacks, different things like that.
And you do that and then we're going to have
to lay policemen off, fireman off and for people coming
into the city. And this is what I gotta I
try to tell folks is we're getting ready to incorporate
some valley which is outside of Saint Albans. But they

(31:39):
want to come in, Okay, They're going to receive better
services from infrastructure to trash, to police, to fire than
what they have right now, and so it is a
benefit to individuals and families to come into cities. The

(32:00):
biggest movement up in the legislator legislature was people that
didn't live in cities or didn't grow up in cities,
and they didn't really understand the importance of funding. You know,
we we we'd love to sit down and talk to
people come up with alternative forms of funding outside of

(32:22):
being O tax. All right, but being O tax is minimal.
I mean it's not it's not very hard on businesses.
And you know, it's one percent one point five percent.
The highest rate we have is two percent depending on
the category. All right, so it's not a whole lot
of money. But when it all adds up and without

(32:43):
being O tax, cities will go bankrupt or some form
of funding to replace that. What would be the alternatives
to ben O Well, you know, maybe raise the one
percent sales tax a penny to two pennies. You know,

(33:04):
the a local income tax has been mentioned. I'm not
a fan of that because now we'll put this burden
back on our citizens, all right, where you know, as
a business, they take advantage of our police, our fire,
our infrastructure, our roads, our trans pick up all right,
so they should pay their share, all right. So you know,

(33:31):
there's a couple of options that are being thrown around
out there, and a lot of people say B and
O taxes are cake. Well, most states have some form
of ben o tax. They might call it something else,
but most states still have a form of being O
tax for their cities and businesses.

Speaker 1 (33:52):
Scott James is joining us. He's the mayor of Saying
Albund's president of the West Virginia Municipal League. They're having
their annual conference here in Morgantown this week. As a
matter of.

Speaker 10 (34:00):
Fact, I'm at the Waterfront Hotel and you know, it's
a great conference. You know, this is where it all
began for me. I took off of July first, twenty seventeen,
and a month later I met this annual conference. It
was up here in Morgantown. Didn't know Sault that the
West Virginia Municipal League has been the best organization for

(34:23):
me to become a better mayor, all right, to run
my city in a better way. Because you bounce ideas
off each other. You learn from other cities. If you've
got an issue, you can pick up your phone and
call somebody that might have had a similar problem. See
how they handled it. That the networking that goes on

(34:45):
with the West Virginia Municipal League is fantastic.

Speaker 4 (34:48):
So Scott, that networking versus the challenges that we faced.
You talked about you got to have the funds and look,
we're decreasing in population. There's no doubt. I wonder is
there ever any talk talk of merging cities out of
these conversations and as you talk with other leaders, maybe
you know, because look, if you've got two bases, you

(35:09):
spread the cost of trash service for instance, or whatever
it may be. Ever, get into those conversations. Would that
be a good idea.

Speaker 10 (35:16):
In some cases? I think it will be a good
idea And it has been mentioned. Like us in Nitro
we have reciprocal and police and fire we work with
each other. If there's a fire and Nitro we got's
a fire in Saint Albans, they come over here. If
it's a police situation, we're there to back them up,
and vice versa. Trans pickup could be one of the services.

(35:41):
It could be combined. I think it could save money
in the long run. Now I do know that in
the past, like Senator Brooks McCabe when he was in office,
was big on metro government all right, but it hadn't
seemed to tank in West Virginia like it has in

(36:02):
other areas.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
Scott James. He is the mayor of Saint Albans and
president of the West Virginia Municipal League. It's conference running
today and tomorrow here in Morgantown. In fact, I saw Scott,
you got an old retired radio guy speaking to the
conference later today. Good luck with that.

Speaker 10 (36:20):
Well, I appreciate that. Yeah, I hope he's going to
be here and I look forward to always listen to
happy and everything. And you know one thing I wanted
to say while I was waiting for you all to
come to me. I heard you about the redistricting fight
down in Texas.

Speaker 1 (36:37):
Uh huh.

Speaker 10 (36:37):
You know, I just want to remind everybody to the
victor God the spoils.

Speaker 1 (36:43):
Well said, Well said Scott. Always appreciate it, Enjoy the conference,
Joy Morgantown the next couple of days we'll do.

Speaker 10 (36:49):
And I appreciate you guys having me on and I
have a wonderful day.

Speaker 1 (36:52):
Blessed day absolutely to you as well. Scott James, Mayor
of Saint Alban's, President of the West Virginia Municipal League
eight hundred and seven to sixty five talks the fun
I'm three or four Talk three h four The text
line more from the Cove Insurance Studios in a Moment.

Speaker 6 (37:05):
The free Metro News TV app is the place to
watch the Voice of West Virginia, Seed Talk Line with
David TJ, Sports Line with Tony Creedy, three Guys Before
the Game and coming soon in the morning, News, Metro
News Middays, and Hotline with Dave Weekly right on your
Smart TV or streaming device. Get the Metro News Television
app from the Apple App Store or Google Marketplace. Metro

(37:25):
News Television is powered by the University of Charleston, the
West Virginia Department of Tourism and Caviatoyota, the wv HTC Foundation,
and WVU Medicine.

Speaker 14 (37:36):
Looking for a big new game to play, well, there's
no game bigger than the new Dino sized Jurassic World
scratch Off game from the West Virginia Lottery, which gives
you a chance to win up to fifty thousand instantly.
And if that weren't enough, you can enter in our
app for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii
where you could win up to one million dollars. So

(37:57):
get down to your local lottery retailer today and welcome
to Jurassic World. Must be eighteen year older to play
played responsibly.

Speaker 2 (38:17):
Metro News Talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
Visit Encova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (38:27):
Coming up top of the hour, we'll revisit the conversation
about the mid Atlantic Resiliency Link. Beth Bossio going to
join us from Montingelia County. They're having a big meeting
tonight at University High School regarding that transmission line that
would run from Green County to Frederick County, Virginia Power
Data Center mainly, and that would traverse Montague of Preston

(38:49):
and I think three or four other counties as well.
That's coming up second hour of the show. Uh three
or four talk three oh four. Jerry Mandering is wrong,
no matter who does it. Districts should be based on
where people live, not how they vote. I'm glad the
Texas Dems are fighting back. In a perfect world, I yes, one,

(39:10):
but it's not a perfect A. It's not a perfect world. B.
I have covered local government, now state government. Look, Jerry
Manderin goes on at every single level you thought, don't
think it does. It happened right here in Morgantown several
years ago when they it came time to redraw the
city wards. They got moved around to make certain certain

(39:30):
city council people didn't get put in certain wars with
other city council people. It happens. It's part of the process.
I mean, do I like it?

Speaker 10 (39:38):
No?

Speaker 1 (39:39):
Yeah, I wish we could feed it to an AI bot.
We could, I guess TJ like you suggested, feed it
to an AI bought it, spits it out, we all
go with it. That's just not the way it's going
to happen. Democrats do it, Republicans do it. Libertarians would
probably do it if they had a majority. It's part
of the system, and it has been part of the
system from the get go.

Speaker 4 (39:58):
If you were a texastemic and you can't, if you
can't move the outcome the way you want in typical
parliamentary procedure, not showing up, I'm sorry. That's taking your
ball and going home. And nobody likes that. Kid, you
gotta right to vote. Go vote. You have a duty,

(40:19):
not a right. You have a duty to represent your
people in vote.

Speaker 15 (40:21):
Go vote.

Speaker 4 (40:23):
Period.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
More texts, more Texas texts. Three or four Talk three
or four as usual, absolutely wrong with respect to Republicans.
While Texas has grown, the redistricting is clearly intended to
disenfranchise black and Latinos if Trump wants it, clearly a
fraud three or four Talk three or four. Look at
the bigger nationwide picture in regards to this Texas map

(40:48):
and why Democrats are throwing their little temper tantrum and
spewing threatening, violent rhetoric now like Crockett did yesterday, they
hate Ice because the illegal aliens deportations destroy the lefts
planned population. It turns in turn and destroying their planned
redrawn district maps, therefore stopping the Marxist power grab. Connect
the dots and really think about all of this as

(41:09):
a whole, says the Texter.

Speaker 4 (41:12):
My TV is on News Nation this morning. Here's on
the lower third text, Texas Illinois Dems talk redistricting fight.
Why are Illinois Democrats talking about what is going on
in Texas? Why? Why do you have to insert yourself
into the sovereignty of Texas. Am I the only one

(41:34):
who thinks that's bad precedent?

Speaker 1 (41:37):
I just wonder how Illinois could to be jerry mannered
anymore than it is in Cavin the same thing California,
Gavin News, Well, we're gonna punch back. Really, how much
more could you jerrymander the state than it already is?

Speaker 4 (41:50):
He would you tell your neighbor what kind of car
to buy? I mean, or I know that's a bad analogy,
but I'm just saying, at what point do you know,
get involved in somebody else's business?

Speaker 1 (42:04):
Well, you know it is. It is August, and there's
not much going on. So here we are three or
four talk three or four best definition of jerry mandering
where the legislators pick the voters rather than the voters
picking the legislators. Happening at this moment in Texas. Gotta
take our final break of the hour. We'll set up
our number two in just a moment. Three or four

(42:26):
Talk three or four is the text line eight hundred
and seven to sixty five talk the phone number. Jackpots
are growing in West Virginia. Jackpots are on the rise.
Every week power Ball hits Mondays Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mega
Millions lights up Tuesdays and Fridays. That's five chances a
week to get in on life changing jackpots. Play in
store and online eighteen plus to play. Please play responsibly.

(42:49):
Powerball jackpott is four hundred and forty nine million dollars.
Mega Million's jackpot is one hundred and fifty million dollars,
So go ahead play today.

Speaker 16 (42:56):
Looking for smarter, simpler network management, Cisco delivered by city
Net makes it easy get secure, cloud based control of
your entire network from anywhere. Manage devices, monitor traffic, and
keep your business protected with just a few clicks, whether
you're running one location or many. Cisco Morocki scales with
you and with sitty nets expert team by your side,

(43:17):
set up and support are seamless. Simplify your network. Visit
cittynet dot net. Citty net we connect, protect and perfect.

Speaker 1 (43:27):
Hey there, it's Dave Allen.

Speaker 17 (43:28):
I'd like to invite you to join myself along with
thirteen News and Tonight Live anchor Amanda Baron each weekday
from Noontil three for Metro News Midday, brought to you
buy Selango Law. We'll cover the news from across the State.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
Of West Virginia.

Speaker 17 (43:41):
The news West Virginians need to keep them informed during
their workday. It's weekdays from noontil three Metro News, Midday
with thirteen News and Tonight Live. Anchor Amanda Baron brought
to you buy Selango law on Metro News, The Voice
of West Virginia.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
Three or four Talk three or four. The text line
we will get into Snap benefits coming up second hour. Yesterday,
Governor Morrissey was in Washington, d C. With RFK Junior
West Virginia getting that waiver request for Snap benefits. So well,
not for Snap benefits, but to remove pop or soda,

(44:34):
which is a whole other argument. Is it soda or
is it pop or is it soda pop from being
covered under Snap Benefits. We'll get into that subject because
there are a couple of different angles here I've been
thinking about TJ. One is simply just the logistics if
you are a you know, small grocery convenience store, whatever
the case may be, the cost of implementing that, the

(44:54):
cost of monitoring, et cetera, et cetera. There's also the
idea of how much restriction should be on Snap benefits.
To begin with, I was thinking about that as I
was reading those stories. So a couple of different angles
there to contemplate as we get into the second hour.

Speaker 4 (45:11):
It's coke, it's doctor pepper, it's pepsi, it's whatever you drink.
That's the way I come down on that. Yeah, fair questions,
and there will be a cost. And at the end
of the day, this is really going to or in
my opinion, this is really a way to drive people
off these programs. And look, that may not be bad.
We've got tough budgets here, and the way the federal
budget is going more this is going to end up

(45:33):
on the state one way or the other, whether that's
in this time of the big beautiful bill or the
next round or whatever. So you know, and we have
to have a balanced budget here. So it's a fair
conversation all the way around. If I'm being completely honest,
If somebody wants to buy pop and they're on foodstad
I don't have problem with it. I really don't. I
don't know if it changes that much. I don't think

(45:54):
we're going to be that much more healthy as a
result of it. People will find a way, you'll go,
you know. And the thing about a Dave emt snap
that's a federal benefit. So if you live in a
border community, drive across the river, buy your pop, be
done with it.

Speaker 1 (46:08):
Well, we'll get into the subject. I got divergent thoughts
on it, as I typically do uh three or four,
talk three oh four to the victor, go the spoil.
So if you won the last election, you get to
steal the next one. Bad news. Not everyone wants a king.
The representative democracy has worked fine for two hundred and
fifty years, and guess what, for two hundred and fifty years,

(46:29):
the majority gets to draw the congressional lines. What happens
in Texas does affect all of us. If their jerrymandering
makes it possible for the GOP to unfairly win five
House seats, I think it's pretty obvious that what the
Texas GOP wants to accomplish is unfair and unconstitutional. I
support the democratic effort to prevent election fraud.

Speaker 4 (46:48):
Are they breaking Texas law? Because I haven't read that.
I haven't been able to find anywhere where this goes
against Texas law. This if they were breaking Texas law,
i'd agree with you.

Speaker 1 (46:57):
This might fall under one of those categories of it's
not illegal. You may not like it. It may not
be right, TJ. It may not be ethically right, but
it may not be illegal. And quite frankly, I don't
think it is. I think it's perfectly legal, but you
may not like it. And that's that's why you can.

Speaker 4 (47:14):
Yeah, that's why you can amend the constitution. That's why
amendments are there.

Speaker 1 (47:17):
David Second hour Metro News talk Line coming up on
Metro News, the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (47:28):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encoba Insurance, encircling
Visit incoba dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (47:38):
It's Metro News talk Line from the Encoba Insurance studios.
Already in progress. David Morgantown, TJ is in Charleston, Vice
president of Audio Operations of talk Line. Sophia Haasik on
the phone's Jake Blink is in charge of the video production.
Eight hundred and seven to sixty five. Talk is the

(47:59):
phone number, eight hundred and seven six five eight two
five five. We'll get some more of your texts coming
up next segments. A lot of Texas talk today. Later
on we will discuss the snap waiver that was granted
to West Virginia, the Snap Benefits waiver that will allow
the state to prohibit Snap benefits to be used to

(48:19):
purchase things like coke or Dr Pepper or one of
my favorites R C. Cola. We'll talk about that coming
up bottom of the hour. A couple of different angles there.
But Tracy Nelson with Omega will join us at eleven
thirty three. Once again, TJ. Meadows in Charleston, Good.

Speaker 4 (48:35):
Morning, sir, Good morning, And I know I've really stepped
in it when the bat text here starts really going
off over what we're talking about, so.

Speaker 1 (48:43):
Over the Texas stuff.

Speaker 4 (48:45):
Oh yeah, yeah, TJ. You're wrong. Couldn't be more wrong.
The makeup of Congress effects every state. It is our business.
And to that, I say, then let's change the constitution.
Have a constitutional amendment. Change it. That's to some extent,
I don't know. We have to ward smith it, but
that the federal government will take care of all of

(49:05):
this and they'll handle redistricting exclusively, take it away from
the states. If you're worried about the effect, but we
don't have that today you have.

Speaker 1 (49:14):
I'm sorry. I was just thinking about Congress trying to
redistrict every state. Can you imagine?

Speaker 4 (49:19):
No, I can't mercy, So you get where I'm going
with this. Look, you have to have a mechanism, and
so far I've not seen a mechanism that says a
law that says Texas is doing anything wrong. To your point, morally, philosophically,
you may think it's wrong, but okay, show me a
law until you do, or till a court says it is.

(49:43):
I don't know that you have two feet to stand on.
That's and I'm a simpleton. I'll leave it at that.

Speaker 1 (49:47):
We'll get some more of your texts coming up just
a little bit. Three or four talk three four and
eight hundred and seven and sixty five talk the phone number.
Later this evening here in Montingalia County, there'll be a
meeting up at University High School, informational meeting concerning the
minute Lant Resiliency Link. We've talked about that a couple
of times. It's the high voltage transmission line that is
proposed to run from Green County, Pennsylvania, through parts of

(50:08):
West Virginia, Montingalia, Preston, Mineral County, Hampshire. I feel like
I'm leaving one out. Maybe Hardy County is in there
as well. That line would run from Pennsylvania to Virginia,
mainly to power data centers over in the Commonwealth. That
has drawn strong opposition here in West Virginia from county
commissions and locals. Joining us on Metro News talk Line

(50:29):
this morning is Beth and Bossio. She's the sales works
in sales and marketing for quarter Pine Tree Farms here
in Montingalia County. Beth n Good morning, Good to talk
to you.

Speaker 18 (50:41):
Good morning guys, thanks for having me on.

Speaker 1 (50:43):
So first of all, just for you and the farm individually,
would you be directly impacted by this line?

Speaker 9 (50:52):
Yes, both, and.

Speaker 18 (50:54):
Well everybody's going to because everybody's a rate payer. But
for us for the lines, yes, both at our farm
in West Virginia and brust Mills, West Virginia, and also
in Smithfield, PA. That is where we already currently have
a transmission line, and so one of the proposed paths
is coming straight through that farm. And basically what I'm

(51:17):
telling everybody is, even if you didn't have a purple
line back when the map was released back in May,
you know, they took a whole bunch of data and
those can shift very easily. So in West Virginia at
our Burst and Mills farm that has over i would
say maybe twelve very important seed orchards, that line is

(51:37):
right beside us at our neighboring farm, and we know
they don't want it. So does that mean the line's
going to shift to us? We do not know, and
we're kind of just all sitting ducks waiting for their
submission of where the paths are going.

Speaker 4 (51:52):
Bet, thank good morning. First off, and I want you
to explain a couple of things. One these purple lines.
Explain to folks what those are, because many folks in
the state may not have gone through this process. And
then to talk practically about what this would do to
your land in terms of restricting the cones for your
your tree farm, et cetera.

Speaker 18 (52:13):
So when this all, you know, basically all of us
found out, It was around March, I think when we
started receiving the postcards in the mail, and then it
wasn't until May, right before the open houses, that they
updated and basically revealed where these transmission lines that you

(52:33):
know are going to be built for the data centers
in Virginia where these would be going. So it's not
you know, there's so many different potential paths, and so
basically you could put your address in and you could
you know, SUSI, you could pull it up, you would
see that purple line through your property. So that is
how a lot of people, you know, found out about it.

(52:55):
But still a lot of people don't realize, you know,
what's going on with these and for that. So for us,
you know, we have a transmission line already through our
farm in Smithfield, PA. We have seed orchard trees. Now
these are not what you would say are Christmas trees.
They are grown to produce cones that produce seed. So

(53:17):
when you are thinking about Christmas tree farms across the US,
that comes from wholesalers like us. We have seed orchards
where we collect the cones, process the seed, and those
are sold to nurseries across the US to grow your
future centerpiece at the holiday season. So if we lose
our orchards, that is a ripple effect across the nation

(53:39):
of preventing us from being able to supply the Christmas
tree seed. It takes around twenty years for these orchards
to produce those cones, so this is decades work from
my stepfather, Jim Roccas. That was started you know, in
the late nineties and before that, and some of these
are just now producing cones. And the fact that these

(53:59):
trans usion lines can come.

Speaker 9 (54:01):
Through our property.

Speaker 18 (54:02):
You know, everyone keeps on saying, oh, well, we'll move
the towers and they won't be near them. No, that's
not true. We were told to cut down some of
ours because they were getting too close to the lines.
So we are very concerned about this, and obviously because
it's not even benefiting us, you know, it's the data

(54:23):
centers in Virginia. This is not something that is going
to help West Virginians in any way, and that's what
is so frustrating about this project.

Speaker 1 (54:32):
Beth and Bossio is joining US sales and marketing for
quarter Pine Tree Farms here in Montingalia County. The mid
Atlantic Resiliency Link being proposed to run from Green County,
Pennsylvania into Virginia, crossing several West Virginia counties. So what
restrictions are in place? We see these right of ways
all over the place, we have them obviously here in
West Virginia, Beth, But what restrictions would be placed on

(54:54):
your property if this would cross part of the farm.

Speaker 18 (54:58):
Well, once they go on your property, I mean they
have full control. I know some people that have this,
you know, wells septic tanks can't be in there, so
you're looking at potentially homes that are going to lose
access to that so they come in. You know, when
you think about two hundred feet, you know, it's a
lot of space. So if you tonight, if you come,

(55:20):
you know, to the meeting at UHS that starts at
six thirty, I'm going to show a visual picture showing
already what a line looks like and you can clearly
see how much path it eats away at our lands
or you know, our beautiful state of West Virginia. You
know what, this would completely alter our state forever with
no benefit. But yeah, I mean you lose control for

(55:44):
sure once these are placed, and they're ugly, they are
not pretty, And we will with another set on our
farm at our Choose and Cut farm in Smithville, PA.
It will completely change the experience people have coming out
to get a Christmas tree during the holiday season, and
it's it's heartbreaking.

Speaker 4 (56:04):
Is there a compromise to be found here where all
parties can be satisfied?

Speaker 2 (56:09):
You know?

Speaker 9 (56:09):
TJ.

Speaker 18 (56:10):
I try to look at that. At the beginning when
I found this, trying to find anything that I thought, Okay,
what is the benefit here, what's you know? I hear
from other farms that this has happened to We're talking
very little money. And so my next thing that I'm
when I'm looking at this is we're talking about if
this does come across our land, every person can go

(56:30):
to the county and say, hey, wait a minute, this
do value my property. So we're looking at less revenue
for us if people go and say, wait a minute,
this this completely changed the value of my property. I
want to be reassessed. So we're talking about losing funds
for our counties, not gaming. I do not see a
win in this. This is you know, when we're talking

(56:51):
about wins, let's talk about Virginia and how much that
county gets from those data centers, so we get the
burden and the rate increases that they get all the
games down there. I can't find any win in this,
and that's something from the beginning of this. I try
to see all sides from this, and I couldn't find it.

(57:11):
And I was very proud of the Montngary County Commissioners
for the research they did, and I trust especially Commissioners
support to look at this if there was any gain
for Montngarley County. And for them to come out and
say they oppose it, I think that's basically saying there
is no win for our residents in Montngeley County, especially
with everybody the increase from PGAM and the rates that

(57:35):
we're going to be paying to not gain anything is unfair.

Speaker 1 (57:40):
Bethan Bossio joining US sales and Marketing for quarter Pine
Tree Farms here in Montngelia County. There's a meeting tonight
up at University High School regarding the mid Atlantic Resiliency Link. Bethan,
do you feel like you're fighting an uphill battle here?
I mean, this is Next Era Energy, huge energy company.
I'm sure, an army of attorneys, lobbyist who know how

(58:01):
to work the system, know the legal ins and outs.
Do you feel like this is an uphill battle?

Speaker 18 (58:06):
Yeah, I'm I'm you know, I'm concerned because I mean,
I've learned so much in this of what's been going
on with the lobbyists from Next Era that's been down
in Charleston for I don't know how long. I you know,
I'm hopeful that maybe Governor Morsey will soon state where
he actually stands on this to protect us West Virginian's

(58:28):
been Yeah, there's a lot of things that go on
with these projects, and yes we are fighting a huge
company and I am just going to hope that the
PSC will look at this and hopefully put a stop
to this.

Speaker 4 (58:43):
Have you or an organization or anyone you're familiar with
that opposes the line, have you brought this to the
Governor's office and ask them for resolution?

Speaker 18 (58:52):
We many of us have already emailed the governor. I
have personally with our story. I know other people are.
And that's what's gonna be helped well tonight is at
the meaning there's going to be a great resource paper
that the group that's putting this leading together to kind
of guide you on what you can do. There's the
group the West Virginia Against Transmission Line.

Speaker 10 (59:11):
And Justice and Justice.

Speaker 18 (59:13):
If you look up their website wv A t l
I dot org. There's a petition there that's going to
be submitted to the PSC, and I'm sure they also
submit that to the governor. So if you are against that,
definitely sign that petition. You know, I know, a lot
of people have already started getting attorneys to line up
for the PSC to intervene. That's something that the Montagueunty

(59:35):
County Commission is also looking at that. I'm thankful that
they're doing, but there is a lot of stuff that
we all all having to do, and we do not
have the bank account that next Era does. So this
is heartbreaking for what West Virginians are currently having to
do to try to fight this project from being successful.
In going through.

Speaker 1 (59:53):
Bethan Bossio sales and marketing for quarter Pine Tree Farms
here in Montgallia County. Best of luck to you, Beth,
and well obviously be following this. Thank you guys, appreciate it.
Coming up, we'll get to your text three or four
talk three oh four. This is talk line from the
Encode Insurance Studios.

Speaker 19 (01:00:10):
Building a stronger West Virginia isn't just a dream, it's
a mission. The High Technology Foundation knows economic diversity is
the key. For over thirty years, they've been dedicated to
transforming the state's economic landscape. Conveniently located in the heart
of West Virginia, innovation, growth, opportunity all under one roof.
There's no need to look far for change. It's happening

(01:00:32):
right here at the High Technology Foundation in north central
West Virginia. Visit WVHTF dot org to learn more.

Speaker 4 (01:00:41):
We are there for you to care for you at
the Health Plan.

Speaker 6 (01:00:46):
The health Plan is still growing, giving you a large
network of doctors, friendly and helpful customer service.

Speaker 1 (01:00:52):
For reports than plans that meet your needs.

Speaker 4 (01:00:54):
Log on to health plan dot org for more information.
We are to care for you, and.

Speaker 1 (01:01:03):
We are here here be four Talk three or four

(01:01:31):
is the text line. Tracy Nelson will join US Oil
Marketers and Grocers Association coming up. Talk to her about
the difficulties that stores could face trying to implement this
new SNAP rule that would prohibit SNAP benefits from purchasing

(01:01:52):
soda pop cope RC, et cetera, et cetera. Three or
four Talk three or four is the text line eight
hundred and seven sixty five in one hundred and seven
to sixty five A two five five. I'll let you
answer this question. TJ text wants to know why can't
they bury the transmission lines. I wouldn't want to hear
that hum all day in and out.

Speaker 4 (01:02:12):
You can simple answer there without knowing the logistics of
this project. It always comes down to cost and how
much more would fall onto rate payers. I will say,
originally the way this was build to me, I thought
this was going to be a merchant line. It's not.
It's a PGM resiliency line. PGM called for it for
the visility.

Speaker 1 (01:02:30):
Can explain the difference.

Speaker 4 (01:02:31):
Yeah, a merchant line in simplest form would be, Hey,
I want to take power from A to B exclusively
for the use of a data center in this context.
And that's the way that I first came to understand this.
But that's on what's going on. PJAM says there's a
reliability and resilience in need on the grid. They've bid
this out. Next ERA won the bid and they'll construct

(01:02:53):
it now. The way the cost allocation works, Dave, it
would be spread across all what is it now, twelve
or thirteen states I don't have in front of me,
PJAM serves, so ratepayers in all those states would pay
some kind of allocated And there's always arguments about transmission
cost allocation. We're going to get way down in the weeds.
I don't want to do that, but it would be
spread amongst everyone, and the PSC is the entity that

(01:03:18):
says where the line canner can't go right, so they
cite it. Firk regulates the pricing on it. It will
be very interesting to see what next Era does with this.
And we've invited on the show. I think they're going
to be here Thursday, by the way, because right now,
the way I understand it, they've tossed out a bunch
of potentials, those purple lines that Beth Amm was talking about.

(01:03:42):
And I would think, you know, look, no one really
wants this to go to a PSC decision. That's not
a company's goal. In my experience, you try to work
something out, You try to find a middle ground. So
if there is some kind of alternative route that doesn't
affect people like Beth in their business. I mean that's
her business, right, it's at that point, it's her livelihood.

(01:04:03):
So I get it. And you know, according to her,
the money wouldn't justify what they would lose. I didn't
hear that, right, I didn't hear saying she was being
offered something that would offset the loss in business that
they might incur, right, And I don't know what offers
are out there. I'm not privy to any of that,
but I would I would think you would try to

(01:04:23):
work something out in a route that everyone can live with.
And I don't know, maybe you can't find that in
that neck of the woods. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (01:04:31):
There's a bigger question, and it's not next to Air's fault.
There was a project that company bid on it. The
bigger question to me is why does a data center
in Virginia need power transmitted all the way from Green County, Pennsylvania.
What's the bigger part of this picture that I'm missing
that you need a power plant I assume power plant

(01:04:52):
in Green County, Pennsylvania to make power in Frederick County, Virginia.
That you have to build this line that crosses all
these West Virginia county and all of these local residents
who are going to be directly impacted see no benefit
to it.

Speaker 4 (01:05:04):
Yeah, and that's a great question for next era. But
what I will tell you is the grid is integrated, right,
So if you live next to a like every day
I drive past the John Amos plant, right and they're
on and making power. That doesn't mean the power in
my home is directly coming from the John Namas plant.
Everything is integrated on the grid. So if there are
reliability challenges at some point in Virginia. And again I

(01:05:27):
have not talked to PGM. I have not studied this
in detail before someone calls angry, so I don't know
enough about it. But if there is a reliability need
and they see issues in Virginia, how do you solve that?
And one of the ways they're saying you solve this
is to connect that load to certain power plants where

(01:05:49):
they see that there is potentially excess generation that can
be put steadily on the grid and everything will flow
from a reliability standpoint. And that's why everybody pays for it.
That's why all thirteen states pay for it, and not
just a single state that it runs through now not
having any off takers through West Virginia right. Some would

(01:06:09):
argue some that you could use that line one day
to spur economic development. Think like a new core. One
of the things that is attractive to a big operation
like a new core is to be able to take
transmission level service so that you don't have to go
through the local utility. Necessarily, it's cheaper to be able
to take it off the transmission grid. I am simplifying

(01:06:32):
something that is very, very complex and has a lot
of rules, That's what people would argue. But if you're
someone like Bethanne, who I think is very reasonable in
her approach, I mean, she didn't come on here throwing stones, right,
she has been very reasonable in the conversations I've had
with her. That doesn't help her business, that doesn't protect
her land and her livelihood. So finding the sweet spot

(01:06:55):
in this, I think is going to be very very tricky,
and you may or may not find it, and you
may find a path forward everybody can agree on, or
you may end up in.

Speaker 1 (01:07:04):
Court three or four. Talk three or four is the
text line eight one hundred and seven six' FIVE a
two five. Five that's the phone number qu Talk Snap
benefits coming up in just a. Moment, Yesterday Governor morrissey
was In, WASHINGTON D. C With ROBERT. F, Kennedy, junior
The health And Human Services, secretary as they announced the
approval Of West virginia's waiver. Request THE usda approving that waiver,

(01:07:27):
request which will Prohibits Snap benefits from covering soda. Pop
so pick your favorite sugary. Drink we still have a
true definition of exactly what that will. Cover but you
know coke, pop, uh you know off brands as WELL
rc and, YES i am AN rc fan that is coming.
Up we'll talk to. Him because there's a couple of angles. Here,

(01:07:48):
AGAIN i told you had divergent thoughts on the. Matter
as a practical. Matter number, one there's the practical matter
of how what systems have to be in, place how
do you monitor those? Things you? Know and what's the
associate cost going to be for your average? Grosser you,
know there's the big, guys there's the little. Guys everybody
in between is going to have to deal with that
on some. Level there's also more of A i guess philosophical,

(01:08:11):
angle and my mind goes in about three different. Directions
when we get, there we'll talk about all that coming
up in the second half of this. Hour more of
your text three or four talk three or. Four that's
the text line eight hundred and seven to sixty five eight
two five five eight hundred seven sixty five TA. Lk
those are the ways you can get in touch with this.
Program looking for a peace of mind when it comes

(01:08:34):
to your business. Technology citty nets managed services keep your system,
secure updated and running smoothly so you can focus on
what matters. Most citty net connects protects and. Perfects learn
more at citty net dot. Net Tracy nelson going to
join us next From. Omega we'll talk about those logistical
issues when it comes to Monitoring snap benefits your texts as.

(01:08:55):
Well this is talk line from The Incovia Insurance studios
On Metro, news The voice Of West. Virginia it is eleven.
Thirty let's get a news. Update check in with The
Metro news radio. Network find out what's happening across the
great state Of West. Virginia West Virginia Metroity. News I'm Chris.

Speaker 20 (01:09:11):
Laurence a Former logan business owner who admitted to receiving
and possessing pictures of underage girls considered child, pornography will
spend five years in. Prison Michael klein was sentenced One
monday in The Logan County Circuit court after pleading guilty
to the, charges but said additional allegations against him are
patently false and he did nothing else, wrong despite community
sentiment built against him on social.

Speaker 11 (01:09:32):
MEDIA i feel that this case is constantly being viewed
and judged on the wild, speculation outright, lies and strange
obsession that the local public has been allowed to propagate
without challenge.

Speaker 20 (01:09:43):
Now after the, sentencing which included a pair of sentences
to be, served consecutive Prosecutor David wandling said client had
never accepted responsibility for.

Speaker 6 (01:09:51):
Wrongdoing his attitude was WHAT i called.

Speaker 21 (01:09:53):
Flippant he was defiant from beginning to the. End AS
i said during my statements from the outset, here he blamed.
Everyone he's filed documents which are in the record where
he personally blames, me and Mister happer wants to say
that he's just doing his job and creating the. DEFENSE i.
Disagree he's blamed social, media he blamed you, know he's
blamed The.

Speaker 20 (01:10:12):
Judge climb owned The Hot cup coffee shop In. Logan
officials with the electric school bus Maker Green Power motors
say they believe they have a chance to get the
company back on solid financial. Footing they had an earnings
call On monday evening and reported in nearly twenty million
dollars in revenue in the past, year but also an
operational loss of eighteen point six. Million you're listening To

(01:10:34):
Metro news The boys Of West.

Speaker 15 (01:10:36):
Virginia let no one ever Say President trump isn't a
friend of cold posting recently on his truth social, account
The president, said AND i, quote after years of being
held captive by environmental, extremists, lunatics, radicals and, thugs allowing other,
countries in Particular, china to gain tremendous economic advantage over

(01:10:57):
us by opening up hundreds of coal fired power, PLANTS
i am authorizing my administration to immediately begin producing energy with,
beautiful clean.

Speaker 6 (01:11:05):
Coal.

Speaker 15 (01:11:06):
Unquote President, trump his energy, team and THE epa are
doing everything imaginable to increase the use of coal to
provide reliable and cost effective. Electricity West virginia's leaders must follow.
Suit it's time we change the policies keeping coal from
reaching its, potential and let's follow The president's lead and
maximizing this once in a lifetime opportunity to unleash our

(01:11:29):
coal resources for the betterment of All West. VIRGINIAS a
message from The friends Of.

Speaker 20 (01:11:34):
Coal there are a number of community gatherings planned for
this evening Across West virginia and celebration Of National Night.
Out that's an annual event and a way for local
community residents to come out and get to know one,
another and at the same time that they're meeting neighbors
meet with their local police officers the idea of developing
a relationship and trust between authorities and their local community they.

(01:11:57):
Serve there are a number of such gatherings plan in
all areas Of West. Virginia, tonight from The Metro news anchor,
Desk I'm Chris. Lawrence three or.

Speaker 1 (01:12:27):
Four talk three or four is the text. Line more
of your texts coming, up. Man i've got a. Story
i've got a story out Of denmark where a zoo
is offering to help take in unwanted. Pets, yep we'll
get to that coming up later on before the top
of the. Hour three or. Four talk three or four

(01:12:48):
is the text line at eight hundred and seven to
sixty five Talk that is the phone. Number federal officials
have Approved West virginia's waiver request prevent benefits under The
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program from being us to buy drinks
with sugar and artificial. Flavorings West virginia's waiver request was
one of six approvals announced yesterday by THE Us department Of.
Agriculture West virginia first applied for the waiver to remove

(01:13:11):
soda from eligible purchases under THE snap program while also
adding some wanting to add some hot foods considered healthy
under allowable purchases for. Recipients for more reaction this, morning
please welcome to the, Program Tracy, Nelson president of The
West Virginia Oil marketers And Grocers. Association, tracy good, Morning
thanks for joining.

Speaker 22 (01:13:31):
Us, well good, morning thanks for having.

Speaker 1 (01:13:34):
Me what kind of challenges will this present to grocery,
stores convenience, stores all the all the alike that have
to monitor these.

Speaker 22 (01:13:44):
Programs, well it is going to be a significant financial
burden for retailers because they have to update all of
their point of sale. Systems they also have to train
staff and create customer communication because there's going to be
a lot of people who don't understand the, changes and most,

(01:14:05):
likely and we'd like to think it wouldn't, happen but
most likely we'll take it out on the people working
in these. Stores, so but it will be a financial,
burden and that could be anywhere from one thousand dollars
to you, know five thousand, dollars depending on the systems
they have and the upgrades they have to. Make, now
this will be easier for larger, retailers but for the
RETAILERS i, represent the smaller, retailers this could be a

(01:14:25):
significant burden for.

Speaker 4 (01:14:26):
Them how real is the concern at a small retailer
that is in a border, community if someone can't buy
pop with Their snap benefits at that, store that they'll
just drive across the river and not only buy the
pop but everything else across the.

Speaker 22 (01:14:42):
River this is a huge, concern and this is probably
exactly what's going to. Happen and because you, know you
can try to legislate people being healthy and all of,
that but bottom, line most people are still going to
purchase these items one way or. Another and if they
live on a, border for living a border, county they
are most likely going to cross the. Border and when

(01:15:04):
they buy the soft drinks and the things that they
aren't allowed to buy, here they will buy the other
items as. Well so you're looking at small, retailers they're
not just losing to sell a soft, drinks they're losing
the sales of all those items as.

Speaker 1 (01:15:14):
Well Tracy nelson JOINING Us president of The Western Oil
marketers And Grocers'. Association, look retailers stock what you know
their customers, want, Right that's that's basic of economics supplying to.
Ban so if you're a small grocer and you know
people people want their their soda, pop they're mountain, dew
their coke or diet, coke whatever the case may. Be

(01:15:37):
if they're not coming in to buy, it they have
to go across the. River what what ends up being
the you, know the end game.

Speaker 22 (01:15:44):
Here as far as the. Retailers where does.

Speaker 10 (01:15:50):
That leave the?

Speaker 1 (01:15:51):
Retailer, then if nobody's coming to buy the products you
have or or those sales are, slouching where does that
leave them in all of?

Speaker 22 (01:15:58):
This, well you've got this is, significantly significantly going to
hurt their. Businesses AND i truly believe, That and that
was an argument we had about, this is that these border,
retailers when people stop buying those items and buying other,
items you know their businesses are going to suffer. Greatly you,
know they will stop stocking those or stock less of

(01:16:21):
those items if they aren't being. Purchased but that's a
significant hit on their bottom.

Speaker 4 (01:16:25):
Line the governor talks about being able to use snap
benefits under a waiver to purchase more hot, foods prepared.
FOODS i guess from the, retailers two questions for. You,
One i'm not sure that that made it across the
line or. Not in this final, waiver perhaps you can
shed some light. There and then, two would it be
an opportunity for those retailers that we talk about to

(01:16:48):
diversify and offer an additional Product and would that be
a way of them becoming?

Speaker 22 (01:16:52):
Whole so, yes so that was approved in this waiver as.
Well and we can all agree that we need a
healthier population In West virginia and we're very concerned about
the sales that they're going to. Lose we are very
excited about the hot foods waiver because this has only
been allowed in the past during disaster declarations and that

(01:17:15):
kind of. Thing and our retailers offer many healthy hot
food options such as retisserie chickens and meat loafs and
pasta dishes and, vegetables and so there could be some
opportunity there for those retailers who maybe aren't doing much
of that right, now but maybe they could start providing
more of those things because there are many hot food

(01:17:35):
options that are healthy and that we feel like they
could provide that service to consumers In West. Virginia SO
i do think that it's good and. Bad we really
are worried about the financial hit that the soft drink
is going to. Take but we are excited about the
opportunity to be able to provide hot food items that
could be purchased With.

Speaker 1 (01:17:54):
Snap we'm trying To Tracy, Nelson president Of Western Oil
marketers And, Grocerssociation, tracy for these these smaller in the smaller,
stores the smaller, establishments do they have to cover the?
Cost is that just an incurrent cost when they have
to update their software, systems retrain their? Staff is? There
do they get reimbursed for that at?

Speaker 22 (01:18:14):
All, no, sir they are not going to be reimbursed at.
All in, fact that was SOMETHING i believe the governor
said yesterday that that would fall on the. Retailers he
did say it would be, minimal BUT i don't think
he truly may know what that's going to, cost because
we don't know what that's going to cost. Yet but,
no they will Not they will have to absorb that
cost That no one's going to give them any relief on.

Speaker 4 (01:18:35):
That the waivers in, PLACE i would think just because
we have the waiver doesn't mean we have to use the.
Waiver so what kind of, precursors what kind of metrics
will your organization and your members be looking at to
then come back to the, governor come back to the
legislature and, say, guys, look this is what we're. Seeing

(01:18:55):
this isn't. Working we need to reverse. Course we're taking
a hit, here and, oh by the, way we may
not be seeing any tangible benefits in terms of. Health
so how will you make that case moving?

Speaker 22 (01:19:06):
Forward, well first, off so the waiver goes into effect
On january, first and so we have a. Year our
retailers have a year to implement these. Changes SO i
honestly believe that we are going to have to ride
this out at least for a year to see what's

(01:19:27):
kind of hit our retailers are going to take with.
This and you, know and honestly you're looking at the
state Of West, virginia they're going to take a hit
on some things, too as far as tax is collected
and that kind of. Thing BUT i think we have
to play this out to see what the actual effect will,
be and then once we know, that THEN i think
possibly we could go back to the legislature and work

(01:19:48):
with them on. This but as far as right, NOW
i think it's a wait and see kind of.

Speaker 1 (01:19:54):
Approach Tracy, Nelson presidents Of Westernia Oil marketers and grocers.
Associated tracy appreciate the. Perspective thank you very much this.

Speaker 22 (01:20:02):
Morning, okay thank you you all have a great day
you as.

Speaker 1 (01:20:06):
Well coming up divergent thoughts on this, topic and a
zoo In denmark just wants to help unwanted. Pets we'll
get to that story before the top of the. Hours
talk line On Metro news from the En Cove Insurance.

Speaker 23 (01:20:17):
STUDIOS a new episode Of Live Healthy West virginia is
now posted on the podcast center of wv metronews dot
com and The Metro NEWS tv. App we talk about
life renewing treatments for the most common heart valve, disease aortic.

Speaker 5 (01:20:31):
Stenosis it is a disease that where the calcium booths
up on the valve and it doesn't deload the valve
to open up.

Speaker 23 (01:20:39):
Easily listen To Live Healthy West virginia for candid conversations
with insights for improving your health and well. Being Live
Healthy West virginia is presented BY Wvu.

Speaker 24 (01:20:47):
Medicine did you Know Marvel production Make clarksburg The Marvel
capital of The world by Acro agatet up until the
late nineteen, fifties and today those marbles are worth thousands of.

Speaker 16 (01:21:02):
Dollars, Clarksburg, Yes.

Speaker 24 (01:21:04):
Clarksburg did you know That Clarksburg's Robinson graham was the
first theater In West virginia to introduce talking pictures in
nineteen twenty?

Speaker 4 (01:21:11):
Seven, Clarksburg, Yes.

Speaker 24 (01:21:14):
Clarksburg explore more At Come home To clarksburg dot.

Speaker 2 (01:21:18):
Com Metro news Talk line is presented By Encova, insurance
encircling you with coverage to protect what you care about.

(01:21:38):
Most Visit encova dot com to learn.

Speaker 1 (01:21:41):
More three or four talk three or. Four the text
line we'll get your. Texts, oh we'll get some couple
here three or Four talk three or. FOUR i hope
all those retailers go out of. Business they got what
they voted. For to call back On maggot dufus to the,
victor go the, spoils says The. TEXTER i Thought i'd
get arrested for Buying dorito's out of the trunk Of TJ's,

(01:22:03):
car says The. Texter so the gas and oil marketers
want the taxpayers of this poor state to keep subsidizing
their business with food stamps while they live in a
million dollar mansion In Blade springs and Flat top In Raleigh.
County So i'm gonna drive several miles across state lines
using gas THAT snap doesn't pay for to keep from
having to pay cash For Dr pepper, idiotic says The.

(01:22:26):
Texter All, RIGHT i got divergent thoughts about three different directions, HERE.
Tj so bear with me when it comes to. This
one's the business side of, it AND i think bridget
or excuse, Me. Tracy Tracy nelson did a pretty good
job of illustrating that there's going to be a cost
associated with this just to implement. It there's also going
to be a cost if you're what are we two

(01:22:46):
thirds of our counties something like that are border, counties
and people have the option to go To, maryland To, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Ohio kentucky wherever to get USE snap benefits to get
those things you've got to you've got to issue. There
you've got a. Problem it's going to hit, them at
least in, theory it's going to hit. Them here's the
other part of, this. Though how much should the government

(01:23:10):
be regulating a program like? This how much should it
say what you can and cannot purchase using your supplemental
nutritional assistance? Program it's a government, program. There the government
is providing this tax payer, funding certainly it's within its
authority to say you can buy these, things not these.
Things but As tracy pointed, out we try this all

(01:23:34):
the time to. You we try to legislate, health we
try to legislate. Morality we try to legislate a lot of.
Things and people are going to do what they're going to.
Do so if you want to use your, benefits if
you want to use that assistance from the government to
purchase healthy, foods to try to purchase foods that have nutritional, value.

(01:23:55):
Great if you're going to go blow it on mountain
dews and ding, dongs WELL i guess that's how you're
going to use your. Assistance DO i think you should?
Know HAVE i rolled my? Eyes But i've stood in
the grocery line and, watched you, know two cubes of
mountain dew get paid for with snap. Benefits sure. Have
but are we just creating more of a problem or

(01:24:17):
is this just inevitably where we end. UP i don't
have answers to any of. Those it's a lot of diversion.
THOUGHTS i know.

Speaker 4 (01:24:23):
We have bigger fish to. Fry we have an economy
that is not diversified In West virginia and badly needed
to be fifty years, ago if not more than, that labor,
participation et, cetera et. Cetera this isn't where we ought
to put our prime. Focus but you ask, me, well
let me.

Speaker 1 (01:24:42):
WELL i will make the argument the other way. Though
if we're going to be to talk about healthcare costs
and we're talking about people's bad decisions that lead to
increased healthcare, costs should you be putting some eggs in that?

Speaker 4 (01:24:56):
Basket people will find a. Way AND i would say
you could bring down health health care costs quicker by
getting a higher population and having a bigger base to
pay in and cover those socialized. Costs that would move
the needle more on bringing health care down than banning
somebody's you, know so you can go buy. It you
can go buy it with your own. Money, look and
if you want people off those, PROGRAMS i get. That

(01:25:18):
say you want people off those programs and just make
it harder to get the, benefit call a spade a
spade and do what you want to. Do don't couch
it under this health. Guys And i'm not sure that
that's really not what we're doing. Here If i'm being completely,
honest that's the WAY i feel about. It you, know
if you're going to give them the, money give them the,
money give them the. Money but if you want less

(01:25:40):
people On snap and you don't want to pay the,
bill then figure out a way and make it harder
to get. It just call it what it. Is that's
Where i'm at on. It and, Frankly i'm out of
brain power on a lot of, things And i'm trying
not to put too much into this.

Speaker 1 (01:25:51):
One, well we've all been. There we've all been in
the grocery. Line, hey, Right i've been there where you
standard and, go, oh that's what you're spending you're getting that.
Assistance you've got three, kids and what you're spending your
money on is is that there's no, fruits there's no.
Vegetables there's not even fake fruits and vegetables in the.

(01:26:11):
Cart no wonder we end up with the healthcare. Cost
that's where but that's where our minds always. Wander so what,
role at what point do you need to step? In
apparently this is the point where they step. IN i
guess three or, four talk three or. Four that's the
text line eight hundred and seven to sixty. Five. Talk
that's the phone. Number more of your text AND i
am going to get to this story out Of. Denmark

(01:26:32):
have you seen the?

Speaker 4 (01:26:32):
STORY i. Haven't but if somebody out there wants a
coke and they don't have the, food they can't use
their food, stamps let me. Know i'll buy you a
coke at the communience. Store i'm that kind of.

Speaker 1 (01:26:39):
Guy contributing to the. PROBLEM. Tj. Metas according to the test,
line you are by the, Way oh, jeez, Jeez we're
back in a. Moment this is a talk line from
The Encovid insurance.

Speaker 14 (01:26:50):
Studios looking for a big new game to, Play, well
there's no game bigger than the New dino Sized Jurassic
World scratch game from The West Virginia, lottery which gives
you a chance to win up to fifty thousand. Instantly
and if that weren't, enough you can enter in our
app for a chance to win a trip To hawaii
where you could win up to one million. Dollars so

(01:27:13):
get down to your local lottery retailer today and welcome
To Jurassic. World must be eighteen year older to play play.
RESPONSIBLY a lot.

Speaker 15 (01:27:22):
Of attention has been directed towards Something President trump calls
clean beautiful. Coal that phrase often describes the clean burning
aspect Of West virginia, coal but there is another type of,
coal metallurgical, coal which is used to make the steel
our economy depends, on And West virginia has some of
the highest quality met coal in the. World West virginia

(01:27:43):
coal miners produce more met coal than any other, state
and seventy percent of all steel makers in The United
states rely On West virginia met. Coal this accounts for
two hundred billion dollars in economic impact throughout the country
and help sustain over a half billion. Jobs As president
trum reinvigorates our, economy he will need a lot of
our high quality met. Coal so The West Virginia Coal

(01:28:05):
association asks you to join with them to, recognize honor
and salute Our West virginia coal. Miners they built this
country and will play a vital role in rebuilding the
economy that will power the twenty first. CENTURY a message
from the friends of.

Speaker 1 (01:28:20):
Coal jackpots are growing In West. Virginia jackpots are on the.

(01:28:44):
Rise every, week Power ball Hits, Mondays wednesdays And. Saturdays
Mega millions lights Up tuesdays And. Fridays that's five chances
a week to get in on life changing jackpots play
in store and, online eighteen pluss of. Play please play.
Responsibly Parabol jackpott its four hundred forty nine million. Dollars
Mega Million jackpot is one hundred and fifty million. Dollars

(01:29:06):
so go ahead play, today three or four talk through
for a couple of texts. Here texas. Says people On
snap are generally On medicaid, too so if the healthcare
cost could be, Reduced i'm all for.

Speaker 4 (01:29:20):
It here's one for. You, QUICKLY i was. Googling apparently
you can Use snap On amazon and that Includes West
virginia from a Quick google. SEARCH i don't know all the.
Rules could you still go To amazon and buy your,
soda have hip to your house or does this waiver
affect that? Too?

Speaker 1 (01:29:35):
Possible, Possibly texas, SAYS i qualify For snap benefits because
of a. DISABILITY i buy, leaks, onions, romaine, Lettuce english, cucumbers, tomatoes, oranges, apples,
bananas all sorts of good stuff and enjoy it, thoroughly Says.
Gary all, right here we. Go just need to End
snap food stamps and bring back. Commodities look out for the.

(01:29:57):
TAXPAYERS i, say make the the cuts ON snap And medicaid.
Programs when you have six and seven generations deep on the,
program something is. Wrong people have learned how to abuse
the system in their. Favor this texture, Says so this
initiative will make us. Healthier so let's go a step
further by taxing the. OBEs lots of money, there and

(01:30:18):
you can start with a large one in. Charge not our.
Priority why are you talking about? It what if the
real issue isn't healthy? Lifestyle what if it's just part
of the right Wing republicans plan to control. People redistrict
congressional districts will not. Matter Donald trump can declare martial
law and suspend elections and remain in office until he.
Does OH i bet that.

Speaker 4 (01:30:39):
Dies, Sorry, Sorry i'm going to Consult Ron swanson on this.
Matter something tells me he'll understand how to fix.

Speaker 1 (01:30:46):
It let's see three or. Four talk three oh. Four
if you want people to, eat if you want people
ON snap to eat, healthy then you need to double
THEIR snap benefits because eating healthy is not. Cheap that's a.
FACT i make great money and can't afford to eat.
Healthy that is. Real that is a. Thing, uh three or?

(01:31:06):
Four talk three or. Four don't fool. Yourself people always
find a way to get, tobacco alcohol and drugs with
AN ebt. Card i'm sure they will be able to get.
Soda keep in minds that benefits are the unearned benefits
of living the socialist realm of our. Society it is
akin to the universal basic. Income, also for a benefit,

(01:31:27):
increase simply have another. Baby this is why there are
so many poor people with tons of, kids says the.

Speaker 4 (01:31:34):
TEXTURE i would like to know how we are going
to judge success with? This what are the metrics when
we look? Forward is there some kind of tangible goal
that health is improved BY? X what metric? Here what
outcome judges whether or not the view was worth the?

Speaker 1 (01:31:54):
Climb hopefully that's. Rhetorical it is rhetorical BECAUSE i can't answer.

Speaker 4 (01:32:00):
It but don't you think we should have some? Metric,
sorry let's get off. This we've talked.

Speaker 1 (01:32:04):
ENOUGH a zoo in Northern denmark ToJ is just wanting
to help unwanted. Pets it's asking pet owners to donate
their unwanted guinea, pigs, rabbits, chickens even small horses so
they can feed them to the zoo's. Predators this is FROM.
Cnn this isn't an onion, story this is. Real The

(01:32:27):
Alborg zoo wrote on A facebook post that's trying to
imitate the natural food chain of the. Animals, chickens, rabbits
guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our,
predators it wrote in a, post alongside an image of
an open, mouth sharp tooth links that way nothing goes to,
waste and we ensure natural, behavior nutrition and well being

(01:32:49):
of our, predators the zoo added now on its. Website
the zoo said the donated animals will be quote gently
euthanized by train staff before being served up as. Food
the zoo is home to canavorous predators such as the,
Lion european, links and A sumerian. Tiger the public request
has drawn lively debate. Online as you might.

Speaker 4 (01:33:11):
Imagine can you imagine That danish father coming home from
work and, saying, hey, honey take the kids down to the.
ZOO i got a few animals out. Here we'll get em.
Euthanized kids can see the predators eat them. Up it'll
be a fun time for.

Speaker 1 (01:33:24):
All you, Know fluffies lived a long a good long. Life. Kids,
jeez Take fluffy into the. Zoo the tiger's. Hungry have
they walked it back? Yet are they? Sticking getting all the,
Criticism the deputy director said in an email, statement the
initiative has been in place for years and it is
common practice In. Denmark for many years at the, zoo

(01:33:47):
we have fed our carnivores with smaller. Livestock when keeping
carnivores is, necessary to provide them with, meat preferably with fur,
bones et, cetera to give them as natural a diet as.

Speaker 4 (01:33:56):
Possible we've been talking about going To. Denmark, Actually i'll
make SURE i put that one on my. List take the.

Speaker 1 (01:34:02):
Kids it's The circle Of, LIFE. Tj So i'll explain
to you they're in the Lion king circle of.

Speaker 4 (01:34:07):
Life great, movie by the.

Speaker 1 (01:34:08):
Way all, Right Metro News middays coming up Next amanda And,
Dave hotline later and of course Sports line to round
out the. Day if you missed any of this, program
it's available for you in podcast form wherever you get
your favorite. Podcast we're back tomorrow morning ten oh. Six
until then Four SOPHIA j AND tj On. Dave this
is Talk line On metro, news the voice Of West,
virginia

All Episodes

Talkline | August 5, 2025

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Talkline | August 5, 2025