Talkline| July 31, 2025

Talking Trump Tariffs with WVU Economist John Deskins. New Marshall AD Gerald Harrison joins the show in the second hour. Hoppy recaps his bike trip to Iowa. And Dave clears up a controversy on Metronews Midday. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning, We're gonna talk Trump, Tariff's new A D A. Marshall,
Gerald Harrison will stop by, and Hobby biked uphill both ways,
or at least he says that it's Metro News talk Line.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
We're underway radio turned off.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
From the studios of w v r C Media and
the Metro News Radio and Television Network. The Voice up
West Virginia comes the most powerful show in West Virginia.
This it's Metro News Talk Live with Dave Wilson and
TJ Meadows at.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Switch Where can we.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Hold from Charles stand by to David DJ.

Speaker 4 (01:00):
You're on.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Metronews. Talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling you
with coverage to protect what you care about most. Visit
incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Good morning, Welcome inside the Encova Insurance studios. Dave and
TJ with you. Jakelink handling the video stream. Force. Ethan
Collins is our audio producer. You can be part of
the show and we welcome you to do that at
eight hundred seven sixty five Talk eight hundred seven six
five eight two five five. That is the phone number
you can always text us at three oh four Talk

(01:36):
three oh four We're going to get into tariffs and
President Trump's economic policy in just a moment. A little
bit later on in the program. Could could West Virginia
slip back into a judicial hellhole? We'll talk about that
a little bit later this hour. Gerald Harrison new Marshall
ad will join us at eleven oh six, and TJ.

(01:57):
Hoppy claims he had bike uphill both during his adventure
out in Iowa. We'll get the details and whether or
not he went full on Lance Armstrong biker shorts while
he was on his adventure out there.

Speaker 5 (02:12):
I heard there are photos somewhere by the way. I
don't know if that's true or not, but I hear
we may have photos to go along with that.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
So are we permitted to, you know, put that on
the video stream or is that going to get us
in trouble with the FCC.

Speaker 5 (02:24):
I don't know. That's a good question. Hey, can I
do something very quickly? Well, just because it bothers me
and I'm nothing if not human, I need to eat
some crow. I messed up yesterday. I in talking with
Tom Bloom on the interview about that transmission line that's
being built up in north central West Virginia. We talked
about it in the context of being a merchant line,

(02:44):
which was my understanding. It was a listener called me
out on that sent me something on Twitter. I did
some checking this morning, and I need to eat crow.
It is not a merchant transmission line. It's being built
at the direction of PJAM, which makes it a fully
regulated utility line. Next Era is the company that's building it.
There would be great impacts on it. Those would be
spread across thirteen states because thirteen states are in PGAM

(03:07):
and it's a reliability project. But I did want to
make that correction. I did want to eat crow. And
I'll go step further. I'll try to get somebody from
next Era on to get their side of it and
better understand it. But I did want to apologize for
my slip up.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
There, and real quickly we'll get to John Deskins explain
the difference between the merchant line and this and the
PGAM line. Explain the difference. Yeah, So a PJAM.

Speaker 5 (03:28):
Line is built for the overall in the simplest term,
is built for the overall resiliency and reliability of the grid.
There are needs on the grid and you need to
meet that generation demand and an additional transmission line is
needed to preserve the overall integrity of the grid. That's
it in a nutshell, whereas a merchant line is built

(03:48):
and that capacity is privately sold on that line to
individuals and end users of that energy. So in this instance,
it's not that the line is being created to get
power from A to B exclusively and you have off
takers that are buying that capacity. In this instance, PJM

(04:09):
is saying that there is a reliability need that comes
with this line, and they have directed it to be built,
and therefore they have put out the bid for that
line to be built in the territory and next Sterra
is the company that was awarded the bid. We will
there is mud I know.

Speaker 1 (04:25):
We will continue to follow that story as it works
its way through the process there. Earlier this week, Gerard
Baker wrote a piece in The Wall Street Journal looking
back at the last several months of the coverage and
the analysis of tariffs and tariff policy and the impacts
they have had or could have on the economy. He
writes in the Wall Street Journal, even as the US

(04:47):
has been transformed in just six months into a high
tariff economy, there is scant sign of the economic disaster
we were promised. He goes on to say, there are
three possible reasons why. First, it's too early. Maybe the
economy's just big enough to shrug off the protectionism policies.
And third maybe conventional wisdom, wisdom got it wrong. You

(05:09):
can read the rest of the article for yourself. But
that started my brain churning, which is always a dangerous
area to go into. So we bring into the program
to discuss the economist WU Bureau of Business and Economic
Researchers John Deskins. He joins us on Metro News talk line. John,
good morning, Hey Dave.

Speaker 6 (05:28):
Hey TJ.

Speaker 7 (05:29):
Good morning.

Speaker 6 (05:29):
Happy to be on.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Glad you could come on now. Since that article was published,
we've got some new numbers on the economy. It grew
faster than expected in the first quarter or in the
last quarter, three percent pace. But the Federal Reserve yesterday
opted to hold interest rates right where they are, much
to the chagrin of the White House. So John, broadly,
what do you make of all this over the last
couple of months.

Speaker 6 (05:52):
Okay, we are still in a period of high uncertainty.
You know, we don't have any resolution, Still a lot
of uncertainty let's keep that in mind. And second, in April,
when economists were making these doomsday predictions, we were worried
about very broad and very aggressive tariffs because we didn't
know what was coming from the Trump administration. But we

(06:12):
were worried about very aggressive tariffs. But now it seems
like fifteen percent or somewhere between ten and twenty percent
tariffs is going to be the norm coming from Trump,
and that's not nearly as scary as we were thinking
back in April. So keep that in mind. But the
GDP report yesterday was very interesting. A lot of times

(06:34):
these GDP reports are pretty mundane, not that exciting, but
the one yesterday was very unusual and very interesting. So
here's what's happening with GDP. We did see growth in
the second quarter, and it was good growth of three
percent growth. But the evidence is really clear that businesses
in America stockpiled imported items pretty aggressively back in the

(06:54):
first quarter, and in the second quarter we.

Speaker 4 (06:59):
Used up that stuff.

Speaker 6 (07:00):
Those stockpiles import Listen to this. For the GDP report yesterday,
imports fell by thirty percent. That's very unusual, very unusual
to see US thirty percent drop in imports but it's
all because we stockpiled those imported goods. We drew down
the stockpiles in the second quarter, and imports has a
negative effect on GDP, So because we weren't importing nearly

(07:23):
as much, that's a big reason why why the GDP
number yesterday looked good as far as the headline number goes.
But we're still in this wait and see mode. We're
still waiting to see what happens to inflation over the
next few months. Inflation is still closer to three percent
than it is two percent, then we want it to
be a steady two percent. Investment domestic investment was down

(07:45):
yesterday in the GDP report, So we're still waiting to
see what happens to numbers over the next few months.
And we're still waiting to get kind of final certainty
around tariffs. So things definitely aren't as bad as we saw,
though we are seeing signals and we're still uncertain and
still wait and see. That's kind of summary.

Speaker 5 (08:05):
So, John, you talked about that importing and we rushed
to import a lot of goods before the tariffs would
kick in. You talked about the fact that we've used
that to some degree. What happens when we've run out
of those imports, who's going to make them domestically? Do
we have that option or then that's what you're saying,
then the tariffs will really kick in.

Speaker 6 (08:23):
Well, that's when we're worried about inflation, right, because so far,
for these two quarters of data, especially for the second quarter,
we've been able to kind of skirt the price effects
associated with the tariffs because we imported before the tariffs
kicked in. But now that we're running through that stockpile,
the prize effects may start to become more apparent in

(08:43):
the coming months. That's what I'm talking about when we're
saying wait and see, And that's what I'm talking about
when we're saying we have to really look at the
inflation report because as centers those stockpiles are gone, then
we're going to see the effect of these fifteen percent
tariffs on imported goods. Now, we'll say imports are only
to about fifteen percent of GDP, so so much of
what we buy is not imported, So much of what

(09:05):
we spend money on is not imported. But for that
fifteen percent that does come from overseas, we're worried that
we're going to see those effects here pretty soon.

Speaker 1 (09:14):
WW Economist John Deskins joining us here on Metro News
talk Line. John, in that article I talked about from
the Wall Street Journal, he described the tariff policy as
the relief, the weird relief you feel when you think
you dropped a hundred dollars bill on the sidewalk and
you get home and you realize, oh, it was a
twenty dollars bill, not one hundred dollars bill. So when
you say so, when you find out the news, well,

(09:36):
it could be thirty five percent taris, fifty percent tarifs,
hundred percent tariffs, whatever, and then it turns out to
be fifteen percent, you go, oh, well that's not as bad.
So my question to you is the the kind of
erratic and the pace with which the policy shifted from
this and then we're gonna pose it and now it's
only going to be this. What impact do you think

(09:58):
that has had on the the investors and the economy
overall so far?

Speaker 6 (10:05):
Well, I think it's delaying investment. I mean, we did
see that investment fail in the second quarter, like I said,
and I think there's basically going to be a large
pause on investment until we get back to certainty. And
this is kind of a long standing economic principle. Nobody
likes uncertainty, savors, investors, anybody in the equation in economics

(10:26):
doesn't like uncertainty.

Speaker 7 (10:28):
So this is what I'm saying.

Speaker 6 (10:30):
We want for these negotiations that the Trump administration is
engaging in, and we want these negotiations to happen as
quickly as possible, and we want certainty across the globe
in terms of what are the tariff rates going to
finally be, what deals are we going to have, What
exemptions to the tariffs are we going to have.

Speaker 7 (10:47):
We need that.

Speaker 6 (10:47):
Certainty as soon as possible, I would say, to make
sure that people will be incentivized to start investing again.
So that's also part of what I mean when I
say we're in this weight and see mode right now.

Speaker 5 (11:00):
So Bloomberg has a really good graphic today up on
their homepage. They talk about and they plot what tariffs
were announced on Liberation Day versus the deals that have
actually been done with these countries. So, for instance, Vietnam
on liberation Day forty six percent, the deal is twenty,
Indonesia thirty two percent, the deal is nineteen. South Korea

(11:22):
twenty five, the deal is fifteen. You get the pattern here,
So maybe that sweet spot has been found. To the point,
given the money that we are taking in John, from
a macro perspective, just your opinion, what should policymakers, What
should the White House? What should Congress do with that money?

(11:43):
Should we pay down our debt or try to put
a dent in the debt? Should we give it back
to Americans? There's this idea of rebates on tariffs. Should
we give them money directly back to Americans with the
understanding that they'll likely spend it to further stimulate the economy.
Thoughts on that, Oh boy, I didn't.

Speaker 6 (12:01):
Know we were going to go in this direction, and
you're trying to get me depressed here on a Thursday morning.
The tariff revenue is not that much. I mean, the
tariff revenue. If you just look at the number, it's
significant and impressive in an absolute sense. That tariff revenue
compared to a deficit of over a billion dollars, and
that tariff revenue compared to a national debt of over

(12:22):
thirty trillion. I meant to say, the deficit was over
a trillion. The national debt is over thirty trillion. The
tariff revenue is not that much compared to the massive
debt that this country has gotten itself into. So the
notion of rebating this little bit of tariff revenue back
to the Americans, I consider that to be an absurd idea,

(12:43):
because the government is spending over one trillion dollars more
than it's bringing in in revenue this year, and we
owe people thirty trillion dollars in money that's floating around
in the form of US government bonds that are all
across the world. Of rebating that money when we have
a deficit of over a trillion, that's utterly nonsense, and

(13:08):
that wouldn't have much of an effect because the tariff
revenue is relatively small. But if we did rebate the money,
just in theory, that would drive up demand and create
even more inflationary pressures. We don't want to create more
inflationary pressures, So I would say, use the tariff revenue
to try to match expenditures as much as possible and
reduce that deficit. Because because this national debt is a

(13:31):
concern and it's.

Speaker 7 (13:33):
Getting so high.

Speaker 6 (13:34):
I remember when I was in college in the nineteen nineties,
we were worried about the national debt. What we have
now is know, what we had in the ninety ninety
is a drop in the bucket compared to what we
have now. So you know, use that money wisely, use
it to pay off that to reduce the deficit at
the very least.

Speaker 1 (13:50):
John Deskin's Online from the WU Bureau of Business and Economics.
John on the other side of the coin, on the
other side of the perspective, Why have these countries that
European Union, UK, Japan, why have they agreed to these
trade deals that seem to be at least on the
periphery one sided.

Speaker 6 (14:10):
I'm not for sure. I mean, honestly, I do not
know all the ins and outs of the trade deals
because the information is not, you know, that prominent in
the media, and they're detailed, and they vary from country
to country. But the bottom line is that these countries
need to trade with the US. The US is a
huge market, and the US has the largest economy in
the world. The US accounts for about a quarter of

(14:34):
all the economic output in the entire world, even though
we're only four or five percent of the world's population.
So these countries need to have access. You know, to
US markets, and so they're willing to take some you know,
some negatives, some disadvantages to kind of maintain access to
these markets. And that's what's comples can alone. In the
first place, he was cannon on the leverage that we

(14:55):
have in using that leverage as effectively as possible, and
so you know, that is a legitimate point surprise that
the countries would would certainly be willing to come to
the negotiating table to maintain access to our giant market.

Speaker 5 (15:08):
There is a narrative floating out there, and I think
it's guesswork. It'd be hard to prove at this point,
but it's plausible. Let me preface by saying that the
idea is that AI could be used to cut headcounts
within corporations and those that would pass along these tariffs,

(15:32):
and that is one way that the companies are quote
unquote eating the tariffs, leveraging new technologies to cut costs
internally in the business and not pass along the tariff.
Does that hold water, I'm.

Speaker 6 (15:49):
Gonna answer it bluntly. I don't think so. I think
these companies are using AI and other technological advancements to
cut costs and operate more efficiently regardless, it's not like
that they don't care about, you know, leveraging technology and
operating as efficiently as possible, absently the tariffs. But now
the tariffs are encouraging them to do this. I mean,

(16:10):
they're capitalizing, they're taking advantage of all the emerging technologies
as much as they can, no matter what. That's what
we've seen happening forever. That's what we've seen happening. Anytime
there's been a technological advancement in the world, companies take
advantage of it to operate more effectively, and that's a
good thing for business profits, that's a good thing for consumers.
It does lead to some disruption in the labor market

(16:32):
in the short term, but you know, technological advancement has
for air, for been a key dri of economic prosperity.
And that's true with tariffs or without tariff.

Speaker 5 (16:41):
So don't buy that one from the pundits when you
see somebody on CNBC spout in that line, is what
you're telling me.

Speaker 6 (16:47):
No, I mean they're implying that the companies don't care
about cutting costs. You know, but before the tariffs this
time last year, companies didn't care about cutting costs. No,
that's crazy.

Speaker 1 (16:57):
Yeah, John loaded with about ninety seconds to answer, what
do we do with China?

Speaker 6 (17:06):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (17:07):
With China.

Speaker 6 (17:09):
I do think that we should diversify a supply chain
away from China because we don't want too much dependence
on one country that has a lot of hostility to
the US. And certainly we need to diversify our supply
of rare earths from China, There's no question about that.
We don't want them to have leverage over uts. So
you know, I'm not completely for sure what the answer is.

(17:31):
But with China, and with national security in mind, some
tariffs may be appropriate in that context. But that's a
specific context. That's a lot different than these blanket tariffs
across the world across all goods. And I will say
that the US has been diversifying from away from China.
We've over the last ten years, we've moved a lot

(17:51):
from China to Vietnam. So we've been doing that. That's
a good thing, and we should continue doing it. So
you know, there are some exceptions to these to these generals,
do we keep talking about?

Speaker 1 (18:01):
John Daskins with the WU Bureau of Business and Economic
Research always appreciate it. John, thank you for the discussion.

Speaker 6 (18:08):
Great love talking to you. Have a great day.

Speaker 1 (18:10):
Thanks Joe, got to take a break back at the moment.
This is talk line from the Encove Insurance Studios.

Speaker 8 (18:14):
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.

Speaker 9 (18:21):
We talk about life renewing treatments for the most common
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It is a disease that there the calcium booths up
on the valve and it doesn't deload the valve to
open up easily.

Speaker 8 (18:35):
Listen to Live Healthy West Virginia for candid conversations with
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West Virginia is presented by WVU Medicine.

Speaker 11 (18:46):
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Speaker 12 (19:09):
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Speaker 3 (19:26):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance and
circling you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit Incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (19:37):
New Marshall ad Gerald Harrison go to join us at
eleven oh six. I actually went back rewatched the presser
this morning because it was kind of on in the
background yesterday. I was doing some other things and actually
watched it, and I was ready to suit up TJ.
I've got about one play left in me. If Tony
Gibson needs me for one play, I've got about one

(19:58):
play left in me. But I was really I think
he won the press conference yesterday. I think he made
a great first impression, and really looking forward to talking
to him about a hour and a half from now.

Speaker 5 (20:08):
Yeah, you listen to these press conferences and you say, what,
I like to sit down and have a drink with
that guy, have dinner with that guy answers yes. Fascinating
and did very well, definitely won the press conference yesterday.
And you know, I may let you handle the bulk
of the questions. I know you're kind of giddy over that.
I would be too if I were a Marshall alum.

Speaker 1 (20:28):
So I don't know if I'm giddy. It takes a
lot to get me giddy.

Speaker 5 (20:31):
That's the best word I can think of.

Speaker 1 (20:32):
But I am looking forward to to having the conversation.

Speaker 7 (20:36):
And I.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
Chuckled a little bit right at the beginning because somebody
that was looking over his speech was worried that starting
it off with ain't God good being a little too country?
I'm like, man, you're in West Virginia. You don't have
to worry about being a little too country around this place. Buddy,
you're in good shape.

Speaker 5 (20:54):
So I agree. I don't know who was worried about that,
but you needn't be not it that way.

Speaker 1 (20:59):
Not here. Let me get in a couple of texts
here before we talk to Uh, we're gonna talk tort
reform coming up here in a couple of minutes. Uh
three or four? Talk three oh four? You forget the
fourth reason? Maybe Trump is smarter than his critics, says
the Texter. Actually, i'd lump that into the third reason
that conventional wisdom is wrong. But count John Deskins in

(21:19):
the wait and see column uh three or four talk
three oh four for all that is holy, pay down
the debt. All save money needs to pay down the debts.
According to the Texter preach, all right, comeing up. Could
West Virginia slip back into a judicial hell hole? Well

(21:39):
we'll talk about that up next. 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 13 (21:56):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Jeff Jenkins, Stay Sander. Mike
Stewart says he doesn't know quite what to expect as
he's before the full US Senate Finance Committee this hour
for his confirmation.

Speaker 14 (22:06):
Hearing filled with the anxiety of the unexpected, the questions
I will get certainly as I head into the role
hopefully of General Counsel for the Department of Health and
Human Services and working with Secretary Kennedy and the administration
very exciting.

Speaker 13 (22:20):
Stuart, who is currently the state Senate Judiciar Committee chairman
says his great honor to be nominated for a top
position with HHS Governor Patrick Morrissey. As a news conference
scheduled with this afternoon at Tamarack and Beckley. He's scheduled
to start that at three. Morrisey promoting the sales tax
holiday that begins tomorrow and runs through next Monday. Morrisey
had a news conference at meadow Brook Mall and Bridgeport
yesterday and then posted a video message.

Speaker 10 (22:42):
No, many West Virginia families are struggling, and it's really
important that we provide tax relief to those citizens.

Speaker 1 (22:48):
This is just a down payment on many things to come.

Speaker 13 (22:51):
The sales tax will be lifted on a number of
what are considered back to school items, including computers. Less
than two days of testimony in the Mercer County murder
trial nearing its final stage. Closing arguments are scheduled this morning,
followed by jury deliberations in a shooting death trial. Charles
Lee Dawson, a Bluefield, is charged with shooting and killing
thirty two year old Michelle Billings, also a Bluefield. Billings

(23:12):
died in twenty twenty three. Both the prosecution and the
defense rested their cases on Wednesday. Dawson did not take
the stand in his own defense. You're listening to Metro News,
the Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 15 (23:23):
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 us

(23:43):
by opening up hundreds of coal fired power plants, I
am authorizing my administration to immediately begin producing energy with beautiful,
clean coal.

Speaker 5 (23:53):
Unquote. President Trump, his energy.

Speaker 15 (23:55):
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 coal resources for the betterment

(24:17):
of all West Virginias.

Speaker 5 (24:19):
A message from the Friends of Coal.

Speaker 13 (24:23):
Federal prosecutors say there have now been seventy four convicted
and sentenced in connection with a drug operation in the
Eastern Panhandle. The original indictments were handed up by a
grand jury in January twenty twenty four against eighty two defendants.
Eighty one have now been convicted and seventy four sentenced.
The latest sentence ince came this week when twenty five
year old d J. Horton of Sanadoah Juncson and forty

(24:44):
one year old Jennifer Barthlow of Charlestown were sentenced for
selling and distributing fentanyl. From the Metro News anchor desk,
I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (25:12):
Metro News talk Line continues. Hoppy will join us second hour.
He's got a commentary this morning describing his adventure biking
across Iowa uphill both ways. We'll talk to hop coming
up one hour from now. The American Tort Reform Association

(25:32):
has named the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee specifically as
a lawsuit inferno in its latest legislative heat check report,
citing the committee killing two key lawsuit reform bills and
sponsoring dozens of liability expanding bills. Joining us on Metro
News talk Line this morning is Tiger Joyce president of
the American Tort Reform Association Tiger, Good morning, Glad you

(25:54):
can join us.

Speaker 7 (25:56):
Good morning. Thank you very much for having me on
this morning.

Speaker 1 (25:59):
Appreciate you coming on. And So, why specifically is the
State Senate Judiciary Committee a lawsuit inferno?

Speaker 7 (26:06):
Well, I think you stated it very accurately. It's really
a combination of two matters. The first, we were particularly
disappointed that the Judiciary Committee and the legislature as a
whole failed to take action on two important issues. An
issue that has has dogged from our perspective West Virginia

(26:30):
for many years is something we call medical monitoring. I
think it would come as a surprise to most people
that an individual can bring a claim without actually having
to prove physical injury. You know, I went to law
school a long time ago. That was just not think
it was unthinkable at that time at that time. But

(26:52):
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals a number of years
ago established an ability or a right of individuals who
may in the future develop medical problems to sue and
recover for that exposure or whatever may lead to that
future injury, you know, prior to it actually being manifest

(27:17):
And so in West Virginia is very much an outlier
when it comes to this issue we call medical monitoring.
And if I recall the way the Supreme Court handed
down its decision, it didn't even require that the money
that somebody received would be used for future medical costs.

(27:38):
I think one of the justices who in dissent referred
to it as the as the pickup truck fund. You
could use the money for whatever purpose you chose. So
failure to address that was was a great disappointment. I think. Secondly,
another hang on right there, let's stop.

Speaker 5 (27:57):
Let's stop a medical monitoring for just a second, tiger
Field and dive into that. Your critics would say that
if someone, for instance, is exposed to a substance hypothetical
and that substance has a prevalence of causing cancer, that
you should be able to monitor that over time, and
since they weren't responsible for being exposed, someone else should

(28:19):
pay for the cost of that monitoring. Is that unreasonable?

Speaker 7 (28:23):
Well, I think that that's something that could go factor
into a potential settlement. The problem is that's not what
as we understand is, that's not what the law provides.
If somebody is exposed, then yes, potentially that person should
have the ability or could have the ability to be
monitored down the road. However, I think ensuring that that

(28:47):
might be the case would be you know, certainly we
think would would be appropriate. And so I think that
that that there is some some I you know, I
think there would be some empathy to that perspective. However,
that's not what the law provides. And you know, I

(29:07):
think for somebody to demonstrate that, I think there would
be a potential burden to demonstrate that there's a legitimate here.
But as a general rule, we think that for current
awarding of damages, it should be for people who actually
have suffered actual injuries. The other issue, though, that we

(29:31):
think is important is builds on something that I know
that has been enacted in West Virginia, which is transparency
and government litigation. We are seeing more and more litigation
involving not just states really going back to the National
Tobacco Litigation a generation to go, but now cities and

(29:54):
counties are bringing cases and from a as a practical matter,
and I think the National Opioid Litigation demonstrates this, resolving
these cases becomes untenable. And we believe that if a
locality or a county, a city is planning to bring

(30:17):
our intents to bring a case, it ought to receive
the blessing of the state attorney general, the chief law
enforcement officials in a given state.

Speaker 14 (30:28):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (30:28):
And I think that imposes a discipline on the process
and makes the potential to resolve matters more countable. So
the point is both of these matters, medical monitoring and
what we call locality litigation reform we're not taken up.

(30:49):
We did not pass, despite efforts of our allies in
the state to move these proposals. But I think there's
even beyond that. This is some again that you mentioned.
We think that the courts should exist to resolve disputes.
We do not think that the courts should exist to

(31:11):
resolve every matter that might come up as a matter
of public policy. And I think too often, and we
see this not just in West Virginia, but another jurisdictions
around the country. Creating private rights of action litigation for
individuals to enforce broader public policies. We think it puts

(31:35):
an under burden on the courts. It creates opportunities for litigation,
which oftentimes benefit more the lawyers who bring these cases.
And really undermines the basic purpose of why we even
have the courts. Tiger Joyce and so.

Speaker 1 (31:56):
Tiger, let me jump in, Tiger Joyce, President American Reform Association.
We can talk policy all day, but a lot of
times and most of the time, policy boils down to
how does it affect me as the individual taxpayer? Does
it affect my wallet? Does it affect my bottom line?
So how do these policies impact the bottom line for
folks around West Virginia.

Speaker 7 (32:17):
Well, I think that it's up to those people who
are elected or appointed to positions with the responsibility and
the authority to carry out public policy. I think courts
are meant to resolve disputes, and so I think to
look to the courts to make these decisions, which seemingly

(32:39):
is what this litigation trend looks to accomplish. We think
undermines again the nature of how government should function. Litigation
is not a solution for broader public policy.

Speaker 16 (32:56):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (32:56):
And it's up to whether it's your legislators, those in
the executive branch and agencies who have responsibility and authority
to protect and serve the public and are accountable to
the public. Courts are not accountable to anyone really other
than the parties before them, and so broader public policy

(33:18):
we think should rest appropriately with those who are either
elected or appointed and have that responsibility to the governor,
the legislature, and the key appointees of and officials in
the executive branch, and agencies that have, as I said,

(33:39):
responsibility and authority to serve the public interest.

Speaker 5 (33:43):
In your press release, you say that West Virginia residents
pay an average of nearly six hundred and seventy seven
dollars per person annually and what you call it tort tax.
That's more than twenty seven hundred for a family of four.
You also say that excessive tort costs contribute to the
loss of an estimated, let's call it, eleven thousand jobs

(34:03):
rounded up in the state each year. Validate those numbers,
make your case for why that's so well.

Speaker 7 (34:12):
I think that this is an analysis that's done by
a very reputable econometrics firm, the Paaraman Group, and they
do it and they look at these issues each year
around the country, and basically what they are determining is
what they believe at using the econometric process and analysis

(34:35):
based on what a more efficient and balanced civil justice
system would would accomplish and applies that to the activity
in your state. And so the idea here is that
not that there shouldn't be compensation, not that we shouldn't
have litigation, but a more efficient and balance system really

(35:01):
does really would be a net saving for consumers and
for businesses and would lead to a more robust economy
and economic opportunity.

Speaker 5 (35:12):
So on those costs of the tort tax, I mean,
is that court costs that we're paying for that somebody
ought to be eating or help me understand where that
number comes from. What those actual costs are?

Speaker 7 (35:22):
Well, I think it's you know, kind of think of
it as as what are the excessive costs, whether that's
it might be that that you have in the in
the healthcare area, it might be additional procedures that are
ordered if a case takes if the system doesn't work efficiently,
if it takes an extra six months six months to resolve,

(35:46):
there are additional legal fees that are involved. Uh. And
so this is a broad based analysis of the system
as it exists today contrasted with what these analysts believe
be a more efficient and effective system.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
So, Tiger, you say, West Virginia could slip back into
a judicial hell hole. How could that happen?

Speaker 7 (36:11):
Well, I think that you know, first off, our report
that we put out this week deals with the legislature.
And one of the reasons why we've done that is
because the Judicial Hellholes Report, which we've highlighted for well
over twenty years, you know, it starts with judicial it
deals with the courts. So we're trying to be as

(36:32):
targeted as we can be in terms of, you know,
where the issues are, and so I think from our perspective,
we want to make sure that we put a spotlight
on the issues and the challenges that the state fases.
You know, is it possible that we will see this
back in the Judicial Hellholes Report? That remains to be seen.

(36:56):
That really depends more on what the courts do and
how the system have the legal system itself works. You know,
we were very proud and pleased to recognize West Virginia
coming off of the Judicial Levels Report after many years
in twenty seventeen. But I think it's important to keep

(37:19):
in mind that that that process was as a result
largely of significant legislative reforms that the that the state
legislature enacted back at that at that time frame, but
continuing to improve the system in the state, as we

(37:40):
see in other state jurisdictions around the country, is the
key to a ensuring that the system works efficiently for
all involved, those who bring cases as well as those
who defend them.

Speaker 5 (37:51):
So I want to get to a political question here.
In the release, you say that Senator Rutger, Patricia Rutger,
received five thousand dollars from personal injury lawyers in Charleston
and Morgantown. Well, your group, the American Tort Reform Association,
will you oppose her in the next election and try
to see her lose her seat.

Speaker 7 (38:09):
Frankly, you know we don't have a formal mechanism to
do that. Our point in the Judicial whether it's the
Legislative feat check or the Judicial Levels Report, is simply
to put a spotlight on the issues. And I think,
as we point out, the Judiciary Committee was we believe

(38:31):
an obstacle to enacting positive reforms, and as I said
earlier in our discussion, we think it's been far too
willing to use the courts to accomplish broad based objectives
that really should be outside the purview and the responsibility
of litigation on a day to day basis.

Speaker 1 (38:53):
Why did you feel the need to point out Patricia
Rutgers donors.

Speaker 7 (38:57):
Well, I think that again, that's just the information that there.

Speaker 1 (39:01):
Was a reason you put it in there.

Speaker 7 (39:03):
What was the reason for sure? I think that the
combination of the fact that the committee failed to take
take steps on u in enacting reforms and the seemingly
different perspective on the role of litigation as a matter
of public policy as an instrument of broader public policy.

Speaker 1 (39:27):
Tiger Joyce, President of the American Tort Reform Association. Tiger,
thank you very much. The report very interesting. Appreciate it.

Speaker 7 (39:34):
Okay, thank you absolutely.

Speaker 1 (39:36):
Coming up controversy TJ controversy yesterday on Metro News Midday.
We'll address that next.

Speaker 5 (39:46):
I'm intrigued.

Speaker 1 (39:47):
This is talk Line on Metro News from the Encode
Insurance Studios.

Speaker 17 (39:51):
The Pree Metro News TV app is the place to
watch the voice of West Virginia. See tuck Line with
David TJ, Sports Line with Tony Creedy, three Guys Before
the Game, and coming Suiting the Morning News, Metro News Middays,
and Hotline with Daid weekly right on your smart TV
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the next free, no obligation information session by calling three
four two nine three seventeen twenty eight. Yesterday TJ. I
was on my way home, just left the building in
my truck, enjoying a nice day listening to Metro News
Midday and controversy erupted. Did you catch this segment?

Speaker 5 (41:53):
May have caught it?

Speaker 1 (41:54):
Did you catch this segment? Let me play the segment
because I want to clear up this controversy. CEO Haktite here.

Speaker 10 (41:59):
It is rus Dave Wilson, I'll tell you, and I'm
Dave Allen. I just called myself Dave Wilson. I forgot
my last name after that.

Speaker 5 (42:06):
Because it's Ryan Wilson and you are Dave. You just
merged the two of you together.

Speaker 10 (42:14):
I really hope that Dave Wilson, the host of talk Line,
is listening to that that I just referred to myself
on the air by the wrong name. I've done the
wrong time in the wrong station before, but I've never
done the wrong name.

Speaker 5 (42:24):
That's the first thirty seven years of this all right.

Speaker 1 (42:27):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I was listening full blown belly
laugh in the truck trying to eat a honey Chris
Bapple gone down Mond Boulevard here in Morgantown, just full
blown belly laugh because you could hear the dejection in
Dave Allen's voice when he called himself Dave Wilson. He
knew immediately knew what he had done, and you could

(42:50):
hear the dejection of oh, do you believe what I did?

Speaker 10 (42:53):
Let's just rus Dave Wilson. I'll tell you, and I'm
Dave all I just called myself Dave Wilson. I forgot
my last name after even Amanda.

Speaker 1 (43:02):
Even Amanda Baron's like, oh wow, wow, no words.

Speaker 5 (43:08):
So how many seconds or milliseconds did it take you
to decide you were going to use this audio?

Speaker 1 (43:13):
Oh? Immediately, immediately, as soon as I heard that, I said, wow,
we have to address that controversy because if there's anybody
I do not want to be confused with, it's Dave Allen.

Speaker 5 (43:26):
You realize now you've opened yourself up for a counter strike.
Are you aware of this? I mean, have you thought
that far ahead?

Speaker 1 (43:32):
Oh that's okay, that's okay. I love you, Dave. You
know I do oh, but yeah, full bloom, so try
to I'm taking a bite of a honey Crisp apple
going down mon Boulevard. And I know because we've all
been there before, where we've you know, given the wrong
call letters, maybe identified the wrong networks, something that's happened
to all of us in this business at some point.

(43:53):
And it's like slow motion, but you can't stop yourself.
So I could totally see Dave in slow motion as
soon as it comes out of his mouth, just utter
disappointment in himself that he referred to himself as me.

Speaker 5 (44:05):
I'm gonna put a sign on the board, may have
it laminated, done in a nice font that says I'm
Dave Allen.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
Put it right here in the You do that, that
would make my day, just as a re make him
a little sign, put it right there in front of
the mic, so he doesn't forget on the show later today.

Speaker 5 (44:23):
Well, then I may say it would be the problem.

Speaker 10 (44:25):
So Ryan's Dave Wilson, I'll tell you, and I'm Dave Allan.
I just call myself Dave Wilson. I forgot my last name.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
Wow.

Speaker 5 (44:33):
Amanda says, make it your ringtone for him or your
top tone is a great idea. Teach four of them.

Speaker 1 (44:40):
Best idea I've had today so far.

Speaker 5 (44:42):
Thanks Buddy.

Speaker 1 (44:42):
All Right. You can catch Metro News Midday with Amanda
and Dave Allen later today on the Cross, the Metro
News Radio Network. Final break of the hour, We'll tell
you it's coming up hour number two. It's talk Linel
Metro News from Mean Cove Insurance Studios.

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Mega Million's jackpot is one hundred and forty million dollars.
So go ahead, play today. Let me see three or
four talk three or four. It's all Hoppy's faulty hard
too many days. Just say, Dave number one is Weekly,
Dave number two is Wilson, Dave number three is Allen,
says the texter. Uh, I've always told you that Dave

(46:59):
Allen is your newman, and this just proves it, says
the texter. Alan, Oh my goodness too funny wrong, Dave
says the Texter. All right, coming up, we'll talk to
the new ad At Marshall, Gerald, Harrison and Hoppy at
an adventure biking across Iowa. That's all coming up. Second

(47:20):
hour on Talkline on Metro News, the voice of West Virginia.
Metro News.

Speaker 3 (47:30):
Talkline is presented by Incoba Insurance, encircling you with coverage
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Speaker 1 (47:40):
Second Hour of Metro News Talkline. David Morgantown TJ in Charleston.
Ethan Collins is our audio producer today and Jakelink is
handling the video stream. You can be part of the show.
Text us at three h four Talk three oh four.
The phone number is eight hundred seven sixty five Talk

(48:01):
eight hundred and seven six five eight two five five.
Bottom of the hour, Hoppy Kerchival will join us in studio.
He was off and it's not an overstatement to call
it an adventure. He was off on an adventure. He
was biking bicycling, although riding a motorcycle may have been
more interesting, but he was bicycling across Iowa. And if

(48:23):
you've ever been out to Iowa. You've ever been out there,
TJ to Iowa.

Speaker 5 (48:27):
Yes, I've been to Iowa on business a couple of times.

Speaker 1 (48:29):
Okay, so you think Iowa, you think corn, soybeans, you know,
big farming. This is big farm country. So you think flat. Well,
it's it's rolling and very gradual and hoppy. And I
were talking before he went out there, and like, it's
hilly out I was surprised how hilly it is.

Speaker 7 (48:47):
Now.

Speaker 1 (48:47):
It's not hilly like here. It's very long and very gradual.
And he found that out apparently while he was on
his bicycle going across the state of Iowa.

Speaker 5 (48:56):
I would imagine your legs would confirm that quite quickly.

Speaker 1 (48:59):
You know, I saw you have to endure. Hey, I
saw hop in here the other day for three guys. Right,
I gotta say this. Quads were looking impressive. Quads were
looking impressive. The man, you know, he's he's jacked. What
can we says?

Speaker 5 (49:14):
A training regimen? He trained?

Speaker 1 (49:16):
Right?

Speaker 5 (49:16):
Didn't you train?

Speaker 1 (49:18):
You would have to or you would die, wouldn't you
You would have to train.

Speaker 5 (49:22):
I wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
Man, I will well, I'll save my bicycle seat story
maybe for when Hoppy comes on the air later before
I don't maybe maybe we'll go there. Yesterday, on the
campus of Marshall University, New Thundering Herd athletics director Gerald
Harrison was introduced officially on the job, given the Kelly

(49:46):
Green Jacket press conference. If you haven't seen it, you
can check that out over at herdzone dot com. Thought
he won the day and he joins us on Metro
News talk line this morning. Gerald, Good morning, glad you
could join us.

Speaker 4 (50:00):
Morning.

Speaker 1 (50:00):
How's everybody doing pretty well? So what's the last several
days been like? From the moment you said yes to
the moment you put that Kelly Green jacket on yesterday,
I'll be.

Speaker 4 (50:12):
Honest with you, has been really a blur. I'm not sure.
Somebody asked me yesterday what day was it? And I
don't know, and I didn't know today. Tell me, everything
happened on a Wednesday. So President Smith offered me the
job to Wednesday before, and the board had proved it
on Monday, and then I was in I was in

(50:32):
hunting on Wednesday. So it's been a It's been a blur,
and I appreciate all the energy around it. I loved
yesterday it's just, it's really just I'm taken back by
the reception I've got from the people of wes Virginia.

Speaker 5 (50:47):
So we'll get into athletics in a minute. But CHERALLD
tell us about you. Tell us about your upbringing, your family.
Introduce yourself to West Virginia.

Speaker 11 (50:56):
Oh.

Speaker 4 (50:56):
Absolutely, born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and Florence
is very similar to Huntington. Actually, on one side of
town we have a large steel plant that supports the town,
and then we have a big CSX railroad plant station
on the other side. So I was like, when when

(51:17):
I got to Honey, I looked at I said, man,
this sounds a lot looks a lot like Florence. Born
and raised there, My parents and are all educators. My
dad's a retired football coach at the forty seven years
thirty in high school and seventeen in college, and my
mom's a retired school superintendent. And so I've always had

(51:39):
a appreciation and understanding, whether I wanted one or not,
the balance of student and athlete played for my dad
growing up. Went to University of Tennessee, where my playing
career ended because you know, they wasn't room for a
five ten, two hundred and forty pounds center in the SEC.

(52:00):
Coason was promptly quick to tell me that maybe I
should try my hand at administration or something else, And
so I graduated with the University Tennessee, got my start there,
and from there was there for seven years but in
charge of recruiting, and then moved to Duke University, where
I was there for ten years doing a myriad of things,
starting in football as they have oversight there and operations

(52:24):
person and working my way up the chart for Kevin White,
and things to do before I came to Austin team
in twenty eighteen and so and having my first ad
opportunity and sitting in a chair. So I've been fortunate
to be in and around it all my life, and
I think that fuels my passion for that. I am

(52:45):
married to a student athlete. My daughter plays My oldest
daughter plays basketball at Western Kentucky. She's on a basketball
team as a guard there and going to her second season.
And my youngest daughter is the personality of our family.
And I'm not sure what she's gonna do, but it's
final on television or influencing on social media or something.
Because she's the one that keeps the Harrison household going

(53:06):
all the time. So she's a junior and high school.
So that's kind of a brief rundown of the Harrisons.

Speaker 1 (53:12):
Gerald Harrison joining us. He's the new Marshall athletics director.
You mentioned your parents, your family a couple of times
yesterday specifically, how does their influence come out in you?

Speaker 4 (53:26):
You know, I think I have my grint from my
parents when I was growing up. You know, they I
was always at the football field, are always at the school,
and they were always teaching the lessons of the day.
And that's what I would call them. If something happened
that went around or something would happened at the school
or with a neighbor or a friend, they talked about

(53:47):
it and they explained it to us and they made
sure we would. You know, we did everything we want
to do. On Saturday, we go to a football game,
will tailgate, whether it's at South Carolina State or somewhere else.
But we're going to be in church on Sunday morning.
And that was the rule thing you on all week.
But you're gonna get up and go to churchill Sunday.
And so that part of that faith value came in there. Uh.

(54:09):
And then the rest of them was just hard work
because they all moved up. You know. My my mom
was a school teacher when I was born, and we
were we were I had two school teachers. We didn't
have a whole lot, very modest upbringing. And I watched
her trying to charge. I watched her do what she
had do, and I just observed and learned. Uh. And

(54:29):
then that's kind of where their impact on my life
came from, just the lessons that they taught and sold
into us. Uh. Now, I definitely got my sarcasm from
my dad. He was he was he was a tough
He was a tough he was a tough one to
crack like he he Uh. He gave us a hard time,
you know, and I uh and but I'm stronger for

(54:52):
that now. My staff may hate that so every now
and then because I'm probably a little tough on them too.
But really, but uh, that's kind of how we came up.

Speaker 1 (55:01):
What was it like playing ball for your dad?

Speaker 4 (55:06):
I was always wrong, you know, and you know, whether
I went to whether if it's a play, I was
you know, a quarterback dropped the snap, I snapped it
wrong to the point where I'm left handed. My dad,
I made a bad snap in the game, or it
was said it was a bad snap, and he made

(55:26):
me learn how to snap right handed. He said, left
handed people screwed up the quarterback. So that was my fault,
you know, So that was it was great from the
step up for us to be together in our relationship.
I talk to my dad every morning at seven o'clock,
and to be able to do that at seventy he's
at seventy two, about seventy three. I wouldn't trade that

(55:48):
for the world. But there was a point in time
when I was in high school. I would tell you
that I would not further talk to him at all.
We grew better when I left.

Speaker 5 (56:00):
God is good. You almost left it out yesterday day
and put it back in. Talk about your faith.

Speaker 4 (56:07):
Well. To me, I've always been in a situation I've
been forcun I'd had some struggles health wise early on
in life, and I was able to fight through that,
and I knew it was only by the grace of
God that that happened. And He put a hand on
my family and me, and we got us through a
time where you know, my parents didn't take the easy

(56:28):
way out. They did everything they could do, and then
God took it the rest of the way. We had
a bunch of praying people around and that kind of
gallanized might help me understand. And then you know, he
got those moments later in life too, when you're school
and you're like, you know what, and something hits you
and I remember, and I just had a moment and

(56:49):
I became it was I wanted to be stronger in
my faith and took that much more serious. And that's
kind of where it's been. So I try to steal
that in front of our and to our kids at home,
and then I also try to make sure that our
student athletes where I've been, I have the opportunity to

(57:11):
find their faith, whatever that is. I believe you got
to find you got to find a faith in a
higher power, and I believe in something greater than yourself.
And so we want to make sure that there are
people that are around them that are also willing to
give them the opportunity to find that or find that relationship.
And so it's just I think that's what I'm supposed

(57:31):
to do, and that's how that's come about.

Speaker 1 (57:35):
Gerald Harrison is joining us on Metro News talk Line today,
here's the new Marshall Athletics director Jerald. This morning, the
football team did the annual run to spring Hill Cemetery
where there are members of the nineteen seventy team buried
Keith Morehouse WSAs sports speaks to the team several speakers.
Did you get an opportunity to join them up at
spring Hill? And what was that experience?

Speaker 7 (57:56):
Like? I did?

Speaker 4 (57:58):
I did? I I I will tell you that I
achieved the race a little bit.

Speaker 7 (58:04):
They ran.

Speaker 4 (58:04):
The student definitely ran up, ran up the hill, up
and down those hills, up and down the hill up
to the cemetery. I did take a golf cart. Uh So,
but I did join them and uh and it was
my first opportunity to do that, obviously, and to be
a part of that and to hear the stories, uh
the first hand accounts from folks who were impacted uh

(58:27):
by by the by the tragedy in nineteen seventy uh
into and it was just it was different, uh and
you got to feel it. I've heard a lot about it, obviously,
we've seen the movies. But to be uh the twenty
third athlete director at Marshall and to actually your first
day after all the press conference, hooplaw and get up

(58:50):
in the morning at seven and go up there on
a on a beautiful morning. It just felt different. It
gave it a deep sense of meaning.

Speaker 14 (58:57):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (58:58):
And to listen to the mayor talk about as a
resident and the person's born and raised there, the impact
that that had on the Huntington's community and how I
steal the impact of what it means was huge. And
for Koso allowed me to do that and to have
opportunity to say a few words to the student athletes
after that. It really it gave you such a purpose.

(59:22):
And I think that's the word that keeps coming up
to me. If you have a duty, if you put
on that Kelly Green to think about and to represent
all the things that the town, not just the people passed,
but the town and the people of that area had
to come past the resiliency and they had to bounce back.

(59:42):
It just reminds you that we don't have bad days,
we just have bad moments. And that's why I'm really
another reason I'm looking forward to getting back and.

Speaker 7 (59:51):
Getting to work.

Speaker 5 (59:53):
College athletics is at arms race. It's a business. It's
getting more complex with revenue sharing, name, image, likeness. What's
your strategy to keep Marshall relevant in that arms race?

Speaker 4 (01:00:05):
One think we got to find out you we got
to find out what makes us unique. I really believe
if we try to go in and and when you know,
go out and offer contracts and all this nil revenue
star to everybody we compete against, we're not gonna win
that battle. We're not at that level to do that.
They're doing that differently in a lot of places. Uh.

(01:00:27):
And so what we have to do is find out
how can we be different when with great players and
why do we want to make How are we gonna
make them stay here? How are we gonna get the
ones when it's close between us and our major competitors.
The answer to that, I think right now is we
got to provide the most other leagable student athlete experience
that we can provide with a human field. You know, Yes,

(01:00:48):
we're gonna we're gonna renovate our facilities, We're gonna do
the Jones's gonna be great, We're gonna do the camp,
We're gonna do the things we need to do, and
we're gonna work toward that for capital fundraising and all
that stuff. But in the meantime, we got to make
sure that the student athletes are seven consumers. So we
got great places for them to eat, great places for

(01:01:09):
them train, great places for them to grow, and we've
prepare them for life after football or after basketball, after college.
And so if we do that really, really well, and
that's what we did at Austin T that was a
focal point of us at Austin B. When you don't
have all the money, like when you can't shop at Norster,
sometimes you got to be at a shop at Nors

(01:01:29):
and rack our stuff at norserom rat is gonna be
us our people. The same energy and the passion that
made yesterday great for me can do the same thing
for a student athlete and for a student athlete's parents
and the people surrounding them. And now along the way,
don't get me wrong, we still got to come up
with the revenues and things like that to play in

(01:01:50):
the game of revenue share in the NIL. But our
niche is going to be just being great in the
areas that matter. So if it comes down between James
Madison and us, and there's a little bit of a
difference in price or coach of killin US, and there's
a little bit different number in the thing. I feel
better about my experience when I visited Marshall and what

(01:02:10):
they have, and our student athletes start believing that our
student athletes a recruit for us too. So that's how
we're going to do it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:16):
That's the soft Gerald Harrison knew Marshall ad joining us
so muchro News Talk Line got a couple of minutes left, Gerald,
What what hooked you? Because when the opportunity presented itself,
you had to be interested. Then you go and interview
and you have to say yes as well. What hooked you?

Speaker 7 (01:02:33):
Right?

Speaker 4 (01:02:34):
Well, two of things. One President Smith was the major one.
I studied them, I read about them everything else. But
when I came to campus and we met that morning,
that Wednesday morning, it was a genuine of a conversation
and his heart felt, You felt his passion. You understood

(01:02:55):
why Marshall was important to him and what Marshall for
all and Marshall forever meant to him. And I'm a
person like that as well, that takes great pride in
my community and where I came from and and wants
to see it succeed and want to do better for it,
and we kind of have a similar background in that,
and I was that hit. The second thing was I

(01:03:17):
brought my you know, people have tell me how unique
it was, but I brought my wife with me when
I came to town. And I didn't say she didn't go
with somebody else on a on a house hunting expedition
or looking around town. He actually was in the interview
beside me talking to all the constituencies and the people
that we met with that day. I think we had

(01:03:38):
eight meetings different groups that day and she and she
was writing there with me, and the people were so
genuine and she enjoyed the interaction with the student athletes.
And she's actually from Clarksville, where ofstin P's located. And
for when we left for her to say I really
liked this place, I'm very comfortable if you want to

(01:03:59):
do this. That gave me the the as to call,
you know, call back and say listen, I want I
want this opportunity.

Speaker 5 (01:04:08):
I kind of feel like they got a two for
one in that sounds like she'll be very active in
the athletic department and helping you along the way and
leading as well. Is that accurate?

Speaker 4 (01:04:17):
No, that is accurate. I think there's a it's just
a I believe. I believe in a family atmosphere, and
that doesn't mean my family get to be excluded. And
so my wife, being a former student athlete, she understands
she's a mental health therapist by trade, but you know, employment,

(01:04:37):
and so she understands things that that are you know
what's going on, and she listens, and she's a RNA.
She comforts, she does a lot of great things. Uh.
But yeah, when you get me, you get Lisa, and
most people tell you at least it's probably the better
part of that deal. I will tell you know. I
shouldn't negotiated my contract a little bit of to g

(01:04:58):
got her salary in there somewhere though.

Speaker 1 (01:05:01):
Well, Gerald, hey, looking forward to working with you as
we get into the fall season here coming up. And
best of luck to you, and don't be a stranger.
You know where to find us. We're here every day,
so you know where to find us.

Speaker 4 (01:05:13):
All right, Well, thank you very much for having me.
I look forward to working with you guys.

Speaker 1 (01:05:18):
It's been awesome for heard Gerald Harris, a new Marshall
Athletic director. Thanks so much for the time.

Speaker 4 (01:05:23):
Good luck take it.

Speaker 1 (01:05:25):
Thank you you as well. Coming up, got to take
a break. This is talk Line on Metro News, the
Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 5 (01:05:32):
Hey there, it's Dave Allan.

Speaker 19 (01:05:33):
I'd like to invite you to join myself along with
thirteen News and Tonight Live anchor Amanda Baron. Each weekday
from noontool three for Metro News Midday, brought to you
by Selango Law, We'll cover the news from across the
state of West Virginia, the news West Virginians need to
keep them informed during their workday. It's weekdays from noontiol
three Metro News Midday with thirteen News and Tonight Live

(01:05:54):
anchor Amanda Baron, brought to you by Selango Law on
Metro News, the Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 9 (01:06:01):
WVU Medicine Children's provides the most advanced surgical and nonsurgical
solutions for chestwall problems. Our expert team creates a comprehensive,
customized care plan for your child, and our pediatric surgeons
use the latest techniques in chestwall surgery that minimize pain
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(01:06:22):
to being a kid again sooner. Call eight five five
WVU Care or visit WVU kids dot com.

Speaker 1 (01:06:45):
A couple of texts three h four Talk three oh four.
Texter says, a blood test to diagnose CTE is close
to availability. Concussion Legacy Foundation can help find treatment. MPR
is reporting that check it out. I will do that
because as of now, to the best of my knowledge,
I think the only way to diagnose tc CT is
post mortem. You can't diagnose it otherwise, So uh yeah,

(01:07:09):
I will definitely check that out. Texter says, can we
trade w ad and football coach for Marshall's ad and coach?
No is my answer, But look, why would you want
to trade rim Baker. Baker's done a great job. Rodriguez
is going to I assume is going to do a
great job as well. Why would you want to I
think both programs are set up to go. I like

(01:07:29):
the trajectory of both programs at this point.

Speaker 5 (01:07:32):
I'm not trying to pick on the Texter. Why would
you even say that? What's the point? Why does it
always have to boil down to that?

Speaker 1 (01:07:40):
Texter says Dave and TJ five two hundred and forty
pounds Center at Tennessee gotta be tougher than a pine,
not Welcome to the herd, says the Texter, and don't.

Speaker 5 (01:07:51):
Let him kids. You you he can raise money. I read
his background. He knows how to raise money and that
look total package. Kind of got, but he's not unfamiliar
with how to get the money through the door.

Speaker 1 (01:08:03):
Really love the story about playing ball for his dad.
And every old center will tell you it's always always
the quarterback's fault. No center has ever made a bad snap.
It is always the quarterback's fault. Made him learn to
snap right handed. That's fantastic.

Speaker 5 (01:08:22):
I like that he calls him every day at seven o'clock.
I like that. I think that's important. I think it's good.

Speaker 1 (01:08:29):
He's doing better than me. My folks know if I'm
not on the show that they should probably be concerned
and then call me and track me down. That's how
they keep tabs on me.

Speaker 5 (01:08:37):
Dave's doing well, honey, heard him on the radio to day.

Speaker 1 (01:08:39):
No, that's my mother texted me a little bit ago,
laughing at Dave Allen. By the way, But that's how
they know. They just check in on the show every day,
make sertin.

Speaker 16 (01:08:47):
I'm here.

Speaker 5 (01:08:47):
It works, it works, you know.

Speaker 1 (01:08:49):
And then when I break something and need dad to
come help me fix it at the house. They usually
make a phone call coming up.

Speaker 5 (01:08:55):
My Mom's more like, you're not going to say anything
about that very controversial topic today, are you, to which
I say, yeah, probably Am.

Speaker 1 (01:09:03):
Hopy Kirchible will join us. He bikes across Iowa. This
is Talklinel Metro News, the voice of West Virginia. It
is eleven thirty time 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 20 (01:09:19):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Chris Lawrence. Governor Patrick Morris.
He says FEMA Disaster Recovery centers are now open and
operating in Marion and Ohio Counties. The facilities offering opportunities
for relief services from the state, local nonprofit as well
as federal agencies to the various issues tied to damage
from the Father's Day floods. Marian County facility is at
the Fairmont Public Safety Building. The Ohio County Disaster Recovery

(01:09:41):
Center at the Tridelphia Community Center. Now the counties also
have pop up temporary facilities, one at the east side
Fairmont substation and in the Ohio County at the vally
Grove Town Hall. Victims can also access assistance with one
to eight hundred and sixty two to one FEMA, the
FEMA app or Visiting Disaster Assistance dot gov. A new

(01:10:02):
forty million dollar investment by Kroger for a first of
its kind store in the Mountain State.

Speaker 16 (01:10:07):
Groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Kroger Marketplace and
the developing Parkplace Plaza shopping center in South Charleston where
it will be located. Kroger mid Atlantic Division Corporate Affairs
Manager James Manise says, this is an exciting opportunity.

Speaker 21 (01:10:21):
We're bringing the best that we have to offer, so
it's going to be a great customer experience. Our associates
are excited for the news store and really to just
be here to serve the community.

Speaker 16 (01:10:32):
The Kroger Marketplace will not just include groceries, but home goods, apparel,
and other essentials. It's expected to be complete by June
of next year. I'm Kat Skeldon, WV metro News dot com.

Speaker 20 (01:10:43):
You're listening to Metronews, the Voice West Virginia.

Speaker 22 (01:10:47):
With the right support and care, a seed can grow
into a resilient plant. The covery 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

(01:11:08):
everyone to break through addiction. Learn more at back to
Life wv dot org.

Speaker 17 (01:11:16):
The football season is right around the corner. Get ready
for high school and WV football by downloading the Metro
News Television app. Watch Metro News all Day including talk Line,
a sports Line, three Guys Before the Game, Metro News
Middays and Hotline Yet the Metro News Television app from
the Apple App Store or Google Play Store Metro News Television.
It's powered by the University of Terrelton, the West Virginia

(01:11:38):
Department of Tourism, dan CAABA Toyota, the WVHTC Foundation, WVW Medicine,
and the Trojan Landing Marine and Power Sports.

Speaker 20 (01:11:46):
Her nation getting another new athletic director at Marshall, Jerald Harrison.

Speaker 23 (01:11:50):
One of the things I had in there, I said,
being from the South great Stay of South Carolina, I said,
ain't got good and she took it out of my speech.
She said, don't sound that country to start. But but
you're but you're gonna.

Speaker 6 (01:12:04):
Get who I really am.

Speaker 23 (01:12:05):
And that's and now I'm gonna say it again.

Speaker 24 (01:12:07):
Ain't God good?

Speaker 1 (01:12:08):
This is amazing.

Speaker 20 (01:12:09):
Gerald Harrison, the new athletic director at Marshall University, from
the Metro News anchored Ash Guy. I'm Chris Lawrence.

Speaker 1 (01:12:35):
We'll get some of your texts coming up three oh
four talk, three oh four. Phone numbers eight hundred seven
sixty five talk eight hundred seven six five eight two
five five. Hoppy Kerchible writes at WDV metro News dot
com this morning, Iowa is not flat, Okay, Hope joins
us in the studio this morning.

Speaker 25 (01:12:55):
Hey, hey, it's not flat. I can tell you that
with great certainty.

Speaker 1 (01:12:58):
Absolutely all right, So told people earlier in the show,
you biked across the state of Iowa. Explain this adventure
you went on the last couple weeks.

Speaker 24 (01:13:07):
Sure.

Speaker 25 (01:13:08):
And it's called Ragbri, which is an acronym for Registers Annual.
That's Des Moines Register newspaper Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride
across Iowa. It's the oldest, longest and largest recreational bike
event in the world. It was started fifty two years
ago by a couple of guys who worked at the
Des Moines registerers said, let's ride across Iowa and see

(01:13:29):
what happens. And it's become this huge event, not just
for the bikers themselves, and this year there were about
twenty thousand bikers, but for many communities across Iowa because
those communities bid to see if they can be hosts,
and then the route goes through those towns, and those

(01:13:50):
towns really roll out the red carpet. There is a
festival in each of these small towns that you ride through,
in fact, so much so that when you ride to them,
you have to stop and walk your like with with
food and beverages and entertainment and bike shops and swag
and everything in all these little towns. So uh, it's

(01:14:11):
a it's a rolling And for some it wasn't for
me because I was trying to get my wife, We're
trying to get to trying to make it through the day.
But for some of these folks, it's like a pub crawl.
It's like a seven day pub crawl on bikes.

Speaker 1 (01:14:29):
You said Iowa is a geographical anomaly, Well, hill ways.

Speaker 25 (01:14:34):
It's uphill both ways. Yeah, it was to be. I mean,
Iowa was not flat. If you've been there, you have
this impression it's that it's flat. Isn't really flat? People
say it's flat like a wallfule. So there's ups and downs,
but they have these long you know, West Virginia have
uphill down here, uphill down here, right, and Iowa, at
least in the western and central part, it's just these long,
gradual hills that just keep on going and you get

(01:14:58):
to what you think is the top, and really that's
the bottom of the next hill, and it just keeps
on going, not till you get to the east to
get more up and down like you see in West Virginia.
So it was a long, hard slog over those seven days.

Speaker 5 (01:15:11):
Let's get into the day to day. How many how
many legs a day, how many miles in each flag?
What's the physical part of this? Like?

Speaker 25 (01:15:19):
Sure, first of all, we camped as most people do,
and you we got up like four thirty in the morning,
and you get your ducks in a row and head
out about you know, six o'clock, six thirty, and you
take off and there's thousands of bikers to take off.
The police do a wonderful job of securing the roads,
so usually there's not much of any traffic coming the

(01:15:41):
other way or coming your way, so you have sort
of free rein on these on these roads, which.

Speaker 24 (01:15:46):
By the way, we're in very good shape.

Speaker 25 (01:15:49):
And you ride and just ride from town to town,
so you know, you ride to the first town and
maybe that's where most people are rolling out breakfast, and
you ride to the next town, usually ten to fifteen
miles between towns, and you sort.

Speaker 24 (01:16:00):
Of chip your way through the day.

Speaker 25 (01:16:04):
And the days ranged from the shortest day was thirty
eight miles and there were three days that were seventy miles.

Speaker 24 (01:16:10):
You're making a face, Dave.

Speaker 1 (01:16:11):
Well, it's a lot of miles.

Speaker 24 (01:16:14):
I will say it is.

Speaker 1 (01:16:16):
It's a lot.

Speaker 25 (01:16:17):
And the hardest day was Wednesday, which was a seventy
two mile day uphill, mostly gradual uphill, about ninety five degrees,
about ninety five percent humidity. And you know, in West
Virginia we have breezes. Iowa has winds about a twenty
mile an hour headwind. It was really really hard for us. Now,

(01:16:38):
my wife and I are I think there's two categories.
There are bikers who have all the equipment and the
carbon bikes and everything they need and are in bike
clubs and are riding all the time. Then there are
people like my wife and I who are people who
like to ride bikes. So we were probably in the
bottom five percent or ten percent in terms of the abilities,

(01:17:02):
the skill level, and the.

Speaker 24 (01:17:03):
Equipment for the ride.

Speaker 1 (01:17:05):
Well, it sounds like anybody that does foot races, right,
you have the people who will go do the half marathon, right,
who run eight miles to warm up, and then you
have the you know, you have the casual runners who
are just so it sounds like you have that same
kind of mix. But in a bicycle is it a race.
It's just a ride. No, it's not a race.

Speaker 25 (01:17:22):
It's just a ride and people go at all different speeds.
But it was really humbling we because we would stay
to the right. I mean, you have most of the
road and we would stay to the right because we're among.

Speaker 24 (01:17:33):
The slower people.

Speaker 25 (01:17:33):
But there'd be pelotons of bikers, of ten fifteen bikers
going twenty twenty five miles an hour ago, whizzing past you.
We did pass one unicycle rider. It was one what
somebody on a unicycle went the entire way, which was incredible.
I gotta tell you this though, This is what stood
out to me upon first of all, the whole thing.

(01:17:56):
I don't know if you've either of you ever been
to Iowa, but Iowa nice is a real thing. Just
wonderful people. You ride into town, Hey, welcome to Forest City,
Welcome to Iowa Falls, welcome to Cedar Falls. Wonderful people.
Everybody's so polite, so nice. And that was that was
one thing. It just was was universal throughout the week.

Speaker 24 (01:18:19):
Which is uplifting, right. And the second thing.

Speaker 25 (01:18:23):
Is that with an adventure, and I considered this an adventure,
is that and I think you all can appreciate this,
is that when you're doing that, having an adventure like that,
that's all you're doing. You're focused on when you get up,
what are you going to eat? How long do you
have to wait in line for the portagoon, where's the
next town, all these things, so you're not you're not

(01:18:46):
thinking about anything on the outside.

Speaker 24 (01:18:49):
You're just doing that.

Speaker 25 (01:18:51):
And that to me provided this this tremendous escape and clarity.
It was really it was really wonderful in that respect.
It was wonderful, It was wonderful, and it was terrible.

Speaker 5 (01:19:07):
As you've had time to reflect. You talked about Iowa. Nice. Yeah,
have you reflected that now? You know what, maybe America
is not so bad after all? We've got our problems,
but maybe we're not that bad off after all.

Speaker 25 (01:19:18):
Excellent, excellent point, TJ. Absolutely, because I didn't hear anybody.
I don't talking politics or you know, major national international issues,
not that they don't exist, it's just I didn't hear
a lot about it. I didn't see a lot of
political signs one way or another. And everybody was just

(01:19:42):
so helpful and friendly. And it does TJ. It kind
of restores your faith because look, you know what you
guys do. You guys deal with stuff every day, challenges, problems, controversies,
and it can wear on you can wear on the listeners,
it wears on everybody.

Speaker 24 (01:19:59):
But this, to me was it really did.

Speaker 25 (01:20:02):
It restored my faith in that in the great humanity
that exists out there, and and and how we treat
one another and how we should treat one another. Was
this a bucket list on them or something that kind
of kind of two friends who went with us had
done it previously, and they kind of not exactly talked
us into it, but encouraged us to do it. And

(01:20:24):
they're bikers, their bike there, they're more serious bike people.
They left us in the dust. But they kind of
talked us into it. And and so we you know,
we trained and did it, but it's a I think
it's a one and done. You know, I'm not sure
I would do it. We're not campers either, you know.
And you're camping and it was some hillacious storms. Oh really,

(01:20:46):
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (01:20:47):
So you're out in the tent what like out on
a like in a field. Yes, yes, I'd be a
little nervous out there.

Speaker 11 (01:20:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 25 (01:20:56):
And and the first night there were some incredible storms
in it, tent is whipping around, you know, and waters
coming in.

Speaker 24 (01:21:03):
And so it was there.

Speaker 25 (01:21:05):
There were some challenges, some first world challenges that existed there,
but yeah.

Speaker 24 (01:21:11):
It was it was. It was something. But you know,
here's the thing.

Speaker 25 (01:21:15):
And at the end, when you make it through the day,
there is a sense of accomplishment. You get in the
beer line, get yourself a cold beer, get in the
line to take a shower.

Speaker 24 (01:21:27):
Because they had shower trucks.

Speaker 25 (01:21:28):
Wait in line about twenty minutes, take a shower, talk
to people because everybody's friendly, so you're talking to people
from all over, so you're just talking to people in
the shower line and then you crash and get up
and do it in the next day.

Speaker 1 (01:21:42):
Did you run into any other West Virginia connection people.
Of course you did.

Speaker 25 (01:21:45):
Of course I did, not a lot, but a couple,
but none of the let you did.

Speaker 24 (01:21:48):
Oh I did. Yeah, I ran into two or three.

Speaker 25 (01:21:51):
I won a rider from Morgantown and it was a
three guys listener from formerly from West Yeah, about.

Speaker 24 (01:21:58):
About three or four people.

Speaker 5 (01:21:59):
Nice.

Speaker 1 (01:22:00):
West Virginia never fails.

Speaker 24 (01:22:02):
What's that?

Speaker 5 (01:22:03):
I was gonna say, what do you do? I'm just
mister contingency here. What do you do if you're like
five miles in and you got ten miles left on
that leg? You get a flat tire or you? I mean, yeah, sure,
do you do?

Speaker 24 (01:22:16):
Well? A couple of things.

Speaker 25 (01:22:17):
One is that in every town there were bike shops
that had set up locations. In fact, I had a
flat tire in one town and they fixed it there.
But look, you can fix a bike flat. It's not
a big deal. You have an extra tube so you
can you can do that yourself. And also there were
members of the military, and I wish I could remember

(01:22:37):
what branch. They were that road along each day that
would stop and help people. So you were never in
were so you were never far from help. You might
it might have felt like you were in the middle
of nowhere, but you were never far from help. Police
were great in handling traffic, Ambulances were available, and there

(01:23:01):
were individuals who would stop and help if you had
a problem. So it wasn't like you were left out
on an island there.

Speaker 5 (01:23:07):
Why don't you start that here, the hobby Kerchival ride.

Speaker 25 (01:23:10):
Well, my wife has this idea, and I think it's tremendous.
Is that a ride across West Virginia. But you do
it at the very tip of the northern panhandle, so
it's only like ten miles long.

Speaker 1 (01:23:21):
Just yeah, that's short. Stretched up there in Hancock.

Speaker 25 (01:23:23):
Yeah, Hancock, it's like ten miles and we can all
do it together.

Speaker 1 (01:23:27):
That's doable. What do you think there's a trail. There's
a trail Ohio to Pennsylvania.

Speaker 25 (01:23:32):
I call it, you know, the trans West Virginia three
state bike ride Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio.

Speaker 24 (01:23:39):
You can do that.

Speaker 5 (01:23:40):
I've got one of those old school beach bikes though,
you know what I'm talking about like the ones that
only have the one gear. I'm not sure I could
keep up with you fancy people.

Speaker 25 (01:23:48):
That would be hard. My wife's bike is twenty five
years old. Somehow she made it did very very well.
But there are a lot of people with really high
invic and increasingly popular the e bikes.

Speaker 1 (01:24:03):
Oh, those were out there too. That's cheating, that's cheating.

Speaker 25 (01:24:08):
No, you know what that does is and e bikes
enable people because there were kids, there were teenagers, and
there were people older than I am, so especially older
folks if anybody has any physical challenges, people who might
be disabled in some way, it enables those folks to
continue to ride. Okay, So it's just I mean, e

(01:24:31):
bike is can you can do it at different levels,
but be a ride assist. So and I'll tell you
that we're talking. But the food was tremendous too. There
was one of the most popular places was called Mister
Pork Chop. That sounds good, yeah, and they're grilling pork
chops and you know, people pull in by the thousands
and you know, grab a pork chopp and so there

(01:24:53):
was a lot of it was in hindsight, it was
a lot of fun. But as I said there were
some really significant challenges.

Speaker 5 (01:24:59):
But wait, Hoppy, I want to share a fun little
anecdote with you. I think you'll appreciate this passing of
the time. Right, changing times. So my kids are into pickleball,
and Dave loves pickleball. By the way, we can get
into that out another time. But we're playing pickleball the
other night, and a kid on a bike. He's on
a knee bike, okay, had his helmet on, so responsible
young man. He goes speeding by the court and I

(01:25:21):
hear him say, I noticed that his iPhone is mounted
on the bike. He says, Siri, how long till I'm home?
That's that's what we're living in today, buddy.

Speaker 25 (01:25:31):
That's different from when you were riding with your bananas
bike trying to get home in time for dinner.

Speaker 24 (01:25:35):
And explain why you're late.

Speaker 5 (01:25:37):
Is that when the street lights came on, you had
to start heading home. That's the way it worked.

Speaker 1 (01:25:40):
Yeah, So Texter wanted to drop a new acronym for you, Hoppy.
What's the mammal m a M I L middle aged
man in lycra Did you go full biker?

Speaker 24 (01:25:52):
You did have?

Speaker 25 (01:25:53):
I did have biker uniform stuff and might in the
I even was there? We go get the picture on
the video stream. Now that was Now that section is
a flat section.

Speaker 1 (01:26:05):
Yeah, it didn't look like much of a hill there
not not there.

Speaker 24 (01:26:08):
But I tell you to see, but to be.

Speaker 25 (01:26:12):
Riding and see literally thousands of people in bicycles behind
you and in front of you as far as because
an Iowa sometimes too, it's very straight, so so as
far as you can see just people on bicycles. But
a great vibe, you know, an uplifting vibe and a
very very cool event.

Speaker 5 (01:26:32):
Oh very quickly. I have to ask how long did
you train for this?

Speaker 25 (01:26:36):
You know, like four months you'd have to yeah about
form and we were up to about one hundred and
fifty miles a week in training.

Speaker 24 (01:26:47):
But I did not.

Speaker 25 (01:26:49):
I failed to train for the headwinds, which you ever,
I mean, and we've all ridden bikes. You ever be
riding a bike and you do get a headwind and
you think I just came to a complete stop.

Speaker 24 (01:27:00):
I know, how did that happen?

Speaker 1 (01:27:01):
So happy kerchieveal. You can read his commentary recounting his
trip across Eyeball on a bicycle over Teptymax. I tell
you go ahead.

Speaker 25 (01:27:09):
They had a great so I summarized in the commentary,
and there's a great T shirt that we brought back.

Speaker 24 (01:27:13):
Each of us brought back.

Speaker 25 (01:27:14):
They said, we do this not because it is easy,
but because we thought it would be easy.

Speaker 24 (01:27:22):
Well, and it wasn't.

Speaker 1 (01:27:25):
Hop Thank you, buddy, Appreciate you.

Speaker 25 (01:27:27):
Thanks guys, appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (01:27:28):
Take a break back in a moment.

Speaker 15 (01:27:30):
Jen 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 coal

(01:27:51):
miners produced 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 Trump
reinvigorates our economy, he will need a lot of our high.

Speaker 20 (01:28:11):
Quality met coal.

Speaker 15 (01:28:12):
So the West Virginia Coal 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 Coal.

Speaker 3 (01:28:41):
Metro News talk line is presented by Incova Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visitancova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:28:53):
Cyber threats are evolving rapidly. Citty nets Managed Services protects
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at city neet dot net. Texter sends a picture of

(01:29:13):
the Iowa sunset on his cousin's farm says, thank you
Hoppy for showcasing your Iowa experience. My family is from
a small Iowa raised a small town Iowa, raised on farms,
and I still have family who raised hundreds of acres
of corn. My siblings, nieces and nephews have ridden in
that was it Ragbra for the last twenty five years

(01:29:34):
and enjoying the pie and towns. It's a Midwest institution
and a beautiful States I don't know what that's about.
Hoppy's traveling around the country on a bicycle. He'll be
playing in the next Forest Gump movie. Just started riding.

Speaker 24 (01:29:55):
Three or four.

Speaker 1 (01:29:55):
Talk Dave and TJ. I knew the legendary Marshalls, an
NFL Hall of Famer, eight time world champion of record,
seven with the Cleveland Browns and the last with the
Lions over the Browns. The Gunner would approve of this
selection for a d says the Texter gunner Gatski, the
NFL Hall of Famer.

Speaker 5 (01:30:15):
Did you see the video unveil of the new Brown's
helmet and the poor guy with the camera fell right
off the barge they had it on they had out
on the Cuyahoga.

Speaker 1 (01:30:23):
I think that's that's just the most Cleveland Browns thing ever.

Speaker 5 (01:30:28):
That's what I said. It's like Cleveland Browns football. But
he thought he had more room to walk around the
helmet with his camera, and the right leg just went
down and obviously hit nothing, and then he went into
the water.

Speaker 1 (01:30:39):
Three or four Talk three or four is the text
line eight hundred and seven sixty five eight two five
five is the phone number. Three or four talk through
four EBox allowed. Yeah, yeah, we covered that. TELLHOPI there
is a Marietta River Rendezvous ride in the Ohio. On
the Ohio it's about seventy five miles one way. Tellhoppy.

(01:31:06):
The American Lung Association has put the Greenbrier River Trail
bike trek for over thirty years every May, two to
three days, sixty five to one hundred miles fully supported.
It's really nice to hear about Hoppy's trip to Iowa
three or four Talk three oh four. I think what
we did there was sign Hoppy up for more of
these bike events. I think that's what just happened there.

Speaker 5 (01:31:29):
No, I think we definitely signed him up. I think
there's a lot of things that he could get into.
I like the idea that his wife had though even
just the Panhandle ride. I like that. Let's get something
like it in West Virginia, I think, And obviously there
already is.

Speaker 1 (01:31:43):
But there is a trail. It runs through Weird and
it starts over on the Ohio and runs all the
way to the Pennsylvania line, runs right through there. So
you know, we can pull that off. We can pull
that off. Final call for phone calls, final call for
text We're back in just a moment. This is talk
Line on Metro News from the Encoba Insurance Studios. Jackpots

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Speaker 24 (01:32:40):
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Were for you to care for you, and.

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We are here for you.

Speaker 26 (01:33:13):
Did you know that Clarksburg outdoor Amphitheater hosted acts like
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Did you know that the Robinson Grand has played host
international acts such as Postmodern.

Speaker 18 (01:33:28):
Jukebox Clarksburg, Yes, Clarksburg.

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Explore more at Come Home to Clarksburg dot.

Speaker 1 (01:33:34):
Com Gonna break the what do they call that? The

(01:34:04):
fourth wall? Third wall? Some wall affiliates down the line
want to apologize a network tone got fired a little
bit early, so you should be in the final segment
of the show. I just wanted to give your heads
up there. Affiliates down the line apologize. The computer had
a mind of its own there coming out of that
commercial break, So I do apologize, but they should be
in the last segment of Metro News Talk line on

(01:34:26):
down the line, what happened that, you know, the hamster
I got a little too rambunctious. Who powers the machine? TJ.

Speaker 5 (01:34:33):
I'm convinced it's because it's a PC and not a mac.

Speaker 1 (01:34:36):
Oh I said, rather preach on, preach on. I'm a convert.
There was a time I hated the old Mac and
the old macintoshes go back, you know, early two thousands.
Hated those machines, but then they got there, you know
what together, And I've been a Mac guy for over

(01:34:56):
a deck over probably since I've been here, probably about
fifteen years. Mac is the way to go. There's so
much simpler, so much more reliable.

Speaker 5 (01:35:04):
And everybody's like, well, you can't do Excelia, Yes you can,
and I would argue it's even better. Yes you can.
You can do all the MS office stuff. Just give
it a try, give it a try.

Speaker 1 (01:35:15):
Oh yeah, Now my wife hates it. She's PC. She
hates when she has to use my MacBook, does not
like it, does not like it. But I tell them,
just give it, like you, just give it a chance.
So much simpler, so much more user friendly. And as
long as your hardware, I mean, eventually your hardware is
going to be outdated, but you just keep updating. I've
got a MacBook from two thousand and how old is it?

(01:35:37):
Think it's almost ten years old?

Speaker 5 (01:35:39):
Yeah, they last.

Speaker 1 (01:35:39):
It's a tank. It's a tank.

Speaker 5 (01:35:41):
And if you really want Windows, run a virtual PC,
or you can run Windows on a Mac. If you
really want a horrible experience, I guess you could still
have it.

Speaker 1 (01:35:52):
You know, the weekend's almost here and it's a perfect
time to be out relaxing on a pontoon boat. From
lou Window marine, but you need a boat. Check out
the full inventory over at their website Louwindow Marine Sales
dot com. Let me see any text we need to
get to. None that make any sense at this point.
All right, Coming up tomorrow, Chris Stirwald, who was also

(01:36:16):
on hiatus last week, scheduled to rejoin the program tomorrow,
and of course Steam release as well. It'll be your
chance to vent and get it all off your chest
before going into the weekend. Coming up across the Metro
News Radio network, Beny of these same Metro News radio stations,
It'll be Metro News Midday with Amanda Baron and Dave Wilson.

Speaker 10 (01:36:35):
I'll tell you and I'm Dave al I just called
myself Dave Wilson. I forgot my last name. After that,
I'm getting the evil eye now.

Speaker 1 (01:36:45):
This is dock Line on Metro News, the Voice of
West Virginia