Talkline | Dec. 18, 2025

Gov. Morrisey joins the show in the second hour. Reactions to President Trump's primetime address. State Senator Mike Oliverio stops by the studio. Hoppy provides commentary. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
This is Metro News talk Line. Did you watch the
President's address last night?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Probably not, but I did.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
We will discuss plus new economic numbers coming out this
morning and Governor Morrissey will stop buying in the second hour.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
This is Metro News talk.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Line Radio Turned Off.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
Story from the studios of w v RC Media and
the Metro News Radio and Television Network. The Voice Up
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This it's Metro News talk Line with Dave Wilson and
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Speaker 1 (01:18):
Good Morning, Welcome inside the Encoba Insurance studios.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Down a Man. This WEEKDJ continues his Christmas vacation. He'll
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Speaker 1 (01:28):
Otherwise, we've got Zach Carroll Check running the video stream
if you're catching us on the Metro News television app
and Ethan Collins is our audio producer. If you're tuning
in on one of our greats radio affiliates across the
State of West Virginia eight hundred and seven sixty five
Talk eight hundred seven sixty five eight two five five.
That is the phone number. You can text the show

(01:48):
at three oh four Talk three oh four. State Senator
Mike Olaverio will join us coming up at the bottom
of the hour. Governor Morrisey at eleven oh six, and
Hoppy stops by this morning. Hoppy's got a commentary, plus
he's got a new podcast, A State of Minds, dropping
later today on the Metro News TV app. So Hop
will join us coming up in the second hour. President

(02:10):
Trump addressed the country from the Oval Office last night
in Trump terms.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Relatively short speech, about.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Eighteen to twenty minutes long. It was fast paced, very
campaign ish. If you ask my opinion for a reaction
to the president's speech and takeaways, we go to Fox
News Radio. Jared Halpern from the White House, Jared, good morning,
Good morning president. In President Trump terms, that was a
pretty short speech eighteen minutes last night, very fast paced.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
It seemed a.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
Little bit I don't want to awkward, made a little
bit odd from the president, not his usual delivery style.

Speaker 7 (02:43):
Well, it's because it's not a traditional kind of Trump speech. Right,
this was a big rally. It was at the Diplomatic
Reception Room, which is an ornate room behind a podium
here at the White House. It is a primetime network speech,
so you have to start right at nine o'clock. Generally
those types of speeches do not last very long because
you were taking up network prime time TV. That is

(03:06):
a profitable time for network television, as you know, but
it's also you know, what rises to the level of
a presidential address to the nation, right, that's at the
discretion of the president. Obviously, that is the time that
has been reserved for major announcements on war, major announcements

(03:28):
on foreign policy, major announcements on domestic policy. And sometimes
it is not quite that. And last night was more
I think the president trying to recalibrate what has been
a pretty bad slew of political polling where you have
seen now a majority of Americans expressed dissatisfaction with the

(03:52):
president's approval ratings, with the president's handling of the economy,
which of course is the number one issue. And so
this is a president and this is an administration trying
to make their case. Look, remember how things looked, how
bad things were a year ago, and you know, things
may not be great now, but they're moving in that direction.
And here's data, and here's charts, and here's grafts. To

(04:15):
make that point, it's not that dissimilar to the strategy
that was deployed by the Biden administration. If you recall
when inflation was very high, there was deep dissatisfaction with
his handling of the economy, and every day you had
the president or advisors or spokespeople coming out and trying
to explain how things were really much better than they

(04:38):
appeared to be or how they felt to be. And
that's the job of a president, right, I mean, the
economy is always going to drive presidential approval ratings. And
you're saying now that the White House try and take
a little bit more of I think an aggressive offensive
tone in the way that they are going on offense

(04:58):
I should say, not offensive, going on the offense, and
how they're trying to make that case.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Jared, it's a tough sell though. You can present all
the facts and data and charts, but if you've been
out Christmas shopping and you couldn't get as much as
you wanted for the kids, or you are cutting back,
maybe your vacation's going to be a couple days shorter
next year.

Speaker 2 (05:20):
Maybe you're not going on vacation at all. None of
that matters.

Speaker 7 (05:22):
Yeah, you're one hundred percent right. The economy is a
deeply personal experience. It's probably the way people feel government
the most, or at least their views on government the most.
Right is how much am I paying for gas? How
much am I paying for groceries? Am I bringing home
as much money as I was? Am I able? To

(05:44):
your point to say, for that family vacation, for all
of the gifts around the Christmas tree? Even President Trump
has talked about, you know, maybe only buying two or
three dollars instead of more because they'll be made in
America and they may cost a little more, but it's
better for the country. Again, that is the job of
the president. But the other challenge is levers of the

(06:09):
economy don't move at rapid speed. Right, So last night
you hear the president say eighteen trillion dollars, Well, that
eighteen trillion dollars is committed investment in the country, right,
It's not eighteen trillion dollars right now, it's not eighteen
trillion dollars. You know, in a week. It's over many,
many years, and it is in the form of, in

(06:29):
many ways, building infrastructure and building factories and building the
manufacturing supply chains, which again takes an awful lot of time.
Those aren't jobs that are created right away. Those aren't
products coming off the assembly line right away. So will
things in the inflation in the big bal have an impact, sure,

(06:51):
just like things had an impact with the Inflation Reduction Act.
But it sometimes takes a while. And most of the
tax provisions that the President talks about aren't in effect
yet they go into effect next year. How will that
be felt by voters? That will have a big impact
on how they view the economy when they go to
the polls for the midterms.

Speaker 1 (07:09):
Fox News Radios Jared Halpern joining us. There was at
least one surprise that came out of the speech last night.

Speaker 2 (07:14):
The warrior dividend.

Speaker 1 (07:17):
Trump called the payments warrior dividends on seven hundred seventy
six dollars seventeen seventy six Get it for members of
the military.

Speaker 7 (07:26):
You don't get it, he explained it.

Speaker 6 (07:29):
Yes he did.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
But that was a least of surprise. No one saw
that coming, or I had not heard any rumblings about that.

Speaker 7 (07:36):
Yeah, I mean, it's kind of a narrower approach to
what the President has talked about in what to do
with He says, you know, with all this tariff revenue
coming in, he wants to give these dividend checks. At
one point it had been to everybody they have kind
of not implemented that. Perhaps they're waiting on what happens

(07:56):
at the Supreme Court. This is a narrower approach to that.
The President says, we'll be using tariff revenue to give
more than a million members of the military, a million
active duty service members seventy six dollars bonus check. He
says that will be delivered before Christmas. There had been
some questions about who's authorizing that his Congress approved this.

(08:20):
The Pete Hagseath put out that there isn't a provision
in the big beautiful bill, in that tax bill that
kind of allows the President to use some discretionary funding
and stuff. So that certainly is going to be welcome
news for American service members, and I think it's going
to raise questions about now is more on the way

(08:40):
As the President has talked about using tariff money to
go right back to the American people and dividend checks
or bringing down the national debt.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
Were you surprised there was not really any mention, no
mention of Venezuela operations at all.

Speaker 7 (08:57):
A little only because obviously the there's a lot going
on in Venezuela. There's the blockade now, which is a
pretty extraordinary step to take. At the same time, the
number one issue across the board is the economy. That
is the issue that the president was elected on. That
is now the issue in which the president is really
a struggling with public support. So if you're going to

(09:19):
use that network time to kind of be laser focused
on the economy, you know, that's the speech to do
it on. He did talk a little bit about foreign
policy stuff with Gaza and Iran, but they were sort
of in passing and you're right, did not tip his
hand at all as to what the next steps may
be in Venezuela.

Speaker 1 (09:38):
And as far as the economy, affordability and health cost,
healthcare cost, the president shifted the blame or put the
blame on the.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
Previous administration, the buying administration and Democrats.

Speaker 7 (09:48):
But yeah, I puts it on the Obama administrator.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, Well, yeah, for the ACA altogether. But I think
again go back to the message.

Speaker 1 (09:58):
I don't know that that message lands because, cause, Jarrett,
it's been the Trump economy for a year now, folks
are yeah.

Speaker 7 (10:04):
I mean, And also Republicans are in charge of the
levers of government, and Republicans, not just this year, for
fifteen years, have been unable to pass an alternative to
the Affordable Care Act, And so now you have this
kind of cliff issue. These subsidies, these ACA tax subsidies
expire at the end of the year. There have been

(10:27):
some attempts to kind of just extend those for another year,
maybe another two years, maybe put some income caps on them.
Whatever it is that doesn't have a broad bipartisan support
certainly doesn't have the support you would need from Republicans.
And to your point, Republicans have kind of been unable
to get on the same page. You've seen Democratic Republicans

(10:49):
in the Senate put forward these kind of federal health
savings accounts. President Trump has talked about it in more
broad strokes about you know, giving money directly to the
people and they can by their own health insurance. This
is clearly going to be an issue that is going
to stay with the President, stay with the Republican Congress
next year, and we will see now as these tax

(11:11):
benefits likely expire, if that puts any new pressure on
some of these bipartisan talks that have been emerging over
the last couple of weeks.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Has there been any reaction out of the White House, Jared,
I didn't hear it in the speech last night, But
any reaction to the four Republicans signing the discharge petition
with Democrats in the House for those extended subsidies.

Speaker 7 (11:30):
No, there hasn't been. I think listen, these were four
Republicans from Pennsylvania. They are in very swingy districts. They
are concerned about re election. Even if that discharge petition
were to advance in the House, and I suppose it
would if everybody who signed a discharge petition votes for
the bill. They already voted on this proposal almost word

(11:54):
for word in the Senate last week, and it didn't
get the sixty votes that need. So that is probably
not of the silver bullet here, but it does show
that there is some political pressure on Republicans to go
across the aisle on this issue of bringing down healthcare cost.
I think The question is does that become a bigger

(12:16):
bipartisan group and something that ultimately can win the support
of enough Republicans and Democrats in Congress and more importantly,
get the support of President Trump.

Speaker 1 (12:25):
Fox News Radios Jared Halpern from Washington, DC. Jared, thank
you for the perspective and context this morning.

Speaker 7 (12:30):
Sure thing coming up.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
We'll get your thoughts at three or four.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
Talk three or four and you can give us a
call eight hundred seven to sixty five Talk eight hundred
and seven six' five eight two five.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
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Speaker 2 (15:18):
App Hoppy kirchbell join.

Speaker 1 (15:19):
Us coming up in the second hour the, show we'll
talk about his conversation With morgan O'Brien and other subjects coming,
Up So President trump's speech last, night a couple of,
thoughts and then we'll get to your. Takes three oh
Four talk three oh four is a text line. One
this is not the setting in Which trump thrives as a.
Speaker he thrives in the setting where he has an.

(15:41):
Audience because, Look trump at heart is a, performer entertainer
at some, level he thinks he's a stand up comedian
and he thrives in the audience setting where he has a,
crowd where he can play off that, energy where he
can play off that. Emotion so number, one this isn't
the type of setting or he really. Thrives he did
stay on, point or at least on topic on the

(16:04):
prompter for the most.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
Part it was only.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
Eighteen, Minutes so number, one that already the speech loses
a little something for. Me it didn't, land AND i
don't know that it rose to the need of a
prime time address by the president from The White. HOUSE
i understand why he did. That he is trying to

(16:26):
get his message. Out whether you agree with it or. Not,
again that's certainly up for. Debate we can talk about.
That but he's trying to get that message. Out and
if your message is trying to explain that the economy
is not really as bad as you think it, is
that's a losing. Message didn't work For Joe, biden it's
not going to work For republicans of The trump administration

(16:46):
because all that, matters Like Jared halpern, said is what
the economy is to, you and if you are buying
Fewer christmas, gifts if you are cutting your vacation short next,
year if you are by saying if groceries are becoming
more and more of a, burden then you don't care
what the promised investment. Is you don't care what the

(17:08):
stock market numbers. Are and for a lot Of, AMERICANS
i think that's where they are with the. Economy polling
data certainly suggests. That so from that, POINT i don't
think that. Lands and you can certainly make a case,
again whether you agree or, disagree we can talk about.
That but you can make a case that there were

(17:29):
a lot of problems to fix with the as far
as the economy goes coming off The Joe biden. Administration
you can make that. Argument but if you are making
that argument a year, IN i just think it's a losing.
ARGUMENT i think it's a losing argument for the. Administration
and As Chris dyrewall pointed out previously on this, show
you can talk about all of the successes, abroad whether
that is the ceasefire deal between In gaza with The,

(17:54):
israelis any of the foreign wars that you have been
able to, sign deals, with any of the other achievements
that he brought, up including closing the southern. Border it's
not going to. Land those things are not going to
rise to the level of how are we?

Speaker 6 (18:09):
Doing?

Speaker 1 (18:09):
Economically how AM i? Doing not we the collective, we
but it's how AM i doing when it comes to the,
economy and right, now the data definitely backs up that
The trump administration is behind the eight. Ball republicans in
general are behind the eight ball because they're in.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
Control they're in.

Speaker 1 (18:25):
Charge they're in charge Of, Congress they've been in charge
of The, house been in charge of The. Senate three
or four talk three four is the text. Line, Okay,
dave here we. Go The biden administration And congress really
mismanaged the economy in those four. Years they decided to
throw a trillion or two dollars at. It at the same,
time we had a supply, shortage an energy, shortage which

(18:47):
created a huge demand and inflation went. Wild The obamacare
subsidies should have been slowly decreased as THE covid era went.
Away jobs created at the time were mainly from government
AND covid. Money they then they decided to do it
again with The Inflation Reduction, act which added fuel to
the fire with more. Spending The trump administration is slowly
trying to turn this huge ship.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
Around in my humble, opinion texter says the president needed
to find a, coma a coma or a Comb please
clarify why the amount seventeen seventy. Six trump's sending a
message to the. Military he wants a, revolution hoping the
military will side with. Him it's a.

Speaker 1 (19:29):
Bit of a, stretch a bit of a stretch in
that analysis Concerning President trump's, speech we now know where
the Confiscated venezuelan cocaine, went says The. Texter there Before
talk three or Four. Dave listening to the president last,
Night i'm wondering what stores he's shopping. AT, i for,

(19:50):
one don't see his rosy outlook where we. SHOP i
don't see it, either to be honest with, you AND
i don't think that portion of the speech. Landed look
explaining to people that what you are seeing and experiencing
isn't really what's happening is a.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
Losing, message. Right it happens all the. Time if you
Are i'll give you an. Example if you live in
an area where there is there's.

Speaker 1 (20:20):
Trash on the, streets used needles on the walking, trail
there are homeless encampments along the, road whatever the case may.
Be and then your local leader comes back and, says
your local city council comes back, says it's not really
that much of a, prey it's not really that big
of a. Problem look look at our crime. Data look crime's.
Down there's no crime, here there's nothing going. On but

(20:40):
what you're seeing and experiencing is the. Opposite what are
you going to? Believe so if your grocery bills are,
up your health insurance premiums are, up and your salary
stayed the, same.

Speaker 6 (20:52):
What are you going to?

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Believe it's a losing.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
Message what DO i always? Say if you're, explaining you're.
Losing and right now they're. Explaining and he can blame
the bind administration all he, wants and there is some
validity to. That there is certainly validity to. That but
you're a year in, now this is your. Economy, yeah
the tariffs came up as. WELL i think he's. WRONG
i think he's wrong on the, Tariffs But i'm not

(21:18):
an economist. Either three or four talk three or? Four
is the tax line eight hundred seven to sixty five
eight two five, five that's the phone. Number we'll get
to your.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
Calls coming.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
Up Mike olaverio going to join us in Studio Montague
County State. Center we'll talk to him about his reelection
bid plus what he expects coming up in the twenty
twenty six legislative. Session eight hundred and seven to sixty
Five talk eight hundred seven sixty, five eight, two, five
five three or four talk three h. Four this is
Talk Line Metro news for forty, years the voice Of West.
Virginia it is ten thirty times to get a news.

(21:49):
Update let's check in on The Metro news radio. Network
find out what's happening across the great state Of West.

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(23:20):
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Speaker 1 (25:14):
Coming up to top of the. Hour Governor morrissey will join.
Us Happy kerchival at eleven thirty. Three let's squeeze in
a quick call here before we get to the State
Senator Mike, Oliverio jerry In.

Speaker 2 (25:24):
PoCA what's on your? Mind?

Speaker 17 (25:26):
Jerry, WELL i mean they keep talking about the economy
and they bring tariffs into it and everything, else and
it seems to me like it's not being represented as
well as it should. Be we are tariffed to death
by other, countries AND i Think trump's goal is to

(25:47):
get them to bring their tariffs down and then we
will bring ours. Down and no one seems to want
to take that angle on. It but the people out
there never. Talked there's never any talk about how much
money that we're spending on tariffs to have our products
in other. Countries and it's. Enormous and that's where the

(26:07):
attacks that from The trump. Administration and then when you
go to talking about The Affordable Care, act here's another
big issue is nothing is being done to make healthcare more.
Affordable it's just being. Subsidized wrong, approach wrong. Tactic that's

(26:28):
my whole.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
Comment Hey, jerry but BEFORE i let you, go CAN
i ask you a quick.

Speaker 1 (26:32):
Question, Sure i've said and talked about the economy is very.

Speaker 2 (26:38):
Individualized it's.

Speaker 1 (26:40):
Subjective SON i, MAN i ask, you how's the economy for?
You As jerry From, PoCA how do you view the?

Speaker 17 (26:45):
Economy my finances are a little bit tight Because i'm
more fixed, Income but at the same, time there are
things you can do to minimize the impact by what
you where you buy and such as, that and so
FAR i haven't had to break the. Bank, yes it's

(27:08):
a little bit of a, struggle but you can't fix
what it took years to screw up like The Democrat party,
has much Like West virginia when eighty years with The
democrats before they finally come to their senses and. Moved
and you can't fix it. Overnight everybody wants to fix
in the first Year trump's, Administration it's just not.

Speaker 1 (27:29):
Possible, Hey, jerry appreciate the phone, call, buddy thanks for calling.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
In Merry, Christmas Merry christmas to you. TODAY i appreciate.

Speaker 1 (27:37):
It jerry in Pokup, Uh all, Right well a guy
he's going to fix everything, overnight joins me in studio this.

Speaker 2 (27:45):
Morning let me give him the official. Introduction he is
the state senator representing the thirteenth district Of West virginia
that would be parts Of montegelia And Marion. Counties He's
Mike oliverio joins me in studio this. Morning, mike good, morning.

Speaker 6 (27:57):
Good morning to. You we MISS. Tj glad to be
here with.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
YOU i picture him some sort Like Clark griswaldian this,
week like hanging off the, spout trying to get the
lights up on the, house maybe digging a tree out
of the.

Speaker 6 (28:10):
Ground he's a good. Man he's a good.

Speaker 1 (28:12):
Man mike announced earlier this month he'll be running for
reelection next year in the thirteenth. District yesterday we talked
To John, williams The democrat who will be running for
the thirteenth district. Seat, So, mike you've been involved in public,
Service you've been involved the state legislature for four.

Speaker 2 (28:29):
Years what makes you want to go back for another four.

Speaker 6 (28:32):
Years, WELL i enjoy my. JOB i love my.

Speaker 18 (28:35):
JOB i Love West, virginia and this really provides me
a unique opportunity to serve my state and serve our,
citizens and it's something THAT i Believe i've developed a
good skill set at doing that and want to you
want to continue to do. That and as we start the,
CAMPAIGN i need to thank everybody who's helped me already
on this. Campaign we've been up and running And i'm

(28:57):
grateful for the support that we have. Already i've been
elected to The senate five times and hope to be
elected again and continue my.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Work we've got this, interesting AND i suppose it's not.

Speaker 1 (29:08):
Unique i'm sure other states have to deal with the same.
Thing we've got areas that are. Growing Eastern panhandle comes to,
mind certainly The Montengelia County Marion COUNTY i seventy nine
corridor area certainly a growing part of the. State do
we need to put more focus and investment into the
areas that are growing to lift the areas that are

(29:28):
not experiencing as much growth at this?

Speaker 18 (29:30):
Point, well today we heard from The American society Of
Civil engineers and they're telling us, that, yes we do
need to put more investment around the state in terms of.
Infrastructure and that's a credible, group you, know a reasonable.
Report i've supported infrastructure bonds in the past to do

(29:50):
that kind of. Work in my own, Community i've led
two of the biggest, efforts The Bros run And Pompino
run improvement. Projects but, yes we. Haven't we serve only
have a need to improve infrastructure and create opportunity throughout the.
State and at the same, time we need to water our.
Flowers and our flowers right now are north Central West

(30:13):
virginia and The Eastern. Panhandle and you, know we've got
some wonderful growth occurring along The Ohio, river and we
need to water those flowers and let them grow and
let them, prosper and the growth that comes from that
helps support the rest of the.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
State Mike olavario joining The sident studio this, Morning Montague County.
Senator the legislative session. Starts, oh we're less than a
month away now from the start of the twenty sixth.
Session the rumor mill consensus for whoever this is, Worth,
mike is that The senate could be a. Wildcard we
don't know where the priorities will, be what kind of
legislation may come out of The. Senate SO i guess

(30:50):
you can't speak For President Randy, smith Although i'm going to.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Ask you to what are your?

Speaker 1 (30:53):
Priorities what's going to be the priorities coming out of
The senate this year from what you've, heard.

Speaker 18 (30:57):
Well the first priority is always the. Budget you, know
it's important for your listeners to understand the state runs
on about nineteen billion dollars five billion of that the
legislature has direct control over and can appropriate as they see,
fit and typically we spend about half of that on public.
Education beyond, that everything else is in, play and we

(31:19):
have to provide the.

Speaker 6 (31:20):
Funding so there's.

Speaker 18 (31:22):
Usually a substantial wrestling match that occurs between The house
and The senate and The governor on the. Budget the
priorities for, me our public education system has to be
strong and. Vibrant we need to come IN i think
with some pay raises to help our public employees across
the state with THE pia increases that have.

Speaker 6 (31:41):
OCCURRED i chair.

Speaker 18 (31:43):
The Pensions, committee so maintaining strong pensions is always the
top priority of. Mine one of our pensions more recently
has been identified as maybe the best funded pension system In,
america our judicial retirement. System so we're going to continue
to share up up those pensions and make sure that
when grandma goes to the mailbox that pension check is

(32:04):
going to be. There so those are just a few.
Things but clearly childcare has been a priority. Mine i've
spent the last three years involved in initiatives trying to
help us create opportunities for folks to be able to
stay in the workforce or go into the workforce with
children and provide, safe quality childcare for them in a

(32:25):
way that's.

Speaker 2 (32:26):
Affordable all, right couple of. Things let's go back to
pay raises and PEI. A if the pay, Increase i'm
going to go on a limb here based off previous.
Experience if the the pay raise only covers the increase
in premiums that's coming with pe I a or the
increases we've, seen that's that's. Great that, Helps BUT i

(32:46):
don't know that folks are going to be tickled to
death about. That does it have to be? More can
the state do more than just cover the cost cost
of living and p I a increases.

Speaker 18 (32:57):
Here in the coming, year our public employees are going
to see a three percent increase IN pia, premiums so
clearly we can more than cover that with the pay. Raise,
however our public employees have faced significant premium increases over
the past few years that have not been covered with pay,
raises so we need to do something meaningful. Here we

(33:18):
also need to address sort of some of the systemic
problems WITH. Pia we need to address the spousal issue WITH.
PIA i think we need to address the eighty twenty
rule WITH, pia where the state pays eighty percent and
the employee pays twenty. Percent we need to create some
flexibility there so that when the state has some extra.
Dollars we can pour money INTO pia and not necessarily

(33:43):
trigger an increase in premiums on our employees because right
now everything has to be strict eighty twenty actual. Aials
so if the state, says, hey we want to help,
out we want to put some dollars INTO, pia you,
know if we put a few dollars, in all of a,
sudden the employees premium go. Up SO i think we
should have some flexibility there to try to. Help the

(34:04):
important thing is we need public employees to do all
of the services of. Government and it's not just school.
Teachers it's every public. Employee it's all our health and
human service, employees it's our division of highway. Folks and
with the wages that we're paying now and the over
fifty percent increase IN pi premiums that's occurred over the

(34:24):
last three, years we put a squeeze on these public
employees that they're looking elsewhere for, work and we need
them to. Stay we need to recruit others into public, service.

Speaker 1 (34:34):
And that looking elsewhere a lot of places you don't
have to look very. Far if you're in The Northern,
panhandle you can go five minutes either direction here in another,
state same. Thing we've got what thirty three border counties
where if you're a, teacher you're a you're a police,
officer whatever the case may, Be, mike you can jump
across the border and maybe double your. Salary and that
is a.

Speaker 2 (34:55):
That's a fact that we've got to deal with at some.

Speaker 18 (34:57):
Level, yeah we you, know approximately sixty percent of our
population lives in a border, county and so all of
the decisions that we, make everything from taxation to every
law that we, pass we have to be sensitive to
the fact that we have five boarders and sixty percent
of our people live in a border.

Speaker 1 (35:15):
County talking To Mike, Calaverario Montague County State center will
be running for reelection next, year getting ready also for
the upcoming legislative. Session do you want to revisit the
legislation that took student representatives at. Universities it didn't take
them off boards of, governors but took away their voting
power on boards of.

Speaker 2 (35:33):
Governors would you like to revisit that this.

Speaker 6 (35:35):
Year i'd like.

Speaker 18 (35:36):
For the students at our higher education institutions to be
able to have a vote on those institutional boards of.
Governors you, KNOW i was one of those students on
what then was called The West Virginia University board Of.
ADVISORS i noticed there are some other members of the
legislature who were student leaders on their. CAMPUSES i think
it's a wonderful training ground for young people to get,

(35:59):
involved to feel more connected to their institution and more
willing to stay in the. State it also is important
to those decisions being made by those board of governors
that they're hearing the student perspective, directly and that student's
able to vote and able to.

Speaker 6 (36:13):
Participate you.

Speaker 18 (36:14):
Know we challenged one member of The senate who was
in favor of doing away with the voting, rights and
that simply, ask you know what if you could remain
in The senate but couldn't, vote you, Know AND i
think that's the same kind of. ANALOGY i, mean these,
STUDENTS i, believe should have a right to vote on these,
matters and it's not like their vote's going to entirely

(36:34):
change the. Outcome some of these boards have twelve fifteen.
Members there's a little bit of symbolism to it that students,
matter and if we're going to attract college students from
our state and from around the, country and we're going
to ask them to. Stay we need to give them
opportunities to learn and grow and become part of the
decisions that are going to impact their.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Future you've been around politics a long, time so look
into your crystal. Ball are we going To will the
focus remain on economic, growth, jobs, childcares fixing the child welfare,
system addressing the issues there without getting without the social
woke issues for instancetead of taken all the air out

(37:16):
of the room sometimes Down charleston Because mike AS i,
look if you are a, conservative you've won all those.
BATTLE i think all those battles have been. Won are
we going to move forward and work on some of
these other issues this year to actually address some of
these Issues West virginia's seem to be talking an awful
lot about right.

Speaker 18 (37:33):
Now you, KNOW i work closely with my colleagues in
The house Of, delegates And i've got some great colleagues over,
There Joe, Statler Joe, Statlert Gino, Chiarelli dave, McCormick Phil,
Mallow Mike DeVault that that are from my, district and
those guys all participated in a press conference earlier this
month with The speaker where they outlined the priorities of

(37:54):
this upcoming legislative session are economic development initiatives and so so,
YES i think the legislature maybe got off course for
a while on some of the social. Issues and, granted
some of those social issues are very important to, people
we understand, that but we've got a responsibility to run
this state and the economic development, issues the infrastructure, issues

(38:16):
LIKE i mentioned, earlier that report that came out. Today you,
Know i'm AN, MBA i was an army. OFFICER i,
MEAN i believe in report. CARDS i think they're. HELPFUL
i wanted to see them WHEN i was a student in,
school and more, IMPORTANTLY i wanted to see them WHEN
i was a parent SO i could see which my
children needed help in which. Area and when we get
a report like that from a credible, ORGANIZATION i look

(38:39):
at that, as, hey here's something that can guide us
as to what we need to. Do you, KNOW i
believe that you can't ever manage something if you can't measure.
It so when we get when we get a report
card that says we need work in these, areas whether
it's bridges or, roads or water or, sewer we need
to address that and and my goal is That West

(39:01):
virginia continues to climb the ranks in those report. Cards
AND i believe we can Because i've seen us do
it in the area of the government That i've been
most responsible, for and that's in. Pensions we have climbed
the ranks from one of the worst pension systems in
the country to now one of the. Best and we
did that with workers' compensation WHEN i worked on those,
reforms and we did it with medical malpractice WHEN i

(39:21):
helped lead those. Reforms so we can be among the
best in the. Country West virginia's brightest days are clearly
ahead of, her and we just need to get away
from some of the distractions and stick to our knitting going.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Forward ready For? Christmas all your shopping absolutely not, well
you got a? WEEK i mean that might as well
be a, month that's.

Speaker 6 (39:43):
RIGHT i am a Great Christmas eve.

Speaker 1 (39:46):
Shopper He's Mike olaverio represents the thirteenth district in The State.
Senate we'll be running for reelection next year and of
course getting ready for the twenty sixth session which Starts january. Fourteenth,
mike we will be there.

Speaker 6 (39:59):
And we look for to seeing you in the, well.

Speaker 1 (40:01):
We'll be there just you, KNOW i think they're going
to get us a cop this year so we don't
ever have to.

Speaker 2 (40:06):
Leave, well that's so.

Speaker 6 (40:07):
Well to your.

Speaker 18 (40:08):
Listeners, uh it's great to Have dave AND tj in
the in the.

Speaker 6 (40:12):
Rotunda.

Speaker 18 (40:13):
Uh they're you, know they're they're bringing home To West
virginians the actions of the. Legislature and it's a great
opportunity for us to hop on your show for five
minutes and talk about a. Bill And uh AND i
always enjoy doing.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
That, mike appreciate you stopping by to thank. You Mike,
Olaverio West Virginia State. Senate we're back in a.

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Speaker 2 (42:23):
More some breaking news this, Morning.

Speaker 1 (42:28):
House Of delegates Member Brandon steele has submitted his. Resignation
steel represented the forty second district down in that would
Be Raleigh. County Brandon steele resigning from The house Of
delegates effective this. Morning Jeff, Jenkins i'll have a story
posted up over the website wdvmetronews dot.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
Com coming up second.

Speaker 1 (42:50):
Hour Governor morrisey going to join us at eleven oh,
Six Hopey kerchable at eleven thirty. Three let's get some
text in three oh four talk three oh. Four if
you think it's bad Under, trump just imagine how much
worse it would be Under Kamala. Harris ten dollars ten
DOLLARS a gallon for your, gas says the. Text president
needs to find a, comma says the texture not a,

(43:12):
coma a.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
Comma, yeah it was an awkward.

Speaker 1 (43:16):
Delivery very again not the setting In Once trump thrives
as a, speaker he is very much feeds off a,
Crowd he feeds off that. Energy it's very much not his,
style very, rushed felt LIKE i was getting yelled. At
not one of his best, speeches that's for, certain.

Speaker 6 (43:39):
Not for.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
Nothing but giving military folks bonuses but not all citizens
is exactly how the worst regimes and communist governments of
all time have operated to keep them loyal to that, government.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
Says The. Texter this texter says that Caller jerry is.
Right you're spot, On.

Speaker 1 (43:58):
Dave it was a, rant not a. Speech at, best
it was an angry cliff notes rehash Of Trump's haggard,
rally greatest. Gripes no, empathy no, warmth no, compassion just,
anger frustration and. Bitterness he's become a, sad angry caricature of.
Himself he wants to be the dear, leader but he's
just a loser to some. Degree chew on this because

(44:20):
we're gonna run out of time this. Hour Maybe i'll
bring this up With hoppy if you are around long.
Enough we see this with actors In. Hollywood maybe this
is in politics. Too i'll bring this up to Hop
we see, people they do become caricatures of Themselves Al,
Pacino hollywood, Example robert De, Niro Jack. Nicholson at some

(44:43):
point you become a caricature of. Yourself AND i wonder
because Of trump's entertainment. Value i'm really not FRAID i
haven't fleshed this. Out i'm fleshing this out as we.
Go maybe you're, right maybe the, texture maybe you're right,
text or he has become a caricature Of trump one point.

Speaker 2 (45:01):
Zero chew on that for a. Moment we're back after this.

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Speaker 2 (47:21):
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Speaker 4 (47:29):
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Speaker 1 (47:37):
More good, Morning welcome in second Hour Metro News talkline
from The Encovia Insurance, Studios Dave wilson with. YOU tj
is taking His christmas. Vacation he'll be back On, monday
as many of you are probably starting Your christmas.

Speaker 2 (47:54):
Vacation we'll be Live Monday.

Speaker 1 (47:56):
Tuesday we'll have Our Christmas eve show On, wednesday and
we'll be you, know Celebrating christmas On. Thursday back live
On friday with WHAT i anticipate will be a pretty
laid Back friday. Edition next. Week Hopy kirchbill joins us
bottom of the. Hour we'll talk to hop got a
number of THINGS i want to bring up With hoppy

(48:16):
coming up bottom of the. Hour more of your texts
coming up as well at eight hundred and seven or
at three or Four talk three.

Speaker 2 (48:22):
Four phone calls are welcome at three or Four talk
three or.

Speaker 1 (48:25):
Four your reactions To President trump's speech last night from
The White. House joining us now On Metro news Talk line.

Speaker 2 (48:34):
Is The governor of The Great state Of West, Virginia Governor,
Morrisey Governor Patrick, Morrissey, governor good, Morning.

Speaker 25 (48:40):
Hey good morning to, you And Merry christmas to you
and the whole. TEAM i hope things are going.

Speaker 1 (48:46):
Well Merry christmas to. YOU i saw pictures that looks
like the mansion is ready For.

Speaker 2 (48:51):
Christmas you, know the.

Speaker 25 (48:53):
Mansion is, ready and we've opened up the mansion for
some tours and we have this temporary gingerbread house that
the kids really really, like and that's been. Fun the
First lady's been doing a great. Job we've had a
lot of people volunteering to put the trees together and
the gingerbread house, together and this hopefully can be reused

(49:16):
year after. Year but we always thought that The mansion
is a place that a public should have a chance to.
See it's a beautiful, building and so we're trying to
open it up and let people enjoy some of the
many wonderful things That charleston and the capital have to.
Offer it's the people's, house it's not our. House we're

(49:36):
just simply occupying. It during this point in, time we're going.

Speaker 1 (49:41):
To get into your plans for addressing the foster care
system and some economic development as. Well but we had
some breaking news this, Morning, Governor house Of delegates Member Brandon.
Steel Delegate steel from the forty second, district submitted his
resignation to The. HOUSE i don't know if you'd seen
that news, yet but just wanted to ask your thoughts
On Delegate steel's career in the.

Speaker 25 (50:01):
Legislature you, KNOW i didn't see, that BUT i will
say That brandon has a lot of. Talent And i've
learned from my experiences and interactions With brandon that you,
know he cares a lot about the, state and CERTAINLY
i wish him the. Best i've talked to him over the,

(50:22):
years AND i know that you Know i've drawn closer
to him over the last, year AND i wish him
nothing but the. BEST i can't SAY i know what
his future, holds BUT i will say that he does
have a lot of, talent and so we can just
thank him for his, service all.

Speaker 1 (50:39):
Right this, week you announced plans to bring foster kids
who have been placed outside Of West virginia back. Home
to do, that you want to renovate state owned, buildings
open up some. Bedspace so what will be your specific
ask from the legislature to achieve that?

Speaker 25 (50:53):
Goal, absolutely, so we want to work with the legislature
to create a Home Base Initiative, Fund and that's another
way of saying that we think that if we refurbish
a lot of the existing state based facilities or other,
facilities we can start to invest in a plan that
can bring a lot of our kids back. Home right,

(51:17):
now we have over three hundred and eighty kids who
are operating out of, state and they've been sent there
because it's been deemed that we haven't had the facilities
or the staffing to be able to address the complexity
of their healthcare and mental health. Needs and it's long
past time that we change. That so we want to

(51:39):
set up a structure which allows some of the rebuilding
for some of these buildings so that we would have good,
places positive places for them to be located. In and
also we can invest in the kind of workforce infrastructure
that's going to make it easier to bring kids. Back
so if you do the math on, this if you

(52:00):
talk about say three hundred and eighty, kids and let's
say they're averaging about one hundred and sixty thousand or
so dollars a year in, cost we think we can
save money by bringing these kids home and use the
savings to continually reinvest in the fund so we rebuild more,
buildings we can have the infrastructure and support that we.

(52:23):
Need so it would require an upfront. Fund we're suggesting
about six million dollars or, so and then presumably over
time that gets to be replenished as we're seeing the
savings and the reduction of the number of kids for
out of. State But, dave let's focus on the out
of state. Piece this has been going on for seemingly.

(52:44):
Decades it's time that we end. That let's bring our kids.
Home we have to be looking out for Every West,
virginian And West virginia should take care of these kids
that are really leading very, difficult more challenging. Lives it
also separates kids from their families and their, communities which
leads to longer. Stays So i'd like to make that,

(53:06):
happen AND i believe there's going to be support within
the legislature to achieve that.

Speaker 1 (53:11):
Goal go buttor that, fund would that be used exclusively
for capital, projects renovating, buildings building new, structures or could
that be used to also address, staffing, recruiting and.

Speaker 25 (53:22):
Retention so we believe that it should primarily be used
on the capital, side but we're open minded of different
ways to make sure that the workforce is certainly available
here at. Home that's critical because that's been one of
the challenges that a lot of people have been concerned.
ABOUT i know that there have been some significant pay

(53:44):
increases that have occurred generally in recent years in this,
area but we know that there's more that needs to
be done to make sure we have the right workforce.
There So i'm committed to making it. Work and if
it's principally capital, related that's, fine but if there are
other things that are needed to make the math. Work

(54:05):
the key is when you bring them. Home if you
could save let's say twenty thousand dollars per, person and
you're feeding ten thousand back in per person and the
state saves money and you bring the kids, Home, wow
isn't that a great thing For West.

Speaker 1 (54:20):
Virginia Governor Patrick morrison's joining us here On Mention news
talk line this. Morning this, Week Mountain State spotlight published
a story the state giving back millions of federal dollars
that were intended for foster kids aimed at helping them
transition from the foster care program into. Adulthood what steps
do we need to take to make certain that we

(54:41):
are using all of the grant dollars that are available
to usk governor and they're going to their intended.

Speaker 2 (54:46):
Purpose.

Speaker 25 (54:47):
Yeah almost. Certainly one of the things that we try
to do in our administration is we carefully monitor the
monies that come in and we try to do our
best to make sure that when you apply for grant
and to, grant you. Know, interestingly one of the reasons
why we set up The West Virginia First foundation is
we know historically this is WHEN i served as The Attorney,

(55:09):
general there were a lot of programs that were not being,
spent and SO i wanted to set up a lot
of the substance abuse, function the policy, function and the
handling of the grants to these experts that now do
rightfully exist within The West Virginia First. Foundation that's good
because then you'll make sure that there aren't these situations

(55:30):
where you apply for something and then you don't ultimately spend.
It so that's always WHAT i tried to do As Attorney. General,
Obviously i'm in a new. POSITION i think that that
time period was BEFORE i arrived, here so that report
doesn't apply to The morrissey. Administration but we're always looking
at ways to have the best expertise and to make

(55:51):
sure there are people that are very proficient with grant
writing but also grant, compliance and they're monitoring things very very.
Closely so we want to make sure we take advantage
of all the. Opportunities but, LOOK i also will, say
we always want to keep looking at the, dollars the taxpayer.
Dollars we need to be good stewards of taxpayer. Dollars

(56:13):
and if there's money available and it's worthwhile for the,
public we're not afraid to spend. It but if there's
money available that is not a good use of tax payer,
money we shouldn't spend.

Speaker 1 (56:24):
It Governor morrisy joining US so mentioned his talk line last,
week you talked about the possibility of pay increases not
just for educators but for all state public.

Speaker 2 (56:34):
Employees have you looked at that.

Speaker 1 (56:38):
More deeply and have you determined what kind of a,
raise how much of a raise you're talking about when
you present the budget this.

Speaker 25 (56:44):
Year so we do believe that our state workers deserve
a pay, raise and we also want to compete better
with the states that we. TOUCH i Think. Dave when
you start to look at the kind of economic development
that we've been driving of our, office you start to
see that that backyard brawl concept is. Working over five

(57:05):
billion dollars of investment Since october and projections of over
five thousand new, jobs and it's only going to keep.
Going last legislative session set the tone because of the
data center, law the licensing, reciprocity the one stop. Shopping
it's been, very very, good but you have to keep

(57:28):
working on the. Fundamentals and what we're talking here on
the pay raise is a. Fundamental if other states are
increasing them out they're paying their, teachers we have to
try to follow suit as well and stay ahead of.
Them so, teachers school resource, staff law. Enforcement we have
to make sure we're competitive with the states that we,

(57:50):
touch so we're looking at ways we can do. That
we want to work with the legislature on the final
amount of what the increase will. Be BUT i am
committed to having a pay increase And i'm happy to
keep working with others to make it something that could
pass the. Legislature and a lot of this is because

(58:11):
the tough decisions we made when we came in looking
through the budget and making sure that we're putting the
budget in a structurally more sound. Position AND i applaud
the legislature for ultimately approving the budget that we largely
had put. Together that was very positive and excited to
work with them this year to put people.

Speaker 1 (58:32):
First, well the increase go beyond just covering the additional
cost of health insurance premiums from THE pia increases this, year.

Speaker 25 (58:41):
You, know we know that it will for this. Reason
one of the things that we. Did another big accomplishment
this year is that we were able to take the
three years in a row of double digit increases OF, pia,
Right that's what we walked, into and this, year through
a lot of the real hard work of our, team

(59:02):
we were able to make changes so that now people
are only going to see a three percent projected, increase
and that's a really big. Deal, now there's still a
lot of work to be, Done, dave as you, know
on healthcare, expenses and a lot of that's out of our,
control but OUR pia team has been very aggressive trying

(59:22):
to lower the amounts and really make the right. Decisions
so that's a three percent increase off of a much
lower base than people's. Salary, right it's just a fraction
of what you. Get so certainly if you hypothetically did
know some pay, raise it's going to be much, much
much more than anything that would be required this year

(59:46):
and make up for some of the challenges from the
time BEFORE i became.

Speaker 1 (59:50):
Governor Governor Patrick morrissey joining us here On metrode's talk. Line,
Recently HOUSE gop leaders rolled out their priorities for the
twenty six legislative, session including an initiative a similar To Jobs,
ohio but A job's initiative to provide workforce, training trying
to get people more people into the. Workforce how closely

(01:00:10):
have you been working with legislative leaders on these priorities
heading into twenty.

Speaker 26 (01:00:13):
Six, WELL i want to say that we're really appreciative
that they're focusing on a lot of the same issues
that we've been working on all.

Speaker 25 (01:00:24):
Year, RIGHT i know that in my state of the,
STATE i talked about site, selection site, remediation water sewer, broadband, roads,
bridges fundamentals that help make your economy. Stronger and you,
know we've been lightning focused on trying to bring the

(01:00:45):
right type of jobs To West. Virginia that's Why i'm
so happy about fifty five hundred jobs that we've announced Since,
october over five billion of. Investments so, LOOK i applaud
the legislature for having the initiation to talk about these,
issues And i'm excited to work with them to try
to make that. Happen workforce, participation increasing that and driving

(01:01:09):
up our standard of. Living those are top issues facing our,
state And i'm really happy to see the legislature focus on.
That i've been focused on that like a laser beam all,
year and this is important that we keep making. Progress
so anyone who wants to work with us on growing
our economy and removing barriers to, Growth i'm eager to work.

(01:01:32):
WITH i would also, Note dave that a big part
of what we've been doing is to cut red tape
and to reduce a lot of the hidden, taxes the
disguised taxes that you see through over, regulation and that's
part of the reason Why West virginia is becoming more
competitive and why you're seeing some of these announcements come,

(01:01:53):
In And, dave you're going to be seeing more announcements
just through the work through the legislature last, year WHICH
i applaud them, for and our fifty by fifty. Program
we're going to keep going and doubling, down And i'm
excited to work with the legislature on those issues and
more that we'll put our state in a good.

Speaker 1 (01:02:12):
Position Governor morrissey joining us here On Metro news talk.
Line last, month when the Voluntary National guard deployment TO
dc was extended Through december.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
Thirty, first you said.

Speaker 1 (01:02:23):
You would reevaluate that each quarter and decide if that
needed to be. Extended what has that process been like for?
You what criteria have you been using to evaluate whether
or not you will extend that In?

Speaker 2 (01:02:35):
January, well a couple.

Speaker 25 (01:02:37):
Things, FIRST i think it's important to know that all
the people that are there now are volunteering for, it
and we had actually left it up to their discretion
as to whether they wanted to remain on the mission In,
washington D. C or to come. Home so it's my
understanding we have about one hundred and sixty one hundred

(01:02:58):
and seventy, people and some people will come home between
now And, christmas and SO i don't have the exact
numbers in front of, me BUT i can tell you
that there are always people looking to rotate, back and
there's a rotation basis that occurs to some people be
coming home For. Christmas we're excited about, that and there's

(01:03:18):
some more people that may want to volunteer to go back,
in and so we accommodate. That but we've really emphasized
the volunteer nature of. This that's important because we know
these are people that are really stepping up and they're
doing a, lot and that's a dominant factor determining whether
they whether they're going to stay or.

Speaker 1 (01:03:40):
Go Former Senator Joe manchin was on this show last
week and he, said he asked that you bring them.
HOME i don't know if you heard the comments or,
not but what was your reaction to the to the
former senators comments just asking you to bring them.

Speaker 2 (01:03:55):
Home.

Speaker 25 (01:03:56):
NO i talked To Senator mansion and we, chatted AND
i think we all share the perspective that these are
some of the most amazing prepared people and they're doing incredible,
things and certainly you want to get as many people
home For christmas as you, can and that's always something
that you, share and you, KNOW i know that when

(01:04:18):
you have people that do also believe in the mission
and they want to, volunteer and some people may want
to come in to make up for some of the
folks that are coming back. HOME i think that's a good.
Mix but you, know most Certainly West virginia stepped up
a lot to help in this. PROJECT i know that
the administration is very appreciative of, that and you, know

(01:04:39):
we're always looking for ways to keep helping our guard
and holding them in very high. Esteem SO i know
that some of our kids will be coming, home AND
i think that's. Great and no timeline about you, know
how many will stay into the next. Quarter BUT i
do think that a lot of the people there they
really love that mission and they're appreciative for the opportunity to.

Speaker 1 (01:05:03):
Serve Governor Patrick. Morrissey, Governor Merry, Christmas Happy New. Year
look forward to seeing you at The State capitol here In.

Speaker 7 (01:05:10):
January, Yet, dave thank you so.

Speaker 25 (01:05:13):
Much please give my regards to everyone at the station
and we'll chat with you.

Speaker 1 (01:05:18):
Soon, Absolutely governor of the Great state Of West, Virginia Patrick,
morrissey got to take a break back at the. Moment
this is talk line from The Cove Insurance.

Speaker 21 (01:05:25):
Studios for over thirty, Years High Technology foundation has been
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Diversification by fostering innovation and supporting tech, initiatives we pave
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to tech driven, Solutions we're transforming the. Landscape join us

(01:05:46):
in creating opportunities and driving. Progress let's build a diverse economy.
Together VISIT wvhtf dot Org High Technology Foundation Shaping West virginia's.

Speaker 27 (01:05:57):
Future we're expanding our ultra fast fiber network Across West,
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Day with plans up to ten, gig you'll enjoy unbeatable
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(01:06:18):
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On check availability today at citynet dot, net city net
connects per texts and.

Speaker 1 (01:06:27):
Perfects three of four talk three or four is the
text line eight hundred and seven to sixty, five eight to,

(01:06:49):
two five to five.

Speaker 2 (01:06:50):
The phone number some news this.

Speaker 1 (01:06:53):
Morning AS i mentioned there in the previous segment with The,
Governor Delegate Brandon, steele representing the forty second district down
In county has submitted his resignation from The house Of.

Speaker 2 (01:07:04):
Delegates we'll have a. STORY i think we have a
story posted this morning at Wv metro news dot. Com,
also this is. Interesting more on this tomorrow on the.

Speaker 1 (01:07:12):
Program The Montingeia County Republican Executive committee has passed a
resolution urging the restoration of Open republican primaries In West.
Virginia the primary this year is going to be, closed
so Only republicans can vote in the.

Speaker 2 (01:07:30):
Primary you have to be a Registered.

Speaker 1 (01:07:32):
Republican and this breaks from at least where the party
was a couple of last, year a couple of years,
ago when it decided to close the. Primaries. Interesting more
on that. Tomorrow three or Four talk three or four
is the tax? Line eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five is the phone. Number texter, says back

(01:07:54):
in the days of, yore as a state, employee in
lieu of a pay, increase we had our insurance. Pay
that could be something to look. Into it could. BE
i just don't think it's just not going to. Happen
i'm given the cost of. HEALTHCARE i, mean there are
a lot of places that used to cover your health insurance.

(01:08:15):
Totally it just doesn't happen, anymore more likely to see pay. Increases, Hey,
dave does anyone else In West virginia this morning really
regret voting For trump And? Morrisey or is it just?
Me asks The. Texter, uh that's a. Lot it's a good,
text but it's a long, One. DAVE i deliberately did

(01:08:35):
not watch The liar In chief last. NIGHT i would
not dare to watch. Him three or Four talk three
or four is the text. Line coming up, Next Hoppy
kerchieval will join. Us he has a new podcast dropping,
tonight a new episode of his, Podcast state Of. Minds
we'll talk about, that Plus hoppy's commentary as he weighs
in on the decisions in front of The State Supreme.
Court that's all. Ahead more of your, calls text and

(01:08:57):
tweets eight hundred and seven to sixty five talk and
three or Four talk threeh. Four this is Talk line
On Metro. News Metro news for forty, years the voice
Of West. Virginia it is eleven thirty times to get
a news. Update let's check in on The Metro news radio.
Network find out what's. Happening across the great state Of West.
Virginia West Virginia.

Speaker 15 (01:09:19):
Mettronews I'm Chris lauren and say poor grade for The
West Virginia Infrastructure report.

Speaker 28 (01:09:24):
To stay received an OVERALL d plus rating on this
Year's infrastructure report card from The American society Of Civil
engineers for. Reference that's a better grade than what came
back in twenty, twenty but the nationwide grade sits at S.
C the report graded eighteen different categories like, bridges, schools,
energy water, systems and plenty of. Others no category listed
in the report got a grade better than A c,

(01:09:45):
plus and THREE d minuses were given out to the states, schools, inland,
waterways and. Stormwater West Virginia American Water company President Scott
wyman said Quotes West virginia's lagging infrastructure grades are a
clear warning sign that the state's water systems need more.
Investment West Virginia american has requested a forty six million
dollar increase from the State Public Service commission to invest

(01:10:07):
more in water. Improvements I'm Aaron, parker Wv metronews dot
com and other.

Speaker 15 (01:10:12):
News, today The Clarksburg City council spent three hours in
executive session talking about the internal investigation Of Clarksburg City
Editor tiffany Fell. Now none of the city leaders had
any comment about it after the lengthy session was. Over
the investigation began In november when The Clarksburg Firefighters union
gave her a vote of no. Confidence along with an internal,
investigation The State Ethics commission is also. Involved THE psc

(01:10:35):
has approved a pipeline replacement project For mountain Near gas
that will end up costing customers about a buck fifty
five more a. Month you're listening To metronews for forty.
Years The boys Of West virginia With.

Speaker 14 (01:10:47):
Steel batteries are included this holiday. Season give a gift
that's ready to go right out of the box for
everything from cleaning up the yard to cutting up.

Speaker 11 (01:10:57):
Firewood steel.

Speaker 14 (01:10:58):
Tools check off the wish list and knock out the
to do, list and right now buy select battery tool
sets and get a free extra. Battery visit steal usa
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From steel offered for a limited time only and participating,
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Speaker 29 (01:11:16):
HI tj medows Here Merry christmas to you and your.
Family this season is about slowing down reconnecting with family and,
friends reliving old memories and making new. Ones most of,
all we celebrate the birth of our, Savior Jesus christ
and the hope his message.

Speaker 2 (01:11:28):
Brings here's to a joyful and Blessed christmas to.

Speaker 5 (01:11:31):
All this Is Jeff jenkins At Metro. News thank you
for trusting us in twenty twenty five to give you
news and information from throughout the. State who wish you
and yours a Great christmas, season the focus on the
greatest gift of all and the happiest Of New. Years
thanks for listening to the voice Of West.

Speaker 15 (01:11:45):
VIRGINIA a federal judge is senace To Raleigh county man
three years of probation after his previous conviction for money.
Laundry sixty year Old James monroe Of daniels filed for personal,
bankruptcy but then sold his personal collection of ten thousand
rating cards online and he kept the cash instead of
reporting it as is required as part of his bankruptcy,

(01:12:07):
Proceeding monroe will be on home confinement for six. Months
as part of that sentence from The Metro news anchored,
Desk I'm Chris.

Speaker 2 (01:12:15):
Lawrence text line is three oh Four talk three oh.

Speaker 1 (01:12:52):
Four the phone number is eight hundred seven six five
talk eight hundred seven sixty five eight two five five.

Speaker 2 (01:12:59):
Couple well, Text.

Speaker 1 (01:13:00):
Dave of, course The West Virginia National guard loves the
deployment TO. Dc it's an easy deployment And guard members
get federal health benefits Via, trycare saving them money but costing.
Taxpayers specific burden state versus federal depends on the mission's
Status title, Ten title thirty Two state active, duty says
The texter three or four talk THREE o Four. DAVE

(01:13:21):
i still remember the cost of lumber and building materials Under.
BIDEN i couldn't get appliances. EITHER i Appreciate President. Trump
now more of your text in a. Moment three or
four talk three or four phones are always open at
eight hundred and seven to sixty Five talk eight hundred
seven sixty five eight two five five over at wv
metronews dot. Com this, Morning Hoppy kerchival has commentary. Posted hoppy's.

(01:13:43):
Commentary now it's up to The State Supreme court to
do the.

Speaker 2 (01:13:46):
Right thing on.

Speaker 1 (01:13:48):
Immunizations hoppy joins us this. Morning, hoppy good, Morning Merry,
christmas Hay, on thank, You.

Speaker 24 (01:13:53):
Dave good morning And Merry christmas to. You thank.

Speaker 1 (01:13:55):
You so we've been talking about vaccines school, immunizations and
this case has finally worked its way to The State
Supreme court hopping.

Speaker 24 (01:14:05):
Yeah and that's a good thing because this thing has
been argued in circuit courts and there's, confusion certainly because
there have been different decisions by different circuit court. Judges
then you had The Raleigh County Circuit court judge who
came in and said That Judge Michael, froebel who's ruling

(01:14:30):
allowed families to use a religious exemption to the. Vaccine
but The State Supreme court has placed to stay on
that and all other lower court activity while it decides the.
Case and as you guys have covered, extensively there's just
confusion and. UNCERTAINTY i, mean The State board Of education
is telling school systems to follow existing law which requires the,

(01:14:55):
immunizations but The State Health department is Following Governor morrissey's
executive order issued what almost a year ago to allow
for religious. Exemptions so what's a parent to? Do and
SO i think it's fortunate that it's finally gotten worked
its way to The State Supreme, court and The Stage
Spreme court is, said, essentially look forget all this other.

(01:15:16):
Stuff we're going to take this up and decide this,
case hopefully once and for.

Speaker 1 (01:15:21):
All that's my hope that we get an answer and
then we could move. On either we can do the
thing or we can't do the. Thing and that's been
what's been so frustrating for the last year is nobody's
able to answer the question of, well can you require
them or? Not and that's where we've been in this.

Speaker 24 (01:15:37):
Limbo, yeah and, look the argument is by the governor
others that the state's religious freedom law allows for the religious.
Exemption AND i understand that. Argument but the counter to that, is,
well wait a, Minute so you're saying you can pass
a law this wall trump can trump any other law

(01:16:01):
that exists in the. State SO i think that's going
to be the legal question that THE Spim court has
to consider is does the religious freedom lall is it
so powerful that it trumps any other has the potential
to trump any other, law including the law that requires.
Vaccinations so it'd be fascinating to see what the filings
are and what THE Spim court does in this. Case, now,

(01:16:23):
MEANTIME i heard you mention you would see the governor In,
charleston and you got the legislative session come out up
in a couple of. Weeks and the legislature certainly can
if it chooses change the wall fill out for religious
and or philosophical. Exemptions and that came out during the last,
session but it didn't. Pass but the legislature could change
the law, itself and that would also tend to settle.

Speaker 1 (01:16:46):
It you could Read hopi's commentary over at wv metro
news dot. Com did you watch the presidential speech last?

Speaker 24 (01:16:52):
NIGHT i didn't watch. IT i read about, it AND
i it WAS i don't know why that was an
address to the. NATION i, mean it was like a
campaign speech with sort of, hyperbole but also some of
the ongoing complaints that he. Has SO i don't know

(01:17:14):
what the point was exactly of the. Speech it was
just a lot of different, things some, rambling and it
didn't to. Me and Again i'm a critic Of President,
trump so let me qualify that it just was what
was the? Point what was the point of? That it

(01:17:35):
did not seem to rise to the level of other
presidential addresses when presidents asked for networks to give them
time to speak to the. NATION i want to.

Speaker 1 (01:17:46):
Pose this, question AND i haven't fully flushed this. Out
it was just something A texter brought up AND i
thought it was. Interesting Has President trump become a caricature
of himself at this?

Speaker 24 (01:17:57):
Point, well, look WHAT i think is happening is we
know the country's deeply. Divided you, know there's a, left
there's a. Right there's the pro, maga there's the anti,
maga and people dug in into those trenches on both.
Sides but there's, also of, course the. Middle i'm not
sure what the size of the middle, is but there's

(01:18:19):
still a middle out there that tends to decide close.
Elections and when you have a president saying things like
the economy's never been better and prices are coming, down
and when you have a president saying that all these
things are, wonderful but you go to the grocery store
and you see that ground beef can cost ten dollars a,

(01:18:40):
pound that you can't afford any decent cuts of, beef
that your grocery bill is up, substantially that your healthcare
costs are going up everybody gets premium. Increases then that
flies in the face of what the president is. Saying
what any president is. Saying you might, say, WOW i
hear what he, said BUT i also know WHAT i
experience on a day to day. Basis SO i think

(01:19:03):
that's the problem for the president number one and number.
Two and this happens with all, Movements, dave as you're seeing.
Splintering right when the president was re, elected everybody who
supported the, president all The mega, movement they were all
all on the same. Page but as often happens with,
movements people have different ideas of what the movement should be,

(01:19:24):
doing and then there are power, struggles individuals trying to
get an upper hand or to be the face of the,
movement and you're seeing that start to. Happen you're seeing
dissension within THE maga. Movement so it feels like it's
starting to fray at the edges some and we'll, see

(01:19:45):
AND i think the midterm elections will tell us a
lot about. That but it certainly feels like there is
some some praying that is going, on and it's no
longer the president is no longer able just to come
on and say these things and have everybody get in
lockstep behind.

Speaker 1 (01:20:01):
Him happy kurchwill joining. Us he's got a new episode
of A state Of. Minds dropping tonight on The Metro
NEWS tv App Hope you got the chance to speak
To morgan, O'Brien president AND ceo Of Hope gas here
In West. Virginia what can we expect tonight from this new.

Speaker 24 (01:20:15):
Episode, Well morgan O'Brien's an interesting. Individual he's from The pittsburgh,
area has been the natural gas, business the gas, business
all his. Life and he put together investors and they
bought what used to Be Hope. Gas And Hope gas
has been around Forever dave and has gone through a couple,
iterations bought and, sold bought and, sold name, change and

(01:20:37):
he came down, here king To West virginia From pittsburgh
area and, said, Look hope has this long. Tradition let's
bring back the idea Of Hope. Gas and so they
brought back the Name Hope. Gas and one of the
things he's done is trying to Make Hope gas a
better community. Partner sometimes we think of, you he, Says,

(01:21:00):
okay they're just delivering the gasor. Electricity but what he
is doing is really integrating this critical industry in the,
community raising its, profile getting involved in community, activities engaging the.
Workers so they feel like they're involved in their communities

(01:21:22):
and their companies doing. Something the naming rights to The
colisseum and not calling IT i thought this was interesting,
Too dave not calling it The Hope coliseum but calling
It Hope. Coliseum and the name is a slam, dunk,
right who's Against. Hope so he's a fascinating. GUY i
believe that he's share to do good and be a

(01:21:42):
good corporate. Neighbor AND i think that folks will enjoy the.
Interview by the, WAY i listened to your interview With Governor,
morrissey AND i think at least, initially he deserves props
for trying to for taking steps to try to bring
these foster children back To West. Virginia as you, Know
West virginia has so many foster children for variety of,

(01:22:02):
reasons including the drug, problem not enough places to put,
them many have to be shipped out of, state and
it's that's a, very very difficult. Situation and now he's
making this effort to bring to bring them back and
find places for them, here AND i think that's A
i think that's an excellent.

Speaker 1 (01:22:19):
Initiative do you enjoy the long form interviews from doing this?
Show for, years you're constantly checking the. Clock you, know
you got to get an, out you gotta get commercial break.
In do you enjoy the long form interview that's you
can go in depth on some of.

Speaker 24 (01:22:33):
These, Subjects, dave good, Question AND i really do because two.
Things one is that it's really, hard and you do
these interviews all the. Time it's hard to cover what
you believe is all the necessary material in a short form,
interview and and talk line look at twelve minute interviews
a long. Interviews yeah, right so it's hard to cover.

(01:22:56):
Everything number one and number two is that if you
listen closely to somebody's, answer the answer quite often triggers
another question and you can go deeper into the subject.
Matter SO i do really enjoy the long form, interview
a chance to sit down and go into greater. Details
so these interviews, last you, know thirty to forty, minutes
and so for me it's a it's a different it's

(01:23:20):
different than it was on talk, line and a chance
to dig a little deeper into some of these. Subjects
as some of these individuals somebody's fascinating, individuals which is
why we call it state of. Minds SO i hope
people get a chance to enjoy. It we've got more.
Coming tony's going to sit down With Jeff hosta OR
i think very. Soon so we think this is a
new and different offering On Metro news and the new
one drops tonight On Metro News.

Speaker 2 (01:23:40):
Television new episode Of state Of minds seven.

Speaker 1 (01:23:44):
Tonight that episode will drop on The Metro NEWS tv
app and of course you can download the app for your, iPhone,
android your, tablets SMART, tv, rokup FIRE, tv any of those.
Devices you can download the app 'or go TO Wv
metro newstv dot. Com hoppies commentaries AT wv metro News
news dot. Com hop we don't get a chance to talk.
Again Merry, Christmas Happy New, year all the, above and

(01:24:05):
uh we'll see you around the.

Speaker 2 (01:24:06):
Holidays, yeah thank, you my.

Speaker 24 (01:24:08):
Friend Merry christmas to you and to all the. Listeners
maybe we'll get a chance to talk next. WEEK i
would have loved it all.

Speaker 1 (01:24:13):
Right happy kirchwill hop thank you very, much, Buddy thanks,
Thal Happy krichville. Again commentary ww Metro news dot com
in a new episode of A state Of minds at
The Metro NEWS tv app later. Tonight your text are
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Speaker 23 (01:24:48):
Studios coal based generation remains the backbone Of West virginia's energy,
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our coal plants are engineered performance designed to run most
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level of operation is not. Arbitrary it's based on sound engineering,

(01:25:09):
principles scientific, analysis and has been formally adopted by The
West Virginia legislature as a reasonable target for optimal. Performance
when our coal fleet operates near that, benchmark it provides
stable power to the, grid maintains cost, efficiency and supports
thousands of good paying jobs across our. State coal generation
also drives local tax revenue that sustain, schools, infrastructure and community.

(01:25:33):
Services working in partnership with state leaders and The trump,
administration we're ensuring that our coal fleet remains, modern, efficient
and ready to Power West virginia and beyond for decades to.
Come this message brought to you by The West Virginia
Coal association And friends Of.

Speaker 9 (01:25:48):
Coal tens of thousands of hard Working West virginians earn
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And taro's investments are boosting our local workforce in small.
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Support West virginia workers Producing West virginia.

Speaker 6 (01:26:10):
Energy but The.

Speaker 9 (01:26:10):
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Speaker 20 (01:26:18):
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Speaker 30 (01:26:46):
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Speaker 4 (01:27:05):
Most visit incova dot com to learn.

Speaker 1 (01:27:08):
More text lines Wide open three or Four talk three
oh Four dave listening to you and hoppy WITH tds
trying to fall in line and be good.

Speaker 2 (01:27:16):
LIBERALS i feel Like i'm listening to a rerun OF.

Speaker 1 (01:27:19):
Cnn the government gives some parents too many chances to
keep children they have abused or. NEGLECTED i know several
young couples who would foster and, adopt but it's too
heartbreaking to foster and love a child only to see
them go back to bad environments multiple. TIMES a lot
of people have children but have no business being. PARENTS

(01:27:40):
i know of a family wanting to. Adopt rather than
child going to a good, family they were put into
foster care in case the mom got herself in better.
Shape she had already had two children forcibly removed and
lost custody because of. ABUSE a third will now go
through the foster care system and to a parent who
will most likely abuse, them says The texter.

Speaker 2 (01:27:59):
Text Line, Dave it's all.

Speaker 1 (01:28:00):
Aging President trump has probably passed his, prime but he's
still being very effective and not intimidated by getting in
front of reporters or cameras to keep the public in
tune to his. Message as we, age we all need
a little grace from one, another even if we don't deserve.
It that's why it's called grace three or four talk three.

(01:28:21):
Four how can you force my child to take vaccines
and not force the staff and all the visitors of
that school to be. Vaccinated it's An american to force
people to vaccinate kids for mandated school. Attendance homeschool isn't
an option for. Everyone you cannot say vaccines don't harm
or kill kids when we, know even if it's, rare
some kids are harmed and. Died tell that to a

(01:28:42):
parent who doesn't have their kids. Anymore trump is a
noisy egomaniac who is hard to listen. To, However harris
is equally hard to listen. TO i guess those folks
For harris would be satisfied with another open border. Fiasco
anyone watch her On kimmel the other.

Speaker 2 (01:28:58):
Night rough says The.

Speaker 1 (01:29:01):
Texter R O U G h says The, Texter say
what you want About, trump But, MAN i sleep better
at nights.

Speaker 2 (01:29:10):
Three or.

Speaker 1 (01:29:10):
Four talk three oh, Four, DAVE i Agree President trump
ranted at us last. Night he did not talk with
us three or. Four talk three or four is the text. Line,
again my take on the speech last, NIGHT i didn't
think it was necessary number one FOR u network coverage
primetime at. Night so that, was first of, all very

(01:29:33):
campaign style. Speech he highlighted what he thought were his,
accomplishments and some of those are legitimate. Accomplishments shutting down
the border is a legitimate. Accomplishment negotiating the ceasefire in
Uh gaza that's an. Accomplishment taking out The iranian nuclear,
program that's an. Accomplishment but those are not at the,

(01:29:56):
forefront and that is those are not going to be
top of mind prime porities during the midterm elections and
the economy right. Now and say what you want to.
Know the market's up, today inflation's, down market's. Up but
if you are going to the grocery store, again it
is all. Subjective if you're going to the grocery, store
you're paying more than you were for eggs and ground

(01:30:17):
beef and chicken and whatever the case may. Be you
can be presented with all the data of whether it's
factual or made up that you can, get and it's
not going to. Matter And President trump has been in
office for a. Year he owns the. Economy now whether
or not he inherited a mess is. IRRELEVANT i think
to most, people.

Speaker 2 (01:30:40):
Three or four talk three or four is the text.

Speaker 1 (01:30:41):
Line all, right take a, break final, break last call for,
text last call for phone. Calls we'll wrap things up
to you what to expect. Tomorrow this is talk line
From Ning Code Insurance studios.

Speaker 25 (01:30:54):
To.

Speaker 27 (01:30:54):
Care you at the, head are you.

Speaker 21 (01:31:01):
From all of us here at The Health.

Speaker 22 (01:31:02):
Plan we want to make your season, bright whether you're
wrapping gifts or planning next year's, Goals we're here for.
You happy holidays and Merry christmas from our family to yours.

Speaker 11 (01:31:17):
Here hospitals Drive West virginia's. Economy they produce jobs and
create opportunities while keeping our communities. Healthy employing nearly fifty
four thousand, People West virginia hospitals rank among our state's
largest and most dependable. Employers they provide more than one
billion dollars in community benefits and generate nearly seventeen billion
dollars in total economic impact each. Year hospitals are investing wear,

(01:31:41):
accounts advancing, health ensuring access to, care and Powering West
virginia's economic.

Speaker 23 (01:31:46):
FUTURE a message from The West Virginia Hospital association online
A wvja dot.

Speaker 1 (01:31:51):
Org texter, Says, dave please refrain from Seeing republicans Control.

(01:32:12):
Congress they. Don't republicans have a majority in both, houses
but neither party controls with a simple. Majority reference the
recent forty two days shutdown hashtag cloture vote and into
the filibuster. Debate common people think in common, terms but
congressional rules or anything but common for the. Most for,
most the question is should they Be Uh, TEXTER i

(01:32:33):
will do. BETTER i will try to do. Better republicans
have the majority in both.

Speaker 2 (01:32:38):
Houses uh three or? Four talk three or?

Speaker 1 (01:32:42):
Four, hey glad to hear the show again here In
Mercer county on ninety seven point. Three, yeah the economy
is turning around and pretty great for me and the.
FOLKS i know that goes without saying folks need to
be smart about what they are buying because things like new, automobiles,
homes and beef markets are still very. HIGH i also
need to add that my family and friends not good.

(01:33:03):
Consumers we are more of a needs based spender and
try to save or invest twenty percent toward our retirement every. Paycheck,
also we don't necessarily pay much attention to marketing or
what is HoTT at the moment three or Four talk
three oh. Four when talking about The biden, economy it
must be remembered and taken into account that the pandemic

(01:33:24):
greatly affected, everything especially the. Economy at the end of
The biden, term the economy was very, strong even as
the country in the even as every country in the
world was. Recovering uh three or Four talk three or.
FOUR i watched a, mean angry president telling lies for
fifteen minutes last. Night the band's a pathological. Liar when

(01:33:46):
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(01:34:08):
powerball and jackpot is one and a half billion. Dollars
mega millions is ninety, million so go ahead play. Today
Chris stirewalt scheduled to stop by for tomorrow's, program and
we will have our Last steam release Before. Christmas that's
coming up of, course at eleven thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:34:25):
Three big thanks To Zach.

Speaker 1 (01:34:27):
Carroll check our video Producer Ethan collins working the phones
today for the Entire Metro news. Crew I'm Dave. Wilson
have a great. Day we'll talk to you Tomorrow toeno.
Six this is Talk line On Metro news for forty,
years the voice Of West.

Speaker 2 (01:34:40):
Virginia